MyMedR

Validation of the ROSC after cardiac arrest (RACA) score in Pan-Asian out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients

Liu N, Ong MEH, Ho AFW, Pek PP, Lu TC, Khruekarnchana P, et al.

Resuscitation, 2020 04;149:53-59.

PMID: 32035177 DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2020.01.029

AIM: Survival is the most consistently captured outcome across countries for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA), with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) representing the earliest endpoint for 'unbiased' initial resuscitation success. The ROSC after cardiac arrest (RACA) score was developed to predict ROSC and has been validated in several European countries. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the performance of RACA in a Pan-Asian population.

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of data collected in the Pan-Asian Resuscitation Outcomes Study (PAROS) registry. We included OHCA cases from seven communities (Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and United Arab Emirates) between January 2009 and December 2012. Paediatric cases, cases that were conveyed by non-emergency medical services (EMS), and cases with incomplete records were excluded from the study.

RESULTS: The RACA score showed similar discrimination performance as the original German study and various European validation studies. However, it had poor calibration with the original constant regression coefficient, which was primarily due to the low ROSC rate (8.2%) in the PAROS cohort. The calibration performance of RACA significantly improved after the constant coefficient was modified to adjust for the disparity in ROSC rates between Asia and Europe.

CONCLUSION: This is the largest validation study of the RACA score. RACA consistently performs well in both Pan-Asian and European communities and can thus be a valuable tool for evaluating EMS systems. However, to implement it, the constant coefficient has to be modified in the RACA formula with local historical data.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Nutritional therapies in the neonatal intensive care unit and post-natal growth outcomes of preterm very low birthweight Asian infants

Lee LY, Lee J, Niduvaje K, Seah SS, Atmawidjaja RW, Cheah FC

J Paediatr Child Health, 2020 Mar;56(3):400-407.

PMID: 31618507 DOI: 10.1111/jpc.14634

AIM: A collaborative study was conducted between two Southeast Asian university hospitals to compare the nutritional intervention and growth outcomes and evaluate the extent of post-natal growth faltering (PNGF) among very low birthweight (VLBW) infants.

METHODS: Data of all infants admitted during the 2011-2012 period to the two hospitals at Singapore (SG) and Malaysia (MY) were pooled and analysed.

RESULTS: Of the 236 infants, SG infants received lower total protein and energy intake than MY infants (2.69 vs. 3.54 g/kg/day and 92.4 vs. 128.9 kcal/kg/day respectively; P -2 SDS (55 vs. 16%; P = 0.001). The greater use of a diuretic in SG to treat haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA) may have contributed to the higher PNGF rate. Mean growth velocity of at least 15 g/kg/day was attained by VLBW infants only from Day 14 and by ELBW infants only from Day 28 post-natally. Overall, severe PNGF rates (z-score change >-2 SDS at 36 weeks' corrected age) were 28.8 and 36.5% for VLBW and ELBW infants, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Being very preterm, ELBW with hsPDA and receiving insufficient protein and energy were risk factors for severe PNGF. Increasing protein and energy content, augmenting fortification of breast milk and concentrating feed volumes, especially if there is an hsPDA, may curb severe PNGF among these infants.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Fulltext Asian men’s health: gender disparity and life expectancy

Ho, Christopher C.K., Teo, C.H., Ng, C.J., Zulkifli, M.Z., Tan, M.H.

Journal of Surgical Academia, 2014;4(2):5-8.

MyJurnal

The aim of this review was to analyze the gender disparities found as well as the life expectancies in Asia. An analysis of the data on gender disparities as well as life expectancies of the different Asian countries was done based on the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Health Observatory Data Repository as well as the regional government databases. Middle Eastern countries have the highest male to female population ratio. The results show that in terms of population pyramid, Asia is moving towards a more geriatric population. Qatar has the highest life expectancy for men and is the only country in Asia where men live longer than women (difference of 2 years). In general, women in Asia live longer than men. High income countries like Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore have higher life expectancies as compared to those on the lower income nations. The life expectancy of Asian men still lags women. Men’s health care needs to be addressed urgently. The disparity in income-status reflecting the lifespan of men is an impetus for us to narrow the gap of health in Asian countries.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Fulltext Incidence of pneumococcal meningitis in children less than 5 years age in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand: a review

Maimaiti, Namaitijiang, Lotfizadeh, Masoud, Zafar Ahmed, Azam Rahimi, Jadoo, Saad Ali, Aljunid, Syed

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2015;15(1):0-0.

MyJurnal

Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is the most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia, meningitis, and bacteremia in children and adults, including the elderly, and is responsible for high rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Aim of this paper to review published articles on incidence of pneumococcal meningitis in children less than 5 years of age in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, and compare the incidence of pneumococcal meningitis among the children in the three courtiers. Literature searches were conducted using google scholar, PubMed, the World Health Organization (WHO) website of the Weekly Epidemiological Record, and the countries’ Ministry of Health (MOH) website, and were limited to articles written in English. All relevant publications/abstracts published/presented during the period December 2000 through March 2014. Searches were conducted from April 1, 2014, till July 11, 2014 using various combinations of the following search terms “ Pneumococcal diseases” OR “meningococcal” OR “pneumococcal meningitis” OR “meningococcus”. A total of five articles and abstracts described the incidence of pneumococcal meningitis among children 5 years old. These five documents include two conference abstracts from Malaysia, one published paper from Singapore and two published papers from Thailand. The Malaysian, Singaporean and Thai pneumococcal meningitis incidence rate was 3.8-8.6, 2.3 and 0.10-1.8 per 100,000 children respectively. Our review confirmed that the incidence rate of pneumococcal meningitis was vary among the countries. The highest incidence rate of pneumococcal meningitis was found in Malaysia followed by Singapore and Thailand.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Fulltext Non-Responsive Feeding Practices, Unhealthy Eating Behaviors, and Risk of Child Overweight and Obesity in Southeast Asia: A Systematic Review

Lindsay AC, Sitthisongkram S, Greaney ML, Wallington SF, Ruengdej P

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2017 04 19;14(4).

