Is the rural population of Puducherry district healthy in terms of the burden of non-communicable diseases? Findings from a cross-sectional analytical survey.

INTRODUCTION: Epidemiological transition remains a key contributor to the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across developing nations. Population-specific NCD risk factors estimates derived using World Health Organization (WHO) 'STEP-wise approach' are crucial for devising evidence-based public health interventions to combat NCDs. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of behavioral and biological risk factors for NCDs among the rural adult population of Puducherry district in India. METHODOLOGY: STEPS survey was conducted by following all three steps (behavioral, physical measurements and biochemical risk factors) of NCD risk factor assessment. A total of 790 participants were selected from 50 villages through multistage cluster sampling method. STEPS instrument was used to assess behavioral risk factors, physical measurements and biochemical (fasting blood glucose and total cholesterol) risk factors. RESULTS: Tobacco use and alcohol consumption were present among 11.3% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 9-13.6%) and 19.2% (95% CI: 16.5-22.4%) of the population, respectively. Low physical activity, inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables, overweight and obesity were observed among 29.3% (95% CI: 26.2-32.7%), 89.8% (95% CI: 87.6-92%), 15.6% (95% CI: 13.1-18.3%) and 38.9% (95% CI: 35.4-42.2%), respectively. About 28.2% (95% CI: 25.2-31.6%) had hypertension and 24.4% (95% CI: 20-29%) had diabetes mellitus. Abdominal obesity was twice highly prevalent among women. Tobacco and alcohol use were more common among men, whereas low physical activity, obesity and hypercholesterolemia were higher among women. CONCLUSION: Public health interventions to promote healthy lifestyle need to be initiated especially to increase physical activity, intake for fruits and vegetables, and quitting of tobacco and alcohol consumption in the rural population of Puducherry.

Willingness to quit tobacco and its correlates among Indian tobacco users-Findings from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey India, 2016-17.

BACKGROUND: Willingness to quit in a tobacco user forms the basis for future quit attempts and quitting successfully. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and correlates of willingness to quit among tobacco users in India using the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), India, 2016-2017. METHODS: GATS, 2016-17 was a multistage geographically clustered sample survey done among 74,037 individuals aged 15 years and above across all the states and two of the Union Territories of India. Data of all those reported using any form of tobacco were studied for past attempts to quit tobacco, advised to quit by a health care provider, and exposure to anti-tobacco messages delivered through various media and the correlation of these with the willingness to quit using multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Of the 21,085 current tobacco users in the survey, 11,679 (52.2%), were willing to quit all forms of tobacco. Multivariate analysis showed that those in younger age groups (OR: 1.39 [1.23-1.56]), higher education levels (OR 1.15 [1.05-1.18]), time of first tobacco use in the day being more than 60 min after waking up in the morning (OR 1.11 [1.03-1.2]), history of attempts to quit in the past 12 months (OR 1.78 [1.69-1.87]), those advised to quit by health care provider in the past 12 months (OR 1.11 [1.06-1.17]), those using single form of tobacco (OR 1.1 [1.05-1.17]), those exposed to anti-tobacco messages in newspapers/magazines (OR 1.1 [1.05-1.17]), and cinemas (1.14 [1.08-1.20]) were more willing to quit compared to their counterparts. CONCLUSION: Enhanced publicizing of anti-tobacco messages through the currently employed media, and ensuring that doctors give a brief advice to quit during any contact with a tobacco user could improve the willingness to quit and the consequent quit rate, especially among those tobacco users who are in younger age groups and who have attempted to quit earlier.

Unconditional probability of dying and age-specific mortality rate because of major non-communicable diseases in India: Time trends from 2001 to 2013.

Background: Unconditional probability of dying because of four major non-communicable diseases (NCDs) between 30 and 70 years of age is the selected global indicator to measure the impact of NCD prevention and control programs. Objective: To calculate the unconditional probability of dying and age-specific mortality rate because of major NCDs in India from 2001 to 2013. Methods: This study used multiple data sources that are available in the public domain-Census 2001 and 2011, Sample Registration System, causes of death reports in 2001-03, 2004-06, and 2010-13. Unconditional probability of dying between ages 30 and 70 years during 2001, 2006, and 2013 was calculated by the formula suggested by the World Health Organization. Line graphs were used to depict time trends in age-specific mortality rates over the years in four major NCDs (cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases). Results: The age-specific mortality rate because of four NCDs showed a decrease of 51 deaths per 100,000 population from 2001 to 2013. Of the four NCDs, age-specific mortality rate was highest in cardiovascular diseases (238.2/100,000 population) and least in diabetes mellitus (21.9/100,000 population); it was 76.3 and 58.2/100,000 population for cancer and chronic respiratory diseases, respectively. The probability of dying was very less and was almost the same from 30 to 44 years of life and increased steeply after that till 70 years of life; and it was more in males (24%) compared with females (17.4%). Conclusion: Although India has shown a decreasing trend in premature mortality because of NCDs in the past decade, the rate of decrease is not on par to achieve the global "25 × 25" target.

Effect of cabergoline monotherapy in Cushing's disease: an individual participant data meta-analysis.

