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Prevalence of obesity and factors associated with it in a worksite setting in Malaysia

Cheong SM, Kandiah M, Chinna K, Chan YM, Saad HA

J Community Health, 2010 Dec;35(6):698-705.
PMID: 20458526 DOI: 10.1007/s10900-010-9274-1

Socio-economic status, lifestyle behaviors, and psychosocial factors have been implicated in the development of overweight and obesity. This study aims to observe the prevalence of overweight and obesity in an academic worksite and to examine the possible association between variables such as socio-economic characteristics, work factors, psychosocial factors, and weight control behaviors and obesity. In this study, the target population were full-time academic and non-academic staff. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were computed to determine obesity. A pretested self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-demographic factors, work related factors, psychosocial factors, and weight control behaviors. Data were obtained on 367 adults of whom 39.2% were males and 60.8% females. Overweight was seen in 31.9% of males and 26.5% of females while 16.1% of them were obese, irrespective of gender. Central obesity was noted in about 37% of males and 39% of females. The results showed that socio-demographic factors (age, gender, and education) and psychosocial factors (perceived health status, body weight perception, and weight-control goals) were significantly associated with BMI. Working hours were also significantly associated with BMI. However, weight control practices (diet-control practices and physical activity practices) were not significantly associated with BMI. In conclusion, this study found a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity among employees of a selected public university in comparison to the general population. Socio-demographic, psychosocial factors, and working hours were found to contribute to obesity in this sample of adults.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Tuberculous lymphadenitis at Penang General Hospital, Malaysia

Khan AH, Sulaiman SA, Muttalif AR, Hassali MA, Khan TM

Med Princ Pract, 2011;20(1):80-4.
PMID: 21160220 DOI: 10.1159/000319764

To evaluate the incidence, treatment and clinical outcomes of tuberculous (TB) lymphadenitis at Penang General Hospital, Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Suicide trends in Singapore: 1955-2004

Chia BH, Chia A, Yee NW, Choo TB

Arch Suicide Res, 2010;14(3):276-83.
PMID: 20658381 DOI: 10.1080/13811118.2010.494147

The objective of this study was to investigate suicide trends in Singapore between 1955 and 2004. Suicide cases were identified from the Registry of Birth and Death, Singapore, and analyzed using Poisson regression. Overall, suicide rates in Singapore remained stable between 9.8-13.0/100,000 over the last 5 decades. Rates remain highest in elderly males, despite declines among the elderly and middle-aged males in recent years. Rates in ethnic Chinese and Indians were consistently higher than in Malays. While the rates among female Indians and Chinese have declined significantly between 1995 and 2004, some increase was noted in female Malays. Although there was no increase in overall suicide rates, risk within certain population segments has changed over time.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Cross-national comparisons of socioeconomic differences in the prevalence of leisure-time and occupational physical activity, and active commuting in six Asia-Pacific countries

Bauman A, Ma G, Cuevas F, Omar Z, Waqanivalu T, Phongsavan P, et al.

J Epidemiol Community Health, 2011 Jan;65(1):35-43.
PMID: 20943821 DOI: 10.1136/jech.2008.086710

This study describes physical activity patterns and their association with socioeconomic factors in six countries in the Asia-Pacific region, and examines whether physical activity associations with socioeconomic status follow similar patterns across the six countries.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Fatal lightning strikes in Malaysia

Murty OP, Kian CK, Ari Husin MH, Nanta Kumar RK, Mohammed Yusuf WY

Am J Forensic Med Pathol, 2009 Sep;30(3):246-51.
PMID: 19704405 DOI: 10.1097/PAF.0b013e31819d20a4

