Polypharmacy, Physical and Nutritional Status, and Depression in the Elderly: Do Polypharmacy Deserve Some Credits in These Problems?

Background: To investigate the association of polypharmacy with physical function, nutritional status, and depression in the elderly. Method: The study included 675 people aged over 65 years from 8 centers in various geographical regions. The polypharmacy status was categorized as non-polypharmacy (0-4 drugs), polypharmacy (≥5 drugs). The subjects' physical function was assessed based on their "physical activity levels, Holden ambulation scores, gait speeds, and hand grip strengths"; their nutritional status based on the "Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA)"; and their psychological status based on the "Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale -CES-D". Results: The presence of polypharmacy in this population was found to be 30% (n = 203). A statistically significant difference was found between the groups on the level of physical activity, Holden ambulation score, and nutrition status (p < .05). There was a statistically significant difference between the groups also on hand grip strength, MNA score, Charlson score (p < .05). Conclusion: Polypharmacy was observed to have a significant association with physical function, nutrition, and depression in the elderly aged ≥ 65 years.

Does Vitamin D Affect Diabetic Neuropathic Pain and Balance?

PURPOSE: This randomized, placebo-controlled study examined the effect of vitamin D replacement therapy on neuropathic symptoms and balance in patients with diabetic neuropathic pain and low vitamin D levels. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Among the 258 patients, the results in a total of 57 volunteers (32 in the treatment and 25 in the control arm) meeting the inclusion criteria are reported. Symptoms of neuropathic pain were assessed using Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4) questionnaire, and presence of polyneuropathy (PNP) was determined by performing electromyography (EMG). Balance was assessed using Berg balance test (BBT). After undergoing these examinations, the patients in the treatment group were intramuscularly (IM) injected with 300,000 IU vitamin D in a liquid formulation and those in the placebo group were IM injected with physiological saline. The DN4 and BBT were repeated after 12 weeks, and the results were compared. RESULTS: The patients in the treatment group showed a significant decrease in total DN4 scores from baseline to the study endpoint compared with the patients in the placebo group (p=0.008). The patients in the treatment group also showed a significant increase in BBT scores from baseline to the study endpoint compared with the patients in the placebo group (p=0.001). Furthermore, in subgroup analysis, these patients showed a significant decrease in electric shock and burning sensation scores from baseline to the study endpoint compared with the patients in the placebo group (p=0.006, p=0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: In patients with diabetic neuropathic pain, vitamin D levels should be measured and vitamin D replacement therapy should be administered as required to resolve neuropathic symptoms and to improve balance.

A randomized, double-blind study to assess if vitamin D treatment affects the outcomes of rehabilitation and balance in hemiplegic patients.

[Purpose] To investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on rehabilitation outcomes and balance in patients having hemiplegia due to ischemic stroke. [Subjects and Methods] Vitamin D levels of 132 patients hospitalized for hemiplegia rehabilitation due to ischemic stroke were tested. Consequently, 86/132 patients had low vitamin D levels, 72 of which met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (injected with 300,000 IU vitamin D), and Group B (injected intramuscularly with saline). Each patient was tested at the baseline and at the third month using the Brunnstrom recovery staging, functional ambulation scale, modified Barthel index, and Berg balance scale. The findings were compared between the groups. [Results] By the end of the third month, The Berg balance scale results and modified Barthel index scores significantly differed between the two groups, whereas Brunnstrom recovery staging and functional ambulation scale test results did not. [Conclusion] This study found that vitamin D administration increased the activity levels and accelerated balance recovery but did not significantly affect ambulation or motor recovery. These results warrant confirmation by longer follow-up studies with a larger number of participants.

Gender specific differences in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess gender related differences in a cohort of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). METHODS: Consecutively recruited patients were included and underwent clinical, radiological and laboratory evaluation by using standardized protocol and case report forms. RESULTS: Women (n = 115) with PsA had higher symptom duration and body mass index (BMI), tender and swollen joint counts, disease activity score-28 joints (DAS28), Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and poorer physical activity and fatigue than men (n = 72) with PsA. Psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) were higher in male patients. However quality of life (SF36 physical and mental component scores), articular pattern, extra-articular features (including uveitis, iritis) and family history for psoriasis, spondyloarthritis (SpA) (PsA and ankylosing spondylitis [AS]) were quite similar between men and women. CONCLUSIONS: Some of the clinical and laboratory variables tend to be different between men and women with PsA. The extent of quality of life and articular pattern seem to be similar in both genders. Men with PsA are more likely to have higher PASI scores and longer duration to develop arthritis after the onset of psoriasis, while women are more likely to have higher disease activity and report more fatigue and physical activity limitations.

