Negin Masoudi Alavi, Fazl Allah Ghofranipour, Bagher Larijani, Fazl Allah Ahmadi, Asad Allah Rajab, Gholamhossein Babaei,
Volume 3, Issue 2 (16 2004)
Abstract
Background: Diabetes Mellitus is a common chronic disease with severe of complications. Proper glycaemic control can prevent these complications considerably. Evaluation of effectiveness of community based and patient centered interventions on glycaemic control, quality of life, patient satisfaction, patient knowledge and reported symptoms were the main aims of this research.
Methods: In a clinical trial, patients referring to Iranian Diabetes Association, who were more than 18 years old, divided to intervention and control group randomly. After three months of general interventions in both groups, including diabetes education and specific interventions including telephone calls, continuous corresponding and sending educational issues in intervention group, changes in variables were studied. Results: Among 52 patients in each group, 17 were male and 42 had type 2 diabetes. The average age was 49 in intervention and 51 in control group. Two groups had no significant difference in age, sex, type of diabetes, treatment method and duration of diabetes, other diseases and education. Both groups showed significant improvement in glycaemic control. The mean reduction in HbA1c was 1.45 in intervention and 0.86 percent in control group the difference is statistically significant (P= 0.02). Patient satisfaction increased in both groups. The satisfaction is significantly higher in intervention group (P=0.000). Knowledge has increased significantly in both groups the difference in groups is not significant. The improvement in Quality of Life was just significant in intervention group. The reported sign and symptoms have not changed in both groups.
Conclusion: Community based and patient centered interventions with emphasis on continuous education and support can improve glycemic control, quality of life, patient satisfaction and patient knowledge in diabetes mellitus.
Shahram Safa, Alireza Esteghamati, Mohsen Nasiri Tousi, Hosein Foroutan, Hadi Ghofrani, Akram Sarbyaei, Mehrshad Abbasi,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (18 2005)
Abstract
Background: The liver plays a main role in the production and metabolism of lipoproteins, and then impaired lipid metabolism is often seen in patients with liver cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis (CH). As a result, plasma lipid levels could be as useful indicators of liver function and patient's prognosis especially in liver cirrhosis.
Methods: We measured the lipoprotein levels in 77 consecutive patients with liver cirrhosis and CH. 47 men (61%) and 30 women (39%) with mean age 43years (SD=16.4) and mean BMI 26(SD=4.2) have been recruited as patients group. Child score and MELD scale was determined in patients group. The control group was age and sex matched with patients group.
Results: In case group, the levels of HDL LDL, TG, and total cholesterol were significantly lower than control group (p <0.0001). In patients with cirrhosis, the levels of LDL, HDL and total cholesterol were progressively lower when comparing patients in Child class A with patients in class C (p<0.0001).This difference was more significant in LDL and total cholesterol and between upper Child scores ,similarly decreasing in LDL, HDL ,and total cholesterol level was observed when MELD score increased (P<0.0001).
Conclusion: There is a correlation between plasma lipid levels and liver function, so it may be mentioned as an accessible and reliable indicator of liver function in cirrhotic and CH patients.
