There is growing evidence of sex-related differences in the epidemiology and pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases. This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis that aimed to highlight the sex-specific differences in the clinical features and outcomes of acute myocarditis. Electronic searches were performed on Scopus, Embase, and PubMed from inception up to June 2023 to identify studies comparing the clinical features and outcomes of acute myocarditis in males and females. Both qualitative and quantitative summaries were conducted. In this systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 studies involving 34,791 patients presenting with acute myocarditis. Male patients, who comprised 69.8% of the entire pooled population, presented at a markedly younger age (mean difference: -8.99 years; 95% CI: -13.60, -4.38; p=0.0001). They also had significantly lower rates of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease compared to female patients (p<0.01). Male patients were more likely to present with ST elevation (RR: 2.57 [1.38, 4.79]; p=0.003) and higher C-reactive protein levels (RR: 3.04 [2.75, 3.34]; p<0.00001) compared to female patients. This review underscores the crucial sex-specific evaluation in acute myocarditis, necessitating tailored approaches in assessment and diagnostic evaluation, and emphasizing the need for additional research in this domain.
Objective: To assess the effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection on heart transplant recipients requiring immunotherapy. To investigate the effectiveness of vaccination in immunosuppressed heart transplant recipients during the initial years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to examine the timing of COVID-19 infections in heart transplant recipients' posttransplantation. Patients and Methods: International data on COVID-19 infection in immunosuppressed populations is limited. Heart transplant recipients requiring immunotherapy are at risk for increased complications with COVID-19 infection. The availability of vaccination and temporal trends in this population has not been well described. We report outcomes in immunosuppressed patients during the initial years of the COVID-19 pandemic from March 1, 2019, to October 31, 2021, at Mayo Clinic in Florida. Results: A total of 98 patients were reviewed, of which 49 were COVID-19-positive (CP), and 49 were negative (CN). The cohort was well matched, with a median age of 58 years (49-65 years) in both groups. Females consisted of 41% in the CP group and 18.4% in the CN group. Immunosuppression was not significantly different for CP or CN patients. The median time from transplant to CP was 384 days (237-677 days). The CN group's median follow-up after transplant was 947 days (737-1191 days). The CP hospitalization rate was 24% with only 1 death. More CP patients were vaccinated than the CN group (92% vs 78%, P=.025). Conclusion: Our study sheds light on COVID-19's effect on heart transplant recipients and vaccination in this population. Our findings suggest a potentially heightened infection risk within the first 1.5 years posttransplant, highlighting the need to optimize management strategies and vaccine efficacy in this vulnerable group.
INTRODUCTION: Characterised by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) symptoms including diarrhoea, abdominal pain and fatigue can significantly impact patient's quality of life. Therapeutic developments in the last 20 years have revolutionised treatment. However, clinical trials and real-world data show primary non-response rates up to 40%. A significant challenge is an inability to predict which treatment will benefit individual patients.Current understanding of IBD pathogenesis implicates complex interactions between host genetics and the gut microbiome. Most cohorts studying the gut microbiota to date have been underpowered, examined single treatments and produced heterogeneous results. Lack of cross-treatment comparisons and well-powered independent replication cohorts hampers the ability to infer real-world utility of predictive signatures.IBD-RESPONSE will use multi-omic data to create a predictive tool for treatment response. Future patient benefit may include development of biomarker-based treatment stratification or manipulation of intestinal microbial targets. IBD-RESPONSE and downstream studies have the potential to improve quality of life, reduce patient risk and reduce expenditure on ineffective treatments. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This prospective, multicentre, observational study will identify and validate a predictive model for response to advanced IBD therapies, incorporating gut microbiome, metabolome, single-cell transcriptome, human genome, dietary and clinical data. 1325 participants commencing advanced therapies will be recruited from ~40 UK sites. Data will be collected at baseline, week 14 and week 54. The primary outcome is week 14 clinical response. Secondary outcomes include clinical remission, loss of response in week 14 responders, corticosteroid-free response/remission, time to treatment escalation and change in patient-reported outcome measures. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was obtained from the Wales Research Ethics Committee 5 (ref: 21/WA/0228). Recruitment is ongoing. Following study completion, results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific meetings. Publications will be summarised at www.ibd-response.co.uk. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN96296121.
