Increase in usage of digital devices and mandatory e-learning imposed during the Covid 19 pandemic curfew may have given rise to an emerging public health threat of digital eyestrain among undergraduate medical students in the state. The study aimed to assess the distribution of digital eyestrain among undergraduate medical students and to determine the association between digital eyestrain and screen time spent on different digital devices for e-learning and social media use.A cross sectional, questionnaire based online study was done on undergraduate medical students of a teaching hospital in Central Kerala during the month of October, 2020. Survey form included CVS-Q questionnaire, OSDI questionnaire and questions regarding screen time spent on different digital devices for e-learning and social media use.Around three -fourth of the 113 participants experienced at least one symptom of digital eyestrain. Headache (76.1%) was the most common symptom followed by neck/shoulder/back pain (67.3%), tearing(49.6%), itching(48.7%), eye pain (41.6%) and increased sensitivity to light (38.1%).OSDI score revealed that 67.7% of the students had dry eye disease. Screen time of more than 6 hours spent on mobile/tablet was significantly associated with feeling of foreign body sensation, excessive blinking and itching. Lens /spectacle use was significantly associated with a feeling that eyesight is worsening and difficulty focusing for near vision. No association was seen between screen time spent for e- learning and digital eyestrain. Steps towards awareness and prevention of digital eyestrain should be taken to promote ocular health and to avoid this occupational hazard.

Background: Polypharmacy or the concurrent use of multiple medications, is on the rise, especially in the elderly population as they suffer from multiple co-morbidities. Polypharmacy has been reported to increase the risks for inappropriate medication intake. Objectives: The aim was to investigate the prevalence of polypharmacy and usage of potentially inappropriate medication using Beer’s criteria and to find out the various risk factors of polypharmacy in hospitalised elderly.Methods: A cross sectional study was done in patients aged 60 years and above using a pre designed semi structured questionnaire and from their case records to assess the pattern of polypharmacy by different socio-demographic characteristics and also to found out the risk factors of polypharmacy.Results: 50 patients aged 60 and above were involved in our study out of which, 46% were females and 54% were males. Mean age of our study population was 71.5±8.3. Among them, 30 were hypertensive, 27 were diabetic, 9 of them had dyslipidaemia and 8 of them had coronary artery disease Mean number of medication use was 5.1±4.1. Polypharmacy was observed in 42% of the patients. 20% patients received potentially inappropriate drugs from Beer’s list. We also found significant association of polypharmacy with diabetes mellitus and hypertension.Conclusions: The present study has shown polypharmacy and usage of potentially inappropriate medication as an emerging public health concern. Diabetes mellitus and hypertension were found to be risk factors of polypharmacy. Deprescription should be integrated into clinical care and prescribers need to be educated about Beers criteria and encouraged for rational prescription.

Introduction Delirium is an acute disorder of attention and awareness, a medical emergency associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Delirium remains under-recognised, and few studies are from India. Methods This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of delirium and its risk factors among hospitalised older patients admitted to medical and surgical wards in a teaching hospital in Central South India. We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study on 100 older patients admitted to medical and surgical wards in April-October, 2020. Patient data were obtained from a record review, extracting information on comorbidities, medications, and terms indicating delirium. Results Delirium was present in 39% of the study population and was significantly associated with older age (88%), abnormal electrolytes (59%), and polypharmacy (87%). Delirium was also significantly associated with mortality (28%) and prolonged hospital stay. (36%) Discussion The prevalence of delirium is high among older hospitalised patients and is significantly related to adverse hospital outcomes. The findings of this study could trigger changes in hospital policies in screening for delirium in older persons for its prompt recognition and prevention of adverse health outcomes.