Assessing intrinsic capacity for person-centred HIV care: a cross-sectional study in ageing populations in Malaysia and Hong Kong.

Introduction: WHO's Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) proposes we measure the functional construct of intrinsic capacity (IC) to monitor and identify individuals with age-associated vulnerabilities. Assessments of IC may be useful to address the evolving, non-HV care needs of ageing people with HIV (PWH). However, to date, its utility within the context of HIV has not been assessed.

Fostering healthy cognitive ageing in people living with HIV.

Prevalence and incidence of HIV among people aged 50 years and older continue to rise worldwide, generating increasing awareness among care providers, scientists, and the HIV community about the importance of brain health in older adults with HIV. Many age-related factors that adversely affect brain health can occur earlier and more often among people with HIV, including epigenetic ageing, chronic medical conditions (eg, cardiovascular disease), and age-related syndromes (eg, frailty). Extensive dialogue between HIV community leaders, health-care providers, and scientists has led to the development of a multidimensional response strategy to protect and enhance brain health in people ageing with HIV that spans across public health, clinical spaces, and research spaces.

Feasibility and acceptability of a dengue self-monitoring system to reduce treatment delay in Malaysia: A single-centre pilot randomised controlled trial.

Objective: Most dengue cases are managed in an outpatient setting, where patients are advised to return to the clinic daily for monitoring. Some patients can develop severe dengue at home and fail to recognise the deterioration. An application called DengueAid was designed as a self-monitoring tool for patients to reduce delay in seeking timely treatment.

Liver dysfunction in adults with COVID-19 infection: A longitudinal study with transient elastography evaluation.

Background And Aim: Abnormal liver biochemistry (ALB) is common among patients with COVID-19 infection due to various factors. It is uncertain if it persists after the acute infection. We aimed to investigate this.

HIV Activist Identity, Commitment, and Orientation Scale (HAICOS): Psychometric Evaluation to Assess Clinician's Propensity Towards HIV Activism in Malaysia.

HIV activism has a long history of advancing HIV treatment and is critical in dismantling HIV-related stigma. This study evaluated the psychometric quality of the HIV Activist Identity, Commitment, and Orientation Scale (HAICOS) to assess clinicians' propensity towards HIV activism in Malaysia. From November 2022 to March 2023, 74 general practitioners and primary care physicians in Malaysia participated in the study.

Causes, risks and care circumstances associated with death in older adults diagnosed with HIV in a tertiary centre in Malaysia.

Background: A substantial number of older adults succumb soon after HIV diagnosis despite ART. We explored the causes, risk factors and circumstances before death among older adults acquring HIV.

Methods: We recruited individuals newly diagnosed at our centre from 2016-2020 and analysed data of those who died.

"I suppose in our culture, old means no sex": PLWH and healthcare provider views on factors influencing late HIV testing and diagnosis among older adults in Malaysia.

The proportion of new HIV diagnoses among older adults aged ≥50 years continues to rise. Older adults are at higher risk of late diagnosis which is associated with higher treatment complexity and poorer health outcomes. Few studies in the Asia-Pacific region have explored factors contributing to late presentation and diagnosis in this population.

Psychosocial risk factors and cognitive decline in people living with HIV: results from the Malaysian HIV and aging (MHIVA) study.

HIV-associated mortality has improved with the advent of antiretroviral therapy, yet neurocognitive decline persists. We assessed the association between psychosocial risk factors and cognitive function among Malaysian PLWH. Data of virally suppressed PLWH (n = 331) on stable ART, from the Malaysian HIV and Aging study was assessed.

Poor HIV-Related Outcomes in Older Adults Newly Diagnosed With HIV: A 4-Year Retrospective Analysis From a Single Site in Asia.

Background: In resource-limited settings, HIV-related services are often targeted to younger key populations, although increasing reports have found that adults ≥50 years now account for among the highest increase in new HIV diagnosis. We assessed the proportion of new HIV infections among older adults (≥50 years) and compared their sociodemographics, risk behaviors, and HIV-related outcomes to newly diagnosed younger adults (<50 years).

Methods: This retrospective analysis included all new HIV diagnosis from 2016 to 2019 at the University of Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia.

A Malaysian consensus recommendation for the prevention of influenza in older persons.

Background: Older persons are at high-risk of developing severe complications from influenza. This consensus statement was developed to provide guidance on appropriate influenza prevention strategies relevant to the Malaysian healthcare setting.

Methods: Under the initiative of the Malaysian Influenza Working Group (MIWG), a panel comprising 11 multi-speciality physicians was convened to develop a consensus statement.

"I want the doctors to know that I am as bright as a candle": : Experiences with and Hopes for Doctor Interactions Among Malaysian Key Populations and People Living with HIV.

Stigma in healthcare settings is a pernicious barrier to HIV prevention and treatment in contexts with strong HIV-related structural stigma. Previous work has documented substantial stigma towards key populations and people living with HIV (PLWH) among Malaysian doctors. The perspectives of Malaysian key populations and PLWH, however, remain understudied.

Acceptability and Feasibility of Online, Asynchronous Photovoice with Key Populations and People Living with HIV.

Photovoice is an action-oriented qualitative method involving photography and story-telling. Although photovoice yields a powerful form of data that can be leveraged for research, intervention, and advocacy, it has arguably been underutilized within HIV research. Online, asynchronous photovoice methods represent a promising alternative to traditional in-person methods, yet their acceptability and feasibility with key populations and people living with HIV (PLWH) have yet to be explored.

Case report : complicating preterm labour in a trisomy-21 pregnancy.

Preterm birth is a global concern with considerable morbidity and mortality. Intrapartum infection is a known cause of preterm birth and infection is one of the infections contributing to preterm birth. We report a case of preterm birth of a trisomy-21 neonate to a mother with positive from an intra-operative placental swab sample and discussed the relationship of this bacteria and preterm delivery, and the role of postpartum antibiotics use in this case.

A retrospective analysis of the care cascades for non-communicable disease and mental health among people living with HIV at a tertiary-care centre in Malaysia: opportunities to identify gaps and optimize care.

Introduction: The rapidly growing epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including mental health among aging people living with HIV (PLWH) has put a significant strain on the provision of health services in many HIV clinics globally. We constructed care cascades for specific NCDs and mental health among PLWH attending our centre to identify potential areas for programmatic improvement.

Methods: This was a follow-up study of participants recruited in the Malaysian HIV & Aging study (MHIVA) from 2014 to 2016 at the University Malaya Medical Centre (n = 336).

The effects of age on clinical characteristics, hospitalization and mortality of patients with influenza-related illness at a tertiary care centre in Malaysia.

Background: Age is an established risk factor for poor outcomes in individuals with influenza-related illness, and data on its influence on clinical presentations and outcomes in the South-East Asian settings are scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the above among adults with influenza-related upper respiratory tract infection at a teaching hospital in Malaysia.

Methods: A retrospective case-note analysis was conducted on a cohort of 3935 patients attending primary care at the University Malaya Medical Centre, Malaysia from February 2012 till May 2014 with URTI symptoms.