Vitamin D Levels in Patients with Osteoporosis

Aim: In this study, we aimed to determine vitamin D levels and related parameters of patients referring to our osteoporosis follow-up clinic. Material and Methods: Age, gender, occupation, education level, menopausal state, menopause age and vitamin D levels on admission were recorded retrospectively from files of 940 patients, who had been followed between years 2003-2011 at İbn-i Sina osteoporosis follow-up clinic. Vitamin D levels divided into four groups and accepted as 30-80 mcg/L sufficient, 21-30 mcg/L insufficient, 11-20 mcg/L deficient and 0-10 mcg/L osteomalasic. Results: Mean age of the 940 patients was 61.0±10.8 (23-89) years. 867 (92.2%) were female and 73 (7.8%) were male patients. Most of the patients were housewomen (72.6%). Educational level of the patients was usually primary school (45.6%). The number of menopausal patients was 777 (82.7%) and mean menopause age was 45.69±6.16. The mean vitamin D level of the patients was 26.13±18.62 mcg/L. When we grouped patients according to vitamin D levels, approximately 70% were below normal. Patients who had osteomalasic levels were 16.3%. Patients with sufficient vitamin D levels were 31.5%. There was significant difference between sex and vitamin D levels and it was lower in women (χ2=9.63, p=0.022). No relation was found between occupation, educational level, age, menopause time and vitamin D levels. Conclusion: Approximately 70% of the patients admitted to our osteoporosis follow-up clinic had vitamin D levels lower than normal. In addition, it has been found that vitamin D levels were significantly lower in women. There is advanced need for studies focusing on risk factors. (Turkish Journal of Osteoporosis 2011;17:68-70

Günlük veya haftalık alendronat veya risendronat alan postmenopozal osteoporozlu kadınlarda aylık ibandronat için hasta tercihinin değerlendirildiği açık- etiketli, prospektif, çok-merkezi, iki-aşamalı çalışma-BONCURE: Türkiye alt-çalışması

Amaç: BONCURE (Mevcut Bisfosfonat Kullanıcıları İçin Bonviva Bölgesel Avrupa Çalışması) ile daha önce günlük veya haftalık alendronat veya risendronat alan postmenopozal osteoporozu olan kadınlarda aylık ibandronat için hasta tercihinin değerlendirilmesi amaçlandı. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Bu prospektif, açık-etiketli çalışma, iki ardışık aşamadan oluşmuştur: A (tarama) ve B (tedavi) aşaması. A aşamasına kaydolan hastalar Aday Kimlik Anketi (CIQ) tamamladı. B aşamasında, Osteoporoz Hasta Memnuniyeti Anketi (OPSAT Q) tamamladıktan sonra, hastalar 6 ay boyunca aylık oral 150 mg ibandronat aldı. Tedaviden sonra, hastalar OPSAT-Q ve Tercihi Anketi tamamladı. Bulgular: Türkiye’den 223 hasta (yaş ortalaması 63,7±9,51) A aşamasına dahil edildi. Bunların arasında, 103’ü (%46,2) en az bir CIQ sorusunu "EVET" yanıtladı. Ortalama bileşik OPSAT-Q alan puanları; kolaylık (ortalama değişiklik, 15,3±17,7 puan), yaşam kalitesi (10,4±20,4 puan), genel memnuniyet (11,9±22,7 puan) ve yan etkiler (3,3±18,8 puan) için arttı. Altıncı ayda 177 hasta (%92,7) bir kez aylık doz programını tercih etti ve %99,0’u çalışma tedavisi ile uyumlu (?%80) idi. Otuz hasta (%15,6) çoğunlukla gastrointestinal olan hafif ve orta şiddette advers olay yaşadı. Sonuç: Postmenopozal osteoporozu olan kadınlar, günlük veya haftalık bifosfonat tedavisine göre aylık ibandronatı daha çok tercih etmekte ve bu tedavi ile daha memnun ve uyumlu olmaktadır. (Türk Os te opo roz Dergisi 2012;18:1-7)Aim: BONCURE (Bonviva for Current Bisphosphonate Users Regional European Trial), aimed to evaluate patient preference with monthly ibandronate in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis who previously received daily or weekly alendronate or risendronate. Materials and Methods: This prospective, open-label study consisted of two sequential stages, Part A (screening) and Part B (treatment). Patients enrolled into Part A completed the Candidate Identification Questionnaire (CIQ). In Part B, after completing the Osteoporosis Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (OPSATQ), patients received monthly oral ibandronate 150 mg for 6 months. Following treatment, patients completed the OPSAT-Q and Preference Questionnaire. Results: A total of 223 patients (mean age, 63.7±9.51 years) were enrolled in Part A from Turkey. Among them, 103 (46.2%) answered YES" to at least one CIQ question. The mean composite OPSAT-Q domain scores increased for convenience (mean chang