CONTEXT: The primary treatment of choice for Cushing's disease (CD) is the removal of the pituitary adenoma by transsphenoidal surgery (TSS). The surgical failure is seen in up to 75% of cases depending on the experience of the surgeon in different studies. Medical therapy is one of the options for the treatment of recurrent or persistent CD. METHODOLOGY: The primary outcome of this meta-analysis was to find the proportion of patients achieving normalisation of 24-h urinary free cortisol (remission of CD) following cabergoline monotherapy. Literature search was conducted in January 2018 in PubMed/MEDLINE database from its date of inception to 31st December 2017. The search strategy used was "[(cushing) OR Cushing's] AND cabergoline". Individual participant data were extracted from the included studies and risk of bias was analysed by review checklist proposed by MOOSE. RESULTS: The individual participant data of 124 patients from six observational studies were included in this meta-analysis. 92 patients (74.2%) had past pituitary surgery. The proportion of patients achieving remission of Cushing's disease (CD) with cabergoline monotherapy was 34% (95% confidence interval 0.26­0.43; P = 0.001) [corrected]. The previous surgery [odds ratio (OR) 28.4], duration of cabergoline monotherapy (OR 1.31) and maximum cabergoline dose (OR 0.19) were predictors for remission of CD. Mild and severe side effects were reported in 37.3% and 5.6% of patients, respectively, during cabergoline monotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis shows that cabergoline monotherapy is a reasonable alternative for subjects with persistent or recurrent CD after TSS. It can also be used in CD patients either as a bridge therapy while waiting for surgery or in those unwilling for surgery or have contraindication to it.

Epidemiology of mental disability using Indian Disability Evaluation Assessment Scale among general population in an urban area of Puducherry, India.

BACKGROUND: There is paucity of information on epidemiology of mental disability in India. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess mental disability, and to study the association between sociodemographic and comorbid chronic conditions with mental disability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among ≥5 years age group in an urban area attached to a Tertiary Care Medical Institute in Puducherry, India. Mental disability was assessed using Indian Disability Evaluation and Assessment Scale. Chronic morbid conditions and other associated factors were collected using pretested questionnaire. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: About 2537 subjects were covered with a response rate of 94.1%. Overall, the prevalence of mental disability was found to be 7.1% (181/2537). Among them, majority had mild mental disability (151, 83.4%), followed by moderate (21, 11.6%), severe (8, 4.4%), and profound (1, 0.6%) mental disability. Univariate analysis showed that age group status, marital status, education level, occupation, family type, religion, hypertension, joint pain, backache, current smoking, current alcohol use, and conflicts were associated with mental disability (P < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that male gender (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =2.064), widowed status (AOR = 27.022), separated/divorced status (AOR = 16.674), currently married status (AOR = 18.487), being illiterate (AOR = 4.352), having 1st-10th standard education (AOR = 2.531), being in an unskilled (AOR = 0.287) or semiskilled/skilled occupation (AOR = 0.025), belonging to a nuclear family (AOR = 1.816), and absence of family conflicts (AOR = 0.259) were significantly associated with mental disability compared to their counterparts. CONCLUSION: Mental disability is more common in this area. Males, lesser education level, skilled or unskilled occupation, nuclear family, and conflicts were associated with mental disability after adjusting other variables. Multicentric cross-sectional analytical studies will explore the mental disability burden and its associated factors at regional or country level.

Palliative care in India: Situation assessment and future scope.

Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness, through prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification, assessment and treatment of pain, and other problems - physical, psychosocial, and spiritual. It is estimated that in India the total number of people who need palliative care is likely to be 5.4 million people a year. Though palliative care services have been in existence for many years, India ranks at the bottom of the Quality of Death index in overall score. However there has been steady progress in the past few years through community-owned palliative care services. One of the key objectives of the National Programme for prevention and control of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and stroke is to establish and develop capacity for palliative and rehabilitative care. Community models for the provision of home-based palliative care is possible by involving community caregivers and volunteers supervised by nurses trained in palliative care. Training of medical officers and health care professionals, and sensitization of the public through awareness campaigns are vital to improve the scope and coverage of palliative care. Process of translating palliative care plan into action requires strong leadership, competent management, political support and integration across all levels of care.

Risk factors for cardiovascular diseases: is the social gradient reversing in northern India?

BACKGROUND: In the past century, most developed countries witnessed a reversal of social gradient in cardiovascular diseases. To examine whether this phenomenon is also under way in developing countries, we assessed the prevalence of selected risk factors for cardiovascular diseases among different social groups living in urban and rural areas of northern India. METHODS: Four hundred adults > or =30 years of age, selected by cluster sampling, were surveyed from 8 purposively selected communities of Chandigarh and Haryana during 2004-05. The WHO STEPS tool for surveillance of risk factors was used to enquire about sociodemographic characteristics, tobacco use, alcohol intake, physical activity and to measure weight, height, blood pressure, and waist and hip circumference. Prevalence of risk factors such as tobacco use, physical inactivity, overweight (BMI > or =25 kg/m2), and hypertension (> or = 140/90 mmHg or on anti-hypertension treatment) were estimated according to the area of residence and across educational categories after controlling for the effects of confounding variables. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension in urban (39%; 95% CI 29.5%-49.2%), slum (35%; 95% CI 27.2%-42.9%) and rural (33%; 95% CI 25.4%-40.8%) communities was found to be statistically similar (p > 0.05) after controlling for age, gender and education. The prevalence of physical inactivity (17% v. 12%), central obesity (90% v. 88%), overweight (20% v. 19%) and hypertension (34% v. 36%), were found to be statistically similar among literate and illiterate population after controlling for the effect of age, sex and place of residence (p > 0.05). However, the risk of tobacco use was significantly lower among literates (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1-0.8). CONCLUSION: In selected communities of northern India, most of the cardiovascular disease risk factors did not have a social gradient except tobacco use, which was more common in the lower social group.