ESTIMATION OF SERUM MAGNESIUM LEVELS AND ITS CORRELATION AMONG PATIENTS WITH DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

Objective: To find the correlation of serum magnesium levels in diabetic patients with and without retinopathy. Methods: Hospital Based Cross-Sectional study was conducted on diabetic patients who attend the ophthalmology outpatient department in a medical college and hospital, Puducherry. Patients were divided into two groups with and without diabetic retinopathy. After obtaining institutional ethical committee approval and consent from the patient, anthropometry measurements were taken, followed by the comparison of serum magnesium level estimation in both groups. All parameters are presented as mean±standard deviation (mean±SD). The data was entered and analysed by using Epi info (version 6.04d) software package. Results: The mean (SD) value of serum magnesium was 1.14 (0.17) and 1.42 (0.15), in cases and controls, respectively. Our results showed that the serum magnesium levels were significantly decreased (p<0.05) among patients with diabetic retinopathy as compared to patients without diabetic retinopathy. Conclusion: The strong association between serum magnesium levels and severity of type II Diabetes mellitus indicates a role for early prediction and appropriate therapeutic modifications to avoid end-stage disease complications

KNOWLEDGE ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE TOWARD COVID-19 DISEASE AMONG VARIOUS PROFESSIONALS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ONLINE SURVEY

Objectives: This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice associated with COVID-19 disease by undertaking a web-based online survey. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted all over India during the initial phase of COVID-19 hit between March 19, 2020, and March 29, 2020. Anyone aged 18 years and above using social media were included in the study. The questionnaire had a section on sociodemography which had questions regarding age, gender, marital status, and occupation. This was followed by questions on knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. The knowledge scores were summarized as median with interquartile range as the data followed a non-normal distribution. Attitude and practice questions were summarized individually as proportions and its association with socio-demographic variables was established using Chi-square test. The statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Occupational groups, marital status, and age group had significant difference between the groups with at least one of the practices with p<0.05. Conclusion: Since the study provides enhancing effect of knowledge toward protective behaviors, the awareness raising activities and health education through mass media and campaigns, this should urgently be conducted focusing on effectiveness of hand washing, cough etiquette, social distancing, and responsibility to inform suspected cases to local health authority to prevent COVID-19