ABSTRACT
Background: Older patients admitted to hospitals have a greater impact on the healthcare system as the population ages. The relationship between the recovery of functional impairments and frailty status in geriatric care units is still not clear. Simple screening technologies are required in order to operationalize frailty management in this susceptible population due to these restrictions. Aim: The study aims to screen hospitalized older adults for frailty and associated co-morbid conditions in western Gujarat, India. Materials and Methods: This is an institutionally based cross-sectional study conducted on the elderly patients (aged 60 years or more) admitted at the tertiary-level government hospital of Jamnagar District of Gujarat State during the period of October 22 to December 22. The assessment was done with a structured questionnaire for FRAIL screen, the Rapid Cognitive Screen (RCS), Charles Co-morbidity Index, Geriatric Depression Scale-5 (GDS-5), and Short Form-12 (SF-12) Health Survey. Results: The overall findings of this study reveal that of 124 participants 34 (27%) were frail, 52 (42%) were found to be a likelihood of depression by the GDS, and 29 (23%) were having dementia by RCS, respectively. In our study, we also found a statistically significant association between frailty and dementia (P value < 0.001). Conclusion: The present study implies the prevalence of frailty among old age elderly patients and its association with various socio-demographic and co-morbid conditions of the participants. Early identification of frailty and co-morbid conditions can help to prevent adverse health outcomes.
ABSTRACT
Background: The WHO defines LBW as "Birth weight less than 2500 grams" regardless of gestational age. Being born with a low birth weight also incurs enormous economic costs, including higher medical expenditures and social service expenses, and decreased productivity in adulthood. Objective: To study distribution of newborns' according to pregnancy related factors and its association with newborns' birth weight. Methods: An institutional based cross-sectional study. New-borns delivered at study institute were considered as study participants. Estimated final sample size was 500. Guardians (mothers) were face-to-face interviewed and also recorded data were collected from the case file and Mother and Child Protection Card. Results: Prevalence of LBW newborns was higher in mothers with late ANC registration, <4 ANC visits, chronic medical conditions, infection during pregnancy, PIH, anemia, consuming tobacco, exposure to second hand smoke, LSCS/Assisted delivery, in female newborns', current pregnancy birth order number more than 2, in pre term newborns' and mothers with bad obstetric history. Conclusion: Create awareness and adoption of suitable family planning methods. Need to do early (within 12 weeks) ANC registration with minimum four ANC visits for better pregnancy outcome. Effective tracking and suitable intervention provided to improve current pregnancy outcome. Health care professional should pay special attention to high-risk pregnancy. Develop social culture in such a way that females are neither addicted nor exposed to any tobacco containing products in their life.
ABSTRACT
Background: Within the context of nursing home care, malnutrition, sarcopenia, and frailty stand as notable conditions, each exerting distinct yet interconnected impacts on residents' well-being. The objective of this cross-sectional study is to elucidate the intricate interplay among malnutrition, sarcopenia, and frailty among nursing home residents. Methodology: It is a community-based, cross-sectional, descriptive study among nursing home residents of Vatsalyadham Vrudhsharam, which is an institution for aged old-age people in Jamnagar from April 2023 to July 2023. The estimated minimum sample size was 345. A self-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data containing sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometric assessment, and bio-impedance indices. The handgrip was measured by a hand dynamometer. Assessment of the risk of malnutrition was performed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form questionnaire and was confirmed by the Global Leadership Initiative for Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria. Sarcopenia was assessed by a bio-impedance analyzer using the Asian Working Group of Sarcopenia 2019. Frailty was assessed using the fatigue, resistance, ambulation, illness, and loss (FRAIL) screener. Descriptive statistics were used for the representation of percentages and frequencies. Both Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were used for the association. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant, respectively. Results: About 345 participants were included, and mean age of the participants was 85 ± 5.6 years, about 159 (49%) participants belonged to the age group of more than 80 years, 220 (63.7%) were males, then malnutrition was diagnosed by GLIM criteria, about 154 (44.6%) were found to have malnutrition. Sarcopenia was found in 184 (53%) participants. The FRAIL screening was used to identify frailty, according to that prefrail was around 170 (49%) and frail was about 122 (35%), respectively. Age, gender, and history of falls were associated with frailty and sarcopenia (P < 0.001). Only, age and gender were associated with malnutrition but not a history of falls. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that frailty, sarcopenia, and malnutrition are prevalent among nursing home residents. Health-care providers should identify and manage these conditions in older adults to improve their quality of life.