Medicine
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This repository contains the published and unpublished research of the Faculty of Medicine by the staff members of the faculty
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Item Long-term function after transanal versus transabdominal ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis: a multicenter cohort study(Wiely-Blackwell, 2019) Chandrasinghe, P.; Carvello, M.; Wasmann, K.; Tanis, P.; Warusavitarne, J.; Spinelli, A.; Bemelman, W.AIM:The novel transanal approach to ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (ta-IPAA) provides better exposure with lower short-term morbidity in ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of this study was to assess the long-term outcomes after ta-IPAA versus abdominal IPAA (abd-IPAA) in UC. METHOD:This is a multicentre cohort analysis between March 2002 and September 2017. Patient characteristics, surgical details and postoperative outcomes were compared. The primary end-point was CGQL (Cleveland Global Quality of Life) score at 12 months. RESULTS:374 patients (100 ta-IPAA vs 274 abd-IPAA) were included. Mean CGQL scores were comparable between the two groups (0.75 ± 0.11 vs 0.71 ± 0.14; respectively, P = 0.1). Quality of life (7.71 ± 1.17 vs 7.30 ± 1.46; P = 0.04) and energy level (7.16 ± 1.52 vs 6.66 ± 1.68; P = 0.03) were significantly better after ta-IPAA, while the quality of health item was comparable (7.68 ± 1.26 vs 7.64 ± 1.44; P = 0.9655). Stool frequencies (> 10/24 h:22% vs 21%; P = 1.0) and major incontinence rates (27% vs 26%; P = 0.89) were similar. Thirty-day morbidity rates (33% vs 41%; P = 0.2) and anastomotic leak rates were comparable (6% vs 13%; P = 0.09). CONCLUSION: This study, for the first time, provides evidence of comparable long-term functional outcome of ta-IPAA vs abd-IPAA for UC.Item Glycaemic control and avenues for improvement among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus from rural Sri Lanka – a retrospective cohort study(Elsevier, 2023) Mettananda, C.; Chathuranga, U.; Rathnayake, T.; Luke, N.; Meegodavidanage, N.BACKGROUND The majority of Sri Lankans and South Asians are rural dwellers but follow-up data on glycaemic control and its associations in rural communities are sparse. We followed up a cohort of hospital-based rural Sri Lankans with diabetes from diagnosis up to 24-months. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of people with type-2 diabetes (T2DM) diagnosed 24 months before enrolment who were being followed up at Medical/Endocrine clinics of five hospitals selected by stratified random sampling in Anuradhapura, a rural district of Sri Lanka from June 2018 to May 2019 and retrospectively followed them up to the diagnosis of the disease. Prescription practices, cardiovascular risk factor control and their correlates were studied using self-administered and interviewer-administered questionnaires and perusing medical records. Data were analysed using SPSS version-22. FINDINGS A total of 421 participants [mean age 58.3 ± 10.4 years, female 340 (80.8%)] were included in the study. Most participants were started on anti-diabetic medications in addition to lifestyle measures. Of them, 270 (64.1%) admitted poor dietary-control, 254 (60.3%) inadequate medication-compliance and 227 (53.9%) physical inactivity. Glycaemic control was assessed mainly on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) data were available in only 44 (10.4%). Target achievements in FPG, blood pressure, body mass index and non-smoking at 24-months following initiation of treatment were 231/421 (54.9%), 262/365 (71.7%), 74/421 (17.6%) and 396/421 (94.1%) respectively. INTERPRETATION In this cohort of rural Sri Lankans with type-2 diabetes mellitus, all were started on anti-diabetic medications at the diagnosis, but glycaemic target achievement was inadequate at 24 months. We identified the major patient-related reasons for poor blood glucose control were poor compliance with diet/lifestyle and/or medications and misconceptions about antidiabetic medications.Item Whole-body hypothermia, cerebral magnetic resonance biomarkers, and outcomes in neonates with moderate or severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy born at tertiary care centers vs other facilities: A nested study within a randomized clinical trial(American Medical Association, 2023) Thayyil, S.; Montaldo, P.; Krishnan, V.; Ivain, P.; Pant, S.; Lally, P.J.; Bandiya, P.; Benkappa, N.; Kamalaratnam, C.N.; Chandramohan, R.; Manerkar, S.; Mondkar, J.; Jahan, I.; Moni, S.C.; Shahidullah, M.; Rodrigo, R.; Sumanasena, S.; Sujatha, R.; Burgod, C.; Garegrat, R.; Mazlan, M.; Chettri, I.; Babu, S.P.; Joshi, A.R.; Swamy, R.; Chong, K.; Pressler, R.R.; Bassett, P.; Shankaran, S.IMPORTANCE: The association between place of birth and hypothermic neuroprotection after hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the association between place of birth and the efficacy of whole-body hypothermia for protection against brain injury measured by magnetic resonance (MR) biomarkers among neonates born at a tertiary care center (inborn) or other facilities (outborn). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This nested cohort study within a randomized clinical trial involved neonates at 7 tertiary neonatal intensive care units in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh between August 15, 2015, and February 15, 2019. A total of 408 neonates born at or after 36 weeks' gestation with moderate or severe HIE were randomized to receive whole-body hypothermia (reduction of rectal temperatures to between 33.0 °C and 34.0 °C; hypothermia group) for 72 hours or no whole-body hypothermia (rectal temperatures maintained between 36.0 °C and 37.0 °C; control group) within 6 hours of birth, with follow-up until September 27, 2020. EXPOSURE: 3T MR imaging, MR spectroscopy, and diffusion tensor imaging. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Thalamic N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) mmol/kg wet weight, thalamic lactate to NAA peak area ratios, brain injury scores, and white matter fractional anisotropy at 1 to 2 weeks and death or moderate or severe disability at 18 to 22 months. RESULTS: Among 408 neonates, the mean (SD) gestational age was 38.7 (1.3) weeks; 267 (65.4%) were male. A total of 123 neonates were inborn and 285 were outborn. Inborn neonates were smaller (mean [SD], 2.8 [0.5] kg vs 2.9 [0.4] kg; P = .02), more likely to have instrumental or cesarean deliveries (43.1% vs 24.7%; P = .01), and more likely to be intubated at birth (78.9% vs 29.1%; P = .001) than outborn neonates, although the rate of severe HIE was not different (23.6% vs 17.9%; P = .22). Magnetic resonance data from 267 neonates (80 inborn and 187 outborn) were analyzed. In the hypothermia vs control groups, the mean (SD) thalamic NAA levels were 8.04 (1.98) vs 8.31 (1.13) among inborn neonates (odds ratio [OR], -0.28; 95% CI, -1.62 to 1.07; P = .68) and 8.03 (1.89) vs 7.99 (1.72) among outborn neonates (OR, 0.05; 95% CI, -0.62 to 0.71; P = .89); the median (IQR) thalamic lactate to NAA peak area ratios were 0.13 (0.10-0.20) vs 0.12 (0.09-0.18) among inborn neonates (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.96-1.08; P = .59) and 0.14 (0.11-0.20) vs 0.14 (0.10-0.17) among outborn neonates (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.98-1.09; P = .18). There was no difference in brain injury scores or white matter fractional anisotropy between the hypothermia and control groups among inborn or outborn neonates. Whole-body hypothermia was not associated with reductions in death or disability, either among 123 inborn neonates (hypothermia vs control group: 34 neonates [58.6%] vs 34 [56.7%]; risk ratio, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.76-1.41), or 285 outborn neonates (hypothermia vs control group: 64 neonates [46.7%] vs 60 [43.2%]; risk ratio, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.83-1.41). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this nested cohort study, whole-body hypothermia was not associated with reductions in brain injury after HIE among neonates in South Asia, irrespective of place of birth. These findings do not support the use of whole-body hypothermia for HIE among neonates in LMICs.Item Survival following curative surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC) in the middle-aged population: data from a South Asian cohort(Springer, 2021) Vishwajith, P.; Chandrasinghe, P.; Gunasekare, K.; Gajasinghe, S.; Kumarage, S.BACKGROUND/AIM : Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth commonest cancer in Sri Lanka. Disease burden and survival among the middleaged population (50–70 years) with CRC is less studied. With the aging global population, this cohort has a high economic and a social impact. This study aims to analyse the survival pattern and contributing factors in a middle-aged patient cohort with CRC. METHODS: CRC patients managed with a curative intent between 1997 and 2020 at a specialised tertiary care unit were analysed. Demographic data, tumour characteristics and survival of the patients