Journal Issue: Volume: 59, No. 235, March (2021)
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Volume
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Issue Date
2021
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Journal ISSN
JNMA Print ISSN: 0028-2715; Online ISSN: 1815-672X
Journal Volume
Articles
Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency among Patients of Acute Coronary Syndrome in a Tertiary Care Center of Eastern Nepal
(Nepal Medical Association, 2021) Nepal, Richa; Karki, Prahlad; Uraw, Surendra; Lamsal, Madhab
Abstract:
Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency is an emerging risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Very few studies have been done to find out vitamin D deficiency status among cardiovascular patients in Nepalese setup. This research aims to find out the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among patients of acute coronary syndrome admitted in a tertiary care center of eastern Nepal.
Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among patients of acute coronary syndrome admitted in a tertiary care hospital from 1st February 2018 to 31st July 2018. Ethical clearence was taken from Institutional Review Committee of B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (Reference number: 259/074/075-IRC). Convenience sampling method was used. Data was entered in Microsoft Excel and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 25. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data.
Results: A total of 33 (64.7%) at 95% Confidence Interval (51.58-77.82) patients of acute coronary syndrome had vitamin D deficiency in our study with 19 (37.3%) having mild deficiency and 14 (27.4%) having moderate deficiency. None of the patients had severe vitamin D deficiency in our study. The mean vitamin D levels were lower in diabetics (23.57±9.28ng/ml) as compared to non-diabetics (31.91±12.50ng/ml), in hypertensive patients (24.36±7.67ng/ml) as compared to non-hypertensive patients (30.97±13.72ng/ml), and in patients with dyslipidemia (22.86±6.44ng/ml) as compared to those without dyslipidemia (37.68±13.15ng/ml).
Conclusions: Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among patients of acute coronary syndrome in our
study was comparable to various other homologous international studies.
Anxiety during COVID -19 among School Going Adolescents of Six Private Schools in Kathmandu Valley: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study Authors
(Nepal Medical Association, 2021) Bhatta, Anwesh; Kafley, Rishi Kesh; Yadav, Rishi Kesh; Phuyal, Rajan; Chikanbanjar, Vijaya Kumar
Abstract:
Introduction: Psychological health problems are common in adolescent and young adults. The psychological well-being is greatly influenced by stressful environment and the coping mechanism of an individual. The 2019 Coronavirus disease has caused unprecedented morbidity and mortality worldwide owing to its high infectivity and mortality. In addition to these physical manifestations, psychological impact has also been substantial. This study is a descriptive cross-sectional study done to find out the prevalence of anxiety disorder and its severity during the COVID-19 pandemic in school going adolescents of Kathmandu valley.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among adolescents from August 15 to September 30, 2020. Two private schools from each district in the Kathmandu valley i.e. Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur were included in the study using convenient sampling. Ethical clearance was obtained from Institutional Review Committee (reference no: 1208202007). All data were inserted on Microsoft Excel 2016 and analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data.
Results: Among 358 students, 165 (46.1%) at 95% Confidence Interval (40.8-51.2) were found to have anxiety. Out of these patients, 115 (69.7%) had mild, 39 (23.6%) had moderate and 11 (6.7%) had severe anxiety. The mean age was 16.17±1.57 years.
Conclusions: This study shows that a remarkably higher number of children had symptoms of anxiety disorder. Majority of the children with anxiety had mild form. The study further highlights the need of emotional support to adolescent children during the current ongoing pandemic.
Perception of Online Lectures among Students of a Medical College in Kathmandu: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study
(Nepal Medical Association, 2021) Bhattarai, Bhagabat; Gupta, Sujaya; Dahal, Sirjana; Thapa, Aarzu; Bhandari, Pooja
Abstract:
Introduction: The COVID-19 global pandemic has affected all aspects of human life, with education no exception. Online lectures have been practiced in different academic institutions around the world. The objective was to know the perception towards online lectures by the undergraduate students of a medical college.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among the undergraduate students of dentistry, medicine, and nursing at Kathmandu Medical College via self-administered online questionnaire. Data were collected from November to December 2020 after ethical clearance from institutional review committee (Ref. no. 0311202002). Students who had not attended even one hour of online learning per week were excluded. Responses were collected using Google Forms which were analysed in Microsoft Excel.