Lightning strike is a natural phenomenon with potentially devastating effects and represents one of the important causes of deaths from environmental phenomena. Almost every organ system may be affected as lightning current passes through the human body taking the shortest pathways between the contact points. A 10 years retrospective study (1996-2005) was conducted at University Hospital Kuala Lumpur (20 cases) also including cases during last 3 years from Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, Klang (7 cases) from the autopsy reports at Forensic Pathology Units of these 2 hospitals. Both these hospitals are attached to University of Malaya. There were 27 fatal cases of lightning strike with male preponderance(92.59%) and male to female ratio of 12.5:1. Majority of victims of lightning strike were from the age group between 30 and 39 years old. Most of the victims were foreign workers. Indonesians workers contributed to 59.26% of overall cases. Majority of them were construction workers who attributed i.e.11 of 27 cases (40.74%). Most of the victims were brought in dead (37.04%). In majority of the cases the lightning incidence occurred in the evenings, with the frequency of 15 of 27 cases (62.5%). The month of December represented with the highest number of cases (5 cases of 23 cases); 2004 had the highest incidence of lightning strike which was 5 (19.23%). Lightning strike incidence occurred when victims had taken shelter (25.9%) under trees or shades. Lightning strike in open areas occurred in 10 of 27 cases (37.0%). Head and neck were the most commonly affected sites with the incidence of 77.78% and 74% respectively in all the victims. Only 29.63% of the cases presented with ear bleeding.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Prevalence and causes of functional low vision in school-age children: results from standardized population surveys in Asia, Africa, and Latin America

Gilbert CE, Ellwein LB, Refractive Error Study in Children Study Group

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2008 Mar;49(3):877-81.
PMID: 18326706 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.07-0973

Data on the prevalence and causes of functional low vision (FLV) in adults and children are lacking but are important for planning low-vision services. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and causes of FLV among children recruited in eight population-based prevalence surveys of visual impairment and refractive error from six countries (India [2 locations]; China [2 locations]; Malaysia, Chile, Nepal, and South Africa).

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Suicide and ethnicity in Malaysia

Murty OP, Cheh LB, Bakit PA, Hui FJ, Ibrahim ZB, Jusoh NB

Am J Forensic Med Pathol, 2008 Mar;29(1):19-22.
PMID: 19749611 DOI: 10.1097/PAF.0b013e31815b4c57

This article highlights methods of ending life in different ethnic groups. This inference is drawn from analysis of data from suicidal cases from the University Malaya Medical Centre mortuary. This study also looked at sex, age, social, and employment factors. Kuala Lumpur has sizeable populations of Muslims, Chinese, Indians and Indonesian, etc. This study is based on 251 cases of suicide that were reported at the University Malaya Medical Centre from 2000 to 2004. Malaysia has a population of 22,662,365 people with 3 major ethnic groups: Malay (58%), Chinese (24%), and Indians (8%) with a minority of "others" (10%), which includes foreigners, Sabahan, and Sarawakian. This research found suicides of 164 male (65%) and 87 female (35%) victims. Their age ranged from 15 to 80 years. The age group from 21 to 30 had the highest total cases of suicide (83 of 251; 33.1%). Among ethnic groups highest rate of suicide was among Chinese with a total of 120 cases (120 of 251; 47.8%). As far as lone method of suicide is concerned, hangings accounted for the highest proportion of cases (108 of 251; 43%). Among ethnic groups, jumping from height was the commonest method used by Chinese (49 of 120; 41%), Malay (9 of 16; 56%), and others (15 of 28; 53.4%); whereas, hanging was the commonest method of committing suicide by Indians (49 of 87); Muslims showed the lowest cases of suicide (18 of 251; 7.2%). In poisoning group Indian was the highest ethnic group who used this method (20 of 37; 54.1%).

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Item response bias was present in instrumental activity of daily living scale in Asian older adults

Niti M, Ng TP, Chiam PC, Kua EH

J Clin Epidemiol, 2007 Apr;60(4):366-74.
PMID: 17346611

Item response bias (also called differential item functioning, DIF) in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) occurs when members of different groups possessing the same disability level do not have the same probability of responding positively for a given item(s). This study aimed to identify the extent of DIF by gender, age, ethnicity, and dementia groups in IADL estimates in Asian (Chinese, Malays, and Indian) elderly subjects.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in Malaysia: a national study of 16,440 subjects

Rampal L, Rampal S, Azhar MZ, Rahman AR

Public Health, 2008 Jan;122(1):11-8.
PMID: 17981310 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2007.05.008