Colitis, Ulcerative , Crohn Disease , Inflammatory Bowel Diseases , Humans , Colitis, Ulcerative/therapy , Crohn Disease/drug therapy , Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/drug therapy , Multicenter Studies as Topic , Observational Studies as Topic , Precision Medicine , Prospective Studies , Quality of Life
Background: COVID-19 commonly affects the lungs and may lead to mild to severe hypoxemia. The supplemental oxygen requirement gradually reduces with the improvement in lung pathology. However, a few patients may have exertional desaturation, and ongoing oxygen needs at the time of hospital discharge. The objective of this research was to study the requirement of oxygen therapy in the immediate post-COVID-19 period and its associated risk factors. Materials and Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on the admitted post-COVID-19 patients who had recently tested real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) negative in a tertiary care center from August 2021 to mid of October 2021. Nonprobability consecutive sampling was used, and the sample size was 108. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM-SPSS), version 23. The mode of oxygen therapy (nasal cannula, face mask, reservoir mask, or mechanical ventilation) in the first two weeks of the study was presented appropriately in a table. The nonparametric statistical tests were applied to determine the association between the duration of post-COVID-19 oxygen therapy and several other risk factors such as age, gender, comorbidities, smoking status, exposure to firewood, COVID-19 vaccination, and severity of COVID-19. Results: 95 (87.96%) cases required oxygen therapy in their immediate post-COVID-19 period. The overall median duration of oxygen therapy was 6.00 (4.00-10.00) days. The nasal cannula was the most commonly used mode of oxygen supplement. The duration of oxygen therapy was significantly higher in patients aged more than 60 years (6.00 [5.00-11.00], p = 0.013), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (10.00 [6.00-12.75], p = 0.006), history of chronic smoking (9.00 [5.50-13.00], p = 0.044), and severe COVID-19 infection (7.00 [5.00-10.50], p = 0.042). Conclusions: The proportion of patients requiring oxygen therapy in the immediate post-COVID-19 period was higher than that reported in other studies. In addition, old age (>60 years), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic smoking, and severe COVID-19 infection significantly increased the duration of oxygen therapy. So, these factors should be assessed while discharging patients from COVID-19 facilities, and oxygen supplementation should be planned for needy patients.
BACKGROUND: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by persistently increased pressure in the pulmonary arteries. New defining criteria for the different hemodynamic types of pulmonary hypertension (PH) that occur with left heart disease have been proposed by the task force on PH. After consideration of the changes in the general definition of PH in left heart disease, the proposed hemodynamic definition was: (1) isolated postcapillary PH: pulmonary artery wedge pressure >15 mm Hg and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) >20 mm Hg and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) <3 Woods units (WU); and (2) combined post- and precapillary PH: pulmonary artery wedge pressure >15 mm Hg, mPAP >20 mm Hg, and PVR ≥3 WU. Secondary PH is initially reversible, but eventually, it can become fixed because of the remodeling process of the pulmonary vascular system. Limitations in defining both the time for and amount of reversibility lack clarity. We discuss a case of PH as a framework to better understand these key principles in addressing patients' candidacy for heart or heart-lung transplantation. METHODS: We performed a literature search for all available contemporary data with the following terms: "pulmonary hypertension," "reversal," "Impella 5.5," "temporary mechanical support," and "LVAD" using the National Library of Medicine - PubMed and PubMed Central between 2019 and 2023. A total of 14 published papers were found with these search. From these, 3 addressed the issue of PH and reversibility in the setting of LHD after durable LVAD placement. No papers were found using Impella 5.5 and PH during this timeframe. Given the paucity of data in the field regarding temporary mechanical circulatory support and pulmonary hypertension, we present a case-based discussion to guide the reader in understanding the potential impact of this method in patients with WHO Class 2 Pulmonary hypertension. CASE: A 49-year-old