7 research outputs found
The iron and testosterone levels in amoebic liver abscess patients - a preliminary study from northern Sri Lanka
No full textAmoebic liver abscesses (ALA) are observed among adult males who consume locally brewed alcohol in the tropics. The contributory role of alcohol-induced hepatic iron stores and the male hormone testosterone were said to be playing a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of ALA. This descriptive preliminary study was intended to see a possible relationship of serum iron profile and testosterone level among toddy (a local palm wine) drinkers who presented with ALA to the Teaching Hospital Jaffna. Results have shown very high serum ferritin levels (902.58ng/ml) in these patients with ALA. However, the serum iron levels (43.05µg/dl) and the transferrin saturation levels (22.01%) were observed to be normal or below normal and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) level was unexpectedly low (193.3µg/dl) for the corresponding low serum iron levels. Furthermore, the serum testosterone level (2.44ng/ml) was also low or low normal when compared with the reference range in the study population. As this preliminary study contrasts with previously postulated theories, further study is recommended to arrive at a concrete conclusion.</p
Prevalence and association of underweight, overweight, obesity, neck circumference, hypertension and diabetes mellitus among school staff in Jaffna district
No full textThe aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and associations of underweight/overweight/obesity, neck circumference (NC), hypertension (HT) and diabetes mellitus (DM) among school staff in Jaffna district. It was a descriptive study on 6335 (31% were males and 69% were females) school staff. Overweight and obesity were defined according to the cut-off values for Asian population. Results showed, among males 3% were underweight, 26% were normal weight, 48% were overweight and 23% were obese. Among females 6% were underweight, 28% were normal weight, 41% were overweight and 25% were obese. Seventeen and 6% of the total population had HT and DM respectively. Average NC for males was 32.85cm for underweight, 35.48cm for normal weight, 38.27cm for overweight and 40.59cm for obese. Average NC for females was 29.13cm for underweight, 30.95cm for normal weight, 32.81cm for overweight and 34.53cm for obese. In conclusion the body mass index (BMI) distribution of the population sample shows that more people in both gender categories were predominantly overweight. About 44% of the total population is overweight. Furthermore, approximately 25% of both genders were obese. Altogether at least 2/3 of the population sample was above the healthy weight. More men were overweight/obese than women. Diabetes was less common than hypertension among the target population. However like hypertension, the prevalence of DM also increased with BMI increment. Interestingly the size of the NC increased parallels with BMI increment
The impact of population mobility on dengue: an experience from Northern Sri Lanka
No full textDengue infection continues to be a major public health issue and has been a challenge to health authorities for years due to several reasons. It is well known that the virus, mosquito and human factors play significant roles in the transmission of the infection. Traditionally, several preventive measures that are targeted towards the mosquito are well implemented in several countries, including Sri Lanka. Studies have shown that human mobility is a contributing factor in dengue infection and the objective of this report is to give an account on the possibility of human mobility as a major contributing factor for the outbreak of dengue infection in northern Sri Lanka.The gateway “A9” was reopened to the public in mid-2009, as the political unrest had come to a halt by May 2009. Northern Sri Lanka was thereby reconnected with the south, which increased population mobility both ways. An increase in the incidence rate of dengue fever from 10.72 in 2008 to 539.65 in 2010, supported the hypothesis of the possible contribution of human mobility in the dengue outbreak of 2010. Human mobility factors are often overlooked when considering preventive aspects. Preventive measures targeting human movements may enhance effectiveness of dengue control programs.</p
Evaluation of anaemia in geriatric patients: a retrospective hospital-based study from Northern Sri Lanka
No full textBackground: Anaemia in older adults is a common medical problem but it is often not evaluated as a sole clinical entity and its importance is undermined. The gravity of anaemia in older adults and its impact on other diseases is not well known in Sri Lanka.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study where data was extracted retrospectively from the database and clinical records of patients who were referred to the haematology unit of Teaching Hospital Jaffna, Sri Lanka for the evaluation of anaemia, from September 2020 to February 2021. The common types of anaemia, their severity, aetiological classifications and association with other diseases were analysed.
