The Wuhan City of China evidenced unknown aetiology pneumonia cases at the end of December 2019. On 7 January 2020, the causative agent was identified as a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), currently referred to as SARS-CoV-2, and coronavirus disease as COVID-19. Older adults and people of any age who have underlying medical conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes, have shown worse prognosis. The aim of this study to evaluate the risk of serious adverse outcomes in patients with COVID-19 by stratifying the comorbidity status. We conducted a retro-prospective study of 405 patients admitted into the Mugda Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka,Bangladesh.  Among 405 cases, mean age was 46.33 years. About 216 (53.3%) patients were male. Almost  322 (79.5%) patients were managed inside Dhaka city. The most common symptom was fever on or after hospitalization (71.9%). Of the 405 cases the prevalence of specific comorbidities was: hypertension (n=141, 34.8%), other cardiovascular diseases (n=42, 10.4%) cerebrovascular diseases (n=7, 1.7%), diabetes (n=140, 34.6%), COPD (n=4, 1.0%), chronic kidney diseases (n=65, 16.0%), malignancy (n=4, 1.0%) and asthma (n=51,12.6%). Overall, 307 (75.8%) patients discharged alive during the time frame of this study. 98(24.2%) patients died, 63 (15.6%) were admitted to the ICU and 16 (4.0%) received invasive ventilation. Patients with comorbidities should take all necessary precautions to avoid getting infected with SARS CoV-2, as they usually have the worst prognosis. There is a need for a global public health campaign to raise awareness, on reducing the burden of these comorbidity illnesses causing deaths in COVID-19- infected patients. Bangladesh Med J. 2020 Jan; 49 (1): 19-25

Background: Novel coronavirus disease is associated with highly intensive care unit (ICU) mortality. With the dramatic increase of confirmed cases as well as death toll in Bangladesh, timely and effective management of severely and critically ill patients appears to be particularly important. This includes streamlining workflows for rapid diagnosis and isolation, clinical management, and infection prevention. The main objective of this study was identification of the demographic, clinical characteristics, severity and outcome of patients admitted into ICU.  Methods: We aimed to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics, severity of disease, management patterns and outcomes of critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 admitted to ICU in a Bangladeshi setting and for this purpose a retro-prospective study of conveniently selected 63 ICU admitted patients with COVID-19 was conducted from May 1 to June 30, 2020. Data were obtained from patient charts and the hospitals’ records using a structured questionnaire.  Results: Most of the ICU patients were older male (30, 65.3%) and most of them were 70 or above years of age group (17, 37.0%). ICU patients more likely suffered from comorbidities like hypertension (938, 60.3%); diabetes             (36, 57.1%); chronic kidney disease (21, 33.3%). In most cases treatment in ICU included the administration of antibiotics (100.0%) (Meropenem, 20, 31.7%). Forty-Eight patients died (discharge mortality, 76.2%), and fourteen patients were discharged alive from the ICU with a rate of 22.2%. One patient transferred (Palliative discharge, 1.6%) to other facilities for palliative care purpose.Conclusions: Our findings also highlight the importance of planning for mass critical care along with central oxygen supply system as the need for ICU care and ventilator support to treat patients with COVID-19 grows rapidly in Bangladesh.

Air pollution from vehicles is the main source of pollution in capital city of Bangladesh. Road traffic has the potential to significantly increase emissions of pollutants such as carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter, and hydrocarbons. These pollutants can induce harmful effects on health. Road traffic exposes traffic police to the detrimental effects of air pollutants on respiratory health. This study determined the frequency of chronic respiratory illnesses and its related factors among traffic police in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This study had a cross-sectional design conducted in a total of 384 traffic polices in different traffic zone of Dhaka city, the capital of Bangladesh. A questionnaire was used to inquire about socio-economic characteristics, occupational factors and respiratory health problems of traffic polices. According to the present study, most the respondents (84.4%) had respiratory problems and among them cough problem are most common (31.2.1%) followed by phlegm problem (27.6%), whistling problem (15.4%) when getting cold, and breathlessness when walking (4.4%) respectively. About 3.1% were suffering from asthma and among them 2.1% had been suffering from asthma for less than 15 years. About 9.1% cases there had a history of parental lung diseases and lung cancer are the most common (1.3%). Among the Safe PM 2.5 status only 75.9% have respiratory problems and 95.2% having respiratory problems were in unhealthy PM2.5 status. And it is also shown that there was significant association between respiratory problems and PM2.5 status. Among the Safe PM 10 status 70.6% have respiratory problems and 98.9% having respiratory problems were in unsafe PM 10status. And it is also shown that there was significant association between respiratory problems and PM 10 status. The respiratory symptoms and illnesses observed among traffic police are associated with their exposure to air pollutants from road traffic.

