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Understanding patient management: the need for medication adherence and persistence

Chia Y

Malays Fam Physician, 2008;3(1):2-6.
PMID: 25606104 MyJurnal

Poor patient adherence to medication is one of the major factors contributing to poor disease control, in particular in asymptomatic chronic diseases like hypertension and dyslipidaemia. The physical and economic burden on patients and the health care system as a result of non-adherence is great. It is estimated that poor adherence to hypertension medication accounts for as many as 7.1 million preventable deaths annually. Hence recognising and identifying non-adherence is the first step to addressing this problem. Medication adherence can be measured in various ways including self-report to electronic monitoring. In order to be more successful in managing non-adherence, attention must be paid to barriers to adherence, namely the interplay of patient factors, the health care providers themselves and the health care system itself. Taking these into account will probably have the greatest impact on improving medication adherence. Consequently strategies to help overcome these barriers are of paramount importance. Some of these strategies will include education of patients, improving communication between patients and health care providers, improving dose scheduling, providing drugs with less adverse effects, and improving accessibility to health care. Poor mediation adherence continues to be a huge challenge. While the patient is ultimately responsible for the taking of medication, good communication, involving the patient in decision making about their care and simplifying drug regimens go a long way in improving it.
Fulltext The chronic care model: Will it work in Malaysia for hypertension?

Chia YC

Med J Malaysia, 2013 Apr;68(2):101-2.
PMID: 23629551
Fulltext Prehypertension: What is the current status?

Chia YC

Malays Fam Physician, 2008;3(2):72-6.
PMID: 25606120 MyJurnal

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is a continuum across blood pressure. The term prehypertension was introduced because it is now recognized that blood pressure readings between what is deemed optimal and hypertension is associated with increased CVD risk. The prevalence of prehypertension is high and the progression to hypertension is also high. Prehypertension is also commonly associated with other CVD risk factors namely dyslipidaemia, dysgylcaemia and overweight/ obesity. Eighty-five percent of prehypertensives have one other or more CVD risk factor compared to normotensives. A recent study has shown a reduction in the development of hypertension from prehypertension with the use of an angiotensin receptor blocker. Unfortunately to date, the impact of treatment of prehypertension on CVD outcome is still unknown except in those with high CVD risk like diabetes or established CVD. However this does not mean nothing can be done for those with prehypertension. The aim of managing prehypertension is to lower the BP, prevent progression to hypertension and to prevent BP related CVD deaths. Lifestyle changes can reduce BP and this by itself can lower CVD risk. Until more evidence about other modalities of treatment become available this is a sensible and cost-effective way to manage prehypertension.
Fulltext Funding for research: How to navigate towards it

Chia YC

Malays Fam Physician, 2006;1(1):36-8.
PMID: 26998210
Primary care medicine training in the undergraduate curricula--the UM experience

Chia YC

Med J Malaysia, 2002 Dec;57 Suppl E:83-5.
PMID: 12733199
Prevalence and predictors of resistant hypertension in Southeast Asia [Abstract SSA 03-2]

Chia YC

J Hypertens, 2016 Sep;34 Suppl 1 - ISH 2016 Abstract Book:e4-e5.
PMID: 27753807

Conference abstract:
Hypertension is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. It is highly prevalent throughout the world. Even in regions liike South-East Asia (SEA) which has been perceived to be less prone to cardiovascular diseases, the prevalence of hypertension has been reported to be around 35% (1). Awareness and control of hypertension in SEA is also low, both being less than 50% each (2).Control of hypertension is an interplay between patients, doctors and system factors. One of the reasons for poor control of hypertension is resistant hypertension. Resistant hypertension is defined as blood presure that remains above goal despite being on three concurrent anti-hypertensive medications preferbaly one of which is a diuretic (3).True resistant hypertension should be differiented from secondary hypertension and pseudo-resistant hypertension. Resistant hypertension is almost always multi-factorial in aetiology. The exact prevalence of resistant hypertenion even in developed countries is not known It has been estimated that it is as high as 20-30% in clinical trial patients (4)Not many studies about resistant hypertension have been done in SEA but one done in an outpatient clinic in Thailand found it to be 7.82% Another study also done in a primary care clinc in Malaysia on 1217 patients with hypertension found the prevalence of resistant hypertension to be 8.8%. (6) Here it was found that the presence of chronic kidney disease was more likely to be associated with resistant hypertension (odds ratio [OR] 2.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.56-5.35). Other factors like increasing age, female gender, presence of diabetes, obesity and left ventricular hypertrophyage which have been found to be predictors of resistant hypertension in other studies in the west were not seen in this study. There are various reasons for these findingsBut whatever the factors are that are associated with uncontrolled hypertension, the task is to sort out true resistant hypertension from pseudo-resistant hypertension and secondary casues of hypertension which may be treatable. A concerted effort is needed to reduce the BP in resistant hypertension. Failure to do so would mean a substantal increase in CV risk for the patient.
How to improve CVD risk prediction in a low-risk population [abstract]