The performance of psoriatic arthritis classification criteria in Turkish patients with psoriatic arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate performance of some of the published psoriatic arthritis (PsA) classification criteria as well as Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria for peripheral spondyloarthritis (SpA) in Turkish patients with PsA (in early and late disease subgroups). METHODS: Patients were recruited using case report forms and physical examination methods proposed by the Anatolian Group for the Assessment in Rheumatic Diseases (ANGARD). The Moll and Wright (MW), modified Fournie (MF), modified McGonagle (mMG), Vasey and Espinoza (VE), classification of PsA (CASPAR) criteria and ASAS criteria were assessed in patients with PsA who were diagnosed based on expert opinion. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-eight patients with PsA (58 male, 70 female, mean age 41.8 years) were included. Thirty patients were in the early PsA and 98 patients were in the late PsA groups. Diagnostic delay was 2.6 years. In the 15.6% of patients arthritis developed before the skin findings. The proportion of patients fulfilling the MW, MF, mMG, VE, CASPAR and ASAS criteria were at a ratio of 90.6%, 82.8%, 62.5%, 84.4%, 96.1% and 76.5%, respectively. In early PsA (< 12 months disease duration) the proportions were 93.4%, 83.3%, 76.7%, 76.7%, 96.7% and 66.6%, respectively. On the other hand, in late PsA the proportions were 89.8%, 82.6%, 57.1%, 86.7%, 95.9%, 79.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Even though the sensitivity of PsA classification criteria in Turkish patients changes, the CASPAR criteria seems to be more prominent among all criteria for both early and late cases with its high sensitivity.

Comorbidities in patients with psoriatic arthritis: a comparison with rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.

AIM: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic, inflammatory disease. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between PsA and comorbid conditions. This is the first study to investigate comorbid diseases in PsA in Turkey. METHODS: This study was performed under the auspices of the Anatolian Group for the Assessment in Rheumatic Diseases (ANGARD) and involved participation by six university research hospitals. Patients diagnosed with and treated for PsA on the basis of clinical, radiological and laboratory findings and expert opinion were monitored using standardized examination methods and jointly prepared forms. Clinical status, accompanying systemic diseases and surgical history were recorded. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-three patients with PsA (75 male, 98 female, mean age 41.8) and 138 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (17 male, 121 female, mean age 48.6) and 67 with psoriasis (PsO) (43 male, 24 female, mean age 36.1) were included in the study. No accompanying disease was determined in 72.8% of PsA, 50.0% of RA and 80.6% of PsO groups. In regression analysis, patients with PsA had higher risk for cataract/glaucoma surgery (odds ratio [OR] = 11.99; 95% CI 1.36-105.4, P = 0.025) compared to patients with RA, and higher risk for hypertension (HT) (OR = 4.26; 95% CI 1.27-14.23, P = 0.018) compared to the patients with PsO. CONCLUSION: Patients with PsA have relatively lower frequency of comorbidities like diabetes mellitus, HT and cataract/glaucoma surgery compared to the patients with RA. The increased risk for having cataract/glaucoma surgery in RA compared to PsA may be particularly attributed to the more prevalent glucocorticoid use in RA.

Isokinetic Evaluation of Knee Extensor/Flexor Muscle Strength in Behcet's Patients.

