MyMedR

Displaying publications 661 - 680 of 3646 in total

Abstract:

Sort:

Fulltext The dimensions of ocular morbidity amongst the nursing home geriatrics population

Normalina M, Zainal M

Med J Malaysia, 1998 Sep;53(3):239-44.
PMID: 10968160

A cross-sectional prevalence study amongst a nursing home elderly population was carried out at Rumah Sri Kenangan, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan between June 1995 until June 1996. A total of 204 cases of 60 years and older were examined in order to determine the ocular morbidity amongst them. It was found that 47.5% had low vision and 19.1% were legally blind. Cataract was found to be the leading cause of low vision and blindness occurring in 81.4% and 74.3% respectively. Glaucoma occurred in 1% of those who had low vision and none due to macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy. The magnitude of visual impairment and blindness in this nursing home is high but is preventable and avoidable.

Matched MeSH terms: Prevalence
Prevalence of latex allergy may be vastly overestimated when determined by in vitro assays

Yeang HY

Ann. Allergy Asthma Immunol., 2000 Jun;84(6):628-32.
PMID: 10875493 DOI: 10.1016/S1081-1206(10)62415-5

BACKGROUND:
The prevalence of latex-specific IgE computed from the results of serologic assays is commonly thought to reflect, to a greater or lesser extent, the prevalence of latex allergy and its implied risk.

OBJECTIVE:
The study examines how imperfect test specificity of in vitro assays influences the precision of latex allergy prevalence that it estimates.

METHODS:
Various models encompassing a range of hypothetical test sensitivity and specificity values are investigated to gauge their influence on the estimate of latex allergy prevalence. The models examine these interactions in situations of high or low allergy prevalence.

RESULTS:
Serologic latex diagnostic assays with test specificity within the range of those of commercially available assays can greatly overestimate prevalence where the true prevalence is low (eg, of the order of one in 100 or one in 1,000). A formula to correct for errors in prevalence estimates arising from imperfect test sensitivity and specificity of an in vitro assay is presented.

CONCLUSION:
While serologic assays for latex IgE pose few hazards to the patient and are useful for confirming the diagnosis of latex allergy, the test results may vastly overestimate the true prevalence of latex allergy and its associated risks in situations where latex allergy is actually rare.

Matched MeSH terms: Prevalence
Dermatophytes isolated from patients in University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Ng KP, Soo-Hoo TS, Na SL, Ang LS

Mycopathologia, 2002;155(4):203-6.
PMID: 12650596

A total of 576 dermatophytes were isolated from patients with a variety of skin infections from January 1993 to May 2000. Ten species of dermatophytes were identified: Epidermophyton floccosum (0.7%), Microsporum audouinii (1.1%), M. canis (3.1%), M. gypseum (0.3%), Trichophyton concentricum (3.5%), T. equinum (0.2%), T. mentagrophytes (36.1%), T. rubrum (53.8%), T. verrucosum (0.2) and T. violaceum (1.0%). The body sites most frequently affected by dermatophytes were the buttocks, nails and trunk. Anthropophilic dermatophytes made up 60.1% of the isolates; the most common species was T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes and M. canis were the two main zoophilic dermatophytes. T. mentagrophytes was isolated from all body sites except the scalp. M. canis was found to be associated with domestic dogs and was not isolated from ethnic Malays. The only geophilic dermatophyte was M. gypseum, an uncommon dermatophyte associated with tinea pedis.

Matched MeSH terms: Prevalence
Fulltext Blindness and visual impairment amongst rural Malays in Kuala Selangor, Selangor

Zainal M, Masran L, Ropilah AR

Med J Malaysia, 1998 Mar;53(1):46-50.
PMID: 10968137

A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence of visual impairment and blindness and its causes amongst the adult rural Malay population in the district of Kuala Selangor, Selangor. By simple random sampling 330 samples were selected for the study. All samples underwent complete ophthalmological examination. The crude prevalence of visual impairment and blindness were 0.7% and 5.6% respectively. Age was the most important factor associated with the prevalence; gender, level of education and level of income was not significantly related. Cataract was the commonest cause of visual impairment and blindness while diabetic retinopathy was the second important cause.

