Health seeking behaviour and diagnostic delays in SLE: A multi-ethnic Malaysian cohort study.

Introduction: Heterogeneity of the clinical manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may lead to diagnostic delays. This study is aimed at determining the health-seeking behaviour patterns and factors associated with diagnostic delays in a multi-ethnic SLE cohort in Malaysia.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study involving SLE patients who visited our institute between January 2020 and June 2021.

Health-related quality of life in osteoporosis: a systematic review of measurement properties of the QUALEFFO-41.

The 41-item Quality of Life Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (QUALEFFO-41) is a widely used and freely available patient-reported outcome measure (PROM). However, data on its reliability, validity, and responsiveness remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to systematically review the measurement properties of the QUALEFFO-41.

Recurrent Temporal Infections: The Link to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

BACKGROUND Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with diverse manifestations. The involvement of the musculoskeletal system is very common, and infection is one of the manifestations, which can involve any part of the body. We report a case of a middle-aged woman with recurrent episodes of infection of her left temple.

Budget impact of increasing uptake of denosumab for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis in Malaysia.

Unlabelled: This study evaluated the financial impact of increasing denosumab usage for managing postmenopausal osteoporosis over a 5-year period from the Malaysian healthcare provider's perspective. A gradual moderate increase in denosumab uptake would have a minimal budget impact, with potential savings in fracture treatment expenses. Optimizing denosumab usage could be a cost-effective and potentially affordable strategy to alleviate the economic burden of osteoporosis in Malaysia.

A grounded theory research protocol on an attempt to practice interprofessional collaborative care by a primary care clinic health professional fresh graduate in diabetes care.

Interprofessional collaborative care (IPCC) can improve the quality of care in patients with chronic diseases in primary care settings. In Malaysia, many medical and healthcare universities have adopted the concept of the interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) framework by the World Health Organization (WHO) and implemented interprofessional learning (IPL) in their curriculum to prepare fresh graduates for interprofessional collaboration (IPC) in the health workforce albeit in various degrees. However, there are potential challenges in putting what they have learned into practice, especially in managing chronic diseases due to the complexity of behavior changes required.

Stigma and posttraumatic growth among COVID-19 survivors during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

Background: Contracting COVID-19 can cause negative and distressing psychological sequelae, but traumatic stressors may also facilitate the development of positive psychological change beyond an individual's previous level of adaptation, known as posttraumatic growth (PTG). As a result, studies have investigated the negative effects of COVID-19 on mental health, but data on PTG among patients who have recovered from COVID-19 remains limited. This study aims to evaluate the level of PTG and its associations with stigma, psychological complications, and sociodemographic factors among COVID-19 patients 6 months post-hospitalization.

Stigma, Sociodemographic Factors, and Clinical Factors Associated with Psychological Distress among COVID-19 Survivors during the Convalescence Period: A Multi-Centre Study in Malaysia.

High rates of psychological distress among COVID-19 survivors and stigmatisation have been reported in both early and late convalescence. This study aimed to compare the severity of psychological distress and to determine the associations among sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, stigma, and psychological distress among COVID-19 survivors across two different cohorts at two different time points. Data were collected cross-sectionally in two groups at one month and six months post-hospitalisation among COVID-19 patient from three hospitals in Malaysia.

Functional Disability and Symptomatic Slow-Acting Drugs for Osteoarthritis in Adults with Periodontitis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) patients have decreased functional ability and restricted access to healthcare facilities and are on a spectrum of medications. These can impact their oral health. This study aims to investigate the association between periodontal disease and OA disease parameters, specifically the functional disability and the medications taken.

Rheumatoid arthritis serotype and synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in patients with periodontitis: A case-control study.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) experience a higher prevalence of periodontitis. This study aimed to examine the variation of periodontitis experienced with different serotypes suffered by RA patients and to examine the relationship between the different medications taken for RA that may influence this relationship. Two hundred and sixty RA and control participants underwent standardized periodontal examinations.

The spectrum of association in HLA region with rheumatoid arthritis in a diverse Asian population: evidence from the MyEIRA case-control study.

Background: Fine-mapping of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk factors has identified several HLA alleles and its corresponding amino acid residues as independent signals (i.e., HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-DPB1, and HLA-DQA1 genes), in addition to the well-established genetic factor in HLA-DRB1 gene.

New Benefits of Hydroxychloroquine in Pregnant Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Retrospective Study in a Tertiary Centre.

Objective:  To determine pregnancy outcomes in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who were treated with hydroxychloroquine in a tertiary center.

Methods:  A retrospective study involving pregnant women with SLE who had antenatal follow-up and delivery in between 1 January 2007 and 1 January 2017. All participants were retrospectively enrolled and categorized into two groups based on hydroxychloroquine treatment during pregnancy.

