2.Singapore consensus statements on the management of obstructive sleep apnoea.
Leong Chai LEOW ; Chuen Peng LEE ; Sridhar VENKATESWARAN ; Michael Teik Chung LIM ; Oon Hoe TEOH ; Ruth CHANG ; Yam Cheng CHEE ; Khai Beng CHONG ; Ai Ping CHUA ; Joshua GOOLEY ; Hong Juan HAN ; Nur Izzianie KAMARUDDIN ; See Meng KHOO ; Lynn Huiting KOH ; Shaun Ray Han LOH ; Kok Weng LYE ; Mark IGNATIUS ; Yingjuan MOK ; Jing Hao NG ; Thun How ONG ; Chu Qin PHUA ; Rui Ya SOH ; Pei Rong SONG ; Adeline TAN ; Alvin TAN ; Terry TAN ; Jenny TANG ; David TAY ; Jade TAY ; Song Tar TOH ; Serene WONG ; Chiang Yin WONG ; Mimi YOW
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore 2025;54(10):627-643
INTRODUCTION:
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is common in Singapore, with moderate to severe OSA affecting around 30% of residents. These consensus statements aim to provide scientifically grounded recommendations for the management of OSA, standar-dise the management of OSA in Singapore and promote multidisciplinary collaboration.
METHOD:
An expert panel, which was convened in 2024, identified several areas of OSA management that require guidance. The expert panel reviewed the current literature and developed consensus statements, which were later independently voted on using a 3-point Likert scale (agree, neutral or disagree). Consensus (total ratings of agree and neutral) was set a priori at ≥80% agreement. Any statement not reaching consensus was excluded.
RESULTS:
The final consensus included 49 statements that provide guidance on the screening, diagnosis and management of adults with OSA. Additionally, 23 statements on the screening, diagnosis and management of paediatric OSA achieved consensus. These 72 consensus statements considered not only the latest clinical evidence but also the benefits and harms, resource implications, feasibility, acceptability and equity impact of the recommendations.
CONCLUSION
The statements presented in this paper aim to guide clinicians based on the most updated evidence and collective expert opinion from sleep specialists in Singapore. These recommendations should augment clinical judgement rather than replace it. Management decisions should be individualised, taking into account the patient's clinical characteristics, as well as patient and caregiver concerns and preferences.
Humans
;
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/diagnosis*
;
Singapore
;
Consensus
;
Adult
3.Pharmacogenomics in psychiatry: Practice recommendations from an Asian perspective (2024).
Shih Ee GOH ; Saumya Shekhar JAMUAR ; Siew Eng CHUA ; Derrick Chen Kuan YEO ; Jerome Hern Yee GOH ; Chee Hon CHIN ; Mohamed Zakir KARUVETIL ; Ee Lian LEE ; Daniel Shuen Sheng FUNG ; Giles Ming Yee TAN
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore 2024;53(12):734-741
INTRODUCTION:
Pharmacogenomic testing in psychiatry is an emerging area with potential clinical application of guiding medication choice and dosing. Interest has been fanned by commercial pharmacogenomic providers who have commonly marketed combinatorial panels that are direct-to-consumer. However, this has not been adopted widely due to a combination of barriers that include a varying evidence base, clinician and patient familiarity and acceptance, uncertainty about cost-effectiveness, and regulatory requirements. This review aims to examine recent updates in this field and provide a contextualised summary and recom-mendations for Asian populations in order to guide healthcare professionals in psychiatric practice.
METHOD:
A review of recent literature about current evidence and guidelines surrounding pharmacoge-nomics in psychiatric practice was carried out with particular attention paid to literature evaluating Asian populations. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation Evidence to Decision framework was applied. Consensus meetings comprising workgroup psychiatrists from the public and private sectors were held prior to arriving at the key recommendations.
RESULTS:
Pharmacogenomic testing should be mainly limited to drug-gene pairs with established clinical evidence, such as antidepressants and CYP2C19/ CYP2D6. Direct-to-consumer pharmacogenomic panels that assay multiple genes and analyse them via proprietary algorithms, are not presently recommended in Singapore's psychiatric setting due to inconclusive evidence on clinical outcomes.
CONCLUSION
Pharmacogenomic testing in psychiatry is not recommended as standard clinical practice. Exceptions may include concerns about drug concentrations or potential severe adverse drug reactions. Studies investigating newly identified drug-gene associations, and clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of utilising pharmacogenomic testing in psychiatry is encouraged.
Humans
;
Psychiatry/methods*
;
Pharmacogenetics
;
Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19/genetics*
;
Asian People/genetics*
;
Pharmacogenomic Testing/methods*
;
Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use*
;
Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6/genetics*
;
Practice Guidelines as Topic
;
Singapore
;
Mental Disorders/genetics*
;
Psychotropic Drugs/therapeutic use*
6.Insulin Therapy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Seng Kiong Tan ; Hwee Huan Tan ; Chee Fang Sum
The Singapore Family Physician 2021;47(1):12-16
Initiation of insulin therapy is challenging in the primary care setting without nursing support. Doctors have to prepare their practices to deal with these challenges in order not to delay insulin therapy when needed.
