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Childhood non-traumatic coma in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Sofiah A, Hussain IH

Ann Trop Paediatr, 1997 Dec;17(4):327-31.
PMID: 9578792

All post-neonatal children with acute non-traumatic coma admitted over an 8-month period were analysed and followed up for 18-24 months to determine the aetiology and outcome of their coma. One hundred and sixteen children, 72 boys and 44 girls, were recruited. Half the children were under 1 year of age and only 16 (14%) were more than 6 years of age. Eighty cases (69%) were due to infection, 15 (13%) to toxic metabolic causes, six (5%) to hypoxic ischaemic insults, four (3.5%) had intracranial haemorrhage, nine (7.8%) were due to miscellaneous causes and in two (1.7%) the cause was unknown. Seven cases were lost to follow-up. Of the remainder, 39 (35.7%) died, 32 (29.3%) developed permanent neurological deficit, and 38 (35%) were discharged well. The outcome was worst in the infectious group. Age of onset and sex did not significantly affect outcome. Our findings are similar to experience in Japan, where infection accounts for 74% of non-traumatic coma, but differ considerably from Western data on childhood coma where only a third of cases are due to infection.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Epidemiology of dengue/dengue hemorrhagic fever in Malaysia--a retrospective epidemiological study. 1973-1987. Part II: Dengue fever (DF)

Shekhar KC, Huat OL

Asia Pac J Public Health, 1992;6(3):126-33.
PMID: 1342799 DOI: 10.1177/101053959200600302

Dengue fever (DF) has been endemic in Malaysia since 1902 and reached epidemic proportions in 1973. The incidence rate of the disease in 1973 was 5.4 cases per 100,000 and reached 10.4 cases per 100,000 in 1987. The Chinese are the main ethnic community affected showing an overall morbidity rate of 9.0 cases per 100,000 followed by Malays 2.9 cases per 100,000 and Indians 2.4 cases per 100,000. The ethnic race ratio between Chinese, Malays and Indians which was 3.7:1:1.3 in 1975 reached 3.7:1:0.9 in 1987. The attack rates were observed to be higher in the males. The mean male:female ratio among Chinese was 1.1:1, while for Malays and Indians it was 1.5:1. The age-specific morbidity rate was highest in the 10- to 19-year age group followed by the 20- to 29-year age group. Epidemics of dengue fever were found to occur seasonally with the appearance of two peaks, viz. one in June and the other in August. Dengue fever, a rural disease before, has established itself as an urban disease.
Publication year=1992-1993

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Clinical course and determination of brainstem death in a children's hospital

Goh AY, Mok Q

Acta Paediatr, 2004 Jan;93(1):47-52.
PMID: 14989439

AIM: To study the aetiology and clinical course of children with brainstem death in a paediatric intensive care unit (ICU) and to determine whether current the practices that are used to declare brainstem death conform to accepted criteria.
METHODS: A retrospective review chart of all patients with brainstem death (n = 31) admitted to the paediatric ICU between January 1995 and December 1998 was drawn up.
RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 51.9 +/- 54.5 mo with the main diagnoses being head trauma in 11 children, anoxic encephalopathy in 7, brain tumour in 5, drowning in 4, CNS haemorrhage in 3 and CNS infection in 1 child; 32.3% of the children were given pre-ICU admission cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The average time from insult to suspected brainstem death was 27 h and suspected brainstem death to confirmation was 25 h, with an average of 1.6 examinations performed. EEG was done in 14 patients, with electrocerebral silence in 8 after the first examination and in a further 5 after repeat testing. Cerebral blood-flow scans were done in 3 children and evoked potentials in 1 child.
CONCLUSIONS: Trauma remains the most common primary diagnosis leading to brainstem death. Intensivists in this large hospital for children mainly conform to accepted guidelines for determination of brainstem death although there is a wider use of ancillary tests to aid diagnosis. The study also showed a low rate of < 10% of organ procurement for transplantation.