Matched MeSH terms: Prevalence
Sexually transmitted infections in Singapore teenagers

Chan RK, Tan HH

Ann Acad Med Singap, 2003 Jan;32(1):25-8.
PMID: 12625094

INTRODUCTION: This is a review of sexual knowledge, behaviour and the extent of sexually transmitted infections (STI), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, in Singapore adolescents.
METHODS: Data were retrieved from relevant studies, reports and statistics concerning STI and HIV in Singapore.
RESULTS: For many reasons, adolescents are at a higher risk of acquiring STI and HIV infections. Adolescents in Singapore are still relatively conservative in their sexual attitudes and behaviour. Most of those who had sex never used condoms. Fortunately, the incidence of STI and HIV infections among adolescents is relatively low. However, this may be changing, and there is a proportion of individuals who exhibit higher risk behaviours.
CONCLUSIONS: In this age of rapidly changing morals and values, accurate information and skills need to be provided to young people to ensure that they are adequately prepared to protect themselves from acquiring STI/HIV infection.

Matched MeSH terms: Prevalence
Clinical update on deep vein thrombosis in Singapore

Lee LH

Ann Acad Med Singap, 2002 Mar;31(2):248-52.
PMID: 11957569

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is thought to be a rare occurrence in Asian patients. The clinical features of VTE are elusive and the disease often unsuspected. Objective testing such as the duplex ultrasound scans and pulmonary imaging are necessary as clinical diagnosis alone is inaccurate. Fatality can occur in untreated patients not suspected of the disease as shown by our post-mortem studies. Indeed VTE is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in Singapore. There is a rising trend in the incidence of VTE in Asia. Initial studies found an incidence of about 3 per 10,000 hospital admissions in Hong Kong and Malaysia in 1988 and 1990, respectively; rising to 8 and 15.8 per 10,000 hospital admissions in Singapore 1992 and 2000, respectively. The major risk factors for developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in our patients are immobilisation, surgery and malignancy. While Factor V Leiden mutation and mutation at position 20,210 in the prothrombin gene are found to be extremely rare in Chinese, the rest of the thrombophilia has not been formally studied. Studies in Singapore reported rates of 3% to 7% of DVT after general surgery, 9.7% after hip surgery and 14% after total knee replacement surgery. It is difficult to compare with studies from other centres because of differences in patient selection and diagnostic criteria. Studies in Singapore showed that the use of prophylactic low molecular weight heparin completely abolished the occurrence of DVT for patients undergoing total knee replacement and colorectal surgery without an increase in bleeding complications. In conclusion, VTE is not an uncommon problem here. Major acquired risk factors do not differ from the Caucasian populations. VTE is a preventable disease and a better understanding of its epidemiology, patient-risk factors and biological factors will allow better management of this condition.

Matched MeSH terms: Prevalence
The prevalence of recurrent abdominal pain in 11- to 16-year-old Malaysian schoolchildren

Boey C, Yap S, Goh KL

J Paediatr Child Health, 2000 Apr;36(2):114-6.
PMID: 10760006

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) among Malaysian school children aged from 11 to 16 years.
METHODOLOGY: A preliminary cross-sectional survey in which three urban schools and three rural schools were selected randomly. Two classes were selected randomly from each year. A questionnaire was given to each child asking him or her about whether they had experienced abdominal pain occurring at least three times over a period of at least 3 months, interfering with normal daily activity. 1 Interfering with normal daily activity was defined as missing school and/or having to stop doing a routine daily activity on account of the pain. Girls whose pains were related to periods were excluded. After the forms had been completed, each child was again interviewed to ensure that Apley's criteria1 was fulfilled in cases of RAP.
RESULTS: The overall prevalence of RAP among 1549 schoolchildren (764 boys; 785 girls) was 10.2% (95% confidence interval (CI), 8.8-11.8). There appeared to be a higher prevalence in rural schoolchildren (P = 0.008; odds ratio (OR) 1.58), in those with a lower family income (P < 0.001; OR 2.02) and in children whose fathers have a lower educational attainment (P = 0.002; OR 1. 92). There were no significant differences in the prevalence of RAP among children of different sex, age, ethnic group and family size.
CONCLUSION: : In spite of differences in time and culture, the overall prevalence of 10.2% found in this study is similar to that determined by Apley.1 There are significant differences in the prevalence of RAP between children from rural and urban schools, among children with different family incomes and among children whose parents have different educational backgrounds.