Study design: A cross-sectional study was conducted in all states of Malaysia to determine the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension. A stratified two-stage cluster sampling design with proportional allocation was used.
Methods: Trained nurses obtained two blood pressure measurements from each subject. Hypertension was defined as mean systolic blood pressure >140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure >90 mmHg, or a self-reported diagnosis of hypertension and taking antihypertensive medication. All data were analysed using Stata 9.2 software and took the complex survey design into account. A two-sided P-value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
Results: The overall prevalence of hypertension for subjects aged 15 years was 27.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 26.9-28.8). The prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in males (29.6%, 95% CI 28.3-31.0) compared with females (26.0%, 95% CI 25.0-27.1). Multivariate logistic regression showed that the odds of having hypertension increased with increasing age, in males, in subjects with a family history of hypertension, with increasing body mass index, in non-smokers and with decreasing levels of education. Only 34.6% of the subjects with hypertension were aware of their hypertensive status, and 32.4 were taking antihypertensive medication. Amongst the latter group, only 26.8% had their blood pressure under control. The prevalence of hypertension amongst those aged 30 years has increased from 32.9% in 1996 to 40.5% in 2004.
Conclusion: In Malaysia, the prevalence of hypertension is high, but levels of awareness, treatment and control are low. There is an urgent need for a comprehensive integrated population-based intervention programme to ameliorate the growing problem of hypertension in Malaysians.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Fulltext Prostate-specific antigen levels among Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore from a community-based study

Chia SE, Lau WK, Cheng C, Chin CM, Tan J, Ho SH

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2007 Jul-Sep;8(3):375-8.
PMID: 18159971

The purpose of this study was to examine the distribution of prostate-specific antigen levels among Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore, taking the effect of age into consideration. The study was carried out as part of the Singapore Prostate Awareness Week from 23-26th February 2004. Men above 50 years old went to four government-restructured hospitals to participate in the study. Participants filled up a questionnaire and provided 5 ml of blood for measurement of PSA levels using the Abbott IMx Total PSA assay (Abbott Laboratories). 3,486 men responded to the study, comprising 92.8% Chinese, 3.0% Malays, 2.5% Indians and 1.8% Others. 92.7% of them had PSA levels of 4 microg/L or less. There were no significant differences (p<0.05) between the mean PSA levels of Chinese (1.60 microg/L), Malays (1.39 microg/L), Indians (1.23 microg/L) and Others (1.70 microg/L). PSA levels were significantly associated with age (Spearman's r= 0.27, p<0.01). PSA levels increased with each 10-year age group and these trends were significant (p<0.0001) across both PSA group levels and age groupings. In the 50-60 years age groups, the prevalence of PSA levels >4 mug/L were 1.1% and 3.7% respectively. This rose rapidly to 11.3% and 23.5% for age groups >60-70 and >80 years respectively. Our study shows that the median PSA levels in the Caucasian population in the USA are higher than those of Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore. PSA levels were positively associated with age. It may be more appropriate to offer PSA testing to men who are >60 years old rather than the current >50 years.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Fulltext Tetanus in adults--a continuing problem: an analysis of 217 patients over 3 years from Delhi, India, with special emphasis on predictors of mortality

Anuradha S

Med J Malaysia, 2006 Mar;61(1):7-14.
PMID: 16708728

Tetanus is still widely prevalent in many parts of the world especially in the developing countries. This study was conducted to assess the demographic and clinical features, treatment and outcome of tetanus in adults with a special emphasis on identification of predictors of mortality. This was a retrospective study of all adult patients admitted with tetanus over a three-year period from 1998 to 2000 at Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi, India. The demography, clinical features, treatment and complications of the patients were assessed and were evaluated against two possible outcomes- survival or death, to identify the predictors of mortality. There were 217 adults (148 males, 69 females) admitted with generalized tetanus during the study period. The mean age of the patients was 36.08 +/- 18.84 years. In most instances (63.5%), wounds / injuries served as the source of infection. Overall 31.8% had mild, 21.7% had moderate and 46.5% had severe disease at presentation. Respiratory failure and dysautonomia were the frequently observed complications. Of the 217 patients, 82 died - a mortality rate of 37.78%. Parameters that were significantly associated with increased mortality were: age (especially > 60 years); shorter duration of symptoms - trismus, rigidity and dysphagia; severe disease at presentation and shorter period of onset. Tetanus is a preventable disease associated with a high fatality rate. Universal coverage of immunization programme and appropriate wound prophylaxis is the corner stone of tetanus eradication. The treatment of tetanus is difficult and requires specialized and intensive care. The presence of parameters indicating an adverse outcome at the beginning in the patients will help identify the subset of patients that need more intensive management especially in resource poor nations.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
A study of sudden natural deaths in medico legal autopsies in University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur

Kumar V, San KP, Idwan A, Shah N, Hajar S, Norkahfi M

J Forensic Leg Med, 2007 Apr;14(3):151-4.
PMID: 16914354

The main aim of this study is to determine the causes and the epidemiological aspects of sudden natural deaths. Data were collected from 545 sudden natural autopsies in UMMC, Kuala Lumpur over a five-year period, from 1st January 2000 to 31st December 2004. There were 475 males and 70 females. The largest number of sudden natural deaths was in the age group of 41-50 years. 35.8%, 30.5% and 11.7% of the patients were Chinese, Indian and Malay, respectively. A majority of the patients were married (59.8%) and came from the semiskilled-unskilled group (30.6%). The monthly distribution was almost constant. Cardiovascular diseases were the most important cause contributing 64.9% in sudden natural deaths.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
The effects of age, physical activity level, and body anthropometry on calcaneal speed of sound value in men

Chin KY, Soelaiman IN, Mohamed IN, Ibrahim S, Wan Ngah WZ

Arch Osteoporos, 2012;7:135-45.
PMID: 23225291 DOI: 10.1007/s11657-012-0091-2

The influences of age, physical activity, and body anthropometry on calcaneal speed of sound are different among young adults, middle-aged, and elderly men.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Fulltext Epidemiology of Plasmodium knowlesi malaria in north-east Sabah, Malaysia: family clusters and wide age distribution

Barber BE, William T, Dhararaj P, Anderios F, Grigg MJ, Yeo TW, et al.

Malar J, 2012;11:401.
PMID: 23216947 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-11-401

The simian parasite Plasmodium knowlesi is a common cause of human malaria in Malaysian Borneo, with a particularly high incidence in Kudat, Sabah. Little is known however about the epidemiology in this substantially deforested region.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Sexual behaviour and dysfunction and help-seeking patterns in adults aged 40-80 years in the urban population of Asian countries

Nicolosi A, Glasser DB, Kim SC, Marumo K, Laumann EO, GSSAB Investigators' Group

BJU Int, 2005 Mar;95(4):609-14.
PMID: 15705089

To study sexual activity, the prevalence of sexual dysfunction and related help-seeking behaviour among middle-aged and elderly people in Asia.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Epidemiology of malaria in Attapeu Province, Lao PDR in relation to entomological parameters

Vythilingam I, Sidavong B, Chan ST, Phonemixay T, Vanisaveth V, Sisoulad P, et al.

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2005 Nov;99(11):833-9.
PMID: 16112154

Surveys were conducted in malaria-endemic villages in the southern province of Attapeu, Lao PDR during various seasons over a 3-year period. All-night mosquito landing collections, blood surveys and a case-control study were conducted. Plasmodium falciparum was the predominant species, and slide positivity rates were higher during the transition/dry season compared with the wet season. Anopheles dirus A was found to be the primary vector, and sporozoite rates were highest during the transition/dry season. Anopheles dirus was found to be endophagic and endophilic. Not using insecticide-treated bed nets, houses close to breeding sites and sleeping away from home were risk factors associated with malaria.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Fulltext The epidemiology of shoulder dislocations in Malaysia

