Sarcopenia and Balance in Community-dwelling Women with Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

Objective:Sarcopenia and osteoporosis share common risk factors and biological pathways. In the present study, patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis were screened for sarcopenia using the algorithm proposed by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) and balance impairment was investigated in sarcopenic patients.Method:Fifty three postmenopausal osteoporotic patients were evaluated for sarcopenia as per the algorithm proposed by the EWGSOP. Among the parameters included in the algorithm, gait speed was assessed using the timed up&go test (TUG), Jamar hand dynamometer was used to measure grip strength and calf circumference (an anthropometric method) was used for the measurement of muscle mass. Balance was assessed using the Berg balance scale and functional abilities using the TUG.Results:Fifty three postmenopausal patients with osteoporosis with a mean age of 65.48±9.12 years (range 47-84) were enrolled in the study. Sixteen patients (30.2%) reported a fall within the previous year, 22 patients (41.5%) had a history of fracture and 17 patients (32.1%) had maternal history of hip fracture. Sarcopenia was present in 8 (15.1%) patients. There was no significant difference between balance measurements of sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic patients (p>0.05). Only muscle mass showed a positive weak correlation and a significant association with balance (r=0.28, p<0.05).Conclusion:Despite low rate of balance impairment, most of our patients had a history of fracture. Balance is not the only risk factor for falls in postmenopausal patients. The use of anthropometry as a screening tool and usage of more objective methods for definitive diagnosis provide more accurate data for the measurement of muscle mass

Burden of chronic low back pain in the Turkish population

Amaç: Kronik bel ağrısının özellikle kayıp iş günleri ve dizabilite anlamında toplum üzerine maliyeti çok büyüktür ve giderek arttığı görülmektedir. Türkiye’de kronik bel ağrısının maliyeti tam olarak bilinmemektedir. Bu çalışmada kronik bel ağrılı hastalarda sağlık kaynaklarının kullanımı, iş gücü-üretim kaybı ve hastalığın toplam ekonomik yükünün araştırılması planlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışma, Türkiye’nin 8 ayrı bölgesindeki fziksel tıp ve rehabilitasyon kliniklerine başvuran hastaların çok merkezli kesitsel araştırılması olarak planlanmıştır. Çalışmaya kronik bel ağrılı 18 yaş üstü 662 hasta dahil edilmiştir. Olguların sosyo-demografk verileri, son 6 ay içindeki sağlık kaynaklarının kullanımı, son 3 ay içindeki çalışabilme durumlarını içeren bir anket, fonksiyonel durumu için Roland-Morris Disabilite anketi, depresyon durumu için de Beck Depresyon Ölçeği dolduruldu. Kişinin kendisi, işvereni ve sağlık sistemi tarafından yapılan harcamalar hesaplandı. Doğrudan harcamaları poliklinik viziti, tanısal testler, medikal tedaviler, hastane bakımı, ortopedik yardımcı cihazlar, fzik tedaviler; dolaylı harcamaları ise üretim gücündeki azalma, raporlu günler, iş gücü kaybı ile ilgili veriler oluşturdu. Bulgular: Bel ağrısı için hasta başı yıllık doğrudan harcama 1080 TL, dolaylı harcama ise 5511 TL idi. Doğrudan maliyet hastalık şiddeti, süresi ve yaş ile korele bulundu. Dolaylı maliyet kadınlarda yüksekti. Sonuç: Özellikle iş günü ve iş gücü kaybına bağlı dolaylı harcamalar doğrudan harcamalardan çok daha fazla maliyetlidir.Objective: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a great economic burden to the society mainly in terms of the large number of the lost work days and disability, and it appears to be growing. The economic burden of LBP in Turkey is not known. This study aims to analyze the health care resource use, work and productivity loss, and health-related economics of CLBP in Turkey. Material and Methods: The study was designed as a multi-centered cross-sectional survey of patients in physical therapy and rehabilitation clinics from eight different regions of Turkey and 662 patients with CLBP over 18 years of age were included. Data on patient sociodemographics, disease-related healthcare resource use during the previous 6 months, inability to work during the last 3 months, Roland Morris Disability Index for the functional status, and psychological health with Beck Depression Scale were collected. Direct costs included medical visits, investigations, medications, hospitalizations, orthopedic aids, and physical therapy. İndirect costs were evaluated mostly with productivity loss. Results: The total annual direct costs for CLBP per patient were estimated at 1080 TL. The indirect costs were estimated at 5511 TL per patient. Direct cost was correlated with disease severity, duration, and age. Indirect cost was higher in women. Conclusion: The indirect costs for CLBP were signifcantly higher than the direct costs

