European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Introduction: Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a well-known consequence of long standing and poorly controlled Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Several studies have demonstrated both a qualitative and quantitative reduction in health related quality of life in persons with DR. But no such study has been done in the Indian population.  Aim: To study the impact of diabetic retinopathy on quality of life in Indian diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: The present study included two groups of patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Cases included 97 patients with DR. The control group (n=26) consisted of diabetic cases with no clinically detectable DR changes. After taking informed consent, health and vision related quality of life was assessed using National Eye Institute 25-Item Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25). Demographic information, social history and diabetic history were also obtained from all patients. DR was graded using the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) classification. Results: Of the 97 cases with DR, 42.3% were females. Of the 26 controls, 53.8% were females. The mean±SD age in years of the cases was 55.09±9.56 and controls were 54.12±13.01. The mean±SD of DM in years for the cases was 10.98±5.62 and for controls was 6.69±2.29. There were statistically significant (p<0.001) lower VFQ-25 composite and sub scale scores of the cases when compared with controls. As the grade of DR increased, VFQ-25 sub-scale scores decreased and this was statistically significant for composite and all sub scales (p<0.005) except ocular pain. Mann-Whitney test Z-value was highest in general health, general vision, composite score and mental health. Conclusion: Quality of life was significantly lower in diabetics with DR when compared with those without DR with maximum effect seen on general health, general vision and mental health. Quality of life decreased as the duration of retinopathy and severity of retinopathy increased.

Background and Objectives: Accurate imaging of the upper airway is essential for both pre-anaesthetic assessment and the diagnosis of laryngeal pathologies. This study evaluates the role of different imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound in assessing airway patency, anatomical variations, and laryngeal lesions. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 100 patients undergoing pre-anaesthetic evaluation or presenting with symptoms suggestive of laryngeal disorders. All patients underwent standard airway examination followed by imaging with CT, MRI, or ultrasound as appropriate. The imaging results were compared with clinical examination and intraoperative findings where applicable. Results: CT provided excellent detail of bony and cartilaginous structures and was most effective in identifying tracheal narrowing and subglottic lesions. MRI was superior in soft tissue contrast and helpful in evaluating neoplastic lesions of the larynx. Ultrasound was a valuable, non-invasive tool for assessing vocal cord mobility and thyroid cartilage integrity in cooperative patients. Imaging changed clinical management in 28% of cases. Conclusions: Imaging of the upper airway plays a vital role in enhancing the safety and accuracy of pre-anaesthetic evaluation and in diagnosing laryngeal afflictions. Each modality offers distinct advantages, and the choice should be tailored based on clinical indications and resource availability