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Biomedical subjects

E H Kua

Publications and source records attributed to E H Kua.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

A questionnaire to screen for cognitive impairment among elderly people in developing countries.

Most questionnaires designed to assess cognitive impairment among elderly people are constructed in the West, where literacy is high. However, such questionnaires may not be applicable in developing countries because of cultural differences or low literacy. The Elderly Cognitive Assessment Questionnaire (ECAQ) is derived from items in the Mini-Mental State Examination and Geriatric Mental State Schedule. It is a satisfactory scale for quantitative assessment of cognitive impairment among elderly people living in developing countries. This 10-item questionnaire shows a sensitivity of 85.3%, specificity 91.5%, positive predictive value 82.8% and overall miscalculation rate 10.5%. In a sample of 105 elderly subjects from 2 day centres and a psychiatric outpatient clinic in Singapore, the ECAQ was compared with Kahn's Mental Status Questionnaire. The sensitivity of the scales was found to be similar but the ECAQ had a higher specificity and positive predictive value, and lower overall miscalculation rate.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1992

A cross-cultural study of suicide among the elderly in Singapore.

In the general population of Singapore the mean annual suicide rate over 1985-88 was highest in the Indians (20.4 per 100,000), followed by Chinese (15.8 per 100,000), and the Malays (2.4 per 100,000). However, in the elderly population (65 years and over) the rate was highest in the Chinese (61.2 per 100,000) with Indians second (30.5 per 100,000), and Malays still the lowest (3.2 per 100,000). Among elderly Chinese, women had a higher suicide rate than men.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

A community study of mental disorders in elderly Singaporean Chinese using the GMS-AGECAT package.

A random sample of 612 elderly Chinese aged 65 and over living in the community in Singapore was assessed with the community version of the Geriatric Mental State (GMS) and the data analysed by the AGECAT program to provide computerised diagnoses. The prevalence of organic disorder (dementia) was 2.3%, depression 5.7%, neuroses 1.5% and paranoid disorder 0.5%. The results were generally lower compared to the study of elderly people in Liverpool using the GMS-AGECAT package. Concordance between AGECAT and the psychiatrist's diagnoses for organic disorder, depression, neuroses and paranoid disorder achieved kappa values of 0.87, 0.88, 0.58 and 1.0 respectively.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Predicting the outcome of schizophrenia ten years later.

A total of 407 new admissions to Woodbridge Hospital, Singapore in 1975 with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were examined 10 years later to determine which variables were predictive of outcome. Useful predictors were marital status, duration of illness and Feighner's diagnostic criteria. Fairly useful predictors were age, sex and educational status. Race, family history, suicidal behaviour, thought disorder, affective blunting, delusions and hallucinations were not useful for predicting long term prognosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

The prevalence of dementia in elderly Chinese.

A stratified random sample of 612 Chinese aged 65 years and more and living in the community in Singapore was interviewed in 1985, using the Geriatric Mental State Schedule. The overall prevalence of dementia was 1.8%. The rate increased to 4.8% for those 80-84 years and 12.0% for those 85 years and more. An epidemiological survey of dementia in Beijing in 1986, also using the Geriatric Mental State Schedule, reported a similar rate of 1.8% for those 65 years and more. However, the prevalence of senile dementia was higher and multi-infarct dementia lower in Singapore than in Beijing.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

The functional status of elderly Chinese 75 years and older.

The functional status of a random sample of 180 elderly Chinese 75 years and older, living in the community in Singapore was assessed. The questionnaires used were the Older Americans Resources and Services (OARS) and the Geriatric Mental State (GMS) schedules. The subjects were divided into two age groups: (i) 75-79 and (ii) 80 years and above. On the social resources rating scale, 29.2% of the younger age group and and 22.4% of the older group had unsatisfactory social relationship or uncertain availability of help if needed. About 8.9% of the younger group and 23.9% of the older group needed assistance everyday in some activities of daily living. Moderate and severe impairment of mental health was noted in 22.1% and 26.9% of the two groups respectively. Only 1.7% of the sample had moderate and severe impairment in both social resources and activities of daily living. The significance of this study on needs and services for elderly people in the future, is discussed.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1990

Drinking habits of elderly Chinese.

