Aims To appraise meta‐analytically determined effect of dietary interventions and nutritional supplements on heart failure (HF)‐related outcomes, and create an evidence map to visualize the findings and certainty of evidence. Methods and results Online databases were systematically searched for meta‐analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of dietary interventions and nutritional supplements on HF outcomes and incidence. These were then updated if new RCTs were available. Estimates were pooled using a random‐effects model and reported as risk ratios (RRs) or mean differences with 95% confidence intervals. We identified 14 relevant meta‐analyses, to which 21 new RCTs were added. The total evidence base reviewed included 122 RCTs (n = 176 097 participants) assessing 14 interventions. We found that coenzyme Q10 was associated with lower all‐cause mortality [RR 0.69 (0.50–0.96); I2 = 0%; low certainty of evidence] in HF patients. Incident HF risk was reduced with Mediterranean diet [RR 0.45 (0.26–0.79); I2 = 0%; low certainty of evidence]. Vitamin E supplementation was associated with a small but significant increase in the risk of HF hospitalization [RR 1.21 (1.04–1.40); I2 = 0%; moderate certainty of evidence]. There was moderate certainty of evidence that thiamine, vitamin D, iron, and L‐carnitine supplementation had a beneficial effect on left ventricular ejection fraction. Conclusion Coenzyme Q10 may reduce all‐cause mortality in HF patients, while a Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of incident HF; however, the low certainty of evidence warrants the need for further RCTs to confirm a definite clinical role. RCT data were lacking for several common interventions including intermittent fasting, caffeine, DASH diet, and ketogenic diet. More research is needed to fill the knowledge gap.

BackgroundResistant hypertension is a well-recognized clinical challenge yet there are no reported data on its prevalence in Pakistan. These patients are subjected to a higher risk of developing hypertensive complications. The objective of our study was to evaluate the prevalence and determinants of resistant hypertension in an Asian cohort of hypertensive patients.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was carried out among hypertensive patients visiting a tertiary care hospital in Karachi from September-December 2015. Patient data and characteristics were recorded using a pre-coded questionnaire. Morisky and Berlin questionnaires were used to assess compliance to medications and determine the risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea, respectively. Pearson's chi-square test was used to analyze statistical differences between hypertensive patients and related factors.ResultsA total of 515 patients were included in the study. Overall, 12% of the total patients (n = 62) were resistant hypertensives and 25% (n = 129) had pseudo-resistant hypertension. Resistant patients were more often females, older and had a higher body mass index (all P < 0.001). Use of painkillers and noncompliance to dietary recommendations were found to be significant determinants of resistant hypertension. Prevalence of comorbid conditions, including diabetes (p = 0.33), hyperlipidemia (p = 0.46), and chronic kidney disease (p = 0.23), was not significantly higher in patients with resistant hypertension.ConclusionNearly one in ten hypertensive patients had true resistant hypertension, and twenty-five percent of patients had pseudo-resistance. Resistance hypertensions is significantly associated with female gender, older age, obesity, dietary noncompliance and increased use of NSAIDs.

This study aimed to determine the association of Apgar score with meconium staining of amniotic fluid in labor. MethodologyA retrospective observational study was carried out through the non-probability convenient sampling technique at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for a duration of six months. Only those women were selected who had more than 24 weeks of gestation period. The women were excluded on the basis of risk factors for fetal distress and breech in late labor. ResultsA total of 216 pregnant women were selected from the labor room in this study. The mean age of the women was 26.57±4.28 years. The gestational age of the women was 36.09±4.11 weeks. Moreover, the mean parity of pregnant women was 1.68±2.53. It has been observed that the women who had meconium staining, the neonates of 144(77.4%) women showed the Apgar score of less than six at one minute. However, for the women without meconium staining, the neonates of only 15(50%) women showed the Apgar score of less than six at the one-minute interval with a significant association (p=0.02). With respect to age groups, a significant association of meconium staining with Apgar score was noted in the 21-30 years age group, whereas, no significant association was seen in other age groups. Similarly, a significant association of meconium staining and Apgar score was noted in primiparous women, whereas, no significant association was noted in multiparous women. No significant association of Apgar score and meconium staining was seen with respect to the mode of delivery. ConclusionThe study has found a relation between the Apgar score and meconium staining of amniotic fluid and reported that the Apgar score of less than six at one minute was significantly associated with meconium staining of amniotic fluid.

Background: To compare the effectiveness of postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device (PPIUCD) with interval IUCD in terms of effectiveness, expulsions, bleeding pain and other complications at Tertiary care Hospital.Methods: Current study was conducted among 224 women, at Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Reproductive Health Services-A (RHS-A) Centre of Jinnah Post Graduate Medical center, Karachi, for a period of Six months. Approval from Ethical committee and informed consent was taken from women and her husband before starting the study. The WHO medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use (MEC) were followed and IUCD was inserted in 112 women in PPIUCD group and in 112 women in interval IUCD group. These cases were followed at 15 days, 6 weeks and 6 months. Results of PPIUCD group were compared with interval IUCDs group. Data was analyzed by using SPSS version 18.0. Continuous variables like age, parity, hemoglobin level were analyzed as mean±standard deviation. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for infection, expulsion, bleeding per vagina and effectiveness. Chi-square was applied to assess the difference between the categories. p value <0.05 was taken as significant.Results: The two groups were identical in mean ± SD age, parity, residence and baseline hemoglobin level. PPIUCD (Group-A) was more effective i.e., 87.5% as compared to interval IUCD (Group-B) i.e., 83.9%. Pain, PID, bleeding and expulsion of IUCD were more prevalent with interval IUCD (Group-B) than PPIUCD (Group-A) patients. Stratified analysis showed that age, parity & mean baseline hemoglobin were non-significant effect modifiers on the effectiveness among the two groups.Conclusions: Postpartum IUCD use was found to be a safe, simple, inexpensive and reversible procedure with higher chances of retention for a longer period. Additionally, there is decreased risk of complications and lower expulsion rates when compared with interval IUCD.