Objectives: Chronic anaemia is a significant health concern, particularly among women of childbearing age. Factors such as menstrual blood loss, childbirth, inadequate nutrition, closely spaced pregnancies, and recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding increase the risk of anaemia. This study investigated whether current contraceptive methods are associated with anaemia in Indian women of reproductive age. Methods: Cross-sectional data from the fifth round of the National Family Health Survey, conducted in 2019-2021, were used for this investigation. We included only non-pregnant and non-amenorrhoeic women in our analysis, resulting in a final analytical sample of 673 094 women aged 15-49. Bivariate cross-tabulations and multivariable logistic regression were employed to analyse the data. Results: The prevalence of anaemia was 57%, and the adjusted regression models found no significant association between the use of any contraceptive methods and women’s haemoglobin status. Women using traditional contraceptive methods had 1.08 (95% confidence interval, 1.05 to 1.11) times higher odds of having anaemia. Among the modern methods, other than injectables, all other methods—such as an intrauterine device, barrier use, and sterilisation—were associated with higher odds of anaemia compared to women who used contraceptive pills. Conclusions This study explored the relationship between modern contraceptives and haemoglobin levels in India, revealing that injectables were associated with a notable reduction in the odds of anaemia, whereas traditional contraceptives and other modern methods exhibited positive associations with anaemia. These findings prompt policymakers to focus on anaemia reduction and safe contraceptives. More research is needed to inform decisions, given the scant literature.

No abstract available.
Paroxetine*

Objectives: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at a high risk of contracting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) due to the increased likelihood of clinical exposure during patient management. The study objective was to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and its predictors among hospital employees. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at a teaching hospital from August 2020 to September 2020 among 1,401 employees, including 1,217 HCWs, in New Delhi, India. The serum samples were examined for immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 using the COVID Kavach-Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibody Detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Data were collected electronically using the EpiCollect mobile platform. A p<0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. Results: A total of 169 participants (12.1%) had detectable IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. The highest seropositivity rate was observed in the administrative staff (20.1%), while it was lowest among medical doctors (5.5%, p<0.001). Male sex and ever having lived in a containment zone were independently associated with past infection with SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in health workers may be lower than in the general population in New Delhi. However, nonpharmaceutical interventions were not associated with a reduction in the risk of acquisition of SARS-CoV-2.

Objectives: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at a high risk of contracting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) due to the increased likelihood of clinical exposure during patient management. The study objective was to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and its predictors among hospital employees. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at a teaching hospital from August 2020 to September 2020 among 1,401 employees, including 1,217 HCWs, in New Delhi, India. The serum samples were examined for immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 using the COVID Kavach-Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibody Detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Data were collected electronically using the EpiCollect mobile platform. A p<0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. Results: A total of 169 participants (12.1%) had detectable IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. The highest seropositivity rate was observed in the administrative staff (20.1%), while it was lowest among medical doctors (5.5%, p<0.001). Male sex and ever having lived in a containment zone were independently associated with past infection with SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in health workers may be lower than in the general population in New Delhi. However, nonpharmaceutical interventions were not associated with a reduction in the risk of acquisition of SARS-CoV-2.

Objectives: Type 2 Diabetics have elevated risk for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The current management algorithm focuses on atherosclerotic cardiovascular (ASCVD) risk score to stratify this risk. However, in medically managed subjects, this algorithm may not be accurate. This study compares the ASCVD risk score in an Indian population with T2DM under medical supervision and the actual incidence of ACS. It also compared the ASCVD risk scores in cases with T2DM who developed ACS to controls and tried to estimate whether the ASCVD risk score is different in the two subsets, evaluating the utility of the ASCVD risk score in predicting ACS. Methodology: This is an electronic medical record (EMR) based case-control study. Only records of subjects with T2DM where details of age, sex, body mass index, blood pressure, duration of diabetes, family history of ACS, lipid profile, renal and liver function tests were included. The incidence of ACS was calculated in the selected records, and the records of subjects with ACS were compared with age and sex-matched subjects without ACS. Data are summarized as median and interquartile range (IQR). Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for checking differences in continuous variables and Pearson’s Chi-squared test for categorical data. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to check the effect of ASCVD scores and other variables on the occurrence of ACS. Statistical data analyses were performed using JASP, version 0.16.4 (JASP Team [2022]) for MS Windows. Results: Of the 1226 EMRs included in the analysis, 207 had ACS. The actual incidence of ACS was 16.85% in 6 years, higher than the mean predicted 10-year incidence of 14.56 percent (p <0.05). The cases were age and sex-matched with controls and the ASCVD incidence was estimated in the two groups. The mean ASCVD score in the cases was 14.565 ± 8.709 (Min: 1.5, Max: 38.3) and controls 13.114 ± 8.247 (Min: 1.4, Max: 45). The chance of development of ACS increases with elevated systolic blood pressure (per mmHg rise OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.06; p <0.001), positive family history (OR: 5.70, 95% CI: 3.41, 9.77; p <0.001), statin use (OR: 2.26, 95% CI: 1.46, 3.52; p <0.001), and longer duration of diabetes (for every year increase OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.25; p <0.001) Conclusion The ASCVD risk score underestimates the ACS risk in subjects with T2DM under medical supervision and may not differ in those who developed and did not develop ACS. We also conclude that factors like a negative family history (30% less risk), longer duration of diabetes, and higher SBP are relevant in those who developed ACS.
Acute Coronary Syndrome