Background:The prevalence of depression among elderly people varies across different setups such as old age homes (OAHs), community, and medical clinics.Aims:The aim of this study was to compare the epidemiological factors pertaining to depression among elderly residents of OAHs and community, using a new Gujarati version of the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form (GDS-G).Settings and Design:A cross-sectional, epidemiological study conducted in an urban setup of Western India.Materials and Methods:All the eligible 88 elderly residents of all the six OAHs and 180 elderly residents from the same city were administered a pretested semistructured questionnaire having the GDS-G form.Statistical Analysis:Descriptive statistics, odds ratio, Spearman's rank correlation test.Results:The elderly of OAHs were more depressed compared to those of community (odds ratio = 1.84; 95% confidence interval = 1.09–3.06). Older age, females, weaker family ties, economic maladies, poorer self-perception of health status, presence of chronic ailments, absence of recreational activity, lack of prayers, impaired sleep, history of addiction emerged as the predictors of depression in both the setups. More health complaints and a later self-perception of visit to a doctor were found among the depressed than the nondepressed in both the setups.Conclusions:Depressive symptoms were quite high among the elderly in both the setups. Special attention should be given toward health checkups of depressed persons in the OAH and improvement of family ties among depressed persons of the community.

Background: The explosive growth of the internet in the last decade has had a huge impact on communication and interpersonal behavior. More and more students are addicted to internet, while spending lots of time surfing on the internet. The present study was conducted considering the above facts, with the objective to assess the level of internet addiction and effects of it among the medical students. Methods: It was a cross sectional study conducted among medical students of PDU Govt. Medical College, Rajkot. Total 212 students were included in the study that were using internet daily and consented to participate. Young's Internet Addiction Test (YIAT20) was used to study the level of internet addiction. Results: Almost one third (35.4%) students were using internet for more than 2 years. Almost half (48.1%) students were using internet for more than 2 hours per day. Young's Internet Addiction Test showed that 61 (28.8%) students had scoring in the range of 50-79 (frequent problem due to internet usage). There was significant difference for level of internet addiction and problems of change of lifestyle change in dietary behavior and sleep distribution. Conclusions: This study's results imply that Internet addiction is a prevalent public health issue varied pattern of internet use. Close observation over the use of internet and changes due to it among students are required by parents and colleges to stop emerging internet addiction.

Background:Dengue is an important vector-borne disease with a spectrum of classical fever to hemorrhagic fever to dengue shock syndrome. The present study was conducted with objective to study epidemiological and demographic characteristics of dengue infections during the year 2015 in Saurashtra region, Gujarat state, India.Materials and Methods:The study was conducted at Tertiary Care Hospital, Rajkot, during the year 2015. A total of 3312 blood samples were collected and tested for dengue NS1 antigen and IgM antibody by capture ELISA testing from various districts of Saurashtra region. A pretested structured data sheet was used as a tool for data collection, and data analysis was done.Results:Out of 3312 tested samples, 33.4% samples were found positive for dengue. Suspected cases were reported from all age groups, including majority from 15 to 24 years (31.1%) and 25 to 44 years (30.0%) and also 8.4% from 0 to 4 years. More than two-third (68.7%) of males were dengue positive than female cases. Significant numbers of cases (P < 0.01) were residing in urban areas (65.7%). Two-third cases (66.8%) diagnosed after 7 days of fever by IgM antibody test. Increasing number of dengue cases reported from July and reached to peak during October 2015.Conclusion:The present study reported that dengue mainly affected males and urban population. Perennial occurrence with seasonal increase during monsoon and postmonsoon months was reported. Effective implementation of vector control measures through efforts toward vector breeding source reduction and with the use of personal prophylactic measures against mosquito bites will help in reducing the dengue prevalence in the community.

Introduction: Ahmedabad city reported the highest number of cases and deaths. In order to guide various interventions and monitor future trends, evidence is required. Hence, we conducted the present study to explore the epidemiological determinants, clinical profile, risk factors, and predictors of mortality of COVID-19. Methods: This was a retrospective record-based descriptive study of 2268 confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted in a designated COVID hospital of Ahmedabad city from March to July 2020. Results: The median age of patients was 54 years, and 60.9% of them were males. Majority (83.27%) had comorbidities; the most common comorbidity was hypertension (62.59%) followed by diabetes (44.76%). The most common symptoms reported were fever (69.76%), breathlessness (55.47%), and cough (53.18%). Majority (61.12%) of the patients showed lymphocytopenia, and in one-third (34.85%), D-dimer levels were elevated (>1 μg/ml). Odds of inhospital deaths were higher in patients having breathlessness and gastrointestinal symptoms and comorbidities. More of the deceased had leukocytosis and lymphocytopenia, high D-dimer levels, C-reactive protein, and altered liver function tests as compared to the survivors. Conclusion: While making decisions such as prevention of exposure of high-risk population to the infection, control of the existing comorbid condition, and prioritization of this population for vaccination, criteria of case definition for surveillance keeping in mind the typical and atypical manifestations of the disease, require robust evidence which the current study could provide insight to.

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