Impact of School-Based Health Behavioral Intervention on Awareness, Practice Pattern of Healthy Lifestyle, and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors among School Children of Shimla: A Cluster-Randomized, Intervention Study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of multicomponent intervention on knowledge and practice of health behaviors among school children. The secondary objective was to assess mean change in cardiometabolic risk factors such as anthropometric measurements and biochemical profile. METHODS: A cluster-randomized, controlled trial was conducted among adolescents aged 13-18 y from government and private senior secondary schools in Shimla city. Multicomponent health behavioral intervention was delivered through teachers. Subjective and objective measures of knowledge and health behaviors were the primary outcomes. RESULTS: There was no significant effect of intervention on nutrition knowledge adjusted mean difference (aMD) 2.4 (95% CI: -3.7 to 8.7; p = 0.43), and the dietary habits adjusted mean difference 2.9 (95% CI: -0.3 to 6.2; p = 0.08) between the intervention and control group. However, significant improvement in odds of dietary practices 2.4 (95% CI: 1.1 to 5.0; p = 0.03) and decreased odds of consumption of junk food 3.8 (95% CI: 1.6 to 9.3; p = 0.003) was observed. There was no effect on physical activity odds 2.9 (95% CI: 0.8 to 11.6; p = 0.12) or screen time with aMD 0.9 (95% CI: 0.7 to 1.2; p = 0.52). Anthropometric measurements and biochemical profile also did not differ except low-density lipoprotein cholesterol which had significantly lower aMD: -7.2 (95% CI: -13.6 to -1.0; p = 0.02). There was no change in alcohol and tobacco consumption with odds 0.8 (95% CI: 0.6 to 1.2; p = 0.33) and 1.0 (95% CI: 0.7 to 1.5; p = 0.87), respectively after intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Multipronged interventions targeting lifestyle behaviors of adolescents at multilevels are vital to curb rising trends of noncommunicable diseases. This quintessentially calls for wider support across multiple sectors and creation of sustained enabling macro- and micro-environment. The trial is registered in the Clinical Trial Registry of India under the registration number CTRI/2018/01/011312 dated 12/01/2018 Registered, retrospectively.

Assessment of the impact of heart failure on household economic well-being: a protocol.

Background: Heart failure (HF), which is an emerging public health issue, adversely affects the strained health system in India. The adverse impact of HF on the economic well-being has been narrated in various anecdotal reports from India, with affected individuals and their dependents pushed into the vicious cycle of poverty. There is limited research quantifying how HF impacts the economic well-being of households from low- and middle-income countries. Methods: We describe the methods of a detailed economic impact assessment of HF at the household level in India. The study will be initiated across 20 hospitals in India, which are part of the National heart Failure Registry (NHFR). The selected centres represent different regions in India, stratified based on the prevailing stages of epidemiological transition levels (ETLs). We will collect data from 1800 patients with acute decompensated HF and within 6-15 months follow-up from the time of initial admission. The data that we intend to collect will consist of a) household healthcare expenditure including out-of-pocket expenditure, b) financing mechanisms used by households and (c) the impoverishing effects of health expenditures including distress financing and catastrophic health expenditure. Trained staff at each centre will collect data by using a validated and structured interview schedule. The study will have 80% power to detect an 8% difference in the proportion of households experiencing catastrophic health expenditures between two ETL groups.  After considering a non-response rate of 5%, the target sample size is approximately 600 patients from each group and the total sample size is 1800 patients. Potential Impact: Our study will provide information on catastrophic health spending, distress financing and household expenditure in heart failure patients. Our findings will help policy makers in understanding the micro-economic impact of HF in India and aid in allocation of appropriate resources for prevention and control of HF.

Nasal Polyposis and Its Association with Cardiac Functions.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to ascertain the effect of nasal polyposis on cardiac functions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective randomized interventional open-label endpoint-controlled study was conducted in an academic tertiary care hospital. Thirty-one patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis were enrolled and administered fluticasone furoate nasal spray for 3 weeks before randomly segregation into surgical or medical group. The treatment continued for 3 months in both groups. The SNOT-22 (Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22) score, polyp grade, and right ventricular and pulmonary arterial functions were recorded in both groups before and after 3 months of the intervention. RESULTS: Both groups had significant improvement in SNOT-22 scores after 3 months of intervention. Both groups showed improvement in cardiac functions, but statistical significance was found only in subjects who underwent surgery. CONCLUSION: Nasal polyp affects cardiac functions, and this needs further evaluation and research through studies on large samples.

