向国大医院致谢 (Thank you, NUH)

​In a forum letter published in Lianhe Zaobao, Ms Qiu Xueling and her family expressed their appreciation for the doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and counsellors for taking good care of her mother, Mdm Chew Sai Hoon, during her stay at National University Hospital (NUH) for a bypass operation. In particular, Ms Qiu thanked Dr Kang Giap Swee, Senior Consultant, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, National University Heart Centre Singapore (NUHCS) and two House Officers, Dr Brandon Pee and Dr Lynn Ong. Ms Qiu shared that despite being under immense stress amid this pandemic, Dr Kang and team maintained timely and smooth communication with her family so as to keep them updated on their mother’s condition.

胆固醇 cholesterol 是健康杀手？(Is cholesterol a silent killer?)

​In the interview with 96.3 好 FM, Prof Tan Huay Cheem, Senior Consultant, Department of Cardiology, National University Heart Centre Singapore shared the causes of bad cholesterol levels and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in Singapore.

Hipertensi: Apa yang anda perlu tahu (What you need to know about hypertension)

​In the Q&A on hypertension, Prof Tan Huay Cheem, Senior Consultant, Department of Cardiology, National University Heart Centre, Singapore and Chairman, Singapore Heart Foundation, discussed the causes and effects of hypertension; why it is prevalent in the Malay community; and how the condition can be prevented and managed.  He also shared how one can monitor themselves at home to better manage their high blood pressure.

‘I was going to die’: Unvaccinated COVID-19 patient urges others to get jabbed after near-death experience

​Mdm Lee Sock Lee, a 43-year-old mother of four, was unvaccinated when she caught the coronavirus. Her condition deteriorated quickly and doctors made the call to initiate ECMO retrieval service for her at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital. She was transferred to National University Hospital for ECMO support which eventually saved her life.

“Mdm Lee was the first COVID-19 patient who needed the ECMO machine for heart failure in Singapore”, said A/Prof Graeme MacLaren, Director of Cardiothoracic Intensive Care, National University Heart Centre Singapore.  He shared that ECMO requires an experienced team of specially trained intensive care nurses, perfusionists, physicians and cardiac surgeons to set up and treat a critically ill patient.

Ch8 News also noted Dr Qian Qi, Associate Consultant, Department of Cardiac Thoracic & Vascular Surgery, National University Heart Centre Singapore as saying that ECMO was a resource-intensive treatment. 

Asst Prof Ramanathan K.R. Senior Consultant, Department of Cardiac Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, National University Heart Centre Singapore said that Mdm Lee’s prognosis was bad and she would have otherwise died, had it not been for ECMO. It was life-saving in her instance.

Asst Prof Lin Weiqin, Consultant and Clinical Director, Heart Failure Programme, Department of Cardiology, National University Heart Centre Singapore explained that Mdm Lee’s heart function has now resumed to normal and she will be returning in November for her follow-up appointment with a cardiologist.

Asst Prof Somani Jyoti, Senior Consultant, Division of Infectious Diseases, National University Hospital urged others to get vaccinated to protect themselves from getting very sick to prevent ICU admission.

