Acta Medica Philippina最新文献

{"title":"Features and Outcomes of Inflammatory Bowel Disease among Filipino Children in a Tertiary Hospital: An Eleven-year Review.","authors":"Pilarica I Caguiat-Jo, Germana Emerita V Gregorio","doi":"10.47895/amp.vi0.13189","DOIUrl":"10.47895/amp.vi0.13189","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), comprising Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and IBD-unclassified, is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, with up to 25% of cases presenting in childhood or adolescence. Although historically uncommon in Asia, the incidence of pediatric IBD in the region has been increasing, and disease phenotype appears to differ from Western populations. In the Philippines, data on pediatric IBD remain limited, with no comprehensive local studies describing its clinical features, subtypes, and outcomes.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To describe the clinico-demographic factors that are associated with remission and relapse rates in Filipino pediatric patients with IBD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Retrospective review of records of patients <19 years old with IBD from January 2013 to December 2023 in a tertiary government hospital. The clinical, biochemical, imaging, endoscopic, and histologic features, treatment, and outcomes were obtained. Chi-square and T-tests were done to compare the variables and odds ratios to check for associations; significance level set at <i>p</i> <0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Forty-seven (47) children (mean age 11 ± 5.46 years; 64% males) had IBD. Median age at diagnosis was 13 (IQR 8years). Twelve (25%) were very early onset IBD (VEO-IBD). Median duration of symptoms was 9 (IQR 4-20) months. Bloody stools were more common in UC and IBDU than in CD. Active perianal disease was seen in 30% of CD patients. For induction, UC and IBDU patients used mostly steroids and 5-ASA, while CD patients used mostly exclusive enteral nutrition and steroids. Only 30 patients had at least a 1-year follow-up. Twenty-seven (57%) went into remission within one year. Five CD patients underwent surgery. There was no difference in the 1-year steroid-free remission among the subtypes. One-year relapse rate was significantly higher in UC than in CD. VEO-IBD was associated with not achieving 1-year steroid-free remission (OR 20.8; <i>p</i> value 0.045). One-year relapse rate was associated with diagnostic delay (OR 13.6; <i>p</i> value 0.034), presence of wasting (OR 12.6; <i>p</i> value 0.029), and pancolitis in UC (OR 75; <i>p</i> value 0.043).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The majority of pediatric IBD has CD, with 25% VEO-IBD. 30% of CD had active perianal disease. All subtypes responded similarly to steroids. A higher relapse rate was associated with diagnostic delay, wasting, and pancolitis in UC patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":6994,"journal":{"name":"Acta Medica Philippina","volume":"60 11","pages":"23-37"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13426384/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148652863","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Stroke and Methamphetamine Use: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Maria Epifania V Collantes, Mykha Marie B Tabuzo","doi":"10.47895/amp.vi0.14242","DOIUrl":"10.47895/amp.vi0.14242","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Methamphetamine (MAP) use has been increasingly recognized as a potential risk factor for cerebrovascular disease; however, its association with different stroke subtypes and underlying mechanisms remains incompletely characterized.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aims to systematically review the recent literature on the association between MAP use and stroke, including ischemic and hemorrhagic subtypes, as well as related vascular and cardiac pathology.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic search of studies published between 2020 and March 2026 was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Data on study characteristics, participant demographics, MAP use, and outcomes were extracted, and risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Findings were summarized descriptively and synthesized narratively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eight (8) studies were included, primarily retrospective cohort studies. MAP-associated stroke patients were mostly males that are younger than non-users with fewer vascular risk factors and comorbidities. MAP use was associated with increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and ischemic stroke. Aneurysm-related studies demonstrated higher aspect ratios and rupture at smaller sizes, suggesting increased vascular instability. MAP use was also linked to cardiomyopathy and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, contributing to cardioembolic stroke risk, as well as a higher burden of cerebral small vessel disease. Despite these differences, clinical outcomes in some cohorts were comparable to those of non-MAP stroke populations.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>MAP use is associated with both hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke and is linked to alterations in vascular and cardiac pathology. These findings highlight a distinct clinical phenotype and underscore the need for prospective studies better to define risk, mechanisms, and long-term outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":6994,"journal":{"name":"Acta Medica Philippina","volume":"60 11","pages":"115-123"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13426380/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148652904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Caregiver Burden and Well-being of Caregivers to Hospitalized Filipino Children with Neurological Conditions: A Cross-sectional Study.","authors":"Lyra C Ceblano, Benilda C Sanchez-Gan, Patricia C Orduña","doi":"10.47895/amp.vi0.13192","DOIUrl":"10.47895/amp.vi0.13192","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Taking care of pediatric patients with neurological conditions in prolonged hospital stays can affect caregivers' health due to the demands of caregiving beyond daily parenting.