The toll of unemployment in axial spondyloarthropathy: high prevalence and negative impact on outcomes captured in a national registry

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and infertility are two afflictions with a high prevalence in the general population. MetS is a global health problem increasing worldwide, while infertility affects up to 12% of men. Despite the high prevalence of these conditions, the possible impact of MetS on male fertility has been investigated by a few authors only in the last decade. In addition, underlying mechanism(s) connecting the two conditions have been investigated in few preclinical studies. The aim of this review is to summarize and critically discuss available clinical and preclinical studies on the role of MetS (and its treatment) in male fertility. An extensive Medline search was performed identifying studies in the English language. While several studies support an association between MetS and hypogonadism, contrasting results have been reported on the relationship between MetS and semen parameters/male infertility, and the available studies considered heterogeneous MetS definitions and populations. So far, only two meta-analyses in clinical and preclinical studies, respectively, evaluated this topic, reporting a negative association between MetS and sperm parameters, testosterone and FSH levels, advocating, however, larger prospective investigations. In conclusion, a possible negative impact of MetS on male reproductive potential was reported; however, larger studies are needed.

Download Full-text

Correlation of Obesity and Flat-Foot in Haemophilic Adolescents in Karad

Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences ◽

10.14260/jemds/2021/411 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (27) ◽

pp. 2007-2011

Author(s):

Shruti Raphael Dsouza ◽

Gauri Ramesh Gangane ◽

Mandar Ramesh Malawade

Keyword(s):

Central Region ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Weight Bearing ◽

Type A ◽

Primary Component ◽

Obese People ◽

Predisposing Factor ◽

Flat Foot ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Arch Index

BACKGROUND Haemophilic patients are more prone to obesity, due to physical inactivity which is a predisposing factor for structural and functional deformities. In obese people, long term loading has negative impact on lower limb and foot, which causes deformities like flat-foot. In foot, the primary component responsible for absorption and dissipation of forces is medial longitudinal arch and in flat-foot this arch is collapsed. Flat-foot causes pain and discomfort during weight bearing activities. In Haemophilic patients, obesity and flat-foot lead to further postural complications. As no study has been conducted on this topic before, we decided to study on this. The objectives of this study were to assess obesity, flat-foot and co relate obesity and flat-foot in Haemophilic adolescents. METHODS Height and weight of participants were measured to calculate BMI. Total 36 participants were chosen for this study. The subjects were assessed for flat-foot by using Staheli’s Plantar Arch Index. Footprints were taken to calculate the plantar index. The Staheli’s Plantar Arch Index was measured by dividing the width of central region by width of heel region on footprint, which was calculated as: a line tangent to the medial edge of forefoot and heel region, then a perpendicular line was drawn medially to laterally from mid - point of tangent line in central region of footprint (A) and similarly another perpendicular was drawn from heel region (B). The plantar index was then calculated by dividing value A with value B. RESULTS Flat-foot was seen in 25 % population having BMI between 33 - 35. Our data also suggested that age affects the medial arch of foot, the elder population showed increased percentage of flat-foot than the younger group. Individuals with type A haemophilia had increased percentage of flat-foot when compared with type B haemophiliacs, as type A haemophilia is considered severe type. CONCLUSIONS The results show that there is high prevalence of flat-foot in haemophilic patients, this requires rehabilitation and can help prevent further complications. KEY WORDS Haemophilia, Obesity, Flat-foot

Download Full-text

Chronic back pain and mental disorders

Neurology neuropsychiatry Psychosomatics ◽

10.14412/2074-2711-2019-2s-17-24 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (2S) ◽

pp. 17-24

Author(s):

B. A. Volel ◽

D. S. Petelin ◽

D. O. Rozhkov

Keyword(s):

Back Pain ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Chronic Back Pain ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Somatoform Disorder ◽

Socioeconomic Indicators ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Post Traumatic

Chronic back pain is a significant biomedical problem due to its high prevalence and negative impact on quality of life and socioeconomic indicators. Mental disorders play a substantial role in the genesis of chronic pain. This review discusses the issues of back pain comorbid with depressive, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and somatoform disorder. It also considers the features of the clinical manifestations of pain associated with mental disorders. There are data on the neurobiological relationship between pain and mental disorders and on the personality traits of patients with chronic back pain.

