Association of lipoprotein (a) with coronary artery disease in a South Asian population: A case-control study.

Introduction: Coronary artery disease (CAD), the leading cause of mortality worldwide, is characterised by an earlier onset and more severe disease in South Asians as compared to Western populations.

Methods: This is an observational study on 928 individuals who attended three tertiary care centres in Kerala, India from 2014-to 2017. The demographic, anthropometric, behavioural factors and the lipoprotein (Lp(a)) and cholesterol values were compared between the two groups and across disease severity.

Disability Weights Estimates From India in 2018: Measurements From Community Members From Two Distinct States of India.

Background: India is undergoing a rapid demographic and epidemiologic transition. Thus demanding prioritization of diseases based on burden estimation is befitting our cultural diversity. Disability weights (DWs) by Global burden of disease (GBD) studies may not be representative.

The clinical demand and supply of blood in India: A National level estimation study.

Background: Estimating the clinical demand for blood and components arising in a health facility is crucial to ensure timely availability of blood. This study aims to estimate disease-specific clinical demand, supply and utilization of whole blood and components in India.

Methods: We conducted a national level cross-sectional study in five randomly selected states from five regions of the country.

Mixed Effect of Alcohol, Smoking, and Smokeless Tobacco Use on Hypertension among Adult Population in India: A Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Study.

Sporadic evidence is available on the association of consuming multiple substances with the risk of hypertension among adults in India where there is a substantial rise in cases. This study assesses the mutually exclusive and mixed consumption patterns of alcohol, tobacco smoking and smokeless tobacco use and their association with hypertension among the adult population in India. Nationally representative samples of men and women drawn from the National Family and Health Survey (2015-2016) were analyzed.

Psychological distress and burnout among healthcare worker during COVID-19 pandemic in India-A cross-sectional study.

Background: COVID-19 has inundated the entire world disrupting the lives of millions of people. The pandemic has stressed the healthcare system of India impacting the psychological status and functioning of health care workers. The aim of this study is to determine the burnout levels and factors associated with the risk of psychological distress among healthcare workers (HCW) engaged in the management of COVID 19 in India.

A Novel MRI and Clinical-Based Scoring System to Assess Post-Surgery Healing and to Predict Long-Term Healing in Cryptoglandular Anal Fistulas.

Background: Anal fistulas cause great uncertainty and anxiety in patients and surgeons alike. This is largely because of the inability to accurately confirm postoperative fistula healing, especially long-term healing. There is no scoring system available that can objectively assess cryptoglandular anal fistulas for postoperative healing and can also accurately predict long-term healing.

Utility and safety of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy in mechanically ventilated children in pediatric intensive care unit.

Objectives: To study the utility, safety, and effects of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FFB) on oxygenation status, ventilation parameters, and hemodynamics in mechanically ventilated children.

Design: Retrospective study.

Patients: Children aged >1 month to 18 years suffering from critical medical and surgical diseases.

Spatio-temporal modeling for malnutrition in tribal population among states of India a Bayesian approach.

Exploring Bayesian spatio-temporal methods to analyze spatial dependence in malnutrition at the state level for tribal children (less than 3 years) population of India and change over time (three rounds of NFHS-2(1998-99),3(2005-06) and 4(2015-16)). The Bayesian model, fitted by Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation using OpenBUGS, for spatial autocorrelation (through spatial random effects modeling). The model estimated (1) mean time trend and (2) spatial random effects.

A comparison of clinical outcomes between vaccinated and vaccine-naive patients of COVID-19, in four tertiary care hospitals of Kerala, South India.

The Problem Considered: This multi-centric study analyzed data of COVID-19 patients and compared differences in symptomatology, management, and outcomes between vaccinated and vaccine-naive patients.

Methods: All COVID-19 positive individuals treated as an in-or out-patient from the 1March to 15 May 2021 in four selected study sites were considered for the study. Treatment details, symptoms, and clinical course were obtained from hospital records.

Does secondhand smoke exposure increase the risk of acute respiratory infections among children aged 0-59 months in households that use clean cooking fuel? A cross-sectional study based on 601 509 households in India.

This study examines whether exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) increases the risk of acute respiratory infections (ARI) among children aged 0-59 months. Study utilized nationally representative data from National Family Health Survey (2015-2016), which adopted two-stage stratified random sampling. Four mutually exclusive groups based on the type of cooking fuel usage and SHS exposure were created.

Monitoring of the Village Malaria Workers to conduct activities of Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project in Mandla, Madhya Pradesh.

Background: The capacity of the field staff to conduct activities related to disease surveillance, case management, and vector control has been one of the key components for successfully achieving malaria elimination. India has committed to eliminate malaria by 2030, and it has placed significance on monitoring and evaluation at the district level as one of the key strategies in its national framework. To support and guide the country's malaria elimination objectives, the Malaria Elimination Demonstration Project was conducted in the tribal district of Mandla, Madhya Pradesh.

Reasons for loss to follow-up (LTFU) of pulmonary TB (PTB) patients: A qualitative study among Saharia, a particularly vulnerable tribal group of Madhya Pradesh, India.

Background: Loss to follow-up (LTFU) among pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients is a significant challenge for TB control. However, there is a dearth of information about the factors leading to LTFU among marginalized communities. This study highlights the factors associated with LTFU in Saharia, a tribe of Madhya Pradesh having high tuberculosis (TB) prevalence.