Study site: Paediatric ICU, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, United Kingdom

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
A macroscopic approach to demography

Smith JD

J Math Biol, 2004 Jan;48(1):105-18.
PMID: 14685774

A canonical/lognormal model for human demography is established, specifying the net maternity function and the age distribution for mothers of new-borns using a single macroscopic parameter vector of dimension five. The age distribution of mothers is canonical, while the net maternity function normalizes to a lognormal density. Comparison of an actual population with the model serves to identify anomalies in the population which may be indicative of phase transitions or influences from levels outside the demographic. Tracking the time development of the parameter vector may be used to predict the future state of a population, or to interpolate for data missing from the record. In accordance with classical theoretical considerations of Backman, Prigogine, et al., it emerges that the logarithm of a mother's age is the most fundamental time variable for demographic purposes.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Tuberculosis of the spine-the Sabah experience. Epidemiology, treatment and results

Dharmalingam M

Tuberculosis (Edinb), 2004;84(1-2):24-8.
PMID: 14670343 DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2003.08.008

A retrospective review of 33 patients with tuberculosis of the spine from January 2000 to April 2002 revealed that the mean age was 36.5 and peak incidence is in the second decade of life (27.3%). There were 24 males and 9 females. The majority of the lesions involved the thoracic spine (30.3%), followed by the lumbar spine (27.2%). Skip lesions was seen in 12.1% of cases. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was normal in 9.1% of patients. Neurological involvement was seen in 51.5% of patients. Concomitant tuberculosis of the lung was 66.6%. The radical surgical debridement and grafting rate was 39.3%. The preferred surgical procedure was that of radical anterior debridement and fusion supplemented by anterior or posterior instrumentation if needed. Anti-tuberculous chemotherapy remained the mainstay of treatment. Surgery gives faster relief of pain and neurological recovery but is a major undertaking, and thus selection of patients is vital to avoid morbidity and mortality.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Epidemiology of tuberculosis and leprosy, Sabah, Malaysia

Dony JF, Ahmad J, Yap KT

Tuberculosis (Edinb), 2004;84(1-2):8-18.
PMID: 14670341 DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2003.08.002

The objectives in this epidemiology review are to measure and report the extent of morbidity and mortality due to tuberculosis (TB), the proportion of new sputum smear positive cases in districts and the status of cohort analysis as of 1999. As for leprosy, the main objective is to determine morbidity and the treatment outcomes of Multiple Drug Therapy (MDT). Based on the results obtained, a comprehensive action plan for prevention, control and monitoring of tuberculosis and leprosy cases and patients is being produced and implemented throughout the state. The analysis concentrated on patients diagnosed at all out-patient units and admitted in all of the state's hospitals. The patient particulars were recorded using a standardized format based on TB and Leprosy Health Management Information System (TB HMIS). TB was the second highest by notification of communicable diseases in Malaysia in 2001. 29% or about one-third of the national TB cases are from Sabah. However, it has been noted that there was an average decline of 2.6% in annual notification since 10 years ago to date. There was also a reduction of 11.4% in 2001 as compared to annual notification in 2000. Immigrants contribute more than 24% in detection of new cases since 1990. Treatment success rate in term of completion of treatment to date is 82%. Mortality rate has steadily declined from 14 deaths to 7 deaths per 100,000 population. Leprosy in Sabah also contributes to 30% of the yearly total caseload of Malaysia and has the highest notification rate of 2 per every 100,000 population as compared to other states. The average registered leprosy cases over the past 5 years are 239 cases and the prevalence rate is 0.7/10,000 population. The state has successfully achieved its goal to decrease leprosy as per the World Health Organization (WHO) goal of yearly overall prevalence rate of less than 1 case for every 10,000 population. However, the districts of Kudat, Tawau, Lahad Datu, Kota Kinabalu and Semporna are still within the prevalence rate of more than one per 10,000 population. This review highlights some interesting findings which can be incorporated into the State and Districts action plans and strategies. It is also noted that in order to translate National Plans and Strategies into effective action at the community level, health workers need relevant up-to-date knowledge of the pattern of health and disease, and of their determinants, in each district. The Sabah Health Department continues to organize and support programs related to management and control of tuberculosis and leprosy to progressively reduce the incidence of these diseases in the community by breaking the chain of transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. leprae, respectively.
Study site: outpatient clinics, inpatients, hospitals, Sabah, Malaysia

