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Prof. Thushara Matthias
Professor in Medicine and Consultant Physician
- General information
- Academic & Professional Qualifications
- Field/s of Expertise
- Research & Innovation
- Teaching
Department
Department of Medicine
thushara.matthias@gmail.com
Telephone
Office – +94 11 2881788 Ext: 4301
Academic Qualifications
- MBBS / 2009 / University of Sri Jayewardenepura / Sri Lanka
- MD / 2015 / University of Colombo / Sri Lanka
Professional Qualifications
- FRCP (UK) 2021 Diploma in UK Medical Practice 2017
Memberships in Professional Organizations
- CCP
- SLCIM
- SLMA
Awards
- Placed First (Out of 781 students) in the All Island Merit List of the Final MBBS exam (Main Batch) held in2009.
- Gold medals at the final MBBS (2009) 3 Clinical Medicine, Pediatrics, Gynecology and Obstetrics
- The best performance at the MBBS final year (2009)- Professor MTM Jiffry Gold medal
- Classes o Final MBBS examination (Sep 2009) – First Class o Third MBBS examination (January 2008) -First Class o Second MBBS examination (June 2005) – Second Class (Upper)
- Distinctions at MBBS (09 Distinctions) – Medicine, Pediatrics, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Pharmacology,Pathology, Community medicine, Microbiology, Forensic Medicine, Physiology
- Professor Senaka Bibile Scholarship in Pharmacology (2008): Awarded by the Department of Pharmacologytogether with The State Pharmaceutical Corporation of Sri Lanka and the State Pharmaceutical ManufacturingCorporation.
- Dyslipidaemia
- Non Communicable Disease
- Maternal Medicine
Research Interests
- Dyslipidaemia
- Maternal Medicine
ORCID ID and Link
https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0003-0240-4845
Google Scholar Link
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=1UcZtZEAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
Research Gate Link
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anne-Matthias
Research Grants Held
- Ceylon College of Physicians Research Grant 2019
- Ceylon College of Physicians Research Grant 2020
- SLMA Research Grant 2020
Publications and Scientific Communications
- Anne Thushara Matthias, Saroj Jayasinghe, Worsening economic crisis in Sri Lanka: impacts on health, Lancet Glob Health, 2022 May 12; S2214-109X (22)00234-0. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(22)00234-0.
- Matthias AT, Nihari Padmasiri MS, Kavindi Somathilake BG, Wijesekara Pathirana NS. Clinical inertia in lipid screening and prescribing statins for primary prevention: Experience from a low-to-middle income country. Int J Non-Commun Dis [serial online] 202, ;6:187-92. Available from: https://www.ijncd.org/text.asp?2021/6/4/187/334615, 10.4103/jncd.jncd_38_21
- Dyslipidaemia in Sri Lanka, AT Matthias, R Ekanayake, C Arambepola, International Journal of Noncommunicable Diseases, Vol 1 Issue 1 2022, DOI: 10.4103/jncd.jncd_14_22
- Matthias, A.T. and Padmasiri, M.S.M., 2021. Lipid screening and treatment after acute coronary syndrome – the chasm between guidelines and real-life practice in a tertiary care center in Sri Lanka. Journal of the Ceylon College of Physicians, 52(1), pp.20–25. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/jccp.v52i1.7927
- Matthias, A.T., 2021. Fish oil dietary supplements: a clinician’s point of view. Journal of the Ceylon College of Physicians, 52(1), pp.30–33. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/jccp.v52i1.7928
- Matthias AT, Fernando GVMC, Somathilake BGGK, Prathapan S. Predictors and patterns of polypharmacy in chronic diseases in a middle-income country. Int J Physiol Pathophysiol Pharmacol. 2021;13(6):158-165. Published 2021 Dec 15.
