The aim of this study was to determine whether the home environment was a risk factor for falls occurring at home among the elderly in the Masjid Tanah community, Malaysia. An analytical cross-sectional study conducted from early June 2006 until May 2007 in six randomly selected villages in Masjid Tanah Province. A total of 516 participants were included in this study. Overall prevalence of falls among the study participants was 27.3%. Home falls accounted for 66.7% of the total falls. In conclusion, there was no association between home environment and home fall in this study. Logistic regression analysis showed that having a depressive mood was the main determinant for home falls among the elderly in this study.
The state of Selangor, Malaysia, is facing a significant rise in the number of malaria cases with the incidence varying from 20 to 90 per 100,000 persons in a population. A study was carried out to describe the distribution of malaria cases in relation to the growing number of foreign workers in Selangor. Data were reviewed using the return forms "PBV (M) 101", a summary of malaria cases in Selangor for 2006 and Annual Reports of Vector-Borne Disease Control Unit, Selangor State Department for 2001- 2005. The malaria cases in Selangor varied between 172 cases in 2001 and 90 cases in 2006. Most of the cases were contributed by foreign workers, who were predominantly male of economically active age group and came from malaria endemic countries. Most of these cases were concentrated in the urban districts. Malaria is still endemic in Selangor. Malarial infection has the potential of contributing to an urban outbreak of malaria.
A case-control study was conducted between November 2005 and May 2007 in the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The objective of this study was to identify specific socio-demographic and lifestyle factors which were associated with foot ulcer in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes patients. There were 125 cases and 250 controls by using universal sampling. Diabetic foot ulcer was defined as "the full thickness skin break at least to Grade 1 Wagner Stage, occurring distal to malleoli". The case was defined as the diabetic patient who was newly diagnosed or who has a known case of diabetic foot ulcer and the control was defined as the diabetic patient without active foot ulcer. Data was collected via face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire. Results showed that diabetic patients at younger age group, 44 years old and less (OR 5.90 95% CI 2.31, 15.10), Indian (OR 3.24 95% CI 1.66, 6.30), and smoker (OR 3.85 95% CI 1.77, 8.35) were the independent risk factor for diabetic foot ulcer.
BACKGROUND: hip fractures are an increasing source of morbidity and mortality in older people. The role of visual function tests such as visual impairment, stereopsis, contrast sensitivity and visual field defects in low fragility hip fractures in Asian populations is not well understood.
OBJECTIVE: to determine the association between various visual function tests and low fragility hip fractures in an Asian population.
DESIGN: case-control study.
SETTING: University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
SUBJECTS: 108 cases aged > or = 55 years admitted with low fragility fractures and 108 controls (matched for age, gender and race).
METHODS: both cases and controls underwent a detailed ophthalmological examination, which included visual acuity, stereopsis, contrast sensitivity and visual field testing.
RESULTS: poorer visual acuity (odds ratio, OR = 4.08; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.44, 11.51), stereopsis (OR = 3.60, 95% CI: 1.55, 8.38), contrast sensitivity (OR = 3.34, 95% CI: 1.48, 7.57) and visual field defects (OR = 11.60, 95% CI: 5.21, 25.81) increased the risk of fracture. Increased falls were associated with poorer visual acuity (OR = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.04, 5.13), stereopsis (OR = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.03, 4.32), contrast sensitivity (OR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.05, 4.30) and visual field defects (OR = 3.40, 95% CI: 1.69, 6.86).
CONCLUSION: impaired visual acuity, stereopsis, contrast sensitivity and visual field defects are associated with an increased risk of low fragility hip fractures. We recommend that all patients aged > or = 55 should have an annual ophthalmological examination that includes visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, stereopsis and visual field testing to assess the risks for falls and low fragility fractures.