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The study aimed to determine the association between caregiver burden and well-being among caregivers of hospitalized Filipino children with neurological conditions, and the prevalence rate of caregiver burden, and assess the subjective perception of well-being of caregivers attending to these patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted among 95 primary caregivers of pediatric patients with neurological conditions admitted to the Pediatric Neurology ward of the Philippine General Hospital from December 2024 to January 2025. Eligible participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering sociodemographic and clinical information, the Modified Caregiver Strain Index-Filipino (MCSI-F) to assess caregiver burden, and the World Health Organization-Five Well-being Index (WHO-5) to assess subjective well-being. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and univariable logistic regression were used for data analysis at a 0.05 level of significance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean age of participants was 35 years, with most being mothers (79%), female (87%), and unemployed (48%). The prevalence of caregiver burden was 59%, with 23% reporting severe strain. Impaired well-being was found in 92% of participants. Although caregivers with burden showed higher odds of impaired well-being (OR 4.91, 95% CI 0.93-25.76), the association was not statistically significant (p = 0.060). No caregiver or patient characteristic showed a significant relationship with burden or well-being.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>High prevalence rates of caregiver burden and impaired well-being, among caregivers of hospitalized Filipino children with neurologic conditions at a single tertiary center, were seen. Interventions such as periodic psychosocial and caring support and development of family-centered care plans may be considered to help decrease the burden of care in caregivers among this population.</p>","PeriodicalId":6994,"journal":{"name":"Acta Medica Philippina","volume":"60 11","pages":"7-22"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13426379/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148652857","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene-related Factors, Nutritional Status, and Sociodemographic Covariates with Urinary Iodine Concentration Levels among Filipino Women of Reproductive Age (15-49 Years): A Cross-sectional Study.","authors":"Vanessa Joy A Timoteo-Garcia, Carlos Bernard K Jacinto, Kim Leonard G Dela Luna, Ma Clara R Cabaluna, Denniese C Sy, Chanz Joshua G Acebuche, Raycha Lei Concess M Rama-Sabandal, Rowel C Malimban","doi":"10.47895/amp.vi0.13963","DOIUrl":"10.47895/amp.vi0.13963","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background and objective: &lt;/strong&gt;Iodine deficiency (ID) remains a public health concern in the Philippines. While the country has made progress in addressing ID, pockets of deficiency persist in specific population groups, such as the Filipino women of reproductive age (WRA), whose nutritional status is critical in supporting their own health and that of their children. It has been previously shown that factors related to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are potentially associated with ID. Thus, this study was conducted to determine the association of WASH-related variables with the levels of urinary iodine concentration (UIC), the primary indicator of recent iodine intake and iodine nutrition status, among Filipino WRA.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;A cross-sectional secondary analysis of nationally representative survey data was employed in this study. The data of 12,344 Filipino women aged 15-49 years old from the 2018, 2019, and 2021 Expanded National Nutrition Surveys (ENNS) were utilized and analyzed. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify WASH-related factors, nutritional status, and sociodemographic covariates as predictors of UIC levels in WRA of ENNS while holding other variables constant. Adjusted regression coefficients were reported. Survey weights were not applied in the analyses as the focus of the study was on determining associations and effect estimates.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Several factors were identified to be significantly associated with insufficient UIC status among the Filipino WRA, including late reproductive years, being married or having a partner, low wealth quintiles, no formal education or completion of elementary level, level 1 source of drinking water, no water treatment modalities, or the absence of an existing garbage disposal method. Upon fully adjusting for age groups, nutritional status, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status as covariates in the models, level 3 drinking water (adjusted effects = 14.02 μg/L; 95% CI: 6.28, 21.77; &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt;0.001), garbage disposal by a collector system (adjusted effects = 10.81 μg/L; 95% CI: 1.18, 20.44; &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.028), and household salt iodine concentration in ppm (adjusted effects = 0.96 μg/L; 95% CI: 0.79, 1.14; &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt;0.001) were significantly associated with increased UIC levels in WRA. Conversely, the use of bottled water (adjusted effects = -14.54 μg/L; 95% CI: -26.06, -3.01; &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.013) was associated with lower UIC levels.