- Prathapan S, Fernando GVMC, Matthias AT, Bentota Mallawa Arachchige Charuni Y, Abeygunawardhana HMG, et al. (2020) The rising complexity and burden of multimorbidity in a middle-income country PLOS ONE 15(12): e0243614. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243614
- Matthias, A.T., Kaushalya, J., Somathilake, G. et al. Utilization of statins in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: the practice in a lower middle income South Asian country. Int J Diabetes Dev Ctries (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13410-022-01107-x
- “Quality of online information for the general public on Familial Hypercholesterolemia” has been accepted for publication in Health Education Journal. In press 2022
- Matthias, Anne & Dharani, Gam & Somathilake, Gayasha & Gunatilake, Saman. (2021). Patient preferences of how they wish to be addressed in a medical consultation – Study from Sri Lanka. The Asia Pacific Scholar. 6. 142-145. 10.29060/TAPS.2021-6-4/SC2489. https://doi.org/10.29060/TAPS.2021-6-4/SC2489
- Matthias AT, Padmasiri MSN, Dharani UGAN. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices on COVID-19 Among Medical Students in Sri Lanka. Asia Pac J Public Health. 2021 Feb 9:1010539521993663. doi: 0.1177/1010539521993663. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33562995.
- Young man presenting with clubbing-A case-based evaluation, YB Herath, J Indrakumar, AT Matthias – Journal of the Ruhunu Clinical Society, 2021
- Bandara, A.G.N.M.K., Matthias, A.T. Retinal involvement in acute thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: a case report. BMC Ophthalmol 20, 456 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-020-01719-z
- Matthias, A. T., Indrakumar, J., Ranasinghe, T., Wijekoon, S. & Yashodara, C. A Descriptive Study on Sepsis: Causes, Outcomes, and Adherence to Guidelines on Patients with Sepsis at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Sri Lanka. Biomed Res. Int. 2020, 7971387 (2020).
- Matthias A T, Suranjith L. Seneviratne. Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in South Asia.International Journal of Progressive Sciences and Technologies, [S.l.], v. 8, n. 2, p. 200-213, may 2018. ISSN 2509-0119. Available at: http://ijpsat.ijsht-journals.org/index.php/ijpsat/article/view/415
- A case of anterior spinal cord syndrome in a patient with unruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm with a mural thrombus Nilukshana Yogendranathan, M. M. T. B. Herath,W. D. Jayamali,Anne Thushara Matthias,Aruna Pallewatte andAruna Kulatunga, BMC Cardiovascular Disorders https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-018-0786-4
- A case report of dengue haemorrhagic fever complicated with psoas haematoma requiring blood transfusion Anne Thushara Matthias, Sanduni Apsara and Apsara Epa, BMC Infectious Diseases (2019) 19:385 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-019-4023-2
- Vithoosan S, Karunarathna T, Shanjeeban P, Piranavan P, Matthias T, Gamlaksha D, Liyadipita A, Kulatunga A. Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease associated with systemic lupus erythematosus complicated with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2019 Jun 6;13(1):173. doi: 10.1186/s13256-019-2100-1.
- Gastroenterology Picture Quiz, Journal of the Ceylon College of Physicians Volume 49, number 1 June 2018 ANR Fernandopulle, AT Matthias
- Verstockt, A.T. Matthias, K. Strongili, I. Cleynen, M. Parkes, P764 Response to thiopurines is independent of ATG16L1 genotype, Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis, Volume 11, Issue suppl_1, 1 February 2017, Pages S471–S472, https://doi.org/10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjx002.885
- Govindapala, D.S., Matthias, A.T., Manilgama, S. and Wanigatunge, C.A., 2020. COVID-19 and RAAS inhibitors: the controversy continues. Journal of the Ceylon College of Physicians, 51(1), pp.43–47. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/jccp.v51i1.7886
- Chamith Thushanga Rosa, M R Navinan, Sincy Samarawickrama, Himam Hamza, Maheshika Gunarathne, Arulprashanth Arulanantham, Neeha Subba, Udari Samarasiri,Thushara Mathias and Aruna Kulatunga, Bilateral rectus sheath haematoma complicating dengue virus infection in a patient on warfarin for mechanical aortic valve replacement: a case report, BMC Research Notes201710:26, DOI: 10.1186/s13104-016-2330-x
- T. Matthias, D.K.N. de Silva, J. Indrakumar, S.B. Gunatilake, Physical activity levels of patients prior to acute coronary syndrome – Experience at a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka, Indian Heart Journal, DOI: 10.1016/j.ihj.2017.08.020
- Matthias AT, Fernandopulle ANR, Seneviratne SL. Survey on knowledge of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among doctors in Sri Lanka: a multicenter study. BMC Research Notes. 2018;11:556. doi:10.1186/s13104-018-3673-2.
