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Fulltext Cancer-risk perception among Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) medical students

Jefferelli SB, Limi L

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2002;2(2):76-80.
MyJurnal

We do not know how medical doctors perceive the risk of cancer as a cause of death. Medical doctors provide advice and information on health risks to the general public. How they perceive these risks influences the way they behave towards these risks and the way they will communicate these risks. We would like to ascertain how medical students perceive cancer as a health risk. This will hehv us determine misperceptions among medical students that need to be addressed before they practice medicine. A cross-sectional study was conducted among
all UPM medical students (2000-2001) using sefadministered questionnaires. A total of 339 (88.3%) students responded to the questionnaires. The internal consistency of items was good (Cronbach Alpha >0,7). Cancer was perceived as the 3rd leading risk of death after motor vehicle accidents (I") and heart diseases/cardiovascular disorders (2"d ). The breast was perceived as the organ with the highest risk of developing cancer. Smoking was perceived to be the leading risk factor for developing cancer. There is a dpjference in risk perception of diseases, cancer target organs and cancer risk factors based on gender and ethnicity. There was moderate to fair correlation ( r = 0.41-0.57) between perception of risks of death, cancer target organs and risks factors of cancer (p

Matched MeSH terms: Cause of Death
Temporal trends and ethnic variations in amenable mortality in Singapore 1965-1994: the impact of health care in transition

Niti M, Ng TP

Int J Epidemiol, 2001 Oct;30(5):966-73.
PMID: 11689505

BACKGROUND: Amenable mortality is used to assess the effects of health care services on gains in mortality outcomes. Possibly differing patterns of trends in amenable mortality may be expected in economically less developed countries, which have undergone rapid epidemiological transition and recent reforms in health care systems, but such studies are scarce. This study was set up to examine the trends in amenable mortality in Singapore from 1965 to 1994; to estimate the relative impact of medical care and primary preventive policy measures in terms of gains in mortality outcomes; to examine ethnic differences in amenable mortality among Chinese, Malays and Indians.
METHODS: Age-standardized mortality rates were calculated for 16 amenable causes of death in Singapore for six 5-year periods (1965-1969,..., 1990-1994), and for each of the three main ethnic groups for three periods (1989-1991, 1992-1994, 1995- 1997). Amenable mortality rates were divided into those which can be reduced by timely therapeutic care for 'treatable' conditions (e.g. asthma and appendicitis), or by primary preventive measures for 'preventable' conditions (e.g. lung cancer and motor vehicle injury).
RESULTS: Amenable mortality was higher in males (age-standardized rate 109.7 per 100 000 population) than in females (age-standardized rate 60.7 per 100 000 population). Amenable mortality declined by 1.77% a year in males and 1.72% a year in females. By comparison, the average yearly decline in non-amenable mortality was 0.91% in males and 1.17% in females. The decline in amenable mortality was largely due to 'treatable' causes rather than a decline in mortality due to 'preventable' causes of death. Amenable mortality was lowest for Chinese and highest for Malays. Over the recent 9-year period from 1989 to 1997, amenable mortality declined more in Chinese than in Malays and Indians. However, Indian females showed by far the sharpest decline, whereas Indian males, by contrast, showed an increase in amenable mortality, due to both treatable and preventable causes.
CONCLUSIONS: In line with findings from European countries, amenable mortality in Singapore declined more than non-amenable mortality. There were more significant gains in mortality outcomes from medical care interventions than from primary preventive policy measures. Gender and ethnic differences in amenable mortality were also observed, highlighting issues of socioeconomic equities to be addressed in the financing and delivery of health care.

Matched MeSH terms: Cause of Death
Fulltext Mortality patterns in Malaysian systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Yeap SS, Chow SK, Manivasagar M, Veerapen K, Wang F

Med J Malaysia, 2001 Sep;56(3):308-12.
PMID: 11732075

A retrospective analysis of the case records of 494 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients under follow-up at University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur during 1976-1990 was performed. Overall mortality was 20.2% (100 patients). The causes of death were infection (30%), renal (15%), respiratory (14%), neurological (5%), cardiovascular (7%), other causes (2%) and unknown (27%). Active SLE was a contributing factor in 19% of the deaths. The patients who died had significantly more renal disease, neurological disease, serositis or thrombocytopenia by the end of the first year of disease compared to the survivors. As in other series, infection and active SLE remain important causes of death.