Persistent high prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis in a resource-limited setting: threat to India's TB Free campaign.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem among Saharia, a particularly vulnerable tribal group residing in remote rural areas in central India. This article presents the findings from the baseline survey among Saharias and provides comprehensive prevalence data of pulmonary TB (PTB) in this marginalised community.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional PTB prevalence survey was carried out during January-May 2019 in selected villages using multistage stratified cluster sampling.

Prevalence of Hepatitis D virus antibodies in Hepatitis B patients treated at tertiary care unit at Jabalpur Central India.

Hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) infection amongst Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infected patients increases morbidity and mortality. The prevalence varies temporally and spatially. The present study aimed to evaluate the HDV prevalence in central India.

Association between ambient air pollutants and meteorological factors with SARS-CoV-2 transmission and mortality in India: an exploratory study.

Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses a serious public health concern worldwide. Certain regions of the globe were severely affected in terms of prevalence and mortality than other. Although the cause for this pattern is not clearly understood, lessons learned from previous epidemics and emerging evidences suggest the major role of ecological factors like ambient air pollutants (AAP) and meteorological parameters in increased COVID-19 incidence.

Smokeless tobacco quitting during COVID-19: A mixed-methods pilot study among participants screened for a cessation trial in India.

Introduction: COVID-19 and subsequent country-wide lockdown has impacted smokeless tobacco (SLT) product availability in India. We aimed to examine SLT quitting during COVID-19 lockdown among SLT users who consented to be enrolled in a cessation programme.

Methods: Between January-March 2020, we screened 227 exclusive SLT users to be enrolled in a randomized-controlled feasibility study on SLT cessation.

Extreme horseshoe and circumanal anal fistulas-challenges in diagnosis and management.

Objectives: Extreme horseshoe anal fistulas are rare, and there are little data on the diagnosis and management of these fistulas.

Materials And Methods: Patients with horseshoe anal fistula, in which the fistula tract encircled more than 75% of the anal circumference were included in the study. All patients were assessed by a preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Psychosocial impact of COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers in India & their perceptions on the way forward - A qualitative study.

Background & Objectives: The healthcare system across the world has been overburdened due to the COVID-19 pandemic impacting healthcare workers (HCWs) in different ways. The present study provides an insight into the psychosocial challenges faced by the HCWs related to their work, family and personal well-being and the associated stigmas. Additionally, the coping mechanisms adopted by them and their perceptions on the interventions to address these challenges were also explored.

Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis treated with bedaquiline: A case report in the particularly vulnerable tribal group of Madhya Pradesh, India.

The management of drug-resistant (DR) tuberculosis (TB) remains a challenge particularly in remote rural areas of the country. Although the treatment with wholly oral drug regimens, including bedaquiline (BDQ) and delamanid, is rolled out under the National TB Elimination Program, little is known about its coverage and the effectiveness in hard-to-reach tribal areas. The present report describes the early identification and successful management, through team effort, of a case of extensively DR TB belonging to the Saharia tribe - a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) of Madhya Pradesh, which has a very high prevalence of TB.

Hydroxychloroquine for SARS CoV2 Prophylaxis in Healthcare Workers - A Multicentric Cohort Study Assessing Effectiveness and Safety.

Unlabelled: Background, Objective: We studied the effectiveness and safety of Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) preexposure prophylaxis against COVID-19 in Healthcare workers (HCWs) previous studies being inconclusive due to small sample and lack of risk stratification Design and setting: Prospective, observational, multicenter cohort study in 44 hospitals in 17 Indian states during May-Sept 2020 Participants: 12089 Consenting Doctors, nurses, ancillary staff likely exposed to COVID-19 patients irrespective of whether taking HCQ preexposure prophylaxis (4257) or not(7826) participated,(in 6 data missing) Measurements: Data was collected on a self administered online questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done on SPSS version 20.

Results: Age above 45 years, diabetes, hypertension, history of COVID contact were independent risk factors for COVID positivity.

Experiences and needs of patients with MDR/XDR-TB: a qualitative study among Saharia tribe in Madhya Pradesh, Central India.

Background: Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) continues to be a major public health threat posing a critical challenge to TB treatment and control worldwide. The present study was conducted among patients with DR-TB of the Saharia tribe residing in Madhya Pradesh state of Central India to document their experiences and needs, and to identify gaps for treatment adherence as this population is known to be poor because of migration and other factors.

Methods: We conducted 16 in-depth interviews on purposively selected patients with DR-TB among the Saharia tribe using a predesigned open-ended in-depth interview guide, which included questions on domains like general physical health, diagnosis, treatment adherence, side-effects of drugs and experience related to the health facility.

Preparedness of primary and secondary health facilities in India to address major noncommunicable diseases: results of a National Noncommunicable Disease Monitoring Survey (NNMS).

Background: The monitoring framework for evaluating health system response to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) include indicators to assess availability of affordable basic technologies and essential medicines to treat them in both public and private primary care facilities. The Government of India launched the National Program for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) in 2010 to strengthen health systems. We assessed availability of trained human resources, essential medicines and technologies for diabetes, cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases as one of the components of the National Noncommunicable Disease Monitoring Survey (NNMS - 2017-18).