Background Preterm birth (PTB) is defined as neonates that are born alive >22 weeks of gestation and <37 weeks of gestation. Because of the immaturity of different organ systems, 14.84 million newborns worldwide are born prematurely, which is the largest contributing factor to mortality and morbidity. Although studies have been conducted in this field, the magnitude of PTB is a major issue in most developing countries including Malaysia. Objective To assess the prevalence of PTB and the perinatal outcome among women delivered in a tertiary university hospital in Malaysia. Methods This was a cross-sectional study evaluating all singleton live births weighing>500g and delivered at >22+1 weeks of gestation between January 2015 and December 2019 in Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Data were collected from the hospital's recorded birth registry. The primary outcome was the PTB rate. Data were entered and analysed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) (version 28.0; IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY). Results A total of 26,022 singleton live births were reported for the period 2015-2019. PTB rates showed a sharp 6% decrease from 2015 to 2016, after which the trend was inconsistent until 2019. The risk of preterm babies being admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or the ward compared to the risk of neonatal mortality increases for babies of identified sex, delivered via caesarean, and with a birth weight between 2 and 3 kgs. Babies born at a gestational age between 22+1 and 33+6 have a higher risk of neonatal mortality compared to late preterm babies. Conclusions The PTB incidence trend was inconsistent from 2015 to 2019 in a tertiary university hospital in Malaysia, with a far higher prevalence compared to national data. The high NICU admission and mortality rates among preterm infants mean urgent strategies and policies are needed to improve perinatal outcomes.
The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the severity of dental caries in children varies significantly across different age groups, with some studies showing favorable associations. At the same time, some found no or inverse links. This review examines the existing literature on the relationship between BMI and the severity of dental caries among primary school children specifically between the ages of six and 12. This review follows the preferred reporting items for scoping reviews (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR)) guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was performed utilizing PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (WoS) to identify relevant studies published in English from January 2015 to June 2024. Studies on primary school children aged six to 12 years old, BMI, and severity of caries were included. Five hundred and seventy-seven articles were screened with 26 meeting the inclusion criteria. The majority of the studies were cross-sectional in design. The study identified a varied association between BMI and dental caries. Further understanding of this relationship can guide the development of preventive strategies and interventions that address childhood disproportionate BMI and dental caries, ultimately enhancing oral health and overall well-being in this population.