Journal Issue: Volume: 60, No. 251 (2022) JULY
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Volume
Number
Issue Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
JNMA Print ISSN: 0028-2715; Online ISSN: 1815-672X
Journal Volume
Articles
Birth Defects among Newborns in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study
(Nepal Medical Association, 2022) Khadka, Madan; Agarwal, Jyoti; Shrestha, Ramesh; Das, Dipti
Abstract
Introduction: The incidence of birth defects is 2-3% in the general population but it is increasing. An estimated 303,000 newborns die within 4 weeks of birth every year, worldwide, due to congenital anomalies. The objective of this study was to find out the prevalence of birth defects among newborns in a tertiary care centre.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the Department of Paediatrics from 15 June 2016 and 14 June 2019. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 142/077/078-IRC). Data of newborns were collected from the hospital records. Convenience sampling method was used. Point estimate and 99% Confidence Interval were calculated.
Results: Among 32,695 newborns, birth defects were seen in 169 (0.51%) (0.41-0.61, 99% Confidence Interval). The most common birth defect was musculoskeletal defects seen in 60 (35.50%) newborns followed by central nervous system defect seen in 30 (17.75%) newborns.
Conclusions: The prevalence of birth defects among newborns was lower than in other studies done in a similar setting.
Diabetes Mellitus among Adult Outpatients Visiting a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study
(Nepal Medical Association, 2022) Khatri, Bijay; Kayastha, Manish; Shrestha, Rajan; Bhattarai, Janak Raj; Majhi, Sangita; Upadhyay, Sanjib Kumar; Upadhyay, Madan Prasad; Kafle, Kumud Kumar
Abstract
Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterised by elevated blood sugar levels and is a pandemic of public health importance. Screening programs can help reduce morbidity and mortality by preventing or delaying complications. This study aimed to find out the prevalence of diabetes mellitus among adult outpatients visiting a tertiary care centre.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among outpatients visiting a tertiary care centre between 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethical Review Board (Registration number: 408/2020 P). Patients with unknown history of diabetes participating in free random blood sugar examinations were included in the study. Systematic random sampling was used. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated.
Results: Among 385 adult outpatients, 17 (4.42%) (2.37–6.47, 95% Confidence Interval) had diabetes. The mean random blood sugar level of the diabetic patients was 281.41±57.49 mg/dl.
Conclusions: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus among adult outpatients was similar to previous studies conducted in similar settings. Random blood sugar test in hospital outpatient settings is feasible to identify people with diabetes mellitus.
Raised D-dimer among Admitted COVID-19 Patients in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study
(Nepal Medical Association, 2022) Karki, Dipesh; Gurung, Roshani; Nepali, Prasanna; Kaphle, Hari Prasad; Subedi, Bhabuk; Adhikari, Sundar
Abstract
Introduction: Patients with COVID-19 are characterised by abnormal levels of inflammatory biomarkers. Elevated D-dimer in COVID-19 patients is associated with increased mortality. This study aimed to find out the prevalence of raised D-dimer among COVID-19 patients in a tertiary care centre.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in COVID-19 unit of a tertiary care centre from 23 January 2021 to 19 June 2021. The ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 077/078/159). D-dimer values and demographic data of the hospital-admitted COVID-19 patients were recorded. Convenience sampling technique was used. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated.
Results: Out of 180 patients with COVID-19 admitted in the hospital, the D-dimer levels were raised in 85 (47.22%) (39.93-54.51, 95% Confidence Interval) patients.
Conclusions: The prevalence of raised D-dimer among admitted COVID-19 patients was found to be lower when compared to other studies conducted in similar settings.
Autoimmune Thyroid Disease in Patients with Hypovitaminosis D in Department of Biochemistry of a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study
(Nepal Medical Association, 2022) Sherchand, Ojaswee; Niraula, Apeksha; Mishra, Bijaya; Subedi, Manish; Maskey, Robin
Abstract
Introduction: Autoimmune thyroid disease is characterised by the generation of autoantibodies against self-antigens such as thyroid peroxidase, thyroglobulin, and thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor. Recent studies have implicated the role of hypovitaminosis D to immune dysfunction, failure of self-tolerance and generation of autoantibodies. This study aimed to find out the prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease among hypovitaminosis D patients in a tertiary care centre.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among participants between the ages of 18 years to 65 years who visited the Department of Biochemistry of a tertiary care centre between the periods of July 2018 to December 2019. The study was initiated after receiving ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 42,8/074/075-IRC). Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire followed by anthropometric measurement and blood collection. Thyroid hormone, thyroid peroxidase antibody and 25-hydroxy vitamin D were measured by chemiluminescence technique. Convenience sampling was used. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated.
Results: Among 83 patients, 39 (46.98%) (42.32–51.63, 95% Confidence Interval) had autoimmune thyroid disease.
Conclusions: The prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease among patients with hypovitaminosis D was similar to studies conducted in comparable settings.