Conference Papers
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/6561
This collection contains abstracts of conference papers, presented at local and international conferences by the staff of the Faculty of Medicine
Browse
7 results
Search Results
Item Assessing motivation to lose weight: the psychometric properties of the Sinhala version of University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA) scale(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2023) Niriella, M.A.; de Silva, S.T.; Hapangama, A.; Baminiwatta, A.; Fernando, R.; Ediriweera, D.INTRODUCTION: Weight reduction through lifestyle modifications is an important component in the management of various chronic diseases. The degree of motivation to change has been shown to predict outcomes in weight reduction interventions. Thus, the availability of a validated self-report tool assessing the degree of motivation for weight management would be useful for both clinical and research purposes in Sri Lanka. OBJECTIVES: To examine the structural validity and internal consistency of the URICA for weight management in a sample of Sri Lankan adults with chronic medical conditions. METHODS: Standard procedures for cross-cultural adaptation of a questionnaire were followed in translating the 32-item URICA into Sinhala. The Sinhala version was administered to 208 patients aged 18-60 years attending outpatient clinical services for non-disabling chronic medical diseases. Psychometric testing included confirmatory factor analysis and the assessment of internal consistency (Cronbach α). RESULTS: The commonly accepted four-factor structure of URICA reflecting Prochaska and Di Clemente’s transtheoretical model (pre-contemplation, contemplation, action and maintenance) showed good model fit, after the removal of four items from the pre-contemplation subscale due to inadequate factor loadings (<0.4). In line with theory, factor correlations indicated that the pre-contemplation factor was inversely correlated with the other three factors, while the other three factors were positively correlated with one another. All four subscales showed good internal consistency (Cronbach α ranging from 0.73 to 0.89). CONCLUSIONS: The Sinhala version of a modified 28-item URICA was found to have sound psychometric properties as a measure of motivation for weight management among Sinhala-speaking adult patient.Item Should ‘Drug Related Problems’ remain unnoticed among patients with chronic kidney disease of uncertain aetiology?(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2023) Wickramasinghe, N.D.D.; Lynch, C.B.; Coombes, J.; Jayamanne, S.F.; de Silva, S.T.INTRODUCTION: Chronic kidney disease of uncertain aetiology (CKDu) is a major public health concern in Sri Lanka. CKDu patients often consume 10-12 drugs per day, which can result in drug-related problems (DRPs). However, emerging economies such as Sri Lanka have few safeguards in place to detect and report DRPs. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to introduce clinic-based pharmacy services to detect, address and report DRPs that occurred in CKDu out-patients. METHODS: A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in pre-dialysis CKDu stages 4 and 5 patients at outpatient renal clinics in Teaching Hospital, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. DRPs were identified in both groups at baseline. The control group received usual clinic care while the intervention group received medication counseling by a clinic-based pharmacist. DRPs were identified in both groups after 12 months. RESULTS: At baseline, there were 123 and 126 patients in the control and intervention groups, respectively. 133 and 147 DRPs were identified from 80 and 79 patients in the control and intervention groups, respectively. The median number of DRPs per patient was 1 (1-2) (p=0.458) for both groups. After 12 months, there were 101 and 98 patients in the control and intervention groups, respectively. 137 and 59 DRPs were identified from 57 and 33 patients in the control and intervention groups, respectively. The median number of DRPs per patient was 2 (1-3) and 1 (1-2) (p=0.029) in control and intervention groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: A “clinic-based pharmacist” counselling is a beneficial additional service for identifying and addressing DRPs occurring in patients with CKDu.Item Is splenic stiffness measurement(SSM) better than Baveno VII criteria to predict oesophageal and cardio- fundal varices in patients with compensated advanced liver cell disease (cACLD)?(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2023) de Silva, A.P.; Niriella, M.A.; Nishad, A.A.N.; Samarawickrama, V.T.; Jayasundara, H.; Ranawaka, C.K.; de Silva, S.T.; Withanage, M.; Ediriweera, D.; de Silva, H.J.INTRODUCTION: Liver and splenic stiffness measurements (LSM and SSM) using transient elastography (TE) are being increasingly used as a screening tool to predict varices. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to test the utility of Baveno-VII criteria (LSM>25kPa, LSM>20kPa with platelet count <130,000 and LSM>15kPa with platelet count <110,000) and SSM to predict oesophageal and cardio-fundal varices in a cohort of Sri Lankan patients with aALCD. METHODS: Consecutive patients with newly diagnosed Child’s class A cALCD (non-viral, BMI<30) were recruited prospectively. They underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy by an endoscopist followed by a Fibroscan by an operator who is unaware of endoscopy findings using ECHOSENS-Fibroscan-502 to measure LSM and SSM. Validity measurements of three Baveno-VII criteria and SSM values to predict oesophageal and cardio-fundal varices were calculated. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-four individuals were recruited [Mean (95%CI) age 61.4 (59.7-62.8) years, 110 males], and 106 had varices. Our results indicate that the three Baveno VII criteria had sensitivities of 61%, 63% and 42%, and specificities of 79%, 77% and 87%. SSM>30kPa alone or in combination with LSM>15kPa had sensitivity of 81&75%, specificity of 72&83%, PPV of 82&87%, NPV of 71&67% and accuracy of 78&78% consecutively to predict oesophageal and cardio-fundal varices. CONCLUSION: Baveno VII criteria had low sensitivity but high specificity to predict oesophageal and cardio-fundal varices. SSM>30kPa alone or in combination with LSM>15kPa seemed to predict oesophageal and cardio-fundal varices better.Item Epidemiology of chronic kidney disease in two tertiary referral centres in Sri Lanka(Journal of the Ceylon College of Physicians, 2019) Herath, H.M.N.J.; Perera, H.S.S; Karunathilaka, M.A.I.B.B.; Perera, U.M.S.; Bandara, D.M.P.; Samarasinghe, S.M.S.N.; de Silva, S.T.INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a major public health problem in Sri Lanka. The worldwide leading underlying causes for CKD are diabetes, hypertension and glomerulonephritis. There is regional variation in CKD prevalence in Sri Lanka due to the presence of a CKD of uncertain aetiology (CKDu). The objectives of our study were to identify aetiology, clinical stage and associated co-morbid diseases in patients with CKD referred to the Nephrology Service. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out over one-year at Colombo North Teaching Hospital (CNTH), Ragama and District General Hospital, Negombo, from May 2018. All data was obtained from CNTH Renal Registry. RESULTS: Data of 1147 patients were studied. Mean age was 61.8 (SD 13.6) years, 683 (59.8%) were male and the majority [969 (84.5%)] were from Gampaha District. The primary renal disease was diabetes in 645 (56.2%), hypertension in 251 (22%) and glomerulonephritis in 40 (3.5%). There were only 16 (1.4%) patients with CKD-u and none were from Gampaha district. 539 (47%) were in CKD stage III, 329 (28.7%) in stage IV and 147 (12.8%) in stage V; there was no significant difference in the mean age of patients in each CKD stage. The commonest co-morbidity was hypertension, present in 180 (15.7%) patients. CONCLUSION: The commonest causes of CKD in Gampaha district were diabetes and hypertension, with no cases of CKDu. Screening patients with diabetes and hypertension for CKD is mandatory. More research is needed in to CKD due to identifiable causes in the non-CKDu regions of the country, since this appears to be an emerging and under-appreciated problem.Item Validation of the World Health Organization/ International Society of Hypertension (WHO/ISH) cardiovascular risk predictions in Sri Lankans based on findings from a prospective cohort study(Ceylon College of Physicians, 2020) Thulani, U.B.; Mettananda, K.C.D.; Warnakulasuriya, D.T.D.; Peiris, T.S.G.; Kasturiratne, K.T.A.A.; Ranawaka, U.K.; Chackrewarthy, S.; Dassanayake, A.S.; Kurukulasooriya, S.A.F.; Niriella, M.A.; de Silva, S.T.; Pathmeswaran, A.P.; Kato, N.; de Silva, H.J.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: There are no cardiovascular(CV)-risk prediction models specifically for Sri Lankans. Different risk prediction models not validated among Sri Lankans are being used to predict CV-risk of Sri Lankans. We validated the WHO/ISH (SEAR-B) risk prediction charts prospectively in a population-based cohort of Sri Lankans. METHOD: We selected participants between 40-64 years, by stratified random sampling of the Ragama Medical Officer of Health area in 2007 and followed them up for 10-years. Risk predictions for 10-years were calculated using WHO/ISH (SEAR-B) charts with- and without-cholesterol in 2007. We identified all new-onset cardiovascular events(CVE) from 2007-2017 by interviewing participants and perusing medical-records/death-certificates in 2017. We validated the risk predictions against observed CVEs. RESULTS: Baseline cohort consisted of 2517 participants (males 1132 (45%), mean age 53.7 (SD: 6.7 years). We observed 215 (8.6%) CVEs over 10-years. WHO/ISH (SEAR B) charts with and without-cholesterol predicted 9.3% (235/2517) and 4.2% (106/2517) to be of high CV-risk ≥20%), respectively. Risk predictions of both WHO/ISH (SEAR B) charts with- and without-cholesterol were in agreement in 2033/2517 (80.3%). Risk predictions of WHO/ISH (SEAR B) charts with and with out-cholesterol were in agreement with observed CVE percentages among all except in high risk females predicted by WHO/ISH (SEAR B) chart with-cholesterol (observed risk 15.3% (95% Cl 12.5 - 18.2%) and predicted risk 2::20%). CONCLUSIONS: WHO/ISH (SEAR B) risk charts provide good 10-year CV-risk predictions for Sri Lankans. The predictions of the two charts, with and without-cholesterol, appear to be in agreement but the chart with-cholesterol seems to be more predictive than the chart without-cholesterol. Risk charts are more predictive in males than in females. The predictive accuracy was best when stratified into two categories; low (<20%) and high (≥20%) risk.Item Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease among older adults in urban Sri Lanka - Tip of the iceburg?