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Background and objectives: Of the ever-increasing non-communicable diseases (NCDs), cardiometabolic morbidity and mortality constitute the major health burden world-wide. Several cross-sectional studies revealed the increasing prevalence of NCDs irrespective of cast, culture, ethnicity, socio-economic growth and geopolitical environment. Recent cross-sectional studies revealed South Asians are the most susceptible to cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Few cohort studies addressed cardiometabolic morbidity and related risks, particularly in the rural population.This study was carried out to find out the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) and its changes overtime in a rural cohort of Bangladesh. Methods: The study used baseline data of a study conducted in 2011- 2013 on prevalence of coronary artery disease among a cohort living in 16 villages. During 2021-2023, the baseline data collected in 2011-2013 were retrieved and the participants were searched and categorized into a) physically present, b) died and c) missing. Those who were present were requested to volunteer for re-investigations. Briefly the investigations included interviewing on social, family, personal and clinical history, anthropometry, blood pressure measurement, blood biochemistry and electrocardiography (ECG). Results: A total of 3928 people participated in baseline study of 2011- 2013. Of them, 1075 could be tracked by village and household. Of them, 953 were found alive. Of the 953 available participants, 651 (254 men and 397 women) volunteered to participate in 2021-2023 study. Compared to 2011-2013 baseline, the prevalence of MetSyn and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) increased to 31.6% and 5.2% from 7.5% and 0.8% respectively in 2021-2023. Similarly, compared to baseline, the prevalence of obesity and hypertension also showed significant increase overtime. Estimated incidence of MetSyn was 260.8 per 1000 population, which was more profound in women than men (W: M= 300.3:200.8). Conclusions: The study revealed a significant increase of obesity, hypertension, diabetes and metabolic syndrome within a decade indicating an emerging health burden among the rural people of Bangladesh. January 2025; Vol. 19(1):003. DOI:https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.19.003 *Correspondence: MA Sayeed, Department of Community Medicine, Ibrahim Medical College, 1/A Ibrahim Sarani, Segunbagicha, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh. Email: sayeed950@gmail.com; © 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License(CC BY 4.0).

Background and objectives: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a leading complication of diabetes, contributing significantly to global cases of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In Bangladesh, the rising prevalence of diabetes has made DKD a growing public health concern. An estimated 21.3% of diabetic patients in Bangladesh have some form of kidney impairment. The Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (BADAS) operates a network of healthcare centers that provide diabetes management across the country. Despite these efforts, significant gaps exist in DKD screening, patient education, and the use of renoprotective medications. This study aims to evaluate DKD in BADAS-affiliated healthcare centers, focusing on screening practices, management and patient education. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 8 BADAS-affiliated healthcare centers, representing diverse regions of Bangladesh. A total of 320 type 2 diabetic patients were selected using multi-stage sampling methods. Data were collected using structured questionnaires which included socio-demographic characteristics, clinical histories, comorbidities, body mass index (BMI), glycemic control status, blood pressure levels, medication usage, and diagnostic criteria for DKD. Blood samples were obtained to determine serum creatinine and HbA1c levels, and spot urine samples were collected to measure the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR). Results: The prevalence of DKD was found to be 34.1%, with most cases in the early stages (Stage1:33% and Stage2: 45%). Screening practices were inadequate, as 52.5% of participants had never been tested for uACR or eGFR. Only 21.1% of participants with DKD were receiving renoprotective medications like ACE inhibitors or ARBs, and 35.8% were using SGLT2 inhibitors. Glycemic and blood pressure control were also suboptimal, with 81.9% of total participants having HbA1c levels ≥7% and 69.1% having uncontrolled hypertension. Of the entire study population, only 0.3% met all six prevention targets. Conclusion: DKD is prevalent among diabetic patients in BADAS-affiliated healthcare centers, with poor screening practices and underutilization of renoprotective medications. Systematic improvements in DKD management, including enhanced screening, medication use, and patient education, are essential to prevent progression to ESRD. January 2025; Vol. 19(1):001. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.19.001 *Correspondence: Wasim Md Mohosin Ul Haque, Department of Nephrology, Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM), 122 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh. Email: wmmhaque@live.com; © 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0).

Background and objectives: COVID-19 vaccination program has become a global priority to combat the worldwide pandemic. Studies claimed that severity and case fatality could be minimized by vaccination. The durability of antibodies developed after vaccination is crucial for preventing COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to investigate the dynamics of antibody responses to an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus vaccine over time. Materials and method: The study was conducted from November 2021 to November 2022 among young adults. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to record the socio-demographic and clinical data of all the participants. All the participants were vaccinated with two doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine. Blood samples were collected for estimation of IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 spike S1 protein by indirect ELISA. Biochemical parameters namely random blood sugar (RBS), lipid profile, total protein, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), FT4 (free thyroxin) and vitamin D levels were determined in baseline samples by standard methods. Result: Total 348 adults, aged 18-28 years, were enrolled and of which 35.3% and 64.7% were male and female respectively. Out of 348 participants, 51.7% was seropositive for anti- SARS-CoV-2 antibodies before receiving vaccination. Seropositivity was not significantly (p >0.05) different in male and female participants before and after vaccination. Seropositivity at 1 month after 1st dose and 4 and 7 months after 2nd dose of vaccination increased significantly (p 0.05) different before and after vaccination in participants having adequate and insufficient/deficient vitamin D levels. Conclusion: The study revealed that a good proportion of young adults possessed anti- SARS-CoV-2 antibody before vaccination and the seropositivity increased to over 90% following vaccination with Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine. High level of anti- SARS-CoV-2 antibody persisted 7 months after 2nd dose of vaccine. July 2024; Vol. 18(2):012. DOI:https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.18.024 *Correspondence: Nehlin Tomalika, Department of Community Medicine & Public Health, Ibrahim Medical College, 1/A, Ibrahim Sarani, Segunbagicha, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh. Email: nehlintomalika@gmail.com

