OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to estimate the incidence of hypertension and determine the risk factors for hypertension among apparently healthy adult Filipinos.

This observational prospective community-based study included apparently healthy adult individuals aged 20–50 years from the Life Course Study in Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology (LIFECARE) Philippine cohort at baseline and followed-up after an average of four years. Sociodemographic data, psychosocial stress, and clinical and metabolic profiles were obtained and analyzed. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with the development of hypertension.

A total of 2,089 non-hypertensive participants were included, with 59% women and average age of 35 years (SD = 8.4). The incidence rate of hypertension was 38.1 per 1,000 person-years. The cumulative incidence of hypertension over a mean follow-up time of four years was 15.4% (95% CI = 13.9–17.0%). The risk of incident hypertension was higher among males (aHR=1.3, 95% CI: 1.0–1.8; p=0.044), ≥40 years old (aHR=3.9, 95% CI: 2.6–5.8; pCONCLUSION

The 4-year incidence rate of hypertension among apparently healthy adult Filipinos is high. Increased age, male sex, family history of hypertension, abdominal obesity, and high normal blood pressure were significantly associated with the development of hypertension.

Objectives: Community health workers (CHWs) fill in the insufficiency of health professionals in low-income countries. The CHWs’ roles include health education of their constituents whose health they likewise take care. This study aimed to describe the concept and understanding of diabetes among CHWs in the Philippines. Methods: Fifty female CHWs currently working in rural and urban areas participated in six focus group discussions with guidance from Kleinman’s eight questions. With the written informed consent of the participants, discussions were recorded and transcribed by the Research Assistant. A multi-disciplinary team manually analyzed the data. Disagreements were discussed among them and the physicians provided clinical analyses and explanations on the results. Quotations of an important point of view were also presented. Pseudonyms were utilized to uphold anonymity. Results: CHWs were aged 32 to 72 years; older participants reside in rural areas. Majority were married, housekeepers, and high school graduates. Some CHWs and their family were suffering from diabetes or dyabetis, the disease of the rich according to them. Its causes were food and lifestyle, and believed to be hereditary. Complications lead to death. Amputation was feared the most. Diabetes is incurable. Persons with diabetes should take maintenance medicines, and seek physicians’ and family’s help. Together with the patient, the family must decide on its management. Balanced diet, healthy lifestyle, maintenance medicines, food supplements, and herbal plants were perceived treatments. The internist should lower blood sugar level as well as prolong life span. Proper diet and regular check-up prevent diabetes. Conclusions CHWs’ concept and understanding of diabetes reflect some of the biomedical causes, effects, treatment, and prevention of diabetes as well as its social determinants. The efficacy and safety of herbal plants in the treatment of diabetes, however, should be further studied. Training on diabetes care should be provided to address their fears of amputation, insulin injection, and complications.
Community Health Workers ; Philippines

Objective: This study aimed to estimate the incidence of hypertension and determine the risk factors for hypertension among apparently healthy adult Filipinos. Methods: This observational prospective community-based study included apparently healthy adult individuals aged 20–50 years from the Life Course Study in Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology (LIFECARE) Philippine cohort at baseline and followed-up after an average of four years. Sociodemographic data, psychosocial stress, and clinical and metabolic profiles were obtained and analyzed. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with the development of hypertension. Results: A total of 2,089 non-hypertensive participants were included, with 59% women and average age of 35 years (SD = 8.4). The incidence rate of hypertension was 38.1 per 1,000 person-years. The cumulative incidence of hypertension over a mean follow-up time of four years was 15.4% (95% CI = 13.9–17.0%). The risk of incident hypertension was higher among males (aHR=1.3, 95% CI: 1.0–1.8; p=0.044), ≥40 years old (aHR=3.9, 95% CI: 2.6–5.8; p < 0.001), family history of hypertension (aHR=1.4, 95% CI: 1.1–1.7; p=0.007), abdominal obesity (aHR=1.4, 95% CI: 1.0–2.0; p=0.027), baseline systolic blood pressure (SBP) of at least 130 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of at least 80 mm Hg (aHR=5.1, 95% CI: 3.8–6.8; p < 0.001). Conclusion The 4-year incidence rate of hypertension among apparently healthy adult Filipinos is high. Increased age, male sex, family history of hypertension, abdominal obesity, and high normal blood pressure were significantly associated with the development of hypertension.
Human ; hypertension ; incidence

