Journal Issue: Vol. 62 No. 278 (2024) OCTOBER
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Volume
Number
Issue Date
2024
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
JNMA Print ISSN: 0028-2715; Online ISSN: 1815-672X
Journal Volume
Articles
Vitamin D Deficiency among Blood Transfusion-Dependent Beta Thalassemia Children Admitted to Tertiary Level Pediatric Hospital in Nepal: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study
(Nepal Medical Association, 2024) Shrestha,Anil Kumar; Sherpa, Sangay Chultim; Gyawali, Bindu; Sharma, Manisha; Adhikari, Santosh; Shrestha, Suchitra; Bhattarai, Susan; Thapa, Sagar; Sharma, Devashish; Paudel, Prajwal; Gyawali, Sushil
Abstract
Introduction: Children with beta thalassemia are on regular blood transfusions, which could result in iron deposition in the liver causing decreased synthesis of Vitamin D-25OH. There are limited publications on the association of Vitamin D deficiency with blood transfusion-dependent thalassemia in the Nepalese population. This study aims to determine the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency among blood transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia patients.
Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among beta-thalassemia major patients under 15 years of age, receiving regular blood transfusion, from July 17, 2022, to July 16, 2023, after attaining ethical approval from Ethical Review Committee, (reference number 155). Data were collected using convenience sampling, and descriptive analyses were performed using Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 2024.
Results: A total of 127 blood transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia major patients were included in the study, of whom 82 (64.56%) were female. Among these patients, 104 (81.88%) were aged between 5 and 14 year. Among 127, 41 (32.28%) had Vitamin D insufficiency, and 31 (24.40%) had Vitamin D deficiency. There were 12 (9.44%) underweight children.
Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency was seen in more than half of the children with blood transfusion dependent beta thalassemia major.
Assessment of Quality of Sleep and Daytime Sleepiness in Medical Professionals and Students in a Medical College: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study
(Nepal Medical Association, 2024) Pandey, Sundar; Parajuli, Aabishkar; Paudel, Deepak; Aryal, Deepak; Shrestha, Anmol Singh; Ghimire, Mahesh Raj; Neupane, Kapil; Gautam, Dipim; Poudel, Bikash
Abstract
Introduction: Poor sleep quality is a global public health issue particularly more prevalent in medical professionals and students. Despite various health and occupational risks, research is still lacking regarding the quality of sleep and its related factors among medical professionals and students in our region. Therefore, our study aimed to estimate the prevalence of poor sleep quality in this population.
Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted among medical professionals and students of Devdaha Medical College from December 2023 to June 2024 after ethical approval from the Institutional Review Board. Data regarding sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness were collected using the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PQSI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale with pre made questionnaires in Google Forms.
Results: Among 395 participants, 260 (65.83%) were in the age group 20-25 years and 200 (50.63%) were nursing students. The prevalence of poor sleep quality was 146 (36.96%; 95% CI: 32.19%-42.93%) and the global mean score of PSQI was calculated to be 5.12. Out of the total participants, 255 (64.55%) had excessive daytime sleepiness, 84 (21.26%) participants had one or more sleep problems out of which, snoring was in 40 (10.12%) participants.
Conclusions: About one-third of the study population poor sleep quality and day time sleepiness was reported in more than half of the respondents.
Prevalence of depression among Geriatric Population in a Rural Municipality of Nepal: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study
(Nepal Medical Association, 2024) Kaphle, Maheshor; Karki, Rajesh; Thapa, Anjana; Bhatta, Ramesh
Abstract
Introduction: Depression is a major public health concern among the elderly, affecting their quality of life and overall well-being. Despite the increasing elderly population in Nepal, data on the prevalence of depression in rural areas is limited. Therefore, this study aims to assess the prevalence of depression among the geriatric population.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among individuals aged 60 years and above in three randomly selected wards of Shivapuri Rural Municipality. Respondents were selected using consecutive sampling. The Nepali version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) was
administered through face-to-face interviews. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number 080/81-437). Descriptive analysis was conducted for categorical variables using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).
Results: The overall prevalence of geriatric depression was 115 (28.75%; 95% CI: 24.36%-33.46%), with a mean depression score of 3.54±3.17. Among those with depression, majority reported mild depression 79 (68.70%) reported mild depression, 79 (31.22%) were male, 88 (30.66%) were under 75 years of age, 46 (35.66%) self-rated their health as not good, 16 (32.66%) had COPD and 33 (30%) were hypertensive elderly.
Conclusions: About one third of the elderly reported of having depression and more than 50% had mild depression. The depression was more in age group less than 75 years, male, married and in nuclear family.
Assessment of Severity and Pattern of Early Childhood Caries Using ICDAS II Criteria: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study
(Nepal Medical Association, 2024) Rai, Amita; Sundas, Sunanda; Dhakal, Neha; Khapung, Anju
Abstract
Introduction: Early childhood caries is highly prevalent worldwide. The International Caries Detection and Assessment System incorporates both the non-cavitated and cavitated carious lesions with acceptable reliability. The objective of the present study was to assess the prevalence, severity and pattern of early childhood caries among children visiting outpatient department of a dental college in Nepal. The study also aimed to compare the severity and pattern based on individual tooth type.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 children of age group 24-71 months. The International Caries Detection and Assessment System II criteria was used to detect dental caries, and its severity and pattern. The ethical approval was taken from the institutional ethical committee (IRC Reference number: 1, 36, 2079/2080 IRC PDCH 2022 21).
Results: Highest caries prevalence was seen among 48 to 60 month olds, whereas lowest prevalence was seen among the 24 to 35 month-old children. Based on severity, dentinal caries (Code 5) 526 (13.19%) was the most prevalent and undermined dentinal caries (Code 4) 36 (0.9%) was the least prevalent. The most common pattern of dental caries was multi-surface caries 644 (16.15%), and the least common pattern was the lingual surface caries 22 (0.55%). Prevalence of dental caries was highest in occlusal surface of mandibular second molars 151 (37.75%), and 227 (5.69%) of the teeth had received restoration and sealants of some sort (CARS).
Conclusions: Majority of the children enrolled in the study had multiple cavitated and non-cavitated carious teeth involving different surfaces. Severity and pattern of caries also varied among individual tooth type.