Matched MeSH terms: Prevalence
Hookworms in dogs of Kuching, Sarawak (north Borneo)

Choo J, Pang E, Prociv P

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2000 4 5;94(1):21-2.
PMID: 10748891
Matched MeSH terms: Prevalence
Fulltext Prevalence of childhood asthma and allergy in an inner city Malaysian community: intra-observer reliability of two translated international questionnaires

Norzila MZ, Haifa AL, Deng CT, Azizi BHO

Med J Malaysia, 2000 Mar;55(1):33-9.
PMID: 11072488 MyJurnal

Objectives: (a) To examine the intra-observer reliability of the Malay language versions of two international respiratory questionnaires i.e. the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Children (ISAAC) and the American Thoracic Society (ATS) questionnaires, and (b) using the more reliable of these questionnaires, to estimate the prevalence of asthma and allergy related symptoms in an ethnically homogenous inner city community in Kuala Lumpur.
Methods: The study was conducted among 7 to 12 year old school children of Malay ethnic origin living in an inner city area of Kuala Lumpur. The sample consisted of 787 children attending the only primary school in the area. The Malay versions of both questionnaires were administered twice, one month apart, and were completed by parents. Agreement between the first and second responses to the same questions were assessed by Cohen’s kappa. Kappa values <0.4 were indicative of poor intra-observer reliability, 0.4-0.59 moderate reliability, 0.6-0.79 good reliability and >0.79 excellent reliability.
Results: 77.9% and 36.3% of parents responded to the first and second administrations of the questionnaires respectively. Kappa values of >0.4 were obtained in 15/16 (93.8%) and 17/27 (63.0%) questions of the ISAAC and ATS questionnaires respectively. Excellent kappa values were obtained in 4/16 (25%) questions of the ISAAC questionnaire versus only 1/27 (3.7%) questions of the ATS questionnaire. From the ISAAC questionnaire, all questions on wheeze had good reliability while those on asthma had excellent reliability. Questions on allergic symptoms had poor to moderate reliability. In contrast, from the ATS questionnaire, questions on wheeze had moderate reliability while questions on asthma were excellent reliable. Questions on allergic symptoms had moderate to good reliability while those on cough, phlegm and bronchitis had poor reliability.
According to the ISAAC questionnaire the prevalence of ever wheeze, wheeze in the last 12 months, ever asthma and wheeze with exercise in the last 12 months was 12.5%, 6.6%, 10.3% and 5.9% respectively. The prevalence of ever sneeze or runny nose, sneeze or runny nose in the last 12 months, watery eyes in the last 12 months and ever eczema was 15.2%, 11.1%, 4.4% and 8,5% respectively.
Conclusions: The translated ISAAC questionnaire was more reliable than the translated ATS questionnaire. Asthma and related symptoms were common among Malay school children in inner city Kuala Lumpur.

Matched MeSH terms: Prevalence
Fulltext Work related upper limb disorders in telecommunication workers in Malaysia

Premalatha GD, Noor Hassim I

Med J Malaysia, 1999 Jun;54(2):247-56.
PMID: 10972037

A total of 323 workers from 5 different occupational groups in the telecommunication industry were studied in this cross sectional study, which sought to determine the prevalence of Work Related Upper Limb Disorders (WRULD) in 5 occupational groups; operators using the Video Display Terminals, switchboard operators, clerks, data entry processors and the supervisors. WRULD was also studied with regard to factors such as sex, race, height, age, stress and the discomfort perceived due to the work station design. The possibility of WRULD was determined from a self-administered questionnaire and confirmed by history and physical examination. Psychological stress and the discomfort due to the workstation were measured from the questionnaire. The overall prevalence was found to be 31.2% and the prevalence among the various occupations differed with it being the highest in the switchboard operators and data processors and the lowest in the supervisors. The older workers and the female workers were found to have higher prevalences of WRULD. It was also found that a higher stress score and a higher score of discomfort perceived at the work station were associated with higher prevalences of WRULD.

Matched MeSH terms: Prevalence
Food and asthma symptoms in Malaysian children

Chan PWK, Debruyne JA, Goh AYT

J Trop Pediatr, 1999 Jun;45(3):184.
PMID: 10401205 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/45.3.184

Study site: not reported.

Matched MeSH terms: Prevalence
Fulltext The prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminthiasis among pre-school children in Orang Asli resettlement villages in Kelantan

Zulkifli A, Khairul AA, Atiya AS, Abdullah B, Yano A

Med J Malaysia, 1999 Dec;54(4):453-8.
PMID: 11072462

A study of the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminthiasis among pre-school children aged 0 to 7 years from an Orang Asli village resettlement scheme in Gua Musang, Kelantan was undertaken. The overall prevalence of soil transmitted helminthic (STH) infections was 56.0%. The predominant helminth found was Ascaris lumbricoides while the commonest type of infection was a mixed infection with Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura. The prevalence rates of Ascaris, Trichuris and hookworm infections were 47.5%, 33.9% and 6.2% respectively. The intensity of Ascaris infections were 64.5% light, 27.3% moderate and 8.3% heavy whilst the intensity of Trichuris infections were 80.5% light, 18.3% moderate and 1.2% heavy. However, the intensity of hookworm infections were 86.7% light, 13.3% moderate and no heavy infection. The prevalence of helminthiasis (STH) shows an-age dependent relationship, with the lowest prevalence in 0-< 1 year age group and highest in the 6-< 7 year age group.