7.Attitudes toward artificial intelligence in radiology with learner needs assessment within radiology residency programmes: a national multi-programme survey.
Su Kai Gideon OOI ; Andrew MAKMUR ; Alvin Yong Quan SOON ; Stephanie FOOK-CHONG ; Charlene LIEW ; Soon Yiew SIA ; Yong Han TING ; Chee Yeong LIM
Singapore medical journal 2021;62(3):126-134
INTRODUCTION:
We aimed to assess the attitudes and learner needs of radiology residents and faculty radiologists regarding artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in radiology.
METHODS:
A web-based questionnaire, designed using SurveyMonkey, was sent out to residents and faculty radiologists in all three radiology residency programmes in Singapore. The questionnaire comprised four sections and aimed to evaluate respondents' current experience, attempts at self-learning, perceptions of career prospects and expectations of an AI/ML curriculum in their residency programme. Respondents' anonymity was ensured.
RESULTS:
A total of 125 respondents (86 male, 39 female; 70 residents, 55 faculty radiologists) completed the questionnaire. The majority agreed that AI/ML will drastically change radiology practice (88.8%) and makes radiology more exciting (76.0%), and most would still choose to specialise in radiology if given a choice (80.0%). 64.8% viewed themselves as novices in their understanding of AI/ML, 76.0% planned to further advance their AI/ML knowledge and 67.2% were keen to get involved in an AI/ML research project. An overwhelming majority (84.8%) believed that AI/ML knowledge should be taught during residency, and most opined that this was as important as imaging physics and clinical skills/knowledge curricula (80.0% and 72.8%, respectively). More than half thought that their residency programme had not adequately implemented AI/ML teaching (59.2%). In subgroup analyses, male and tech-savvy respondents were more involved in AI/ML activities, leading to better technical understanding.
CONCLUSION
A growing optimism towards radiology undergoing technological transformation and AI/ML implementation has led to a strong demand for an AI/ML curriculum in residency education.
9.Smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients with previously abnormal chest radiographs: missed opportunities for early diagnosis.
Lovel Corpuz GALAMAY ; Cynthia Bin Eng CHEE ; Kyi Win KHIN MAR ; Bih Qin LAU ; Yee Tang WANG
Singapore medical journal 2021;62(6):296-299
INTRODUCTION:
It is vital to diagnose and treat pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) early, in the interests of the patient and public health. At the Singapore Tuberculosis Control Unit (TBCU), it was not uncommon to discover abnormal chest radiographs (CXRs) predating their PTB diagnosis by months to years in the electronic medical records (EMRs) of sputum acid-fast bacilli smear-positive patients. Our study explored this observation.
METHODS:
The EMRs of sputum smear-positive PTB patients treated at the TBCU from January to July 2014 were viewed for abnormal CXRs preceding their PTB diagnosis. Information in the EMRs pertaining to the indication for the CXRs, radiological reports (including whether the possibility of PTB was stated) and action taken was captured.
RESULTS:
Of the 254 sputum smear-positive patients, 108 had previous CXRs in their EMRs, of whom 39 (36.1%) had previous CXRs compatible with PTB. Most of these were performed in tertiary institutions and for reasons unrelated to PTB. No action was taken in response to these CXRs in 24 (61.5%) patients. 27 (69.2%) patients had abnormal CXRs dating back more than six months, with 12 (30.8%) dating back more than 30 months before the PTB diagnosis. Patients aged ≥ 55 years were significantly more likely to have previous CXRs that were compatible with PTB.
CONCLUSION
PTB patients may be asymptomatic or have chronic indolent disease and remain undiagnosed for years. There is a need for vigilance within our healthcare system to seize opportunities for early diagnosis and treatment to prevent the spread of this infectious disease in Singapore.
10.Chapter of Gastroenterologists professional guidance for management of patients with liver disease in Singapore during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jason Pik Eu CHANG ; Yu Jun WONG ; Wei Lyn YANG ; Kieron Boon Leng LIM ; Poh Seng TAN ; Gim Hin HO ; Benjamin Cherng Hann YIP ; James Weiquan LI ; Chern Hao CHONG ; David Eng Hui ONG ; Tju Siang CHUA ; Charles Kien Fong VU ; Kok Ann GWEE ; Tiing Leong ANG ; Chee Kiat TAN
Singapore medical journal 2020;61(12):619-623
In this paper, we aim to provide professional guidance to clinicians who are managing patients with chronic liver disease during the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Singapore. We reviewed and summarised the available relevant published data on liver disease in COVID-19 and the advisory statements that were issued by major professional bodies, such as the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and European Association for the Study of the Liver, contextualising the recommendations to our local situation.
COVID-19/epidemiology*
;
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/therapy*
;
Chronic Disease
;
Hepatitis B, Chronic/therapy*
;
Hepatitis C, Chronic/therapy*
;
Humans
;
Liver Cirrhosis/therapy*
;
Liver Diseases/therapy*
;
Liver Neoplasms/therapy*
;
Liver Transplantation
;
Singapore/epidemiology*


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