(The International Society of Nephrology, 2015) de Silva, S.T.; Kasturiratne, A.; Chackrewarthy, S.INTRODUCTION: Prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing worldwide, mainly due to increasing diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HPT) in aging populations. Although these diseases affect many, data on population prevalence of CKD in Sri Lanka is scarce. However, a CKD of uncertain aetiology (CKDu), mainly seen in the North Central parts of the country, receives much attention. The prevalence of CKDu among adults in the affected areas was estimated to be 15.3% in 2012. Our objectives were to identify the prevalence of CKD in an urban adult Sri Lankan population and compare that to the prevalence of CKDu. METHODS: Subjects were randomly selected from the Ragama Health Study (RHS), an on-going community based research project of the Ragama Medical Officer of Health area with 3012 adult participants. Data was obtained using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Serum creatinine was tested and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the CKD-EPI formula. CKD was defined as eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73m2, using the KDIGO/KDOQI classifications. RESULTS: Of 301 participants with a mean age of 57.5 years (range 40-73 years), 178/301 (59.1%) were female. 43/301 had eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73m2, giving a CKD prevalence of 14.3% in our sample. 34/43 (79.1%) were in CKD Stage IIIA. 5/43 (11.6%) had only DM, 14/43 (32.6%) had only HPT and 13/43 (30.2%) had both DM and HPT, as probable aetiological factors for CKD. A cause of CKD could not be readily identified in 11/43 (25.6%). Patients with CKD were significantly older than 60 years (p<0.000), and were more likely to have DM (p<0.012), HPT (p<0.000), coronary artery disease (p<0.031) and hyperlipidemia (p<0.0230), compared to those without CKD. CONCLUSIONS: CKD prevalence in our sample was similar to the prevalence of CKDu in North Central Sri Lanka. As expected, DM and HPT were the primary associated co-morbidities. Most CKD patients were in stage IIIA, where early recognition and better control of co-morbidities are known to retard progression. CKD of known aetiology is under-recognized in Sri Lanka, and is probably as significant a problem as CKDu. Large population-based studies are needed to better understand the actual size of the problem.Item Prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and its risk factors in an urban adolescent cohort in Sri Lanka(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2015) Jayasinghe, Y.C.; Rajindrajith, S.; Kasturiratne, A.; de Silva, S.T.; Niriella, M.A.; Perera, K.R.; Subasinghe, S.K.C.E.; Kodisinghe, S.K.; Priyantha, T.A.C.L.; Vithiya, K.; Pathmeswaran, A.; de Silva, H.J.INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: High prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is reported among adults in Sri Lanka. Although limited data on childhood obesity is available, community prevalence of NAFLD and its risk factors among adolescents is unknown. We investigated the prevalence and risk factors for NAFLD in an urban adolescent birth cohort in Sri Lanka. METHODS: The study population consisted 14 year-olds, belonging to the birth cohort born in 2000, residing in the Ragama Medical Officer of Health area. NAFLD was diagnosed based on established ultrasound criteria. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure (BP) and total body fat distribution (TBF) estimates were made. Fasting blood sugar, serum insulin, fasting serum lipid and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were measured. Independent predictors of NAFLD were determined by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: 508 adolescents [263 (51.8%) girls] participated in the study. Overall 44 (8.7%) had NAFLD [22 (8.4%) girls]. 46 (18.8%) boys and 54 (20.5%) girls had a BMI above the equivalent of 23 kgm2in adults. 44 (17.1%) boys and 77 (29.3%) girls had elevated TBF. On multivariate analysis, having an elevated BMI [OR=10.1 (95% confidence interval: 3.9-29.2) and elevated TBF [OR=4.4 (95% confidence interval: 1.5-12.8)] were independently associated with NAFLD. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of NAFLD among adolescents in this urban Sri Lankan community is high, and is strongly associated with obesity and abnormal TBF. Despite elevated TBF being commoner in girls, we found no gender differences in prevalence of NAFLD among adolescents in this urban Sri Lankan community is strongly associated with obesity and abnormal TBF. Our findings emphasize the needs to access these risk factors through preventive and screening programs.