Burden of chronic low back pain in the Turkish population

Amaç: Kronik bel ağrısının özellikle kayıp iş günleri ve dizabilite anlamında toplum üzerine maliyeti çok büyüktür ve giderek arttığı görülmektedir. Türkiye’de kronik bel ağrısının maliyeti tam olarak bilinmemektedir. Bu çalışmada kronik bel ağrılı hastalarda sağlık kaynaklarının kullanımı, iş gücü-üretim kaybı ve hastalığın toplam ekonomik yükünün araştırılması planlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışma, Türkiye’nin 8 ayrı bölgesindeki fziksel tıp ve rehabilitasyon kliniklerine başvuran hastaların çok merkezli kesitsel araştırılması olarak planlanmıştır. Çalışmaya kronik bel ağrılı 18 yaş üstü 662 hasta dahil edilmiştir. Olguların sosyo-demografk verileri, son 6 ay içindeki sağlık kaynaklarının kullanımı, son 3 ay içindeki çalışabilme durumlarını içeren bir anket, fonksiyonel durumu için Roland-Morris Disabilite anketi, depresyon durumu için de Beck Depresyon Ölçeği dolduruldu. Kişinin kendisi, işvereni ve sağlık sistemi tarafından yapılan harcamalar hesaplandı. Doğrudan harcamaları poliklinik viziti, tanısal testler, medikal tedaviler, hastane bakımı, ortopedik yardımcı cihazlar, fzik tedaviler; dolaylı harcamaları ise üretim gücündeki azalma, raporlu günler, iş gücü kaybı ile ilgili veriler oluşturdu. Bulgular: Bel ağrısı için hasta başı yıllık doğrudan harcama 1080 TL, dolaylı harcama ise 5511 TL idi. Doğrudan maliyet hastalık şiddeti, süresi ve yaş ile korele bulundu. Dolaylı maliyet kadınlarda yüksekti. Sonuç: Özellikle iş günü ve iş gücü kaybına bağlı dolaylı harcamalar doğrudan harcamalardan çok daha fazla maliyetlidir.Objective: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a great economic burden to the society mainly in terms of the large number of the lost work days and disability, and it appears to be growing. The economic burden of LBP in Turkey is not known. This study aims to analyze the health care resource use, work and productivity loss, and health-related economics of CLBP in Turkey. Material and Methods: The study was designed as a multi-centered cross-sectional survey of patients in physical therapy and rehabilitation clinics from eight different regions of Turkey and 662 patients with CLBP over 18 years of age were included. Data on patient sociodemographics, disease-related healthcare resource use during the previous 6 months, inability to work during the last 3 months, Roland Morris Disability Index for the functional status, and psychological health with Beck Depression Scale were collected. Direct costs included medical visits, investigations, medications, hospitalizations, orthopedic aids, and physical therapy. İndirect costs were evaluated mostly with productivity loss. Results: The total annual direct costs for CLBP per patient were estimated at 1080 TL. The indirect costs were estimated at 5511 TL per patient. Direct cost was correlated with disease severity, duration, and age. Indirect cost was higher in women. Conclusion: The indirect costs for CLBP were signifcantly higher than the direct costs

The relationship between severity of overactive bladder symptoms and cognitive dysfunction, anxiety and depression in female patients with multiple sclerosis: Running head: OAB-V8, BICAMS and HAD scale in MS

© 2022 Elsevier B.V.Background: Overactive bladder (OAB), cognitive dysfunction, depression and anxiety are common problems encountered in MS. This study was planned to investigate the relationship between the severity of OAB symptoms and cognitive function, anxiety and depression in MS. Methods: 100 patients with MS diagnosis with OAB symptoms were recruited. OAB symptoms was assessed with the OAB-V8 questionnaire. Symbol Digit Modalites Test (SDMT), California Verbal Learning Test II (CVLT-II) and Brief Vasospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R) in BICAMS Battery were used to evaluate cognitive function. Depression and anxiety were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety Depression (HAD) Scale. Results: The mean age of the patients was 40.9±12.3, the duration of the disease was 9.03±6.89 years, and the mean OAB-V8 score was 17.6±8.9. SDMT test (r=-0.299, p<0.01) showed a moderately significant, CVLT-II (r= -0.219, p<0.05) and BVMT-R (r=-0.218, p<0.05) tests showed a weakly significant negative correlation with OAB-V8 score. There was a moderate positive correlation between the OAB-V8 score and HAD-D (r=0.279, p=0.005) and HAD-A (r=0.318, p=0.001) scores. SDMT and BVMT-R scores were significantly lower in anticholinergic (Ach) drug users (especially oxybutynin users) compared to those who did not use Ach drugs. Conclusions: It has been observed that the severity of OAB symptoms is related to worsening of information processing speed and an increase in depression and anxiety. It has been determined that there is a significant effect on information processing speed, visual learning and memory in patients using Ach drugs, especially in those using oxybutynin, compared to those who do not use Ach drugs

Assessment of the Relationship Between Vitamin D Level and Non-specific Musculoskeletal System Pain: A Multicenter Retrospective Study (Stroke Study Group)

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the relationship between vitamin D level and pain severity, localization and duration in patients with non-specific musculoskeletal pain. Materials and Methods: Patients who applied to physical medicine and rehabilitation outpatient clinics due to non-specific muscle pain in 19 centers in Turkey were retrospectively screened. Three thousand four hundred fourpatients were included in the study, whose pain level was determined by visual analog scale (VAS) and the painful region, duration of pain and vitamin D level were reached. D group was found to be D deficient (group 1) when 25 (OH)D level was 20 ng/mL or less and group D 2 (vitamin D deficiency) was higher than 30 ng/mL (group 3). The groups were compared in terms of pain duration, localization and severity. In addition, the correlations of pain localization, severity and duration with vitamin D levels were examined. Results: D vitamin deficiency was detected in 2202 (70.9%) of 3 thousand four hundred and four registered patients, and it was found that vitamin D deficiency in 516 (16.6%) and normal vitamin D in 386 (12.4%). The groups were similar in terms of age, body mass index, income level, duration of complaint, education level, family type and working status (p>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of VAS, pain localization and duration scores (p>0.05). Conclusion: Our study shows that vitamin D deficiency in patients with nonspecific musculoskeletal pain is not associated with the severity and duration of pain