Ann Acad Med Singap
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Ann Acad Med Singap · May 2023
Comparative StudyComparison of four electrocardiographic criteria for the detection of cardiac abnormalities in Singapore athletes.
Sudden cardiac death in athletes is a rare occurrence, the most common cause being hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which increases the risk of sustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Most of these young athletes are asymptomatic prior to the cardiac arrest. Several electrocardiogram criteria such as the European Society of Cardiology group 2 Criteria changes, Seattle Criteria, Refined Criteria, and most recently the 2017 International Criteria, have sought to improve the accuracy of identifying these at-risk athletes during pre-participation screening while minimising unnecessary investigations for the majority of athletes at low risk.We aimed to compare the above four criteria in our Singapore athlete population to identify which criterion performed the best in detecting cardiac abnormalities on echocardiography. ⋯ The latest 2017 International Criteria performed the best as it had the highest specificity and positive predictive value, joint highest negative predictive value, and lowest false positive rate.
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Ann Acad Med Singap · May 2023
Risk and protective factors of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study in Singapore.
The main aims of the study were to: establish the average levels of psychological distress, suicidality and positive mental health (PMH); and examine their associated risk and protective factors in the population of Singapore during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ The findings highlight the negative impact of fear of COVID-19 infection, social distancing and isolation on the mental health of the population. Resilience and PMH were associated with lower psychological stress, and interventions to improve these characteristics can enhance mental health and well-being.
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Ann Acad Med Singap · May 2023
Impact of COVID-19 on mental health and social service provision in Singapore: Learnings from a descriptive mixed-methods study for future resource planning.
COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown measures have led to impact on the mental health and social service delivery, including the rapid adoption of digital solutions to mental healthcare delivery in Singapore. This study aims to rapidly document the quantitative and qualitative impact of the pandemic restrictions on mental health and social services. ⋯ Two key findings are distilled: (1) mental health and social services have been challenged to meet the evolving demands brought about by the pandemic; (2) more societal attention is needed on mental health and social services. The findings indicate a necessary need for extensive studies on COVID-19 that can inform policies to build a more pandemic-resilient nation.