aged between 50 and 70 years was analyzed. Overall survival was compared with the younger (\50 years) and older ([70 years) populations with CRC using Kaplan–Meire curves. Individual variable analysis was performed to sought for significant association of survival with age, sex, tumour stage and tumour site. Multifactorial analysis was performed using Cox-proportional hazard model. RESULTS: A total of 411 patients between 50 and 70 years age group with CRC were analysed (mean 60.07 years; range—50–70 years, male—47.45%). Overall survival of the middle-aged population was significantly better (mean— 133 months, SE 6.84) compared to the elderly population (mean—58 month, SE = 7.74) but worse compare to the younger population (mean—167 month, SE = 10.81). Majority of the tumours (60.5%) in the middle-aged group were locally advanced on presentation ([T3). Tumor site and age at presentation were significant factors that influence survival in this age group. CONCLUSION: Middle-aged patients have a better mean overall survival than their older counterparts but fare worse compared to the younger age group. Tumor stage and age were the only factor that significantly influenced survivalItem Quality of life following curative surgery for colorectal cancer in a Sri Lankan cohort; North Colombo experience(Springer, 2021) Godahewa, S.; Gunasekare, K.; Gajasinghe, S.; Kumarage, S.; Chandrasinghe, P.BACKGROUND/AIM: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the 4th commonest cancer in Sri Lanka. It is increasingly approached with a curative intent due to the advancements in the surgical and medical management. This has resulted in a large cohort of cancer survivors that needs to be managed. Quality of life (QOL) and patient reported outcomes in CRC survivors assist in identifying and managing unique issues in this population. This study aims to describe objectively measured quality of life after surgery for colorectal cancer in a South Asian population. METHODS: Patients who underwent surgery for CRC and are currently disease free were included. QOL was assessed using the translated and validated SF36 questionnaire (Sinhala) along with patient complaints. SF36 components were aggregated into physical component summery (PCS) and mental component summery (MCS). Patient reported symptoms were categorized in to organ function, life style, and psycho-sexual. RESULTS: A Total of 100 patients completed the survey (median age—61 years; range 25–86, female—56%). Of the total 65% were rectal cancers while 35% were colon cancers. QOL assessment reported a PCS of 0.64 and a MCS of 0.67 (Max- 1.0). There was no difference in QOL between rectal and colon cancers (PCS: rectal—0.64 vs colon—0.63, P = 0.9; MCS: rectal— 0.65 vs colon—0.66) or based on follow-up period (\5 years vs[ 5 years; P = 0.3 and 0.9). Organ function related problems were reported by 69% and increased frequency was the main complaint (27%). CONCLUSION: The QOL of a Sri Lankan cohort of CRC survivors is described. QOL did not differ between rectal and colon cancers. Neither PCS nor MCS had significantly improved over time following surgery.Item Survival pattern and clinicopathological data from a South Asian cohort of young colorectal cancers treated with curative intent(Springer, 2021) Gunasekare, K.; Godahewa, S.; Vishwajith, P.; Gajasinghe, S.; Ekanayake, M.; Kumarage, S.; Chandrasinghe, P.BACKGROUND/AIM :Colorectal cancer (CRC) has the fourth highest incidence among cancers in Sri Lanka. Although CRC is considered as a disease of the elderly, currently there is a shift towards an increasing incidence of young cancers globally. Despite the increasing incidence there is a scarcity of data from the South Asian region. This study aims to analyze the clinicopathological features and long term survival of young CRC from a South Asian cohort of patients. METHODS: All patients treated for CRC at a tertiary care center from 1997 to 2017 were prospectively followed up. Demographics, tumour characteristics and survival data were recorded. Age less than 45 years at diagnosis was considered as a young cancer. Overall survival among the populations was compared using Kaplan-Mire survival curves. A P value of\0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 113 (16.5%) young cancers (Mean age 36.35; range 17–45; female 53.1%) were operated during the period. Rectum (60.2%) was the commonest site followed by the right colon (24.8%) and left colonic (15%) tumors. Adenocarcinomas of moderately differentiated variety (72.4%) was the commonest histological type. Seventy percent of cases had locally advanced disease (T3/T4) with 53.2% having positive nodal status. Of the total 27% received neoadjuvant treatment and 66.7% received adjuvant treatment. Young CRC patients had a significantly better overall survival compared to their older counterparts (P = 0.008). CONCLUSION Young cancers accounts for a significant proportion of the colorectal cancers in this cohort. Over 75% of the cancers were on the left colon and the majority was locally advanced disease. Overall survival of the young CRCs were better compared to the older population in this cohort.