Background: Behçet's disease (BD) is an idiopathic, multisystemic, progressive disease. The purpose of this study is to compare the knee flexor and extensor isokinetic muscle strengths of Behcet's patients with that of healthy subjects. Methods: Twenty-five (13 male and 12 female) patients with BD and 25 (15 male and 10 female) healthy individuals were included in the study. Velocities of 90°/sec, 120°/sec, and 150°/sec were used for the isokinetic muscle strength testing. Patients with active inflammatory knee arthritis were excluded. Peak torque (Nm) and peak torque adjusted to body weight (%) were taken into consideration for comparison between study groups. Results: Compared to healthy controls, there was a statistically significant decrease in both the bilateral knee extensor and flexor muscle isokinetic peak torques(Nm) as well as the peak torques adjusted to body weight (%) at velocities of 90°/sec, 120°/sec and 150°/sec in patients with BD (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the agonist-antagonist ratio of the isokinetic peak torques of knee muscles between the two groups. Conclusion: In light of these findings, we have concluded that both knee flexor and extensor isokinetic muscle strengths are lower in BD. We therefore recommend careful monitoring of patients with BD in terms of muscle strength.

Femoral cartilage thickness measurements in healthy individuals: learning, practicing and publishing with TURK-MUSCULUS.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Measurement of the femoral cartilage thickness by using in-vivo musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSUS) has been previously shown to be a valid and reliable method in previous studies; however, to our best notice, normative data has not been provided before in the healthy population.The aim of our study was to provide normative data regarding femoral cartilage thicknesses of healthy individuals with collaborative use of MSUS. METHODS: This is across-sectional study run at Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Departments of 18 Secondary and Tertiary Centers in Turkey. 1544 healthy volunteers (aged between 25-40 years) were recruited within the collaboration of TURK-MUSCULUS (Turkish Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography Study Group). Subjects who had a body mass index value of less than 30 and who did not have signs and symptoms of any degenerative/inflammatory arthritis or other rheumatic diseases, history of knee trauma and previous knee surgery were enrolled. Ultrasonographic measurements were performed axially from the suprapatellar window by using linear probes while subjects' knees were in maximum flexion. Three (mid-point) measurements were taken from both knees (lateral condyle, intercondylar area, medial condyle). RESULTS: A total of 2876 knees (of 817 M, 621 F subjects) were taken into analysis after exclusion of inappropriate images. Mean cartilage thicknesses were significantly lower in females than males (all p< 0.001). Thickness values negatively correlated with age; negatively (females) and positively (males) correlated with smoking. Men who regularly exercised had thicker cartilage than who did not exercise (all p < 0.05). Increased age (in both sexes) and absence of exercise (males) were found to be risk factors for decreased cartilage thicknesses. CONCLUSION: Further data pertaining to other countries would be interesting to uncover whether ethnic differences also affect cartilage thickness. Collaborative use of MSUS seems to be promising in this regard.

Prevalence of atopic disorders in rheumatic diseases.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the point prevalences of hay fever, asthma, and atopic dermatitis in OA, RA, and AS, and to compare with healthy controls. METHODS: A total of 935 patients and healthy controls were included. Demographic and clinical features were recorded, and a questionnaire assessing the existence of atopic disorders like asthma, hay fever, and atopic dermatitis in all groups was applied. "Either atopy" implied that an individual was either diagnosed with or had symptoms of one or more of these disorders, such as asthma, hay fever, or atopic dermatitis. RESULTS: When compared to the controls, only patients with AS had an increased risk for hay fever (OR 1.52, 95 % CI 1.00-2.41). Patients with RA had increased risks for hay fever, atopic dermatitis, and either atopy compared to the patients with OA (2.14, 95 % CI 1.18-3.89; 1.77, 95 % CI 1.00-3.18; and 3.45, 95 % CI 1.10-10.87, respectively). Steroid use had no effect on the prevalence of atopic disorders in patients with RA. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with OA, RA, and AS seem to have similar risks for asthma, atopic dermatitis, and either atopy to healthy controls. However, the prevalence of hay fever may increase in AS. Patients with RA have a higher risk of atopy than patients with OA.

Does vitamin D affect disease severity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis?