woman with a medical history of acute on chronic biventricular systolic and diastolic heart failure, American College of Cardiology stage D, Stevenson profile C, New York Heart Association class IV (ejection fraction 18%) secondary to nonischemic cardiomyopathy after cardiac resynchronization therapy, pulmonary hypertension, bilateral deep vein thrombosis, and segmental pulmonary embolism presented for heart transplant evaluation. Her cardiac output and central hemodynamics were measured, and she was found to have a pulmonary artery (PA) pressure of 78/38 with a mean PA pressure of 51, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) 30, transpulmonary pressure gradient (TPG) 21, thermodilution cardiac output (CO) 3.35 L/min, and cardiac input (CI) 1.75 L/min/m2. Her PVR was 6.2 WU. Provocative pharmacologic testing for reversibility of PH was performed using sodium nitroprusside, which resulted in a blood pressure of 83/57 (92), heart rate 92/min, and PA pressure of 71/31, with a mean PA pressure of 44 PCWP 22, TPG 22, CO 4.8 L/min, and CI of 2.48 L/min/m2 with a PVR of 4.5 WU. Following this, the patient underwent Impella 5.5 placement through the right axillary artery to optimize afterload reduction and improve end-organ perfusion. Post-Impella hemodynamics on milrinone 0.5 mcg/kg/min demonstrated the following: blood pressure 90/66 (74), heart rate 53/min, and PA pressure of 56/29, with a mean PA pressure of 38, PCWP 24, TPG 14, CO 6 L/min, and CI of 2.9 L/min/m2 with a PVR of 2.3 WU. CONCLUSION: Left ventricular assist device support with Impella 5.5 is associated with a reduction in mPAP and PVR over weeks to months and thus plays a crucial role as a bridge to transplant. Our case and this review highlights the characteristics of PH resulting from heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and discusses the important clinical issues related to the treatment of these patients. We have shown that left ventricular assist device therapy with Impella 5.5 can effectively reduce left-sided filling pressures and lead to PH improvement. We demonstrate the potential benefits of Impella 5.5 in the management of patients with WHO 2 PH and cardiogenic shock with impaired hemodynamics.
Assisted Circulation , Heart Failure , Hypertension, Pulmonary , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Heart Failure/surgery , Heart Failure/complications , Hemodynamics , Hypertension, Pulmonary/etiology , Hypertension, Pulmonary/surgery , Hypertension, Pulmonary/drug therapy , Pulmonary Wedge Pressure/physiology , Vascular Resistance/physiology
Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) affects women at the end of pregnancy or after delivery. Symptoms overlapping with pregnancy decrease the diagnostic yield of PPCM and can increase the rate of maternal mortality. As clinicians manage high-risk patients, it is crucial to understand the variable maternal physiology both during and after childbirth. Effective management of high-risk patients necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the variable maternal physiology during and after childbirth. The importance of prompt intervention with Impella CP (Cardiac Power) to treat acute cardiogenic shock stemming from PPCM after cesarean should be considered. Clinical outcomes can be improved by emphasizing the need for timely intervention and incorporating a comprehensive understanding of maternal physiology. The authors present a case of Impella CP use in PPCM shock as a means for emergent support after cesarean.
A systematic review was conducted to investigate the relationship between aminotransferases and the severity of dengue infection, which is a prevalent and significant infection in tropical and subtropical regions. Aminotransferases are enzymes that are often elevated in dengue due to the liver's physiological and immunological response to the infection. This review focused on analyzing various studies that examined the correlation between aminotransferase levels and the severity of dengue. Extensive literature searches were performed using ("dengue*" OR "dengue fever*" OR "dengue haemorrhagic fever*" OR "dengue shock syndrome*") AND ("alanine aminotransferase*" OR "aspartate aminotransferase*") on PubMed. The selected articles were thoroughly reviewed, encompassing epidemiology, pathogenesis, and clinical manifestations of dengue. The consistent findings across the studies indicated that aminotransferases can serve as predictive markers for dengue severity. Therefore, early assessment of liver enzyme levels is crucial in dengue cases, and elevated levels should be closely monitored to prevent adverse outcomes.