Matched MeSH terms: Cause of Death
Fulltext Mortality and morbidity of the small for gestational age (SGA) very low birth weight (VLBW) Malaysian infant

Ho J, Malaysian Very Low Birth Weight Study Group

Singapore Med J, 2001 Aug;42(8):355-9.
PMID: 11764052

To compare the neonatal course of small for gestational age (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) preterm infants 1500 g or less birthweight.

Matched MeSH terms: Cause of Death
Fulltext Mortality in the Department of Surgery, Alor Setar Hospital

Lim TM, Naidu RR

Med J Malaysia, 2001 Jun;56(2):240-2.
PMID: 11771087

This is a retrospective study of the annual mortality that occurred in the Department of Surgery, Alor Setar Hospital, for the years 1995 to 1997. This study looks at the number of admissions to the surgical wards and categorizes the causes of death. The annual mortality rates were 2.60, 2.89 and 3.25 per hundred admissions for the year 1995, 1996 and 1997 respectively. Head injury was the leading cause of death whilst sepsis and advanced malignancies second and third commonest causes. We hope that with the publication of these figures, we can initiate more studies to analyse similar local data.

Matched MeSH terms: Cause of Death
Cardiovascular epidemiology in the Asia-Pacific region

Khor GL

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2001;10(2):76-80.
PMID: 11710361

By 2020, non-communicable diseases including cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are expected to account for seven out of every 10 deaths in the developing countries compared with less than half this value today. As a proportion of total deaths from all-causes, CVD in the Asia Pacific region ranges from less than 20% in countries such as Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia to 20-30% in urban China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Malaysia. Countries such as New Zealand, Australia and Singapore have relatively high rates that exceed 30-35%. The latter countries also rank high for coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality rate (more than 150 deaths per 100,000). In contrast, death from cerebrovascular disease is higher among East Asian countries including Japan, China and Taiwan (more than 100 per 100,000). It is worth noting that a number of countries in the region with high proportions of deaths from CVD have undergone marked declining rates in recent decades. For example, in Australia, between 1986 and 1996, mortality from CHD in men and women aged 30-69 years declined by 46 and 51%, respectively. In Japan. stroke mortality dropped from a high level of 150 per 100,000 during the 1920s-1940s to the present level of approximately 100 per 100,000. Nonetheless, CVD mortality rate is reportedly on the rise in several countries in the region, including urban China, Malaysia, Korea and Taiwan. In China, CVD mortality increased as a proportion of total deaths from 12.8% in 1957 to 35.8% in 1990. The region is undergoing a rapid pace of urbanization, industrialization and major technological and lifestyle changes. Thus, monitoring the impact of these changes on cardiovascular risks is essential to enable the implementation of appropriate strategies towards countering the rise of CVD mortality.

Matched MeSH terms: Cause of Death/trends*
Fulltext Maternal deaths due to liver disease in Malaysia

Ravindran J, Jayadev R, Lachmanan SR, Merican I

Med J Malaysia, 2000 Jun;55(2):209-19.
PMID: 19839149

Liver disease is an important and serious condition in pregnancy. The Confidential Enquiries Into Maternal Deaths in Malaysia showed that there were 23 maternal deaths attributed to liver disease between 1991-1994. Over the same period, there were 1066 reported maternal deaths with 929 of them being due to direct and indirect causes. Thus 2.15% of such deaths were due to liver disease in Malaysia. The three main causes of maternal deaths due to liver disease in pregnancy were hepatitis (6 cases), acute fatty liver in pregnancy (6 cases) and septicaemia (4 cases). Liver disease is common at a mean of thirty weeks of gestation with a preponderance to women of low parity. Only two patients in this series had no antenatal care. The majority of cases (45.8%) presented between 28-37 weeks of gestation. All cases delivered by spontaneous vaginal delivery. Remediable factors that were identified included failure to appreciate the severity of disease. Case summaries of all the cases of maternal deaths due to liver disease are discussed and a guideline to management of liver disease in pregnancy presented.

Matched MeSH terms: Cause of Death
Fulltext Very low birth weight infants--mortality and predictive risk factors

Chye JK, Lim CT

Singapore Med J, 1999 Sep;40(9):565-70.
PMID: 10628243

To determine the survival rates and risk factors associated with mortality in premature very low birth weight or VLBW (< or = 1500 grams) infants.

