[Reader-list] Medical Survey in Kashmiri Pandit

[Pawan Durani]

" A recent medical survey In a Kashmiri Pandit Migrant camp"


*Shirya Bhatt Mission Hospital & Research Centre*

H-199,Sec-II,

Durgangar

Jammu-180013

Cell:9419131509

Email: *Shiribhatt2002 at yahoo.com* <Shiribhatt2002 at yahoo.com>

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*25.12.2008*

*PRESS RELEASE*

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*Community Survey for Bone Density, Hypertension and Obesity*

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As part of the *Periodic Community Surveys* for various medical disorders, a
two-day Medical Camp was held in Shriya Bhatt Mission Hospital and Research
Center. Though it was a multipurpose camp, the focus this time was to
determine the incidence of *Osteoporosis (Metabolic bone disease)* in the
population.



The camp was held under the stewardship of the Director of the research
center, Dr. K L Chowdhury. A total of 139 healthy adults were enrolled in
response to an advertisement in the local news paper inviting healthy
females above 40 and healthy males above 50 years age. The details from each
subject were inquired and entered in a printed pro-forma by the hospital
staff. Each subject had his body mass index verified (height and weight),
and blood pressure measured in order to determine the incidence of obesity
and hypertension as well. The bone density test was performed on a foot of
each subject.



*OBSERVATIONS*

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*Total patients – 139*

Male - 55.           Age 50-86 (Average 65)

Female - 84         Age 40-90 (Average 57)



*Bone loss – Total 51/139 (37%)*

 Male: mild to moderate loss – 12,      Severe loss – 1                   Total
-13 (24%)

 Female: mild to moderate loss– 35,     severe loss – 3                   Total
38 (43%)



*Obesity – Total 46/139 (36%)*

Male: Mild to moderate - 17,                   Severe 3 Total 20 (38%)

Female: Mild to moderate – 22,                Severe 4 Total 26 (31%)



*Hypertension – Total 40/139 (28%)*

Male: Mild to moderate 17,                 Severe 3           Total
20(38%)


Female:   mild to moderate- 16,          Severe 4            Total 20(25%)



*Results*: There were 55 male s and 84 female subjects. The average age of
the subjects was 65 years in males and 57 years in females.



Of the total number of subjects studied, 51 (37%) suffered from various
degrees of loss of bone density. There were 13 males (24%) and 38 females
(43%). Only 4 suffered severe degree of bone density loss, the others
suffered mild to moderate loss.



A total of 46 subjects (36%) were obese, 7 of them grossly so and others of
mild to moderate grades.  And another 40(28%) found to have various grades
of hypertension.



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*Contd…..*

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*…2….*

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*Conclusions:* The results are an eye opener on the incidence of three
common afflictions in the community, namely Osteoporosis, Obesity, and
Hypertension. Every apparently healthy looking adult above 40 years is
suffering from some degree of bone loss, which is a harbinger of fractures;
every third person from obesity which brings many other afflictions in its
wake including diabetes; and every fourth adult suffers from some degree of
high blood pressure which is a cause of heart disease, strokes etc. These
figures are a frightening reflection on the state of health of the community
and call for a great awareness in the public and drastic measures at the
individual, community and Governmental level to inculcate healthy life
styles in the population and to take steps towards the detection and early,
effective treatment of the disorders.



*Follow up Treatment Camp of newly detected patients:* A follow up camp was
held of all the patients who were detected to have bone loss. They were
called examined and treated by Dr K L Chowdhury in the hospital.   All drugs
were supplied by the hospital for a full treatment period in each patient.



The bone density was determined by the densitometer and made available
by *Jammu
Health Care and Diagnostics Ltd.* We gratefully acknowledge their
contribution.



The camp was managed by *Shri R K Pandita (manager) &Shri Virji Bhat* with
the assistance of Ramesh Raina,O.N.Bhat  Shri Cahndji and Shri
Jawaharlal  Raina.






Vir Ji Bhat.



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