Infective endocarditis is an infection of the heart valves or endocardium caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal microorganisms. Blood cultures are used to detect the bacteria causing infective endocarditis, and echocardiography is performed to find the damaged heart valves. In blood culture-negative endocarditis, no endocarditis-causing organisms can be found in blood cultures, and blood cultures using usual laboratory methods remain sterile after inoculation of at least three independent blood samples. Case presentation: A 24-year-old male with a history of polysubstance abuse presented with complaints of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. He had a past history of pulmonary tuberculosis 4 years ago, for which he was treated with antitubercular therapy. High-resolution computed tomography of the chest revealed multiple cavitary lesions and consolidative areas in the bilateral lungs. Based on these findings, a provisional diagnosis of reactivation of pulmonary tuberculosis was considered, and antitubercular therapy was started. Due to his deteriorating condition, he was readmitted and evaluated. Bronchoalveolar lavage was done and sent for culture and sensitivity testing, which showed the presence of Staphylococcus aureus, and treatment was started accordingly. Despite continuing intravenous antibiotics for 5 days, the patient was not improving. Three sets of samples were withdrawn for blood culture and sensitivity testing, which came out to be negative. Transthoracic echocardiography was done, which revealed vegetation in the tricuspid valve. The patient was diagnosed with culture-negative tricuspid valve endocarditis based on the clinical criteria. Discussion: Blood culture-negative endocarditis is difficult to diagnose and presents challenges. When faced with a diagnosis like culture-negative endocarditis in the context of a condition that can appear very similar, like tuberculosis, a broad differential diagnostic approach is important. Conclusion: Intravenous drug use is the main cause of right-sided valvular infective endocarditis. Endocarditis should be considered in intravenous drug users even in the absence of positive blood cultures. An appropriate antibiotic regimen and long-term follow-up with a multidisciplinary team are necessary for a good outcome.
OBJECTIVES: Renal replacement therapy (RRT) options are limited for small babies because of lack of available technology. We investigated the precision of ultrafiltration, biochemical clearances, clinical efficacy, outcomes, and safety profile for a novel non-Conformité Européenne-marked hemodialysis device for babies under 8 kg, the Newcastle Infant Dialysis Ultrafiltration System (NIDUS), compared with the current options of peritoneal dialysis (PD) or continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH). DESIGN: Nonblinded cluster-randomized cross-sectional stepped-wedge design with four periods, three sequences, and two clusters per sequence. SETTING: Clusters were six U.K. PICUs. PATIENTS: Babies less than 8 kg requiring RRT for fluid overload or biochemical disturbance. INTERVENTIONS: In controls, RRT was delivered by PD or CVVH, and in interventions, NIDUS was used. The primary outcome was precision of ultrafiltration compared with prescription; secondary outcomes included biochemical clearances. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: At closure, 97 participants were recruited from the six PICUs (62 control and 35 intervention). The primary outcome, obtained from 62 control and 21 intervention patients, showed that ultrafiltration with NIDUS was closer to that prescribed than with control: sd controls, 18.75, intervention, 2.95 (mL/hr); adjusted ratio, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.03-0.71; p = 0.018. Creatinine clearance was smallest and least variable for PD (mean, sd ) = (0.08, 0.03) mL/min/kg, larger for NIDUS (0.46, 0.30), and largest for CVVH (1.20, 0.72). Adverse events were reported in all groups. In this critically ill population with multiple organ failure, mortality was lowest for PD and highest for CVVH, with NIDUS in between. CONCLUSIONS: NIDUS delivers accurate, controllable fluid removal and adequate clearances, indicating that it has important potential alongside other modalities for infant RRT.
Acute Kidney Injury , Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy , Hemofiltration , Peritoneal Dialysis , Humans , Infant , Renal Dialysis , Ultrafiltration , Cross-Sectional Studies , Kidney
Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare life-threatening condition characterized by widespread activation of the immune system leading to tissue damage all over the body. It is divided into primary HLH due to inborn error in lymphocytes, T cells, and macrophages and secondary HLH which is mostly due to infections, systemic connective tissue diseases, and lymphoid malignancies. Here, we report a 34-year-old man with a history of high-grade fever, chills, and rigor, eschar, splenomegaly with the laboratory findings of thrombocytopenia, hypochromic RBCs with anisocytosis and basophilic stippling, elevated transaminases, and a positive Weil Felix test along with positive PCR results for Orientia tsutsugamushi and the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies. A detailed workup was done to rule out other etiology for fever. Diagnosis of HLH secondary to Rickettsia infection was made with a thorough history, clinical evaluation, and a variety of investigations. The patient was treated with Doxycycline, Ciprofloxacin, Etoposide, and Dexamethasone but unfortunately, the patient died during treatment due to multiorgan failure. Patients with scrub typhus typically respond well to therapy; therefore, early detection and antibiotic treatment can help avoid serious complications. Scrub typhus with the hemophagocytic syndrome can result in DIC and multiorgan failure. Despite its rarity, scrub typhus may be lethal; as a result, practitioners must be aware of the necessity of detecting and treating suspected cases as soon as possible. We learned that a systematic diagnostic approach, use of diagnostic criteria, and prompt treatment are very crucial in this disease.
