Methods: In this cross-sectional study, QoL and satisfaction of health of 503 undergraduate university students (63.4% females) from a public university was assessed online using the World Health Organization QoL (WHOQOL)-BREF instrument.
Results: The overall QoL and satisfaction with health were 3.7 ± 0.87 and 3.9 ± 0.82, respectively. Male students showed significantly lower mean scores for the environmental domains than female students (63.37 ± 16.21 vs 68.10 ± 14.00, P
Methods and results: A retrospective record review was conducted among 432 first-ever stroke patients admitted to the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia. Data from between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2011, were extracted from the medical records. The Kaplan-Meier product limit estimator was applied to determine the 28-day, 1-year, and 5-year survival probabilities. Log-rank test was used to test the equality of survival time between different groups. A total of 101 patients died during the study period. The 28-day, 1-year, and 5-year survival probabilities were 78.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 73.5-81.9), 74.2% (95% CI: 69.4-78.4), and 70.9% (95% CI: 65.1-75.9), respectively. There were significant differences in the survival time based on the types of stroke, Glasgow Coma Scale, hyperlipidaemia, atrial fibrillation, fasting blood glucose, and diastolic blood pressure.
Conclusion: This study, though retrospective, highlights several clinical parameters that influenced the survival probabilities among first-ever stroke patients managed in a suburban setting in Malaysia, and compared them to those reported in more urban regions. Our data emphasise the need for wider establishment of specialized stroke units and teams, as well as for prospective multi-centre studies on first-ever stroke patients to better inform the development of stroke care provision in Malaysia.
METHODS: A literature search of studies related to the use of precision medicine in diabetes care was conducted in various databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus).
RESULTS: Precision medicine encompasses the integration of a wide array of personal data, including clinical, lifestyle, genetic, and various biomarker information. Its goal is to facilitate tailored treatment approaches using contemporary diagnostic and therapeutic techniques that specifically target patients based on their genetic makeup, molecular markers, phenotypic traits, or psychosocial characteristics. This article not only highlights significant advancements but also addresses key challenges, particularly focusing on the technologies that contribute to the realization of personalized and precise diabetes care.
CONCLUSION: For the successful implementation of precision diabetes medicine, collaboration and coordination among multiple stakeholders are crucial.
METHODS: We followed PRISMA guidelines and registered the protocol in advance (PROSPERO 2023 CRD42023399906). A systematic search was conducted in Medline, Embase, and PsycINFO. Meta-analyses were performed to pool the proportion of married individuals with suicidal behavior (total [suicide + suicide attempts], suicide, and suicide attempt) in South Asian countries. We considered suicidal behavior consist of suicide and suicide attempts (nonfatal).
RESULTS: Our search identified 47 studies for this review from 6 countries published from 1999 to 2022 with a sample size ranging from 27 to 89,178. The proportion of married individuals was 55.4% (95% CI: 50.1-60.5) for suicidal behavior, 52.7% (95% CI: 44.5-60.7) for suicides, and 43.1 (95% CI: 32.9-53.9) for suicide attempts. The proportion of married persons among suicide attempts varied significantly across countries (p = 0.016) which was highest (61.8%; 95% CI: 57.2-66.2) in India, followed by Bangladesh (52.5%; 95% CI: 41.8%-62.9%) and Pakistan (45.1%; 95% CI: 30.9-59.9). The pooled proportions did not differ significantly in relation to the quality of the studies (p = 0.633).
CONCLUSION: This review identified married persons died more than others by suicide in South Asian countries while single persons attempted suicide than married. As the current study did not assess any cause-and-effect association, a cautious interpretation is warranted while considering married marital status as a risk factor.
METHODS: A cross-sectional research study was conducted between September 2021 and March 2022 using a validated online survey. The participants included Malaysians and Iraqis aged 18 years and above who currently consume DS. Using the SurveyMonkey® platform, data were collected from 2425 respondents (response rate = 60.6%), with analysis carried out using SPSS version 28.
RESULTS: Demographically, the sample had an almost equal distribution of Malaysians (51%) and Iraqis (49%), with a mean age of 30.61. The majority had tertiary education (78.6%), and only a fraction had been infected with COVID-19 (26.2%). Concerning knowledge, a significant portion exhibited poor understanding (84.2%) of DS's functioning and implications. Regarding habits, many respondents consumed multivitamins (75.2%), with influence largely coming from peers (23.5%) and product leaflets (46.7%). Belief-wise, about half (49.2%) utilized herbal or supplemental products as a protective measure during the pandemic, with vitamin C with zinc being the most commonly used (45.4%).
CONCLUSION: The study underlines a significant inclination towards DS usage in Malaysia and Iraq, influenced by societal connections and available information. While many believe in the protective capacities of DS against COVID-19, a substantial knowledge gap persists. It emphasizes the need for evidence-based awareness campaigns and policies to guide public health decisions.
METHOD: The rich-poor ratio, concentration curve and concentration index were derived to determine the level of inequality. Furthermore, logistic regression was done to determine the association between HCC and the status of hypertension and diabetes.
RESULTS: The PHI group (rich-poor ratio: 1.4 [rich: 454, poor: 314] and 2.6 [rich: 375, poor: 142]; concentration index: 0.123 [95% confidence interval, CI: 0.093-0.153] and 0.144 [95% CI: 0.109-0.178] in 2013 and 2018, respectively) has relatively higher inequality compared with the HCC group (rich-poor ratio: 0.9 [rich: 307, poor: 337] and 1.1 [rich: 511, poor: 475]; concentration index: -0.027 [95% CI: -0.053 to -0.000] and -0.014 [95% CI: -0.033 to 0.006] in 2013 and 2018, receptively). Contrasting to the observation with the HCC group, PHI was associated with higher odds for hypertension (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.252, p = 0.01, 95% CI: 1.051-1.493) and diabetes (aOR = 1.287, p = 0.02, 95% CI: 1.041-1.590) in 2018.
CONCLUSION: Over 5 years, the inequality in PHI coverage remained higher compared with HCC, which suggests that the rich enjoyed private healthcare more. Furthermore, those with PHI were more likely to report known hypertension and diabetes in 2018. It is reasonable to assume that those with PHI are more likely to have earlier diagnoses compared to others and are more likely to be aware of their condition. Policymakers need to identify strategies that can narrow the existing gap in quality and type of service between the private and public health sectors.