Chia YC

J Hypertens, 2016 Sep;34 Suppl 1 - ISH 2016 Abstract Book:e16-e17.
PMID: 27753834

Conference abstract SY04-4: Many cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction tools have been developed in an attempt to identify those at highest risk in order for them to benefit from interventional treatment. The first CVD risk tool that was developed was the coronary heart disease risk tool by the Framingham Heart Study in 1998 (1). However the Framingham Risk Score could overestimate (or underestimate) risk in populations other than the US population. Hence several other risk engines have also been developed, primarily for a better fit in the communities in which the tools are to be used (2, 3). Having said that the Framingham Heart Study risk tool has been validated in several populations (4, 5) and found to work reasonably well after some recalibration.Most risk prediction tools predict short term risk ie over a period of 10 years but since more recently risk tools now attempt to predict life-time risk or at least risk over the next 30 years. (6-8). The practical use of these risk prediction tools is that it is able to separate those at high risk (ie > 20% risk of a CVD event fatal or non-fatal event in the next 10 years) from those with the lowest risk (< 10% risk over 10 years). It then helps practitioners to triage them to either receive preventive therapy (high risk group) or none at all (low risk group) respectively. However in those with medium risk ie between 10-20%, the decision to offer treatment or not is less clear. In such a situation, other CVD risk factors for example family history of premature coronary heart disease, other biomarkers like elevated hs-CRP, presence of chronic kidney disease or albuminuria can be employed to further stratify risk.It is known that risk prediction tools are very much age dependent and in a younger individual with mildly raised CVD risk factors, his global CVD risk may be grossly under-estimated. Here additional CVD risk factors beyond those traditionally used in risk engines should be sought in order to recalibrate that individual's seemingly low risk and earlier intervention introduced if indeed he is of higher risk than what has been predicted by the conventional risk tools. Here too the use of life-time risk is probably of more importance than the traditional 10 year risk tool, again in order to identify those seemingly at "low" risk 10 year risk to receive treatment if the life-time risk is greater compared to an individual of the same age with optimal parameters. Furthermore while it is known that those with highest risk benefit the most from intervention, it is the population at large with the low or lower risk which contributes most to total CV morbidity and mortality in a country or community.Hence while short term risk prediction to identify those at highest risk is useful particularly in the presence of limited resources, attention should also be paid to those with short term low risk if the aim is to reduce CVD morbidity and mortality in any substantial way.
Fulltext Review of tools of cardiovascular disease risk stratification: interpretation, customisation and application in clinical practice

Chia YC

Singapore Med J, 2011 Feb;52(2):116-23.
PMID: 21373738

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in both developed and developing countries. While it is relatively easy to identify those who are obviously at high risk and those at the lowest risk for CVD, it is often the large group of individuals with what appears to be modestly abnormal risk factors who contributes most to the burden of CVD. This is where estimation of CVD risk is necessary. Many tools for risk assessment have been devised. All these risk scores have their own inherent advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, they may also not be directly applicable to a local population. Ideally, each country should have its own risk score that takes into account other factors as well. In the interim, it is worthwhile to be familiar with one of these scores, select one that is most appropriate for your patient and discuss treatment options based on the estimated risk.
Fulltext Asian management of hypertension: Current status, home blood pressure, and specific concerns in Malaysia

Chia YC, Kario K

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich), 2020 03;22(3):497-500.
PMID: 31693281 DOI: 10.1111/jch.13721

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for a third of all deaths in Malaysia. The background CV risk of Malaysia is much higher than that of developed countries in the west and in Asia. This high CV mortality is contributed by the high prevalence of CV risk factors especially hypertension which is very prevalent, coupled with low awareness and low control rates. This highlights the importance of home blood pressure measurements (HBPM). HBPM is an important adjunct in the management of hypertension, particularly to identify those unaware as well as white-coat hypertension which is high in treated hypertensive patients in Malaysia. Ownership of HBPM devices in Malaysia is high, and this is an opportunity as well as timely to encourage more use of HBPM. The Malaysian national guidelines do not require HBPM for the diagnosis of hypertension but do recommend HBPM for specific situations. The most commonly prescribed anti-hypertensives are calcium channel blockers, followed by renin-angiotensin system blockers. Despite the wide availability of anti-hypertensive agents, BP control rates remain low. It is important that strategies are in place to ensure that individuals are aware of the need to have their BP monitored regularly and this can be facilitated by the use of HBPM. Hence, there is a plan to develop a local HBPM consensus document. Strategies to reduce salt intake would also be beneficial. In summary, identification of those unaware and better control of BP with the help of HBPM would help reduce the burden of CV mortality and morbidity in Malaysia.
Fulltext Prevalence and predictors of resistant hypertension in a primary care setting: a cross-sectional study

Chia YC, Ching SM

BMC Fam Pract, 2014;15:131.
PMID: 24997591 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2296-15-131

Patients with resistant hypertension are subjected to a higher risk of getting stroke, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure and renal failure. However, the exact prevalence of resistant hypertension in treated hypertensive patients in Malaysia is not known. This paper examines the prevalence and determinants of resistant hypertension in a sample of hypertensive patients.

Study site: Primary care clinic, Universiti Malaya Medical Centre
Fulltext How should Malaysia respond to its ageing society?

Forsyth DR, Chia YC

Med J Malaysia, 2009 Mar;64(1):46-50.
PMID: 19852321

As Malaysia ages its health and social care systems will have to adapt to a changing pattern of disease and dependency. Improved public health measures extend life expectancy at the relative expense of increased prevalence of currently incurable conditions such as dementia and Parkinson's disease. In this article we discuss how these demographic changes will impact and suggest possible means of coping with the altered epidemiology of disease and disability. Malaysia will need to swiftly develop sufficient expertise in acute Geriatric Medicine, rehabilitation of older people; the management of long-term conditions in older people with multiple complex problems within Primary Care; as well as an infrastructure for home and institutional care.
Communication skills teaching in primary care medicine

Hanafi NS, Chia YC

Med J Malaysia, 2002 Dec;57 Suppl E:74-7.
PMID: 12733197

The teaching of clinical communication skills to undergraduate medical students in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya is described. It is a continuous process throughout the five-year medical curriculum which is divided into Phases I, II and III. Students are introduced to communication skills early in Phase I through an interactive session as well as a workshop on general communication skills. In Phase II, small-group two-day workshops cover the basic principles of clinical communication skills using videotapes, group discussion and role-plays. Direct contact between students and patients in actual clinical setting begin in Phase IIIA. Communication skills teaching with feedback training is carried out by videotaping the consultations. In Phase IIIB the two-way mirror is utilized as well as having workshops on certain difficult areas such as 'breaking bad news' and 'taking a sexual history'. Formal assessment is done by evaluating the behavior, language and actual interview content.
Fulltext Awareness, knowledge and practice of dyslipidaemia management among postgraduate primary care trainees in Malaysia: a cross-sectional study

Said AH, Chia YC

BMJ Open, 2017 03 01;7(3):e013573.
PMID: 28249849 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013573

OBJECTIVES: Dyslipidaemia is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in Malaysia. This study assessed the awareness, knowledge and practice of lipid management among primary care physicians undergoing postgraduate training in Malaysia.
DESIGN: Cross sectional study.
SETTING: Postgraduate primary care trainees in Malaysia.
PARTICIPANTS: 759 postgraduate primary care trainees were approached through email or hard copy, of whom 466 responded.
METHOD: A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess their awareness, knowledge and practice of dyslipidaemia management. The total cumulative score derived from the knowledge section was categorised into good or poor knowledge based on the median score, where a score of less than the median score was categorised as poor and a score equal to or more than the median score was categorised as good. We further examined the association between knowledge score and sociodemographic data. Associations were considered significant when p<0.05.
RESULTS: The response rate achieved was 61.4%. The majority (98.1%) were aware of the national lipid guideline, and 95.6% reported that they used the lipid guideline in their practice. The median knowledge score was 7 out of 10; 70.2% of respondents scored 7 or more which was considered as good knowledge. Despite the majority (95.6%) reporting use of guidelines, there was wide variation in their clinical practice whereby some did not practise based on the guidelines. There was a positive significant association between awareness and the use of the guideline with knowledge score (p<0.001). However there was no significant association between knowledge score and sociodemographic data (p>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: The level of awareness and use of the lipid guideline among postgraduate primary care trainees was good. However, there were still gaps in their knowledge and practice which are not in accordance with standard guidelines.
The doctor shopper - a case report on hypochondriasis

Loke KH, Chia YC

Family Physician, 1989;1:70-75.
Fulltext Hypertension and the development of new onset chronic kidney disease over a 10 year period: a retrospective cohort study in a primary care setting in Malaysia

