A study of clinic socio demographic profile of the patients admitted and referred with heat related illnesses in last three years at tertiary health care centre of Latur, Maharashtra

 

 

Abstract               Background: In India, generally heat waves are experienced during the summer months of March, April and May, and from time-to-time, deaths due to heat waves have been reported from several parts of the country. Aim and Objectives: To Study clinic socio Demographic profile of the patients admitted and referred with heat related illnesses in last three years at tertiary health care centre of Latur, Maharashtra. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in the patients admitted with heat related illness during the months of March to May -2017 to 2019. In the 3 years duration there were 455 patients were admitted in the ward. In the Government Medical college and Hospital Latur, Maharashtra. All this data was entered to Excel sheet and analyzed by Excel software for Windows 10. Result: The majority of the patients were in the age group (Years.) of 36-48 were 29.89%, followed by 48-60 were 14.29%, 24-36 were 12.75%, 60-72 were 10.77%, 1-12 were 9.89%, 12-24 Were 8.57%, >72 were 8.35%, <1 were 5.49%. The majority of the patients were Male i.e. 64.18 % followed by 35.82and were Females. By Occupation Agricultural –laborer were 25.71%, followed by Student -18.68%, Dependant -15.16%, Unemployed were 11.65%, Occupation Not applied in 10.33%, Owner and cultivator 6.59 Others- 6.37%, Employed were 2.86%, Own –business were 2.64%. Conclusion: It can be concluded from our study that most of the patients were from the age 36-48 Years. age group, more common in males and by occupation Agricultural laborers and student were mostly affected and Fever, muscle weakness were most common clinical presentation and majority of the patients occurred in the months of May.

Key Words: Heat related illnesses, Heat stroke, Heat exhaustion, Hyperpyrexia.

 

 

INTRODUCTION

In India, generally heat waves are experienced during the summer months of March, April and May, and from time-to-time, deaths due to heat waves have been reported from several parts of the country. Between 2001 and 2012¹, heat stroke accounted for 4% of all deaths from natural calamities, with a marked rise seen in recent years. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), over the past half century (1961 to 2010) heat wave² frequencies have increased by a third.³ With the rise in average global temperature, a further increase in the number of hot days and greater frequency and severity of heat waves is expected. The risk of morbidity and mortality related to heat stress will continue to increase. Hence, effects of heat stress on human health are becoming an issue of growing concern in India^{4 .}In India, deaths due to heatstroke rose to more than 2500 in 2015—five times that in 2001.⁵ This increase in the number of deaths due to heatstroke is probably related to climate change and increase in frequency and intensity of heatwaves.⁶Being so common problem we have studied various clinical and soico- demographic factors associated with patients heat related illness in the admitted patients of tertiary health care centre.

 

 

METHODOLOGY

This was a cross-sectional study carried out in the patients admitted with heat related illness during the months of March to May -2017 to 2019. In the 3 years duration there were 455 patients were admitted in the ward. The related data was extracted from the Medical Record Department (MRD) attached to department of Community Medicine of Government Medical college and Hospital Latur, Maharashtra. All details of the patients like age, sex, Occupation, Clinical Features if any were recorded. The no. of patients admitted in the Months of March to May 2017 to 2019 was also noted. All this data was entered to Excel sheet and analyzed by Excel software for Windows 10.

 RESULTS

Table 1: Distribution of the patients as per the age

The majority of the patients were in the age group (Years.) of 36-48 were 29.89%, followed by 48-60 were 14.29%, 24-36 were 12.75%, 60-72 were 10.77%, 1-12 were 9.89%, 12-24 Were 8.57%, >72 were 8.35%, <1 were 5.49%.

 

Table 2: Distribution of the patients as per the sex

 The majority of the patients were Male i.e. 64.18 % followed by 35.82and were Females.

 

Table 3: Distribution as per the Occupation

By Occupation Agricultural –laborer were 25.71%, followed by Student -18.68%, Dependant -15.16%, Unemployed were 11.65%, Occupation Not applied in 10.33%, Owner and cultivator 6.59Others- 6.37%, Employed were 2.86%, Own –business were 2.64%.

 

 

 

 

Table 4: Distribution of the patients as per the clinical features of the patients

(*More than on clinical features present in a patients so total may be more than 455)

All the patients were having Fever i.e. in 100.00, Muscle weakness and Cramps present in 86.15%, Dehydration were 85.05 %, Tachycardia present in 55.38%, Throbbing headache in 40.00%, Confusion present in 37.14%, Heat syncope (fainting) present in 20.22%.

 

Table 4: Distribution of the patients as per the monthly (March-May) patients admitted to the hospital

 

Graph 1: Distribution of the patients as per the monthly (March-May) patients admitted to the hospital

No. of patients Admitted in Mar-17, Apr-17, May-1 were - 23, 49, 52 respectively; Mar-18, Apr-18, May-18 were 39, 49, 62 respectively. Mar-19, Apr-19, May-19 were 43, 56, 82 respectively.

May-19 were 43, 56, 82 respectively. As the temperature usually highest in May hence more no. of patients are found the May of all the last three years.

 

CONCLUSION

It can be concluded from our study that most of the patients were from the age 36-48 Years. age group , more common in males and by occupation Agricultural laborers and student were mostly affected and Fever , muscle weakness were most common clinical presentation and majority of the patients occurred in the months of May.

 

REFERENCES

• Compiled from ‘State-wise distribution of accidental deaths by natural causes’. Available at: https://data.gov.in/ catalog/stateut-wise-distribution-accidental-deaths-natural-causes
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