- A T Matthias, A L L Roshan, S B Gunatilake, Foster Foster Kennedy syndrome, Sri Lanka Journal of Neurology, Volume 3, Number 1, 2014
- L.L. Roshan, A.T. Matthias, J. Indrakumar, Osteomyelitis of the humerus as the initial presentation of Diabetes Mellitus, Journal of Diabetology, October 2014; 3:5.http://www.journalofdiabetology.org/
- H M M T B Herath, Anne Thushara Matthias, B S D P Keragala, W A E Udeshika, ArunaKulatunga,, Gastric dilatation and intestinal obstruction mimicking acute coronary syndrome with dynamic electrocardiographic changes. BMC CardiovascDisord, BMC CardiovascDisord 2016 Nov 29;16(1):245. Epub 2016 Nov 29.
- BMJ blogs: http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2016/11/22/thushara-matthias-caring-for-older-patients/
- Anne Thushara Matthias, RuvanEkanayaka. Precipitant profile of acute heart failure: experience of a tertiary level cardiac centre in Sri Lanka, Heart Asia 2013;5:86
- Anne Thushara Matthias, Dharmanbandhu Nandadeva Samarasekera. Preoperative anxiety in surgical patients – experience of a single unit. Acta Anaesthesiologica Taiwanica, Volume 50, Issue 1, Page 3, DOI: 10.1016/j.aat.2012.02.004
- Amila Rathnapala, Thushara Matthias and Saroj Jayasinghe. Severe lactic acidosis and acute renal failure following ingestion of metformin and kerosene oil. Journal of Medical Case Reports 2012, 6:18DOI:10.1186/1752-1947-6-18
- Anne Thushara Matthias, J Indrakumar, Competency of final year medical students in ECG Interpretation- an experience of a medical school in South Asia,Asian Student Medical Journal 13:1, 2013
- Anne Thushara Matthias, Poorna Nagasingha, Priyanga Ranasinghe, and Saman B Gunatilake BMC Med Educ. 2013; 13: 164. Published online 2013 December 9. doi: 1186/1472-6920-13-164
- Anne Thushara Matthias and Jegarajah Indrakumar Electrocardiogram artifact caused by rigors mimicking narrow complex tachycardia: a case report BMC Research Notes 2014, 7:80 doi:10.1186/1756-0500-7-80
- Padmalal Gurugama, Anne Thushara Matthias, Jeyanthi Rajkannah, Thambaiah Kandeepan, Jeganathan Indrakumar, Saman B GunatilakeStreptokinase in STEMI: ninety minute ECG for ST resolution; experience in an acute medical unit.Journal of the Ceylon College of Physicians, 2012,43,32-36.
- Anne Thushara Matthias, Jegarajah Indrakumar and Saman B Gunatilake, Ventricular trigeminy in a patient with serologically confirmed dengue haemorrhagic fever. International Archives of Medicine.2014, 7:28.DOI: 10.1186/1755-7682-7-28
- Anne Thushara Matthias, Niroshan C Lokunarangoda, Ruvan Ekanayaka. Knowledge assessment regarding secondary prevention of coronary heart disease- a multi centre survey. BMC Medical Education.2014, 14:113.DOI: 10.1186/1472-6920-14-113
Abstracts
- “Neurophobia Students and Doctors view”. Matthias AT, Nagasingha P, Gunatilake SB. Presentation at the 6th Congress of the Asian Medical Education Association (AMEA) organized by the International Medical University, Malaysia, held in Kualalumpur, Malaysia in March 2011
- Myocardial Reperfusion with Streptokinase in STEMI: Ninety Minute ECG for ST Resolution.Padmalal Gurugama, Thambaiah Kandeepan, Jeyanthi Rajkannah, Thushara Matthias, J. Indrakumar, Saman B Gunatilake. Presentation at the 124th Annual Scientific Sessions 2011 of the Sri Lanka Medical Association
- “Preoperative anxiety in surgical patients in a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka”. Thushara Matthias, DN Samarasekera. Presentation at the Annual Scientific Sessions of the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka – 2011
- “Neurophobia Students and Doctors view. Matthias AT, Nagasingha P, Gunatilake SB Presented at the Annual Academic Session of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura 2010.
- “Neurophobia Students and Doctors view”. Matthias AT, Nagasingha P, Gunatilake SB Presentation at the 4th Annual Sessions of the Association of Sri Lankan Neurologists 2010.
- Post Exposure Rabies Prophylaxis at Colombo South Teaching Hospital. Arsalingam A, Withana M, Matthias AT, Gunatilake SB. Presentation at the Annual Academic Session of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura 2010.