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(Public Library of Science, 2021) Thulani, U.B.; Mettananda, K.C.D.; Warnakulasuriya, D.T.D.; Peiris, T.S.G.; Kasturiratne, K.T.A.A.; Ranawaka, U.K.; Chakrewarthy, S.; Dassanayake, A.S.; Kurukulasooriya, S.A.F.; Niriella, M.A.; de Silva, S.T.; Pathmeswaran, A.; Kato, N.; de Silva, H.J.; Wickremasinghe, A.R.INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: There are no cardiovascular (CV) risk prediction models for Sri Lankans. Different risk prediction models not validated for 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 40-64 year-old participants from the Ragama Medical Officer of Health (MOH) area in 2007 by stratified random sampling and followed them up for 10 years. Ten-year risk predictions of a fatal/non-fatal cardiovascular event (CVE) in 2007 were calculated using WHO/ISH (SEAR-B) charts with and without cholesterol. The CVEs that occurred from 2007-2017 were ascertained. Risk predictions in 2007 were validated against observed CVEs in 2017. RESULTS: Of 2517 participants, the mean age was 53.7 year (SD: 6.7) and 1132 (45%) were males. Using WHO/ISH chart with cholesterol, the percentages of subjects with a 10-year CV risk <10%, 10-19%, 20%-29%, 30-39%, ≥40% were 80.7%, 9.9%, 3.8%, 2.5% and 3.1%, respectively. 142 non-fatal and 73 fatal CVEs were observed during follow-up. Among the cohort, 9.4% were predicted of having a CV risk ≥20% and 8.6% CVEs were observed in the risk category. CVEs were within the predictions of WHO/ISH charts with and without cholesterol in both high (≥20%) and low(<20%) risk males, but only in low(<20%) risk females. The predictions of WHO/ISH charts, with-and without-cholesterol were in agreement in 81% of subjects (ĸ = 0.429; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: WHO/ISH (SEAR B) risk prediction charts with-and without-cholesterol may be used in Sri Lanka. Risk charts are more predictive in males than in females and for lower-risk categories. The predictions when stratifying into 2 categories, low risk (<20%) and high risk (≥20%), are more appropriate in clinical practice.Item Adverse drug reactions in a cohort of Sri Lankan patients with non-communicable chronic diseases(Elsevier, 2017) Wijekoon, C.N.; Shanika, L.G.T.; Jayamanne, S.; Coombes, J.; Dawson, A.BACKGROUND: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) pose a major problem in medication use. This study was done to describe incidence, nature and associated factors of ADRs in a cohort of Sri Lankan patients with non-communicable chronic diseases (NCCDs). METHODS: The prospective observational data presented here are obtained as a part of a large study conducted in a tertiary-care hospital in Sri Lanka. In-ward patients with NCCDs were recruited systematically using the admission register in the ward as the sampling frame. All ADRs occurred during the index hospital admission and 6-month post-discharge period were detected by active surveillance. RESULTS: 715 patients were studied (females – 50.3%; mean age – 58.3±15.4years). 35.4% were aged ≥65years. Mean number of drugs prescribed per patient was 6.11±2.97. Most prevalent NCCDs were hypertension (48.4%), diabetes (45.3%) and ischemic heart disease (29.4%). 154 ADRs [33 (21.4%) during index hospital admission; 121 (78.6%) during 6-month post-discharge period) were detected involving 112 (15.7%) patients. 51.9%(80/154) of them were potentially avoidable. 