Yoga-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation After Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: Given the shortage of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs in India and poor uptake worldwide, there is an urgent need to find alternative models of CR that are inexpensive and may offer choice to subgroups with poor uptake (e.g., women and elderly). OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the effects of yoga-based CR (Yoga-CaRe) on major cardiovascular events and self-rated health in a multicenter randomized controlled trial. METHODS: The trial was conducted in 24 medical centers across India. This study recruited 3,959 patients with acute myocardial infarction with a median and minimum follow-up of 22 and 6 months. Patients were individually randomized to receive either a Yoga-CaRe program (n = 1,970) or enhanced standard care involving educational advice (n = 1,989). The co-primary outcomes were: 1) first occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (composite of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, or emergency cardiovascular hospitalization); and 2) self-rated health on the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions-5 Level visual analogue scale at 12 weeks. RESULTS: MACE occurred in 131 (6.7%) patients in the Yoga-CaRe group and 146 (7.4%) patients in the enhanced standard care group (hazard ratio with Yoga-CaRe: 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.71 to 1.15; p = 0.41). Self-rated health was 77 in Yoga-CaRe and 75.7 in the enhanced standard care group (baseline-adjusted mean difference in favor of Yoga-CaRe: 1.5; 95% CI: 0.5 to 2.5; p = 0.002). The Yoga-CaRe group had greater return to pre-infarct activities, but there was no difference in tobacco cessation or medication adherence between the treatment groups (secondary outcomes). CONCLUSIONS: Yoga-CaRe improved self-rated health and return to pre-infarct activities after acute myocardial infarction, but the trial lacked statistical power to show a difference in MACE. Yoga-CaRe may be an option when conventional CR is unavailable or unacceptable to individuals. (A study on effectiveness of YOGA based cardiac rehabilitation programme in India and United Kingdom; CTRI/2012/02/002408).

Smartphone-based tele-electrocardiography support for primary care physicians reduces the pain-to-treatment time in acute coronary syndrome.

Background The Himachal Pradesh state acute coronary syndrome registry recorded a median delay of 13 h between the time of onset of pain to the time of making the diagnosis and giving treatment for acute coronary syndrome. We conducted a pilot study on providing 24-h tele-electrocardiography (Tele-ECG) services in the district Kangra of Himachal Pradesh, with the aim to reduce the time taken for diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome. Methods The intervention group for the study included eight rural community health centres, each with one to three primary care physicians, who were all unskilled in electrocardiogram interpretation. We provided them with 24-h Tele-ECG support. The primary care physicians used their smartphones to transmit the electrocardiogram image to the command centre, which was then read by the skilled specialist physicians in our medical college hospital and the report sent back within five minutes of having received the electrocardiogram. Antiplatelets were given by the primary care physician to patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome, who was then transported to the medical college hospital. The urban sub-divisional hospitals ( n = 6) formed the control group for the study. These hospitals had five to fifteen unskilled primary care physicians and one to two skilled specialist physicians; no intervention was done in this group. A pilot was run from February 2015-January 2016. Results We received 819 Tele-ECG consultations within the intervention group; 157 cases of acute coronary syndrome were confirmed and transferred to our medical college hospital facility. Similarly, we admitted 177 cases of acute coronary syndrome at the medical college hospital, who were first attended to by the primary care physician in the control group. Aspirin was administered to 91% and 58% of patients with acute coronary syndrome in the intervention and the control groups, respectively ( p < 0.0001). The median hospital-to-aspirin time (h) in the intervention and the control groups was 0.7 ± 1.45 h and 3.5 ± 10 h, respectively ( p < 0.0001). In the intervention group, 72% of the ST elevation myocardial infarction patients were diagnosed within 12 h by the primary care physician using Tele-ECG support. Interpretation and conclusions Smartphone-based Tele-ECG support for primary care physicians reduced the hospital-to-aspirin time in acute coronary syndrome significantly ( p < 0.0001). This is an effective low cost strategy and is easily replicable anywhere in the world.

Subclinical atherosclerotic vascular disease in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Prospective hospital-based case control study.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an important non-communicable disease worldwide with a rising global incidence. COPD is associated with multiple co-morbidities. Patients with COPD are at increased risk of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular events. Cardiovascular diseases are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in COPD. The present case-control study was designed to assess the relationship between sub-clinical atherosclerotic vascular diseases with COPD. METHODS: It was a prospective case-control blinded observational study. There were 142 COPD patients and 124 age-and sex-matched controls without COPD and cardiovascular diseases. Frequency of sub-clinical atherosclerosis was assessed by the carotid B-mode duplex ultrasonography assessment of carotid wall intima medial thickness (IMT). Plaque was defined as IMT of more than 1.2 mm. RESULTS: Prevalence of carotid plaqing was significantly higher amongst patients of COPD (38.7%) compared to controls (13.7%, odds ratio 3.9, P < 0.0001). Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed COPD as an independent predictor of carotid plaqing (r = 0.85, P < 0.023). CONCLUSION: The frequency of carotid plaqing is high in COPD patients. Carotid plaqing may be due to shared risk factors or the presence of low-grade systemic inflammation. Presence of increased CIMT and carotid plaqing in COPD patients identifies early atherosclerotic changes and future cardiovascular risk. Hence screening of CIMT should be a part of cardiovascular assessment in patients with COPD.