Matched MeSH terms: Prevalence
Fulltext An initial assessment of the risk approach to antenatal management in Malaysia

Somboonsook B, Wakerman J, Hattch CT, Collison M, Barnes A, Kyi W, et al.

Med J Malaysia, 1995 Sep;50(3):212-20.
PMID: 8926897

This study was the first assessment of a nationwide risk approach system to antenatal management introduced to Malaysia in 1989. Three rapid, record-based surveys on three different study groups were conducted to determine risk factor prevalence, accuracy of risk assignment, action after risk assignment and the relationship of risk level and place of delivery. The most frequent risk factors were short birth interval, high parity and first pregnancy. Accuracy of risk assignment was highest at the lowest levels of risk and poorest at the highest levels. Women at the lowest levels of risk were more likely to be seen by a doctor than women at highest risk. These was a trend to deliver in hospital, rather than at home, as level of risk increased; but many women at high risk still delivered at home. Recommendations are made on modifications to the system prior to future evaluation.

Matched MeSH terms: Prevalence
Acute respiratory infection in Malaysian children

Lye MS, Deavi U, Lai KP, Kaur H, Nair RC, Choo KE

J Trop Pediatr, 1994 Dec;40(6):334-40.
PMID: 7853437

A cross-sectional community-based survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of acute respiratory infection (ARI) in children below 7 years of age and to obtain baseline information for an intervention programme. A total of 6190 households comprising 38,632 persons with 12,273 children (32 per cent) below 7 years of age were surveyed. Information on socio-demographic variables, environmental sanitation, occurrence of ARI and diarrhoea, treatment seeking behaviour during episodes of those illnesses and immunizations among children were obtained. Thirty per cent of children had experienced ARI in the 2-week period prior to the interview, and 94 per cent had mild ARI, 1 per cent had moderate and 5 per cent had severe ARI. There was lack of concurrence between mother's perception of severity and that of the investigators' (Kappa coefficient = 0.083 (95 per cent CI = 0.017-0.149). Twenty-four and 39 per cent of severe and moderate ARI, respectively, were reported by mothers to be mild. There is cause for concern as these children may not receive timely and appropriate treatment. The findings from this study contribute to identification of target populations and priority areas for health education of the population. The survey has provided useful baseline data for the implementation of an intervention programme for the control of ARI in children.

Matched MeSH terms: Prevalence
Fulltext Thalassaemia and haemoglobinopathies in Brunei Darussalam

Ismail JB

Med J Malaysia, 1992 Jun;47(2):98-102.
PMID: 1494340

One thousand consecutive Brunei Darussalam patients referred with low Hb, and/or low MCV and MCH (Hb < 12.5g/dl, MCV < 76fl, MCH < 27pg) were studied in the laboratory for underlying haemoglobinopathies. 30.0% of such patients were proved to have either beta-thalassaemia trait, beta-thalassaemia major, Hb AE, Hb EE, Hb E beta-thalassaemia or Hb H disease. In some, the haemoglobin abnormality was not identified precisely. Alpha-thalassaemia was suspected in an additional 4.3% of cases but confirmation study by globin-chain synthesis was not available. Beta-thalassaemia trait which was the predominant disorder was equally distributed among the three major race groups of Brunei Darussalam. Hb E was found exclusive among the Malay population. Hb H disease appeared as more common among the Chinese or the Malays (p > 0.05). This study reveals that thalassaemia and haemoglobinopathies are prevalent in Brunei Darussalam.