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;This study revealed that WASH-related factors influence UIC levels of Filipino WRA, including improved water access and the method of garbage disposal. Nutritional status, age, ethnicity, household wealth index, dwelling type, occupation, and household salt iodine content were also observed as significant factors. Hence, targeted WASH interventions, alongside salt iodization programs, should be prioritized to comprehensively address iodine deficiency a","PeriodicalId":6994,"journal":{"name":"Acta Medica Philippina","volume":"60 11","pages":"82-98"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13426383/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148652770","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predicting Blood Donor Retention Using the Random Forest Classification Algorithm: A Machine Learning Approach.","authors":"Marchel A Acilador, Ann P Opiña","doi":"10.47895/amp.vi0.13962","DOIUrl":"10.47895/amp.vi0.13962","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Maintaining a stable and safe blood supply remains a persistent challenge for blood collection agencies, particularly in settings where donor participation is influenced by behavioral and psychological factors. Identifying reliable predictors of blood donor retention is essential for improving donor management and sustaining blood services.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To develop and evaluate a Random Forest-based machine learning model for predicting blood donor retention using demographic, behavioral, and psychological data.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective cohort with a cross-sectional exploratory component was conducted among blood donors from the Department of Health-Regional Blood Center of Cagayan Valley. Data were obtained from two sources: retrospective records of 612 donors (2023-2025), which included demographic characteristics, blood type, and donation history, and a survey administered to 100 prospective donors to assess psychological factors such as motivation, attitudes, satisfaction, and perceived barriers. Behavioral features-donation frequency, recency, tenure, and total donation count-were derived from donation records. Psychological variables were analyzed using Principal Component Analysis and K-means clustering. Model performance was evaluated using accuracy, F1 score, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC-AUC).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Demographic and biological characteristics, including age, sex, and blood type, described the donor population but were not key predictors of donor retention. Behavioral indicators-particularly donation frequency, recency, tenure, and cumulative donation count-were the strongest predictors of continued donation. Psychological analysis identified distinct donor profiles, with most respondents exhibiting high motivation and satisfaction, and smaller clusters reporting lower satisfaction or greater perceived barriers. The Random Forest model demonstrated strong predictive performance, with an accuracy of 0.989, F1 score of 0.994, and ROC-AUC of 0.994.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Blood donor retention is driven primarily by behavioral engagement and psychological factors rather than demographic or biological characteristics. The Random Forest model effectively identifies donors likely to return, supporting targeted donor engagement strategies and improved resource allocation in blood service facilities.</p>","PeriodicalId":6994,"journal":{"name":"Acta Medica Philippina","volume":"60 11","pages":"38-48"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13426377/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148652897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pharmacist-led Review of Drug Utilization of Antipsychotic Medications in a Tertiary Government Hospital in Cebu City, Philippines.","authors":"Eden P Cesista, Marisol M Capul, Mark Niño B Melgo, Nestley Jell A Villagonzalo, Florencio V Arce, Gerard Lee L See","doi":"10.47895/amp.vi0.13710","DOIUrl":"10.47895/amp.vi0.13710","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Mental health remains a significant public health concern in the Philippines, with schizophrenia posing major burdens on individuals, families, and society. Antipsychotic drugs are still the most effective treatment. However, the prevalence of irrational drug use in psychiatric patients, including antipsychotic polypharmacy and non-adherence, has been associated with negative outcomes such as increased adverse effects, rehospitalization, higher cost, and impaired quality of life. To address this, drug utilization studies are crucial for developing strategies to optimize healthcare resource use, address drug use issues, promote rational prescribing, and improve patient access.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objectives: &lt;/strong&gt;The study evaluated the prescribing patterns of antipsychotic medications among inpatients with schizophrenia in a tertiary government hospital in Cebu City, Philippines, which aimed to identify patterns of drug use, potential drug therapy problems, and examine the appropriateness of use.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;The study utilized a retrospective observational design. A review of medical records was carried out from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022. Data collected includes patient demographics, diagnosis, and prescribed antipsychotic medications. Descriptive statistics in Microsoft Excel&lt;sup&gt;®&lt;/sup&gt; were used to report findings, and a Poisson regression model in IBM SPSS Software version 25 was used to analyze the data.