Yeap JS, Lee DJK, Fazir M, Borhan TAM, Kareem BA

Med J Malaysia, 2004 Dec;59 Suppl F:19-23.
PMID: 15941156 MyJurnal

The case notes of 102 patients (117 shoulder dislocations) were reviewed retrospectively to improve the understanding of the epidemiology of this common injury. Eighty-one dislocations were primary and 36 dislocations were second or recurrent dislocations. The age distribution was characterized by a peak in male patients aged between 21-30 years. The mean age for males was 30.5 years and 47.7 years for females. The male:female ratio in first time dislocations was 5:2, while it was 5:1 in recurrent dislocations. Ninety-eight percent were anterior dislocations and 2% were posterior dislocations. Greater tuberosity fractures were found in 17 patients and almost half of these patients were aged between 41-50 years. The most common cause of first time dislocation was a direct blow or fall onto the shoulder, accounting for 42 patients (55%). The majority of these patients were aged 40 years and above. Next common cause was motor vehicle accident which occurred mostly in the younger age group. Dislocations due to sporting injuries accounted for only 5.3% of all first time dislocations. Nearly 97% were successfully reduced without a general anaesthesia. Seventy-seven percent of the patients had their shoulders immobilized after reduction, mostly with body strapping only. Fifteen patients (14.7%) were referred for physiotherapy for stiffness. Few operations were performed for recurrent dislocations but surgery does not appear to be well accepted as yet by our patients.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
The oral health of people with chronic schizophrenia: A neglected public health burden

Wey MC, Loh S, Doss JG, Abu Bakar AK, Kisely S

Aust N Z J Psychiatry, 2016 Jul;50(7):685-94.
PMID: 26560842 DOI: 10.1177/0004867415615947

OBJECTIVE: People with chronic schizophrenia have high rates of physical ill-health such as heart disease. However, there has been less attention to the issue of poor oral health including dental caries (tooth decay) and periodontal (gum) disease, although both have consequences for quality of life and systemic physical health. We therefore measured tooth decay and gum disease in Malaysians with schizophrenia.
METHODS: We recruited long-stay inpatients with schizophrenia from June to October 2014. Four dental specialists assessed oral health using the decayed-missing-filled teeth index, the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs and the Debris Index of the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index. Results were compared with the 2010 Oral Health survey of the general Malaysian population.
RESULTS: A total of 543 patients participated (66.7% males, 33.3% females; mean age = 54.8 years [standard deviation = 16.0]) with a mean illness duration of 18.4 years (standard deviation = 17.1). The mean decayed-missing-filled teeth was 20.5 (standard deviation = 9.9), almost double that of the general population (11.7). Higher decayed-missing-filled teeth scores were associated with both older age (p

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Fulltext Impact of pharmacist intervention on adherence and measurable patient outcomes among depressed patients: a randomised controlled study

Aljumah K, Hassali MA

BMC Psychiatry, 2015;15:219.
PMID: 26376830 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-015-0605-8

Adherence to antidepressant treatment is essential for the effective management of patients with major depressive disorder. Adherence to medication is a dynamic decision-making process, and pharmacists play an important role in improving adherence to antidepressant treatment in different settings within the healthcare system. The aim of this study was to assess whether pharmacist interventions based on shared decision making improved adherence and patient-related outcomes.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution
Fulltext Incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer in Malaysia

Abu Hassan MR, Ismail I, Mohd Suan MA, Ahmad F, Wan Khazim WK, Othman Z, et al.

Epidemiol Health, 2016;38:e2016007.
PMID: 26971697 DOI: 10.4178/epih.e2016007

OBJECTIVES: This is the first study that estimates the incidence and mortality rate for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients in Malaysia by sex and ethnicity.
METHODS: The 4,501 patients were selected from National Cancer Patient Registry-Colorectal Cancer data. Patient survival status was cross-checked with the National Registration Department. The age-standardised rate (ASR) was calculated as the proportion of CRC cases (incidence) and deaths (mortality) from 2008 to 2013, weighted by the age structure of the population, as determined by the Department of Statistics Malaysia and the World Health Organization world standard population distribution.
RESULTS: The overall incidence rate for CRC was 21.32 cases per 100,000. Those of Chinese ethnicity had the highest CRC incidence (27.35), followed by the Malay (18.95), and Indian (17.55) ethnicities. The ASR incidence rate of CRC was 1.33 times higher among males than females (24.16 and 18.14 per 100,000, respectively). The 2011 (44.7%) CRC deaths were recorded. The overall ASR of mortality was 9.79 cases, with 11.85 among the Chinese, followed by 9.56 among the Malays and 7.08 among the Indians. The ASR of mortality was 1.42 times higher among males (11.46) than females (8.05).
CONCLUSIONS: CRC incidence and mortality is higher in males than females. Individuals of Chinese ethnicity have the highest incidence of CRC, followed by the Malay and Indian ethnicities. The same trends were observed for the age-standardised mortality rate.

Matched MeSH terms: Age Distribution

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