47% (73/154) of ADRs were serious adverse events (SAEs); 13 were life threatening, 46 caused hospitalization and 14 caused disability. The most common causes for re-hospitalization due to ADRs were hypoglycemia due to anti-diabetic drugs (17/46), bleeding due to warfarin (6/46) and hypotension due to anti-hypertensives (6/46). ADRs were more common in elderly (34% vs 14.7%, p<0.001), in those who were on ≥5 drugs (25.9% vs 12.7%, p<0.001) and among those with diabetes (28.5% vs 15.6%, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS : Incidence of ADRs was high in the study population. A large proportion of them were SAEs. The majority of ADRs that required re-hospitalization were caused by widely used drugs and were potentially avoidable. Factors associated with a higher incidence of ADRs were age ≥65years, ≥5drugs in the prescription and presence of diabetes. The healthcare system in the study setting needs improvement in order to minimize ADRs.Item Opportunities for pharmacists to optimise quality use of medicines in a Sri Lankan hospital: An observational, prospective, cohort study(Wiley-Blackwell, 2017) Perera, D.M.P.; Coombes, J.A.; Shanika, L.G.T.; Dawson, A.; Lynch, C.; Mohamed, F.; Kalupahana, N.; de Silva, H.A.; Jayamanne, S.F.; Peters, N.B.; Myers, B.; Coombes, I.D.BACKGROUND: Quality use of medicines (QUM) has been identified as a priority in Sri Lanka. Aim: To identify opportunities to optimise QUM, and evaluate medication appropriateness and medication information exchanged with patients and carers on discharge in a Sri Lankan tertiary care hospital. METHODS: An observational, prospective, cohort study of patients systematically sampled from two medical wards. A research pharmacist determined their pre-admission medication regimen via interview at time of discharge. Issues of poor adherence and discrepancies between the pre- and post-admission medication regimens were recorded. Drug-related problems were categorised into opportunities to optimise drug therapy. The appropriateness of discharge medications was evaluated using a validated tool. The patient or carer was interviewed after discharge regarding the quality of medicine information exchanged in hospital. RESULTS: The 578 recruited patients were taking 1756 medications prior to admission, and 657 (37.4%) of these medications were not continued during admission. Opportunities to optimise drug therapy were identified on 1496 occasions during admission (median, 2.0 opportunities/patient), 215 opportunities, (14.4%) were resolved spontaneously by the medical team prior to discharge. The median score for appropriateness of medications on discharge was 1.5 per patient (interquartile range, 0.0–3.5). Of 427 patients surveyed after discharge, 52% recalled being asked about their medications on admission to hospital, 75% about previous adverse medication reactions and 39% recalled being informed about changes to their medications on discharge. CONCLUSION: Significant opportunities exist for pharmacists to enhance quality use of medicines for patients in the current hospitalbased healthcare system in Sri Lanka. © 2017 The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia.Item Is being barefoot, wearing shoes and physical activity associated with knee osteoarthritis pain flares? Data from a usually barefoot Sri Lankan cohort(Oxford, 2021) Atukorala, I.; Pathmeswaran, A.; Batuwita, N.; Rajapaksha, N.; Ratnasiri, V.; Wijayaratne, L.; de Silva, M.; Chang, T.; Zhang, Y.; Hunter, D.J.AIM: To identify the association between hours of being barefoot/wearing footwear, physical activity (PA) and knee osteoarthritis pain flares (KOAF). METHODS: Persons with a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis, who reported previous KOAF, were followed up in a 3 months long telephone-based case-crossover study. Exposures to risk factors were assessed every 10 days and whenever the participants experienced a KOAF. Conditional logistic regression examined associations of KOAF with following: hours of being barefoot/using footwear and PA performed (P < .05). RESULTS: There were 260 persons recruited, of whom 183 continued longitudinal follow up. Of them, 120 persons had at least one valid KOAF and control period. Participants were female (90%) with mean (SD) age and body mass index of 59.9 (7.0) years, 28.0 (5.0) kg/m2 respectively. Participants were barefoot for a mean duration of 12.7 hours (SD 4.6) and used footwear for 5.1 (SD 4.7) hours daily; 99% wore heel heights <2.5 cm. Duration of being barefoot, 1 and 2 days before, demonstrated reduced multivariate odds of KOAF (odds ratio [OR] = 0.85; 95% CI 0.80-0.90). Moderate PA performed 1, 2 days prior was associated with a significantly increased risk of KOAF (multivariate OR 4.29; 2.52-7.30 and OR 3.36; 2.01-5.61). Similarly, hours of using footwear 1 and 2 days before flare demonstrated increased odds of KOAF (OR 1.15; 1.07-1.23 and 1.10; 1.03-1.18). CONCLUSIONS: Increased duration of being barefoot 1 to 2 days before is associated with reduced risk of KOAF. Performing moderate PA 1 to 2 days before was associated with an increased risk of KOAF. KEYWORDS: knee osteoarthritis pain.