Obesity, knee osteoarthritis, and polypathology: factors favoring weight loss in older people.

AIM: We aimed to explore the meaning of obesity in elderly persons with knee osteoarthritis (KO) and to determine the factors that encourage or discourage weight loss. BACKGROUND: Various studies have demonstrated that body mass index is related to KO and that weight loss improves symptoms and functional capacity. However, dietary habits are difficult to modify and most education programs are ineffective. DESIGN: A phenomenological qualitative study was conducted. Intentional sampling was performed in ten older persons with KO who had lost weight and improved their health-related quality of life after participating in a health education program. A thematic content analysis was conducted following the stages proposed by Miles and Huberman. FINDINGS: Participants understood obesity as a risk factor for health problems and stigma. They believed that the cause of obesity was multifactorial and criticized health professionals for labeling them as "obese" and for assigning a moral value to slimness and diet. The factors identified as contributing to the effectiveness of the program were a tolerant attitude among health professionals, group education that encouraged motivation, quantitative dietary recommendations, and a meaningful learning model based on social learning theories. CONCLUSION: Dietary self-management without prohibitions helped participants to make changes in the quantity and timing of some food intake and to lose weight without sacrificing some foods that were deeply rooted in their culture and preferences. Dietary education programs should focus on health-related quality of life and include scientific knowledge but should also consider affective factors and the problems perceived as priorities by patients.

Caracterización de pacientes con artritis reumatoide según el nivel asistencial / Characterization of patients with rheumatoid arthritis according to the health care level

Objetivo Determinar las características de los pacientes con artritis reumatoide (AR) que acuden a consultas de reumatología en diferentes niveles asistenciales. Material y métodos Entrevista y evaluación clínica a pacientes con AR en consultas de reumatología de centros de especialidades, de atención primaria y de hospitales comarcales y de tercer nivel. Se recogieron datos generales, sociolaborales y de la enfermedad. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y un análisis de correspondencias múltiples para establecer perfiles característicos. Resultados Se entrevistaron 812 pacientes. Se observaron diferencias significativas entre las características de los pacientes de cada nivel asistencial. En las consultas de reumatología de atención primaria predominan los pacientes de edad avanzada (mayores de 75 años), con estudios básicos y con un tipo de enfermedad de poco tiempo de evolución y, en general, poco grave. En los hospitales comarcales predominan los pacientes varones, obreros cualificados, con ingresos bajos, enfermedad erosiva y manifestaciones extraarticulares. En los hospitales de tercer nivel predominan las mujeres jóvenes con estudios, que padecen una enfermedad de larga evolución y que requieren tratamiento biológico. Conclusión Hay diferencias significativas en las características de los pacientes que acuden a cada uno de los niveles asistenciales (AU)

Objective To characterize rheumatoid arthritis patients seen in Rheumatology Units at different health care levels. Material and methods Questionnaire and clinical examination of rheumatoid arthritis patients seen as outpatients in Rheumatology Units from Primary Care, county Hospitals and Reference Hospitals. Demographic, social, labour and disease data were collected. Statistical study included a description of the variables and a multiple correspondence analysis to define patient profiles. Results Eight hundred and twelve patients with rheumatoid arthritis were included. There were significant differences in patient profiles at the different care level. In Primary Care, patients were older, with basic studies, and with short duration and generally mild rheumatoid arthritis. In local hospitals the typical patient was a man, qualified worker, with low income, and an erosive disease with extraarticular manifestations. At reference Hospitals prevailing patients were young women with a long duration disease and requiring biological therapy. Conclusion There are significant differences in rheumatoid arthritis patient profiles at different health care levels (AU)

[Characterization of patients with rheumatoid arthritis according to the health care level]. / Caracterización de pacientes con artritis reumatoide según el nivel asistencial.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize rheumatoid arthritis patients seen in Rheumatology Units at different health care levels. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Questionnaire and clinical examination of rheumatoid arthritis patients seen as outpatients in Rheumatology Units from Primary Care, county Hospitals and Reference Hospitals. Demographic, social, labour and disease data were collected. Statistical study included a description of the variables and a multiple correspondence analysis to define patient profiles. RESULTS: Eight hundred and twelve patients with rheumatoid arthritis were included. There were significant differences in patient profiles at the different care level. In Primary Care, patients were older, with basic studies, and with short duration and generally mild rheumatoid arthritis. In local hospitals the typical patient was a man, qualified worker, with low income, and an erosive disease with extraarticular manifestations. At reference Hospitals prevailing patients were young women with a long duration disease and requiring biological therapy. CONCLUSION: There are significant differences in rheumatoid arthritis patient profiles at different health care levels.