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Hong Kong Med J 2005;11:431-6

Dietary fibre consumption has been shown to be markedly deficient in a number of Hong Kong children and adolescents. A local cross-sectional community-based study was conducted to study the prevalence of constipation in young children, and to explore its association with dietary fibre intake. Study findings are published in the December 2005 issue of Hong Kong Medical Journal.

Three kindergartens randomly selected from the eastern district of Hong Kong were involved in the study. Between October 2003 and January 2004, parents of children aged 3 to 5 years completed a specially designed questionnaire and a 3-day dietary record form to collect information on bowel function and dietary intake.

Of 778 children recruited, 561 complete sets of data were successfully obtained from the participating kindergartens. About 30% of children were found to be constipated, and the mean dietary fibre consumption was 4.1 g per day, corresponding to only 46% of the daily recommendation (The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a daily dietary fibre intake for children of 0.5 g/kg body weight, up to 35 g per day). Constipated children had a significantly lower dietary fibre intake of the daily recommendation than the non-constipated group. A family history of constipation was also related to its occurrence.

The authors concluded that further studies can help investigate the effect of increasing dietary fibre consumption on the prevention and management of constipation, as well as identify other factors contributing to childhood constipation.

Hong Kong Med J 2005;11:438-44

Diabetes mellitus is one of major public health concern in Hong Kong, and there are studies showing that its prevalence is even higher in elderly subjects. As one of complications of diabetes, retinopathy is potentially treated, for example by laser photocoagulation if detected early. Published in the December 2005 issue of Hong Kong Medical Journal, doctors from Family Medicine Training Centre, Department of Health have carried out a retrospective community-based study to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients, and to investigate the difference in retinopathy progression in patients with normal fundi or established retinopathy at baseline, and the risk factors implicated in the progression.

Ten local primary care clinics involving 6165 patients participated in this study from January 1998 to May 2004. Primary analysis included 4423 patients with good-quality retinal photographs. The study revealed that the prevalence of retinopathy at baseline was 28%. Subsidiary analysis showed progression to sight-threatening retinopathy was more common in the group with baseline retinopathy than that without (7.9% vs 0.7%), and occurred at a faster rate (mean, 1.5 vs 2.0 years). Authors also found out that the level of glycated haemoglobin was positively associated with both the onset and progression of retinopathy.

Optimal glycaemic control is important for reducing sight-threatening retinopathy. Close observation is required for patients with established retinopathy as progression occurs more rapidly.