Download Full-text

Prevalence of Vertebral Fractures by Semiautomated Morphometry in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis

The Journal of Rheumatology ◽

10.3899/jrheum.100851 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 38 (5) ◽

pp. 893-897 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

NURIA MONTALA ◽

XAVIER JUANOLA ◽

EDUARDO COLLANTES ◽

ELISA MUÑOZ-GOMARIZ ◽

CARLOS GONZALEZ ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Ankylosing Spondylitis ◽

Vertebral Fractures ◽

Axial Skeleton ◽

Chronic Inflammatory Disease ◽

National Registry ◽

Prevalent Vertebral Fracture ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Prevalent Fracture ◽

Semiquantitative Method

Objective.Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease mainly affecting the axial skeleton and characterized by ossification of the spinal disc, joints, and ligaments leading to progressive ankylosis. Vertebral osteoporosis is a recognized feature of AS. Studies have confirmed a moderate to high prevalence of vertebral fractures with extremely varying ranges in patients with AS. Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of vertebral fractures in a representative Spanish population of patients with AS using a validated semiquantitative method, MorphoXpress®.Methods.Patients were randomly selected from the 10 initial participating centers of the Spanish National Registry of Spondyloarthropathies (REGISPONSER) by consecutive sampling. All patients fulfilled the New York modified criteria for AS and had a baseline thoracolumbar radiograph. A prevalent vertebral fracture was defined according to the Genant classification criteria.Results.The estimated prevalence of vertebral fractures was 32.4% (95% CI 25.5%–39.3%). The majority of fractures were localized in the thoracic segment (n = 100; 82.%) and were mild (n = 79; 64.8%). In logistic regression analysis, age (odds ratio per year 1.05, 95% CI 1.03–1.08, p < 0.001), disease duration (OR per year 1.03, 95% CI 1.01–1.06, p = 0.011), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index score (OR per score 1.16, 95% CI 1.03–1.30, p = 0.015), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiographic Index-TS (OR per score 1.25, 95% CI 1.12–1.39, p < 0.001), and wall-occiput distance (OR per cm 1.15, 95% CI 1.08–1.23, p < 0.001) were all associated with prevalent fracture.Conclusion.Semiquantitative methods are needed to improve the diagnosis of vertebral fractures in AS in order to start early treatment and to avoid complications arising from osteoporosis.

Download Full-text

Ageing, multimorbidity, and daily functioning

Oxford Textbook of Geriatric Medicine ◽

10.1093/med/9780198701590.003.0015 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 111-116

Author(s):

Barbara Gryglewska ◽

Karolina Piotrowicz ◽

Tomasz Grodzicki

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Chronic Disease ◽

Functional Performance ◽

Negative Impact ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Short And Long Term ◽

Long Term Prognosis ◽

Clinical Measures

Multimorbidity is defined as any combination of a chronic disease with at least one other acute or chronic disease or biopsychosocial or somatic risk factor. Old age is a leading risk factor for multimorbidity. It has a negative impact on short- and long-term prognosis, patients’ cognitive and functional performance, self-care, independence, and quality of life. It substantially influences patients’ clinical management and increases healthcare-related costs. There is a great variety of clinical measures to assess multimorbidity; some are presented in this chapter. Despite its high prevalence in older adults, clinical guidelines for physicians managing patients with multimorbidity are underdeveloped and insufficient.

