METHODS: The Malaysian Medical Repository (MyMedR), a web-based database of Malaysian health and medical publications, and Scopus were searched to retrieve rheumatological publications from Malaysia, for the period 1950 until 30 June 2019. The type and number of publications in each rheumatological subject area and the overall trend of publication numbers and citations were analysed.
RESULTS: 547 publications were found for the time period studied. There was a 27-fold increase in the number of publications from the period up to 1980 compared to 2010-2019. The median number of citations per paper was 5, but unlike the number of publications, there was only a slight increase in the number of citations with time. 84.5% of the papers were cited at least once. The top 3 conditions generating the most publications were systemic lupus erythematosus, 36.7%, followed by rheumatoid arthritis, 17.0%, and osteoporosis, 13.9%.
CONCLUSIONS: The number of rheumatological publications in Malaysia have increased over time, especially in the last decade. However, the average number of citations per publications remains low and the majority of publications are in journals with low impact factors. Thus, the quality of rheumatological publications from Malaysia can be further improved.Key Points• There have been only a limited number of bibliometric analysis of rheumatology publications from Asia.• In Malaysia, the number of rheumatology publications has increased over time.• However, there is still room for improvement in terms of the quality of the publications.
METHODS: A systematic search of national and international databases of SID, MagIran, Google Scholar, Cochrane, Embase, ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science (WoS) was conducted to find articles published from 1988 to March 2020. Random effects model was used for analysis and heterogeneity of studies was investigated using I2 index. Data analysis was then carried out using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (Ver. 2).
RESULTS: A total of 51 articles with a total sample size of 48,195 individuals were included in the meta-analysis in all the components. The results showed that 18.9% (95% CI: 4.9-13.25%) of patients were single patients, 70.6% (95% CI: 63.5-76.8%) were married, 31.6% (95% CI: 24.5-39.7%) had low economic status, 52.1% (95% CI: 5.8-44.53%) had moderate economic status, level of education was below diploma in 33% (95% CI: 27.1-39.5%) of cases, 36.2% (95% CI: 27.3-46.1%) were smokers, and 8.8% (95% CI: 2.8-24.1%) of patients were unemployed.
CONCLUSION: The results of the present study indicate high socioeconomic inequality in RA patients in the main components of the study. Hence, to improve the aforementioned status and find causes and do the monitoring at all levels, appropriate solutions must be adopted by providing feedback to policy-makers.
KEY POINTS: • The results showed that 18.9% (95% CI: 4.9-13.25%) of patients were single patients. • 70.6% (95% CI: 63.5-76.8%) were married and 31.6% (95% CI: 24.5-39.7%) had low economic status. • 52.1% (95% CI: 5.8-44.53%) had moderate economic status; 36.2% (95% CI: 27.3-46.1%) were smokers.
METHOD: A cross-sectional survey was developed using pilot testing with clinimetric sensibility assessment to ensure clarity and relevance, and the Open-Source Metric for Measuring Arabic Narratives (OSMAN) to assess readability. The Checklist for Reporting Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES) was used to enhance the quality of the survey. The survey was distributed via social media to Arabic-speaking patients with self-reported RMDs. Collected data included demographics, disease characteristics, medication use, treatment satisfaction factors, perceived causes, and patient concerns.
RESULTS: Of the 1050 responses received, 456 were complete and included in the analysis. Most respondents were female (81.4%) and between the ages of 25 and 44 (63.4%). The most frequently reported diseases were systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Nearly all (97.1%) used medications within the previous three months, primarily hydroxychloroquine, glucocorticoids, and biologics. Key factors influencing treatment satisfaction were pain relief, laboratory result discussions, sleep quality, and mood improvement. Patients perceived immune system abnormalities (76.5%), psychological factors (54.8%), and genetics (41.7%) as primary disease causes. Main concerns included fear of disease complications, adverse drug reactions, and being a burden to others. Rheumatologists and internet search engines were the primary sources of information for patients. Most avoided alternative medicine, while 33.3% used it.
CONCLUSION: This survey is the first and largest in the MENA region, providing valuable insights into patient perspectives on RMD. It highlights the need for holistic management, enhanced education, and supportive services to improve quality of life. Key Points • The most commonly perceived causes of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases among patients with RMD were immune system abnormalities, psychological factors, genetic/hereditary influences, and envy. • Patients' top concerns included fear of future complications, adverse drug reactions, becoming a burden to others, physical disability, and issues related to marriage and childbirth. • Key factors influencing treatment satisfaction included pain relief, discussions of laboratory results, sleep quality, and mood improvement. • Approximately one-third of patients had consulted practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine.