Effect of Weekly Text Messaging Reminders on Medication Adherence in Hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus at a Tertiary Care Center in Eastern Nepal

Background The short-message service (SMS) reminder techniques are found to be important in increasing medication adherence in non-communicable diseases. Objective To assess the effect of SMS on medication adherence in hypertension and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Method An observational study was conducted in the outpatient department using a semistructured questionnaire. Patients having hypertension and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus and taking at least one medication and having low to medium adherence were enrolled and short-message service was sent to them twice a week for up to two months reminding them to take medications as prescribed. At the end of two months, medication adherence was assessed using SPSS at P-value less than 0.05. Result Out of 105 patients, 64 (60.95%) were females. The mean age (±SD) was 51.15 ± 11.01 years. After two months of the short-message service reminders, majority of the patients were graded as having high adherence (73.33%) followed by medium adherence (20.0%) and low adherence (6.67%). The mean medication adherence scores on day one and after two months were 5.50 ± 1.14 and 7.50 ± 0.93 respectively (P-value=0.000). A high medication adherence was seen in individuals aged above 45 years (75.7%), males (78.0%) and those using a basic mobile phone (76.7%) after two months of follow-up; however it was statistically not significant (P-value > 0.05). Conclusion The SMS reminders had significantly improved the medication adherence in patients with hypertension and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, none of the baseline variables were significantly associated with improvement in the adherence.

Visual Evoked Potentials (VEPs) in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background Type 2 diabetes constitutes about 85-95% of all diabetes in developed countries, and accounts for an even higher percentage in developing countries. Diabetic retinopathy is probable the most characteristic, easily identifiable and treatable complication of diabetes, but remains an important cause of visual loss. Objective To study P100 latencies and inter ocular latency difference in diabetic group and compared it with a control group and study the correlation between P100 and inter ocular latency difference with the duration of disease in diabetic group. Method A comparative, cross sectional study was done from September 2016 to January 2018 in Neurophysiology Lab, Basic and Clinical Physiology, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences. The sample size was 64 and random sampling technique was used. Subjects were divided into three groups according to the duration of disease. Anthropometric and visual evoked potentials were recorded. Descriptive analysis, analysis of covariance and Post Hoc multiple comparison analyses were done using SPSS 11.5. Pearson's correlation was applied between P100 latency and inter ocular latency difference with the duration of disease. Result On using analysis of covariance, P100 latencies were significantly prolonged in diabetic as compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). Post Hoc multiple comparison showed significant differences in both left and right P100 latencies within diabetic groups and between diabetic groups and healthy controls. Left inter ocular latency difference showed positive correlation with the duration of disease. Conclusion P100 latencies are significantly prolonged in diabetes patients and is positively correlated with duration of disease. Visual evoked potential test can be useful for detecting retinal dysfunction before the appearance of symptoms of retinopathy.

Effects of Momordica Charantia (Karela/bitterguord) in Type 2 Diabetic Patients Taking Allopathic Drugs: A pilot study

Background Momordica charantia is evoloving as supplementary therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Animal studies reveal its anti-diabetic and lipid lowering property. However, clinical studies with human subjects are very few. Objective To find out the effects of Momordica charantia supplements on glycemic and lipid profile among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients taking allopathic drugs. Method A comparative study was conducted in internal medicine department of B P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan from July 2015 to May 2016 after ethical clearance. Twenty two uncomplicated type-2 diabetes mellitus patients were enrolled. Group A patients were supplemented with allopathic drug (oral anti-diabetic agents) only and Group B with add on treatment of 200 ml juice of Momordica charantia along with allopathic drug daily for ninety days. Fasting, post prandial blood sugar and lipid profile levels were compared between baseline and ninety days post supplementation. Data was collected and entry was done in Statistical Packages for Social Services version 20.0, using independent t test with p < 0.05. Result Add on treatment with 200 ml of Momordica charantia along with anti-diabetic drug daily significantly reduced fasting (p= < 0.0001) and post prandial blood sugar (p < 0.0001). Treatment with anti-diabetic drugs only reduced fasting (p = 0.0008) and post-prandial blood sugar but the reduction was not significant ((p =0.0001). There was improvement in lipid profile by both anti-diabetic drugs alone and Momordica charantia along with anti-diabetic drug, but it was not significant. Conclusion Add on treatment with 200 ml/day juice of Momordica charantia is effective in glycaemic control in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients as compared to the allopathic treatment alone.