Results: A total of 1121 medical records of patients above 60 years were analysed during the study period. The main source of referrals was from medical wards. The female to male ratio was 51.2:48.8.The majority belonged to the age group of 60-69 years. Two-third of the patients had normocytic anaemia (70.3%) followed by microcytic (23.7%) and macrocytic anaemia (6.0%). A moderate degree of anaemia was seen commonly, but 28.3% were found to have severe anaemia. Aetiological classification revealed anaemia of chronic disease as the commonest type of anaemia in older adults accounting for 37% of the study sample, followed by multifactorial aetiology and iron deficiency anaemia. Common chronic diseases identified along with anaemia were diabetes, hypertension, ischaemic heart disease and chronic kidney disease.
Conclusions: Normocytic anaemia was the commonest type identified and the majority were of a moderate degree. Though the commonest aetiological cause identified is anaemia of chronic disease, there was a considerable percentage of multifactorial causes indicating the need to be on the lookout for other possibilities. Identifying the prevalence of anaemia in all hospitalised older adult patients in the local setting, the causes and the impact on chronic and acute illnesses will immensely help in the management of older adult patients and improve their quality of life
Extensive Superior Vena Caval Territory Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism: A Rare Clinical Entity of Haemorrhagic Pancreatitis
No full textAcute haemorrhagic pancreatitis is a severe form of pancreatitis often encountered in ethanol abuse. Extensive venous thrombosis resulting in pulmonary embolism is a rare presenting clinical entity of acute haemorrhagic pancreatitis. Here, we report a young male with an extensive deep vein thrombosis involving superior vena caval territory associated with haemorrhagic pancreatitis presented with pulmonary embolism managed supportively. Prompt recognition and appropriate intervention of this rare complication would improve the outcome in patients with acute pancreatitis
Statin use and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol target achievement for primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a multicenter cross-sectional study in Sri Lanka.
No full textBackgroundStatin therapy serves a crucial role as a primary preventive strategy against atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Even though diabetes poses a significant and growing health concern in Sri Lanka, there is a lack of information regarding the prevalence and intensity of statin prescriptions and the achievement of recommended LDL-C targets in diabetic patients for the primary prevention of ASCVD within the nation. We aimed to assess the prevalence and intensity of statin prescriptions, target LDL-C achievement, and factors associated with target LDL-C achievement for the primary prevention of ASCVD in T2DM patients across several tertiary care facilities in Sri Lanka.MethodsA multi-centered, cross-sectional study was conducted among T2DM patients without clinical ASCVD attending six tertiary care medical clinics in Sri Lanka. Data on ASCVD risk factors and statin prescription were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. ASCVD risk was calculated using the WHO charts. Atorvastatin 20 mg/ rosuvastatin 10 mg was defined as high-intensity statins and target LDL-C was defined as ResultsOf the 2013 participants studied, 46.7% were at moderate-high risk and the rest were at low risk of ASCVD. All were eligible for statin therapy, and 84.1% were prescribed statins. High-intensity statins had been prescribed only for 38.5% of moderate-high-risk patients. Nonetheless, high-intensity statins have also been prescribed for 30.7% of low-risk patients. LDL-C target achievement was studied in a randomly selected subsample of 683 and 65.4% (70.7% in low-risk patients and 60.3% in moderate-high-risk patients) achieved LDL-C targets. Of moderate-high-risk patients, 46.3% had not achieved target LDL-C even with high-intensity statin therapy. Female gender (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.03-2.24, p = 0.036), poor adherence to statins (OR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.18-2.37, p = 0.004), poor glycemic control (OR = 2.27, 95% CI 1.41-3.65, p = 0.001), and inadequate physical activity (OR = 1.48, 95% CI 1.04-2.10, p = 0.031) were significantly associated with failing to achieve LDL-C targets.ConclusionOnly about one third of diabetes patients with moderate-high ASCVD risk received high-intensity statins. Even with high-intensity statin therapy, nearly half of the treated patients failed to meet recommended LDL-C targets
