Elevated blood pressure (BP) is a growing burden worldwide, leading to over 10 million deaths each year. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness of high BP and to act as a temporary solution to the lack of screening programmes worldwide. A recently conducted study on 1.3 million adults in India showed the prevalence of hypertension to be 25.3%. Raised BP is responsible for 8.5% of the total Disability Adjusted Life Years and is also an important contributor to cardiovascular disease which is the leading cause of deaths in the country. An opportunistic cross-sectional survey of volunteers aged ≥18 was carried out in May 2017. Blood pressure measurement, the definition of hypertension and statistical analysis followed the standard MMM protocol. The study was conducted in over 500 screening sites across the country and involved over 5000 volunteers. Screening sites included health facilities such as hospitals and clinics, as well as a variety of public spaces. A total of 240 376 individuals were screened during MMM17. Out of the 122 685 screenees for whom all three BP readings were available, 38 974 (31.8%) had hypertension based on the mean of second and third reading. Of individuals not receiving antihypertensive medication, 21 679 (17.7%) were hypertensive. Of individuals receiving antihypertensive medication, 14 203 (82.6%) had uncontrolled BP. MMM17 was the largest collaborative BP screening campaign undertaken in India with involvement of the public as well as the private sector. Over two-thirds of the individuals on antihypertensive treatment had uncontrolled BP. Approximately one-fifth of the participants had raised BP and were not on antihypertensive treatment prior to the study. These results suggest that opportunistic screening can identify significant numbers with raised BP.

Background: There are several risk factors contributing to cardiovascular diseases, such as age, gender and ethnicity. Positive family history being overweight and obese is also additional risk factors. Other, life style factor that contribute to hyper tension are smoking, stress cell phone use and physical inactivity, consumption of alcohol, increase salt intake reduce potassium intake. The objective of the study was to assess the awareness about cardiovascular diseases risk factors amongst first-year medical students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out amongst 136 first-year medical students of MIMSR Medical College, Latur, Maharashtra during the period of December 2017 to May 2018. A self-administered, pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to obtain information about awareness of cardiovascular diseases risk factors including diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol habits from the study subjects. Results: The study subjects were 136 first-year medical students belonging to 18-23 years age group. There was good awareness about high fat food, high sugar intake, smoking and alcohol consumption as cardiovascular diseases risk factors. Conclusions: There is good awareness about cardiovascular diseases risk factors among first-year medical students.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a more prevalent chronic lung disease with a significant health burden, and the majority of these cases receive inadequate treatment. Methods: Prospective, observational, interview (questionnaire) based complete workup COPD study, screened 12,000 cases with chronic respiratory symptoms with cough, sputum production, and shortness of breath. A total of 6000 COPD cases were enrolled after the spirometry test. COPD cases were assessed as disease knowledge and methods of treatment offered by applying questionnaires to patients and treating physicians.Results: In the present study, 3% of study cases were aware of their COPD illness, 54% were not having knowledge about the disease, and 43% cases were not accepting the COPD diagnosis (p < 0.0001). A total of 58% of cases received inhalation treatment as levosalbutamol monotherapy in 31% cases, levosalbutamol plus beclometasone in 18% cases, and formoterol plus budesonide or salmeterol plus fluticasone only in 9% of COPD cases (p < 0.0001). Total 42% cases received oral treatment as theophylline in 16% cases, salbutamol in 7% cases, oral steroids in 19% cases (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: "Doctor-patient-drug trio" discordance clubbed as "difficult doctor, difficult patient, and difficult treatment" is a very crucial issue observed during diagnosis and management of COPD in peripheral settings in India. K E Y W O R D S chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, difficult doctor, inhalation treatment, salmeterol fluticasone, spirometry Research HighlightsCOPD is an underestimated chronic lung disease and is halfheartedly treated in rural settings in India. In the present study, we observed that 43% of cases were difficult to accept COPD diagnosis, 91% of cases did not receive rational inhalation treatment, and 42% of cases were treated with oral medicines over rational inhalation treatment.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a growing epidemiological problem. GDM is defined as glucose intolerance during pregnancy. Treatment of GDM is important to avoid maternal and fetal complication. The objective of this study is to assess the knowledge about gestational diabetes mellitus among antenatal mothers from rural area.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done among 193 antenatal mothers in rural hospital, Murud. A study was done between July 2018 to August 2018. A pretested questionnaire was used to assess knowledge about GDM among all antenatal mothers.Results: Among the participants, 48.19% were in the age group 21-25 years and 90.15% antenatal mothers were literate. 80% heard about diabetes mellitus and 38% mothers knows that diabetes can occur first time in pregnancy. Only 28.50% mothers heard about GDM from different source of information.Conclusions: The study shows average knowledge about gestational diabetes mellitus among antenatal mother.

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