Anthropometric characteristics and the burden of altered nutritional status among neuropsychiatric patients at Zomba Mental Hospital in Zomba, Malawi

Objective To determine the prevalence of overnutrition and undernutrition among neuropsychiatric inpatients and outpatients at Zomba Mental Hospital in Zomba, Malawi. Methods In this analytical cross-sectional study (n = 239), data were collected from psychiatric patients who were either inpatients (n = 181) or outpatients (n = 58) at Zomba Mental Hospital, which is the largest mental health facility in Malawi. Information was collected about patient demographics, anthropometric data, dietary information, and tobacco and alcohol use, among other variables. Data were entered and analysed in SPSS 16.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Means were generated and compared between male and female patients, and between inpatients and outpatients. Results The study recruited 158 male and 81 female patients, with mean ages of 31.24 ± 11.85 years and 33.08 ± 15.18 years (p = 0.328), respectively. Male patients were significantly taller (165.27 ± 7.25 cm) than female patients (155.30 ± 6.56 cm) (p < 0.001); were significantly heavier than females (60.02 ± 10.56 kg versus 55.64 ± 10.53 kg); and had a significantly lower mean body mass index (BMI) than females (21.87 ± 3.21 vs. 23.01 ± 3.78) (p = 0.016). Overweight and obese patients comprised 17.6% of the participants, and 8.8% were underweight. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and underweight between male and female participants, or between inpatients and outpatients. Conclusion Our study—the first one of its kind in Malawi—characterised the anthropometry of neuropsychiatric patients at a major metal health facility in Malawi, and has shown a high proportion of overweight patients and a notable presence of underweight patients among them. Being overweight or obese is a risk factor for metabolic disorders. Being underweight may aggravate mental illness or disturb the effect of medication. There is need, therefore, to include nutrition screening and therapeutic or supplementary feeding as part of a comprehensive care and treatment plan for neuropsychiatric patients.

Impacto da Obesidade nos Resultados após Angioplastia Primária em Doentes com Enfarte Agudo do Miocárdio com Elevação do Segmento ST

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is an important risk factor for the development of diabetes, hypertension, coronary disease, left ventricular dysfunction, stroke and cardiac arrhythmias. Paradoxically, previous studies in patients undergoing elective coronary angioplasty showed a reduction in hospital and long-term mortality in obese patients. The relation with body mass index (BMI) has been less studied in the context of primary angioplasty. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of obesity on the results of ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction treated by primary angioplasty. METHODS: This was a study of 464 consecutive patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary angioplasty, 78% male, mean age 61 +/- 13 years. We assessed in-hospital, 30-day and one-year mortality according to BMI. Patients were divided into three groups according to BMI: normal--18-24.9 kg/m2 (n = 171); overweight--25-29.9 kg/m2 (n = 204); and obese-- > 30 kg/m2 (n = 89). RESULTS: Obese patients were younger (ANOVA, p < 0.001) and more frequently male (p = 0.014), with more hypertension (p = 0.001) and dyslipidemia (p = 0.006). There were no differences in the prevalence of diabetes, previous cardiac history, heart failure on admission, anterior location, multivessel disease, peak total CK or medication prescribed, except that obese patients received more beta-blockers (p = 0.049). In-hospital mortality was 9.9% for patients with normal BMI, 3.4% for overweight patients and 6.7% for obese patients (p = 0.038). Mortality at 30 days was 11 4.4% and 7.8% (p = 0.032) and at one year 12.9%, 4.9% and 9% (p = 0.023), respectively. On univariate analysis, overweight was the only BMI category with a protective effect; however, after multivariate logistic regression analysis, adjusted for confounding variables, none of the BMI categories could independently predict outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight patients had a better prognosis after primary angioplasty for ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction compared with other BMI categories, but this was dependent on other potentially confounding variables.

