MyMedR

Clinical characteristics of ulcerative colitis in Singapore, a multiracial city-state

Ling KL, Ooi CJ, Luman W, Cheong WK, Choen FS, Ng HS

J Clin Gastroenterol, 2002 Aug;35(2):144-8.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is rare in Asia. Singapore is an ethnically heterogeneous city-state with a population made up of Chinese (77%), Indians (7.5%), and Malays (14%). This study describes and compares the characteristics of Chinese, Malay, and Indian patients with UC.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia/ethnology

The effect of being overweight on cancer incidence and all-cause mortality in Asians: a prospective study in Singapore

Lee J, Wang H, Chia KS, Koh D, Hughes K

Int J Epidemiol, 2002 Aug;31(4):875-6.

PMID: 12177037

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia/ethnology

Risk factors and incident coronary heart disease in Chinese, Malay and Asian Indian males: the Singapore Cardiovascular Cohort Study

Lee J, Heng D, Chia KS, Chew SK, Tan BY, Hughes K

Int J Epidemiol, 2001 Oct;30(5):983-8.

PMID: 11689508

OBJECTIVE: This prospective study in Singapore investigated the relationships of established coronary risk factors with incident coronary heart disease (CHD) for Chinese, Malay, and Asian Indian males.

SUBJECTS: A cohort (consisting of 2879 males without diagnosed CHD) derived from three previous cross-sectional surveys.

METHODS: Individual baseline data were linked to registry databases to obtain the first event of CHD. Hazard ratios (HR) or relative risks for risk factors were calculated using Cox's proportional hazards model with adjustment for age and ethnic group and adjustment for age, ethnic group and all other risk factors (overall adjusted).

RESULTS: There were 24,986 person-years of follow-up. The overall adjusted HR with 95% CI are presented here. Asian Indians were at greatest risk of CHD, compared to Chinese (3.0; 2.0-4.8) and Malays (3.4; 1.9-3.3). Individuals with hypertension (2.4; 1.6-2.7) or diabetes (1.7; 1.1-2.7) showed a higher risk of CHD. High low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (1.5; 1.0-2.1), high fasting triglyceride (1.5; 0.9-2.6) and low high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (1.3; 0.9-2.0) showed a lesser but still increased risk. Alcohol intake was protective with non-drinkers having an increased risk of CHD (1.8; 1.0-3.3). Obesity (body mass index > or =30) showed an increased risk (1.8; 0.6-5.4). An increased risk of CHD was found in cigarette smokers of > or =20 pack years (1.5; 0.9-2.5) but not with lesser amounts.

CONCLUSIONS: The increased susceptibility of Asian Indian males to CHD has been confirmed in a longitudinal study. All of the examined established risk factors for CHD were found to play important but varying roles in the ethnic groups in Singapore.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia/ethnology

Fulltext Medication noncompliance--a thriving problem

Aziz AM, Ibrahim MI

Med J Malaysia, 1999 Jun;54(2):192-9.

PMID: 10972029

A study was conducted among out-patients attending the Melaka Tengah Health Clinic to determine their compliance status towards antihypertensive, antidiabetic and antiasthmatic drugs. A total of 585 patients were enrolled in this study. Assessment of compliance was carried out using pill-counting and house-to-house interviews 14 days from the date of medication dispensed at the counter. The noncompliance rate among the 464 successfully interviewed patients was 56%. The mean noncompliance percentage was 78.0 +/- 43.1% (range: -10.0-314.3%). Among the four variables of compliance studied, race was not seen as a determinant of compliance. The older age group and those taking two or more drugs were statistically significant to be a noncomplier. Females were highly likely not to comply with drug therapy. Patients who conform to their refill dates were not really drug compliers. Forgetting to take their drugs and inability to read instructions on drug labels were the main reasons given. Underdosing was more common than overdosing, with an estimated cost of RM20,261.00 of unused medications per year.
Study site: Klinik Kesihatan Melaka Tengah, Melaka, Malaysia

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia/ethnology

Parasuicide: a Singapore perspective

Wai BH, Heok KE

Ethn Health, 1998 Nov;3(4):255-63.