To compare the effect of Telmisartan with Metoprolol on arterial stiffness in hypertension: prospective randomized parallel group trial.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is often complicated by increased arterial stiffness and is an independent predictor of adverse cardiovascular (CV) outcome. Beta blockers and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are commonly used antihypertensive agents. The effect of beta blockers and ARBs on arterial stiffness has not been compared adequately. The aim of the present study is to compare the effect of telmisartan with metoprolol on arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients in prospective open label randomized parallel group intervention study. METHODS: 100 patients of hypertension, not on any antihypertensive agents, were enrolled after obtaining informed consent. Baseline recording of data related to demographics, CV risk factors, anthropometry and BP were made. Arterial stiffness was measured noninvasively by recording pulse wave velocity (PWV) using periscope (Genesis medical system). Left ventricular (LV) mass was measured using 2D guided M-mode echocardiography. Blood sugar, renal function, lipids and uric acid estimations were done in fasting state. Patients were randomized to receive metoprolol and telmisartan using stratified randomization technique. Dose of the study drugs were titrated to achieve target BP of <140/90 mmHg. Data related to PWV, BP, anthropometry and blood biochemistry was repeated after 6 months of treatment with study drugs. RESULTS: Telmisartan resulted in significantly greater reduction in arterial stiffness index (ASI) in left and right lower limb arterial bed (39.9 ± 11.7 vs. 46.8 ± 17.0 m/s, p < 0.02) and (36.4 ± 9.6 vs. 44.86 ± 15.1 m/s, p < 0.002) respectively and systolic blood pressure (SBP) (-4.9 mmHg with 95% C.I. of -8.0-1.7 mmHg, p < 0.003) compared to metoprolol. Reduction in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in telmisartan and metoprolol groups was not different statistically (-1.0 mmHg with 95% C.I. of -3.3-1.2 mmHg, p < 0.3). The change in LV mass was not significantly different between the study groups (135.5 ± 37.6 vs. 143.2 ± 41.5, p < 0.3).

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among newly diagnosed hypertensive patients in the hills of Himachal Pradesh, India.

To study the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) among newly diagnosed hypertensive patients in a tertiary care hospital in the northern hilly state of Himachal Pradesh, India, located in western Himalayas at a moderate altitude of 2200 m above mean sea level. One hundred and eighteen newly diagnosed hypertensive patients above the age of 20 years were studied in a hospital-based cross-sectional study. MS prevalence was estimated by International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria and modified National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) criteria. Student's t-test was used to compare the mean of the continuous variables. Chi-square test was used to compare discrete variables. The prevalence of MS in hypertensive patients was 68.6% (modified NCEP-ATP III) and 63.6% (IDF criteria). The most common phenotype of MS with the component of hypertension was the coexistence of waist circumference (90.1%), low high-density lipoprotein (HDL; 70.4%), and high triglycerides (67.9%) as per the modified NCEP-ATP III criteria, and low HDL (76.2%) and high triglycerides (66.4%) as per the IDF criteria. Fasting blood glucose (33.2% as per the modified NCEP-ATP III criteria and 32.6% as per the IDF criteria) was the least significant factor having an association with MS. The prevalence of MS among hypertensive patients was high and indicates the need for metabolic screening in all hypertensive patients at the first diagnosis.

Hearing loss with phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors: a prospective and objective analysis with tadalafil.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To assess the effect of tadalafil on auditory functions. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observational study in a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: Twenty-five tadalafil naïve patients with erectile dysfunction or pulmonary artery hypertension were subjected to pure-tone and brainstem-evoked response audiometry before drug therapy, and 3 and 30 days following drug therapy. Results were compared using analysis of variance for repeated measures with Bonferonni correction. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were taking tadalafil 10 mg for erectile dysfunction, and another 10 patients were on tadalafil 20 mg once daily for pulmonary artery hypertension. No statistically significant difference was found in hearing threshold at baseline and at follow-up (P > .05). However, three patients on tadalafil 20 mg showed a significant increase in hearing threshold at higher frequencies. There was no incidence of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in the study group. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first prospective and observational study that evaluated the effect of tadalafil on auditory functions with objective tests. Although there was no statistically significant result to confirm or refute the association between tadalafil and hearing impairment, increased threshold at higher frequencies after taking tadalafil supports the results from previous studies and hints at a possible relationship between the two. Similar large sample studies are warranted to know the exact association of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors on auditory functions.