Matched MeSH terms: Cause of Death
Withdrawal and limitation of life support in paediatric intensive care

Goh AY, Lum LC, Chan PW, Bakar F, Chong BO

Arch Dis Child, 1999 May;80(5):424-8.
PMID: 10208946

OBJECTIVES: To compare the modes of death and factors leading to withdrawal or limitation of life support in a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in a developing country.
METHODS: Retrospective analysis of all children (< 12 years) dying in the PICU from January 1995 to December 1995 and January 1997 to June 1998 (n = 148).
RESULTS: The main mode of death was by limitation of treatment in 68 of 148 patients, failure of active treatment including cardiopulmonary resuscitation in 61, brain death in 12, and withdrawal of life support with removal of endotracheal tube in seven. There was no significant variation in the proportion of limitation of treatment, failure of active treatment, and brain death between the two periods; however, there was an increase in withdrawal of life support from 0% in 1995 to 8% in 1997-98. Justification for limitation was based predominantly on expectation of imminent death (71 of 75). Ethnic variability was noted among the 14 of 21 patients who refused withdrawal. Discussions for care restrictions were initiated almost exclusively by paediatricians (70 of 75). Diagnostic uncertainty (36% v 4.6%) and presentation as an acute illness were associated with the use of active treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: Limitation of treatment is the most common mode of death in a developing country's PICU and active withdrawal is still not widely practised. Paediatricians in developing countries are becoming more proactive in managing death and dying but have to consider sociocultural and religious factors when making such decisions.

Matched MeSH terms: Cause of Death
Fulltext A strategy for reducing maternal mortality

Suleiman AB, Mathews A, Jegasothy R, Ali R, Kandiah N

Bull World Health Organ, 1999;77(2):190-3.
PMID: 10083722

A confidential system of enquiry into maternal mortality was introduced in Malaysia in 1991. The methods used and the findings obtained up to 1994 are reported below and an outline is given of the resulting recommendations and actions.
PIP: This is a report on the methods, findings, resulting recommendations and actions of a study on maternal mortality in Malaysia during the period 1991-94. Maternal death was defined as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days following termination of pregnancy from any cause related to the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental causes. Between 1991 and 1994 there were 1066 reported maternal deaths, and the maternal mortality ratios for the successive years were respectively 44, 48, 46 and 39 per 100,000 live births. The primary causes of maternal death were postpartum hemorrhage (24%), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (16%), obstetric pulmonary embolism (13%), and associated medical conditions (7%). Analysis of the 375 deaths from 1992 - 1993 showed that the maternal mortality ratio was 53/100,000 live births for deliveries performed at home, 36/100,000 in government hospitals, and 21/100,000 in private institutions. Shortcomings among health personnel were detected in several cases; these involved failure to diagnose, failure to appreciate the severity of a patient's condition, inadequate therapy, and inappropriate, delayed or failed adherence to protocols. The high proportion of maternal mortality associated with substandard care demonstrates that it is important to make the standard of care more widely available. Reports have been circulated to institutions and organizations providing maternal care and to medical schools. Articles and case histories have been published, and many new protocols and procedures have been developed. Furthermore, seminars have been organized and training modules have been distributed to all involved in the provision of maternity care.

Matched MeSH terms: Cause of Death
Research to prevent injuries

Krishnan R, Karim H

World Health Forum, 1998;19(2):159-60.
PMID: 9652215
Matched MeSH terms: Cause of Death
Confidentiality and death

Ong BB, Kaur S

Malays J Pathol, 1997 Dec;19(2):111-4.
PMID: 10879250

The duty of confidentiality in the normal doctor-patient relationship is well recognized. However, the duty of confidentiality between the pathologist who performs the autopsy and the requesting authorities and the next-of-kin is not as clearly spelt out. This article discusses the problems faced by the pathologist with regards to hospital and medico-legal autopsies in Malaysia. A proposed ethical guideline is included on how to deal with peculiar issues regarding confidentiality and the pathologist.