PMID: 10403107

This study was undertaken to determine whether there were ethnic and social variations in parasuicide in the population of Singapore.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia/ethnology

Racial background is a determinant factor in the maintenance dosage of warfarin

Gan GG, Teh A, Goh KY, Chong HT, Pang KW

Int J Hematol, 2003 Jul;78(1):84-6.

PMID: 12894858

Warfarin is a drug commonly used in the prevention of thromboembolic events. There have been reports suggesting that racial background may influence warfarin dose requirements. Malaysia is a multiracial country in which there are 3 major races, Malay, Chinese, and Indian. We examined 100 patients from our hospital on stable maintenance doses of warfarin, with international normalized ratio (INR) of 2.0 to 3.5. We found that the mean warfarin dose for Indian patients (n = 19) was 6.9 mg, for Chinese patients (n = 55) was 3.6 mg, and for Malay patients (n = 26) was 3.2 mg. The results showed that the Indian patients required a statistically significantly higher warfarin dose than did patients of the other 2 races (P < .0005). Age was also found to affect the daily warfarin maintenance dose.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia/ethnology

Fulltext Life threatening pancreatitis following varicella vaccination: cause, association or co-incidence?

Chan PWK, Goh AYT

Med J Malaysia, 2000 Dec;55(4):527-8.

PMID: 11221171

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia/ethnology

Prevalence of glucose intolerance among Malays in Brunei

van Eekelen A, Stokvis-Brantsma H, Frölich M, Smelt AH, Stokvis H

Diabetes Care, 2000 Sep;23(9):1435-6.

PMID: 10977050

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia/ethnology

Associations of diabetes mellitus and ethnicity with mortality in a multiethnic Asian population: data from the 1992 Singapore National Health Survey

Ma S, Cutter J, Tan CE, Chew SK, Tai ES

Am J Epidemiol, 2003 Sep 15;158(6):543-52.

PMID: 12965880 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwg199

Despite the high prevalence of diabetes mellitus, little is known about mortality associated with diabetes in Asia. Therefore, the authors followed 3,492 Chinese, Malay, and Asian Indian adults randomly selected from the general population in Singapore. Data on glucose tolerance, demographic characteristics, and other cardiovascular disease risk factors (lipid profile, blood pressure, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and obesity) were obtained in 1992. Vital status was determined as of December 31, 2001. There were 108 deaths over a period of 9 years. Impaired fasting glycemia or impaired glucose tolerance (IFG/IGT) (hazard ratio (HR)=1.39, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.84, 2.31) and diabetes mellitus (HR=2.49, 95% CI: 1.58, 3.94) were associated with increased mortality after adjustment for age, gender, ethnic group, and educational level. Compared with Chinese with diabetes, Indians with diabetes experienced significantly greater mortality (HR=3.86, 95% CI: 1.76, 8.44) after adjustment for gender, age, educational level, smoking, hypertension, alcohol intake, and obesity. Undiagnosed diabetes and IFG/IGT were more common than known diabetes and also were associated with increased mortality. For reduction of mortality associated with IFG/IGT and diabetes, the authors recommend a screening program to detect undiagnosed diabetes and IFG/IGT along with aggressive treatment of diabetes after diagnosis.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia/ethnology

Recent trends in elderly suicide rates in a multi-ethnic Asian city

Kua EH, Ko SM, Ng TP

Int J Geriatr Psychiatry, 2003 Jun;18(6):533-6.

PMID: 12789675

There are a few reports on the trends of elderly suicide rates in western countries but none from Asian countries.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia/ethnology

Corneal arcus and cardiovascular risk factors in Asians in Singapore

Hughes K, Lun KC, Sothy SP, Thai AC, Leong WP, Yeo PB

Int J Epidemiol, 1992 Jun;21(3):473-7.

