Prevalence and associations of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Sri Lankan patients with type 2 diabetes: A single center study.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common causes for chronic liver disease in Asians. It occurs more commonly in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, data on prevalence and associations of NAFLD among Sri Lankans with diabetes are lacking. The main aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with NAFLD in a cohort of diabetic patients. METHODS: Total of 233 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, followed up at a diabetes center in Southern Sri Lanka, were recruited by convenience sampling method. Each of them underwent a detailed medical history, physical examination, laboratory investigations and abdominal ultrasonography(USS). The diagnosis of NAFLD was made according to the established criteria using USS. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of NAFLD based on USS was 62.6% with no significant gender difference. Compared to USS, elevation in AST and ALT levels, based on NHANES III criteria, occurred only in 42% (98/234). The patients with NAFLD (56.7 ±â€¯8.9) were significantly younger and had higher BMI and waist circumference, and raised AST and ALT than those without NAFLD. Binary logistic regression showed that the use of pioglitazone, higher BMI, and waist circumference were independently and significantly associated with NAFLD. CONCLUSIONS: NAFLD is common in Sri Lankan patients with T2DM and central and global obesity are significant associations. Use of pioglitazone seemed to be protective against the development of NAFLD. These findings underscore the need for weight management as a preventive measure of NAFLD in T2DM patients.

Attainment of recommended therapeutic targets of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus screened at a diabetes clinic in Sri Lanka.

INTRODUCTION: Implementation of effective measures to control rising burden of cardiovascular diseases among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) requires information on the adequacy of control and identification of specific groups with suboptimal control of blood glucose, lipids and blood pressure. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of patients with T2DM referred from primary care to a diabetes center was carried out to estimate the proportion of patients achieving the recommended therapeutic targets of four major modifiable cardiovascular risk factors: glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c <7%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol <100 mg/dL, systolic blood pressure (SBP) <130 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) <80 mmHg and their associations with age, gender, duration of diabetes and body mass index were studied. RESULTS: Mean (SD) age and the duration of the sample of 2422 (65% males) were 52 (11) and 9 (3), respectively. Percentages with optimal HbA1c, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, SBP and DBP were 25.2%, 24.3%, 32% and 56.7%, respectively. Only 2% had achieved optimal control of all four risk factors. Significantly higher percentages of males were having optimal HbA1C, SBP and DBP, and regression analysis revealed that male gender was significantly associated with optimal control of SBP. CONCLUSION: Control of cardiovascular risk diseases factors among patients with T2DM managed in the primary care settings needs further improvements in target achievement in all four modifiable risk factors.

Re-exploring the value of surveillance cultures in predicting pathogens of late onset neonatal sepsis in a tertiary care hospital in southern Sri Lanka.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the validity of surveillance cultures in predicting causative organism(s) of late onset neonatal sepsis. RESULTS: Prospective analytical study was conducted from January to April 2011 at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya, Galle, Sri Lanka. Fifty neonates were screened on admission and weekly thereafter for colonization with potential pathogens. On suspicion of infection, relevant samples were cultured and tested for antibiotic sensitivity. There were 55 episodes of clinically suspected infections including 33 nosocomial infections. One-third (17/55) of all clinically suspected infections were culture positive. Out of 55, only 33 episodes were clinically suspected nosocomial infections. Clinically suspected nosocomial infection rate was 50/1000 patient-days. Culture proven nosocomial infection rate was 13.61/1000 patient-days. Coliforms were the commonest clinical isolate (76%) and 2/3 of them produced extended spectrum ß lactamase. More than 80% of the isolates causing late onset sepsis were sensitive to carbapenems and aminoglycosides. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of surveillance cultures were 77.8, 37.5, 31.8 and 81.8%, respectively. Surveillance samples can be used to predict pathogens of late-onset sepsis. Broad-spectrum antibiotics (carbapenems, aminoglycosides) are recommended as empirical therapy for late-onset neonatal sepsis.

Prevalence of low HDL cholesterol and its associations among Sri Lankan patients with diabetes mellitus on statin therapy.

AIMS: We aimed to study the prevalence and associations of suboptimal high density lipoproteins level, a characteristic feature in diabetic dyslipidemia among patients under statin therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From a database of 2416 patients, data on age, gender, duration of diabetes, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), low density lipoproteins (LDL), triglyceride, high density lipoproteins (HDL) were obtained. Prevalence of suboptimal HDL (<40mg/dL in males and <50mg/dL in females) and its association with gender, age, duration of diabetes, BMI and WC were studied. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of the sample (n=2416) was 53 (10) years and 64.2% of them (n=1550) were males. Prevalence of suboptimal HDL was 17.6%. Regression analysis revealed female gender, (OR 7.73, 95% CI 5.99-9.97) younger age (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97-0.99), higher BMI (OR1.05. 95% CI 1.00-1.2) and LDL level over 100mg/dL (OR 1.004, 95% CI 1.00-1.007) had significant associations with suboptimal HDL. CONCLUSIONS: Every sixth diabetic patient on statins has suboptimal HDL level. Females, younger and obese diabetic individuals should be more focused on achieving optimal HDL cholesterol levels.

Association of Risk Estimates of Three Different Cardiovascular Risk Assessment Tools with Carotid Intima Media Thickness in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: Risk assessment tools used to calculate the Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) risk such as the Framingham Risk Score (FRS), United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes study (UKPDS) risk engine and the World Health Organization (WHO) risk score have not been tested on their ability to detect subclinical atherosclerosis in most developing countries. AIM: To study the association between the calculated CVD risk scores using each of these tools and Carotid Intima Medial Thickness (CIMT), a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis, in a group of patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in Sri Lanka. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We calculated CVD risk scores of 68 randomly selected patients with T2DM with no history or symptoms of CVD and measured their CIMT using B-mode ultrasonography (USS). Carotid USS was considered positive when the maximum carotid IMT was 0.9mm or when arteriosclerotic plaques were detected. The 10-year CVD risk was calculated using the FRS, the UKPDS risk engine and the WHO risk score. Pearson correlation was used to study the association between CVD risk scores with CIMT. RESULTS: Of the 68 patients studied, 50% were males and their mean age (SD) was 56.9 (±9.6) years. The mean age at onset and duration of diabetes were 44.3(±9.1) and 12.2(±7.6) years respectively. Of the scoring methods, UKPDS tool had weak, but significantly positive (r = 0.26, p < 0.05) and FRS had positive but not significant association (r= 0. 21) with CIMT. There was a negative association between CIMT and WHO risk score (r= - 0.07). CONCLUSION: Of the three CVD risk assessment tools, both UKPDS risk engine and FRS have almost equal ability (former being marginally superior) in predicting underlying atherosclerotic vascular disease in patients with T2DM. Negative association of the WHO risk score with CIMT argues against its utility for CVD screening. These findings highlight the need for developing more sensitive and reliable CVD risk assessment tools for developing countries.