• CNA, Video, 29 October 2021, Increasing requests for life-support machine to be used for COVID-19 patients 
• CNA, 29 October 2021, YouTube, "I almost died": A COVID-19 patient's near-death experience
• CNA, 29 October 2021, YouTube, COVID-19: NUHCS gets more requests to use "last resort" life support for patients
• 8world, 28 October 2021, 确诊当天就进加护病房 妇女鬼门关前感悟打疫苗多重要 (Admitted to ICU within the same day after getting a positive COVID-19 ART test result: Critically ill women realized the importance of vaccination）
• TODAY, 28 October 2021, Young and in good health, mother of 4 recounts her rapid deterioration after getting Covid-19
• The Straits Times, 28 October 2021, Page A5, Unvaccinated S'pore housewife, critically ill with COVID-19, put on heart-lung machine to save her life
• The New Paper, 29 October 2021, Page 1, Unvaccinated COVID-19 patient gets 'second chance in life'
• Lianhe Zaobao, 29 October 2021, Page 4, 心脏濒临衰竭存活率仅5% 家庭主妇未接种染疫 靠人工心肺逃出鬼门关 (Survival rate of heart failure is only 5%: Heart lung machine save critically ill housewife)
• BERITA MediaCorp, 28 October 2021, Permintaan meningkat bagi rawatan ECMO pesakit COVID-19 (Increasing requests for ECMO treatment for COVID-19 patients)
• AsiaOne, 28 October 2021, 'Vaccination could save your life': Woman, critically ill with Covid-19, put on heart-lung machine
• Times of News, 28 October 2021, 'Vaccination could save your life': Woman, critically ill with Covid-19, put on heart-lung machine 
• The Asian Parent, 28 October 2021, Why You Should Get Vaccinated: Covid Patient Shares Near-Death Story
• Sin Chew Daily, 28 October 2021, 出院才知一家六口皆染疫 未接种妇靠"体外心肺"救回一命 (ECMO saved life of unvaccinated women: Found out family of six tested COVID positive after she was discharged)

黄达天：谁来关心职业倦怠与过劳问题？(Huang Da Tian: Who will care about job burnout and overwork issues?)

​In a Lianhe Zaobao commentary, the author cited an earlier commentary by Prof Tan Huay Cheem, Senior Consultant, National University Heart Centre, Singapore (NUHCS), who highlighted the issues of burnout and challenges faced by doctors.

Experts advise young adults with underlying conditions to get jab

Prof Tan Huay Cheem, Senior Consultant, National University Heart Centre Singapore (NUHCS), said that those with underlying health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are far more likely to get severely ill or die from COVID-19 even if they are young, compared with those who have no underlying conditions. In a separate report by Shin Min Daily, Prof Tan advised that people who experienced myocarditis and pericarditis after the first or second dose of the mRNA vaccine are not recommended to continue the vaccination, but choose to vaccinate with other non-mRNA vaccine for their booster jabs.

Prof Teo Yik Ying, Dean of NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (SSHSPH), said that vaccination makes a difference between life and death and is even more important for those with such conditions, regardless of their age.

• Straits Times Online, 15 October 2021, Young adults should not delay Covid-19 vaccination, especially if they have underlying medical conditions: Experts
• Mediacorp 8world, 15 October 2021

Consult doctor before taking aspirin for primary prevention

​The Straits Times quoted Prof Tan Huay Cheem, Senior Consultant, Department of Cardiology, National University Heart Centre Singapore, who commented that it is uncommon among local doctors to prescribe aspirin routinely for patients above 60 – who have never had heart attack or stroke before – for primary prevention.

营造利于工作的环境 (Create an environment conducive to work)

​Commentary by Prof Tan Huay Cheem, Senior Consultant, National University Heart Centre Singapore (NUHCS) emphasised the importance of support and mental well-being for doctors. He highlighted that hospitals have been creating a conducive environment to train doctors and have made significant improvements in balancing work and quality of life in the past decade. Prof Tan emphasised that cultivating doctors with both ability and integrity is a long term endeavour and highlighted the need for greater awareness, care and societal support.

Heartening upsurge in cardiac medtech R&D

The article quoted Asst Prof Yeo Tee Joo, Consultant, Department of Cardiology, National University Heart Centre Singapore (NUHCS), who explained that there are more people who are now survivors of heart attacks and strokes. The more survivors there are, the more likely it is that there will be recurrence.

A/Prof Theodoros Kofidis, Head and Senior Consultant, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, NUHCS also mentioned SingValve and shared that it was developed as a heart valve implant made for the individual patient. Prof Kofidis added that it is the first of its kind globally, made in Singapore.  