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D has been found to have a role in the function of the immune system. There have been a lot of studies investigating a relation between vitamin D and disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). However, there have not been any studies arranging AS in groups according to vitamin D levels and determining any differences among these patients in terms of disease activity, functional status, quality of life, and other clinical parameters. The aim of this study is to compare 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) levels in AS patients with those in normal healthy subjects and to determine the relationship between 25(OH)D3 levels and AS disease activity, functional status, and quality of life. METHODS: Ninety-nine consecutive patients and 42 healthy volunteers were included in this study. After a comparison between the patient group and the control group, the patient group was divided into normal, insufficient and deficient subgroups according to the plasma 25(OH)D3 levels for another comparison. RESULTS: The differences in the 25(OH)D3 level between the patient and the control groups were statistically insignificant. The number of AS patients whose 25(OH)D3 levels were classified as normal, insufficient, and deficient were 34, 29, and 36, respectively. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) scores were higher in the low (including insufficient and deficient) 25(OH)D3 level subgroups (P < 0.05). The Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI) and AS Quality of Life (ASQoL) scores were significantly different between the normal and the deficient subgroups (P < 0.05). Pain, BASDAI, ESR, and CRP were inversely correlated to the 25(OH)D3 levels (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The plasma 25(OH)D3 levels may decrease in AS patients and this may negatively affect disease activity, functional status and quality of life.

Expert opinion and key recommendations for the physical therapy and rehabilitation of patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

AIM: Physiotherapy is an integral part of the management of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and there is a need for recommendations which focus on the rehabilitation of patients with AS. We aimed to develop recommendations for the physical therapy and rehabilitation of patients with AS based on the evidence and expertise. METHODS: The Anatolian Group for the Assessment in Rheumatic Diseases (ANGARD) is a scientific group of Turkish academicians (physiatrists and rheumatologists) who are experts in the rehabilitation of patients with AS. A systematic literature search summarizing the current available physiotherapy and rehabilitation trials in AS were presented to the experts before a special 2-day meeting. Experts attending this meeting first defined a framework based on the main principles and thereafter collectively constructed six major recommendations on physiotherapy and rehabilitation in AS. After the meeting an email survey was conducted to rate the strength of the recommendations. RESULTS: Six key recommendations which cover the general principles of rehabilitation in AS in terms of early intervention, initial and follow-up assessments and monitoring, contraindications and precautions, key advice for physiotherapy methods and exercise were constructed. CONCLUSION: These recommendations were developed using evidence-based data and expert opinion. The implementation of these recommendations should encourage a more comprehensive and methodical approach in the rehabilitation of patients with AS. Regular lifelong exercise is the mainstay of rehabilitation and there is a considerable need for well-designed studies which will enlighten the role of physical therapy in the management of AS.

Description of the registry of patients with ankylosing spondylitis in Turkey: TRASD-IP.

A web-based application patient follow-up program was developed to create a registry of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) by the Turkiye Romatizma Arastirma Savas Dernegi (TRASD) AS Study Group. This study describes the methodological background and patient characteristics. The patient follow-up program is a web-based questionnaire, which contains sections on socio-demographic data, anamnesis, personal and family history, systemic and musculoskeletal examination, laboratory and imaging data and treatment. Between October 1, 2007 and February 28, 2009, 1,381 patients from 41 centers were included in the registry (1,038 males [75.2%]; mean age 39.5 ± 10.7 years). Mean disease duration was 12.1 ± 8.5 years, and mean time from initial symptom to diagnosis was 5 ± 6.8 years (median 2 years). HLA-B27 positivity was detected in 73.7% of 262 patients tested. Manifestations of extraarticular involvement were anterior uveitis (13.2%), psoriasis and other skin and mucous membrane lesions (6%) and inflammatory bowel disease (3.8%). The prevalence of peripheral arthritis was 11.2%. In 51.7% of patients, the Bath AS Disease Activity Index was ≥4. But since our patients consisted of the ones with more severe disease who referred to the tertiary centers and needed a regular follow-up, they may not represent the general AS population. Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs were being used by 41.9% of patients, with 16.4% using anti-TNF agents. TRASD-IP (Izlem Programi: Follow-up program) is the first AS registry in Turkey. Such databases are very useful and provide a basis for data collection from large numbers of subjects. TRASD-IP gives information on the clinical and demographic profiles of patients, and the efficacy and safety of anti-TNF drugs, examines the impact on quality of life, and provides real-life data that may be used in cost-effectiveness analyses.

