Assessing the impact of frailty in elderly patients undergoing emergency laparotomies in Singapore.

Introduction: The global rise in ageing populations poses challenges for healthcare systems. By 2030, Singapore anticipates a quarter of its population to be aged 65 or older. This study addresses the dearth of research on frailty's impact on emergency laparotomy (EL) outcomes in this demographic, emphasising the growing significance of this surgical intervention.

Variation in mortality following hip fracture across the Asia Pacific region: Systematic review and proportional meta-analysis.

Objective: To determine country/region-specific mortality (in-hospital, 30-day and 1-year) following hip fracture across the Asia Pacific region.

Methods: Five databases MEDLINE, PUBMED, EMBASE, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library were searched to identify studies that reported mortality following hospitalisation for low-trauma hip fracture in adults aged ≥50 years with data from 2010 to 30 September 2021. There were no restrictions on study design or language.

Strategies to prevent cardiovascular disease in Singapore: A call to action from Singapore Heart Foundation, Singapore Cardiac Society and Chapter of Cardiologists of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore.

Introduction: In 2022, the Minister for Health of Singapore launched Healthier SG, a national strategy in championing the shift towards a population health approach.

Method: The Singapore Heart Foundation conducted a series of roundtable discussions, also attended by representatives of the Singapore Cardiac Society and the Chapter of Cardiologists of the Academy of Medicine Singapore. During the meetings, the authors formulated interventions supportive of Healthier SG that specifically aimed to uplift the state of cardiovascular (CV) preventive care in Singapore.

Prevalence of consumption of illicit drugs and associated factors from a nationwide epidemiological survey: The Singapore Health and Lifestyle Survey.

Introduction: The primary aims of the current nationwide study were to establish the lifetime and 12-month prevalence of consumption of illicit drugs and its correlates in the general population of Singapore.

Method: A representative sample of 6509 Singapore residents (Singapore citizens and permanent residents) aged between 15 and 65 years were randomly selected for participation. Questionnaires were administered to assess the consumption of illicit drugs and collect information on correlates.

Analgesia efficacy of erector spinae plane block in laparoscopic abdominal surgeries: a systemic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Multimodal analgesia is now widely practised to minimise postoperative opioid consumption while optimising pain control. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the analgesic efficacy of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) in patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgeries. This will be determined by perioperative opioid consumption, subjective pain scores, and incidences of postoperative nausea and vomiting.

Type 1 Diabetes in Singapore: Self-Care Challenges, Diabetes Technology Awareness, Current Use, and Satisfaction, an Online Survey.

Introduction: To describe the self-care challenges, diabetes technology awareness, current use, and satisfaction among adults with type 1 diabetes and parents of children with type 1 diabetes in Singapore.

Methods: An anonymous online survey was administered between November 2020 and October 2021. Data are presented as mean (standard deviation) or count (percentages).

Consensus statement on Singapore integrated 24-hour activity guide for early childhood.

Introduction: Early childhood is a critical period for growth and development. Adopting healthy lifestyle behaviours during this period forms the foundation for future well-being and offers the best protection against non-communicable diseases. Singapore studies have shown that many young children are not achieving the recommendations on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep.

The initial experience of robot-assisted transabdominal transversalis fascial and preperitoneal repair for small ventral hernia.

Purpose: Despite the widespread of ventral hernia repairs globally, the approach method, dissection planes, defect closure, and the choice and placement layer of mesh are an ongoing debate. We reported the details of surgical techniques, safety and feasibility for robot-assisted transabdominal transversalis fascial and preperitoneal repair (R-TATFPP) for small ventral hernia.

Methods: This study included 5 cases of R-TATFPP repair among 22 cases performed by robot-assisted ventral hernia repair from 2018 to 2023 with the approval of the Institutional Review Board at St.

Burnout Prevalence and Associated Factors Among Palliative and Hospice Care Professionals During the COVID-19 Endemic: An Exploratory Survey.

Background: Burnout is a significant issue for palliative and hospice professionals, exacerbated by the impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on healthcare professionals. It is crucial to update our understanding of prevalence data, identify associated factors, and evaluate support resources during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: We aimed to explore the prevalence of burnout among palliative and hospice care workers, 2 years into the COVID-19 pandemic by using the Maslach's Burnout Inventory; anxiety, using General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), workload, risk perception of COVID-19, confidence in protective measures (personal, workplace, and government), and usage and perceived helpfulness of support resources.

Incident heart failure and the subsequent risk of progression to end stage kidney disease in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Diabetic kidney disease is an established risk factor for heart failure. However, the impact of incident heart failure on the subsequent risk of renal failure has not been systematically assessed in diabetic population. We sought to study the risk of progression to end stage kidney disease (ESKD) after incident heart failure in Asian patients with type 2 diabetes.

Intrathyroidal thymic carcinoma.

A young woman in her early 30s presented with a right thyroid mass and progressive hoarseness due to a right vocal cord palsy. The preoperative fine-needle aspiration cytology was classified as Bethesda V and she underwent a total thyroidectomy and neck dissection. Intraoperatively, the thyroid mass was adherent to the oesophagus, trachea and encasing the right recurrent laryngeal nerve which was sacrificed.

Plasma ceramides predict all-cause and cause-specific mortality in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Context: The CERT1 (Cardiovascular Event Risk Test) score derived from plasma ceramides has been applied clinically for cardiovascular risk assessment.

Objective: To study whether plasma ceramides predict risk of mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Design, Setting And Participants: A prospective study which included 1903 outpatients with type 2 diabetes in a regional hospital and a primary care facility in Singapore.

Sustained improved emergency laparotomy outcomes over 3 years after a transdisciplinary perioperative care pathway-A 1:1 propensity score matched study.

Background: Emergency laparotomy is associated with high morbidity and significant global health burden. This study aims to compare postoperative outcomes of patients who underwent emergency laparotomy before and after implementation of a emergency laparotomy pathway.

Methods: This is a single-center study of all patients who presented with an acute abdomen and/or conditions requiring emergency laparotomy during pre-emergency laparotomy pathway (retrospective cohort from January 2016 to December 2018) and after the emergency laparotomy pathway (prospective cohort from January 2019 to December 2021).

Colorectal cancer: Getting the perspective and context right.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant global health burden, being the third leading cancer globally. Its incidence has been observed to be higher in developed regions such as North America and Europe with geographical variations in mortality rates. Efforts to address this disease burden include promoting early detection through screening and implementing treatment strategies to improve patient outcomes.