Standardisation of the waist circumference (WC) for each range of body mass index (BMI) in adult outpatients attended to in Endocrinology and Nutrition departments

By this study we seek the expectable range of waist circumference (WC) for every degree of body mass index (BMI), which will serve to studies targeting ascertaining the health risk. We studied 2,932 patients (39.6% men and 60.4% women, between 18 and 96 years ) of the same ethnic group who consecutively attended outpatient departments of our clinics between 2000 and 2004. BMI correlated linearly with the WC (cc: 0.85; p < 0.001). The men, the obese, and diabetics were older (p < 0.001). BMI was greater in women and WC in men. The women had a greater WC if they had diabetes (p < 0.01), being equal to diabetic males. The men had greater WC when they had diabetes (p < 0.001). Waist at risk was detected (men > or = 102 cm and women > or = 88 cm) in 94.3% of the obese, in 32.3% of overweight patients, in 3.8% of patients with BMI < 25, in 84.3% of diabetics, and in 72.6% of patients without diabetes. We made graphic standardisation of WC with regard to BMI, and we calculated the percentiles 10, 25, 50, 75 and 90, grouping in ranges of 2 kg/m(2) of BMI. The diabetic patients are grouped in ranges of 4 kg/m(2). As conclusion we present a standardisation of the WC measurement of patients attended to in our Endocrinology and Nutrition practices distributed in percentiles as a clinically usable tool to define the ranges of WC for every BMI value.

Eating and weight related cognitions in people with Schizophrenia: a case control study

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Patients with antipsychotic-induced weight gain (WG) regularly report on unsuccessful dietary trials, which suggests strong biological weight gain drive that is extremely hard to overcome with thoughts, such that behaviour doesn't change despite some intent to change. The purpose of the present study was to assess cognitions specifically related to restrained eating in severely overweight patients with schizophrenia treated with antipsychotic drugs. METHODS: Forty outpatients with schizophrenia and 40 controls without psychiatric disability were included. Both groups were composed of one subgroup severely overweight (defined as a BMI > 28), and a comparison sample (BMI<28). The revised version of the Mizes Anorectic cognitive questionnaire (MAC-R) was used in this cross-sectional case-control study. RESULTS: Gender was significantly related to eating disorders cognition, women scoring higher than men. Patients with schizophrenia in general scored higher on the MAC-R total scale and on the MAC-R subscale 2, the latter score representing rigid weight regulation and fear of weight gain. When comparing the two groups of subjects with BMI < 28, it appeared that patients with schizophrenia also scored higher on MAC-R total scale, the subscales 2 and 3, the latter subscale 3, indicating altered self control and self-esteem. CONCLUSION: As is the case in weight gain of subjects without schizophrenia, the present results suggest that the cognitive distortions, as assessed by the MAC-R, may play an important role in weight gain also in patients with schizophrenia, and in weight gain associated with antipsychotic pharmacotherapy. Particular attention to these processes may help to improve the management of antipsychotic drugs induced weight gain

Commentary : beyond vague causal effect estimation of obesity on health outcomes

In the current issue of epidemiology, Danaei and colleagues elegantly estimated both the direct effect and the indirect effect-that is, the effect mediated by blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, fibrinogen, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein-of body mass index (BMI) on the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). they analyzed data from 9 cohort studies including 58,322 patients and 9459 CHD events, with baseline measurements between 1954 and 2001. Using sophisticated and cutting-edge methods for direct and indirect effect estimations, the authors estimated that half of the risk of overweight and obesity would be mediated by blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose. Few additional percentage points of the risk would be mediated by fibrinogen and hs-CRP. How should we understand these estimates? Can we say that if obese persons reduce their body weight and reach a normal body weight, their excess risk of CHD would be reduced by half through an improvement in these mediators and by half through the reduction in BmI itself? Is that also true if these individuals are prevented from becoming obese in the first place? Can we also conclude that if these mediators are well controlled in obese individuals through other means than a body weight reduction, their excess risk of CHD would be reduced by half? Let us confront these estimates with observations from studies evaluating 2 interventions to reduce body weight, that is, bariatric surgery in patients with severe obesity and intensive lifestyle intervention in overweight patients with diabetes