The economic situation of Bangladesh as a middle income country due to Covid-19 however depends on the extent of the crisis. Its economic fate is closely tied to the fate of ready-made garments (RMG) and inward remittance. RMG sector accounts for around 80% of the country's total export earnings. A reduction in exports of as much as 84% in April 2020 compared with that of the previous year. More than 1,000 factories have been closed and 2.19 million out of 4 million workers lost their jobs. Remittances from Bangladeshi migrant workers are expected to fall by 25% this 2020. SME's are usually the worst hit at the times of economic disorder. Banks are trying to come to terms with the Ministry of Finance directive of 6% and 9% caps to interest rates on deposits and loans; vulnerable asset quality; moribund capital markets; and a struggling microfinance sector. The economy is now almost coming to a grinding halt with weakening effects on all sectors like educational systems, Banks, FDI, small business, tourism industries, dairy and vegetable producers etc. Daily wage earners are unable to buy food for their families. Hunger, malnutrition, and other problems that have always plagued Bangladesh are poised to intensify as a result of the lockdown. The current economic state may seriously undermine the livelihood of the underprivileged cohort of the population. Lack of access to basic healthcare, knowledge of hygiene and a social safety net have always been a challenge for this cohort.

Background: Buriganga is considered as one of the most important river in the country. But, its water quality has changed dramatically, which is responsible for creating unfavorable conditions for aquatic life. The main aim of this study was to investigate the removal capacity of pollutants mainly nitrogen present in the Buriganga river as the most polluted rivers in Bangladesh, by floating constructed wetland. Methods: This study was conducted under constant and variable shock loadings in two phases, namely 'Phase I' and 'Phase II' during 11 and 10 weeks, respectively, in which about 180 L of raw water was dosed into the tank containing a floating mat, and pollutant concentrations in the river water influent from the system were tested over a period of 21 weeks. Results: Floating treatment wetland (FTW) could sustain and remove about 31.25% and 19.23% of ammonia in the 9th and 10th weeks of Phase I, respectively, and 40.63% and 56.12% in the 17th and 18th weeks of Phase II, respectively. At first, ammonia was converted to ammonium, then, to nitrite, and finally, to nitrate. As the rhizosphere was denser and the biofilm was thicker in this study, so nitrogen removal efficiency during the application of shock loading in the 17th and 18th weeks of Phase II was considerable. The removal percentage of nitrite was 76.12 and 80%, respectively. In regular dosing of raw water in the 11th and 19th weeks in Phase I and Phase II, respectively, the total nitrate removal efficiencies from influent were 31.91 and 43.33%, respectively. Conclusion:As water resources are limited, so improvement of water quality of the polluted Buriganga river would act as an important source of reusable water.

Background: This study aimed to assess the extent of socio-demographic factors that affect food insecurity among rural school going children. Methods: A school based cross-sectional study was conducted among 460  rural  school  going children  (class 4  to class I 0) in Saltha upaziila of Faridpur district, Bangladesh  from  January-December,  2019.  Children  providing assent after getting consent from their parents were inducted as study participants. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on the food insecurity and socio-demographic variables. The study was conducted in  Saltha upaziila of Faridpur district, Bangladesh from January-December, 2019 Results: Among the participants about 59.3% were moderately food insecure which means they were deprived of psychological and physical access to food. 53.7% were female and 88.3% of them were Muslims , 30.7% were from class 8, 70.7% were from nuclear family, 93% had siblings , 92% resided into house on their own land , 78.5% had own agricultural land and in 52.7% cases participant's father were farmer and their mean income was 98208.18 ± 13618.196 Taka per. 35.2% lived in both Semi Pucca house and Tin Shade house and 7 I% had domestic animal in their hou se, such as goat, sheep, cow, duck, hen etc., 41.5% had television in their house but 52% didn't have refrigerator in their house. There was a statistically significant relationship between food insecurity and age of participants (p- 0.000),educational status (p- 0.000),head of family (p- 0.008),occupation of father (p- 0.0IO). yearly ineome of family member (p-0.000), house type (p-0.000). Conclusion: National policies and programs need to stress on how to improve family income earning capacity and socioeconomic status to handle food insecurity. JOPSOM 2020; 39(1): 67-72