A random sample of 612 elderly Chinese was interviewed on their drinking habits. About 36.5% never drank, 50.3% drank less than once a month, 10% between one and three times a month, and 3.2% four or more times a week. Only two subjects had symptoms of mild alcohol dependence with SADQ scores of 10 and 12, and another two had alcohol-related gastritis.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Depressive disorder in elderly Chinese people.

This is a study of the prevalence of depressive disorder among elderly Chinese people living in the community in Singapore. A total of 612 subjects were assessed using the Geriatric Mental State Schedule. The prevalence of depressive disorder was found to be 4.6%. The rate was higher among Chinese people between 65-74 years than among those 75 years and above, and also higher for females than males. The majority of cases were mild and the common symptoms were feelings of sadness, insomnia, headache, pessimism and tension. There was no depressive psychosis or mania.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

The health of elderly Chinese living in the community.

A stratified random sample of 1000 elderly Chinese was drawn from the electoral register of three constituencies, namely Tiong Bahru, Henderson and Bukit Merah. It was only possible to interview 612 subjects. The questionnaire included social resources, activities of daily living, mental health and physical health. The majority of elderly in the sample (79% young-old and 73% in old-old) had good or mildly impaired social resources, meaning that social relationships were satisfactory and at least one person would take care of him/her indefinitely on for short term. On activities of daily living, 2.3% of the young-old and 14.5% of the old-old were moderately or severely impaired and needed help daily. About 97% of the young-old and 87% of the old-old had good or mild impairment of physical health. Most subjects were in good mental health (92.2%). The prevalence of dementia was 1.8% and depressive disorder 4.6%. Senile dementia was more prevalent in the old-old (2.8%) than the young-old (0.5%).

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1990

Drinking problems.

This is a study of 54 patients referred for treatment of drinking problems. They were from two age groups--20 to 39 years and 40 to 59 years. More of the younger patients were referred by their families and older patients by their doctors or other health professionals. The younger patients had a mean duration of 8.2 years of drinking and were more severely dependent on alcohol (higher mean SADQ score). The older patients' mean duration of drinking was 14.1 years and had a lower mean SADQ score. More younger patients had work and family problems, but did not differ significantly from the older patients in alcohol-related physical or mental disabilities.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Psychological distress of families caring for the frail elderly.

In a study of psychological problems in 60 principal family carers of elderly patients, 12 (20%) were found to experience mild depression or anxiety. There was no significant difference in psychological distress between male and female carers, and between carers in the two age groups, 20-49 years and 50 years and above. Those carers who lacked social support had a greater propensity to develop anxiety or depression, but there was no association between psychological distress of carers and functional disabilities of the elderly patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Elderly suicide in Singapore.

The suicide rate in Singapore has remained at 9-11 per 100,000 over the past decade. Comparing the age specific suicide rate, elderly people (60 years and above) have a much higher rate (21.3 per 1000,000) than the young (5 per 100,000). The data also indicate that elderly men are more prone to kill themselves than elderly women. Risk factors in elderly suicide and preventive measures are discussed.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1989

Work stress and mental distress.

In a study of 14 managers and 25 workers who were referred for psychiatric treatment, the majority suffered from depressive illness (60%) or anxiety neurosis (28%). The main work problem of the managers was conflict with the employers (or directors), but for the workers the main problem was difficulty with fellow workers. The patients' scores on the Work Environment Scale (WES) indicated that the managers felt they had little supervisor support and work pressure was great. However the workers complained of poor peer cohesion but could get on well with the employers, and their work was not too taxing.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Suicide following parasuicide in Singapore.

Suicide was attempted by 1641 people (502 males and 1139 females) in Singapore during 1980. Eleven of these committed suicide during the following three years, giving a suicide rate of 0.67%. Of the eleven suicides, five had schizophrenia and three depression. The risk of suicide in the year following attempted suicide is lower in Singapore (0.5%) than in Britain (1.6%). High risk factors for the Singapore patients were being Chinese, being male, and having a mental illness.

Adolescent↗