Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects a patient’s quality of life. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the socio-demographic and disease profile factors associated with poor quality of life among patients with diabetes. The study was conducted at a primary health care clinic in Kuching between August to November 2010. Short Form - 36 (SF - 36) questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life of diabetic patients aged ≥ 18. A total of 142 respondents participated in the survey. After adjusting for age, those with no education scored lower at vitality (p=0.043) and emotional health (p=0.033) compared with those who have tertiary education. Those working in the private sector scored better for physical functioning (p=0.042) compared with pensioners and the unemployed. Patients with uncontrolled diabetes scored lower in the role-emotional domain (p=0.003). Participants who were on <3 (p=0.014) and ≥3 (p=0.024) oral medications had better score for role-physical than those on insulin. Those on insulin had worse score for bodily pain than those on oral medication only (vs <3 oral drugs, p=0.026; vs ≥3 oral drugs, p=0.001). Various socio-demographic factors, uncontrolled diabetes and insulin usage were found to have negative impact on a diabetic patient’s quality of life. Programmes addressing the physical and emotional needs of diabetic patients at the primary health care setting are essential to help improve their quality of life.

INTRODUCTIONBody mass index (BMI) has limited diagnostic performance due to its inability to discriminate between fat and lean mass. This study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of body fat percentage (BFP) against BMI in defining body composition.

METHODSA cross-sectional study was conducted on students aged 17-30 years in Melaka, Malaysia. Basic anthropometric measurements were acquired using a manual weighing scale, measuring tape and a fixed stadiometer. BFP was calculated using the United States Navy formula. Data was tabulated and analysed using Epi Info and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software. Pearson's correlation coefficient and Kappa values were used. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTSOut of the 490 subjects recruited, 43% of males and 24.6% of females were found to be overweight, while 14.3% of males and 7.8% of females were obese, when calculated using BMI. However, 8.9% of males and 22.8% of females were considered obese based on the BFP.

CONCLUSIONBFP plays a more important role in distinguishing between healthy and obese individuals, as it has a greater ability to differentiate between lean mass and fat mass compared to BMI.

Adipose Tissue ; pathology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Anthropometry ; methods ; Body Composition ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Models, Biological ; Obesity ; complications ; diagnosis ; Overweight ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Pengenalan : Pencemaran sungai di Malaysia pada masa ini berada di tahap yang kritikal dan amat membimbangkan dengan pelbagai masalah pencemaran sungai berlaku hampir setiap hari. Tahap pengetahuan, sikap dan tingkah laku individu memberikan impak yang besar terhadap isu pencemaran sungai. Oleh itu, kajian ini bertujuan untuk menilai tahap pengetahuan, sikap dan tingkah laku komuniti yang tinggal berhampiran Sungai Klang. Metodologi : Kajian keratan rentas yang menggunakan persampelan rawak mudah telah dilakukan untuk mengkaji tahap pengetahuan, sikap dan tingkah laku komuniti Sungai Klang terhadap pencemaran sungai. Responden kajian terdiri daripada penduduk kawasan setinggan dan penduduk kawasan perumahan biasa yang menetap berhampiran Sungai Klang. Kajian ini telah menggunakan borang soal selidik. Analisis deskriptif dan ujian t telah digunakan untuk menganalisis data. Hasil Kajian : Hasil deskriptif mendapati bahawa tahap pengetahuan (min=3.13, s.p.=0.40), sikap (min=3.28, s.p.=0.65) dan tingkah laku (min=2.96, s.p.=0.72) pencemaran sungai bagi penduduk setinggan adalah lebih rendah daripada penduduk perumahan biasa. Ujian t juga menunjukkan perbezaan yang signifikan (p<0.05) untuk tahap pengetahuan, sikap dan tingkah laku antara penduduk setinggan dan penduduk perumahan biasa. Rumusan Kesimpulannya, tahap pengetahuan, sikap dan tingkah laku pencemaran sungai komuniti Sungai Klang berada di tahap yang tidak memuaskan. Oleh yang demikian, tindakan perlulah diambil oleh pihak yang berkaitan untuk memantapkan lagi tahap pengetahuan, sikap dan tingkah laku penduduk berkaitan pencemaran sungai agar isu pencemaran sungai ini dapat diatasi.