Obesity is associated with more sick leave and lower quality of life among Malay male security officers

Obesity is a risk factor for chronic diseases which can affect work productivity and physical function of employees particularly among those in security sector. The study aimed to determine the association between obesity with total days of sick leave and health related quality of life (HRQoL) among Malay male security officers. A cross-sectional study was conducted among Malay male security officers working in a Malaysian higher learning institution. Subjects were evaluated using anthropometric measurements, quality of life and number of sick leave taken within two months prior to the study. A total of 194 subjects (mean age 40.12 ± 11.41 years) were recruited. A total of 30.4% were obese, 39.7% were pre-obese and only 29.9% had normal body weight or underweight. Central obesity was observed in 57.7% of them and 87.1% shown excessive body fat percentage. Number of sick leave days was positively correlated with Body Mass Index (BMI) (r = 0.162, p = 0.024) and waist circumference (r = 0.181, p = 0.012). Score of the general health component was negatively correlated with BMI (r = -0.161, p = 0.025), waist circumference (r = -0.194, p = 0.007) and body fat percentage (r = -0.191, p = 0.008). Physical functioning score was lowest in obese subjects than normal and pre-obese subjects (p = 0.046). Score of the bodily pain component was positively correlated with waist circumference (r = 0.156, p = 0.030). Obesity is associated with number of sick leave days and quality of life in the studied group. Hence, body weight of the security staff should be monitored and appropriate intervention should be conducted to improve their work attendance and quality of life

Nutritional Status and Nutritional Knowledge of Malay Pregnant Women in Selected Private Hospitals in Klang Valley

Adequate nutrition is important for mothers and their offspring during and after birth. This cross sectional study was conducted to determine nutritional status and nutritional knowledge of pregnant women from two selected private hospitals in Klang Valley, Malaysia. A total of 236 Malay pregnant women aged between 20 to 45 years old (mean age 31+5 years) were recruited through convenient sampling method. Socio-demographic data, nutritional knowledge and a 24-hours diet recall were obtained through a self-administered questionnaire. Anthropometric and haemoglobin data were obtained from the antenatal records in the respective hospitals. The percentages of participants who were underweight, normal, overweight and obese before pregnancy were 12.7%, 55.1%, 25.0% and 7.2% respectively. Among those who were obese before pregnancy, a total of 59.7% had inadequate weight gain, 24.6% gained adequate weight and 15.7% gained excessive gestational weight. About 33.5% of subjects were anaemic (Hb < 11.0g/dL). The mean daily energy intake of the participants was 1748 ± 526 kcal which was 76% of RNI. Calcium (73% of RNI), folic acid (36% of RNI), niacin (89% of RNI) and vitamin D (40% of RNI). The nutritional knowledge level of subjects was moderate (51.9 ± 13.8%). Lower monthly household income (p < 0.001), educational level (p < 0.001) and gestational stage (p < 0.05) of participants were associated with a lower nutritional knowledge level. Nutritional knowledge score was positively correlated with gestational weight gain (r = 0.166, p < 0.05) and haemoglobin level (r = 0.200, p < 0.05). Subjects who claimed practising food taboos had higher nutritional knowledge score (54.9 ± 12.5%) than those who did not (49.9 ± 14.4%)(p < 0.05). A comprehensive nutrition education should be integrated in the antenatal classes to improve nutritional status of pregnant women

Tahap kefungsian aktiviti kehidupan harian asas dan kualiti hidup warga tua penghidap diabetes

Diabetes merupakan penyakit kronik yang sering dikaitkan dengan aktiviti kehidupan harian asas yang terjejas, terutamanya dalam kalangan warga tua. Kemasukan ke wad bagi tujuan mendapatkan rawatan menjadi salah satu faktor penyumbang kepada kemerosotan tahap kefungsian aktiviti kehidupan harian sehingga menjejaskan kualiti hidup warga tua selepas discaj. Oleh itu, kajian in bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti tahap kefungsian melakukan aktiviti kehidupan harian asas, hubungan dengan kualiti hidup serta faktor yang mempengaruhi kualiti hidup di kalangan warga tua penghidap diabetes dalam wad. Kajian keratan rentas dilakukan ke atas 104 orang warga tua penghidap diabetes (min umur: 67.5 ± 9.2 tahun) yang sedang menerima rawatan pesakit dalam wad. Soal selidik bersemuka dijalankan dengan menggunakan instrumen Modified Barthel Index (MBI) untuk menilai tahap kefungsian aktiviti kehidupan harian asas manakala instrumen World Health Organization Quality of Life – BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) digunakan untuk menilai kualiti hidup. Hasil kajian mendapati hanya 37.5% (n = 39) responden dikategorikan pada tahap berdikari sepenuhnya. Domain menaiki tangga diikuti dengan ambulasi mencatatkan skor terendah berbanding dengan domain aktiviti kehidupan harian asas lain. Domain fizikal dalam penilaian kualiti hidup mencatatkan skor terendah berbanding domain lain. Terdapat korelasi positif yang signifikan (p < 0.05) di antara skor keseluruhan MBI dengan kesemua domain kualiti hidup; fizikal (rs = 0.70), psikologikal (rs = 0.50), sosial (rs = 0.33) and persekitaran (rs = 0.25). Analisis regresi berganda herarki menunjukkan skor MBI mempunyai pengaruh yang signifikan ke atas kesemua domain kualiti hidup, dengan pengaruh yang terbesar dalam domain fizikal iatu sebanyak 36.0% [F(1, 92) = 82.14, p < 0.01, R2 = 0.36]. Secara kesimpulan, kemasukan ke wad menjejaskan tahap keberdikarian dalam melakukan aktiviti harian asas serta aspek fizikal dalam kualiti hidup pesakit diabetes warga tua. Oleh itu, adalah penting bagi menyediakan rehabilitasi dalam perlaksanaan aktiviti kehidupan harian asas bagi warga tua sambil menjalani rawatan dalam wad bagi mengekalkan kualiti hidup selepas discaj