Comorbidity in Men with Psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic incurable disease, and patients develop associated diseases such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to determine the frequency of comorbidities (obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure) in men with psoriasis, and the relationship between the duration of psoriasis and the occurrence of comorbidities. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted and included 88 male subjects, mean age 52,70 (SD=± 14,05) years, mean psoriasis duration 15,13 (SD=±12,43) years. RESULTS: The incidence of obesity was 30,68%, high blood pressure 29,55%, dyslipidemia 22,73%, diabetes 13,64%. There was a weak correlation between the duration of psoriasis and the occurrence of obesity (r=0,11), dyslipidemia (r=0,18), diabetes (r=0,01), and high blood pressure (r=-0,02). CONCLUSION: Comorbidities occur in men with psoriasis, and their occurrence is not related to the duration of the disease.

Skin Changes in Patients with Diabetes Melitus Type 2 and their Impact on Quality of Life.

INTRODUCTION: Changes in the skin can occur as part of a diabetic, metabolic disorder or diabetic complications. Studies have shown that diabetes has an extremely strong negative impact on quality of life, especially diabetes with complications. AIM: Examine the impact of skin changes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on quality of life. METHODS: A prospective study analysed the quality of life in 200 respondents with type 2 diabetes mellitus which had diabetes-related skin changes. Subjects were divided into four groups according to the type of skin changes associated with diabetes mellitus. Group 1 consisted of patients which had skin changes with a greater or lesser association with diabetes mellitus, group 2 patients with infections, group 3 patients with cutaneous manifestations of diabetic complications and group 4 patients with allergic reactions to antidiabetic therapy. Quality of life assessment was performed using the Skindex-29 questionnaire, and the Nijsten categorization was used to assess the impact of skin changes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on quality of life. RESULTS: There were (51.95%) respondents in group 1, group 2 (24.02%), group 3 (22.22%) and group 4 (1.8%) respondents. In the scale of emotions in 84 respondents (43.0%) the impact on quality of life was serious, in the scale of symptoms in 96 (48%) was moderate, and in the scale of social and physical functioning 106 (55%) also had a moderate impact on quality of life, as well as in the total score of 94 respondents (47%). There was a statistically significant difference in the scale of social and physical functioning in the presence of skin changes in group 1 (x2 = 7.95; df = 3, p = 0.045) and group 3 (x2 = 12.48, df = 3; p = 0.006), and in the total score of Skindex-29 when it comes to changes in the skin of group 3 (x2 = 7.26, df = 3, p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: the quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus which have skin changes is significantly reduced.

[Quality of life in patients with heart failure]. / Kvaliteta zivota pacijenata sa srcanom insuficijencijom.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this work was to determine the quality of life in patients with heart failure using the SF-36 and Minnesota questionnaire and to determine the importance of applying Framingham criteria as predictors of the value of these questionnaires. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed the quality of life in 120 subjects of both sexes and all age groups suffering from heart failure, according to the severity of clinical presentation. Subjects were divided into 4 equal groups according to NYHA classification of heart failure. Selection of subjects was made using the Framingham criteria for confirming already diagnosed heart failure. Control group included 30 patients not suffering from heart failure. Quality of life was assessed by use of the SF-36 and Minnesota questionnaire. RESULTS: In the study population of 150 subjects, there were 76 (51%) male and 74 (49%) female subjects divided into 4 NYHA groups of 30 subjects (20.0%) and control group of 30 subjects (20.0%). The analysis of within-group sex representation yielded no statistically significant difference (chi2 = 1.70, df = 4; p = 0.79). There was no statistically significant between-group age difference either (ANOVA, F = 0.74; p = 0.57). The values of SF-36 and Minnesota score expressed as median in the control and 4 NYHA groups were 98.6, 90.76, 70.14, 36.45 and 25.41 (Ht = 116.84; p < 0.0001) and 0.0, 0.47, 1.64, 2.99 and 3.42 (Ht = 113.42; p < 0.0001), respectively. The correlation coefficient r between heart failure NYHA classes expressed in the values of SF-36 and Minnesota score was r = -0950; p < 0.0001 and r = 0.931; p < 0.0001, respectively. The correlation coefficient r between the number of major and minor Framingham criteria and the values of SF-36 and Minnesota score was r = -0.790, -0.660; p < 0.0001 and r = 0.774, 0.671; p < 0.0001, respectively. CONCLUSION: The findings suggested that the quality of life in patients with heart failure was impaired and associated with the severity of clinical presentation, and that Framingham criteria could serve as significant predictors of the value of SF-36 and Minnesota scores and quality of life in patients with heart failure.