Assessment of listening effort, real-life outcome, auditory working memory and attention in school-going children with cochlear implant.

Purpose: To compare the listening effort using objective test (dual-task paradigm), parents report using abbreviated version of the Speech, Spatial and Quality questionnaire (SSQ-P10) and Teachers' Evaluation of Aural/Oral Performance of Children and Ease of Listening (TEACH), working memory and attention span between children using cochlear implants (CI) and age-matched peers with normal hearing sensitivity, and assess the relationship between listening effort and real-life benefit in children using CI.

Method: Group I included 25 children with normal hearing sensitivity. Group II included 25 children with bimodal cochlear implantation with bilateral severe to profound hearing loss.

Statin Usage in Peripheral Arterial Disease Patients.

Objectives: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events have been shown to occur at higher frequency in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). In this study, our aim is to evaluate whether statin is being used appropriately in patients with PAD and also evaluate its usage with the number of vascular beds involved.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study reviewed data of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of PAD based on invasive or noninvasive imaging.

Short-Term Mortality Associated With Hypertensive Emergencies: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study From South India.

Background and aims Hypertensive emergencies are caused by acutely occurring massive elevations in blood pressure with features suggestive of acute end-organ damage and are a common complication of hypertension. About 1-2% of all patients with hypertension develop this complication in their lifetime. This study was undertaken to assess short-term outcomes associated with hypertensive emergencies in a tertiary care center.

Timing of tofacitinib therapy is critical to improving outcomes in severe-critical COVID-19 infection: A retrospective study from a tertiary care hospital.

Describe the use of tofacitinib in severe and critical coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), and explore the association of drug initiation time with survival. A retrospective study of inpatients with severe or critical COVID-19 at a tertiary care hospital, who were prescribed generic tofacitinib for at least 48 hours, was conducted. Baseline demographics, comorbidities, illness severity, treatment, adverse effects and outcomes were analyzed.

Usability and feasibility assessment of a smartphone application (Suhriday) for heart failure self-care remote monitoring in an Indian tertiary health care setting: a pilot mixed-methods study.

Background/objectives: Remote monitoring as a component of chronic heart failure (CHF) management programmes has demonstrated utility in reducing the risk of rehospitalisation and mortality. There is little evidence on mobile health app facilitated remote monitoring in India. We conducted a pilot usability and feasibility assessment of a smartphone-based application (Suhriday) to remotely monitor patients with CHF.

Health-Related Quality of Life and Mortality in Heart Failure: The Global Congestive Heart Failure Study of 23 000 Patients From 40 Countries.

Background: Poor health-related quality of life (HRQL) is common in heart failure (HF), but there are few data on HRQL in HF and the association between HRQL and mortality outside Western countries.

Methods: We used the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire-12 (KCCQ-12) to record HRQL in 23 291 patients with HF from 40 countries in 8 different world regions in the G-CHF study (Global Congestive Heart Failure). We compared standardized KCCQ-12 summary scores (adjusted for age, sex, and markers of HF severity) among regions (scores range from 0 to 100, with higher score indicating better HRQL).

Impact of blood pressure lowering, cholesterol lowering and their combination in Asians and non-Asians in those without cardiovascular disease: an analysis of the HOPE 3 study.

Background And Design: There are limited data on the effects of blood pressure and cholesterol lowering in Asians at intermediate risk and no cardiovascular disease. We report an analysis of the effects of blood pressure and cholesterol lowering in Asians enrolled in the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation 3 (HOPE 3) trial.

Methods: We randomly assigned 6241 Asians and 6464 non-Asians at intermediate risk without cardiovascular disease to candesartan 16 mg/hydrochlorothiazide 12.

Home Blood Pressure Management Intervention in Low- to Middle-Income Countries: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.

Background: Control of hypertension in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is poor, often less than 10%. A strong body of evidence demonstrates that home blood pressure management lowers blood pressure, and recent guidelines from the National Institute for Clinical Health and Excellence recommends home blood pressure monitoring. However, the preponderance of data on the benefits of home blood pressure management comes from studies in high-income countries.

Regional differences in presentation and antithrombotic treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation: Baseline characteristics from a clustered randomized trial to IMProve treatment with AntiCoagulanTs in patients with atrial fibrillation (IMPACT-AF).

Unlabelled: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia worldwide. However, there are few contemporary comparative data on AF from middle-income countries.

