Longitudinal modeling of fasting blood sugar with diabetes: A case study of Adama Hospital Medical College, Ethiopia

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the change in fasting blood sugar (FBS) over time and its determinants in diabetic patients.

Methods

A longitudinal data analysis retrospective-based study was considered with a sample of 312 patients, and the linear mixed effect model was applied.

Results

Based on the linear mixed model, the 3-month change in time decreases the average FBS level by 0.0111. An increase of one unit of body mass index (BMI) increases the FBS level by 0.0434. Similarly, an increase in blood pressure (DBP) per unit increased the average log FBS level by 0.0005. Secondary and higher education levels lower log FBS levels by 99.41% and 99.45%, respectively, compared with noneducated individuals.

Conclusion

The study showed that hypertension history, type of diet, age, status of education, type of drug, body mass index, diastolic blood pressure, and time were statistically significant factors.

Implications

According to the study, eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy body weight, and a low blood sugar level are essential to controlling blood sugar and preventing long-term complications. The government should build an educational institution proportional to the population and open programs to increase awareness about the prevention mechanism of diabetes in communities.

Economic costs of hospitalisation and length of stay in diabetes with coexisting hypertension with correlation to laboratory investigations: Where does India stand? A 5-year ground report

INTRODUCTION

The coexistence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN) worsens clinical outcomes and contributes to increased morbidity and mortality.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to analyse the length of stay and healthcare costs by calculating the direct and indirect costs of diabetes with coexisting hypertension in North India.

METHODS

A prospective observational study was conducted at the medicine department of the three different hospitals.

RESULTS

The patients' mean age was (M = 53.8, SD = 11.5) years. Out of 1914 patients, 53.65% were female. Our study revealed that the median cost of medical supplies and equipment was 21.2 $. The median cost of dialysis was 47.5 $; the median cost of hospitalisation was 142.6 $. The treatment's median direct cost was 188.5 $, followed by the overall median cost of 295.6 $. The maximum overall cost of treatment was observed at 603.9 $. It was observed that maximum LOS was 14 days for patients having BPS between 140 and 159 mmHg and BPD between 110 and 119 mmHg, and minimum LOS was found 3.5 days.

CONCLUSION

The present study highlighted that diabetes coexisting hypertension poses a high-economic burden on patients. This study explored that highly significant result for BPS, BPD, FBS and HbA₁ c, whereas the significant results were obtained when RBS is compared with LOS and treatment costs. Our study concluded that mean difference of 9.24 $ in patients having FBS was 261-290 mg/dL and >290 mg/dL. The LOS is increased by 6.57 days for patients with BPS between 140 and 159 mmHg compared with BPS between 180 and 209 and above mmHg, which lowers treatment costs by -21.31$.

Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in Bangladesh: a systematic scoping review

OBJECTIVES

Lack of physical activity (PA) contributes to increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) globally. However, little is known about PA and sedentary behaviour (SB) among populations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This systematic review examined prevalence of PA and SB in Bangladesh.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review of the literature.

METHODS

A systematic electronic search in eight databases and a manual search of retrieved articles' references were conducted. Original research conducted in Bangladesh with PA- and/or SB-related outcome(s) were included.

RESULTS

Out of 1,162 retrieved titles, 33 articles (32 cross-sectional and one case-control study) met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-nine studies were with healthy populations: adults (n = 19); children and adolescents (n = 7); and children, adolescents and adults (n = 3). Five studies used nationally representative samples of adults and one of adolescents. Most studies (n = 26) assessed PA only; three only SB, and four both PA and SB. All studies used self-reported measures. Among healthy adults, prevalence of insufficient PA ranged from 5% to 83%. Occupational and transport-related PA contributed the most towards total PA with negligible contribution of recreational PA. Among children and adolescents, the prevalence of insufficient PA ranged between 20% and 67%. Females engaged in less PA compared to males. Limited evidence currently exists about the prevalence of SB, especially among adults.

CONCLUSIONS

PA and SB research has received little attention in Bangladesh. Critical knowledge gaps identified in this review should be taken into account when designing new research and programmes in Bangladesh and other LMICs with similar socio-economic and cultural settings.

Epidemiological Investigation of Type 2 Diabetes and Alzheimer's Disease in a Pakistani Population

The epidemic of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the possibility of it contributing to the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) have become important health concerns worldwide and in Pakistan, where the co-occurrence of T2DM and AD is becoming more frequent. To gain insights on this phenomenon, a cross-sectional study was initiated. We recruited and interviewed 820 research participants from four cities in Pakistan: 250 controls, 450 T2DM, 100 AD, and 20 with both diseases. Significant differences between groups were observed for age (p < 0.0001), urban vs. rural locality (p = 0.0472) and residing near industrial areas. The average HbA1c (%) level was 10.68 ± 2.34 in the T2DM group, and females had a lower level than males (p = 0.003). In the AD group, significant relationships existed between education and family history. Overall, the results suggest that T2DM and AD were associated with both socio-demographic and environmental factors in Pakistani participants. Detailed molecular investigations are underway in our laboratory to decipher the differential genetic pathways of the two diseases to address their increasing prevalence in this developing nation.