- Precipitant profile for acute heart failure: Experience of a tertiary level cardiac centre in Sri Lanka. AT Matthias, R Ekanayake. Presentation at the 125th Annual Scientific Sessions 2012 of the Sri Lanka Medical Association.
- ANR Fernandopulle, Benedict Sebastianpillai, AT Matthias, NMM Navarathne. Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia: endoscopic patterns, etiology and treatment options, Presentation at the 125th Annual Scientific Sessions 2012 of the Sri Lanka Medical Association.
- ANR Fernandopulle, Benedict Sebastianpillai, AT Matthias, NMM Navarathne. Results of endoscopic management of bleeding gastric varices with Cyanoacrolate glue in Sri Lankan patient population. Presentation at the 125th Annual Scientific Sessions 2012 of the Sri Lanka Medical Association.
- ANR Fernandopulle, Benedict Sebastianpillai, AT Matthias, NMM Navarathne Clostridium difficile infection in stools among patients presenting with exacerbations of inflammatory bowel disease. Presentation at the 125th Annual Scientific Sessions 2012 of the Sri Lanka Medical Association.
- “Foster Kennedy Syndrome in the 21st Century” -SLMA Monthly Clinical Meeting February 2014
- Verstockt B, Matthias AT, Strongili K, Cleynen I, Parkes M, Response to thiopurines independent from ATG16L1 genotype, abstract accepted for the ECCO 2017
- Subramaniam N, Matthias AT, de Zoysa MIM, Galappatthy, Seneviratne SL, Current practice of penicillin skin sensitivity testing in a tertiary care setting in Sri Lanka: wide variation in technique and interpretation of results, Presentation at the 49th Annual Academic Sessions 2016 of the Ceylon College of Physicians 2016.
- Verstockt B, Matthias A T, Strongili K, Cleynen I, Parkes M, Response to thiopurines is independent of ATG16L1 genotype presented at the Belgian Gastroenterology congress 2017
- Matthias A T, Fernandopulle A N R, Seneviratne S L, Survey on knowledge of Non alcoholic fatty liver disease ( NAFLD) among doctors in Sri Lanka – a multicenter study” Presented at the 27th Annual Conference of the Asia Pacific Association of the study of the liver disease 2018 in New Delhi March 14th – 18th
- Matthias A T, Fernandopulle A N R, Seneviratne S L, Survey on knowledge of Non alcoholic fatty liver disease ( NAFLD) among doctors in Sri Lanka – a multicenter study” Presented at the Annual Academic Sessions of the Ceylon College of Physicians 2017
- Fernandopulle ANR, Matthias AT, Nawarathne NMM, Study to describe the perception of fertility and related concerns in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) attending a Tertiary care Hospital in Sri Lanka, Presented at the IBD Summit, Hydrabad 2018
- Priyacharana M P, Indrakumar J, Matthias A T, Pathirana N S U U, Prevalence of high rsk for bstructive sleep apnoea in CLCD patients admitted to a tertiary care centre, Presented at the Annual Academic Sessions 2020 of the Colombo South Cinical Society.
- A T Matthias, Tharushi Ranasinghe, Charuni Mallawaarachchi, Shalini Wijekoon, J Indrakumar, Adherence to Surviving Sepsis Campaign bundle at a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka, Presented at the 133rd Anniversary International Medical Congress 2020
- Prathapan S, Fernando GVMC2, Matthias AT, Somathilake BGGK, The increasing burden and complexity of multimorbidity in Sri Lanka, Presented at the 133rd Anniversary International Medical Congress 2020
- A T Matthias, Padmasiri M.S.N, Pathirana N S W, Gayesha Somathilake, Statin eligible patient not receiving statins: an analysis of usage of statin for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease risk in Sri Lanka, Presented at the 133rd Anniversary International Medical Congress 2020
- S.W. Pathirana, J Indrakumar, T Matthias, P. Priyacharana, S.L. Wijekoon, B.M.A.C. Yashodara ,T.A.B. Ranasinghe, Risk of obstructive sleep apnea in patients with chronic liver cell disease admitted to a tertiary care center, Presented at the 133rd Anniversary International Medical Congress 2020
- A N R Fernandopulle, A T Matthias, Endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration in patients with pancreatic masses: A study to assess its efficacy and complications, Presented at the 133rd Anniversary International Medical Congress 2020
- Matthias, T. Ranasinghe, C. Mallawaarachchi, S. Wijekoon, J. Indrakumar, A study on adherence to surviving sepsis campaign bundle at a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka, International Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 101, Supplement 1, 2020, Page 217, ISSN 1201-9712, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2020.09.577.