Methods: Baseline characteristics of the IMPACT-AF trial were analyzed to assess regional differences in presentation and antithrombotic treatment of AF from 5 middle-income countries (Argentina, Brazil, China, India, and Romania) and factors associated with antithrombotic treatment prescription.

A multifaceted intervention to improve treatment with oral anticoagulants in atrial fibrillation (IMPACT-AF): an international, cluster-randomised trial.

Background: Oral anticoagulation is underused in patients with atrial fibrillation. We assessed the impact of a multifaceted educational intervention, versus usual care, on oral anticoagulant use in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Methods: This study was a two-arm, prospective, international, cluster-randomised, controlled trial.

A clustered randomized trial to IMProve treatment with AntiCoagulanTs in patients with Atrial Fibrillation (IMPACT-AF): design and rationale.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common, increasing as the population ages, and a major cause of embolic stroke. While oral anticoagulation (OAC) is highly effective at preventing stroke in patients with AF, it continues to be underused in eligible patients worldwide. The objective of this prospective, cluster randomized controlled trial (IMPACT-AF; ClinicalTrials.

Training and Capacity Building in LMIC for Research in Heart and Lung Diseases: The NHLBI-UnitedHealth Global Health Centers of Excellence Program.

Stemming the tide of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide requires a multipronged approach. Although much attention has been paid to disease control measures, there is relatively little consideration of the importance of training the next generation of health-related researchers to play their important role in this global epidemic. The lack of support for early stage investigators in low- and middle-income countries interested in the global NCD field has resulted in inadequate funding opportunities for research, insufficient training in advanced research methodology and data analysis, lack of mentorship in manuscript and grant writing, and meager institutional support for developing, submitting, and administering research applications and awards.

Community health worker-based intervention for adherence to drugs and lifestyle change after acute coronary syndrome: a multicentre, open, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Adherence to drugs and healthy lifestyles is low after acute coronary syndrome. We assessed whether trained community health workers could improve adherence to drugs, lifestyle changes, and clinical risk markers in patients with acute coronary syndrome in India.

Methods: In this study done at 14 hospitals in India we randomly assigned (1:1) patients with acute coronary syndrome 1 or 2 days before discharge from hospital to a community health worker-based intervention group or a standard care group.

High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) & cardiovascular disease: An Indian perspective.

The role of low grade systemic inflammation as evidenced by elevated high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic vascular disease has been intensely investigated through observational studies and clinical trials in the past two decades. On the basis of evidence that has accrued, hsCRP measurement has been integrated into the Reynolds risk scoring system to predict cardiovascular risk. The JUPITER trial proved the benefit of statins in cardiovascular risk reduction in patients with low grades of systemic inflammation and 'normal' cholesterol levels.

Rationale and design of a randomized controlled trial evaluating community health worker-based interventions for the secondary prevention of acute coronary syndromes in India (SPREAD).

Background: There is a need to evaluate and implement cost-effective strategies to improve adherence to treatments in coronary heart disease. There are no studies from low- to middle income countries (LMICs) evaluating trained community health worker (CHW)-based interventions for the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease.

Methods: We designed a hospital-based, open randomized trial of CHW-based interventions versus standard care.

Age- and gender-related differences in drug utilisation and adverse drug reaction patterns among patients in a coronary care unit.

Introduction: This study aimed to examine age- and gender-related differences in the comorbidities, drug utilisation and adverse drug reaction (ADR) patterns of patients admitted to a coronary care unit (CCU).

Methods: The present study was a retrospective cohort study. Two trained physicians independently reviewed the case records of CCU patients over a period of one year (Jan-Dec 2008).

Patterns and determinants of cardiovascular drug utilization in coronary care unit patients of a tertiary care hospital.

Background: A wide variation exists in the patterns of pharmacotherapy among patients admitted with cardiovascular diseases. Very few studies have evaluated the potential determinants of drug utilization. Our objective was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and patterns of cardiovascular drug utilization among patients in coronary care unit (CCU) and assess the determinants of cardiovascular drug use among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Patterns, predictors and preventability of adverse drug reactions in the coronary care unit of a tertiary care hospital.

Aim: To determine the frequency of occurrence, risk factors, clinical spectrum and drugs associated with adverse drug reactions (ADRs) occurring in the coronary care unit (CCU) of a tertiary care hospital.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study based on evaluation of the medical records of consecutive patients admitted to the CCU between January 2008 and December 2008. Each prescription was monitored for ADRs, and each ADR was assessed for causality, severity, predictability and preventability by two physicians using relevant scales.