Quality of life of patient with hypertension in Kathmandu

Objective: The study aims to describe Quality of Life of Patients with Hypertension and its predictors. Methods: The study was descriptive cross sectional involving 237 patients with hypertension attending outpatient department of Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Centre. Data was collected by interview technique using SF-36 questionnaire. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 16 and p values < 0.05 were considered significant. Independent t-test, ANOVA and multiple linear regression was used for statistical analysis. The quality of life was determined by Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS). Result: In multivariate analysis, increasing age (CI: −4.47 to −1.48, p < 0.001), marital status (CI: −6.18 to −2.53, p < 0.001) and educational status (CI: 1.11–2.04, p < 0.001) were strongly associated with PCS score. Whereas, marital status (CI: −15.173 to −11.782, p < 0.001) and educational status (CI: 0.27–1.07, p = 0.001) were predictor of MCS score. Conclusion: This study identified increasing age, non formal education, being single to be associated with lower quality of life. Screening for most vulnerable group of the hypertensive patient might be done and evaluated which in turns helps to take necessary intervention for hypertension

Validating the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale as a screening tool for postpartum depression in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Background: Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is considered well accepted screening tool for postpartum depression (PPD). The objective of the study was to validate the EPDS as a screening tool for postpartum depression in Kathmandu, Nepal. Methods: A hospital based cross sectional study using EPDS was conducted among 346 mothers between 4 and 14 weeks of postpartum period. All the participants were examined by psychiatrist for possible clinical PPD diagnosis using International Classification of Disease tenth revision (ICD-10). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were calculated for validation of EPDS. The best cut off point for Nepalese version of EPDS was identified and area of the receiver operating characteristics curve was calculated. Results: The overall prevalence of PPD was 17.1 %.The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the Nepalese version EPDS was found to be 92, 95.6, 77 and 99.3 % respectively. The best cut-off point of EPDS for screening of PPD was found to be 12/13 and the area of the curve was 0.98 (95 % CI 0.970–0.994, p = 0.001). Conclusions: The prevalence of PPD is not that far from the previous studies of Nepal. Nepali version of EPDS was acceptable and the study demonstrates good validity, thus EPDS can be used as valid screening tool for PPD for early detection, prompt treatment and to prevent possible consequences