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Depression drug could delay brain injury recovery

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London: Drugs used to treat a broad range of common conditions including bladder problems, insomnia and depression could delay the recovery of brain injury patients, new research has found.

The study noted that these drugs may have anticholinergic properties that are often used on neuro-rehabilitation units frequently to manage symptoms from urinary incontinence to pain.

Anticholinergics are already known to have side effects such as temporary cognitive impairment, dizziness and confusion.

But their effects on people with pre-existing brain and spinal injuries have not been investigated until now.

“This work adds to the evidence that anticholinergics should be avoided in a wide-range of populations, when possible,” said one of the researchers Ian Maidment, senior lecturer in clinical pharmacy at Aston University in Birmingham, England.

“Regular medication review by a nurse, doctor or pharmacist may be a way of ensuring that medicines with anti-cholinergic effects are used appropriately,” Maidment noted.

The study of 52 patients with acquired brain or spinal injury at a neuro-rehabilitation unit showed that the average length of stay was longer in patients with a higher level of anticholinergic drugs in their system, known as the anticholinergic drug burden, or ACB.

Results showed that the change in ACB correlated directly to the length of hospital stay.

“While medications with ACB are often needed to treat common complications of brain or spinal cord injuries, cognitive impairment due to the medication may adversely affect a patient’s ability to engage in the rehabilitation process, potentially increasing their length of stay in hospital,” lead study author Chris Fox, professor University of East Anglia in Norwich, England.

The study was published in the journal Brain Injury.

Corona

Covid toll in Karnataka is a worrying sign for state government

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Even though Karnataka recorded the lowest number of Covid deaths in April since the virus struck first in 2020, the state is recording a rise in the positivity rate (1.50 per cent). Five people died from the Covid infections in April as per the statistics released by the state health department. In March, the positivity rate stood around 0.53 per cent. In the first week of April it came down to 0.38 per cent, second week registered 0.56 per cent, third week it rose to 0.79 per cent and by end of April the Covid positivity rate touched 1.19 per cent.

on an average 500 persons used to succumb everyday in the peak of Covid infection, as per the data. Health experts said that the mutated Coronavirus is losing its fierce characteristics as vaccination, better treatment facilities and awareness among the people have contributed to the lesser number of Covid deaths.

During the 4th and 6th of April two deaths were reported in Bengaluru, one in Gadag district on April 8, two deaths were reported from Belagavi and Vijayapura on April 30. The first Covid case was reported in the state in March 2020 and three Covid deaths were recorded in the month. In the following month 21 people became victims to the deadly virus, and May 2020 recorded 22 deaths. The death toll recorded everyday after May crossed three digits. However, the third wave, which started in January 2

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