Purpose Although Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) implementation models recommend delivery of any CR treatment component, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) constitutes only 17% of globally available CR programs. The aims of this review were to assess the benefits of employing any CR treatment modality in SSA, and evaluate if this approach should be encouraged in this resource-constrained region.MethodologyRecords were identified electronically via CINAHL, MEDLINE, Cochrane library, African journal online, PubMed, Web of science and google scholar, and grey literature was hand-searched. Articles reporting effectiveness of any CR treatment modality were included if participants had any cardiovascular disease and if the study was conducted in SSA. Quality assessment for each enrolled study was done using Downs and Black (1998) checklist and data was extracted using a modified standard tool.ResultsSearches identified 1666 records, 24 full text articles were examined and 10 were included for the review; 60%, 30% and 10% of the enrolled studies were done in South Africa, Nigeria and Benin respectively. The studies implemented exercise, psychosocial and education treatment modalities of CR, and the approach of delivery was either comprehensive or modified. Comprehensive CR and delivery of combined aerobic and resistance exercises improved physical (13%, p=0.001), social (40%, p=0.001) and mental aspects of quality of life and reduced anxiety (-12%, p<0.05) and depression (-6%, p<0.001) respectively. Comprehensive CR and aerobic training both reduced systolic blood pressure (range of mean reduction [RMR] -6 to -14mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (RMR -4 to -6mmHg) and resting heart rate (RMR -7 to -17bpm). Overall, all types of exercises showed a 1-5ml.kg-1.min-1 increase in peak oxygen consumption.ConclusionThe findings support delivery of exercise treatment modality and comprehensive delivery of CR in SSA. However, efficacy of independent implementation of education and psychosocial therapeutic components of CR remains unclear; hence the need for further investigations
The correlation of thermal energy storage on the efficiency of thermal storage integrated solar water heatingsystem. The evaluation of the thermal storage and analyzing the efficiency of the collector for solar water heating systems were done in Sokoto. The system was investigated without phase change materials; with usedengine oil and Shea butter oil in other determine the best thermal storage material that improves the collector’sefficiency. The optimum performance analyzed has efficiencies of 4.7 %, 49.2 % and 78.8 % for the water heater without phase change materials and then with used engine oil and Shea butter oil, respectively. Indicating that the increase in temperature of the system using thermal energy storage is significant. Shea butter oil shows optimum performance compared to used engine oil.
COVID-19 impacted many lives around the globe, leading to a nationwide lockdown in India from the 25th of March 2020. Home confinement, physical and social isolation, the spread of false news through social media, fear of contracting the disease, lack of physical activity, and work-from-home situations have affected the mental status and sleep quality of individuals during the lockdown. We intended to identify the effect of belly breathing exercise in reducing the depression, anxiety and stress levels in individuals who work-from-home during the lockdown. A hundred participants were identified through snowball sampling and were divided into two equal groups. Group A received a health education program and belly breathing techniques, whereas group B was provided with a health education program alone. DASS 21 and single item Sleep Quality Scale was assessed before recruitment and after three weeks of intervention in both groups. Significant reduction in depression, anxiety, and stress levels were observed in group A (p<0.001) than that of group B. Participants who underwent belly breathing also reported significant improvement in sleep quality after three weeks of intervention. Belly breathing has found to be an effective and simple technique to instruct and perform, which significantly reduces depression, anxiety and stress levels in individuals who work from home and are in need of medical advice for their mental health status. We suggest the use of belly breathing in improving the mental status in any black swan events such as home quarantine or strict physical isolation measures, and even during any stressful situations.
Background: Diabetes mellitus has reached an epidemic level and threatens the economy and healthcare infrastructure globally. Raising knowledge and awareness among the general population is inevitable to implement successful management strategies and to develop good attitudes and practices among patients with diabetes. Methods: The study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Urban Bengaluru for 1 month and recruited patients who had diabetes. Medication adherence was assessed using Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8). The knowledge regarding diabetes and self-management was assessed with a diabetes knowledge test (DKT), which was modified to the Indian context. Results: Sixty-six patients were recruited to the study with a mean age of 63.83 ± 13.81 years and body mass index of 28.08 ± 6.33 kg/m2. The duration of diabetes among the participants was 9.55 ± 9.46 years. Most of the study population was found to be adherent to medications according to MMAS-8, with only 26% reporting difficulty remembering or skipping pills often. More than 50% of the population could answer most of the items in DKT correctly. Conclusion: The study identified good knowledge regarding diabetes and self-management, and adherence to medications among the majority of the participants, although a lack of awareness exists among a few. The existing literature also suggests a gap in understanding and knowledge about diabetes among the Indian population. Measures must be implemented from the community to a national level to ensure adherence to medications and improve the attitude and practice among these patient populations.
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