BACKGROUND

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by the cellular proliferation of one or more hematologic cell lines. Patients with MPN who are Philadelphia-negative such as those with Polycythemia Vera (PV), Essential Thrombocytosis (ET), or Myelofibrosis (MF) experience a cluster of symptoms related to the disease activity which can affect their quality of life.

This study aimed to explore the symptoms and symptom experience as well as lived experience of Filipino patients with MPN using a qualitative phenomenological approach to get a deeper understanding of the disease symptomatology.

Twenty-three patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms were purposively selected according to: 1) type of MPN (PV, ET, MF) 2) status of MPN disease (newly diagnosed vs. chronic) 3) age (≤50 years old; >50 years) and 4) sex (male vs. female). The investigators conducted key informant interviews using a semi-structured interview guide. Interview scripts and narratives were transcribed and analyzed using categorical aggregation and thematic analysis.

Twenty patients proceeded with the interview (8 PV, 6 ET, 6 MF). The meta-themes identified were 1) symptom experience and 2) disease perception. Three sub-themes under symptom experience were a) heterogenous and complex symptomatology; b) dynamic nature of symptoms; c) living and coping with symptoms. Three sub-themes under disease perception were a) struggle with the concept of the disease; b) anxiety and uncertainty; c) acceptance and hope. The most common symptoms experienced by the patients were fatigue, bone pain, and abdominal discomfort. Vascular symptoms specifically headache, numbness, and problems in concentration were commonly reported by patients with PV. Fever and weight loss were the least common. Sources of anxiety/uncertainty include the unpredictability of symptom occurrence and blood counts, the burden of taking maintenance medications, the financial burden of living with MPN, and the unpredictability of disease and complications.

Patients with MPN had heterogenous, co-occurring, and dynamic symptoms which affected their overall productivity both at home and at work. Patients with MF had the most symptom burden while patients with ET had the least. This study provided valuable insights on disease perceptions, sources of anxiety, and coping mechanisms of patients with MPN. A deeper understanding of the symptom experience and disease perceptions of the patients will enhance the physician-patient interaction especially when discussing management options.

Objectives: Adherence to clinical practice guidelines (CPG) has been shown to reduce inter-physician practice variation and improve quality of care. This study evaluated guideline adherence of physicians in two tertiary public hospitals to local CPG on COVID-19. Methods: This was a multicenter, retrospective chart review, rapid assessment method study. Guideline adherence and non-adherence (overuse and underuse) to 15 strong recommendations in the prevailing Philippine COVID-19 Living Recommendations were assessed among a sample of patients admitted in two centers from July to October 2021. Differences in adherence across COVID-19 disease severities and managing hospital units were analyzed. Results: A total of 723 patient charts from two centers were reviewed. Guideline adherence to dexamethasone use among patients with hypoxemia is 91.4% (95% CI 88.6 to 93.6) with 9.2% overuse. Tocilizumab was underused in 52.2% of patients with indications to receive the drug. There was overuse of empiric antibiotics in 43.6% of patients without suspicion of bacterial coinfection. Lowest adherence to antibiotic use was seen among patients with critical disease severity and those managed in the intensive care unit. None of the other non-recommended treatment modalities were given. Conclusion Management of COVID-19 in both centers was generally adherent to guideline recommendations. We detected high underuse of tocilizumab probably related to the global supply shortage during the study period and high overuse of antibiotics in patients without suspicion of bacterial coinfection. While the results of this study cannot be generalized in other healthcare settings, we recommend the application of similar rapid assessment studies in guideline adherence evaluation as a quality improvement tool and to identify issues with resource utilization especially during public health emergencies.
Guideline Adherence ; COVID-19 ; Quality Improvement

Background. The increasing prevalence of autism has significantly impacted the health care spending of many families worldwide. To date, families from low to middle-income countries are burdened with out-of-pocket spending as their local health care systems have yet to incorporate autism-related services into the health care infrastructure.

