Author(s): Clevin Rashmi Rebello, Anita Herur, Manjula R., Roopa Ankad, Shailaja Patil, Surekharani Chinagudi
Does, being an orphan affect the anthropometric characteristics and cardiac function of an individual? The aim was to assess the anthropometry in terms of height (cm), weight (kg), chest circumference (cm) and body mass index (BMI) (Kg/m2); and to assess the cardiac func-tion by recording heart rate (bpm), blood pressure (mmHg) and rate-pressure product before and after exercise. This comparative study was carried out on orphans in a residential school of Bagalkot. 30 apparently healthy orphan boys aged between 7-17 years were included in the study. They were matched with equal number of boys with wards in the same residential school. Height (cm), weight (kg) chest circumference (cm) and BMI (Kg/m2) were recorded as physical anthropometric parameters. Heart rate (bpm), blood Pressure (mm Hg) and rate-pressure product were recorded before and after exercise. The parameters were analyzed by Student t test. Weight, BMI and chest circumference were all lower in orphans, but the differ-ence in chest circumference was not statistically significant. Rate –pressure product after ex-ercise which directly depicts the myocardial functioning, was also lower in orphans, as com-pared to controls, although not statistically significant. It can be concluded that the orphans are deprived of their normal anthropometry and cardiac function and hence, a step in this re-gard has to be put forward, to help these innocent ones to combat the emotional disturbances, which could be the route cause.