Warfarin is the most commonly prescribed oral anticoagulant in Nepal. It is commonly used for chronic anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation, venous thromboembolism, and artificial heart valves. The major side effect of warfarin is bleeding. Though extremely rare, a sublingual hematoma can lead to life-threatening complications as it can cause severe airway obstruction. We present a case of a 55-year-old female patient who had sublingual hematoma secondary to the use of Warfarin therapy. In addition to the discontinuation of warfarin, she was managed conservatively without any surgical intervention. Early diagnosis, timely discontinuation of the drug, and application of appropriate medical treatment are of utmost importance for reducing morbidity and mortality due to bleeding and airway compromise.
Introduction: The incidence of acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) among critically ill COVID-19 patients has been reported ranging from 3.8 to 4 %. Presentation of case: A 57-year-old female presented with acute abdomen for last three days and tested positive for COVID-19. Abdominal X-ray showed prominent dilated small bowel loops with multiple air fluid levels, and absence of a completely visible colon. She underwent emergency laparotomy where blackish gangrenous bowel loops were seen and resected. Discussion: CECT scan in over half of the AMI patients may show patent mesenteric vessels. However, such patency of mesenteric vessels should not rule out the possibility of AMI in cases of COVID-19 with prominent GI signs and symptoms, especially those admitted in ICU. Conclusion: AMI is a life-threatening complication that may occur in COVID-19 patients. It should be suspected in COVID-19 patients complaining of severe abdominal pain in addition to pulmonary symptoms.
Introduction: Sarcoidosis is a common, multisystemic non-caseating granulomatous disease of unknown etiology with cutaneous lesions present in about one-fourth of patients. Darier Roussy sarcoidosis is a rare variant of sarcoidosis with distinct cutaneous presentation characterized by multiple deep-seated nodules on the trunk and extremities which could either be asymptomatic or may present mild tenderness. Case presentation: A case of 35 yrs male with cough and fever for 3 months was initially diagnosed as a case of tubercular lymphadenitis and started with ATT following which ATT-associated cutaneous adverse drug reaction was suspected due to development of rashes with generalized redness and mild itching a few weeks after starting ATT. He then developed multiple, skin-colored, deep-seated, subcutaneous lesions over the legs then over the arms, forearms, thigh, and trunk. FNAC and histopathological examination of the lesions revealed non-caseating granulomas composed localized to the subcutaneous tissue. A diagnosis of subcutaneous sarcoidosis was made. Subsequently, steroid therapy was started. Discussion: Clinical manifestations of sarcoidosis range from asymptomatic (mostly) to progressive and relapsing disease. A family history of the disease raises the risk; those with one afflicted first-degree relative face a 3.7-fold increase in risk. Sarcoidosis is diagnosed based on three key criteria: a consistent clinical presentation, the discovery of non-necrotizing granulomatous inflammation in one or more tissue samples with confirmed histology, and the elimination of other origins of granulomatous disorders. . Diagnosis should be confirmed with a biopsy of the lesion, with the histological finding of non-caseating granuloma. Conclusion: Clinically localized subcutaneous sarcoidosis can be confused with ATT induced drug reaction due to the difficulties in diagnosing granulomatous skin disease. The prognosis is good with subcutaneous disease and if there are no disfiguring skin lesions or other critical organ involvement, corticosteroid therapy might suffice.
