Journal Issue: Volume: 17, No 2, Issue 66, APRIL-JUNE, 2019
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Volume
Number
Issue Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
1812-2027
Journal Volume
Articles
Collecting Blood Sample for the Community-based Research in Nepal: A Laboratory Perspective
(Kathmandu University, 2019) Pyakurel, P; Shrestha, A
NA
Cataract Surgery Incidence Trends in a Tertiary Public Hospital in Malaysia
(Kathmandu University, 2019) Thevi, T; Abas, AL
ABSTRACT
Background
Since cataract is the leading cause of blindness and no study has been done on the
surgical incidence trends, we conducted this research in Melaka.
Objective
To describe incidences of cataract surgery according to basic demographic variables
and types of surgery performed.
Method
Using the National Eye Database (NED), we performed descriptive statistics
calculating incidence rates per 1,000 population by demographic features and types
of cataract operations to look at the trends of surgeries in the population. Statistics
for population were obtained from the department of statistics.
Result
From 2007-2010, 6270 patients mostly 60-69 years underwent cataract surgery.
Phacoemulsification (78.2%) was the commonest surgery performed. The annual
incidence rate of cataract surgery reduced from 2.05 per 1000 population in 2007
to 2.02 per 1000 population in 2010 (p<0.05). Incidence rates for those aged 60 and
above rose while for those aged below nine years it declined. Indians had the highest
incidence rates followed by Chinese and Malays per 1000 population. Females had a
higher incidence rate although there was a declining trend over the years.
Conclusion
Cataract surgery rates showed a decline. Public health education and awareness on
detection and operating upon cataracts should be increased and especially targeted
towards vulnerable groups such as women, individuals of Indian ethnicity and those
aged 50 years and above.
KEY WORDS
Cataract surgery, Melaka public sector, National eye database
Health Literacy and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in the Northeast of Thailand
(Kathmandu University, 2019) Charoencheewakul, C; Laohasiriwong, W; Suwannaphant, K; Sopon, A
ABSTRACT
Background
Globally, type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is in increasing trend. With its chronic and incurable
natures, type 2 diabetes patients have been increasingly seeking various regiments
to relive their sufferings. However, magnitude and influencing factors are still unclear.
Objective
To identify prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine among type 2
diabetes patients and the association between health literacy and its use in the
Northeast region of Thailand.
Method
This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of Complementary
and Alternative Medicine use and the roles of health literacy on its use among
type 2 diabetes patients in the Northeast Region of Thailand. A total of 1,012 type
2 diabetes mellitus patients were systematic randomly selected to response to a
structured questionnaire interview. The generalized linear mixed model was applied
to identify factors associated with it.
Result
There were 30.89% (95% CI: 28.25 to 33.67) of type 2 diabetes patients used
complementary and alternative medicine. Majority of these patients (52.23%, 95%
CI: 49.30 to 55.15) had sufficient level of health literacy related to complementary
and alternative medicine. Type 2 diabetes patients who had sufficient to excellent
levels of health literacy had 2.64 times higher Odds of complementary and alternative
medicine use (95% CI: 1.91 to 3.65) when compared with those who had inadequate
to problematic levels of health literacy. Others covariates that were also associated
with complementary and alternative medicine use were had adequate income
(ORadj. = 2.52; 95% CI: 1.81 to 3.52), had HbA1C < 7 (OR Adj. = 2.50; 95%CI: 1.86 to
3.37) and had comorbidity (OR Adj. = 2.07; 95%CI: 1.57 to 2.73).
Conclusion
About thirty percent of type 2 diabetes patients used complementary and alternative
medicine. Health literacy, economic status, comorbidity and diabetic control had
strong influence on complementary and alternative medicine use.
KEY WORDS
Health literacy, Diabetes Mellitus, Northeast of Thailand
Assessment and Comparison of Quality of Life in Patients with Melasma and Vitiligo
(Kathmandu University, 2019) Amatya, B; Pokhrel, DB
ABSTRACT
Background
Melasma is an acquired hyperpigmentary condition that is characterized by
development of irregular brown to black macules occurring predominantly on the
face. Vitiligo is an acquired depigmenting skin disease characterized by progressive
loss of inherited skin colour, which leads to appearance of white patches. Both the
conditions occur more frequently in people with racially pigmented skin resulting in
psychological morbidities and impacting the quality of life.
Objective
To evaluate and compare the quality of life in patients suffering from melasma or
vitiligo, which represent two opposite ends of pigmentary disorders using the
Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI).
Method
This was a hospital based cross sectional study that was conducted at the Department
of Dermatology and Venereology, Tribhuwan University Teaching Hospital from
September 2016 to August 2017. The study population included adult patients of
either sex with melasma or vitiligo, who consented to participate in the study.
Result
There were a total of 100 patients each in both melasma and vitiligo groups. While
females outnumbered their male counterparts by a ratio of 9:1 in melasma, the
gender distribution was more equal in vitiligo. Melasma had a mean DLQI score of
5.64 ± 5.41 and a median score of 4 while vitiligo had a mean DLQI score of 4.13 ±
3.74 and a median score of 3.
Conclusion
Melasma patients had a higher impairment in quality of life compared to vitiligo
patients. The quality of life in both the conditions varied based on age, gender,
duration and distribution.
KEY WORDS
Comparison, Dermatology Life Quality Index, Melasma, Quality of Life, Vitiligo
Prevalence of White Coat Hypertension among the Patients Visiting in a Tertiary Care Center, Kathmandu, Nepal
(Kathmandu University, 2019) Bhattarai, M; Sainju, NK; Bhandari, B; KC, V; Karki, DB
ABSTRACT
Background
Hypertension is a major cardiovascular risk factor. White coat hypertension refers to
elevated office blood pressure but normal out of office blood pressure. White-coat
hypertension has a risk of cardiovascular events more than normotensives.
Objective
To identify the prevalence of white coat hypertension among patients presented in
the cardiology department.
Method
The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 165 patients who visited
the cardiology outpatient department of Kathmandu Medical College and Teaching
Hospital from December 2017 to November 2018. Blood pressure was measured
at the hospital, and ambulatory blood pressure device was used to monitor 24hrs
pattern. Hypertension is classified as per recent guideline. Data were entered and
analysed using Statistical Package for social sciences version 20.
Result
Out of 165 ambulatory blood pressure monitoring conducted patients, 140
participants were enrolled in the study based on inclusion criteria. Among them
55% (77) were male, and 45% (63) were female. Age ranged from 18-78 years with
a mean of 43.82 ± 12.31 years. Overall among 140 participants 14.28% had white
coat hypertension, however, after excluding twenty-two high normal group, among
118 participants who were hypertensive according to office BP, 16.9% (20) had white
coat hypertension, and 33.57% of patients did not have nocturnal dipping of blood
pressure.
Conclusion
The white coat hypertension is prevalent among around one-sixth of hypertensive
patients visiting tertiary care centre, and one third have non-dipping which needs to
be considered in the management of hypertension.
KEY WORDS
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, Non-dipping, White coat hypertension