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Subclinical memory dysfunction in Malaysian systemic lupus erythematosus patients: Association with clinical characteristics and disease activity – A pilot study

Mohd Said MS, Bin Shudim SS, Mohamad K, Shaharir SS, Kong NCT, Ali RA

Egyptian Rheumatologist, 2016;38:189-194.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejr.2015.12.001

Aim of the work This work aimed to determine the frequency of subclinical memory dysfunction in a group of Malaysian systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and to study its relation to clinical characteristics, laboratory investigations and disease activity. Patients and methods Fifteen SLE patients attending the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) and not known to have neuropsychiatric lupus were recruited. These patients were assessed using the Wechsler Memory Scale. Disease activity was assessed using the SLE disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K). Results The median age of the patients was 28 years (25–37 years) and they were 14 females and one male. Their median disease duration was 9.3 years (4.8–10 years). Their median SLEDAI-2K was 4 (0–6). Memory dysfunction was identified in 7/15 (46.7%) SLE patients and was significantly associated with lower serum thyroxine levels (median 12.27; 11.8–13.3 μg/dl) (p = 0.027) compared to those without memory impairment (15.48; 14.39–16.56 μg/dl). Auditory memory impairment was associated with the education level as the auditory memory index was significantly lower in patients with secondary education (n = 7, median 88; 86.5–91.5) compared to those who received tertiary education (n = 8, median 103; 97.5–119.5) (p = 0.025) while visual memory was influenced by disease duration (p = 0.016). There was no association between overall memory dysfunction and disease duration, number of relapses, clinical manifestations and SLEDAI-2K scores. Conclusion There is a high frequency of subclinical memory dysfunction among SLE patients. A remarkable association is present with lower thyroxine. Auditory memory impairment is related to the level of education and visual memory to disease duration. © 2015 The Authors

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Psychological distress and its association with job satisfaction among nurses in a teaching hospital

Ghawadra SF, Abdullah KL, Choo WY, Phang CK

J Clin Nurs, 2019 Nov;28(21-22):4087-4097.
PMID: 31294501 DOI: 10.1111/jocn.14993

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of psychological distress and its association with job satisfaction among nurses in a teaching hospital in Malaysia.
BACKGROUND: Nurses constitute the majority of health care workers, and, compared with other professions, nursing profession is highly stressful and, hence, a cause of anxiety and depression. This may affect nurses' job satisfaction.
METHOD: Using self-administered questionnaires, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Job Satisfaction Scale for Nurses (JSS), a cross-sectional study of 932 nurses from the inpatient departments of a teaching hospital was conducted in December 2017. Descriptive analyses and multiple logistic regressions were used for the analysis. The STROBE guideline was used in this study.
RESULTS: The overall prevalence of psychological distress was 41%. The prevalence of stress, anxiety and depression were 14.4%, 39.3% and 18.8%, respectively. It was found that single and widowed nurses had a higher level of stress, anxiety and depression compared with married nurses. In addition, nurses in the age of 26-30 years had a higher level of depression than nurses in other age groups. Also, nurses who worked in the paediatric departments had a higher level of depression compared with nurses in other departments. The majority of the nurses were satisfied with their job at 92.0%. Those nurses who were not satisfied were found to be significantly associated with a high level of stress and depression.
CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the level of stress, anxiety and depression is high. Stress and depression were found to be associated with nurses' low job satisfaction.
RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Stress and depression can affect nurses' job satisfaction, it is important for nursing managers to institute strategies to address this issue.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Fulltext Prevalence of erectile dysfunction and associated factors among men without concomitant diseases: a population study

Nicolosi A, Glasser DB, Moreira ED, Villa M, Erectile Dysfunction Epidemiology Cross National Study Group

Int J Impot Res, 2003 Aug;15(4):253-7.
PMID: 12934052 DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijir.3901010