Download Full-text

Smoking habits and alcohol use of patients with tuberculosis at Standerton Tuberculosis Specialised Hospital, Mpumalanga, South Africa

Health SA Gesondheid ◽

10.4102/hsag.v24i0.1146 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 ◽

Author(s):

Janke Wessels ◽

Corinna M. Walsh ◽

Mariette Nel

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Smoking Habits ◽

Drinking Alcohol ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Level Of Education ◽

Hospitalised Patients ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

High Prevalence

Background: A high prevalence of smoking and alcohol use has been reported in patients with tuberculosis (TB) by several researchers, even though these lifestyle habits have a negative impact on prognosis and treatment.Aim: To determine the smoking habits and alcohol use of patients with TB and TB/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection, and how it is associated with gender, level of education and body mass index (BMI).Setting: The study was conducted at Standerton TB Specialised Hospital, Mpumalanga.Methods: A cross-sectional approach was applied. A structured interview was conducted by the researcher with each of the 100 hospitalised patients to obtain information about smoking habits, alcohol use and level of education. Weight and height were measured using standard techniques.Results: Almost six out of 10 participants (58%) indicated that they were former (44%) or current (14%) smokers. Nearly half (49%) reported that they used alcohol, with 25% drinking alcohol more than three times per week. Significantly more women than men were non-smokers (60.0% vs. 30.0%) and more men drank alcohol three times or more per week than women (36.7% vs. 7.5%). Participants who indicated that they were either former or current smokers had significantly lower levels of education than participants who were non-smokers (95% confidence interval [CI] [−26.7%; −2.6%] and [−39.9%; −1.0%] respectively).Conclusion: A high percentage of patients with TB and TB/HIV co-infection previously or currently smoked and used alcohol. Smoking and alcohol use are likely to have a negative impact on nutritional status and may further affect the prognosis of patients with TB.

Download Full-text

Smoking and Pulmonary Fibrosis: Novel Insights

Pulmonary Medicine ◽

10.1155/2011/461439 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 1-4 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Katerina D. Samara ◽

George Margaritopoulos ◽

Athol U. Wells ◽

Nikolaos M. Siafakas ◽

Katerina M. Antoniou

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Negative Influence ◽

Connective Tissue Disorders ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Research Questions ◽

Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽

Free Environment ◽

The Relationship

The relationship between smoking and pulmonary fibrosis is under debate and intense investigation. The aim of this paper is to review the existing literature and identify further areas of research interest. Recently the negative influence of cigarette smoking on IPF outcome was highlighted, as non-smokers exhibit a better survival than ex-smokers and combined current- and ex-smokers. In patients with non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), a high prevalence of emphysema was recently demonstrated, providing an indirect support for a smoking pathogenetic hypothesis in NSIP. The coexistence of pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema has been extensively described in a syndrome termed combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE). Connective tissue disorders (CTDs) are a group of autoimmune diseases which affect the lung, as one of the most common and severe manifestations. However, the relationship between smoking and autoimmune disorders is still conflicting. Rheumatoid arthritis results from the interaction between genetic and environmental factors, while the best established environmental factor is tobacco smoking. Smoking has also a negative impact on the response of the RA patients to treatment. The aforementioned smoking-related implications give rise to further research questions and certainly provide one more important reason for physicians to advocate smoking cessation and smoke-free environment.

Download Full-text

“Aventuras do Búzio e da Coral” – Benefícios do jogo de prevenção universal do abuso sexual para crianças em idade escolar

Análise Psicológica ◽

10.14417/ap.1601 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 53-64

Author(s):

Joana Dias Alexandre ◽

Rute Agulhas ◽

Helena Carvalho ◽

Catarina Lopes

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Quantitative Study ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Prevention Programs ◽

Universal Prevention ◽

Age Group ◽

Male And Female ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Post Test

Sexual abuse is a high prevalence problematic that has a very significative and negative impact in a child or young person’s life, its family and the community. Disseminating the usage of universal prevention programs is fundamental. The aim of this study is to analyze whether the game “Vamos prevenir! As aventuras do Búzio e da Coral” (Agulhas et al., 2016), designed to be played by children between 6 and 10 years old, promotes the acquisition of knowledge to deal with eventual sexual abuse situations. We developed a quantitative study (with pre and post test), with a sample of 101 children from that age group, male and female, which had played the game. The results show that children evaluated the game in a very positive way; statistically significant differences in the number of incorrect and uncertain answers were found from the pre to the post test. Although modest, these results show the importance of increasing children’s understanding about sexual abuse enhancing protection factors.

