Varalak Srinonprasert

Prevalence of potentially reversible conditions in dementia and mild cognitive impairment in a geriatric clinic

Aim:  To examine the prevalence of potentially reversible conditions in dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients in a geriatric clinic.

Short‐term clinical outcomes in delirious older patients: A study at general medical wards in a university hospital in Thailand

Delirium, a common disorder in hospitalized older patients, frequently results in unfavorable consequences. Previous studies in different settings have provided conflicting results regarding clinical outcomes and mortality. We aimed to study three clinical outcomes – length of stay (LOS), in‐hospital mortality and 3‐month mortality – among delirious Thai older patients.

Prevalence and risk factors for chloroquine maculopathy and role of plasma chloroquine and desethylchloroquine concentrations in predicting chloroquine maculopathy.

To determine the prevalence and to identify the risk factors of chloroquine maculopathy (CM), and to evaluate the association of plasma chloroquine (CQ) and desethylchloroquine (DCQ) levels and CM.

Vitamin D insufficiency predicts mortality among older men, but not women: A nationwide retrospective cohort from Thailand: Vitamin D deficiency and death in men

Previous studies on the association between low vitamin D level and increased mortality mainly came from high‐income countries. The primary objective of the present study was to examine the effect of sex on the association between 25‐hydroxyvitamin D2 and D3 and mortality among community‐dwelling older people in Thailand.

Frailty index to predict all-cause mortality in Thai community-dwelling older population: A result from a National Health Examination Survey cohort

BACKGROUND Frailty is a clinical state of increased vulnerability from aging-associated decline. We aimed to determine if a Thai Frailty Index predicted all-cause mortality in community-dwelling older Thais when accounting for age, gender and socioeconomic status. METHODS Data of 8195 subjects aged 60 years and over from the Fourth Thai National Health Examination Survey were used to create the Thai Frailty Index by calculating the ratio of accumulated deficits using a cut-off point of 0.25 to define frailty. The associations were explored using Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS The mean age of participants was 69.2 years (SD 6.8). The prevalence of frailty was 22.1%. The Thai Frailty Index significantly predicted mortality (hazard ratio = 2.34, 95% CI 2.10-2.61, p < 0.001). The association between frailty and mortality was stronger in males (hazard ratio = 2.71, 95% CI 2.33-3.16). Higher wealth status had a protective effect among non-frail older adults but not among frail ones. CONCLUSIONS In community-dwelling older Thai adults, the Thai Frailty Index demonstrated a high prevalence of frailty and predicted mortality. Frail older Thai adults did not earn the protective effect of reducing mortality with higher socioeconomic status. Maintaining health rather than accumulating wealth may be better for a longer healthier life for older people in middle income countries.

Improving sixth year medical students' performance in knee arthrocentesis using a synthetic knee model

A knee arthrocentesis (KA) workshop using synthetic knee model was arranged for all sixth‐year medical students (MS) in our institute to ensure equity in receiving training. We evaluated confidence level and knowledge of KA and synovial fluid analysis testing pre‐ and post‐workshop for MS.