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;A total of 109 patient medical records were screened, with 33 records selected based on the inclusion criteria. Risperidone (35.4%) was the most prescribed antipsychotic drug. A higher inclination towards the use of second-generation antipsychotics was observed than first-generation antipsychotics. Paliperidone palmitate injection had the highest consumption (4.8056 defined daily doses/100 bed days) among the antipsychotics. It was found that underinvestment in newer medications limits patient access. Significant relationships were found between the number of drugs per medication order and male gender (p = 0.002) and substance abuse disorder (p = 0.07). The average number of antipsychotic drugs prescribed per medication record was 1.97, while the average number of drugs per patient was 3.82. All the medications were prescribed by their generic names and sourced from the Philippine National Drug Formulary. Injectable drugs accounted for 19.05% of the total medications. Drug therapy problems, such as drug-drug interactions (82%) and therapeutic duplication (58%), were prevalent. There were substance use disorders (9.09%) as a comorbidity among patients studied.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;There is a prescribing trend towards second-generation antipsychotics, with risperidone being the most frequently prescribed antipsychotic medication. Utilization patterns of antipsychotics generally conformed to the WHO standard recommendations. This study hi","PeriodicalId":6994,"journal":{"name":"Acta Medica Philippina","volume":"60 11","pages":"65-75"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13426375/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148652914","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Relationship between HbA1c Levels and Leg Muscle Strength and Body Flexibility in Diabetes Mellitus Patients.","authors":"Juan Andre Kuistono, Nanny Djaya, Nelson Sudiyono","doi":"10.47895/amp.vi0.12148","DOIUrl":"10.47895/amp.vi0.12148","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia and insulin resistance. These conditions contribute to impaired muscle function, including reduced muscle strength and flexibility, which may adversely affect mobility. However, the relationship between glycemic control, as measured by HbA1c, and physical function remains underexplored, particularly in Indonesia.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To examine the association between HbA1c levels and leg muscle strength and body flexibility among patients with T2DM.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with T2DM in primary health care facilities in Penjaringan and Mangga Besar sub-districts. HbA1c levels were measured using the Clover A1c Self Analyzer. Leg muscle strength and body flexibility were assessed using the 30-second Chair Stand Test and Sit-and-Reach Test, respectively. Data were analyzed using the independent (unpaired) t-test to compare outcomes between HbA1c groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 30 respondents were included. HbA1c levels ranged from 6.6% to 14.0% (mean 9.54%). Leg muscle strength ranged from 6 to 16 repetitions (mean 10.8), while body flexibility ranged from 5 to 22 cm (mean 13.2). Higher HbA1c levels were significantly associated with lower leg muscle strength (mean difference = 2.53; 95% CI: 1.03-4.03; p = 0.0018) and reduced body flexibility (mean difference = 2.70; 95% CI: 0.04-5.36; p = 0.0466).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>HbA1c levels were significantly associated with both leg muscle strength and body flexibility among patients with T2DM. These findings underscore the potential impact of glycemic control on physical function.</p>","PeriodicalId":6994,"journal":{"name":"Acta Medica Philippina","volume":"60 11","pages":"76-81"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13426381/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148652829","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Philippine Clinical Practice Guidelines for Periodic Health Examination: Screening for Hearing Disorders.","authors":"Ryner Jose D Carrillo, Abigail S Salcedo, Jose Leonard R Pascual V, Lina Rose A Alcances, Kathryn Baltazar-Braganza, Karl Jeffrey E Murillo, Marie Gene Cruz-Tantoco, Mark Dale S Imbag, Ma Theresa M Collante, Charlotte Averill Y Tan, Marquis Von Angelo Syquio Go Joson, Ma Kriselda P Alonzo, Larissa Christia F Adique, Abigael C Andal-Saniano, Jaymilyn V Catangay-Ombao, Maria Teresita S Cucueco, Joanne Sebastiana M De Ramos, Elmer M Dela Cruz, Jan Alexeis C Lacuata, Cindy Canceko-Llego, Kimberly Mae C Ong, Hubert D Ramos, Maria Rina T Reyes-Quintos, Rosario R Ricalde, Talitha Karisse L Yarza","doi":"10.47895/amp.v60i10.12730","DOIUrl":"10.47895/amp.v60i10.12730","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>These Philippine clinical practice guidelines (CPG) were developed to guide healthcare professionals on screening for hearing disorders among apparently healthy children and adult Filipinos.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Following the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to CPG development recommended in the Department of Health Manual, the Task Force Steering Committee developed four key questions. The evidence review experts reviewed existing CPGs and appraised and summarized evidence. The multisectoral consensus panel reviewed the evidence summaries and developed recommendations during the <i>en banc</i> meeting. Three independent stakeholders reviewed the draft guidelines on the content, clarity, acceptability, applicability, and feasibility of the recommendations. Their feedback was taken into consideration by the steering committee before finalizing the CPG.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This CPG provides 10 recommendations based on four prioritized questions in the screening for hearing and vestibular disorders among apparently healthy children (from prenatal to school age) and adults.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The consensus panel recommended the screening for hearing and vestibular disorders in certain population groups, based on the available evidence, the burden of disease, the cost of the confirmatory testing, and its applicability to the population.