Objectives. This study aimed to determine the direct costs of diagnosing and caring for children with autism and analyze its impact on the Filipino family.

Methods. The cross-sectional study consisted of a self-administered questionnaire that looked at parents' employment status, family income, and the direct costs for consultations, diagnostic tests, therapy, education, and medications. Study participants were parents living with their child diagnosed with autism, ages 2 to 6 years old at the time of the study.

Results. One hundred fifty-eight parents participated in the survey for the cost of care for children with autism. Sixty-seven (42.4%) of parents received government or subsidized medical services for their children's consultation and/ or intervention, while the rest went to private centers or hospitals. The total costs for all evaluations that confirmed the autism diagnosis ranged from ?1,356 to ?44,634 and averaged ?7,411.80 per child. Overall, the mean cost of interventions post-diagnosis, including therapy, education, medications, and developmental evaluations for the first year, was ?38,868 or ?3,239 per month (21% percent of the monthly expenditures for a household with an income of ?15,000/month). The total cost of care per child was closely related to the family's revenue in the sample population. Families with higher incomes also had higher expenditures for autism-related services.

Conclusion. Autism imposes a significant economic burden on Filipino families, particularly the minimum-wage household earners who spent a higher proportion of their budget (21%) on autism-related services. The wide range of total costs for the care of the children in the study may be explained by the wide variability of the expenses for the services, differences in access to services, socioeconomic status, and the wide variation in needs of children with autism due to the nature of the condition.

Objectives: Adherence to clinical practice guidelines (CPG) has been shown to reduce inter-physician practice variation and improve quality of care. This study evaluated guideline adherence of physicians in two tertiary public hospitals to local CPG on COVID-19. Methods: This was a multicenter, retrospective chart review, rapid assessment method study. Guideline adherence and non-adherence (overuse and underuse) to 15 strong recommendations in the prevailing Philippine COVID-19 Living Recommendations were assessed among a sample of patients admitted in two centers from July to October 2021. Differences in adherence across COVID-19 disease severities and managing hospital units were analyzed. Results: A total of 723 patient charts from two centers were reviewed. Guideline adherence to dexamethasone use among patients with hypoxemia is 91.4% (95% CI 88.6 to 93.6) with 9.2% overuse. Tocilizumab was underused in 52.2% of patients with indications to receive the drug. There was overuse of empiric antibiotics in 43.6% of patients without suspicion of bacterial coinfection. Lowest adherence to antibiotic use was seen among patients with critical disease severity and those managed in the intensive care unit. None of the other non-recommended treatment modalities were given. Conclusion Management of COVID-19 in both centers was generally adherent to guideline recommendations. We detected high underuse of tocilizumab probably related to the global supply shortage during the study period and high overuse of antibiotics in patients without suspicion of bacterial coinfection. While the results of this study cannot be generalized in other healthcare settings, we recommend the application of similar rapid assessment studies in guideline adherence evaluation as a quality improvement tool and to identify issues with resource utilization especially during public health emergencies
Guideline Adherence ; COVID-19 ; Quality Improvement

