Impact of fibromyalgia on sexual function in women.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of sexual problems is very high among women with fibromyalgia. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of sexual problems in women with FM and the potential association among physical activity, quality of life and sexual function. We aimed to contribute in the understanding of the relationships between sexual function and the symptoms of FM. METHODS: The sample of this cross-sectional study comprised 113 women with FM and 116 age-matched women without FM. Sexual function was assessed using the 15D questionnaire. Health-related quality of life (using EQ-5D-5L and 15D questionnaires), impact of fibromyalgia and physical activity were also assessed. RESULTS: The prevalence of sexual problems among women with fibromyalgia was 76%, while it was 15% in healthy controls. This prevalence was even higher among those aged 50 or over. Sexual function was significantly associated with quality of life, distance walked, impact of fibromyalgia and four of the symptoms: depression, anxiety, tenderness and memory problems. CONCLUSION: More than three out of four women with fibromyalgia have any kind of sexual problem. Depression, anxiety and tenderness seems to be the most relevant symptoms associated with sexual function. Physical activity may be protective and reduce the risk of having sexual problems.

Análisis de la edad sobre la fiabilidad de pruebas fitness en mayores / Analysis of Age on Fitness Reliability in Elderly

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo analizar la fiabilidad de varias pruebas de condición física en adultos mayores en función de la edad. Los participantes fueron 135 mujeres mayores entre 60 y 90 años y se distribuyó en 5 grupos de edad. Todos los participantes realizaron una batería de pruebas de condición física con un intervalo entre mediciones de 1 semana. Los índices de fiabilidad obtenidos en las pruebas dinamometría bi-manual y 6 minutos caminando fueron excelentes ICC> 0,90, mientras que en el resto fueron buenos (ICC 0,70-0,89). No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en el error de medida de estas pruebas entre grupos de edad. Se concluye que la fiabilidad de las pruebas de condición física utilizadas en población adulto mayor no varía significativamente en función de la edad

The aim of this study was to analyze if age affects the reliability of some fitness test widely used in elderly adults. Participants were 135 elderly women aged between 60 and 90 years old distributed into 5 age groups. All participants performed twice a battery of fitness tests with an interval between measurements of 1 week. The reliability indexes obtained in the bi-handgrip tests and 6 minutes walking were excellent (ICC> 0.90), while the rest were good (ICC 0.70-0.89). No statistically significant differences were found in the measurement error of these tests between age groups. It is concluded that age does not significantly affect to the reliability of the analyzed fitness tests

Effect of exergames on musculoskeletal pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The main objective was to systematically review the scientific literature about the effects of exergame-based interventions on musculoskeletal pain, as well as to provide directions for the clinical practice. A systematic search was conducted in four electronic databases following PRISMA guidelines. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (a) the subjects were suffering musculoskeletal pain, (b) the study was randomized controlled trial (RCT), (c) intervention was based on exergames, (d) the article was written in English, and (e) the article was not an abstract or summary presented in a congress or conference. Risk of bias and quality of evidence were evaluated using the PEDro Scale and GRADE approach, respectively. A meta-analysis was carried out to determine effect sizes. Seven studies were selected in the systematic review. The meta-analysis included those six articles which reported means and SD before and after treatment and used a visual analog scale or a Numeric Pain Rating Scale. Four of the seven articles reported significant reduction in pain while the rest did not found any significant change in pain after the intervention. The overall effect size for pain was -0.51 (95% CI from -1.25 to 0.23) with large heterogeneity. Although four of the seven articles reported significant within-group differences, zero was included in the CI of the overall effect size. Therefore, up-to-date there is not enough evidence to conclude that exergames improve musculoskeletal pain.

Waist circumference and waist:height ratio percentiles using LMS method in Chilean population.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The concern over the weight gain problem continues to grow among both the international scientific community and public health authorities, since overweight and obesity prevalence rates continue to increase worldwide. In Chile, two out of three people are overweight, whereas 25% of the adult population is obese. Abdominal fat, has been linked to the development of a number of metabolic disorders. Waist circumference (WC) and the waist:height ratio (WHtR) have recently been evidenced as good predictors of metabolic risk for both adults and children. Thus, the present work aims at establishing smoothed centile charts and LMS tables for WC and WHtR for Chilean adults based on data from the National Health Survey-ENS, in order to have reliable information for identifying groups at risk. METHODS AND RESULTS: A sample of 4788 subjects aged 15-75 years old (mean age 46 ± 18 years old) was considered. Body weight, height, and WC were measured and Body Mass Index (BMI) and WHtR were also determined. Percentiles were calculated using the L (curve Box-Cox), M (curve median), S (curve coefficient of variation) method. In the obese group the WC cutoff values were 99.75 cm and 92.35 cm for men and women, respectively. The cutoff point for WHtR was 0.59 for both obese men and women. CONCLUSION: The study shows, for the first time, reference values for WC and WHtR for Chilean adults.

Aplicación del cuestionario EQ-5D-5L en pacientes que padecen incontinencia urinaria / Application of EQ-5D-5L questionnaire in patients suffering from urinary incontinence

Antecedentes: La incontinencia urinaria es una patología que afecta a distintos aspectos físicos, psicológicos y sociales. Dada su prevalencia, sería útil conocer su impacto sobre la calidad de vida de las personas que la padecen. El conjunto de valores del EQ-5D desarrollado para la población española fue utilizado para asignar utilidades a los estados de salud definidos por el EQ-5D-5L. El objetivo fue proporcionar valores de referencia del EQ-5D-5L en una población con incontinencia urinaria. Diseño de estudio: Estudio de corte transversal. Métodos: Un total de 965 personas con incontinencia urinaria (297 hombres y 668 mujeres) fueron incluidas en el estudio. La utilidad del EQ-5D-5L, VAS y los estados de salud fueron analizadas en base a varias variables sociodemográficas. Resultados: Mayor prevalencia en mujeres (69,22%) que en hombres (30,78%). La puntuación media y SD del índice EQ-5D-5L y VAS fueron 0,58 (0,40) y 53,91 (22,16), respectivamente, para la población general. El 16,1% (155 personas) comunicaron salud perfecta (11111). El peor estado de salud (55555) no fue comunicado por nadie. Conclusión: Este estudio proporciona los valores de referencia en una muestra de población española con incontinencia urinaria

Background: Urinary incontinence is associated with reduced quality of life and given the high prevalence of people with this condition, it could be useful to know the impact of having urinary incontinence on physical, psychological and social aspects. The Spanish value set of EQ-5D was used to assign single scores to the EQ-5D-5L health states. EQ-5D-5L is a health-related quality of life questionnaire, which allows assessing health status. The aim of this study was to provide normative values of EQ-5D-5L in a population sample with urinary incontinence. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A total of 965 people with urinary incontinence (297 men and 668 women) were included in this study. EQ-5D-5L index, VAS and health status are showed in the current study considering gender, age group, region, marital status, smoking status, net monthly incomes of household and educational level. Results: Higher prevalence was observed in women (69.22%) compared with men (30.78%). Mean (SD) EQ-5D-5L utility index and VAS score were 0.58 (0.40) and 53.91 (22.16), respectively, for overall population. The 16.1% (155 people) reported perfect health status (11111). The utility equivalent to set values 55555 was not reported by anyone. Conclusion: This study provides normative values of EQ-5D-5L in a Spanish population sample with urinary incontinence

Application of EQ-5D-5L questionnaire in patients suffering from urinary incontinence. / Aplicación del cuestionario EQ-5D-5L en pacientes que padecen incontinencia urinaria.

BACKGROUND: Urinary incontinence is associated with reduced quality of life and given the high prevalence of people with this condition, it could be useful to know the impact of having urinary incontinence on physical, psychological and social aspects. The Spanish value set of EQ-5D was used to assign single scores to the EQ-5D-5L health states. EQ-5D-5L is a health-related quality of life questionnaire, which allows assessing health status. The aim of this study was to provide normative values of EQ-5D-5L in a population sample with urinary incontinence. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: A total of 965 people with urinary incontinence (297 men and 668 women) were included in this study. EQ-5D-5L index, VAS and health status are showed in the current study considering gender, age group, region, marital status, smoking status, net monthly incomes of household and educational level. RESULTS: Higher prevalence was observed in women (69.22%) compared with men (30.78%). Mean (SD) EQ-5D-5L utility index and VAS score were 0.58 (0.40) and 53.91 (22.16), respectively, for overall population. The 16.1% (155 people) reported perfect health status (11111). The utility equivalent to set values 55555 was not reported by anyone. CONCLUSION: This study provides normative values of EQ-5D-5L in a Spanish population sample with urinary incontinence.

Fear of Falling in Women with Fibromyalgia and Its Relation with Number of Falls and Balance Performance.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate fear of falling, number of falls, and balance performance in women with FM and to examine the relationship between these variables and others, such as balance performance, quality of life, age, pain, and impact of fibromyalgia. METHODS: A total of 240 women participated in this cross-sectional study. Of these, 125 had fibromyalgia. Several variables were assessed: age, fear of falling from 0 to 100, number of falls, body composition, balance performance, lower limb strength, health-related quality of life, and impact of fibromyalgia. RESULTS: Women with fibromyalgia reported more falls and more fear of falling. Fear of falling was associated with number of falls in the last year, stiffness, perceived balance problems, impact of FM, and HRQoL whereas the number of falls was related to fear of falling, balance performance with eyes closed, pain, tenderness to touch level, anxiety, self-reported balance problems, impact of FM, and HRQoL. CONCLUSION: FM has an impact on fear of falling, balance performance, and number of falls. Perceived balance problems seem to be more closely associated with fear of falling than objective balance performance.