Download Full-text

Productivity Losses Due to Migraine in Slovenia: An Analysis of Absenteeism and Presenteeism Costs Based on Administrative and Self-Reported Data

Slovenian Journal of Public Health ◽

10.2478/sjph-2020-0010 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 59 (2) ◽

pp. 75-82

Author(s):

Aleša Lotrič Dolinar ◽

Bojana Žvan ◽

Petra Došenović Bonča

Keyword(s):

Sick Leave ◽

Negative Impact ◽

National Level ◽

National Registry ◽

Web Based ◽

Productivity Costs ◽

Productivity Losses ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

Reported Data ◽

The Cost

AbstractIntroductionMigraine is associated with significant morbidity and a significantly negative impact on the quality of life. A better understanding of the economic impact of migraine is becoming increasingly important. This paper aims to shed light on absenteeism and presenteeism costs of migraine in Slovenia.MethodsWe use the administrative national-level database on sick leave due to migraine for 2016. The absenteeism cost estimate is based on the number of patients with migraine on physician-determined sick leave and average daily labour costs. We calculate productivity costs from a social perspective regardless of who incurs them. Data from the national registry on sick leave are coupled with data from a web-based self-reported survey to also include the cost of presenteeism. MIDAS and WPAI presenteeism items were used and several different scenarios were designed to assess presenteeism costs.ResultsWe estimated annual absenteeism costs per absentee due to migraine at the amount of EUR 531 in 2016 using the NIPH’s administrative data on sick leave. Annual absenteeism costs per absentee due to migraine based on self-reported data amounted to EUR 626. The estimated annual presenteeism costs per patient range from EUR 344 – 900.ConclusionEstimating the economic burden of a disease is becoming increasingly important. This paper is an insight into the absenteeism and presenteeism costs of migraine in Slovenia.

Download Full-text

Dichotomy of music in the approach of tension-type headache

Headache Medicine ◽

10.48208/headachemed.2021.3 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 12-15

Author(s):

Laura Santos Oliveira ◽

Natália de Fátima Gonçalves Amâncio

Keyword(s):

Negative Impact ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Final Analysis ◽

Tension Type Headache ◽

World Health ◽

Real Effects ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Triggering Factor ◽

Type Headache ◽

Health Organization

IntroductionHeadache is one of the most frequent diseases of the nervous system. Headache is considered a public health problem, due to its high prevalence - since more than 90% of the population will present this clinical condition throughout their lives according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and for its negative impact on quality of life. In such a subtype of headache, music is seen as an antithesis either for its relief action or not, with findings in both extremes.ObjectiveThe objective of this paper is to identify the real effects of routine listening to music in patients with tension-type headache, based on reports in the current literature. The present study consists of an integrative literature review on the effects of routine listening to music in patients with tension-type headache.MethodologyAfter careful reading of the publications, six articles were not used due to the exclusion criteria. Thus, 14 articles were selected for the final analysis and construction of the bibliographic review on the topic.ResultsAfter the analysis, in 50% of the studies, the intensity of the headache increased with listening to music, and in 50% of the studies the intensity of the headache with listening to music decreased.ConclusionIt can be concluded that music is related in an ambivalent way to cases of headache arising from several etiologies. When administered at high frequencies, it can be a triggering factor, presenting a higher incidence in those who listen to it in this way, if compared to those who listen to it in a less intense way. But when used systematically, with frequency and delimited periods - such as the music therapy mechanism - music reveals itself as a beneficial element to reduce the frequency and intensity of headache caused by different diseases.

Download Full-text