</p>","PeriodicalId":6994,"journal":{"name":"Acta Medica Philippina","volume":"60 10","pages":"144-155"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13316244/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148358846","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"2021 Clinical Practice Guidelines on Periodic Health Examination.","authors":"Ian Theodore G Cabaluna, Maria Vanessa V Sulit, Myzelle Anne J Infantado-Alejandro, Howell Henrian G Bayona, Leonila F Dans","doi":"10.47895/amp.v60i10.12061","DOIUrl":"10.47895/amp.v60i10.12061","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objective: </strong>The first Philippine Guidelines on Periodic Health Examination (PHEX) provided evidence-based recommendations for prevention strategies in the Philippines, published in 2004. This 2021 clinical practice guideline (CPG) on PHEX aimed to update the previous PHEX recommendations to align with the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act. This CPG aimed to guide primary care providers, specialists, patients, and the general public and provide recommendations for safe, accessible, and cost-effective screening practices.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We followed the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach, including the GRADE Adolopment and Evidence-to-Decision framework (EtD). A multisectoral panel developed the recommendations by a formal consensus method upon evaluation of the evidence on benefits and harms, cost-effectiveness, patient values and preferences, acceptability, feasibility, and impact on equity. A conflicts of interest (COI) committee reviewed, evaluated, and managed the potential or declared conflicts of interest of this CPG's Task Force members.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The 2020 PHEX CPG had 23 recommendation statements. Strong recommendations were made to screen for the following conditions 1) Hypertension, 2) Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus using fasting blood sugar, 3) Adult obesity using Body Mass Index (BMI), 4) Unhealthy alcohol use in adults, 5) Tobacco smoking, 6) Colorectal cancer, and 7) Cervical cancer.Weak recommendations were developed to screen for the following: 1) Lipid disorder among adults with cardiovascular risk factors, 2) Type 2 DM using HBA1C, 3) Acute malnutrition in children, 4) Unhealthy alcohol use in adolescents, 5) High-risk sexual behavior, 6) Depression, and 7) Pulmonary Tuberculosis using chest X-ray.On the other hand, strong recommendations were also made AGAINST screening for the following: 1) Developmental delay using developmental screening tools, 2) Coronary artery disease using ECG, and 3) Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) using serum creatinine.Weak recommendations were also formulated AGAINST screening for the following: 1) Anemia using hemoglobin and/or hematocrit, 2) CKD using urinalysis, and 3) Lung cancer using chest X-ray.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This guideline encourages adherence without restricting clinical judgment or patient-specific considerations. It also informs payers and policymakers without serving as the sole basis for financial or legal decisions. The strong recommendations in this CPG can be used as quality-of-care indicators when evaluating primary care programs. The recommendation statements will be updated at least every three years or as new evidence emerges.</p>","PeriodicalId":6994,"journal":{"name":"Acta Medica Philippina","volume":"60 10","pages":"7-27"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13316251/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148359099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Philippine Clinical Practice Guidelines for Periodic Health Examination: Immunization for Adults.","authors":"Armin N Masbang, Rosally P Zamora, Jane Eflyn L Lardizabal-Bunyi, Roberto A Razo, Rommel B Punongbayan, Howell Henrian G Bayona, Alrenzo Ludwig B Domingo","doi":"10.47895/amp.v60i10.12775","DOIUrl":"10.47895/amp.v60i10.12775","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Immunization is very important in public health because it reduces the spread of infectious diseases. It has been an essential part of health care programs as it prevents and controls a wide range of vaccine-preventable diseases worldwide.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The main objective of this Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) is to provide evidence-based recommendations on immunization for the prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases among apparently healthy adults and those with high-risk conditions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We followed the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to CPG development recommended in the Department of Health Manual, including GRADE Adolopment and the GRADE Evidence-to-Decision or EtD frame-work. This CPG contains the systematic synthesis of scientific evidence on immunization for Cholera, <i>Haemophilus influenzae</i> type b (Hib), Hepatitis A, Herpes Zoster, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Influenza, Japanese Encephalitis, Measles, Meningococcal, Mpox, Pneumococcal, Rabies, Tetanus, Typhoid, and Varicella in the adult population.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The CPG provides forty-one (41) recommendations on prioritized questions regarding fifteen (15) vaccines.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The systematic review of evidence was used to assess each vaccine's efficacy, safety, and costeffectiveness. These recommendations can be used by relevant stakeholders, particularly in the public health units, those in primary care practice and the administrative sectors involved in implementing vaccination programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":6994,"journal":{"name":"Acta Medica Philippina","volume":"60 10","pages":"118-143"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13316248/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148359049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}