Chia YC, Ching SM

BMC Nephrol, 2012 Dec 24;13:173.
PMID: 23259489 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2369-13-173

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the rate of progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD) among hypertensive patients, particularly at the primary care level. This study aims to examine risk factors associated with new onset CKD among hypertensive patients attending a primary care clinic.
METHODS: This is a 10-year retrospective cohort study of 460 patients with hypertension who were on treatment. Patient information was collected from patient records. CKD was defined as a glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min per 1.73 m2 (Cockcroft-Gault equation). Multiple logistic regression statistics was used to test the association in newly diagnosed CKD.
RESULTS: The incidence of new CKD was 30.9% (n = 142) with an annual rate of 3%. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, factors associated with development of new onset of CKD among hypertensive patients were older age (odds ratio [OR] 1.123, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.078-1.169), presence of diabetes (OR 2.621, 95% CI 1.490-4.608), lower baseline eGFR (OR 1.041, 95% CI 0.943-0.979) and baseline hyperuricaemia (OR 1.004, 95% CI 1.001-1.007).
CONCLUSIONS: The progression to new onset CKD is high among urban multiethnic hypertensive patients in a primary care population. Hence every effort is needed to detect the presence of new onset CKD earlier. Hypertensive patients who are older, with underlying diabetes, hyperuricaemia and lower baseline eGFR are associated with the development of CKD in this population.
Fulltext Patient involvement in decision-making: a cross-sectional study in a Malaysian primary care clinic

Ambigapathy R, Chia YC, Ng CJ

BMJ Open, 2016 Jan 04;6(1):e010063.
PMID: 26729393 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010063

OBJECTIVE: Shared decision-making has been advocated as a useful model for patient management. In developing Asian countries such as Malaysia, there is a common belief that patients prefer a passive role in clinical consultation. As such, the objective of this study was to determine Malaysian patients' role preference in decision-making and the associated factors.
DESIGN: A cross-sectional study.
SETTING: Study was conducted at an urban primary care clinic in Malaysia in 2012.
PARTICIPANTS: Patients aged >21 years were chosen using systematic random sampling.
METHODS: Consenting patients answered a self-administered questionnaire, which included demographic data and their preferred and actual role before and after consultation. Doctors were asked to determine patients' role preference. The Control Preference Scale was used to assess patients' role preference.
PRIMARY OUTCOME: Prevalence of patients' preferred role in decision-making.
SECONDARY OUTCOMES: (1) Actual role played by the patient in decision-making. (2) Sociodemographic factors associated with patients' preferred role in decision-making. (3) Doctors' perception of patients' involvement in decision-making.
RESULTS: The response rate was 95.1% (470/494). Shared decision-making was preferred by 51.9% of patients, followed by passive (26.3%) and active (21.8%) roles in decision-making. Higher household income was significantly associated with autonomous role preference (p=0.018). Doctors' perception did not concur with patients' preferred role. Among patients whom doctors perceived to prefer a passive role, 73.5% preferred an autonomous role (p=0.900, κ=0.006).
CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients attending the primary care clinic preferred and played an autonomous role in decision-making. Doctors underestimated patients' preference to play an autonomous role.
Study site: Primary care clinic, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Fulltext Awareness and prevalence of mammography screening and its predictors--a cross sectional study in a primary care clinic in Malaysia

Yusof A, Chia YC, Hasni YM

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2014;15(19):8095-9.
PMID: 25338990

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, over half a million women died of breast cancer in 2011 alone. Mammography screening is associated with a reduction of 20 to 35% in breast cancer mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the awareness and practice of mammography screening and predictors of its uptake in Malaysian women attending a primary care clinic.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out among women aged 40 to 74 years attending a primary care clinic in Selangor, Malaysia. An assisted structured questionnaire included questions on socio-demography, source of information and level of knowledge. An adapted version of the revised Champion Health Belief Model Scale plus other associated factors for mammography screening up-take were also included as part of the questionnaire. Predictors for mammography screening uptake were only determined in those who were aware about mammography screening. Significant predictors were determined by logistic regression.

RESULTS: 447 women were recruited for this study; 99.1% of them (n: 411) were aware about breast cancer. Only 50.1% (n: 206) had knowledge about mammography screening. Prevalence of clinical breast-examination (CBE) was 23.3% (n: 104) and mammography screening up-take was 13.2% (n: 59). The predictors for the latter were those who have had clinical breast-examination (aOR=17.58, 95%CI: 7.68-39.82) and those aged between 50 to 59 years (aOR=3.94, 95%CI: 1.61-9.66) as well as those aged 60 years and above (aOR=6.91, 95%CI: 2.28-20.94). Good knowledge and positive beliefs about mammography screening were not associated with mammography screening uptake.

