Current Issue

Volume 54, Number 2 February 2025

Research explores the latest advanced role, mechanism, treatment and safety of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in rheumatic diseases during pregnancy and application prospects of HCQ in preeclampsia.

Featured

iPARTY study: Increasing pre-exposure prophylaxis access and reach via telehealth for young men who have sex with men in Singapore 2022–2023

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection remains a significant global health challenge worldwide, with 39 million people living with HIV as of 2022.1 In Singapore, there were 209 newly diagnosed cases of HIV infections in 2023, a 3% increase from...

The efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation in papillary thyroid carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Malignant nodules account for 5–15% of all thyroid nodules and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) accounts for 85% of that.10 Most guidelines recommend surgery as the first-line treatment for PTC.11 However, surgery does carry a risk for complications, such as...

Premature ovarian insufficiency: When ovaries retire early

Illustration by LadyFingers Co. Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI, also known as primary ovarian insufficiency) refers to loss of ovarian activity before the age of 40 years, leading to hypergonadotropic hypoestrogenism and 4 months or more of menstrual disturbance.1 In ovarian...

Health-related quality of life in Singapore: Population norms for the EQ-5D-5L and EORTC QLQ-C30

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a multidimensional assessment of the impact of disease and treatment on physical, psychological and social aspects of individuals’ lives.1,2 HRQOL is an important outcome measure of healthcare interventions that is increasingly used in...

Mechanisms and roles of hydroxychloroquine in pregnancy in rheumatic diseases

With the prevalence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) around the world, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has once again come into public attention due to its potential therapeutic role in COVID-19. HCQ is a classic antimalarial drug that belongs...

Prevalence of complexity in primary care and its associated factors: A Singapore experience

As Singapore’s population ages, the incidence of non-communicable chronic diseases will rise in tandem.1 There exists a subset of individuals, oftentimes elderly with multiple chronic conditions, whose care needs are particularly complex.2 While there is no universal definition of...

Adolescent self-harm and suicide attempts: An analysis of emergency department presentations in Singapore

Within 3 years from 2019 to 2021, adolescent suicide rates in Singapore almost doubled from 5.35 to 9.14 per 100,000 population.1,2 This is against a backdrop of a silently brewing adolescent behavioural and mental health crisis locally and globally,...

Development and validation of the sarcopenia composite index: A comprehensive approach for assessing sarcopenia in the ageing population

The screening process for sarcopenia typically begins with tests of grip strength and walking speed, with muscle mass evaluated if these initial measurements reveal declines. Diagnostic cut-offs for these indicators are then applied to determine whether values are within...

Long-term survival and clinical implications of allogeneic stem cell transplantation in relapse/refractory lymphoma: A 20-year Singapore experience

Over the past few decades, a wide array of novel therapies has become available for the treatment of relapsed/refractory (R/R) lymphoma. Despite these advancements, outcomes and the durability of disease control remain poor for many patients. While autologous hematopoietic...

Epidemiology of paediatric intensive care unit admissions, deaths and organ donation candidacy: A single-centre audit

With advancements in medical care, mortality rates in critically ill patients have decreased substantially.1,2 Contemporary studies from developed countries report paediatric intensive care mortality rates of 2–3%3,4 in 2014 to 2019, whereas mortality in developing countries can be as...

Radiologic placement of totally implantable venous access devices: Outcomes and complications from a large oncology cohort

Long-term intermittent venous access has proven to be indispensable for oncology patients who require frequent intravenous (IV) infusions and repeated phlebotomies apart from facing the discomfort of frequent venepuncture.1 Totally implantable venous access devices (TIVADs) or ports are preferred...

Consensus guidelines for the management of treatment-naïve chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in Singapore (2024)

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is a lymphoid neoplasm characterised by clonal expansion of mature B-lymphocytes and has a characteristic immunophenotypic pattern. CLL prevalence varies considerably across populations. Although CLL is the most common leukaemia in adults in Western countries...

Call For Papers


The Annals is the official journal of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore. Established in 1972, Annals is the leading medical journal in Singapore which aims to publish novel findings from clinical research as well as medical practices that can benefit the medical community.

Published monthly online, the Annals is indexed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Science Citation Index Expanded, Current Contents/Clinical Medicine and SCOPUS. We are ranked in the first quartile in the competitive category of Medicine (General and Internal) (Clarivate 2023).

The rapidly ageing population and enlarging burden of chronic diseases require a proportionate emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention. A health system that is more data-driven and patient-centric, which leverages the innovative use of technology and digital solutions, will be areas warranting research attention and coverage. The Annals invites submission of manuscripts that advance the scientific basis of clinical knowledge, and the practice of medicine in Singapore and internationally. We welcome submissions that address challenges in the management of chronic diseases (e.g. cancer, cardiovascular diseases, ageing, diabetes mellitus and neurological diseases), and use of technology and digital medicine to improve patient care.

Papers of sufficient merits will be published. Authors will also be notified if their manuscripts are deemed not suitable for publication.

MOST CITED ARTICLES

“Leveraging ChatGPT to aid patient education on coronary angiogram”: Correspondence

Trends in fluid overload-related hospitalisations among patients with diabetes mellitus: The...

Consensus statement on Singapore integrated 24-hour activity guide for early childhood

MOST VIEWED ARTICLES

Prevalence of burnout among healthcare professionals in Singapore

Healthcare cost of patients with multiple chronic diseases in Singapore public...

Singapore tuberculosis (TB) clinical management guidelines 2024: A modified Delphi adaptation...

Periodontal disease and systemic health: An update for medical practitioners

Neck pain with prevertebral soft tissue thickening