Serum laminin, type IV collagen and hyaluronan as fibrosis markers in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Hepatic fibrosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with progression of the disease. In the present study, we analyzed the discriminative ability of serum laminin, type IV collagen and hyaluronan levels to predict the presence of fibrosis in these patients. In this preliminary report, we studied 30 overweight patients divided into two groups according to the absence (group I, N = 19) or presence (group II, N = 11) of fibrosis in a liver biopsy. Triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidade, hyaluronan (noncompetitive fluoroassay), type IV collagen, and laminin (ELISA) were determined. Group II presented significantly higher mean laminin, hyaluronan, type IV collagen, and aspartate aminotransferase values, which were due to the correlation between these parameters and the stage of fibrosis in the biopsy (Spearman's correlation coefficient, rS = 0.65, 0.62, 0.53, and 0.49, respectively). Analysis of the ROC curve showed that laminin values >282 ng/ml were those with the best diagnostic performance, with 87% accuracy. Association of laminin with type IV collagen showed improvement in the positive predictive value (100%), but with reduction in diagnostic sensitivity (64%). When compared with the criteria of Ratziu et al. [Gastroenterology (2000) 118: 1117-1123] for the diagnosis of septal fibrosis, laminin values presented a better diagnostic accuracy (83 vs 70%). Determination of extracellular matrix components in serum, especially of laminin, may identify patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and fibrosis and these components may be used as indicators for liver biopsy in these patients.

Evaluación del Rocuronio Mediante Aceleromiografía en Pacientes con Sobrepeso u Obesidad

Introducción El rocuronio es un relajante muscular utilizado en la práctica anestésica diaria en la que la dosis depende del peso corporal. Se ha demostrado que en el paciente obeso se debe calcular en base a el peso ideal y no al peso real; sin embargo, no hay claridad de como esto modifica el tiempo de latencia y recuperación del medicamento en esta población. Metodología Se realizó un estudio observacional prospectivo para evaluar los resultados de la aceleromiografía en pacientes con sobrepeso u obesidad comparados con pacientes con IMC normal. Los desenlaces fueron tiempo de latencia, tiempo duración 25 y tiempo de recuperación de la función neuromuscular. Resultados Se incluyeron 40 pacientes por medio de muestreo por conveniencia con una relación de 1:1 según peso corporal. No hubo diferencias significativas en las condiciones de la población a diferencia de la clasificación de ASA y el IMC (p=0,03). En el tiempo de latencia no hubo diferencias significativas (p=0.31) ni en el tiempo duración 25, y al evaluar los tiempos de recuperación del bloqueo neuromuscular se encontró una diferencia significativa en los pacientes con sobrepeso (p=0.01). Ningún paciente requirió reversión farmacológica del rocuronio. Discusión Se puede afirmar que existe una disminución en la duración de acción del rocuronio en pacientes con IMC elevado, significativamente menor a la descrita en la literatura para las dosis aplicadas. La dosificación basada en peso ideal puede realmente ser insuficiente en el paciente con sobrepeso u obesidad para alcanzar la duración clínica de este medicamento.

Bemötande i vården vid övervikts- och fetmaproblematik En litteraturöversikt

Bakgrund: Övervikt och fetma orsakar idag fler dödsfall än undervikt. Det är ett folkhälsoproblem som ökar över hela världen. Övervikt och fetma leder till såväl fysiska som psykiska problem och besvär för den drabbade. Forskning har visat att patienter med övervikt eller fetma upplever mest stigmatisering i vuxen ålder. Syfte: Syftet med denna litteraturöversikt är att belysa bemötandet av patienter med övervikts- och fetmaproblematik ur patientens och vårdpersonalens perspektiv. Metoder: En litteraturöversikt. Resultat: Det framkom att patienter med högre BMI upplevde negativt bemötande från vårdpersonal, att de inte blev hörda. Patienterna sökte inte gärna vård. Det framkommer att vårdpersonalen hade en negativ attityd till patienter med övervikt eller fetma och ville helst inte vårda dessa. Slutsats: Patienter med övervikt eller fetma är en utsatt patientgrupp i såväl samhälle som inom vården. Patienterna upplever att de inte blir hörda och inte blir tagna på allvar. Vårdpersonal är enig om att vården måste hjälpa dessa patienter, trots det uppger en stor del av vårdpersonal att de inte vill vårda patienter med övervikt eller fetma relaterat till tidsbrist.

