Background: and Purpose Ischemic stroke is a common cause of death worldwide. In clinical practice it is observed that many individuals who have experienced an ischemic stroke also suffer from simultaneous comorbidities such as heart failure, which could be directly associated with a worse clinical prognosis. Therefore, this study analyzed outcomes in terms of the severity of the event, inhospital mortality, duration of hospital stay, and inhospital recurrence of the episode, in order to determine the implications resulting from the presentation of both pathologies. Methods: This was a retrospective-cohort, hospital-based study. Results: The study included 110 subjects with heart failure (exposed) and 109 subjects without heart failure (nonexposed). The incidence of inhospital mortality was 27.27% in exposed patients and 9.17% in nonexposed patients (p<0.001), and the presence of heart failure increased the risk of death by 92% (p=0.027). According to scores on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, the median severity was worse in exposed than nonexposed patients (16.1 vs. 9.2, p=0.001). The median hospital stay was 9 days in subjects with heart failure and 7 days in nonexposed patients (p=0.011). The rate of inhospital stroke did not differ significantly between exposed and nonexposed patients (1.82% vs. 0.92%, p=0.566). Conclusions Individuals with heart failure who suffer from an acute ischemic stroke show worse clinical outcomes in terms of mortality, event severity, and duration of hospital stay.

Background: and Purpose Ischemic stroke is a common cause of death worldwide. In clinical practice it is observed that many individuals who have experienced an ischemic stroke also suffer from simultaneous comorbidities such as heart failure, which could be directly associated with a worse clinical prognosis. Therefore, this study analyzed outcomes in terms of the severity of the event, inhospital mortality, duration of hospital stay, and inhospital recurrence of the episode, in order to determine the implications resulting from the presentation of both pathologies. Methods: This was a retrospective-cohort, hospital-based study. Results: The study included 110 subjects with heart failure (exposed) and 109 subjects without heart failure (nonexposed). The incidence of inhospital mortality was 27.27% in exposed patients and 9.17% in nonexposed patients (p<0.001), and the presence of heart failure increased the risk of death by 92% (p=0.027). According to scores on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, the median severity was worse in exposed than nonexposed patients (16.1 vs. 9.2, p=0.001). The median hospital stay was 9 days in subjects with heart failure and 7 days in nonexposed patients (p=0.011). The rate of inhospital stroke did not differ significantly between exposed and nonexposed patients (1.82% vs. 0.92%, p=0.566). Conclusions Individuals with heart failure who suffer from an acute ischemic stroke show worse clinical outcomes in terms of mortality, event severity, and duration of hospital stay.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to determine the physico-chemical and microbiological quality of ice blocks sold in selected wet markets located in the city of Manila.

METHODS: Twenty-eight samples were collected from three markets. Microbiological quality was analyzed in terms of the presence or absence of coliforms with E. coli as indicator organism. Physico-chemical quality was determined by measuring turbidity, apparent color, pH, iron, and residual chlorine. Measurements obtained were compared with the 2007 Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water (PNSDW).

RESULTS: Results showed that all samples tested positive for coliforms while 25 out of the 28 samples were positive for E. coli. Mean turbidity was 2.74 ± 3.68 NTU; for both apparent color and iron tests, all samples complied with the PNSDW standard limit set; mean pH was 6.15 ± 0.64; and mean residual chlorine was 0.06 ± 0.02 mg/L. Average values of apparent color and iron comply with the PNSDW standards. Six out of 28 samples had turbidity values exceeding the standards. All samples were found to have residual chlorine levels below the standards.

CONCLUSION: Ice in markets do not comply with key 2007 PNSDW standards and findings warrant strict compliance of ice quality from manufacturers to the point of distribution to protect consumer health.