Evaluation of the physical and emotional effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with fibromyalgia and chronic low back pain: A multicenter cross-sectional controlled study.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the physical and emotional effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients. Patients and methods: The cross-sectional controlled study was performed with 1,360 participants (332 males, 1,028 females; mean age: 42.3±12.5 years; range, 18 to 65 years) between September 2020 and February 2021. The participants were evaluated in three groups: the FMS group (n=465), the CLBP group (n=455), and the healthy control group (n=440). Physical activity, pain levels, and general health status before and during the pandemic were evaluated in all participants. Stress levels were analyzed with the perceived stress scale (PSS) in all groups, and disease activity was analyzed with the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ) in patients with FMS. Results: Patients with FMS had worsened general health status and pain levels during the pandemic compared to the other groups (p<0.01). The FMS group showed significantly higher PSS scores than those in other groups (p<0.01). There was a weak-positive correlation between FIQ and PSS parameters in patients with FMS (p<0.05, r=0.385). Conclusion: The general health status, pain, and stress levels of the patients with FMS and CLBP tended to worsen during the pandemic. This high-stress level appeared to affect disease activity in patients with FMS.

Evaluation of patients with rheumatic diseases admitted at emergency department: 5-year analysis in a single centre.

BACKGROUND: Chronic inflammatory diseases can lead to emergency admissions with various acute complications. Unfortunately, there is limited data on emergency admissions because of rheumatological diseases. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the patients with rheumatic diseases presenting to the emergency department (ED). METHODS: A total of 1788 patients with a diagnosis of inflammatory rheumatic disease admitted to the ED of a tertiary university hospital between March 2016 and March 2021 were included. The patients' socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatments in the ED were recorded. Patients' complaints were classified as rheumatological or non-rheumatological. RESULTS: Over 5 years, 1788 patients with an inflammatory rheumatic disease presented to the ED. The mean duration of rheumatological disease was 7 ± 3.4 years, and the mean number of emergency admissions was 4.4 ± 5. The four most common groups attending the ED were patients with rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, familial Mediterranean fever and vasculitis. Of the complaints of the 1788 ED visitors, 1106 (61.9%) were rheumatological, 681 (38.1%) were non-rheumatological and other acute or chronic conditions. Twenty-three patients (1.3%) had the rheumatic disease and died after admission to the ED. When the univariable model results are examined, the risk of hospitalisation increases 1.024 times with increasing age. The risk of hospitalisation is 2.318 times higher in those with ankylosing spondylitis and 2.722 times in those with rheumatoid arthritis compared with those with a diagnosis of vasculitis. The risk of hospitalisation in patients with comorbid diseases is 1.807 times higher than those without. When the results of the multivariable model are examined, the risk of hospitalisation is 2.227 times higher in those with ankylosing spondylitis and 2.615 times in those with rheumatoid arthritis compared to those with vasculitis. Other risk factors were not statistically significant (P > .050). CONCLUSION: Patients with the rheumatic disease most frequently presented to the ED with musculoskeletal complaints and were discharged from the ED. True rheumatological emergencies are rare, but ED physicians should be aware of serious and life-threatening conditions.

Evaluation of elderly patients in adult suicide cases admitted to the emergency department.

The proportion of elderly people in the general population has been increasing in our country. The suicide rate increases by a person's age, and old age appears as one of the life periods with a high suicide incidence. We aimed at investigating the causes and risk factors of suicide attempts and to analyze the sociodemographic and clinical features of the elderly individuals presenting to the emergency department after suicide attempt. Cross-sectional retrospective study was performed.1403 patients were enrolled. The patients were categorized into two age groups of 18-64 years and 65 years or older. The male gender had a greater proportion in both groups. The young group contained more subjects having an educational level of primary school while the illiterate ones in the older group had a greater suicide tendency. The married subjects had a greater suicide tendency in the younger group while widowed/divorced subjects had a greater suicide tendency in the older group. Subjects without any comorbidity or medication use had a greater suicide tendency in the younger group whereas those who had comorbidities or medication use greater suicide tendency. Mood disorders were the most common psychiatric disorder in both groups. Medication intake was the most common method of suicide in both groups; suicide attempts were more common in summer and between 16:00-24:00. Domestic problems as the cause of suicide were more common in the younger group, while communication problems were more common in the older group. Male gender, divorced/widowed, low education and sociocultural level, presence of depression, communication problems have been identified as risk factors for older group.

Temperament and Character Profiles of Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients Compared With Major Depression Patients and Healthy Controls.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Depressive disorder is common in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), who exhibit specific brain imaging abnormalities resembling those in major depression (MD). We compared temperament and character profiles between patients with AS and MD. METHODS: The study involved 36 patients with AS, 40 with MD, and 36 healthy controls (HCs). The participants were age-, sex-, and education-matched. Depression, anxiety, temperament, and character were evaluated using the Temperament and Character Inventory and physician-rated Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Scales. Disease severity was assessed using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity, Radiology, Metrology, and Functionality Indexes; erythrocyte sedimentation rate; and C-reactive protein. RESULTS: Depression and anxiety scores were highest in MD, lowest in HCs, and intermediate in AS (p < 0.001). Harm avoidance was significantly higher in MD and AS than HCs (p = 0.01). Reward dependency was lower (p = 0.011) and self-transcendence higher in AS only (p = 0.034). Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Index was negatively correlated with depression (p = 0.020). Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Index and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index were negatively correlated with harm avoidance (p < 0.05). Disease duration was negatively correlated with self-transcendence (p = 0.027). Harm avoidance was correlated with depression score (p = 0.029). Patients under tumor necrosis factor α inhibitor treatment had lower cooperativeness score (p = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with AS had a specific Temperament and Character Inventory pattern. Harm avoidance was common in both AS and MD. In AS, harm avoidance and depression decreased in patients with progression, probably because progressive fusion of the spinal segments causes decrease in pain. Harm avoidance (fear of pain) seemed to be an acting factor for occurrence of depressive symptoms in AS.