Results: Out of 318 valid questionnaires, 143 (44.97%) students agreed that online lectures were effective but 138 (43.4%) disagreed that online lectures were more useful than traditional lectures. One hundred and forty five (45.60%) found online classes difficult to concentrate and 175 (55.03%) agreed that they preferred a combination of traditional teaching and online tutorials. Only two (0.63%) students strongly agreed on excellent internet during classes and 104 (32.70%) agreed it caused economic burden. Mean age of participants was 20.75±1.538 years; 202 (63.52%) were females; online learning per week was 18.75±9.157 hours; and duration of online learning was 20.28±9.997 weeks.
Conclusions: Most of the students had a positive attitude towards e-learning when compared to
similar studies. Further multicentric studies with larger sample size would better demonstrate
whether online education partly or fully can be effective adjunct to traditional face to face interaction.
Depression, Anxiety and Stress among Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic in a Tertiary Care Centre of Nepal: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study
(Nepal Medical Association, 2021) Kafle, Bikram; Bagale, Yashoda; Kafle, Sima; Parajuli, Aabishkar; Pandey, Samudra
Abstract:
Introduction: Health personnel working in the frontline to deal with COVID 19 outbreak are at increased risk of developing psychological problems. This study aims to find out the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among Nepalese health care workers.
Methods: This is a hospital based descriptive cross-sectional study conducted from July 10 2020 to September 10, 2020. All health care workers (total 280) were included in the study. HADS-14 item was used to measure anxiety and depression. Perceived stress scale was used to measure stress. Data was analyzed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 24.0. Statistical data was analyzed by percentage, mean and standard deviation.
Results: Out of total 270 respondents the prevalence of anxiety, depression and stress was found to be 112 (41.4%), 65 (24.1%) and 203 (74%) respectively. Females accounted for 148 (54.8%) and males 122 (45.2%). More than one third 96 (35.6%) of the health workers were working in front line.
Conclusions: Prevalence of anxiety, depression and stress is higher among health workers when compared to similar studies. Effective strategies toward improving the mental health like adequate rest, supply of protective equipments, frequent breaks, ensuring safety issues of their family members, training on management of stress might be helpful in reducing stress.
Prevalance of Elevated D-dimer Levels in Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in Intensive Care Unit of a Tertiary Care Centre of Western Nepal
(Nepal Medical Association, 2021) Khatri, Prabin; Agrawal, Krishna Kumar; Chhetri, Pradip; Sharma, Dipesh; Neupane, Aryan; Piryani, Rano Mal; Baral, Pawan Puspa; Sapkota, Suman Raj; Banjade, Ashish; Chhetri, Ashmita; Bhandari, Subarna; Bharali, Swaraj
Abstract:
Introduction: D-dimer is currently the best available marker for COVID-19 associated hemostatic abnormalities. This study aims to find out the prevelance of elevated D-dimer levels in confirmed COVID-19 cases in intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital of western Nepal.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 95 patients admitted to COVID Intensive Care Unit of a teriary care centre from August 2020 to January 2021 after taking ethical clearence from Institutional Review Committee in order to determine the D-dimer levels in confirmed COVID-19 cases. D-dimer value was measured at the admission and the highest D-dimer value was recorded during the course of hospital stay with the risk of mortality in confirmed COVID-19 cases. The normal range of D-dimer was taken as <0.35 mg/dl as per our hospital laboratory standards. Convenience sampling method was used. Data entry and descriptive analysis were done in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 25.0, point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data.
Results: Out of total 95 cases of COVID-19 included in this study, 25 (89.3%) patients with age ≥65 years and 42 (62.69%) patients aged <65 years had elevated D-dimer on admission. Data showed that 29 (67.4%) patients having elevated D-dimer at admission had mortality.
Conclusions: Elevated D-dimer levels was frequently seen in patients admitted in Intensive Care Unit with COVID-19. Our study suggested that measurement of D-dimer may guide in clinical
decision making.