Journal of Women Medical and Dental College

Prevalence and Association of Risk Factors in Premature Coronary Artery Disease among Patients of Abbottabad

Melina Babar, Urooj humayun, Kashmala Younis, Amirah anis, Ilsa rehman — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

To determine the frequency and analyze the association of various risk factors, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking, diabetes, and stress, with premature coronary artery disease (PCAD) among patients of Abbottabad. This cross-sectional study was conducted to identify common risk factors associated with premature coronary artery disease (PCAD) among 246 patients in Abbottabad. Participants were selected through Purposive non-probability sampling from individuals either admitted or attending the outpatient departments (OPD) of District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) and Ayub Teaching Hospital (ATH) between 1st January to 30th June 2024. The sample size of 246 was calculated using the OpenEpi calculator with a 95% confidence interval and 5% absolute precision. Data was collected using a self-structured questionnaire covering demographic details and clinical risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and smoking. To assess psychosocial and lifestyle factors, the Perceived Stress Scale and Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity Scale were used. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0, and associations between categorical variables were evaluated using the chi-square test. In our study, PCAD males were 125 whereas PCAD females were 119. The frequency of risk factors was cholesterol (33.3%), Family history (56.5%), Hypertension (69.5%), Diabetes (33.3%) and Smoking (32.1%). Hypertension, mental stress, and smoking were the significant risk factors with p-value 0.001,0.001 and 0.000 respectively with a notable gender disparity. The physical inactivity and poor dietary habits also contributed being unconventional risk factors. This study offers significant understanding about the prevalence of risk factors associated with premature coronary artery disease (PCAD) among patients in Abbottabad, Pakistan. We identified hypertension, smoking, and stress as significant contributors to PCAD. The findings underscore the necessity for targeted interventions and public health strategies to address these risk factors, especially considering the gender discrepancies observed. Furthermore, the study highlights the often-overlooked roles of stress and physical activity in the development of PCAD, suggesting that comprehensive lifestyle modifications could play a fundamental role in prevention.

Teachers at Risk: Exploring Hoarseness of Voice and the Effectiveness of Self-Report Screening Tools Vocal Handicap Index (VHI) & Voice Symptom Scale (VoiSS) in a Saudi Population

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Teachers who use their voices for extended periods of time in less than ideal environments are more likely to develop voice disorders like hoarseness. Preventing long term vocal impairment requires early detection with validated screening instruments. To compare the diagnostic performance of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and the Voice Symptom Scale (VoiSS) as screening instruments. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 101 randomly selected school teachers from 15 schools in Bisha, Asir Region. Data were collected using a validated, self-administered questionnaire, including VHI and VoiSS. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 27. The gold standard was a speech language pathologist's clinical voice evaluation. To assess the diagnostic precision of VHI and VoiSS, sensitivity, specificity, and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were computed. ROC analysis demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for both tools, with AUCs of 0.86 (VHI) and 0.89 (VoiSS). At optimal cut-off scores, the VoiSS showed higher sensitivity (88.9%) and specificity (81.3%) than the VHI (84.4% and 78.7%, respectively).Hoarseness of voice is very common among school teachers. While both VoiSS and VHI are useful screening tools, VoiSS performs marginally better in terms of diagnosis. In educational settings, routine use of these tools may help with early diagnosis and treatment of voice disorders.

Pediatric Mandibular Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis with Maxillary Recurrence: A Case Highlighting Multidisciplinary Management

Muhammad Ismail Memon, Bushra Tahir, Ummiya Tahir — Sat, 13 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Histiocytosis X used to be a common name for a diverse group of rare clinicopathologic conditions. Histologic analysis shows these conditions have histiocyte-like cells and different amounts of eosinophils, lymphocytes, plasma cells, and multinucleated giant cells. The histiocytic cells in these lesions are Langerhans cells, so the disease is now called Langerhans cell histiocytosis. This report describes a four-year-old girl who was previously healthy. She was taken to the hospital with a nonhealing ulcer on her mandible. A distinct lytic lesion on her jaw was discovered by radiographic examination. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry are used to confirm the disease. At first, curettage was the only procedure carried out. Two months later, the disease returned in the maxilla, necessitating a second operation and systemic chemotherapy. The patient had no negative side effects from taking the medication as directed. Six months after surgery, imaging and clinical evaluations showed total remission. This case highlights the importance of early diagnosis, careful follow-up, and teamwork in treating pediatric LCH with jaw involvement.

Prevalence and Determinants of Hoarseness of Voice in School Teachers: Implications for Occupational Vocal Health

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Hoarseness of voice is a common occupational hazard among school teachers, often resulting from prolonged vocal use in challenging classroom environments. Despite its substantial impact on teachers’ quality of life and job performance, there is limited data on the prevalence and contributing factors of voice disorders in Saudi Arabia.

To evaluate the burden of hoarseness of voice and explore its associated risk factors among school teachers in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, using the Voice Handicap Index (VHI). A cross-sectional study was conducted among 101 randomly selected school teachers from 15 schools in Bisha, Asir Region. Data were collected using a validated, self-administered questionnaire, including socio-demographic variables, voice usage and perception, lifestyle factors, and the VHI. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 27. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted to explore associations between hoarseness of voice and independent variables. Among the 101 participants, 71.3% reported mild, 21.8% moderate, and 6.9% severe voice handicap based on the VHI. Hoarseness of voice was significantly associated with higher income (P=0.043), longer teaching experience (P=0.05), raising voice during teaching (P=0.034), and coffee consumption (P=0.04). Although older age and female gender were linked with increased voice handicap, these associations were not statistically significant. The findings reveal a high prevalence of hoarseness of voice among school teachers in Bisha, influenced by several modifiable risk factors. Implementation of preventive strategies such as vocal hygiene education, voice amplification devices, and routine medical evaluations is essential. Further longitudinal and clinically validated studies are needed to establish causality and improve voice health among educators.