PMID: 1634308

This study was a cross-sectional random survey of the whole of Singapore, based on 2143 subjects (aged 18-69 years, response rate 60.3%). The presence of corneal arcus was determined by a doctor using the naked eye in good light. Cardiovascular risk factors were measured by standardized techniques. The prevalence rates overall of corneal arcus were: 18-29 years (males 0.5%, females 0.3%), 30-49 years (males 18.1%, females 13.3%) and 50-69 years (males 70.7%, females 55.3%). In the 30-49 age group, people with arcus had higher serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations than people without arcus, the mean differences being, males 0.31 mmol/l (P = 0.040) and females 0.62 mmol/l (P less than 0.001) with an increased likelihood of having values greater than 5.5.mmol/l of males 1.8 (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.0-3.4) and females 2.6 (95% CI: 1.4-4.8). There were no significant differences for LDL-cholesterol in the 50-69 age group. Arcus was weakly associated with fasting plasma glucose in the 30-49 age group. Arcus was not associated with serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, serum fasting triglyceride, blood pressure and cigarette smoking. It is concluded that while corneal arcus is primarily an age-related change, its formation is accelerated by high serum LDL-cholesterol so that in people under 50 years it is a marker for the condition.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia/ethnology

Investigation of delay in utilization of government dental services in Malaysia

Jaafar N, Jalalluddin RL, Razak IA, Esa R

Community Dent Oral Epidemiol, 1992 Jun;20(3):144-7.

PMID: 1623706

Although delays in seeking dental care among patients are frequently observed in daily practice, this problem has never been investigated in other utilization studies. This study attempts to establish the magnitude and severity of the problem of delay in a delivery system where cost is not a major barrier to utilization. 555 users of Government dental services were interviewed. Only 37% of them came promptly within 6 days of perceiving a dental need. The majority (63%) had delayed their dental visit for more than 1 week. In fact, the highest frequency of delay was for more than 1 month. Prompt attendance was found to be associated with people who regularly came for asymptomatic check-ups. In contrast, more than 50% of those who thought they needed fillings and extractions had delayed their visit for more than a month. The main causes of delays were attributed to work commitments and the lack of perceived need for urgent care. Barriers related to transport or financial problems were ranked very low. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia/ethnology

The prevalence of symptoms in menopausal women in the Far East: Singapore segment

McCarthy T

Maturitas, 1994 Oct;19(3):199-204.

PMID: 7799826

Questionnaires (4000) on experience of menopausal symptoms in Singaporean women aged 40-55 were distributed by students. In total, 524 envelopes were returned (13.1%) and of these 420 were analyzed. Of these, 366 were classified as either pre-, peri- or postmenopausal on the basis of their menstrual patterns. Menopausal symptoms in this sample of Singaporean women were, in general, similar to those experienced in the West though the prevalence was low compared to European studies. No significant differences in individual symptoms were found between the 3 groups but, taken together, symptoms were significantly highest in the perimenopausal and lowest in the other menopausal groups. In the postmenopausal group 50% had been menopausal for at least 1 year at 50.5 years.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia/ethnology

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme activity of normal term Malaysian neonates of different ethnic origins

Boo NY, Ainoon BO, Ooi LH, Cheong SK, Haliza BM

J Paediatr Child Health, 1994 Jun;30(3):273-4.

PMID: 8074916

The cord blood glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme activity of 262 normal term Malaysian neonates (92 Malays, 96 Chinese and 74 Indians) was quantitatively determined by the World Health Organisation method. Analysis of variance for the levels of G6PD enzyme activity by ethnic origin and sex showed that there was a significant difference between mean levels of enzyme activity in the three ethnic groups (P = 0.03) but no difference between the sexes (P = 0.36). Multiple range analysis showed that Malays had significantly higher mean levels of G6PD enzyme activity than those of Chinese (P = 0.01). There was no significant difference between the mean levels of G6PD enzyme activity of Chinese and Indians (P = 0.52), nor was there any difference between those of Malays and Indians (P = 0.08). The difference in levels of G6PD enzyme activity among the different ethnic groups could be due to the existence of different G6PD variants.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia/ethnology

Cephalometric ideals in Chinese, Malay and Indian ethnic groups

Lew KK

Asian J Aesthet Dent, 1994;2(1):35-8.

