Prevalence of familial hypercholesterolemia in a country-wide laboratory network in Pakistan: 10-year data from 988, 306 patients.

Introduction: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a modifiable risk factor for premature coronary heart disease but is poorly diagnosed and treated. We leveraged a large laboratory network in Pakistan to study the prevalence, gender and geographic distribution of FH.

Methodology: Data were curated from the Aga Khan University Hospital clinical laboratories, which comprises of 289 laboratories and collection points spread over 94 districts.

Trends in the burden and determinants of hypertensive heart disease in the Eastern Mediterranean region, 1990-2019: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

Background: Hypertensive heart disease (HHD), one of the end-organ damage consequences of hypertension, is an important public health issue worldwide. Data on the HHD burden in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR) are scarce. We aimed to investigate the burden of HHD in the EMR, its member countries, and globally from 1990 to 2019.

Making prescriptions "talk" to stroke and heart attack survivors to improve adherence: Results of a randomized clinical trial (The Talking Rx Study).

Background: We developed and tested the effectiveness of a tailored health information technology driven intervention: "Talking Prescriptions" (Talking Rx) to improve medication adherence in a resource challenged environment.

Methods: We conducted a parallel, randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded trial at the Aga Khan University (AKU), Karachi, Pakistan. Adults with diagnosis of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or coronary artery disease (CAD) diagnosed least one month before enrollment, on anti-platelets and statins, with access to a mobile phone were enrolled.

'Refractory epilepsy': what lies beneath?

A 30-year-old woman presented to the emergency room with recurrent seizures for 5 days. She had been diagnosed with epilepsy 2 years previously but stopped treatment due to the side effects of her medications. She was now experiencing episodes every 15-30 min.

Using a tailored health information technology- driven intervention to improve health literacy and medication adherence in a Pakistani population with vascular disease (Talking Rx) - study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Vascular disease, manifesting as myocardial infarction and stroke, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Current estimates are that only one in six patients have good adherence to medications and very few have sufficient health literacy. Our aim is to explore the effectiveness and acceptability of Prescription Interactive Voice Response (IVR) Talking Prescriptions (Talking Rx) and SMS reminders in increasing medication adherence and health literacy in Pakistani patients with vascular disease.

Clinical predictors of mortality in hospitalized patients with infective endocarditis at a tertiary care center in Pakistan.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and predictors of in-hospital mortality in patients with infective endocarditis at a tertiary care centre in Pakistan.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2006, and comprised 84 consecutive patients hospitalised with infective endocarditis,. All patients underwent verification of the diagnosis according to the Modified Duke criterion.