• BioSpectrum Magazine, Volume 16, Page 18 - 22, October 2021

医生职业倦怠 (Doctor burnout)

​Commentary by Prof Tan Huay Cheem, Senior Consultant, National University Heart Centre, Singapore highlighted the issue of doctor burnout. Prof Tan explained that long working hours and fast-paced work have caused stress build-up and inevitable burnout among some doctor. He recalled his time as a trainee doctor who was responsible for all 44 patients in a ward. He shared that the long hours in the hospital made him physically and mentally exhausted. When he went for specialised training in cardiology, the workload became even heavier as there was a shortage of doctors. However, Prof Tan pointed out that all the hard work paid off as he is able to provide patients with the best care through years of knowledge and experience.

Health Matters - Catheter-based valve replacement for faster recovery in heart patients

​Dr Ivandito Kuntjoro, Director of Structural Heart Programme and Consultant at the Department of Cardiology, National University Heart Centre Singapore, discussed the implications of severe aortic valve stenosis in elderly patients and how catheter-based treatment with transcatheter aortic valve implantation has widen the treatment options for patients who are deemed too high-risk for open heart surgery. 8world featured an 94-year-old patient who went through the procedure and recovered well.

• Mediacorp 8world, 28 September 2021, 不开胸为94岁老翁植入动脉瓣 新技术降低心脏手术风险 (94-year-old man undergoes catheter-based treatment without opening hischest, new technique reduces the risks of surgery complications)

Why limb amputation is the dark side of diabetes many people don’t consider

A study led by principal investigator A/Prof Kavita Venkataraman from NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (SSHSPH) discovered that the risk of diabetes-related lower extremity complications (DRLECs) appears to be higher in Singaporeans compared to Westerners. A/Prof Venkataraman highlighted that it is not only elderly grandfathers who were likely to develop DRLEC; 13% of diabetics who developed the complications were below age 50 and the time it took for diabetes to progress to DRLEC is about 27 months. This is shorter than the average of about 31 months seen in older patients.

CNA also quoted A/Prof Andrew Choong, Consultant, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, National University Heart Centre Singapore, who said that it is important for diabetics to undergo regular foot screening and surveillance as part of their treatment. He added that closed-toe, well-fitting shoes are a must and daily foot checks are encouraged.

小毛病大问题：冠心病 (Body SOS: Ischaemic heart diseases)

​Mediacorp Channel 8’s health programme, “Body SOS”, featured Asst Prof Lim Toon Wei, Senior Consultant, Department of Cardiology, National University Heart Centre Singapore (NUHCS) who elaborated on some of the common symptoms and risk factors for ischaemic heart disease, as well as precautionary measures.

Do your heart good

​The Straits Times quoted Prof Tan Huay Cheem, Senior Consultant, Department of Cardiology, National University Heart Centre Singapore (NUHCS), who commented that coronary artery disease can occur in adults who overwork, lead an unhealthy lifestyle and have medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol. On the topic of overwork, Prof Tan said achieving optimal work-life balance is key to preventing premature death from overwork. He added that it is not just the individual who needs to be aware of this, but trade unions and the government should also be collectively involved in workers’ health.

• Straits Times Online, 31 August 2021, Dangers of overwork: Long hours and stress can lead to heart attack and stroke

压力与心脏疾病 (Stress and heart diseases)

​In an interview with 96.3好FM, Prof Tan Huay Cheem, Senior Consultant, Department of Cardiology, National University Heart Centre Singapore, discussed the impact of stress on our heart health. Prof Tan shared that stress may have acute and chronic impact. When one is under intense pressure or extremely angry, a large amount of adrenaline will be secreted and may cause the person to be in a state of heart attack. Prof Tan explained that the mechanism of heart attack, in this case, is different from the usual forms of heart attack as while the person is experiencing sudden heart failure, the blood vessels are fine and are not suffering from blockage. Prof Tan added that when a person is under long term stress, they may develop depression and neglect their health.