Prevalence of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Spondyloarthritis in Turkey: A Nationwide Study

Objectives: This study aims to estimate the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA) in Turkey using the same telephone questionnaire developed for screening RA and SpA in France and used in Serbia and Lithuania. Material and methods: The study was performed in two steps. In step I, the French questionnaire was translated into Turkish and validated through a group of 200 patients (80 males, 120 females; mean age 44.0±13.1 years; range, 19 to 75 years) followed up at the rheumatology departments of University Hospitals in Antalya and Ankara. In step II, the validated Turkish questionnaire was administered face-to-face to randomly selected 4,012 subjects (1,670 males, 2,342 females; mean age 41.5±16.8 years; range, 16 to 97 years) by trained general practitioners across the country, in 25 provinces for case detection. The subjects who were suspected of having RA or SpA in accordance with the questionnaire were invited to the nearest university hospital for rheumatologic examination in order to confirm the diagnosis. Results: In step II, a total of 25 subjects (2 males, 23 females) were diagnosed as RA. The standardized RA prevalence for the general population of Turkey was calculated as 0.56% (95% confidence interval [CI]; 0.33-0.79), 0.10% (95% CI; -0.05-0.25) for males and 0.89% (95% CI; 0.51-1.27) for females. A total of 18 subjects (3 males, 15 females) were diagnosed as SpA. The standardized SpA prevalence for the general population of Turkey was 0.46% (95% CI; 0.25-0.67), 0.17% (95% CI; -0.03-0.37) for males and 0.65% (95% CI; 0.32-0.98) for females. The prevalence of RA was highest in the Northern region (2.00%) and the prevalence of SpA was highest in the Central region (1.49%). Conclusion: The prevalences of RA and SpA in Turkey are close to each other and there are significant inter-regional variations in prevalences of both RA and SpA

Prevalence of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Spondyloarthritis in Turkey: A Nationwide Study

Objectives: This study aims to estimate the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA) in Turkey using the same telephone questionnaire developed for screening RA and SpA in France and used in Serbia and Lithuania. Material and methods: The study was performed in two steps. In step I, the French questionnaire was translated into Turkish and validated through a group of 200 patients (80 males, 120 females; mean age 44.0±13.1 years; range, 19 to 75 years) followed up at the rheumatology departments of University Hospitals in Antalya and Ankara. In step II, the validated Turkish questionnaire was administered face-to-face to randomly selected 4,012 subjects (1,670 males, 2,342 females; mean age 41.5±16.8 years; range, 16 to 97 years) by trained general practitioners across the country, in 25 provinces for case detection. The subjects who were suspected of having RA or SpA in accordance with the questionnaire were invited to the nearest university hospital for rheumatologic examination in order to confirm the diagnosis. Results: In step II, a total of 25 subjects (2 males, 23 females) were diagnosed as RA. The standardized RA prevalence for the general population of Turkey was calculated as 0.56% (95% confidence interval [CI]; 0.33-0.79), 0.10% (95% CI; -0.05-0.25) for males and 0.89% (95% CI; 0.51-1.27) for females. A total of 18 subjects (3 males, 15 females) were diagnosed as SpA. The standardized SpA prevalence for the general population of Turkey was 0.46% (95% CI; 0.25-0.67), 0.17% (95% CI; -0.03-0.37) for males and 0.65% (95% CI; 0.32-0.98) for females. The prevalence of RA was highest in the Northern region (2.00%) and the prevalence of SpA was highest in the Central region (1.49%). Conclusion: The prevalences of RA and SpA in Turkey are close to each other and there are significant inter-regional variations in prevalences of both RA and SpA