ESTIMATING THE RISK OF CARDIO VASCULAR DISEASES AMONG PAKISTANI DIABETICS USING U.K. PDS RISK ENGINE.

Background: The concept of risk estimation of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is helpful for clinician to identifying high risk populations for their effective treatment. Latest studies recommended only initiating cardioprotective treatment in diabetic patients based on personalized CHD risk estimates so as to reduce undue harm from overly aggressive risk factor modification. The United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UK PDS) Risk Engine is a widely used tool to assess the risk of Cardio Vascular diseases (CVD) in diabetics.

Genital examination of Hijras.

There is a common belief in Pakistan that hijras are born hermaphrodites or have undergone an emasculation procedure. There are many studies about socio-sexual behaviour of hijras, but one rarely finds any study regarding genital examination of hijras. Four hundred hijras from Karachi and Lahore were examined as part of National Study of Reproductive Tract Infection conducted in 2004.

Socio-sexual behaviour of hijras of Lahore.

Objective: To assess risk behaviours including number and type of sex partners, condom use, knowledge of STIs and HIV/AIDS among hijras (eunuch) of Lahore.

Methods: Two hundred hijras were recruited through Respondent Driven Sampling and interviewed by a team of experienced interviewers.

Results: The mean age of the respondents was 29.

HIV risk in Karachi and Lahore, Pakistan: an emerging epidemic in injecting and commercial sex networks.

The objective of this study was to measure HIV prevalence and risk behaviour in injecting drug users (IDUs), male sex workers (MSWs), Hijras (transgenders), female sex workers (FSWs) and male truckers in Karachi and Lahore, Pakistan. The design was a linked-anonymous cross-sectional study of individuals identified at key venues or through peer referral. Approximately 400 respondents in each group (200 for Hijras) responded to a standardized questionnaire and were tested for HIV antibodies at each site.