PMID: 9063112

Cephalometric data from 105 female subjects (35 Chinese, 35 Malay and 35 Indian) with good occlusion and aesthetic pleasing facial profiles (determined by a trained clinician and endorsed by the lay public) were analysed using the Steiner analysis. Statistical analysis of the data showed that while the cephalometric ideals of the Chinese and the Malay ethnic groups were rather similar, cephalometric differences existed between the Chinese and Indians as well as the Malays and Indians. Compared to the Chinese and Malays, the Indians appeared to have less prognathic mandibles and maxillae, less protrusive and proclined upper and lower incisors and also less protrusive upper and lower lips. These differences demonstrate intrinsic ethnic differences and emphasize the need to treat patients of different ethnic groups using cephalometric norms which are peculiar to their own group.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia/ethnology

Feminism in Malaysia: a historical and present perspective of women's struggles in Malaysia

Ariffen R

Womens Stud Int Forum, 1999;22(4):417-23.

PMID: 22593983

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia/ethnology

Impact of cyclosporine dose on renal allograft function in an Asian population

Vathsala A, Lee WT, Lim CH

Transplant Proc, 1994 Oct;26(5):2507-8.

PMID: 7940768

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia/ethnology

Fulltext Circumstances surrounding accidental poisoning in children

Azizi BH, Zulkifli HI, Kassim MS

Med J Malaysia, 1994 Jun;49(2):132-7.

PMID: 8090091

Circumstances surrounding accidental ingestion of poisons were investigated in families of 70 hospitalised children. Indian children were more likely to be hospitalised for poisoning. Poor safety measures directly contributed to poisoning incidents. Poisons had not been stored safely and only in 12.9 per cent of families were the poisons allegedly kept in cupboards. Kerosene had been ingested from soft drink containers in 70 per cent of instances. Medications had been taken mainly from plastic envelopes (57.9%) or bottles (31.6%). Safety practices in the homes of cases and 140 controls were compared. As a whole parents of victims had poor safety practices when compared with parents of controls. Poisoning incidents were discovered by mothers in 75.0 per cent of the cases. Vomiting was induced by parents in 32.3 per cent of cases involving medications and non-volatile items, and in 41.6 per cent of kerosene ingestions. Before hospitalisation 59.4 per cent were brought to general practitioners and 22.7 per cent to government clinics. Mothers were the main attendants when children were brought for medical care. This study highlights the need for measures to prevent childhood poisoning and reduce its morbidity. Household products and medications should be made safer to children through improved packaging, prescribing instructions and education. Safety and first aid education may be directed towards parents, particularly mothers, through the media and health facilities.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia/ethnology

Atopic eczema in a multiracial country (Malaysia)

Jaafar RB, Pettit JH

Clin Exp Dermatol, 1993 Nov;18(6):496-9.

PMID: 8252784

A total of 14,342 patients with skin diseases who had attended either the National University of Malaysia skin clinic or a private dermatological office were analysed. Five hundred and thirty-four cases (3.7%) had atopic eczema, the prevalence being highest among the Malays (4.3%). The prevalence of atopic eczema among clinic attenders is lower in all three major Malaysian races when compared with studies from England.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia/ethnology

Actinic prurigo, tropical (South-East Asian) variant

Tham SN, Tay YK

Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed, 1992;9(5):225-8.

PMID: 1342193

Actinic prurigo is a chronic familial photodermatitis found predominantly among the Amerindians. It has been reported from North and South America, Britain and Japan. We report a case of actinic prurigo seen in Singapore. A 20-year-old Malay female presented with a persistent pruriginous eruption in the sun-exposed parts and on her abdomen. She also had lower lip cheilitis and thinning of the outer eyebrows, features often seen in actinic prurigo. The minimal erythema dose to ultraviolet A (UVA) and UVB were persistently lowered. We propose that this condition be called actinic prurigo, tropical (South-East Asian) variant.
Publication year=1992-1993

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia/ethnology

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