Background and objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant impact on health worldwide. Adverse effect of COVID-19 on health-related quality of life is significant. This study aimed to find out the impact of COVID-19 on the physical, mental and social health of suburban and rural adult population in Bangladesh. Methods: A suburban and a rural community were purposively selected. The suburban and rural areas were located about 40 km and 130 km north and north-east of Dhaka city respectively. People aged ≥20 years in the selected communities were enrolled in the study. The investigation procedure included socio-demographic and clinical history, anthropometry, and clinical examination and laboratory investigations. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaires were used for assessing mental and social health respectively. Knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) regarding the prevention and transmission of COVID-19 was assessed by a validated questionnaire and interview. Results: Total 385 individuals (suburban=201, rural=184) were enrolled in the study. Out of 385, 116 and 269 were male and female, respectively. Out of total 385 participants, depression, anxiety and stress were present in 113 (29.4%), 144 (37.4%) and 70 (18.2%) respectively, while 210 (54.5%) were normal. Extremely severe depression, anxiety and stress were present in 3.6%, 6% and 0.5%, respectively. Depression and anxiety did not differ between suburban and rural populations, though stress was significantly higher among the suburban (p

Background and objectives: For decades type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and insulin resistance (IR) are increasingly gaining importance as an underlying mechanism for increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). IR is related to various cardiometabolic adverse effects. Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique, the gold standard method for measuring IR, is an invasive and complex procedure. Estimation of glucose disposal rate (eGDR) is an easy alternative tool for measuring IR. There is no known study on eGDR level in Bangladeshi native population. Therefore, this study was undertaken to determine the eGDR values in a healthy working rural Bangladeshi population. Materials and methods: Six villages were selected purposively as the study sites. All healthy working people aged ≥20 years in selected rural community were considered eligible. Those who consented to participate in the study were enrolled. Investigations included a) interviewing for social and clinical history, b) anthropometry and measurement of blood pressure and d) estimation of HbA1c and biochemical indices. The eGDR (mg/kg/min) was calculated using formula: eGDR = 21.158 − (0.09 * WC) − (3.407 * HT) − (0.551 * HbA1c); where WC = waist circumference in cm, HT = hypertension (yes = 1/no = 0), and HbA1c = HbA1c (%). Results: A total of 93 (m/w = 29/64) participants were enrolled in the study. The prevalence rates of hypertension, diabetes and metabolic syndrome (MSyn) were 34%, 31.1% and 16.1%, respectively. The mean eGDR value was 9.9 (±0.149; 95% CI: 9.62–10.2) mg/kg/min. Most of the values of biophysical characteristics were normal. The comparison between participants with and without MSyn showed that the former had significantly lower eGDR (9.05±1.24 vs.10.10±1.37, p

Background and objectives: Recent publications have reported alarming prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in South Asian countries including Bangladesh. But, data on vitamin D levels in different occupational groups are lacking. This study addressed the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in different occupational groups of Bangladesh. Additionally, the study estimated parathyroid hormone, phosphate, calcium and metabolic syndrome in these groups to see the effect of hypovitaminosis D on these parameters. Materials and method: Seven diverse occupational groups (agrarian workers, rickshaw-pullers, young cricketers and footballers, fishermen, dry fish industry workers, garment-workers and medical students) of Bangladesh were selected based on grade of physical activity and level of sun exposure. Blood was collected for the estimation of 25(OH) vitamin D, fasting glucose,lipid profiles, calcium, phosphate, magnesium and intact parathyroid (iPTH) hormone. Multiple comparisons of these variables among the 7 groups were estimated by ANOVA. Results: A total of 785 (m / f = 359 / 426) participants volunteered. Of them, 54.2% had vitamin D deficiency. Metabolic syndrome was 5% and showed no significant association with hypovitaminosis D (x2 = 0.9, p=0.43). For biophysical characteristics, the mean (±SD) values of age, body mass index, waist to hip ratio and waist to height ratio were – 33.8±16.3y, 22.3±4.1 kg/m2, 0.87±0.06 and 0.39±0.16, respectively. The values for vitamin D (ng/ml), calcium (mg/dl), iPTH (pgm/ml) and phosphate (mg/dl) were 20.25±13.1, 9.57±1.85, 38.22±24.54 and 4.18±0.81, respectively. The comparisons of vitamin D and other related variables among the groups (ANOVA) showed vitamin D level in the garments worker was significantly (p