Matched MeSH terms: Prevalence
Observations on the problems of HIV infection in Malaysia

Brettle RP

J Infect, 1992 Jan;24(1):101-2.
PMID: 1548408
Matched MeSH terms: Prevalence
Seasonal prevalence of air-borne pollen and spores in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Ho TM, Tan BH, Ismail S, Bujang MK

Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol, 1995 Jun;13(1):17-22.
PMID: 7488339

Aerosampling using Rotorod samplers was conducted in the Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from December 1991 to November 1993. Samples were collected twice a week between 10.00 hours to 12.00 hours. Rods were stained and examined microscopically. A total of 8 and 20 types of pollens and mold spores were collected, respectively. More mold spores were collected than pollens. Grass pollen constituted more than 40 percent of total pollen counts. Gramineae pollen counts peaked in March and September. The most abundant mold spore was Cladosporium followed by Rust, Nigrospora, Curvularia and Smut. Cladosporium counts peaked in February and August. Rust counts peaked in June and December whereas counts for Nigrospora peaked in February and October. Highest counts of Smut were recorded in March and October. Curvularia counts peaked in January, June and September.

Matched MeSH terms: Prevalence
Differences in vitamin D status and calcium intake: possible explanations for the regional variations in the prevalence of hypercalcemia in tuberculosis

Chan TY

Calcif. Tissue Int., 1997 Jan;60(1):91-3.
PMID: 9030487

The prevalence of hypercalcemia in patients with untreated tuberculosis (TB) varies widely between countries. Since the vitamin D status and calcium intake are important determinants of hypercalcemia in TB, these two factors were compared among four populations (U.K., Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand) with a low prevalence (<3%) and two populations (Sweden, Australia) with a high prevalence (>25%). In the three Asian countries, the circulating vitamin D levels are abundant, but the calcium intakes are low. Subjects from the U.K. have the lowest circulating vitamin D level of all, although their calcium intake is high. In Sweden and Australia, both the circulating vitamin D levels and calcium intakes are high. Since serum 1,25(OH)2D concentration will only be raised if its substance for extrarenal conversion, 25(OH)D, is plentiful and the effect of a given serum 1,25 (OH)2D concentration on serum calcium is determined by the calcium intake, it is postulated that the regional variation in the prevalence of hypercalcemia in TB may be due to differences in the circulating vitamin D levels and calcium intakes in these populations.

Matched MeSH terms: Prevalence
Fulltext Hookworm infection and reinfection following treatment among Orang Asli children

Norhayati M, Oothuman P, Fatmah MS, Muzain Minudin Y, Zainuddin B

Med J Malaysia, 1995 Dec;50(4):314-9.
PMID: 8668049

In hookworm endemic areas where sanitation is often wanting, reinfection of treated children is a problem. This study was conducted to enumerate the prevalence and the reinfection rate of hookworm in 193 Orang Asli children following treatment with stat dose of 400mg of albendazole at 2 and 4 months post-treatment. All samples were examined using the Kato-Katz and Harada Mori techniques. The overall initial prevalence was 31.0%, with 27.0% in males and 34.0% in females although there was no statistical difference. Only 7.0% of the children had moderate intensity of infection. The overall infection rate at 2 and 4 months post-treatment was 11.0% and 8.0%. New cases were detected at 1.0% and 5.0% at 2 and 4 months post-treatment period. Reinfection rate 2 months post-treatment was 24.0%, and it was 30.0%, 4 months after treatment. All infection at 2 and 4 months post-treatment were light. Long-term strategies incorporating health education on personal hygiene, provision of toilets and safe water supply need to be adopted in these Orang Asli villages to control rapid reinfection.

Matched MeSH terms: Prevalence
Fulltext The significance of aches/pains among workers in an electronics factory

Ho SF, Phoon WH

Med J Malaysia, 1997 Jun;52(2):134-8.
PMID: 10968070

Three hundred and fifteen female workers with at least three months' employment history in a factory manufacturing disk drives were studied. Each worker completed a self-administered questionnaire on their personal particulars, hours of work, opinion on the work and the workplace and the presence and severity of aches/pains experienced over the past one month. One hundred and forty one (44.8%) of the workers had complaints of aches/pains. Of these, 81 (57.5%) reported an improvement in their symptoms during their off-days. 59 (41.8%) had symptoms affecting two or more sites. The most commonly affected sites were the hands and shoulders, followed by the head and back. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of symptoms between workers from the different work stations. Ninety four (66.7%) of these workers reported that the pains that were severe enough to affect their activities. 76 (53.9%) had to seek some form of medical treatment while 33 (23.4%) had to be on medical leave. However, the physical examinations of this group of workers were normal. The symptoms appeared to be influenced by their attitude towards work. A significantly higher number of workers with symptoms expressed dissatisfaction with work and had complaints of a noisy and cold environment. The study showed that workers' morale and the quality of the work environment may play an important role in improving their general well-being.

Matched MeSH terms: Prevalence

Filters

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links