The aim of this study was to measure craniofacial morphology and nasal respiratory resistance (NRR) in Malay, Indian and Chinese subjects with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). The sample consisted of 34 male subjects, 27-52 years of age (Malay n = 11, which included five mild and six moderate-severe OSA; Indian n = 11, which included six mild and five moderate-severe OSA; and Chinese n = 12, which included six mild and six moderate-severe OSA) diagnosed using overnight polysomnography. After use of a decongestant, NRR was recorded using anterior and posterior rhinomanometry. Standardized lateral cephalometric radiographs were used to record linear and angular dimensions. Malay subjects with moderate-severe OSA had a shorter maxillary (sp-pm) and mandibular (gn-go) length when compared with a mild OSA reference sample (P < 0.05). The hyoid bone was located more caudally in the Chinese moderate-severe subjects (hy-NL, hy-ML)(P < 0.05), and may be a useful diagnostic indicator for severity in this racial group. No pattern of differences for NRR was seen between the moderate-severe and mild OSA subjects. The consistently lower values for nasopharyngeal resistance in all the moderate-severe subjects when compared with the mild group may indicate that some compensation at this level of the airway had taken place. Strong positive correlations between craniocervical angulation (NL/OPT) and total airway resistance and the turbulent component of flow (k(2)) suggest that head posture is sensitive to fluctuations in airway resistance (P < 0.01).
Childhood obesity has been a growing concern in recent years. The extent of obesity in various ethnic pediatric populations including Chinese Americans has not been fully explored. In this study, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in a Chinese American pediatric population (6-19 years) was determined through a chart review of 4,695 patients from a large community health center in New York City. Demographic characteristics including sex, age and immigrant status were used in a logistic regression to determine risk factors for obesity in this community. Overall, 24.6% of the children studied were overweight or obese (defined as BMI > or = 85th percentile for age and sex). Among US born boys aged 6-12 years, the combined prevalence of overweight and obesity was found to be as high as 40%. Further studies are needed to understand the complex interplay of factors that contribute to obesity in pediatric immigrant groups.
BackgroundEducational interventions were necessary to clarify COVID-19 related misconceptions among Hong Kong older adults. Yet, face-to-face interventions were infeasible under the pandemic. The primary objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of a healthcare student-led, telephone-delivered intervention in educating older adults on COVID-19 related health topics. Feasibility, satisfaction level in subjects and impacts on volunteer students of the intervention were also explored. MethodsSubjects aged 65 or above were recruited from a community center in Yuen Long, Hong Kong. The telephone-delivered intervention consisted of 5 phone call sessions conducted by student volunteers. The first four sessions included pre-tests covering three COVID-19 related health topics. Standardized explanations were offered to all subjects during phone call. In the last session, post-tests on all themes were conducted. Paired t-test and McNemar’s test were used to measure the efficacy of intervention based on the differences in pre-tests and post-tests scores. The level of significance was 0.05. Subject satisfaction surveys and student feedback surveys were analyzed. This was a longitudinal study with no control group.Results Twenty-five subjects were recruited. Paired t-test results showed statistically significant improvement in test scores for all themes: from 76.0% to 95.3% (p<0.01) on Medication Safety, from 64.0% to 88.9% (p<0.01) on Healthcare Voucher, and from 78.0% to 93.0% (p<0.01) on COVID-19 Myth busting. McNemar’s test results showed an increase in correct rate for all questions. However, the improvement was not statistically significant in 65% of the questions due to small sample size and ceiling effect. Most subjects were satisfied with the program and improvement in mood after the program were reported. Student feedback survey suggested that the intervention enhanced students’ communication skills and understanding about older adults in Hong Kong.Conclusion Our pilot study offered initial evidence to suggest the efficacy and feasibility of telephone-delivered educational intervention in educating Hong Kong older adults and its benefits on student volunteers. Future studies should include a larger sample size and evaluate the ability of phone calls in improving subjects’ mental well-being.
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