PMID: 28422081 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14040436

Childhood obesity is increasing dramatically in many Southeast Asian countries, and becoming a significant public health concern. This review summarizes the evidence on associations between parental feeding practices, child eating behaviors, and the risk of overweight and obesity in Southeast Asian children 2-12 years old. We systematically searched five electronic academic/research (PubMed, PsycINFO, ProQuest Nursing, Medline, and CINAHL) databases using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement for peer-reviewed studies published in English between January 2000 and December 2016. Fourteen observational studies met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Reviewed studies were examined separately for preschool- and school-aged children and revealed that non-responsive parental feeding practices and unhealthy child eating behaviors were associated with a risk of child overweight and obesity in several Southeast Asian countries. Nonetheless, due to the small number of identified studies (n = 14) and because only about half of the Southeast Asian countries (Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia) were represented (5/11) in the examined studies, additional research is needed to further understand the factors associated with childhood obesity among children in Southeast Asia to develop interventions that are tailored to the specific needs of Southeast Asian countries and designed to address practices and behaviors that may promote childhood obesity.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Xga blood group in Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore

Saha N, Banerjee B

Vox Sang, 1973;24(6):542-4.

PMID: 4722836

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

A comparative epidemiologic study of fractures among Indian, Malay and Swedish children

Wong PC

Med J Malaya, 1965 Dec;20(2):132-43.

PMID: 4221974

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

"PERSONALITY EVALUATION AS A PART OF MEDICAL HISTORY" (ANALYSIS OF THE CORNELL MEDICAL INDEX FORMS OF 213 PSYCHOLOGICALLY DISTRESSED STUDENTS)

KADRI ZN

Med J Malaysia, 1964 Sep;19:15-24.

PMID: 14240055

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

A survey in Singapore of low income level housing in relation to health of infants

BROWNE EM

Med J Malaya, 1954 Mar;8(3):222-39.

PMID: 13164693

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Fulltext Male participation and sharing of responsibility in strengthening family planning activities in Malaysia

Rosliza, A.M., Majdah, M.

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2010;10(1):23-27.

MyJurnal

Family planning is one of the main pillars of safe motherhood initiatives. It is therefore a very crucial area that needs continuous strengthening and improvement in order to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality which will ultimately improve the general condition of women. Findings from the Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Death (CEMD) Malaysia Report 2001 - 2005 revealed that up to 70% of the maternal deaths never practiced any form of family planning. The contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) in Malaysia for the year 2004 was 51.7% compared to Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore which was 79%, 74% and 74% respectively. One neglected area that has never been emphasized seriously in the family planning programme in Malaysia is male participation, gender awareness and sharing of responsibility by both partners. In realizing this, efforts have been made to include men as target groups in the national family planning programme. This paper will highlight the importance of optimum gender relations and sharing of responsibility with special emphasis towards the role of husbands and male medical personnel in the effort to improve family planning activities. It will also discuss the efforts put by the Ministry of Health in order to create gender awareness and encourage male participation in family planning.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Fulltext Health tourism in Malaysia: the strength and weaknesses

Aniza, I., Aidalina, M., Nirmalini, R., Inggit, M.C.H., Ajeng, T.E.

Malaysian Journal of Community Health, 2009;15(1):7-15.

MyJurnal

Introduction : Globalization has made health tourism possible and continues to flourish. For participating countries, this new industry rakes in billions of dollars a year, and is worth focusing on and being developed.
Objective : This write up aims to find out the history and success of health tourism in countries around the world, study the scenario in Malaysia and propose strategies which could make Malaysia prosper with this multibillion dollar industry.
Methodology: The methodology applied was compilation, data review and comparison from annual report, action plan report and articles.
Result : In the ASEAN region, Malaysia is making a mark in the health tourism industry, thanks to the availability of medical and technical expertise, political and economical stability, high quality infrastructure, and scenic beauty of the land. Nonetheless, despite all these, Malaysia has yet to be at par with her neighbours- Thailand, Singapore and India, in terms of the number of foreign patients and the revenue gained from this industry. Thus there is a serious and urgent need to conduct research to analyze the current situation and future prospects of health tourism in Malaysia. This industry is open to all countries around the world. It is those countries that can continually analyze and adapt that will prosper in the emerging medical tourism industry. Some of the key issues which need to be addressed are those of promotion, finding the niche market, branding, legislations, immigration and quality of healthcare. In addition to these, matters regarding human resource, particularly that of internal brain-drain, need to be looked into.
Conclusion : Malaysia has great potential of becoming the giant of the health tourism industry provided appropriate and timely actions are taken towards achieving it. The negative impact must not be ignored or overlooked; instead it must be thoroughly studied and rectified.

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

An epidemiological study of humeral fractures in Singapore

Wong PC

Med J Malaya, 1966 Jun;20(4):300-5.

PMID: 4224338

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

Epidemiology of fractures in the Chinese children of Singapore

Wong PC

Med J Malaya, 1966 Jun;20(4):288-99.

PMID: 4224337

Matched MeSH terms: Singapore

A survey of Salmonella VI-phage types occurring in Federation of Malaya and Singapore