Psychological status is associated with health related quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and disabling disease frequently effects physical and psychological well being. The aim of the present study was to determine the impact of psychological status on health related quality of life in patients with RA and also to assess which quality of life (QoL) instrument - disease specific and generic - is more prone to this effect. METHODS: A total of 421 patients with RA recruited from joint database of five tertiary centers. Depression and anxiety risks were assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); and quality of life assessed by Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life (RAQoL), Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) and The Short Form 36 (SF 36) questionnaire. RESULTS: Patients with higher risk for depression or anxiety had poorer quality of life compared to the patients without risk for depression or anxiety. Depression and anxiety scores significantly correlated with quality of life questionnaires. There was significant association between anxiety and depression with worsening in both disease specific and generic health related quality of life. However, RAQoL showed more association with depression and anxiety levels. CONCLUSION: Higher depression and anxiety risks showed increased deterioration in quality of life. Compared to generic QoL scales, RAQoL scale, a disease specific QoL instrument, is much more influenced by depression and anxiety.

Effectiveness of back school for treatment of pain and functional disability in patients with chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the addition of back school to exercise and physical treatment modalities in relieving pain and improving the functional status of patients with chronic low back pain. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. PATIENTS: A total of 146 patients with chronic low back pain were enrolled in the study. METHODS: Subjects were divided into 2 groups: the back school group received exercise, physical treatment modalities and a back school programme; and the control group received exercise and physical treatment modalities. Treatment efficacy was evaluated at the end of treatment and 3 months post-treatment, in terms of pain, measured with the Visual Analogue Scale, and functional status, measured with the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire. RESULTS: In both groups, Visual Analogue Scale and Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire were significantly reduced after therapy (p < 0.01), but the difference between the scores at the end of treatment and 3 months post-treatment was not significant. There was a significant improvement in Visual Analogue Scale and Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire in the back school group compared with the control group at the end of therapy and 3 months post-treatment (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The addition of back school was more effective than exercise and physical treatment modalities alone in the treatment of patients with chronic low back pain.

Relationship between psychological status and disease activity and quality of life in ankylosing spondylitis.

Our aim in this study was to compare the depression and anxiety risk in patients with AS and healthy controls and also to determine the relationship between disease activity, quality of life and psychological well-being. Two hundred and forty-three patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and 118 age-, sex- and education-matched healthy controls were enroled into the study. Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), and Functional Index, and Metrology Index, Health Assessment Questionnaire for Spondyloarthropathies (HAQ-S), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) including depression subscale (HADS-D) and anxiety subscale (HADS-A), Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL) Scale, duration of morning stiffness, pain-visual analogue scale (VAS), patient and physician's global assessment of disease activity (100 mm VAS) were used to assess clinical and psychological status. Patients had similar HADS-D but higher HADS-A than healthy controls. Patients with high risk for depression and anxiety had higher scores in BASDAI, BASFI and also poorer scores in VAS pain, patient global assessment, physician global assessment, HAQ-S and ASQoL. There was a negative correlation of HADS-D and HADS-A scores with educational level of the patients. Higher scores in HADS-D and HADS-A indicated poorer functional outcome and quality of life. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the HADS-D (OR=6.84), HAQ-S (OR=1.76), VAS pain score (OR=1.03) and ESR (OR=1.02) were independent risk factors for higher anxiety scores whereas HADS-A (OR=1.36) and ASQoL (OR=1.24) were independent risk factors for higher depression scores. The psychological status had close interaction with disease activity and quality of life in patients with AS.

Discrimination ability of ASDAS estimating disease activity status in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate discrimination ability of the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) endorsed disease activity score (ASDAS) versions evaluating low and high disease activity in an unselected group of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: Patients consecutively included into the joint database of five university hospitals were analyzed for low or high disease activity according to different criteria. Standardized mean differences (SMD) for two ASDAS versions were evaluated. RESULTS: The ASDAS versions (back pain, morning stiffness, patient global pain, pain/swelling of peripheral joints, plus either erythrocyte sedimentation rate or C-reactive protein) discriminated high and low disease activity in subgroups according to Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (BASDAI) and ASAS remission/partial remission criteria. ASDAS versions were also not influenced by peripheral arthritis and correlated well with other outcome measurements and acute-phase reactants. The ASDAS versions performed better than patient-reported measures or acute-phase reactants discriminating high and low disease activity status. CONCLUSION: Both ASDAS versions, consisting of both patient-reported data and acute-phase reactants, performed well in discriminating low and high disease activity. Further longitudinal data may better estimate the usefulness of ASDAS to assess disease activity subgroups and treatment response.