Estudo comparativo de fatores de risco em crianças e adolescentes com diagnóstico antropométrico de sobrepeso ou obesidade

OBJETIVO: O excesso de peso é um grande problema de saúde pública em todo o mundo, atingindo crianças e adolescentes. O presente estudo teve por objetivo verificar se a condição de portador de sobrepeso se associa à presença de fatores de risco à saúde. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 84 sujeitos entre seis e 17 anos, constituindo-se um grupo de 34 pacientes portadores de sobrepeso e outro de 50 obesos, atendidos em ambulatório de Nutrologia Pediátrica da Universidade de Ribeirão Preto (Unaerp), durante o período de outubro de 2004 a outubro de 2005. Foram obtidas as variáveis: pressão arterial, circunferência abdominal, glicemia de jejum, glicemia de segunda hora, colesterol total, HDL-c, LDL-c e triglicérides. Comparam-se os dois grupos por meio de duas abordagens estatísticas: comparação entre as distribuições dos valores absolutos (teste de Mann-Whitney) e entre as frequências de valores considerados alterados (teste exato de Fisher). RESULTADOS: Quanto à primeira abordagem, verificou-se diferença estatística apenas para o HDL-c, com maiores valores para o subgrupo de portadores de sobrepeso de seis a dez anos. Quanto à segunda comparação, verificou-se diferença estatística para a circunferência abdominal (segundo os critérios de Freedman), HDL-c e glicemia de jejum, com maiores frequências de valores alterados entre os obesos. CONCLUSÕES: Os portadores de sobrepeso apresentaram alterações indicativas de prejuízos à sua saúde, semelhantemente aos obesos, sendo necessário também incluí-los nos programas de prevenção e tratamento.

Comparação entre as necessidades energéticas prescritas e administradas a pacientes em terapia nutricional enteral

Objective: evaluating the adequacy, prescription and energy supply of enteral nutrition therapy in hospitalized patients. Methods: was performed a retrospective survey of the evolution of TNE protocol of 59 patients hospitalized in a general hospital in Marília / SP / BR. Data collected included gender, age, clinical diagnosis, anthropometric and dietary data related to the prescribed dietary formula, route and method of administration of the enteral nutrition, the daily volume prescribed and administered, the daily amount of energy required and offered in the diet, as well as possible complications. Body mass index (BMI), triceps skinfold (TSF) and arm muscle circumference (AMC) were used to establish the nutritional status of the patients. The adequacy of ENT was done according to the daily energy requirement compared to the average energy received during the daily use of ENT. Results: The average found to the BMI was 21.4 kg/m 2, and no differences were found comparing male and female. The data for TSF and AMC were different between genders (p<0.05) and suggest a more severe muscle mass in relation to adipose tissue. The averaged to the energy requirements was 1642 kcal/day but the average of energy prescribed was 1045 kcal/day and the amount offered was 1035 kcal/day. There was a significant difference between the necessity and the supplied energy offered through enteral nutrition (p=0.00) as well between the energy required and prescribed (p =0.00), both were shorter than the necessity. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in energy supply, volume of enteral nutrition prescribed and administered among eutrophic, underweight or overweight patients. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the prescription and energy supply were not based on the needs of these patients, causing a significant energy deficit, which can lead to worsening of the nutritional status of the same. In hospitalized patients in use of ENT, the energy requirement must be made by a qualified professional within the multidisciplinary team, based on the needs of each patient.