Adenosine deaminase activity in type 2 diabetes mellitus: does it have any role?

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders of carbohydrate metabolism in which glucose is underused, producing hyperglycemia. Diabetic patients are prone to opportunistic infection, thus serum ADA levels in these patients is very important as a screening test for Tuberculosis and autoimmune diseases. Thus, the present study was conducted to estimate the Serum ADA activity, glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting and postprandial glucose level in patients with T2DM and to correlate the serum level of ADA with glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting and postprandial glucose level in T2DM.

METHODS

This is a Hospital based cross-sectional study done in BPKIHs, Dharan, Nepal. 204 diagnosed patients (102 males and 102 females) with T2DM and 102 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Diabetic patients were categorized into Uncontrolled and Controlled Diabetes on the basis of HbA1C; HbA1c > 7% = Uncontrolled Diabetes, HbA1c < 7% = Controlled Diabetes.

RESULTS

Serum ADA levels (U/L) was significantly raised in Uncontrolled Diabetic patients (49.24 ± 16.89) compared to controlled population (35.74 ± 16.78) and healthy controls (10.55 ± 2.20), p value < 0.001. A significant positive correlation was obtained between Serum ADA and HbA1c, Fasting Plasma Glucose and Post-prandial Glucose respectively.

CONCLUSION

There is a significant increase in Serum ADA activity in DM with increase in HbA1c levels which may play an important role in predicting the glycemic and immunological status in these patients.

Diabetes Mellitus and the risk of Primary open angle glaucoma

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the risk factors for Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). Inclusion of DM as a risk factor for POAG is controversial. The objectives of the study were to investigate whether Type II (T2) DM is a risk factor for POAG and to determine central corneal thickness (CCT) in the subjects with T2DM and to examine the relationship between T2DM and intraocular pressure (IOP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A comparative cross sectional study was conducted including 189 subjects of age > 40 years. In Group I, 113 patients diagnosed with T2DM and Group II, age and sex matched 76 subjects with POAG without DM was included. Detailed ocular examination, IOP, CCT and funduscopy evaluation was done.

RESULTS

Most of the patients were more than 60 years of age with mean age 58 ± 11 years. Male: female ratio was 1:1. POAG was seen in 27.4% of patients with T2DM. Mean IOP in T2DM was 14.67± 2.63mmHg and in non diabetic, 17.25±4.47 mmHg (p less than0.00). In group I, mean CCT was 538.83± 22.7μm and in group II, 531.26 ± 20.9μm (p-0.126). There was no association between CCT and glaucoma (p=0.072, 95% CI: -0.76 -17.46). The study could not elicit an association of T2DM with glaucoma. Duration of T2DM did not affect an association between T2DM and glaucoma (p-0.757). Random blood sugar (p less than0.001) and oral hypoglycemic drugs (p=0.030) showed an association with glaucoma.

CONCLUSION

The study failed to show an association between T2DM and primary open angle glaucoma and CCT though an association seen with IOP. A larger prospective comparative study may be help in understanding this association.

New-Onset Diabetes after Transplant (NODAT)

New onset diabetes mellitus after transplantation (NODAT) is a well known complication following solid organ transplantation and has been reported to occur in 4% to 25% of renal transplant recipients, 2.5% to 25% of liver transplant recipients, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection between 40% and 60% and 2% to 53% of all solid organ transplants. This variation in the reported incidence may be because of lack of a universal agreement on the definition of NODAT, the duration of followup, and the presence of modifiable and non-modifiable risks factors. Moreover, reduced patient survival and accelerated graft loss have been reported with NODAT. In our country also there is increasing in number of kidney transplants patients and along with that there is chance of development of NODA. It is better to detect the NODATS early. So in this article I tried to presents an overview of the literature on the current diagnostic criteria for NODAT and discuss suggested risk factors for the development of NODAT, its potential pathogenic mechanisms, and its impact on post-transplant outcomes after solid organ transplantation.