Matched MeSH terms: Cause of Death*
The importance of the medico-legal autopsy

Nadesan K

Malays J Pathol, 1997 Dec;19(2):105-9.
PMID: 10879249

All deaths due to unnatural causes and deaths that are believed to be due to natural causes but where the medical cause of death is not certain or known are subjected to an inquest. The objective of an inquest is to ascertain facts pertaining to the death. This is achieved by inquiry and at the conclusion of the inquest a verdict is arrived as to whether the death was due to a natural, accidental, suicidal or a homicidal cause. An inquest is not a trial. There is no complainant or defendant and at the conclusion of the inquest no judgment is passed. The inquest system exists in all parts of the world. In the English legal system, the person who conducts an inquest is called a Coroner. In Scotland, he is called a Procurator Fiscal. The United States of America use the Medical Examiner system. Most continental European countries and their former colonies follow the Code Napoleon. A postmortem examination may become necessary in certain deaths that come up for inquests. In these situations the authority which conducts the inquest will order a doctor to perform a postmortem examination (medico-legal autopsy). To perform a medico-legal autopsy, consent from the relatives of the deceased is not required. In an unexpected sudden death, only a doctor after a postmortem examination may be able to determine the cause of death. However, it is often wrongly assumed that the objective of a postmortem examination is only to ascertain the cause of death. This article deals with the purpose of the inquest and roles of the medico-legal autopsy.

Matched MeSH terms: Cause of Death*
Fulltext Nutrition and cardiovascular disease: an Asia Pacific perspective

Khor GL

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 1997 Jun;6(2):122-42.
PMID: 24394715

Changes in the dietary intake patterns of countries in the Asia Pacific region are considered in relation to trends of cardiovascular disease mortality. Cardiovascular disease now constitutes the major cause of mortality in many of the countries of the region. The mortality rate for coronary heart disease (CHD) has been on the decline since the mid-1960s in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Japan, while a decline in other countries, including Singapore and Hong Kong, appears to be occurring about two decades later after a delayed increase. In contrast, countries like Malaysia and China have had and continue an upward trend for CHD mortality. Nonetheless, the mortality rates due to CHD in New Zealand, Australia, Singapore followed by Hong Kong rank among the highest in the region. In China, Taiwan and Japan, death due to cerebrovascular disease remains a major cause of death, although the latter two countries have undergone a significant decline in stroke death rates since 1970. The intakes of fat from land animal products, fish and vegetable oils, depending on fatty acid patterns and, possibly other constituents, are candidate contributors to the different atherogenic and thrombotic effects. Countries which have a higher mortality from CHD tend to have a higher intake of energy from fat and proportion of fat from animal products. These fat intakes may operate to increase hypercholesterolemia and overweight in various countries. Again, intakes of other food items and constituents used in the region such as soybeans, dietary antioxidants in fruits, vegetables, seeds, cereals, nuts and tea and alcohol consumption are candidate cardio-protectants. The wide dietary scope of Asia Pacific populations, from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds, and at different levels of economic and technological development poses several analytic challenges and opportunities. Future research should improve the datasets and think laterally about pathogenesis and intervention.

Matched MeSH terms: Cause of Death
A national study of risk factors associated with mortality in very low birthweight infants in the Malaysian neonatal intensive care units. Malaysian Very Low Birth Weight Study Group

J Paediatr Child Health, 1997 Feb;33(1):18-25.
PMID: 9069039

OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk factors associated with mortality in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care units (NIUC) in Malaysia.
METHOD: A prospective observational study of outcome of all VLBW infants born between 1 January 1993 and 30 June 1993 and admitted to the NICU.
RESULTS: Data of 868 VLBW neonates from 18 centres in Malaysia were collected. Their mean birthweight was 1223 g (95% confidence intervals: 1208-1238 g). Thirty-seven point four per cent (325/868) of these infants died before discharge. After exclusion of all infants with congenital anomalies (n = 66, and nine of them also had incomplete records) and incomplete records (n = 82), stepwise logistic regression analysis of the remaining 720 infants showed that the risk factors that were significantly associated with increased mortality before discharge were: delivery in district hospitals, Chinese race, lower birthweight, lower gestation age, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, pulmonary airleak, necrotizing enterocolitis of stage 2 or 3, confirmed sepsis, hypotension, hypothermia, acute renal failure, intermittent positive pressure ventilation, and umbilical arterial catheterization. Factors that were significantly associated with lower risk of mortality were: use of antenatal steroid, oxygen therapy, surfactant therapy and blood transfusion.
CONCLUSION: The mortality of VLBW infants admitted to the Malaysian NICU was high and was also associated with a number of preventable risk factors.

