Bystander CPR and Long-Term Survival in Older Adults With Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

Background: Most studies on bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) have focused on in-hospital or short-term survival.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between bystander CPR and long-term survival outcomes for OHCA.

Methods: Within the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival, we identified 152,653 patients with OHCA ≥65 years of age or older.

Treatment of chronic hepatitis D with peginterferon lambda-the phase 2 LIMT-1 clinical trial.

Background And Aims: HDV infection leads to the most aggressive form of human viral hepatitis for which there is no FDA-approved therapy. PEG IFN-lambda-1a (Lambda) has previously demonstrated a good tolerability profile in HBV and HCV patients compared to PEG IFN-alfa. The goal of Phase 2 LIMT-1 trial was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Lambda monotherapy in patients with HDV.

Long-Term Outcomes for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Elderly Patients: An Analysis of Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival Data Linked to Medicare Files.

Background: Most studies on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest have primarily focused on in-hospital or short-term survival. Little is known about long-term outcomes and resource use among survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Methods: In this observationsl study, we describe overall long-term outcomes for patients from the national Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival linked to Medicare files to create the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival: Mortality, Events, and Costs for Cardiac Arrest survivors dataset.

Leveraging Clinical Digitized Data to Understand Temporal Characteristics and Outcomes of Acute Myocardial Infarctions at a Tertiary Care Medical Centre in Pakistan from 1988-2018 - Methods and Results.

Background And Objective: Few data exist on trends in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patterns spanning recent epidemiological shifts in low middle-income countries (LMICs). To understand temporal disease patterns of AMI characteristics and outcomes between 1988-2018, we used digitized legacy clinical data at a large tertiary care centre in Pakistan.

Methods: We reviewed digital health information capture systems maintained across the Aga Khan University Hospital and obtained structured elements to create a master dataset.

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19); Lessons Learnt from International Response and Advice to the Georgia Government.

This commentary presents an analysis of the containment and mitigation efforts by different countries against the recent COVID-19 pandemic. It was developed in response to the Georgia government's decision to relieve lock down restrictions. The article also provides recommendations based on interventions that have been observed to be effective, which will guide decision making for not only Georgia but other states and countries that are currently struggling to manage this outbreak.

Factors affecting achievement of glycemic targets among type 2 diabetes patients in South Asia: Analysis of the CARRS trial.

Objective: To assess the predictors of achieving and maintaining guideline-recommended glycemic control in people with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.

Methods: We analyzed data from the Centre for Cardiometabolic Risk Reduction in South Asia (CARRS) Trial (n = 1146), to identify groups that achieved guideline-recommended glycemic control (HbA1c < 7%) and those that remained persistently poorly controlled (HbA1c > 9%) over a median of 28 months of follow-up. We used generalized estimation equations (GEE) analysis for each outcome i.

Estimation of the burden of out-of-hospital traumatic cardiac arrest in Karachi, Pakistan, using a cross-sectional capture-recapture analysis.

Background: The burden of trauma-related-out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in developing countries like Pakistan remains largely unexplored due to a lack of organized pre-hospital systems. In order to estimate the burden, we used a two-sample capture-recapture method which has been used in several domains to estimate difficult-to-count populations.

Methods: We obtained 3-month data from two sources: Records of two major EMS (emergency medical services) systems and five major hospitals providing coverage to the city's population.

Prevalence and Associations of Metabolic Syndrome in an Urban High Diabetes Risk Population in a Low/Middle-Income Country.

We aimed to assess the burden of metabolic syndrome (MetS), and evaluate the phenotypic variation of MetS in a population at high risk for diabetes in urban Karachi, Pakistan. This study was embedded in a lifestyle intervention trial for the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The study population comprised participants who belonged to urban households in Karachi, Pakistan.

Hypopituitarism other than sellar and parasellar tumors or traumatic brain injury assessed in a tertiary hospital.

Objective: Data regarding the etiology, clinical and biochemical patterns in hypopituitarism is scant for Pakistan. We describe the characteristics of patients with hypopituitarism other than sellar and parasellar tumors or traumatic brain injury from a tertiary care center in Pakistan.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study in the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.

Characteristics of traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients presenting to major centers in Karachi, Pakistan-a longitudinal cohort study.

Background: Trauma is the leading cause of death for adults under 44 years of age. Survival after traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) has been reported to be poor, and its epidemiology is not well defined. A few studies have reported better survival in response to pre-hospital life-saving interventions.

Understanding Constipation: A Cross-sectional Study from a Developing Country Setting.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Gastroenterology Clinics of The Aga Khan Hospital and Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre in Karachi. All patients complaining of constipation were included. Patients with alarm features were excluded.

Burden of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Karachi, Pakistan: Estimation through the capture-recapture method.

Objective: To assess the application of capture-recapture method as a potential strategy to estimate the incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out from January to April 2013 in Karachi and comprised three public general hospitals, one public cardiac hospital, one private general hospital and two ambulance services. Two-sample capture-recapture method was used: first capture was through cardiac arrest data from two major emergency medical services and second capture was from the five teaching hospitals.

IMPACT OF RAMADAN FASTING ON THYROID STATUS AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY HYPOTHYROIDISM: A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY FROM KARACHI, PAKISTAN.

Objective: Ramadan is the ninth month in the lunar calendar, during which Muslims fast from predawn to sunset and major changes occur in their dietary, sleep, and physical activity patterns. Most patients with hypothyroidism are unable to comply with the proper timings of levothyroxine (LT4) administration. The objective of the study was to determine the change in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level and quality of life (QOL) before and after Ramadan in patients with primary hypothyroidism.

Training in emerging advances in chronic hepatitis C infection in Pakistan: the Teach - Pak project.

Purpose: Viral hepatitis B and C represent the primary health challenge confronting Asia and Pakistan. With direct-acting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C, patients will be treated by general physicians (GPs) and will need training through continuing medical education (CME). Blended learning is a combination of didactic teaching with online, self-paced learning, and it has not been evaluated as a CME tool for general physicians.

Microalbuminuria in Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus; the tip of iceberg of diabetic complications.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of microalbuminuria and its association with hypertension and other diabetic complications among Type-2 diabetic patients attending at Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi.

Methods: 1280 Type-2 diabetes patients who visited the outpatient department of Aga Khan University Hospital from September 2014 to August 2016 were included in the study. Microalbuminuria was diagnosed if spot urinary microalbumin excretion was confirmed to be more than 20mg/l.

Patterns, control and complications of diabetes from a hospital based registry established in a low income country.

Background: Diabetes registry enables practitioners to measure the characteristics and patterns of diabetes across their patient population. They also provide insight into practice patterns which can be very effective in improving care and preventing complications. The aim of this study was to assess the patterns, control levels and complications at the baseline of the patients attending clinic at the large tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan with the help of the registry.

Epidemiology and outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in a developing country-a multicenter cohort study.

Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Overall survival after an OHCA has been reported to be poor and limited studies have been conducted in developing countries. We aimed to investigate the rates of survival from OHCA and explore components of the chain of survival in a developing country.

Can trained field community workers identify stroke using a stroke symptom questionnaire as well as neurologists? Adaptation and validation of a community worker administered stroke symptom questionnaire in a peri-urban Pakistani community.

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is a paucity of data from South Asia where stroke is highly prevalent. Validated tools administrable by community health workers (CHWs) are required to identify stroke in the community in a resource-strapped region such as this.