- Padmasiri MSN, Dharani UGAN, Matthias A T, Knowledge, attitudes and practices on COVID-19 among medical students and pre interns in Sri Lanka, Presented at the CCP Annual Conference 2020, Journal of the Ceylon college of Physicians, Volume 51, Number 1 2020.
- Padmasiri MSN, Dharani UGAN, Matthias A T, Knowledge, attitudes and practices on COVID-19 among medical students and pre interns in Sri Lanka, Presented at the National Conference Organized by the National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka: COVID-19: Impact, Mitigation, Opportunities and Building Resilience
- Matthias AT, Fernando GVMC, Somathilake BGGK, Prathapan S Predictors and patterns of polypharmacy in chronic diseases in a middle-income, country: a study on polypharmacy in both primary and tertiary care, Presented at the Annual Academic Sessions of the Ceylon College of Physicians 2021
- Matthias A T, Kaushalya P D J, Somathilake G, Garusinghe C Prescription of statins in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: an audit at two tertiary care clinics, Presented at the Annual Academic Sessions of the Ceylon College of Physicians 2021
- Matthias AT, Dharani UGAN, Somathilake GK, Gunatilake SB, Patient preferences of how they wish to be addressed in a medical consultation – Study from Sri Lanka. Presented at the International Conference on Health Sciences 2021, University of Sri Jayewardenepura Sri Lanka
- Somawickrama DNM, Arachchi SSI, Liyanage SD, Sathsarani PVUA, Kuruppu ND, Matthias AT, Seneviwickrama KLMD Multimorbidity and Health Related Quality of Life among parents of medical students at Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Presented at the International Conference on Health Sciences 2021, University of Sri Jayewardenepura Sri Lanka
- Matthias AT, Kaushalya PDJ, Garusinghe C, Are patients with Type 2 DM achieving therapeutic targets at a Tertiary Care Hospital during COVID-19: experience from Sri Lanka, Presented at the International Conference on Health Sciences 2021, University of Sri Jayewardenepura Sri Lanka
- Matthias AT,PDJ Kaushlaya, Somathilake G, Garusignhe C. Prescription of statins in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Are we following the guidelines? Presented at the 14th International Research Conference of the General Sir John Kothalawela Defence University 2021
- Mathias AT, Dharani UGAN, Somathilake GK, Gunatilake SB , Patient preferences of how they wish to be addressed in a medical consultation – study from Sri Lanka Presented at the 134th Anniversary International Medical Congress 2021 of the Sri Lanka Medical Association.
- A survey on knowledge about familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) among doctors in Sri Lanka: a multicenter study presented at the SIMCON 2021, Anne Thushara Matthias, Mullage Don Thivanka Chandramal Gunarathne, Batheegama Gamarachchige Gayasha Kavindi Somathilake
- Post-acute COVID-19 symptoms in patients who have been discharged from a tertiary care hospital, Indrakumar J, Matthias AT, Wanigasuriya R, De Silva R, Presented at the 5th SIMCON 2021
- Wickramathunga PGCK, Anapalahan JP, Lakmali MKDA, Fernandopulle KHBP, Gunawardana D, Matthias AT, Gaucher’s Disease, Presented at the Annual Academic Sessions 2022 March 2023
Research Collaborations
Imperial College London
Awards
- Winner of E M Wijerama Award for the best presentation at the Young Physicians’ Forum for the year 2016
- Winner of the essay contest organized by the Immunology and Allergy Essay competition organized by the UK-SLIF and the Ceylon College of Physicians in the Postgraduate Category September 2013
- NRC merit award for scientific publication (2013) – for the article in BMC Medical Education 2013, Vol 13, ARTN 164
- NRC Merit Award for scientific Publications 2014 for the article in BMC Medical Education 2013, Vol 14, ART N 113
- Awarded an international scholarship at the United European Gastroenterology, Barcelona, Spain in 2015
- Best publication award at the SIMCON (Annual Academic Sessions of the Sri Lanka College of Internal Medicine) 2021
Other Faculties of University of Sri Jayewardenepura
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences