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Objective: To determine the prevalence of anemia and related factors among women in Turkey
Methods: This descriptive study was conducted at the outpatient clinics of the Department of Internal Medicine, Ege University Medical School. Randomly selected women were given questionnaires regarding their socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics. The data were coded and analyzed using SPSS version 17.0 software. Statistical analyses with 95% confidence intervals were considered to be significant if p<0.05
Results: The study results showed an anemia prevalence of 27.8% in the study sample. Among all anemia diagnoses among the participants, 56.0% were determined to have iron deficiency, 37.1% iron-deficiency anemia, and 6.9% severe anemia. It was observed that anemia was detected among women who were 15-49 years of age [p<0.05], menstruating [p<0.05], had a history of Cesarean section [p<0.05], and had not entered menopause [p<0.05]. Based on forward-stepwise-logistic regression analysis, the most important parameter was concluded to be age group, which was followed by menopausal status
Conclusions: The study results suggest that the anemia prevalence rate is specifically higher among women of reproductive age. To prevent anemia at a low cost, it is recommended to provide women with relevant information and well-planned interactive educational programs
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To evaluate insulin resistance in Primary Sjogren's Syndrome [pSS] using homeostasis model assessment [HOMA] method Cross-sectional study conducted between January 2006 and December 2008 Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey Thirty-five female patients with pSSful filling the US-European Consensus Criteria. A brief clinical history, demographic, anthropometric, clinical and laboratory profileswererecorded HOMA-IR and serum lipid levels Mean level of HOMA-IR was 1.8 +/- 0.7 in patients with pSS. Mean levels of plasma fasting glucose and insulin were 90.6 +/- 7.1 mg/dl, 7.8 +/- 2.5 micro U/l, respectively. A statistically significant difference was detected between ANA positivity and HOMA-IR values [p=0.016]. Four patients with pSS had high HOMA values [>2.7] and all these patients had ANA positivity. A statistically significant positive correlation was detected between HOMA-IR values and HDL-C levels [R=0,450 p=0.009]. However, a statistically significant difference was detected between extraglandular involvement and LDL-C [p=0.01] and total cholesterol levels [p=0.01]. Patients who had no extraglandular involvement had higher levels of total cholesterol and LDL-C levels. Lower triglyceride levels were seen in patients with anti-La antibodies [p=0.01] but not other antibodies [p>0.05]. Patients with ANA positivity and pSS had lower LDL-C levels [p=0.009]. Autoimmune mechanisms may play a role in insulin resistance in pSS. Metabolic alterations should be taken into account in their management
RESUMEN
The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome [OSAS] and metabolic syndrome is increasing worldwide, in part linked to epidemic of obesity. The purposes of this study were to establish the rate of metabolic syndrome and to compare fibrinogen, homocysteine, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP], leptin levels, and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance [HOMA-IR] in the obese patients with and without OSAS. The study population included 36 consecutive obese patients with OSAS [23 males; mean age, 50.0 +/- 19.7 years], and 34 obese patients without OSAS [17 males; mean age, 49.7 +/- 11.1 years] were enrolled as control group. Metabolic syndrome was investigated; fibrinogen, homocysteine, CRP, and leptin levels were measured, and IR was assessed. Metabolic syndrome was found in 17 [47.2%] obese OSAS patients, whereas only 29.4% of obese subjects had metabolic syndrome [P > 0.05]. Obese patients with OSAS had significantly higher mean levels of triglyceride [P< 0.001], total-cholesterol [P = 0.003], low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [P = 0.001], fasting glucose [P = 0.01], HOMA-IR [P<0.001], thyroid-stimulating hormone [P = 0.03], fibrinogen [P < 0.003], hsCRP [P <0.001], and leptin [P = 0.03] than control group. Besides, leptin level was positively correlated with waist [r = 0.512, P = 0.03] and neck circumferences [r = 0.547, P = 0.03], and fasting glucose [r = 0.471, P = 0.04] in OSAS patients, but not in obese subjects. This study demonstrated that obese OSAS patients may have an increased rate of metabolic syndrome and higher levels of serum lipids, fasting glucose, IR, leptin, fibrinogen, and hsCRP than obese subjects without sleep apnea. Thus, clinicians should be encouraged to systematically evaluate the presence of metabolic abnormalities in OSAS and vice versa