Introduction: A demographic shift towards population aging is evident worldwide. This presents challenges particularly to low-income and middle-income countries like the Philippines. Understanding perceptions of aging, resilience, vulnerability, and gender identity will help prepare the health care system and social services in addressing the needs of the Filipino older population. Objective: To describe gender identity, perceptions of active aging, successful aging, resilience, and vulnerability among faculty and staff (working, retired) in an academic community in the Philippines. Methods: Survey and focus group discussions were conducted among working and retired faculty and staff aged 55 years old and above. Results, Analysis, and Discussion Almost all respondents had the same gender identity as their biological sex. There were differences in the respondents’ perceptions of active aging and successful aging and in their sources of strength and worries. Compared with retired respondents more working respondents believed that active aging meant being strong and physically active or being involved in sports. Female respondents thought that being socially active in their community and church was indicative of active aging. In contrast, male respondents equated being physically healthy with active aging. More working respondents and females (than retired and male respondents) thought that successful aging meant participating in community-based activities. In terms of vulnerability, differences were noted in the respondents’ sources of strength and worries. In general, retired respondents and female respondents said they got their strength from their grandchildren and from their religion. In contrast, working respondents and male respondents relied on their families for strength. It was also noteworthy that more retired respondents did not have any old agerelated worries compared with working respondents. Female respondents worried about their families while male respondents worried about death. Subjective nuances of being an older working or a retired employee in an academic community surfaced in the FGDs. The importance of context was evident in shaping the informants’ perceptions of active aging and frailty, and in their sources of worries and happiness. Overall, this paper adds to the body of knowledge about aging in the Philippines by studying a group of older Filipinos in an academic community. It showed that particular aspects of Filipino culture such as gender roles, religion, and close family ties permeate one’s life until he or she reaches old age. The results can help academic communities in policy formulation and program development to ensure that their older employees — throughout their life course — can adequately address vulnerability and resiliency needs to achieve active and successful aging.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Frailty ; Gender Identity ; Philippines ; Aging

Objective: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome among community health workers (CHWs) in selected villages in the Philippines. It also determined the association of urbanization and socio-demographic characteristics with hypertension, diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome among CHWs. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among CHWs who were actively rendering service from selected communities at the time of the study. Standardized interviews were conducted and clinical measurements were collected. Results: Of the total of 457 CHWs who participated, 96% were females with a median age of 50 years. The prevalence of hypertension in this population was 32.4%. Hypertension was found to be associated with older age [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 5.3, 95% CI: 3.2 to 8.8, p<0.001], obesity (aOR 2.4, 95% CI: 1.4 to 4.0, p=0.002) and alcohol consumption (aOR 1.7, 95% CI: 1.0 to 3.0, p<0.040). The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) was 13.6%. It was found to be more prevalent among CHWs who were at least 50 years old (aOR 2.7, 95% CI: 1.4 to 5.1, p=0.002), and those who spent at least 5 hours a day in sedentary activities (aOR 3.8, 95% CI: 1.1 to 12.7, p<0.033). Borderline to high total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and triglycerides (TG) were seen in 41%, 37% and 20%, respectively. Sixty percent had low high density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c). The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 52.3%. Conclusion Metabolic syndrome is prevalent among CHW participants, with obesity, hypertension and low LDL-c as the most common components present. The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in this population was not found to be significantly different between rural and urban areas after adjusting for other factors.
Community Health Workers ; Hypertension ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Metabolic Syndrome ; Cardiovascular Diseases

Objective: To explore the attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs of urban adult Filipinos on sunlight exposure as an initial step in the development and validation of a culturally-appropriate questionnaire. Methodology: Focus groups were conducted among urban Filipinos 19 years old and above (n=38). The transcribedresults underwent qualitative content and thematic analyses and were used to develop a conceptual framework. Results: Qualitative analysis revealed four main themes of sunlight exposure: internal influences, external influences,perceived benefits, and perceived risks. Both internal and external influences lead to perceived risks and benefits.Consequently, the perceived benefits (or lack) of sunlight exposure influence an individual’s attitude towards vitamin D supplementation; whereas the perceived risks of sunlight exposure influence an individual’s attitude towards the needfor sun protection Conclusion The attitudes, behaviors and beliefs of urban adult Filipinos on sunlight exposure are influenced by bothinternal and external factors, that in turn lead to perceived risks and benefits. An increased awareness of these factorsis necessary to establish future recommendations on proper sunlight exposure in this population. The study results willbe used to develop and validate a culturally-appropriate sunlight exposure questionnaire.
Urban Health ; Public Health ; Qualitative Research