A importância do teste de tolerância à glicose oral no diagnóstico da intolerância à glicose e diabetes mellitus do tipo 2 em mulheres com síndrome dos ovários policísticos

PURPOSE: To evaluate the importance of the oral glucose tolerance test for the diagnosis of glucose intolerance (GI) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM-2) in women with PCOS. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 247 patients with PCOS selected at random. The diagnosis of GI was obtained from the two-hour oral glucose tolerance test with 75 g of glucose according to the criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO) (GI: 120 minutes for plasma glucose =140 mg/dL and <200 mg/dL), and the diagnosis of DM-2 was obtained by both the oral glucose tolerance test (DM: 120 minutes for plasma glucose =200 mg/dL) and fasting glucose using the criteria of the American Diabetes Association (impaired fasting glucose: fasting plasma glucose =100 and <126 mg/dL; DM: fasting glucose =126 mg/dL). A logistic regression model for repeated measures was applied to compare the oral glucose tolerance test with fasting plasma glucose. ANOVA followed by the Tukey test was used for the analysis of the clinical and biochemical characteristics of patients with and without GI and/or DM-2. A p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: PCOS patients had a mean age of 24.8±6.3, and body mass index (BMI) of 18.3 to 54.9 kg/m2 (32.5±7.6). The percentage of obese patients was 64%, the percentage of overweight patients was 18.6% and 17.4% had healthy weight. The oral glucose tolerance test identified 14 cases of DM-2 (5.7%), while fasting glucose detected only three cases (1.2%), and the frequency of these disorders was higher with increasing age and BMI. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrate the superiority of the oral glucose tolerance test in relation to fasting glucose in diagnosing DM-2 in young women with PCOS and should be performed in these patients.

Improvement of metabolic parameters and vascular function by metformin in obese non-diabetic rats

Aims: Metformin is an insulin sensitizing agent with beneficial effects in diabetic patients on glycemic levels and in the cardiovascular system. We examined whether the metabolic changes and the vascular dysfunction in monosodium glutamate-induced obese non-diabetic (MSG) rats might be improved by metformin. Main methods: 16 week-old MSG rats were treated with metformin for 15 days and compared with age-matched untreated MSG and non-obese non-diabetic rats (control). Blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, vascular reactivity and prostanoid release in the perfused mesenteric arteriolar bed as well as nitric oxide production and reactive oxygen species generation in isolated mesenteric arteries were analyzed. Key findings: 18-week-old MSG rats displayed higher Lee index, fat accumulation, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia. Metformin treatment improved these alterations. The norepinephrine-induced response, increased in the mesenteric arteriolar bed from MSG rats, was corrected by metformin. Indomethacin corrected the enhanced contractile response in MSG rats but did not affect metformin effects. The sensitivity to acetylcholine, reduced in MSG rats, was also corrected by metformin. Indomethacin corrected the reduced sensitivity to acetylcholine in MSG rats but did not affect metformin effects. The sensitivity to sodium nitroprusside was increased in preparations from metformin-treated rats. Metformin treatment restored both the reduced PGI2/TXA2 ratio and the increased reactive oxygen species generation in preparations from MSG rats. Significance: Metformin improved the vascular function in MSG rats through reduction in reactive oxygen species generation, modulation of membrane hyperpolarization. correction of the unbalanced prostanoids release and increase in the sensitivity of the smooth muscle to nitric oxide. (c) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Metformin and serious adverse effects

Metformin, a biguanide derivative, has been used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes for nearly 50 years. It acts as an insulin-sensitising agent, lowering fasting plasma insulin concentrations by inducing greater peripheral uptake of glucose, as well as decreasing hepatic glucose output. In 1998, the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study reported that, in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes, treatment with metformin compared with diet alone resulted in statistically significant absolute risk reductions (ARRs) in all-cause mortality (ARR, 7%), diabetes-related deaths (ARR, 5%), any diabetes-related endpoint (ARR, 10%), and macrovascular disease (myocardial infarction, sudden death, angina, stroke, peripheral vascular disease).1 This was achieved without hypoglycaemia or weight gain. As a result, metformin is now regarded as the oral hypoglycaemic agent of choice in the treatment of overweight people with type 2 diabetes.