Background and aims: Hypothyroidism is a common global endocrine disorder. The magnitude of hypothyroidism at community level in Bangladesh is unknown except some clinic-based studies. The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of hypothyroidism in different occupational groups of Bangladeshi population and to assess the risks related to it. Study design: Three occupational groups (house-wives, college students, rickshaw-pullers) of native Bangladeshi population were purposively selected. Investigations included socio-demography, anthropometry, blood pressure and biochemistry [fasting blood glucose, lipids, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxin (FT4)]. Laboratory tests were done only on a randomized sample of participants. Results: Overall, 626 (M/F=123 / 503) participants with a mean age of 35.9 (34.75 – 37.02) years volunteered. The mean values of all participant for TSH and FT4 were 2.08 (95%CI: 1.72 – 2.45) μiu/ml and 13.04 (95CI:12.86 – 13.22) pmol/L respectively. The third percentile of TSH ranged from 0.42 to 0.46 μiu/ml and 97th percentile ranged from 5.16 to 5.24 μiu/ml. For FT4, the 3rd and the 97th percentile were 10.3 and 16.41 pmol/L, respectively. The prevalence of hypothyroidism in both sexes was 7.0% (M/F=4.1/8.3%). Occupational groups, sex and increasing age, obesity, blood pressure, and lipids showed no association with hypothyroidism. Hyperglycemia was proved to be a significant risk for hypothyroidism (prevalence in diabetic vs. non-diabetic was12.9% vs. 5.5%, p = 0.04; FBG was correlated with TSH, r = 0.138, p

Background and objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM) perpetually affects the quality of life. This non-communicable lifelong disease usually develops micro and macro-vascular complications affecting vital organs. Thus, it reduces the functional capability of health as assessed by the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measuring tools. It is not known, how much HRQOL of the diabetic population in Bangladesh is affected. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to estimate the levels of HRQOL of cases with DM attending a tertiary care hospital in Dhaka city. The study considered socioeconomic condition, nutritional status, duration of diabetes and treatment modalities while analyzing the HRQOL. Methods: This study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Dhaka city from July 2016 to June 2017. Patients with DM were considered eligible and were recruited. Those who were found to have complications like retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, hypertension and stroke were excluded based on previous investigations. Once selected, the study protocol was described to each of the diabetic patients. If agreed, the participant was interviewed. Short Form health survey questionnaire (SF-36) was used for assessment of HRQOL. The assessment of physical health components included physical function, role physical, body pain, and general health. Mental health components were emotion, vitality and social function. Results: A total of 150 diabetic patients (m/f: 80/70) were included in the study. Comparisons of demographic variables between male and female participants showed no significant difference. As regards HRQOL, physical function score was significantly reduced among those who had diabetes for more than 10 years (p=0.049). General health component was significantly impaired among those who had higher BMI (10yrs) and higher BMI significantly reduced components of mental health quality. Conclusion: The study revealed that the overall physical and mental quality of life was significantly affected by longer duration of diabetes, obesity and glycemic status. IMC J Med Sci 2018; 12(2): 73-79. EPub date: 31 December 2018 Address for Correspondence: Dr. Naima Ahmed, Lecturer, Department of Community Medicine, Ibrahim Medical College, 122, Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Shahbagh, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh, E-mail: drnaima1911@gmail.com

Background and objectives: World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Health Policy of Bangladesh have repeatedly been emphasizing on the use of essential drugs prescribed by generic names. The prescription monitoring studies provide a bridge between areas like rational use of drugs and evidence based medicine. Knowledge on distribution and burden of diseases in a community is essential for planning rational use of drugs in a community. The present study tried to determine the morbidity profile anddrug prescribing practices of healthcare providers in a rural primary health care. Methods: The study was conducted at a rural health center located 50 Km north of capital city Dhaka. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for collecting data on socio-demographic conditions, clinical complaints and types of drugs prescribed. WHO prescribing indicators was used to find out the drug prescribing pattern. Results: A total of 583 patients were enrolled. Problems related to respiratory system (21.1%), musculoskeletal system (17.3%) and skin diseases (11.1%) were common reasons for visiting health centre. Oral drugs were prescribed with highest proportion (96.1%). More than half (62.6%) of the drugs were prescribed from essential drug list. About half (49.1%) were antibiotics and 45.6% of the drugs were prescribed in their generic name. Anti-microbial (64.5%), anti-peptic ulcer (43.1%) and NSAIDs (42.5%) were most frequently prescribed. Out of five WHO core prescription indicators, four were below the acceptable values. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that there is an urgent need to promote rational use of drugs among the healthcare providers. IMC J Med Sci 2018; 12(2): 50-56. EPub date: 08 March 2018 HM & NT contributed equally to this study. Address for Correspondence: Dr. Hasina Momtaz, Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Ibrahim Medical College, 122 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Shahbag, Dhaka. Email: dr.shapna@gmail.com