Acute stroke patients with high BMI are less likely to have severe disability at initial presentation.

This is a prospective study to determine the severity of disability and prognosis of acute stroke patients related to their Body Mass index (BMI). A total of 79 consecutive CT-scan-proven acute stroke patients who were admitted to Hospital Tuanku Ja'afar, Seremban between November 2006 and April 2007 were recruited (male:female 49:30; mean age 62.7 years; ischemic stroke 70, intracerebral bleed 9). The patients were divided according to BMI less than 25 (Group A) and equal or greater than 25 (Group B). Severity of disability was measured between 24-48 hours by modified Rankin's score. Patients were followed up after one month. Thirty-seven patients had severe disability (Rankin Score 5). Twenty-nine patients had adverse outcomes including 11 deaths and 18 rehospitalizations or prolonged hospital/nursing home stay. 34.3% of Group B had severe disability compared to 56.8% of Group A (chi2 P = 0.046). Conversely 42.9% of Group B had adverse events at one month compared to 31.8% of Group A (chi2 P = 0.312). There were no statistical differences between high- and low-BMI groups for gender ratio, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, prior cardiovascular disease, mean age, mean lipid profile and blood pressure. When comparing patients with Rankin Score 1-4 versus 5, age and BMI were statistically significant between the two groups. By multivariate analysis only age is independent predictor for severe disability (P < 0.05). The results of this pilot study should be confirmed in larger prospective multicentre trial.

A report of the Malaysian dialysis registry of the National Renal Registry, Malaysia.

The Malaysian National Renal Registry was set up in 1992 to collect data for patients on renal replacement therapy (RRT). We present here the report of the Malaysian dialysis registry. The objectives of this papar are: (1) To examine the overall provision of dialysis treatment in Malaysia and its trend from 1980 to 2006. (2) To assess the treatment rate according to the states in the country. (3) To describe the method, location and funding of dialysis. (4) To characterise the patients accepted for dialysis treatment. (5) To analyze the outcomes of the dialysis treatment. Data on patients receiving dialysis treatment were collected at initiation of dialysis, at the time of any significant outcome, as well as yearly. The number of dialysis patients increased from 59 in 1980 to almost 15,000 in 2006. The dialysis acceptance rate increased from 3 per million population in 1980 to 116 per million population in 2006, and the prevalence rate from 4 to 550 per million population over the same period. The economically advantaged states of Malaysia had much higher dialysis treatment rates compared to the less economically advanced states. Eighty to 90% of new dialysis patients were accepted into centre haemodialysis (HD), and the rest into the chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) programme. The government provided about half of the funding for dialysis treatment. Patients older than 55 years accounted for the largest proportion of new patients on dialysis since the 1990s. Diabetes mellitus has been the main cause of ESRD and accounted for more than 50% of new ESRD since 2002. Annual death rate averaged about 10% on HD and 15% on CAPD. The unadjusted 5-year patient survival on both HD and CAPD was about 80%. Fifty percent of dialysis patients reported very good median QoL index score. About 70% of dialysis patients were about to work full or part time. There has been a very rapid growth of dialysis provision in Malaysia particularly in the older age groups. ESRD caused by diabetes mellitus, despite being a preventable and treatable cause of ESRD--has increased and accounted for more than 50% of incident dialysis patients. Death and survival rates on dialysis are comparable to those from other countries.

Cost effectiveness evaluation of the Ministry of Health Malaysia dialysis programme.

We determine the cost effectiveness of centre and home haemodialysis (HD), continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and intermittent peritoneal dialysis (IPD) treatment in the Ministry of Health (MOH) programme. The viewpoint taken for this evaluation is that of MOH. Cost categories identified were capital cost, dialysis operational cost, medical cost and general hospital cost. Cost estimates were mostly based on actual resource utilisation. Life years saved were estimated based on Dialysis Registry data on 2480 HD and 732 CAPD patients. Overall, the cost-effectiveness ratio (CER) of centre HD was RM21620/life year saved. Those of home HD, CAPD and IPD were RM23375, RM30469 and RM36016 respectively. Sensitivity analyses did not change the ranking of the CER. We conclude the MOH dialysis programme was cost-effective, and among the various dialysis modalities centre HD was the most cost-effective.

Outcome assessment of the Ministry of Health Malaysia dialysis programme.

We describe the outcomes on haemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) provided by the Ministry of Health (MOH). The assessment was based on data from the Malaysian Dialysis Registry on 2480 HD and 732 CAPD patients who commenced dialysis between 1980 and 1996. Young patients (age < 40) have remarkable long term survival (life expectancies of 16 years on HD, 18 years on CAPD). Adjusting for background mortality, relative survival of older patients was as good as younger ones. Diabetics did poorly. 52% of HD and 26% of CAPD patients were employed in 1996. 71% of HD patients scored 10(normal) on QL index (a measure of quality of life) while 60% of CAPD patients have similar score. Differences in rehabilitation and QL index scores by age, gender and diabetes were also observed. Outcomes of dialysis in the MOH programme are reassuring.

Computed tomography and ultrasonography: a comparative study in the diagnosis of analgesic nephropathy.

Computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography (US) were performed in 40 patients who had consumed excessive quantities of analgesics (> 1 kg) to compare their value in the diagnosis of analgesic nephropathy (AN). The computed tomography and sonographic features were renal papillary calcifications. Renal papillary necrosis (RPN) was documented in 20 of 40 patients by US and in 14 of 40 patients by CT. In 11 patients, both US and CT were positive. In 9 patients, US was positive whilst CT was negative. In 3 patients, CT was positive whilst US was negative. Prevalence of RPN was 50% using US and 35% using CT. Using US as a gold standard, sensitivity of CT was 55%, specificity 85%, positive predictive value 78.6% and negative predictive value 34.6%. Percent agreement with CT and US was 70%. Cohen's kappa statistic adjusting for chance agreement was 40%. Based on these results, it is found that US yielded a higher percentage of positive cases of RPN.

Cryptococcosis in a renal unit.

Cryptococcosis is a known opportunistic infection in immunosuppressed hosts. We report our experience of all cases presenting to our Department between December 1975 and September 1988. Eight post-renal transplant patients and three systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients were affected. All were receiving treatment with steroids, in association with either azathioprine or cyclosporin. The diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis was initially based on a positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cryptococcal antigen, by latex agglutination test, and subsequently confirmed by cultures. Common clinical presentations, in descending order of frequency, included headaches, fever, mental confusion, epilepsy and papilloedema. Meningism was not a prominent feature. CT brain scans were obtained in eight patients and one showed a focal lesion and one showed cerebral atrophy. Four patients also had an abnormal chest X-ray (CXR) and one had disseminated cryptococcosis. Amphotericin and 5-fluorocytosine were the mainstay of therapy, although ketoconazole alone was subsequently used in three selected patients with cure. Four early deaths occurred in patients with delayed diagnosis and treatment, usually in association with other severe concurrent infections. We conclude that awareness of cryptococcosis is essential in immunocompromised hosts presenting with headache with, or without, mental confusion or fever.