CONCLUSIONS: Half of our Malaysian women were aware about mammography screening. However, the uptake of mammography was low. Previous CBE and older age were significant predictors of mammography screening uptake. Increasing CBE services may increase compliance with guidelines.
Rate of decline of kidney function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and the associated factors: a 10-year retrospective cohort study

Tan SF, Chia YC, Chinna K

Asia Pac J Public Health, 2015 Mar;27(2):NP640-9.
PMID: 23761589 DOI: 10.1177/1010539513490193

This study examines the rate of decline of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) over a 10-year period and the associated risk factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Medical records of T2DM patients were randomly selected. The rate of fall in eGFR (simplified modification of diet in renal disease formula) was used as a measure of decline. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to determine the factors associated with decline of kidney function. A total of 504 patients were selected. Mean age was 57.8 ± 9 years; 65.3% were females. The mean decline rate of eGFR was 0.89 ± 2.16 mL/min/1.73 m(2)/y. Baseline proteinuria, glycosylated hemoglobin level, duration of T2DM, and Malay race were associated with faster decline in eGFR. The expected greater deterioration in kidney function in this cohort was not seen. Treatment of proteinuria and glycemia should be optimized early to retard the decline in kidney function in patients with T2DM.
Study site: Primary care clinics, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Social support and glycemic control in adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Chew BH, Khoo EM, Chia YC

Asia Pac J Public Health, 2015 Mar;27(2):NP166-73.
PMID: 22199159 DOI: 10.1177/1010539511431300

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence of social support and its association with glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) in an urban primary care center within an academic institution. Social support is important in the management of chronic diseases. However, its association with glycemic control has been controversial.
METHODS: This was part of a study examining religiosity in T2D patients. Nonsmoking patients with T2D for at least 3 years and aged 30 years and above were recruited. Social support was measured using The Social Support Survey-Medical Outcomes Study (SS), a self-administered questionnaire; the scores range from 19 to 95, and a high score indicates better social support. Glycemic control was measured using the 3 most recent glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels within the past 3 years.
RESULTS: A total of 175 participants completed the SS survey (response rate 79.0%). The mean age was 62.7 (standard deviation [SD] = 10.8) years, and the mean duration of diabetes was 11.74 (SD = 6.7) years. The mean HbA1c level was 8.15 (SD = 1.44). The mean SS score was 68.1. The prevalence of high and low social support were 29.7% and 24.0 %, respectively. A significant correlation was found between SS score and number of social supporters (n = 167). No significant correlation was found between the self-reported number of social supporters or the SS score and the mean HbA1c level.
CONCLUSIONS: Social support was not associated with glycemic control in adult patients with T2D in this primary care setting.

Study site: Primary care clinic, Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC)
Fulltext Use of chronic kidney disease to enhance prediction of cardiovascular risk in those at medium risk

Chia YC, Lim HM, Ching SM

PLoS One, 2015;10(10):e0141344.
PMID: 26496190 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141344

Based on global cardiovascular (CV) risk assessment for example using the Framingham risk score, it is recommended that those with high risk should be treated and those with low risk should not be treated. The recommendation for those of medium risk is less clear and uncertain. We aimed to determine whether factoring in chronic kidney disease (CKD) will improve CV risk prediction in those with medium risk. This is a 10-year retrospective cohort study of 905 subjects in a primary care clinic setting. Baseline CV risk profile and serum creatinine in 1998 were captured from patients record. Framingham general cardiovascular disease risk score (FRS) for each patient was computed. All cardiovascular disease (CVD) events from 1998-2007 were captured. Overall, patients with CKD had higher FRS risk score (25.9% vs 20%, p = 0.001) and more CVD events (22.3% vs 11.9%, p = 0.002) over a 10-year period compared to patients without CKD. In patients with medium CV risk, there was no significant difference in the FRS score among those with and without CKD (14.4% vs 14.6%, p = 0.84) However, in this same medium risk group, patients with CKD had more CV events compared to those without CKD (26.7% vs 6.6%, p = 0.005). This is in contrast to patients in the low and high risk group where there was no difference in CVD events whether these patients had or did not have CKD. There were more CV events in the Framingham medium risk group when they also had CKD compared those in the same risk group without CKD. Hence factoring in CKD for those with medium risk helps to further stratify and identify those who are actually at greater risk, when treatment may be more likely to be indicated.

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