Background: Intra-peritoneal onlay mesh (IPOM) repair, a type of Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair (LVHR), comprises bridging the defect from the peritoneal side with a composite mesh. Recently, IPOM-Plus has become the recommended type of LVHR in which the defect in the fascia is sutured before placing the mesh. Materials and methods: This study is a retrospective cohort study conducted at Shree Birendra Hospital (SBH), Nepal. Patients who had undergone IPOM-Plus or IPOM during the past five years (Aug 2016 to Aug 2021) were selected. Data regarding demographics, intraoperative and post-operative outcomes were collected from individual case sheets. Recurrence of hernia was checked at six-month follow-up. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25 taking a p-value of <0.05 as statistically significant. Results: A total of 130 patients were included in this study, out of which 73 patients had undergone IPOM (Group I) and 57 patients underwent IPOM-Plus (Group II). In both the groups, there were no statistical difference in age, sex and Body Mass Index (BMI) of the patients. Hernia defect size among Group I and II varied significantly (p-value < 0.001). The mean operative time for Group II (111.05 ± 28.14 min) was significantly higher than Group I (80.00 ± 27.96 min) (p-value < 0.001). Hernia recurrence within six months was higher in Group I (15.1%) than Group II (3.5%) (p-value = 0.029). The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for six-month recurrence after IPOM repair was 14.86 (95% CI: 2.51-87.85, p-value = 0.003) times higher than that after IPOM-Plus repair. Conclusions: Although the operative time and length of hospital stay is longer, IPOM-Plus repair has shown better outcomes regarding six-month recurrence compared to IPOM repair.
The presentation of solitary rectal ulcer syndrome is very similar to a wide variety of conditions including inflammatory bowel diseases, ischemic colitis and rectal carcinoma. Histopathological examination comes as an important tool for its diagnosis. Hence, high index of suspicion is required for early diagnosis of this rare condition.
Introduction: Corona viruses may also affect the central nervous system, inducing various neurological problems. Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is a rare immune-mediated post-infectious neuropathy typically leading to ascending weakness. Herein, we present a case of the patient to show an association of GBS and SARS-CoV-2 infection in Nepal. Case presentation: Twenty-seven yrs old man show an association of GBS and SARS-CoV-2 infection in Nepal who presented with difficulty in walking, backache, tingling sensations over the bilateral wrist and ankle, and features of facial nerve palsy. The diagnosis of GBS was made. Following Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) administration, the patient started showing motor recovery within a week. Clinical discussion: Patient who developed GBS as a likely post-infectious complication after the initial onset of infectious symptoms with persistent mild dry cough. Conclusion: GBS has severe complications and early diagnosis is important to monitor for loss of ambulation and initiation of immunoglobulin treatment. GBS should be considered as a potential rare but serious complication due to COVID-19.
Introduction and importance: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is considered to be a common presentation of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children. It occurs when absolute or relative insulin insufficiency prevents glucose from entering the cells for use as metabolic fuel, causing the liver to quickly break down fat into ketones for use as fuel source. As a result, ketones are overproduced, accumulating in the blood and urine making the blood acidic. Case presentation: A 4 years and 8 months old child presented with the complaint of abdominal pain and vomiting along with polyurea, polydipsia and polyphagia. Routine examination of blood revealed that increased random blood glucose level. Once diagnosed, DKA was managed with fluid and insulin therapy with close monitoring and supervision. Clinical discussion: DKA can be easily diagnosed. Proper management should be done on time to prevent complications like hypokalemia, hyponatremia leading to cerebral edema and shock. Conclusions: Diabetic awareness programs and school educational tutorials are beneficial for community awareness of the signs and symptoms of diabetes.
Introduction: Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a life-threatening condition triggered by infections or non-infectious agents. Antibiotics use in such cases prevents severe deterioration and treatment failure. Past studies have shown inappropriate use of antibiotics in different health care settings. The objective of this study was to find out the prevalence of antibiotics use in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the Department of Internal Medicine of a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with acute exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease admitted to Department of Internal Medicine of a tertiary care centre from 12th February, 2022 to 15th April, 2022 after taking ethical clearance from Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 417). Convenience sampling was done. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 23.0. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and percentage for binary data along with median and interquartile range for continuous data. Results: The prevalence of antibiotics use among study participants was 106 (98.15%) (95.61-100 at a 95% Confidence Interval). Penicillin 82 (75.93%) was the most commonly used antibiotics group. Conclusions: The use of antibiotics in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was higher as compared to other similar studies. Keywords: anti-bacterial agents; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; guideline adherence.
Anti-Bacterial Agents , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Cross-Sectional Studies , Hospitalization , Humans , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/drug therapy , Tertiary Care Centers
