risk factors

Background and Aims: The epidemiological data, management strategies and treatment outcomes for carcinoma breast patients were analyzed in patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital of western up. Materials and Methods: Hospital records of 399 patients admitted for over a period of five years (January 2011 to December 2015) were used for data analysis. Results: The maximum no. of pts presented was of 40-49 yrs age group (41.35%).66.6% pts were postmenopausal. The most common complaint was painless lump. Most of the patients (48.62%) presented to clinician after 1 yr of developing symptoms and only 5.51% pts within 3 mths of onset of symptoms. 68.41% pts presented as post op cases including residual and recurrent disease while 29.32% pts presented as locally advanced breast cancer. Familial breast cancer was very uncommon. Left sided breast cancer was slightly preponderant. The most common histology was infiltrating duct carcinoma.38.23% pts received adjuvant radiotherapy after receiving adjuvant chemotherapy.16.99% pts lost to follow up after completion of treatment. The 2yr DFS in the 3 arms (25#,20#,17#) was 44.68%,51.61% and 50% respectively, while 2 yrs overall survival was 61.7%,51.61% and 75% respectively. Loco-regional failures were seen in 0%, 3.22% and 12.5% cases and distal recurrence in 27.65%, 9.67% and 12.5 consecutively. While 5yrs overall survival in 25# vs. 20# arm was 9.7% vs. 4%. Conclusion: Mean age of presentation was found to be lower compared to the western world, with an average one decade before as mentioned in literature. Most of the patients were not having any risk factors except being female. Most of the patients got defaulted in view of long waiting list for radiotherapy so we are trying to switchover conventional protocol to hypo-fractionated Radiotherapy protocol so more no. of pts can be benefitted particularly in a government setup.

The lack of knowledge of cervical cancer and its risk factors have led to the late detection and poor prognosis of cervical cancer among women, especially in West Africa. This study seeks to assess the awareness, knowledge and the risk factors associated with cervical cancer among female Senior High School (SHS) students in the Tamale metropolis. A structured questionnaire was administered by the researchers to a total of 330 female students of four randomly selected SHSs in the Tamale Metropolis, Ghana. The questionnaire assessed students’ knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer and its risk factors; it also gathered the demographic factors of the students. Approximately 79.1% (P<0.001) of the students had ever heard of cervical cancer, 31.7% had knowledge about the signs and symptoms of the condition and only 24.6% were aware of the risk factors of cervical cancer. Teachers were the major source of information about cervical cancer for these students. Approximately, 37.9% (P<0.001) of the respondents identified cervical cancer as a sexually transmitted infection. The majority (79.1%; P<0.001) of the respondents knew that cervical cancer was a preventable condition. A little over half of the students (53.9%) were aware of cervical cancer screening methods but only 2.4% (P<0.001) of the total respondents had ever been screened for cervical cancer. This study clearly shows the need to improve sexually active women’s knowledge of cervical cancer risk factors, its signs and symptoms and preventive measures as well as how to assess available screening programme.

The prevalence of hypertension is rapidly increasing in India, both in urban and rural areas. The increase in incidence in hypertension at a younger age is essentially due to lifestyle factors. Given the rising prevalence of hypertension among young adults in developing countries early detection and treatment of high blood pressure is essential to the reduction of cardiovascular disease and prevention of associated burden of illness. The cross sectional study was conducted in a rural area in Goa among young adults in the age group 20-39 years. The study participants were interviewed with a structured pretested questionnaire. The three sections of the questionnaire included demographic variables, behavioural risk factors and physical measurements and examination. The data was entered and analysed using the SPSS software package. Bivariate analysis was performed to establish the association between the various factors and hypertension. Odds ratio was calculated with 95% confidence interval. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension was found to be 13.7% among young adults in the study area. The prevalence was higher among males (16.5%) compared to females (10.8%). On bivariate analysis; smoking, alcohol use, physical inactivity, obesity, family history of hypertension were identified as significant risk factors of hypertension. Multiple logistic regression identified alcohol consumption, insufficient physical activity and abdominal obesity as the most significantly associated factors for hypertension. Hypertension to a great extent is a preventable disease hence appropriate preventive action can alter environments, protect against risk factors and change life expectations. On a population scale, relatively modest behavioural changes affecting several of the risk factors simultaneously can make dramatic changes in population health.