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Biomedical subjects

H Agius-Muscat

Publications and source records attributed to H Agius-Muscat.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Recognition of asthmatic symptoms in the pediatric age group.

Asthma produces substantial morbidity in childhood. Under-diagnosis may lead to inappropriate treatment and prolonged periods of illness and absence from school. The results of a recent International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire study in Malta showed a higher prevalence of wheezy symptoms in the Central North Region. The present study was carried out to test the null hypothesis that there is no correlation between potential exposure to pediatricians (measured as pediatric private clinics/1000 childhood population/week) and percentage of children aged 13-15 years of age responding positively in the questionnaire to having had wheezy symptoms. A significant, positive correlation was found between potential exposure to pediatricians and percentage of children aged 13-15 years responding positively to having had wheeze in the previous year (p=0.009). A negative correlation was also found for severity of asthma (>12 attacks in the previous 12 months) and potential exposure to pediatricians (p=0.01). This is the first report of potential exposure to pediatricians influencing the regional incidence of asthma on a national basis. This skew may be caused by the greater exposure of pediatricians to patients with severe forms of asthma in a hospital setting, and hence a higher index of suspicion for the milder forms of the disease. Asthma may be less severe in regions where there are a greater number of pediatricians because of recognition of the condition with appropriate treatment and/or prophylaxis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Regional differences in birth prevalence of congenital heart disease in Malta.

AIM: Recent studies have shown a correlation between environmental pollutants and increased risk of selected congenital malformations. The South-East area of the Island of Malta is much more industrialised than the more rural North-West area. The aim of this study was to test the null hypothesis that there are no regional differences in Malta in the prevalence at birth of congenital cardiac malformations. METHODS: Live born infants with congenital cardiac malformations born between 1990 and 1994 were allocated to 10 areas, and thence to 2 regions of 5 areas each, so as to constitute North-West and South-East Malta. Official publications gave population totals and growth rates. Those infants with congenital cardiac malformations were then compared between the different regions using chi2 and the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of congenital heart disease at birth was 8.8/1000 live births. The birth prevalence for the South-East region (10.1/1000 LB--95% CI 8.4-12.3/1000 live births) was significantly higher than for the North-West (7.4/1000 live births--95% CI 6.0-9.0/1000 live births)--p=0.03, Odds ratio 1.38 (95% CI 1.05-1.80). The Mann-Whitney U test showed a significant difference in the distribution amongst the 10 defined areas (p=0.016). The Central-East area had the highest prevalence of cardiac malformations in the entire Island--p=0.02, Odds ratio 1.70 (95% CI 1.10-2.61). Demography showed an efflux of individuals from the South-East of Malta. CONCLUSION: The higher prevalence of congenital heart disease noted at birth in South-East Malta is unlikely to be due to genetic factors, as these would have migrated North-West along with the population movement. An environmental factor, therefore, seems more likely to be responsible for the increased predisposition to congenital heart disease in the South-East of Malta.

Birth Rate↗
PubMed1997

Outcome of unstable angina in patients with diabetes mellitus.

This prospective hospital-based, case-control study compares the outcome of unstable angina in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients and non-diabetic control subjects. One hundred and sixty-two diabetic patients and 162 non-diabetic control patients with unstable angina were entered into the study. The 3-month mortality was 8.6% (95% confidence interval, CI = 4.4-12.9%) in diabetic patients and 2.5% (CI = 0.1-4.9%) in control patients (p = 0.014). The 1-year mortality was 16.7% (CI = 10.9%-22.4%) in diabetic patients and 8.6% (CI = 4.4%-12.9%) in non-diabetic patients (p = 0.029). Diabetic patients received beta-blockade and underwent coronary angiography and angioplasty less frequently than controls; the frequency of unstable angina, of acute myocardial infarction, and coronary artery bypass grafting was similar in both groups at 1 year of follow-up. It is concluded that diabetic patients with unstable angina have a higher mortality than non-diabetic patients and that this difference is largely accounted for by early (first 3 months) mortality.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