BACKGROUND This study was done to assess the subclinical renal involvement in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). To study (1) The prevalence of micro albuminuria in patients having rheumatoid arthritis. (2) The relationship between micro albuminuria and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis as assessed by DAS28, ESR, CRP, RA factor, disease duration and constitutional symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS Descriptive type of cross-sectional study involving 60 patients attending Thanjavur Medical College, Thanjavur, and Rheumatology outpatient department, Thanjavur Medical College, Thanjavur diagnosed with RA by modified ACR criteria (1987). All the patients were tested for micro albuminuria by immunoassay method. RESULTS The mean age at diagnosis was 44.55 years (SD 13.767), females diagnosed at an earlier age than males (43.767 years (SD-14.128) vs. 46.529 years (SD-13.005)). 71.7% were females and 28.3% were males. MA was found in 19 patients (31.7%), of them, 16 patients had morning stiffness lasting for more than one hour, 18 patients had constitutional symptoms, and 10 patients were on treatment with NSAIDs or DMARDs. The mean duration of symptoms was 24.68 ± 12.06 months in MA positive group when compared with MA negative group with a mean value of 14.732 ± 8.093 (p-0.0004). The mean number of swollen joints in MA positive group was 15.89 ± 5.64 as compared to MA negative Group with a mean of 11.76 ± 6.31 (p-0.018). The mean number of tender joints involved in MA positive group was 14.32 ± 6.64 as against 9.76 ± 6.25 in MA negative group (p-0.0125).
BACKGROUNDNon-communicable diseases(NCD), also known as chronic diseases are not detected early since they remain asymptomatic in the initial stage. On communicable disease screening, OP services are started in government healthcare setup. Objective of this study is to find out the magnitude of NCDs in the outpatient screening programme.
MATERIALS AND METHODSThe secondary data was collected from records available in NCD screening OP for a period of 4 years in Thanjavur Medical College Hospital. The data of nearly 55,207 patients screened in the NCD OP was analysed. The burden of the diseases to the healthcare setup and the risk these patients are likely to get in future were discussed in this study.
RESULTSOut of 55,207 outpatients attending the NCD OP male patient's outnumbered female patients. 6,642 new patients with hypertension were detected in 4 years. 1608 new diabetics were detected and referred to medicine department for imitating treatment. 10,796 patients had both diabetes and hypertension. During this study period, 788 FNAC has been done for cancer breast detection, 82 patients were referred for biopsy. 14 cases of new cancer breast were detected during the study period. Doubtful cases were subjected to mammogram and ultrasound breast. 107 cases were referred for mammogram and ultrasound breast. Among them, four new cases of cancer breast has been detected.
CONCLUSIONMost of the non-communicable diseases are not detected early, which leads to catastrophic complications like strokes, renal failure, cardiac failure, etc. Early detection by NCD screening programme can definitely pickup these cases and proper treatment can be started in time to avoid morbidity and mortality.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.