We interviewed a population sample of 2412 men aged 40-70 y in Brazil, Italy, Japan and Malaysia about medical history, lifestyle habits and sexual behavior. Men were classified as having moderate or complete erectile dysfunction (ED) if they reported to be sometimes or never able to achieve and maintain an erection satisfactory for sexual intercourse, respectively. There were 1335 men with no diagnosis of cardiovascular or prostate diseases, diabetes, ulcer or depression, nor taking hormones. The prevalence of ED was 16.1%. ED was associated with age (the risk increased 8% per y), moderate (odds ratio (OR)=2.2) or severe (OR=4.9) lower urinary tract symptoms and smoking (OR=2.3 for >30 cigarettes/day). It was inversely associated with physical activity (OR=0.5) and higher educational levels. Between the ages of 40 and 70 y, almost one in six 'healthy' men is affected by ED. Further research should look at preclinical disease stages and genetic factors.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Incidence of esophageal carcinoma among Malays in North-Eastern Peninsular Malaysia: an area with an exceptionally low prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection

Lee YY, Raj SM, Sharif SE, Salleh R, Ayub MC, Graham DY

Dig Dis Sci, 2011 May;56(5):1438-43.
PMID: 21082350 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-010-1473-1

Obesity, gastroesophageal reflux, and Barrett's esophagus have all been linked to esophageal adenocarcinoma. In addition, the decline in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in affluent societies has also been suggested to be a major factor in the recent rise in the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma. If H. pylori infection has a protective role, populations with a naturally low prevalence of H. pylori infection such as the ethnic Malays of Northeastern Peninsular Malaysia should have high rates of esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Factors influencing Hepatitis C virus sero-prevalence among blood donors in north west Pakistan

Khattak MN, Akhtar S, Mahmud S, Roshan TM

J Public Health Policy, 2008 Jul;29(2):207-25.
PMID: 18523475 DOI: 10.1057/jphp.2008.7

Hepatitis C virus infection is a major health problem worldwide. The current study estimated seroprevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and evaluated associated factors among volunteer blood donors of the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan. Of 1,131 volunteer blood donors enrolled, 46 (4.1%) were positive for anti-HCV antibodies. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that positive donors were more likely to be 27-32 years old or >32 years old, have had 1-2 injections or >2 injections in the past year, or 1-5 intravenous (IV) drips or >5 I/V drips in the past 5 years. Positive donors had a family history of jaundice and were more likely to have been shaved (facial and armpit) by barbers. There was high prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies among blood donors of the NWFP. Public awareness programs should target the identified risk factors to prevent HCV transmission. We highlight the weakness of the health care system for blood donation, as it does not offer any record management for donors.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Fulltext Worldwide Prevalence and Burden of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, Results of Rome Foundation Global Study

Sperber AD, Bangdiwala SI, Drossman DA, Ghoshal UC, Simren M, Tack J, et al.

Gastroenterology, 2021 01;160(1):99-114.e3.
PMID: 32294476 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2020.04.014

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Although functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), now called disorders of gut-brain interaction, have major economic effects on health care systems and adversely affect quality of life, little is known about their global prevalence and distribution. We investigated the prevalence of and factors associated with 22 FGIDs, in 33 countries on 6 continents.
METHODS: Data were collected via the Internet in 24 countries, personal interviews in 7 countries, and both in 2 countries, using the Rome IV diagnostic questionnaire, Rome III irritable bowel syndrome questions, and 80 items to identify variables associated with FGIDs. Data collection methods differed for Internet and household groups, so data analyses were conducted and reported separately.
RESULTS: Among the 73,076 adult respondents (49.5% women), diagnostic criteria were met for at least 1 FGID by 40.3% persons who completed the Internet surveys (95% confidence interval [CI], 39.9-40.7) and 20.7% of persons who completed the household surveys (95% CI, 20.2-21.3). FGIDs were more prevalent among women than men, based on responses to the Internet survey (odds ratio, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.6-1.7) and household survey (odds ratio, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.3-1.4). FGIDs were associated with lower quality of life and more frequent doctor visits. Proportions of subjects with irritable bowel syndrome were lower when the Rome IV criteria were used, compared with the Rome III criteria, in the Internet survey (4.1% vs 10.1%) and household survey (1.5% vs 3.5%).
CONCLUSIONS: In a large-scale multinational study, we found that more than 40% of persons worldwide have FGIDs, which affect quality of life and health care use. Although the absolute prevalence was higher among Internet respondents, similar trends and relative distributions were found in people who completed Internet vs personal interviews.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Fulltext A comparison of breast cancer survival across different age groups: a multicentric database study in Penang, Malaysia

Tan KF, Adam F, Hussin H, Mohd Mujar NM

Epidemiol Health, 2021;43:e2021038.
PMID: 34044478 DOI: 10.4178/epih.e2021038

This study compared breast cancer survival and the prognostic factors across different age groups of women in Penang, Malaysia. Data on 2,166 women with breast cancer who had been diagnosed between 2010 and 2014 were extracted from the Penang Breast Cancer Registry and stratified into 3 age groups: young (< 40 years old), middle-aged (40-59 years old), and elderly (≥ 60 years). The overall and relative survival rates were calculated using the life table method, median survival time was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and comparisons between groups were conducted using the log-rank test. Prognostic factors were analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model. The 5-year overall and breast cancer-specific survival rates for women with breast cancer in Penang were 72.9% and 75.2%, with a mean survival time of 92.5 months and 95.1 months, respectively. The 5-year breast cancer-specific survival rates for young, middle-aged, and elderly women were 74.9%, 77.8%, and 71.4%, respectively, with a mean survival time of 95.7 months, 97.5 months, and 91.2 months. There was a significant difference in breast cancer survival between age groups, with elderly women showing the lowest survival rate, followed by young and middle-aged women. Disease stage was the most prominent prognostic factor for all age groups. Survival rates and prognostic factors differed according to age group. Treatment planning for breast cancer patients should be age-specific to promote better cancer care and survival.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Fulltext Social determinants of smoking in low- and middle-income countries: results from the World Health Survey

Hosseinpoor AR, Parker LA, Tursan d'Espaignet E, Chatterji S

PLoS One, 2011;6(5):e20331.
PMID: 21655299 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020331

INTRODUCTION: Tobacco smoking is a leading cause of premature death and disability, and over 80% of the world's smokers live in low- or middle-income countries. The objective of this study is to assess demographic and socioeconomic determinants of current smoking in low- and middle-income countries.
METHODS: We used data, from the World Health Survey in 48 low-income and middle-income countries, to explore the impact of demographic and socioeconomic factors on the current smoking status of respondents. The data from these surveys provided information on 213,807 respondents aged 18 years or above that were divided into 4 pooled datasets according to their sex and country income group. The overall proportion of current smokers, as well as the proportion by each relevant demographic and socioeconomic determinant, was calculated within each of the pooled datasets, and multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between current smoking and these determinants.
RESULTS: The odds of smoking were not equal in all demographic or socioeconomic groups. Some factors were fairly stable across the four datasets studied: for example, individuals were more likely to smoke if they had little or no education, regardless of if they were male or female, or lived in a low or a middle income country. Nevertheless, other factors, notably age and wealth, showed a differential effect on smoking by sex or country income level. While women in the low-income country group were twice as likely to smoke if they were in the lowest wealth quintile compared with the highest, the association was absent in the middle-income country group.
CONCLUSION: Information on how smoking is distributed among low- or middle-income countries will allow policy makers to tailor future policies, and target the most vulnerable populations.
Study name: World Health Survey (Malaysia is a study site)

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Human otoacariasis

Indudharan R, Ahamad M, Ho TM, Salim R, Htun YN

Ann Trop Med Parasitol, 1999 Mar;93(2):163-7.
PMID: 10474641

Accidental entry of insects and other arthropods is a common aetiology of aural foreign bodies (FB) presenting to accident and emergency departments. A retrospective study revealed that the FB in almost half (148) of 348 cases of aural FB investigated at the Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital was an arthropod. The most common arthropod encountered was the cockroach, followed by a cattle tick. The high prevalence of tick infestation of the human ear canal (i.e. human otoacariasis) currently appears to be unique to the Malaysian state of Kelantan. The presentation of patients with intra-aural ticks, the methods used to remove the ticks, the complications encountered, and recommendations for an appropriate course of action in such cases are discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Parasitic infections among Southeast Asian labourers in Taiwan: a long-term study

Wang LC

Epidemiol Infect, 1998 Feb;120(1):81-6.
PMID: 9528821

Parasitic infections have been reported to be relatively common among the Southeast Asian labourers in Taiwan. This study, conducted in 1992-6, was designed to determine the temporal changes of the prevalence. Faecal specimens were examined by the formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation technique and blood samples screened using the quantitative buffy coat technique and confirmed by Giemsa stained blood smear. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was 10.3%. The annual prevalence decreased from 33.3% in 1992-3 to 4.6% in 1995-6. The Thai (12.0%) and Indonesian (11.1%) had a higher prevalence than the Malaysian (6.7%) and Filipinos (5.9%). Opisthorchis viverrini was the most important parasite in the Thai and Trichuris trichiura in the remaining groups. Moreover, no blood parasites were found in the labourers. The dramatic temporal decline in the intestinal parasitic infections suggests that limiting the entry of infected persons, periodic follow-ups, and immediate treatment of sporadic cases are necessary in preventing transmission of non-indigenous parasites through large population change.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Epidemiology of childhood nocturnal enuresis in Malaysia

Kanaheswari Y

J Paediatr Child Health, 2003 Mar;39(2):118-23.
PMID: 12603800 DOI: 10.1046/j.1440-1754.2003.00105.x

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of nocturnal enuresis in primary school children in Malaysia and to determine the factors associated with primary nocturnal enuresis.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey. A total of 3371 self-administered questionnaires were distributed to parents of children aged 7, 9 and 12 years attending four primary schools in the city. The ICD-10 definition of enuresis was used.

RESULTS: From an overall response rate of 73.8%, nocturnal enuresis was reported in 200 children (8%), primary nocturnal enuresis in 156 children (6.2%) and secondary nocturnal enuresis in 44 children (1.8%). Fifty-three percent of those with primary enuresis had a positive family history, and 54% had two or more wet nights per week. Eighty-seven percent had not sought any form of treatment despite 74% admitting to being embarrassed. Using logistic regression analysis, only three factors were significant predictors of primary nocturnal enuresis. These were: (i) younger age (P < 0.001); (ii) male sex (P < 0.033); and (iii) Indian ethnic group (P < 0.044) compared to Chinese.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of nocturnal enuresis in urban-dwelling Malaysian children is similar to that reported from Korea and Taiwan but appears to be lower than that reported from developed countries. Predictive factors associated with primary nocturnal enuresis included lower age group, male sex and Indian ethnicity.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Fulltext Alcohol consumption and risky drinking patterns in Malaysia: findings from NHMS 2011

Mutalip MH, Kamarudin RB, Manickam M, Abd Hamid HA, Saari RB

Alcohol Alcohol, 2014 Sep-Oct;49(5):593-9.
PMID: 25015981 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agu042

AIMS: To identify the characteristics of current drinker and risky alcohol-drinking pattern by profiles in Malaysia.
METHODS: We analyzed data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2011. It was a cross-sectional population-based with two stages stratified random sampling design. A validated Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test Malay questionnaire was used to assess the alcohol consumption and its alcohol related harms. Analysis of complex survey data using Stata Version 12 was done for descriptive analysis on alcohol use and risky drinking by socio-demography profiles. Logistic regression analysis was used to measure the association of risky drinking status with the socio-demography characteristics.
RESULTS: The prevalence of current alcohol use was 11.6% [95% confidence interval (CI): 10.5, 12.7], among them 23.6% (95% CI: 21.0, 26.4) practiced risky drinking. The onset for alcohol drinking was 21 years old (standard deviation 7.44) and majority preferred Beer. Males significantly consumed more alcohol and practiced risky drinking. Current alcohol use was more prevalent among urbanites, Chinese, those with high household income, and high education. Conversely, risky drinking was more prevalent among rural drinkers, Bumiputera Sabah and Sarawak, low education and low household income. The estimated odds of risky drinking increased by a factor of 3.5 among Males while a factor of 2.7 among Bumiputera Sabah and Sarawak. Education status and household income was not a significant predictor to risky drinking.
CONCLUSION: There was an inverse drinking pattern between current drinker and risky drinking by the socio-demography profiles. Initiating early screening and focused intervention might avert further alcohol related harms and dependence among the risky drinkers.
Study name: National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS-2011)

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Fulltext Distinctive Clinico-Pathological Characteristics of Colorectal Cancer in Sabahan Indigenous Populations

Valan A, Najid F, Chandran P, Abd Rahim AB, Chuah JA, Roslani AC

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2021 Mar 01;22(3):749-755.
PMID: 33773538 DOI: 10.31557/APJCP.2021.22.3.749

BACKGROUND: Malaysia is an ethnically diverse nation, comprising Malay, Chinese, Indian and indigenous groups. However, epidemiological studies on colorectal cancer have mainly focused on the three main ethnic groups. There is evidence that the clinico-pathological characteristics of some cancers may differ in indigenous populations, namely that they occur earlier and behave more aggressively. We aimed to determine if there were similar differences in colorectal cancer, focusing on the indigenous populations of Sabah.
METHODS: Histopathological reports of all patients diagnosed with colorectal carcinoma from January 2012 to December 2016 from public hospitals in Sabah were retrieved from the central computerized database of the Pathology Department of Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Supplementary data was obtained from patients' case files from each hospital. Clinico-pathological data were analysed using the IBM SPSS Statistical Software Version 23 for Windows for descriptive statistics (mean, median, ASR, AR, relative risk) and inferential statistics (Chi square test).
RESULTS: A total of 696 patients met the inclusion criteria. The median age for colorectal cancer in Sabah was 62 years (95% CI 60.3 to 62.3), with an age specific incidence rate of 21.4 per 100 000 population. The age specific incidence rate in the indigenous populations was 26.6 per 100 000, much lower than the Chinese, at 65.0 per 100 000. The risk of colorectal cancer occurring before the age of 50 was three times higher in the indigenous population compared to the Chinese. The tumours were mainly left-sided (56.5%), adenocarcinoma in histology (98.4%) and moderately differentiated (88.7%). Approximately 79.2% of patients received curative treatment.
CONCLUSION: Indigenous populations in Sabah develop colorectal cancer at an earlier age, and present at more advanced stages. This has implications for screening and therapeutic strategic planning.
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Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Fulltext Classification of neck/shoulder pain in epidemiological research: a comparison of personal and occupational characteristics, disability, and prognosis among 12,195 workers from 18 countries

Sarquis LMM, Coggon D, Ntani G, Walker-Bone K, Palmer KT, Felli VE, et al.

Pain, 2016 May;157(5):1028-1036.
PMID: 26761390 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000477

To inform case definition for neck/shoulder pain in epidemiological research, we compared levels of disability, patterns of association, and prognosis for pain that was limited to the neck or shoulders (LNSP) and more generalised musculoskeletal pain that involved the neck or shoulder(s) (GPNS). Baseline data on musculoskeletal pain, disability, and potential correlates were collected by questionnaire from 12,195 workers in 47 occupational groups (mostly office workers, nurses, and manual workers) in 18 countries (response rate = 70%). Continuing pain after a mean interval of 14 months was ascertained through a follow-up questionnaire in 9150 workers from 45 occupational groups. Associations with personal and occupational factors were assessed by Poisson regression and summarised by prevalence rate ratios (PRRs). The 1-month prevalence of GPNS at baseline was much greater than that of LNSP (35.1% vs 5.6%), and it tended to be more troublesome and disabling. Unlike LNSP, the prevalence of GPNS increased with age. Moreover, it showed significantly stronger associations with somatising tendency (PRR 1.6 vs 1.3) and poor mental health (PRR 1.3 vs 1.1); greater variation between the occupational groups studied (prevalence ranging from 0% to 67.6%) that correlated poorly with the variation in LNSP; and was more persistent at follow-up (72.1% vs 61.7%). Our findings highlight important epidemiological distinctions between subcategories of neck/shoulder pain. In future epidemiological research that bases case definitions on symptoms, it would be useful to distinguish pain that is localised to the neck or shoulder from more generalised pain that happens to involve the neck/shoulder region.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution

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