Lower extremity isokinetic muscle strength in patients with Parkinson's disease.

We evaluated lower extremity isokinetic muscle strength to determine affected muscle groups and their dependence on movement velocity, and to establish the relationship between muscle strength and clinical severity, as well as muscle strength and falls, in Parkinson's disease (PD). Twenty-five patients diagnosed with PD and 24 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Lower extremity muscle strength was measured using an isokinetic dynamometer. Each participant's clinical status was examined in accordance with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale; fall history was also recorded. We observed a significant decrease in isokinetic muscle strength in the patient group, especially in both hip and knee flexors and extensors. Decreased muscle strength was independent of velocity, and correlated with clinical severity and falls. Movement velocity-independent lower extremity isokinetic muscle weakness has been observed in patients with PD, especially in the knee and hip joints. The evaluation of isokinetic muscle strength may be a useful tool for the assessment of clinical severity and falls in PD.

Postural stability in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to determine whether the postural changes in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) affected postural stability. METHOD: A total of 64 patients with a diagnosis of AS and 50 healthy volunteers were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups according to a tragus-to-wall distance<15 cm (Group I, n=30) and >or=15 cm (Group II, n=34). The control group (Group III) consisted of 50 healthy volunteers. The postural stability was evaluated with the Biodex Stability System (BSS). The results of Antero-Posterior Stability Index (APSI), Medio-Lateral Stability Index (MLSI) and Overall Stability Index (OSI) were evaluated. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between the three groups for OSI, APSI and MLSI. MLSI results were significantly different among patient groups. When Group II and the control group were compared, there were significant differences for OSI, APSI, and MLSI. Comparing Group I with the control group revealed a more significant difference for OSI, APSI, and MLSI. CONCLUSIONS: We have found that postural stability decreases in patients with AS in both the early and the late stages of the disease, but especially in the latter ones. This result may be thought to be related with increased kyphosis which is seen during the course of the disease.

Pattern of disease onset, diagnostic delay, and clinical features in juvenile onset and adult onset ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of juvenile onset ankylosing spondylitis (JOAS) in Turkish patients with AS and to compare with adult onset AS (AOAS) in a cross-sectional study design. METHODS: A total of 322 patients were recruited from the joint database of 5 university hospitals in eastern Turkey. RESULTS: Patients with JOAS (n = 43, 13.4%) had significantly longer diagnostic delay (9.21 vs 5.08 yrs), less severe axial involvement and more prevalent uveitis (OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.25-6.79), and peripheral involvement at onset (OR 3.25, 95% CI 1.51-6.98, adjusted for current age; and OR 2.26, 95% CI 1.07-4.76, adjusted for disease duration). Patients with AOAS had higher radiographic scores and more restricted clinimetrics but similar functional limitations and quality of life. CONCLUSION: JOAS and AOAS had distinctive courses and Turkish patients with AS had similar features compared to other Caucasian patient populations.

Predictive effects of different clinical balance measures and the fear of falling on falls in postmenopausal women aged 50 years and over.

BACKGROUND: Falls among the elderly are associated with a high morbidity and mortality and can involve high-cost medical interventions. The risk of falls often remains undiagnosed until an episode occurs but if the risk is high, preventative measures could be introduced. OBJECTIVES: This 6-month prospective study investigated whether different postural clinical measures and fear of falling (FOF) itself can predict future falls in postmenopausal women aged > or =50 years. METHODS: 125 postmenopausal women were studied comparing the outcome of fallers vs. non-fallers within the 6-month follow-up study period. Clinical measures, history of falls and FOF data were determined at baseline and the number of falls and FOF were ascertained at the final visit or by telephone interview at 6 months. RESULTS: Of the clinical measures investigated, the Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I) >26 points (OR = 7.28, per additional point, 95% CI 2.25-23.61, p = 0.001) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) < or =52 points (OR = 4.77, per additional point, 95% CI = 1.15-19.82, p = 0.031) performed best in prediction of the future falls. CONCLUSIONS: Postmenopausal women aged > or =50 years who had FES-I scores >26 points and BBS < or =52 points should be examined for risk factors of future falls and offered preventative measures.