Relationship between steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C: A meta-analysis of individual patient data

Background & Aims: Steatosis is a frequent histologic finding in chronic hepatitis C (CHC), but it is unclear whether steatosis is an independent predictor for liver fibrosis. We evaluated the association between steatosis and fibrosis and their common correlates in persons with CHC and in subgroup analyses according to hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype and body mass index. Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis on individual data from 3068 patients with histologically confirmed CHC recruited from 10 clinical centers in Italy, Switzerland, France, Australia, and the United States. Results: Steatosis was present in 1561 patients (50.9%) and fibrosis in 2688 (87.6%). HCV genotype was 1 in :1694 cases (55.2%), 2 in 563 (18.4%), 3 in 669 (21.8%), and 4 in :142 (4.6%). By stepwise logistic regression, steatosis was associated independently with genotype 3, the presence of fibrosis, diabetes, hepatic inflammation, ongoing alcohol abuse, higher body mass index, and older age. Fibrosis was associated independently with inflammatory activity, steatosis, male sex, and older age, whereas HCV genotype 2 was associated with reduced fibrosis. In the subgroup analyses, the association between steatosis and fibrosis invariably was dependent on a simultaneous association between steatosis and hepatic inflammation. Conclusions: In this large and geographically different group of CHC patients, steatosis is confirmed as significantly and independently associated with fibrosis in CHC. Hepatic inflammation may mediate fibrogenesis in patients with liver steatosis. Control of metabolic factors (such as overweight, via lifestyle adjustments) appears important in the management of CHC.

Prevalencia de anestesia epidural y raquídea en pacientes que se sometieron a cesárea en el Hospital José Carrasco Arteaga. Cuenca – Ecuador, julio a diciembre 2014

Introducción: La anestesia epidural como la anestesia raquídea son técnicas anestésicas similares que disminuye la percepción sensitiva y dolorosa. La anestesia raquídea y epidural aunque siendo ambas anestesia regional, presentan distinto comportamiento y por tanto distinto manejo, eficacia y riesgos. Objetivo General: Determinar la prevalencia de anestesia epidural y raquídea en pacientes que se sometieron a cesárea en el hospital José Carrasco Arteaga. Cuenca – Ecuador. Julio a diciembre 2014 Metodología: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo analítico de corte transversal, utilizando la base de datos elaborada de 450 mujeres sometidas a cesárea en el año 2014 en el Hospital José Carrasco Arteaga. La información se recolectó en formularios, los mismos que fueron elaborados por las autoras, se elaboró una base de datos, para lo cual se utilizó Excel 2010, se creó tablas, analizándolas mediante valor de p, frecuencia y porcentaje(%).La información se analizó por medio del software SPSS versión 22. Resultados: De las 441 pacientes encontramos que las mujeres entre los 20-39 años fueron la población de mayor prevalencia sometida a anestesia raquídea y epidural con un 92,1% (164) y un 85,9% (226) correspondientemente, la anestesia epidural se uso más en las pacientes con sobrepeso 38.8% (102) y obesidad 35.0% (92), las mujeres con peso normal en el 37,6% (67) se utilizó la anestesia raquídea mayormente y de las mujeres con sobrepeso en el 36,5 (65) se utilizó la anestesia raquídea principalmente, la mayor prevalencia fue en la población casada bajo anestesia epidural con el 60% (153), la anestesia epidural se utilizó más en las pacientes de la zona urbana un 58.8% (204) y en zona rural un 62.8% (59), la escolaridad superior con el tipo de anestesia raquídea con un 47,2% (84) y con anestesia raquídea con un 35,0% (92) fue el nivel de escolaridad más prevalente, la anestesia epidural se utilizó mas en las pacientes procedentes de la zona urbana 58.8% (204) como de la zona rural 62.8% (59)