Serum high sensitive C-reactive protein level and its correlation with lipid profile among dyspeptic patients with or without Helicobacter pylori infection in East Gojjam zone, Ethiopia.

Introduction: Dyspepsia is a group of symptoms located in the gastroduodenal area of the upper gastrointestinal tract characterized by epigastric pain, postprandial completeness, or early satiety and occasionally related to heartburn. Helicobacter pylori is the major causative agent of dyspepsia and gastric-related disorders; besides, it alters different metabolic processes in the human body, such as lipid metabolism and inflammatory processes. Even though dyslipidemia and inflammation are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disorders, we are assessing the interaction between serum lipids and highly sensitive C reactive protein levels among dyspeptic patients to predict potential cardiovascular disorders. Objectives: To assess serum high sensitive C reactive protein levels and its correlation with lipid profile among dyspeptic patients. Methods: A hospital-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2022 to March 2023 in East Gojjam, Ethiopia. One hundred Helicobacter pylori-positive and 100 Helicobacter pylori-negative dyspeptic patients were included. Data were checked for completeness and entered into SPSS version 26.0 software and analyzed. The association between variables was determined by Pearson correlation analysis. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result: The mean serum high sensitive C reactive protein was 8.09 ± 7.84 mg/L, and serum high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, and triglyceride were (35.35 ± 7.5, 105.07 ± 87.63, 142.31 ± 71.31, 160.07 ± 43.06) mg/dl, respectively, for Helicobacter pylori positive dyspeptic patients. Among these values, high-density lipoprotein is negatively correlated with high sensitive C reactive and total cholesterol is positively correlated with high sensitive C reactive levels among Helicobacter pylori-infected dyspeptic patients with a p-value < 0.05, but in Helicobacter pylori negative dyspeptic patients, there is no significant correlation between lipid profile and high sensitive C reactive levels. Conclusion: Serum high sensitive C reactive levels had a negative correlation with high-density lipoprotein and a positive correlation with total cholesterol among Helicobacter pylori-positive dyspeptic patients. Therefore, the significant interaction between serum lipid levels and inflammation exacerbates the potential risk of cardiovascular disorders among Helicobacter pylori-positive dyspeptic patients.

Visual Impairment and Its Associated Factors Among Hypertensive Patients in Amhara Region Referral Hospitals, Ethiopia.

Background: Visual impairment is one of the most common long-term effects of high blood pressure. It affects one's quality of life, independence, and mobility. There is a paucity of information regarding the prevalence of visual impairment due to hypertension in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of visual impairment and its associated factors among hypertensive patients in referral hospitals of the Amhara region, Ethiopia, 2021. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 423 study participants, which were selected by systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected by using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire and physical measurements. The collected data were entered into Epi-data version 4.6. Then, exported into SPSS Version 26 for analysis. The crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% Confidence intervals were calculated. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done. Variables with a p-value of ≤0.05 were stated as significantly associated with visual impairment. Results: The overall prevalence of visual impairment among hypertensive patients was 32.4% (95% CI: 27.9-37.9). Duration of hypertension ≥ 5 years (AOR =3.06, 95% CI: 1.86-4.95), history of ocular trauma (AOR =2.50, 95% CI: 1.3-4.73), and ever alcohol drinking (AOR = 2.72, 95% CI: 1.32-5.62) were significantly associated with visual impairment. Conclusion: Nearly one-third of hypertensive patients were visually impaired from the study participants. Duration of hypertension ≥5 years, history of ocular trauma, and ever alcohol drinking was significantly associated with visual impairment among hypertensive patients. Therefore, in addition to providing medical care and follow-up services for hypertension patients, health education is needed for early and proper management of visual impairment, and to decrease their level of alcohol consumption. Furthermore, better to do this study by prospective cohort study design to identify cause-and-effect relationships.