Expert Insight

Dementia affects over 57 million people globally, with numbers projected to triple by 2050 due to population aging. While Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dominates clinical focus and public attention, vascular dementia (VaD), the second most common subtype, poses its own set of diagnostic challenges, and a compelling opportunity for prevention through effective vascular risk management and multidisciplinary care.

In an interview with Professor Tan, Guang-Ming emphasized the value of adopting a localized CKM health framework—one that prioritizes early detection, fosters multidisciplinary collaboration, and drives systemic reforms to enhance patient outcomes and transforms the healthcare landscape.

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has become a groundbreaking treatment for hematologic malignancies, particularly in relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Building on its success in these indications, CAR-T therapy is now emerging as a promising option for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM), offering new hope for those with limited treatment options. However, the challenge of introducing CAR-T therapy into healthcare systems in Asia, is multifaceted. In an interview with Omnihealth Practice, Dr. Sivakumar Palaniappan, a consultant hematologist from Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia shed light on the region’s diverse healthcare landscape and the need for careful consideration of demographic, economic, and cultural factors to ensure broad and equitable access to this innovative treatment.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has historically been one of the most aggressive forms of leukemia and an oncological emergency, characterized by rapid progression and high early mortality rates.1 Traditional chemotherapy treatments often led to dismal prognoses, but the discovery of targeted therapies such as all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO) has revolutionized its management.1 The ongoing evolution of ATO formulations is highlighted by an Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia Asian Consortium (APL-AC) study, which examines the efficacy and safety of oral-ATO. This study underscores the potential of oral-ATO not only to enhance patient outcomes in APL but also to provide a more convenient and cost-effective option.2 In an interview with Omnihealth Practice, Dr. Gill Harinder Singh Harry, the study’s lead investigator, described how the development of an oral formulation of ATO has further transformed the treatment landscape, offering significant improvements in survival rates, quality of life (QoL), and healthcare resource utilization. 

Penicillin antibiotics are celebrated for their extensive bactericidal activity and overall safety, making them the most commonly prescribed antibiotics worldwide. However, the mislabeling of penicillin allergies poses a significant public health issue, especially in Mainland China. Current PST practices in the region have resulted in a concerning number of falsely labeled penicillin “allergies”. In an interview with Omnihealth Practice, Professor Philip H Li discussed a recent study from his team that critically examined the differences in PST practices between local and national settings. The study highlighted how non-evidence-based testing methods contribute to the high prevalence of incorrect penicillin allergy labels. Prof. Li also detailed the variations in testing practices, their public health implications, and potential strategies for reforming penicillin allergy management in China.

Recently, the IMACS released a set of international guidelines that offer a foundational overview of cancer risk stratification in IIM, along with corresponding screening strategies for each risk category. In an interview with Omnihealth Practice, Dr. So, Ho and Dr. Tang, Yan-Ki Iris discussed their recently published study, which evaluated the applicability and reliability of the IMACS guidelines within the local population of Hong Kong. They provided insights into the prevalence of IIM-related cancer in Hong Kong and shared a refined model on how these recommendations can be effectively implemented in the region. 

While the standard piecemeal transurethral resection of bladder tumor (SR) has been the conventional surgical procedure for NMIBC, oncological control remains subpar, prompting the development of alternative techniques such as en bloc transurethral resection of bladder tumor (ERBT). To examine the impact of ERBT on the prognosis of NMIBC, Professor Teoh, Yuen-Chun Jeremy and his team conducted a local phase 3 randomized controlled trial, EB-StaR, that compared the 1-year recurrence rate of NMIBC with ERBT to SR.4In an interview with Omnihealth Practice, Prof. Teoh discussed the implications of the results and the future of ERBT implementation

The Hong Kong College of Obstetricians and  Gynaecologists (HKCOG) has recently updated its guidelines on the prevention and screening of cervical cancer. The latest recommendations incorporated recent evidence on the role of co-testing with human papillomavirus (HPV)-based screening and cytology-based screening. In an interview with Omnihealth Practice, Dr. Wong, Ching-Yin Grace shared the rationale behind co-testing as the preferred testing modality in  The Family Planning Association of Hong Kong as it offers concurrent triaging. The combination of sensitivity with HPV tests and the specificity with cytology tests allows for a more lenient screening schedule for women in Hong Kong without compromising the benefit of cervical cancer detection.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare, yet potentially life-threatening, inheritable disease characterized by episodic attacks of cutaneous and submucosal swelling. Unfortunately, the adoption and implementation of international guidelines established in Asia-Pacific (AP) populations remains limited due to a lack of expertise, infrastructure, public awareness, and access. In an interview with Omnihealth Practice, Professor Philip Li, Board Director of the Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology (APAAACI) and lead author of a recently published epidemiologic study of HAE in the AP region, outlined the regional epidemiologic characteristics of HAE, current challenges and priority areas that require attention to optimize HAE management in the AP region. He also shared insights regarding the most recent Hong Kong-Macau Severe Hives and Angioedema Referral Pathway (SHARP) which offers guidance on patient stratification and referral strategies in patients with urticaria.