There was high prevalence of hearing loss in the study sample. Urgent interventions are required to identify individuals with hearing loss so that its serious complications can be reduced.
Context:
Identification of risk factors of diabetes is required among youth as diabetes in young persons is now spreading in epidemic proportions. Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS) is a validated and cost- effective tool to identify risk of diabetes among population.
Aims:
Present study was conducted among young medical students to assess risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using the IDRS and to study association of risk of diabetes with other factors.
Materials and Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 290 first grade medical students from July 2017 to December 2017. A semi-structured interview schedule was developed for data collection. Written informed consent was taken.
Statistical Analysis Used:
SPSS version 25 was used for data analysis. ‘P’ < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
Results:
A total of 290 medical students were included in the study. IDRS categorization revealed 77%, 22% and 1% students in low-, moderate- and high-risk category, respectively. Statistically significant association of moderate-high diabetes risk with male gender, positive family history of diabetes, no/mild physical activity and body mass index (BMI) ≥23 kg/m
2
was seen.
Conclusion:
Present study findings has brought forth that large number (23%) of young medical students were in moderate-high risk category of developing T2DM and health professionals should be more vigilant in young obese males with minimal physical activity and positive family history of disease. Hence, there is a pressing need for bringing out behaviour change communication among young medical students so that risk reduction strategies and lifestyle changes can be implemented in early years of their lives.
We have read the article on "An epidemiological study of road traffic accident (RTA) cases admitted in a tertiary care hospital" by Pathak et al. published in MJAFI 2014; 70(1) :32e35 with great interest. The work of the author is laudable and in current interest. Road traffic injuries rank second to HIV/AIDS as the leading cause of ill-health and premature death for adult men aged 15e44 years. 1 Our senior doctors in their administrative capacities as SEMOs/Advisors to the military leadership, are well aware of the public health implications of RTAs resulting from faulty road design, layout and maintenance defects, besides the ills of speed and 'drunk driving'.We would like to highlight that in conjunction with sustained public education and deterrent policing, engineering solutions may also be required. Attention to measures as simple as professional speed breaker design, placement and construction 2 with adequate sign posting, can have a potential impact on prevention of accidents especially those affecting vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.With the lack of a cogent policy on road safety, 3 we may have to resort to locally implemented civic measures (at the cantonment level) which may aim to either reduce or restrict the number of vehicles using residential colony roads, by improving crossing facilities on main roads, by closing off roads i.e. prioritising pedestrian routes, using one-way systems; or reducing traffic speed by 'traffic calming' measures such as humped pelican crossings, narrowing of roads and mini-roundabouts.The World Health Day 2004 slogan was 'Road safety is no accident'. Road safety results from deliberate efforts by governance systems, either national or local, and requires policies and programs to be developed to support and maintain it.Road safety is often treated as a transportation issue, not a public health issue, and road traffic injuries are called 'accidents', though most could be prevented. 1 Civic planners need to address issues of speed and alcohol consumption; promoting of helmets and seat belts; improving the design of roads; enforcing road safety laws; and improving emergency medical response services (e.g. the 108 Ambulance service).Researchers put far more effort into understanding and preventing diseases that do less harm than into understanding and preventing road traffic injuries. Our commitment as
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