Matched MeSH terms: Cause of Death
SLE mortality in an oriental population

Koh ET, Seow A, Leong KH, Chng HH

Lupus, 1997;6(1):27-31.
PMID: 9116715 DOI: 10.1177/096120339700600104

We analysed the causes of 67 deaths, over a 4 y period, in our oriental population with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The median disease duration was 48 +/- 60.5 months (range 1-250 months). The mean age at diagnosis and death were 30 and 35.1 y respectively. SLE alone accounted for death in 30 patients (44.8%), infection in 27 (40.3%), pulmonary embolism in 5 (7.5%), malignancy in 4 (5.9%) and rheumatic heart disease in 1 (1.5%). The major organ involvement in those with active disease at death were SLE related thrombocytopenia (n = 23/44, 52.3%), nephritis (n = 21/44), 47.7%), cerebral lupus (n = 16/44, 36.4%), and pulmonary haemorrhage (n = 12/44, 27.3%). As in other series, SLE and infection were the principal causes of death in our population. During this 4 y period, there was no late death due to atherosclerosis.
Study site: Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), Singapore

Matched MeSH terms: Cause of Death
Current trends in morbidity and mortality of children in Malaysia

Lin, Hai Peng, Mohd Sham Kasim

Malaysian Journal of Child Health, 1997;9(2):104-132.
MyJurnal

Malaysia is a rapidly developing country with a very young population, about 36% of which are below the age of 15 years. The standard of child health has improved greatly. However, there are great changes in the morbidity and mortality patterns of childhood diseases relating mainly to an improved standard of living; availability of safe water supply and adequate sanitary latrines; a higher literacy rate; rapid industrialisation and urban migration. The infant mortality rate has droppedfrom 50.1 per 1,000 livebirths in 1986 to 10.4 in 1995, and similar trends apply also to neonatal, perinatal and toddler mortality rates. Nevertheless, current major child health problems are those relating to events in the perinatal period and to infections. Despite improvements in the standard of neonatal care with the use ofhigh technology, the commonest cause of certified deaths still occur in the neonatal period. A rapid and inexpensive screening test for G6PD deficiency, a disease present in 2-3% of the population, is now widely available and, together with the use of phototherapy is largely responsible for the declining incidence of kernicterus in the country. Infections remain an important cause of morbidity and mortality although their patterns have changed. The very high (>95%) WHO-EPI-vaccines coverage rate is linked to the great reduction in the incidence of diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomyelitis and measles. Childhood tuberculosis is less common now, with about 250 - 300 reported cases per year and TB meningitis is rare with about 30-40 reported cases/year. The hepatitis B carrier rate is high (5%) and the introduction of routine newborn hepatitis B vaccination in 1989 is expected to have a positive impact as is the immunisation of young girls against rubella introduced in 1985 in reducing the incidence of congenital rubella syndrome. The incidence of malaria has declined but remains prevalent in the interiors of PeninsularMalaysia and in Sabah and Sarawak. Filariasis is largely under control. Unfortunately, despite great efforts at mosquito control, dengue virus infection remains a major problem with thousands of cases reported every year. Children are most susceptible to dengue haemorrhagic fever with many dying from the shock syndrome. The incidence of acute gastroenteritis has also dropped with most cases being due to a viral aetiology. Acute respiratory infections, mostly viral in origin, account for most attendances at paediatric outpatient services. Although staphylococcal and streptococcal impetigo and pneumonia are common, the incidence of streptococcal related diseases like rheumatic fever and acute glomendonephritis is rapidly declining. The nutritional status of children has improved in tandem with the rise in the standard of living, but subclinical malnutrition is prevalent, particularly among urban squatters and the rural poor. There is a disturbing decline in breastfeeding among urban working mothers. Poor weaning practices and food habits are responsible for the common occurrence of nutritional anaemia (5%) among infants and young children. Greater prosperity, rapid industrialisation and urbanisation have resulted in changes in the childhood disease pattern where non-communicable diseases assume greater importance as the problems of malnutrition and infection are gradually overcome. Road traffic accidents are a major killer and home accidents, largely preventable, are an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Childhood cancer, with about 550 new cases a year, is an important cause of death beyond infancy. Major congenital malformations, with a 1% prevalence rate, cause much ill-health. Thalassaemia is a particularly common genetic disease with fl thalassaemia gene frequency of about 5%. The prevalence of asthma is increasing, with a rate of 13.9% in the Kiang Valley but the prevalence of asthma-related symptoms is much higher. Physical, sexual child abuse and neglect, abandoned babies, substance abuse are but signs of stress of modern city living and peoples inability to cope with it. Although the general standard of child health has greatly improved, there are several states where it is still not satisfactory. In Sabah where there is a large illegal immigrant population, the infant mortality and infection rates are relatively high. In Kelantan and Trengganu, it is common for parents to refuse permission for a lumbar puncture required to treat meningitis. Other still deeply entrenched, culturally-related adverse health practices include : a fatalistic attitude to illness; a preference for traditional practitioners of medicine resulting in late treatment; and 'doctor-hopping' with unrealistic expectations of 'instant cure'. Childhood illnesses that are uncommon in Malaysia include: cystic fibrosis, coeliac disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohns disease, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Encopresis, enuresis and epiglottitis due to Haemophilus Influen:ae.

Matched MeSH terms: Cause of Death
Fulltext Mortality in Malaysians with systemic lupus erythematosus

Paton NI, Cheong I, Kong NC, Segasothy M

Med J Malaysia, 1996 Dec;51(4):437-41.
PMID: 10968030

One hundred and two patients attending the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) clinic of the Department of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, were studied retrospectively to determine their survival rates and causes of death. There were 21 deaths. The 1, 5, and 10 year survival rates were 93%, 86% and 70% respectively. There was a bimodal pattern of mortality with more patients dying in the first 2 years or after 5 years of disease. Infection was the direct cause of death in 52% and contributed to a further 19% of deaths. Patients with lupus nephritis had a higher relative risk (RR) of death (RR = 4.34, p < 0.02) although there was no significant increase in risk with any particular histological type on biopsy. Cerebral lupus (RR = 3.08, p < 0.001) and methylprednisolone treatment (RR = 6.24, p < 0.001) were also associated with increased risk of death. Increased awareness of infection and earlier use of antibiotic therapy may improve survival of patients suffering from SLE.
Study site: SLE clinics, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Matched MeSH terms: Cause of Death
Fulltext Use of Wigglesworth pathophysiological classification for perinatal mortality in Malaysia

Amar HSS, Abdul Hamid M, Wong SL

Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., 1996 Jan;74(1):F56-9.
PMID: 8653438

A one year prospective study of perinatal deaths was conducted to test the feasibility of using the Wigglesworth pathophysiological classification in the Malaysian health service. Four regions with high perinatal mortality rates were selected. Deaths were actively identified. Nursing staff were trained to use the classification and every death was reviewed by a clinician. A total of 26,198 births and 482 perinatal deaths were reported. The perinatal mortality rate was 18.4. Only 14 (2.9%) deaths had their Wigglesworth category reclassified. Most deaths were in the normally formed macerated stillbirths (34.4%), asphyxial conditions (26.8%), and immaturity (20.1%) subgroups. The results were compared with data from other countries that used this classification. This study has shown that the Wigglesworth pathophysiological classification can be applied to perinatal deaths in the existing Malaysian health service.

Matched MeSH terms: Cause of Death*
Fulltext A hospital based audit of tuberculosis deaths

Hooi LN, Goh KY

Med J Malaysia, 1995 Dec;50(4):306-13.
PMID: 8668048

An audit was done on 54 tuberculosis patients presenting to Penang Hospital who died during 1993. Active tuberculosis was the cause of death in 29 (53.7%) and 48.3% were aged under 50 years. Tuberculosis was a contributory cause of death in 8 patients and in 17 patients tuberculosis was irrelevant to the cause of death. The diagnosis of tuberculosis was made after death in 17 patients (31.5%). Late diagnosis was the most important factor resulting in death. Only 41.4% of the deaths from active tuberculosis were correctly certified in government hospitals. Medically inspected and certified deaths from tuberculosis is an unreliable indicator of tuberculosis mortality because of inaccuracies in death certification, tuberculosis deaths occurring outside hospital and tuberculosis patients undiagnosed until after death.

Matched MeSH terms: Cause of Death

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