Conference Papers
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This collection contains abstracts of conference papers, presented at local and international conferences by the staff of the Faculty of Medicine
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Item Nutritional status and productivity of tea pluckers in Norwood Estate, Hatton(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2003) de Silva, N.R.; Selvaratnam, R.R.; Pathmeswaran, A.; de Silva, L.D.R.OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of nutritional status on the productivity of tea pluckers in Norwood estate. METHODS: All women tea pluckers of 5 randomly selected divisions of Norwood Estate in Bogawantalawa Plantations, Hatton were recruited. Nutritional status was assessed by measurement of Body Mass Index (BMI) and haemoglobin levels (Hb). The daily weight of tea leaves plucked, and the number of days worked by each woman during November and December 2001 were recorded. Productivity was calculated as average weight of tea leaves plucked per month. Data were analyzed using Epilnfo 6 and SPSS 10. RESULTS: A total of 304 women were recruited to the study. The majority (59.9%) had a low BMI (<18.5), while 76% were anaemic (Hb <12.0 g/dl). There was a statistically significant positive correlation between monthly productivity and Hb levels (Pearson's R = 0.81) but not with BMI. Different regression models were applied to the data to predict the monthly amount of tea plucked in kg. The simplest model using Hb as the only predictor variable revealed that variation in Hb level accounted for 65% of variation in productivity (adjusted R2=0.651). An increase in Hb by 1 g/dl was associated with an increase of 37 kg of tea leaves plucked per month. CONCLUSIONS: Decrease in haemoglobin levels is strongly associated with a decrease in individual productivity of female tea pluckers as indicated by the average weight of tea leaves plucked per month.Item Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in a Sri Lankan community(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2008) Chackrewarthy, S.; Gunasekera, D.; de Silva, L.D.R.; Pathmeswaran, A.; Wijekoon, C.N.; Ranawaka, U.K.; Mizoue, T.; Kato, N.OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in a Sri Lankan community. Limited information is available about MetS in Sri Lankans. DESIGN, SETTING AND METHODS: A total of 2948 individuals (1345 males and 1603 females) who participated in the Ragama Health Study comprised the study population. Prevalence of MetS was estimated using three widely used criteria: International Diabetes Federation (IDF), WHO and National Cholesterol Education Programme - Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III). RESULTS: Age and sex adjusted prevalence rates of MetS were 38.9%, 38.9% and 41.6% as defined by IDF, WHO and NCEP-ATP III respectively. Prevalence increased with age (for age groups 35-44, 45-54 and 55- 65 years respectively; IDF - 27.9%, 40,1%, 42.9% ; WHO - 28.7%, 43.2%, 52.6%; NCEP ATP III - 34.6%, 46.7%, 50.6%; P<0.001 in all). MetS was commoner in women (IDF - 45.8% Vs. 23.0%, P<0.001; WHO - 37.3% Vs. 40.5%, P>0.05; NCEP-ATP III - 49.8% Vs. 33.1%, P<0.001). Prevalence of central obesity (using Asian cutoff values) was higher in women. (70.8% Vs. 35.5%, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of MetS is high in this community. Preventive measures towards reducing trie risks associated with MetS should be promoted.Item Cardiovascular risk in a Sri Lankan community(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2008) Ranawaka, U.K.; Wijekoon, C.N.; Pathmeswaran, A.; de Silva, L.D.R.; Gunasekara, D.; Chackrewarthy, S.; Mizoue, T.; Kato, N.OBJECTIVE: Identifying the cardiovascular disease (CVD) [coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke] risk in a community is important in planning preventive strategies, but such data are lacking from Sri Lanka. We sought to describe the CVD and CHD risk in a Sri Lankan community. DESIGN, SETTING AND METHODS: A community survey was conducted in the Ragama Medical Officer of Health area (Ragama Health Study) involving individuals aged 35-65 years, selected by stratified random sampling. Their 10-year CVD and CHD risks were estimated using three widely used risk stratification ALGORITHMS: Framingham score, NCEP-ATP III (National Cholesterol Education Program – Adult Treatment Panel III), and Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE). Results: In the study population (n=2985), 54.5% were females, and the mean age [SD] was 52.4 [7.8] years. According to the Framingham (CHD risk), NCEP-ATP III (CHD risk) and SCORE (total CVD mortality risk) criteria, 11.5%, 37.2% and 9.7% respectively were classified as 'moderate or high risk'. Risks were not significantly different between sexes, except with NCEP-ATP III criteria (M- 54.1%, F- 21%, p55y- 38%, p55y- 64.7%, p<0.001; SCORE: <55y- 9.0%, >55y- 14.6%, P