ABSTRACT
Objectives: The study aimed to determine the rates of adherence to phase 2 components of complex decongestive therapy (CDT) and related factors among patients with postmastectomy lymphedema. Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study included 90 female patients (mean age: 54.4±8.0 years; range, 24 to 65 years) with unilateral postmastectomy lymphedema who completed chemotherapy or radiotherapy and had previously undergone CDT phase 1 at our clinic or elsewhere between May 2018 and May 2019. Patients were included in the study at their usual visit to the lymphedema polyclinic. After physical examination, study questionnaires that involved patients' demographic and clinic data and Lymphedema Quality of Life scores were recorded. Patients who applied CDT phase 2 methods four days a week or more frequently were considered adherent, while those who applied these methods less frequently or who never applied these methods were considered nonadherent. The body mass index (BMI) scores were classified based on the criteria of the World Health Organization. Results: Lymphedema stages of the patients were Stage I in 33.3% (n=30), Stage II in 60% (n=54), and Stage III in 6.7% (n=6). The rates of adherence were 74.4% (n=67) for skin care, 46.6% (n=42) for compression garment use, 42.2% (n=38) for self-massage, 42.2% (n=38) for exercise, and 18.8% (n=17) for multilayer bandaging. The rate of adherence to the multilayer bandaging method was found to be significantly higher in the obese group (BMI >30) than in the other BMI groups. Conclusion: Patient adherence to CDT phase 2 was not sufficient except for the skin care component. There was a significant relationship between BMI and adherence to multilayer bandaging.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the combined hydrolyzed type 2 collagen, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), glucosamine sulfate (GS), and chondroitin sulfate (CS) supplement on knee pain intensity in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Patients and methods: This multicenter, observational, noninterventional study included 98 patients (78 females, 20 males; mean age: 52.8±6.5 years; range, 40 to 64 years) who had Grade 1-3 knee OA between May 2022 and November 2022. The patients were prescribed the combination of hydrolyzed type 2 collagen, MSM, GS, and CS as a supplement for knee OA. The sachet form of the combined supplement containing 1250 mg hydrolyzed type 2 collagen, 750 mg MSM, 750 mg GS, and 400 mg CS was used once daily for two consecutive months. Patients were evaluated according to the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Visual Analog Scale (VAS)-pain, and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Patients were scheduled to visit for follow-up four weeks (Visit 2) and eight weeks (Visit 3) after Visit 1 (baseline; day 0 of the study). Results: For the VAS-pain, WOMAC, WOMAC-subscale, and HAQ scores, the differences in improvement between the three visits were significant (p<0.001 for all). The patient compliance with the supplement was a median of 96.77%, both for Visit 2 and Visit 3. Conclusion: The combination of hydrolyzed type 2 collagen, MSM, GS, and CS for eight weeks in knee OA was considered an effective and safe nutritional supplement.