Development and Validation of Adherence Score for Subcutaneous Biologic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs.

: The biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) are currently incorporated as part of the pharmacotherapy management of inflammatory arthritis (IA). Adherence to bDMARDs is crucial to ensure treatment success in IA. However, most of the recent studies evaluated adherence level in patients using subcutaneous injections of bDMARDs utilized the indirect methods adapted from adherence assessment for oral medication.

Burden of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus on Work Productivity and Daily Living Activity: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Malaysian Multi-Ethnic Cohort.

Objectives: This study aims to assess the self-reported work productivity and activity daily living (ADL) impairment among Malaysian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to examine their associated factors.

Patients And Methods: This cross-sectional study included 167 SLE patients (21 males, 146 females; mean age 38.2±9.

HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles and haplotypes in 271 Southeast Asia Indians from Peninsular Malaysia.

A total of 271 Southeast Asia Indians from Peninsular Malaysia were genotyped for HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, and -DQB1 loci using polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe hybridization methods. In this report, HLA-B and HLA-DQB1 was in Hardy-Weinberg proportions (HWEP) (p > 0.05).

HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles and haplotypes in 194 Southeast Asia Chinese from Peninsular Malaysia.

A total of 194 Southeast Asia Chinese from Peninsular Malaysia were genotyped for HLA-A, -B, -C -DRB1, and -DQB1 loci using polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe hybridization methods. In this report, the HLA-B, HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 were in Hardy-Weinberg proportions (HWEP) (p > 0.05).

Predictors of SLE relapse in pregnancy and post-partum among multi-ethnic patients in Malaysia.

Flare of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) may occur during pregnancy and puerperium. We studied the prevalence and factors associated with SLE relapse during pregnancy and post-partum period in a multi-ethnic SLE cohort. Consecutive SLE patients who attended the outpatient clinic were reviewed for previous history of pregnancies in our institution.

Serum and urine interleukin-17A levels as biomarkers of disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives: This study examined the correlations of both serum and urine interleukin-17A (IL-17A) levels with disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study was also aimed at determining their sensitivity and specificity as biomarkers of disease activity in SLE.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed involving SLE patients (n = 120 patients) from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC).

Work disability in a multi-ethnic Malaysian systemic lupus erythematosus cohort: A cross-sectional study.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of work disability (WD) among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its associated factors.

Method: This was a cross-sectional study involving SLE patients aged 18-56 years from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). Employment history was obtained from clinical interviews.

Clinical and economic implications of upper gastrointestinal adverse events in Asian rheumatological patients on long-term non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Aim: To determine the incidence and direct costs of NSAID-induced upper GI adverse events in Malaysian rheumatology patients.

Methods: A retrospective, multi-centre, cohort study of rheumatology patients on long-term NSAIDs was conducted. Clinical data of patients treated between 2010 and 2013 were collected for a 24-month follow-up period.

Cost-effectiveness of bisphosphonates for prevention of fracture related to glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in Malaysia.

Introduction: Glucocorticoid therapy is associated with an appreciable risk of bone loss leading to fractures that require expensive treatments. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of bisphosphonates for prevention of hip fracture in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) in Malaysia.

Method: Retrospective data were collected from GIOP patients referred to the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre.

Damage in the Multiethnic Malaysian Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Cohort: Comparison with Other Cohorts Worldwide.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease and despite the improvement in the survival in the past few decades, the morbidity due to disease damage remains significant. The objectives of this study were to investigate the disease damagepattern and determine the associated factors of damage in the multi-ethnic Malaysian SLE patients. We consecutively 424SLE patients who attended a consistent follow-up at the National University of Malaysia Medical Centre and Putrajaya Hospital were recruited.

HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles and haplotypes in 951 Southeast Asia Malays from Peninsular Malaysia.

A total of 951 Southeast Asia Malays from Peninsular Malaysia were genotyped for HLA-A, -B, -C -DRB1, and -DQB1 loci using polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe hybridization methods. In this report, there were significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg proportions for the HLA-A (p<0.0001), -B (p<0.

Subclinical atherosclerosis among rheumatoid arthritis patients without overt cardiovascular risk factors.

Objective: To determine the associated factors of subclinical atherosclerosis measured with carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients without any overt traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors.

Methods: Forty RA patients with matched age and gender healthy controls were recruited. Carotid ultrasound was performed to all subjects.

Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody is a good indicator for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody has recently been used in the classification of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This antibody is more specific than rheumatoid factor (RF) for the diagnosis of RA. The study objectives were to determine the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of anti-CCP in RA diagnosis.