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Biomedical subjects

Syed Fayyaz Hussain

Publications and source records attributed to Syed Fayyaz Hussain.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Acute respiratory failure in Pakistani patients: risk factors associated with mortality.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the outcome and risk factors associated with mortality in patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF). DESIGN: Observational study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, between January 1997 and June 2001. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All adult patients admitted with a medical cause of acute respiratory failure were reviewed. The primary outcome measure was mortality and secondary outcome measures were factors associated with mortality in ARF. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent risk factors for mortality. RESULTS: A total of 270 patients were admitted with ARF. Hypercapnic respiratory failure was seen in 186 (69%) and hypoxemic in 84 (31%) cases. Pneumonia and COPD exacerbation were the most common underlying causes of ARF. Ventilator support was required in 93 (34.4%) patients. Hospital mortality was 28%. Chronic renal failure, malignancy, hypokalemia, severe acidosis (pH <7.25) septicemia and ARDS independently correlated with mortality. Mortality rate increased sharply (84%) with the presence of three or more risk factors. CONCLUSION: Acute respiratory failure has a high mortality rate (28%). Development of ARDS or septicemia was associated with high mortality. Presence of more than one risk factor significantly increased the mortality rate.

Acute Disease↗

Knowledge, attitude and misconceptions regarding tuberculosis in Pakistani patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess knowledge of patients with tuberculosis; about their disease and misconceptions regarding TB. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted at Out-patient clinics of two teaching hospitals (private and public) in Karachi, Pakistan. A questionnaire was filled for the purpose. RESULTS: A total of 170 patients were interviewed, 112 from private and 58 from a public sector hospital. Cough, fever, bloody sputum and chest pain were recognized as the common symptoms of TB. Eleven (7%) patients thought TB was not an infectious disease and 18 (10.6%) did not consider it a preventable disease. Contaminated food was considered the source of infection by 81 (47.6%) and 96 (57%) considered emotional trauma/stress the causative agent of TB. No counseling about preventing spread was received by 81 (50%) patients and 97 (57%) considered separating dishes as an important means of preventing spread. Thirty one (18%) patients would have discontinued their medications following relief of symptoms. Thirty nine (23%) of the respondents thought that TB could lead to infertility and 66 (38.8%) believed that there were reduced chances of getting married following infection. CONCLUSION: Misconceptions concerning TB are common in Pakistani patients. Lack of knowledge on Tuberculosis is alarming.

Adolescent↗

Risk factors associated with development of ventilator associated pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk factors associated with development of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP). DESIGN: A case control study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, between January 1999 and June 2000. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients with assisted mechanical ventilation were assessed for the development of VAP. Risk factors associated with development of VAP were determined. Adult patients who developed pneumonia, 48 hours after ventilation, were called cases while those who did not develop pneumonia were called controls. RESULTS: Seventy (28%) out of 250 mechanically ventilated patients developed VAP (rate of VAP was 26 cases per 1000 ventilator days). Shock during first 48 hours of ventilation (odds ratio (OR), 5.95; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.83-12.52), transport out of ICU during mechanical ventilation (OR, 6.0; 95% CI, 2.92-12.37), re-intubation (OR, 4.23; 95% CI, 2.53-9.85), prior episode of aspiration of gastric content (OR, 3.07; 95% CI, 1.35-7.01), and use of antibiotics prior to intubation (OR,2.55; 95% CI, 1.20-5.41) were found to be independently associated with a higher risk of developing VAP. Gram negative organisms and Staphylococcus aureus were responsible for over 90% of cases. Patients with VAP had higher crude mortality rate (57.1%) compared with controls (32.2%). CONCLUSION: Ventilator associated pneumonia is associated with a high mortality. This study has identified risk factors associated with VAP.

Adult↗

Knowledge regarding management of tuberculosis among general practitioners in northern areas of Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge of General Practitioners (GPs)in NWFP and northern areas of Pakistan regarding diagnosis and management of tuberculosis. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of general practitioners (GPs) from North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and northern areas of Pakistan was done. The sampling strategy was convenience sampling. The data was collected on a structured questionnaire after taking verbal consent. RESULTS: Out of 88 GPs 43% regarded sputum microscopy and 22% chest radiograph as confirmatory tests for the diagnosis of pulmonary TB. During follow up of pulmonary TB patients, 32% doctors considered chest radiograph as the best investigation while sputum microscopy was chosen by only 28%. Eighty seven percent of GPs correctly identified TB as a droplet infection but 6% considered sexual contact to be the main mode of spread of this disease. Two third of the prescriptions, written for a 60 kg man with newly diagnosed smear-positive pulmonary TB, were not in line with national guidelines. Only 3% of the GPs knew all the five components of DOTS. CONCLUSION: Severe deficiencies were seen in the management of TB by GPs of Northern areas of Pakistan. National TB control Program must take appropriate measures to educate and train the GPs in TB management. Without involving the GPs, TB control will remain a problem in Pakistan).

Cross-Sectional Studies↗

Platypnea-orthodeoxia: report of two cases and review of the literature.

We describe two unusual cases of platypnea. The first patient had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but platypnea did not respond to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease therapy. He was found to have multiple pulmonary emboli, and symptoms rapidly improved on anticoagulation therapy. The second patient had Parkinson disease and developed severe platypnea, an association that has not been previously described. She had significant postural hypotension and responded to therapy with fludrocortisone.

Aged↗

Non-invasive ventilation in the management of acute respiratory failure in Pakistan.

Data were collected from hospital records on all patients who received non-invasive ventilation (NIV) during the period 1999-2000. Patients were treated with NIV if they had type I or type II respiratory failure or if they had respiratory distress with a respiratory rate above 30/min. A total of 68 patients (35 males) were studied. NIV was applied using a Respironics Bi-PAP device mostly on a high-dependency unit (HDU). A successful outcome with NIV was achieved in 70% (26/37) of patients with type II failure, 65% (11/17) patients with type I failure and 64% (9/14) patients with respiratory distress. Of the 16 patients considered to be inappropriate for invasive ventilation on admission, eight were treated successfully with NIV. NIV can be applied successfully in developing countries.

Acute Disease↗

Chronic pulmonary thromboembolism.

Chronic pulmonary thromboembolism is a rare but treatable cause of pulmonary hypertension. We are describing two patients with limited mobility and dyspnoea. Neither of the patients had clinical evidence of deep vein thrombosis. A high level of clinical suspicion is required for the diagnosis. Spiral CT scan establishes the diagnosis avoiding the need for pulmonary angiography. Surgical endarterectomy is the treatment of choice. Life-long anticoagulation therapy is recommended for patients in whom surgery cannot be performed. Untreated, the condition carries a high mortality.

Aged↗

General physicians' perspective of sleep apnea from a developing country.

To assess the knowledge of general physicians about the diagnosis and management of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a self-administered questionnaire, containing 15 questions, was distributed to 160 doctors attending a pulmonary CME program in March 2002. After 15 minutes of response time, the questionnaires were collected. The data were entered and analyzed using SPSS (Version 10.0) software. One hundred and twenty (75%) questionnaires were returned. Only 41% of responders had ever read an article about OSA and 36% had suspected it at least once in their practice. The majority (61-77%) of responders were aware of the common symptoms of OSA, but 55% did not recognize its association with hypertension. A significant number of doctors were not aware that OSA could occur in non-obese individuals (33%), women (42%) and children (39%). Only 25% of responders recognized that a history and blood tests were insufficient to make a reliable diagnosis of OSA. Half of the responders were aware of CPAP therapy for OSA, whereas 18% would have prescribed sedatives to treat sleep disturbances in OSA.

Child↗

Effect of providing free sputum microscopy service to private practitioners on case notification to National Tuberculosis Control Program.

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to see whether providing free sputum microscopy services to private practitioners helps in case notification to the national tuberculosis control program. The knowledge, attitudes and practices of these practitioners regarding tuberculosis were also evaluated. METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to all the private practitioners practicing in a densely populated area of Karachi. They were asked to fill tuberculosis notification cards for the first three months and then for another three months when an incentive in the form of free sputum microscopy was provided to the practitioners. RESULTS: Although the majority of the practitioners knew that cough, fever and weight loss are the main symptoms of tuberculosis, less than half knew that blood in sputum, poor appetite and chest pain could also be associated with tuberculosis. Only 66% of the practitioners indicated sputum microscopy as the preferred diagnostic method for tuberculosis. Only 50% of the practitioners self treated the patients, while the remaining half referred their patients to specialists. Around 80% of the practitioners were aware of the four first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs. Less than half of the practitioners considered sputum microscopy as the most useful follow-up investigation in a patient with pulmonary tuberculosis. Generally, there was a poor response in case notification by private practitioners on provision of free sputum microscopy. CONCLUSION: An overwhelming majority of the practitioners had poor knowledge concerning the correct treatment practices in Tuberculosis. Providing sputum free microscopy does not significantly help in improving tuberculosis case notification. Strategies for public-private collaboration in tuberculosis control are needed.

Clinical Competence↗

Pre-operative pulmonary evaluation.

Postoperative pulmonary complications contribute significantly to morbidity and morality in surgical patients. Pulmonary complications occur more frequently than cardiac complications. The complication rates for upper abdominal and thoracic surgery are the highest. A better understanding of the risk factors associated with postoperative pulmonary complications is essential to develop strategies for reducing these complications. In any individual patient the benefit from a surgical procedure should be weighed against the risks it imposes. When possible, stabilization of respiratory status is advisable before surgery. This article reviews patient and procedure related risk factors, clinical and laboratory evaluation for preoperative risk assessment and risk reduction strategies to minimize the complication rates.

Age Factors↗