BackgroundIn ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), prehospital delay is a significant factor, decreasing likelihood of revascularization and increasing mortality. Prehospital delays are substantive in Indian patients with STEMI. Our study aimed to investigate factors associated with prehospital delay in patients with STEMI.MethodsA multicentric prospective analysis was conducted at five major cardiac care referral centers in Punjab including a tertiary care teaching hospital over a period of 1 year from January 2015 to December 2015. Patients presenting with STEMI were included in the study. A structured questionnaire was used to gather patient characteristics and factors responsible for prehospital delay.ResultsOf the 619 patients included in the study, 42% presented with more than 6 h of prehospital delay. On univariate analysis, delay was significantly higher among elderly (p = 0.01), illiterate patients (p = 0.02), and patients residing in rural areas (p = 0.04). Recognizing symptoms as cardiac in origin (p < 0.001), hospital as initial medical contact, and availability of prehospital electrocardiogram (ECG) (p = 0.001) were associated with shorter delays. On multivariate analysis, prehospital delay was significant in elderly patients, initial point of care as outpatient clinic, and patients without access to prehospital ECG.ConclusionOur study concludes that demographic and socioeconomic barriers exist that impede rapid care seeking and highlights the need for utilization of prehospital ECG to decrease prehospital delay. Possibilities include, educating the public on the importance of early emergency medical services contact or creating emergency stations in rural areas with ECG capabilities. Our study also invites further research, regarding role of telemedicine to triage patients derived from prehospital ECGs to decrease prehospital delay. Keywords: STEMI, Pre-hospital ECG, Pre-hospital delay, Factors, Telemedicine.

Background: The availability and affordability of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are critical to the success of public health initiatives enabling care for people with epilepsy in the community. Objective: To pilot survey the availability and affordability of AEDs in the community. Methods: Field workers used standard WHO–Health Action International approaches and collected data on the availability of, and maximum retail prices of originator brands and least price generics of AEDs in 46 randomly selected public ( n = 29), private ( n = 8), and charitable ( n = 9) pharmacy outlets. Median price ratios were computed apropos international reference prices of corresponding medications and affordability gauged with reference to daily wage of lowest paid worker. Results: Only 10 outlets (7 – private, 3 – public, and none – charitable) stocked at least one essential AED. Median price ratios varied between 1.1 and 1.5 essentially reflecting the difference between the least price generics and originator brands. Of note, carbamazepine-retard, 200 mg put up the slightest difference in prices of originator and least price generic brands and also was the most affordable AED. Conclusions: The availability and affordability of most AEDs were poor and hence, this needs to be studied on a wider scale and thereafter efforts to improve both the availability and affordability are desirable in order to address the huge treatment gap for epilepsy in India.

Background:Ageing being a global phenomenon, increasing number of elderly patients are admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICU). Hence, there is a need for continued research on outcomes of ICU treatment in the elderly.Objectives:Examine age-related difference in outcomes of geriatric ICU patients. Analyze ICU treatment modalities predicting mortality in patients >65 years of age.Materials and Methods:A retrospective observational study was conducted in 2317 patients admitted in a multi-specialty ICU of a tertiary care hospital over 2-year study period from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012. A clinical database was collected which included age, sex, specialty under which admitted, APACHE-II and SOFA scores, patient outcome, average length of ICU stay, and the treatment modalities used in ICU including mechanical ventilation, inotropes, hemodialysis, and tracheostomy. Patients were divided into two groups: <65 years (Control group) and >65 years (Geriatric age group).Results:The observed overall ICU mortality rate in the study population was 19.6%; no statistical difference was observed between the control and geriatric age group in overall mortality (P > 0.05). Mechanical ventilation (P = 0.003, odds ratio [OR] =0.573, 95% confidence interval [CI] =0.390–0.843) and use of inotropes (P = 0.018, OR = 0.661, 95% CI = 0.456–0.958) were found to be predictors of mortality in elderly population. On multivariate analysis, inotropic support was found to be an independent ICU treatment modality predicting mortality in the geriatric age group (β coefficient = 1.221, P = 0.000).Conclusion:Intensive Care Unit mortality rates increased in the geriatric population requiring mechanical ventilation and inotropes during ICU stay. Only inotropic support could be identified as independent risk factor for mortality.

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Summary Objectives A cluster‐randomized trial of home‐based care using primary‐care resources for people with epilepsy has been set up to optimize epilepsy care in resource‐limited communities in low‐ and middle‐income countries. The primary aim is to determine whether treatment adherence to antiepileptic drugs is better with home‐based care or with routine clinic‐based care. The secondary aims are to compare the effects of the two care pathways on seizure control and quality of life. Methods The home‐based intervention comprises epilepsy medication provision, adherence reinforcement, and epilepsy self‐management and stigma management guidance provided by an auxiliary nurse‐midwife equivalent. The experimental group will be compared to a routine clinic‐based care group using a cluster‐randomized design in which the unit of analysis is a cluster of 10 people with epilepsy residing in an area cared for by a single accredited government grass‐roots health care worker. The primary outcome is treatment adherence as measured by monthly tablet counts supplemented by two self‐completed questionnaires. The secondary outcomes include monthly seizure frequency, time to first seizure (in days) after enrollment, proportion of patients experiencing seizure freedom for the duration of the study, and quality of life measured by the “Personal Impact of Epilepsy Scale,” all assessed by an independent study nurse. Results The screening phase and neurologic evaluations and randomizations have been recently completed and follow‐up is underway. Significance The results of the trial are likely to have substantial bearing on the development of governmental policies and strategies to provide coverage and care for patients with epilepsy in resource‐limited countries.