Diabetes mellitus related complications in out- patient clinic of tertiary care hospital

We tried to explore the demographic profile and complications of the out patients suffering with Diabetes Mellitus (DM). It was hospital based descriptive study conducted among the 100 diabetic out-patients of B.P.Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal during the period of 1-1-2010 to 29-2-2010. Patients above 14 years diagnosed as per ADA guidelines 2009 giving written informed consent were taken. The number of common diabetes related complications were searched and diagnosed clinically with the use of relevant investigations which included macro-vascular complications like ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, and micro-vascular complications like diabetic retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy, and diabetic nephropathy. Among 100 confirmed cases of diabetes mellitus (51 male and 49 female).Of all diabetes, 99% were type 2, 1% were type1. About 42% subjects were of age group between 40-60 yr. When BMI?23 kg/m2 (as recommended for Asians) is taken as the determining factor for overweight, 29% of patients were overweight, 56% obese and 6% morbid obese. About 83% of subjects were on OHA, 9% on Insulin and 8% on OHA and insulin both. The most common and frequent chronic complications were neuropathy (44.4%) followed by cardiovascular and retinopathy (27.7%), nephropathy (16.6%) and others (11.3%). About 25 % of subjects had hypertension (stage 1 hypertension-17%, and stage 2 hypertension 8%).As most of the patients are overweight with more neurological and cardiovascular complications so the lifestyle changes are required with regular antidiabetics and dietary restriction.Journal of College of Medical Sciences-Nepal, 2011, Vol-7, No-2, 9-16DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jcmsn.v7i2.6674

Clinical profile of patients with cirrhosis of liver in a tertiary care hospital, Dharan, Nepal

One hundred and five (72 males; 33 females) consecutive patients who met the inclusion criteria were studied. The mean age of the patients was 49.06 +/- 11.27 years (range 23-73 years). Ninety patients were adult cirrhotics (age > or = 35 yrs) and the remaining 15 patients were young (age < or = 35 yrs). Ninety out of 105 patients were having alcohol related cirrhosis. The commonest presenting symptoms were abdomen distension (100% in young cirrhotics vs. 84.4% in adult cirrhotics) and jaundice (93.3% in young cirrhotics vs. 84.4% in adult cirrhotics). The most common presenting signs were ascites (100% in young cirrhotics vs. 84.4% in adult cirrhotics) and icterus (93.3% in young cirrhotics vs. 84.4% in adult cirrhotics), followed by loss of body hair (73.3% vs. 71.1% in young and adult cirrhotics respectively) and spider naevi (46.7% vs. 61.1% in young and adult cirrhotics respectively). Sixty percent of young cirrhotics and 52% of adult cirrhotics were in Child's grade C at the time of presentation. Most of the deaths were seen in Child's grade C of liver disease. Alcoholic cirrhosis is common in the eastern part of Nepal. Cirrhosis is not uncommon in younger age group. Abdomen distension and jaundice were most common clinical presentations. Most patients were in Child's grade C and most deaths were due to hepatic failure.

Scenario of mushroom poisoning in a tertiary care hospital

INTRODUCTION

Mushroom poisoning is not new to Nepal. Undocumented and unrecorded mushroom poisoning is more common than the published one. We evaluated the pattern and outcomes following toxic mushroom ingestions.

METHODS

We did a retrospective analysis of patients admitted with mushroom poisoning in BPKIHS, a tertiary care hospital in Nepal, from 2002 to 2006. The diagnosis of mushroom poisoning was based on history and clinical presentation.

RESULTS

Twenty seven patients, aged between 7-83 years were studied. Fourteen (51.86%) were male and 13 (48.14%) were female. All (100%) patients had consumed wild mushroom unintentionally. Twelve patients developed symptoms within first hour and 11 patients within one to six hours. The average delay in presenting to our hospital was 23.1 (2-96) hours. In 10 cases, other family members were affected, out of which in two cases the family members had died in other hospitals. Reported symptoms were nausea 27 (100%), vomiting 24 (88.88%), abdominal cramping 8 (29.6%), jaundice 3 (11.1%), diarrhea 17 (62.96%) and altered sensorium in 8 patients (29.65%). All patients were treated conservatively. Three patients with severe hepatitis were admitted in ICU, out of which two recovered without liver transplant. One eight year old boy developed acute liver failure and expired within 24 hours of hospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS

Most of the mushroom poisoning was acute, unintentional and by consumption of wild mushroom. Community based awareness programs will help prevent the instances of poisoning.

Scenario of Mushroom Poisoning in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract