MyMedR

Vitamin D inadequacy in postmenopausal women in Eastern Asia

Lim SK, Kung AW, Sompongse S, Soontrapa S, Tsai KS

Curr Med Res Opin, 2008 Jan;24(1):99-106.

OBJECTIVE: To review data on the prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy and its causes in postmenopausal women in Eastern Asia.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHOD: Data were obtained from the published biomedical literature as well as abstracts and posters presented at scientific meetings. Using MEDLINE, EMBASE and BIOSIS databases (to July 2007), epidemiological studies were identified using the search terms: 'human', 'vitamin D', 'vitamin D deficiency', 'vitamin D inadequacy', 'vitamin D insufficiency' and 'hypovitaminosis D', 'osteomalacia' and 'osteoporosis'. Additional references were also identified from the bibliographies of published articles.

RESULTS: The prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy in studies of postmenopausal women (ambulatory or with osteoporosis or related musculoskeletal disorders) in Eastern Asia ranged from 0 to 92%, depending on the cut-off level of serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol [25(OH)D] that was applied (range < or =6-35 ng/mL [< or = 15-87 nmol/L]). One large international study found that 71% of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis in Eastern Asia had vitamin D inadequacy, defined as serum levels of 25(OH)D < 30 ng/mL (75 nmol/L). Prevalence rates using this cut-off level were 47% in Thailand, 49% in Malaysia, 90% in Japan and 92% in South Korea. High prevalences of vitamin D inadequacy were evident in two studies using a lower 25(OH)D level cut-off value of < 12 ng/mL (30 nmol/L) - 21% in China and 57% in South Korea. Dietary deficiency and inadequate exposure or reactivity to sunlight (due to lifestyle choices, cultural customs and/or aging) were identified as important risk factors for vitamin D inadequacy.

CONCLUSIONS: Non-uniform, epidemiological studies indicate a high prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy in postmenopausal women in Eastern Asia. Recommended remedial approaches are education campaigns and broad-based provision of vitamin D supplementation.

Matched MeSH terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases/etiology; Musculoskeletal Diseases/epidemiology

Fulltext A description of health complaints and treatment among patients visiting medical relief camps at Aceh and Balakot two months post disastery

Adlina, S., Narimah, A.H.H., Mazlin, M.M., Nuraliza, A.S., Hakimi, Z.A., Soe, S.A., et al.

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2006;6(1):51-57.

MyJurnal

This study was conducted to determine the patterns of disease and treatment at two disaster sites. Studies prior to this have shown that all natural disasters are unique in that each affected region of the world have different social, economic and health backgrounds. However, similarities exist among the health effects of different disasters which if recognized can ensure that health and emergency medical relief and limited resources are well managed. This study found that although Aceh and Balakot were two totally different areas with reference to locality and climate it was noticed that the patterns of disease two months post disaster are similar the commonest being respiratory conditions followed by musculoskeletal conditions and gastrointestinal conditions. For the treatment patterns it was observed that the two areas prescribed almost similar, types of medicine mainly for gastrointestinal and respiratory systems. However in Aceh, there were more skin treatment and in Balakot there was more usage of musculoskeletal drugs.

Matched MeSH terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases

Fulltext Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for musculoskeletal pathology--a literature review

Saw A

Med J Malaysia, 2005 Jul;60 Suppl C:8-10.

PMID: 16381274

For more than two decades extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy has emerged as the standard therapy for calculi in the kidney and urinary tract, and biliary system. Application of extracorporeal shock waves in orthopaedics involves treatment of recalcitrant chronic pain of plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow and calcifying tendonitis of the shoulder. This review explores current evidence-based issues related to its potential use as a treatment option for some musculoskeletal conditions.

Matched MeSH terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases/radiotherapy*

The impact of diabetes mellitus and other chronic medical conditions on health-related Quality of Life: is the whole greater than the sum of its parts?

Wee HL, Cheung YB, Li SC, Fong KY, Thumboo J

Health Qual Life Outcomes, 2005;3:2.

PMID: 15644146

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an important public health concern, the impact of which is increased by the high prevalence of co-existing chronic medical conditions among subjects with DM. The aims of this study were therefore to (1) evaluate the impact of DM and co-existing chronic medical conditions on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (which could be additive, synergistic or subtractive); (2) to determine the extent to which the SF-6D (a single-index preference measure) captures the multidimensional information provided by the SF-36 (a profile measure).

Matched MeSH terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases/complications; Musculoskeletal Diseases/ethnology

Chee HL, Rampal KG

Int J Occup Environ Health, 2004 Jan-Mar;10(1):63-71.

PMID: 15070027 DOI: 10.1179/oeh.2004.10.1.63

A cross-sectional study to identify the prevalence of musculoskeletal problems and work-related risk factors was conducted among 906 women semiconductor workers. Highest prevalences were pain in the lower limbs, neck/shoulders, and upper back, and highest exposures were prolonged (> or = four hours per workshift) hand/wrist movement, standing, and lifting with hands. After logistic regression, lower-limb pain was significantly associated with standing, neck/shoulder pain with sitting and lifting, upper-back pain with climbing steps, low back pain with hand/wrist movement, and hand/wrist pain with lifting. Neck/shoulder pain was significantly higher for workers with shorter working durations, while lower-limb pain was significantly higher for workers with longer working durations. End-of-line assembly workers had significantly higher odds ratios for pain at all sites, while middle-of-line workers had higher odds ratios for pain in neck/shoulders and upper back, and wafer-fabrication workers had higher odds ratios for pain in low back and lower limbs.

Matched MeSH terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases/epidemiology*

Fulltext The prevalence of musculoskeletal problems and risk factors among women assembly workers in the semiconductor industry

Chandrasakaran A, Chee HL, Rampal KG, Tan GLE

Med J Malaysia, 2003 Dec;58(5):657-66.

PMID: 15190650

A cross-sectional study to determine work-related musculoskeletal problems and ergonomic risk factors was conducted among 529 women semiconductor workers. Overall, 83.4% had musculoskeletal symptoms in the last one year. Pain in the back (57.8%), lower leg (48.4%) and shoulder (44.8%) were the three most common musculoskeletal problems. Significant associations were found between prolonged standing and upper and lower leg pain, between prolonged sitting and neck and shoulder pain and between prolonged bending and shoulder arm, back and upper leg pain. The study therefore showed a clear association between work-related musculoskeletal pain and prolonged hours spent in particular postures and movements.

Matched MeSH terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases/epidemiology*

Fulltext Musculoskeletal disorders presenting to the primary care department at University Malaya Medical Centre

Chow SK, Yew KC, Yeap SS

Family Physician, 2003;12(1):33-34.

Musculoskeletal complaints are one of the most common presenting symptoms to primary care physicians. However, in Malaysia, there has been no prospective survey to look at this problem. This was a descriptive study to look at the prevalence of non-traumatic musculoskeletal complaints presenting to the primary care clinic at University Malaya Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur. Over a 3-week period, there were 408/4201 patients (9.7%) with non-traumatic musculoskeletal disorders. The most common regional problem was backache and the most commonly made diagnosis was non-specific musculoskeletal pain. In conclusion, musculoskeletal disorders form a significant proportion of primary care consultations and thus should be included in the curriculum for the primary care physician training. Keywords: musculoskeletal disorders, arthritis, primary care
Study site: Primary care clinic, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases

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: Musculoskeletal Diseases/epidemiology*

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: Musculoskeletal Diseases/epidemiology*

NSAIDs in the treatment of acute musculoskeletal disorders related to sports

Subramaniam N

Family Physician, 1990;2:16-18.

Matched MeSH terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases

Musculoskeletal problems in the elderly

Yong SY

Family Practitioner, 1984;7:34-37.

Matched MeSH terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases

Fulltext Medical problems in an oil palm estate

Chua WT, Lim CH

Family Practitioner, 1982;5(3):49-53.

Oil palm estates and associated industries employ a fair proportion of workers. Good medical care benefits both the employers and the employees. The pattern of illness is not very different from that found in general practice. However, certain environmental factors, the nature of occupation and the water supply can influence the increased incidence of certain diseases. Upper respiratory tract infection, acute gastroenteritis, contact dermatitis (eczemas & rashes) eye, and ear diseases, injuries and musculoskeletal diseases are the commonest causes of morbidity. The resident doctor, who has a good knowledge of the environment of his patients is in the best position to practise preventive medicine or early intervention, thereby reducing illnesses and improving productivity of the workers.

Matched MeSH terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases

Fulltext Examination Standards for Disabled Driver's Licensing

Citation: Examination Standards for Disabled Driver's Licensing. Putrajaya: Occupational Health Unit, Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia; 2011

Matched MeSH terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases

Displaying publications 81 - 93 of 93 in total