Quality of Life Through Gender Role Perspective in Candidate Renal Transplant Recipients: A Report From Baskent University Using the Short Form 36 Health Survey.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the quality of life of patients with end-stage renal disease through a "gender role perspective." Patients were on hemodialysis treatment and on a wait list for transplant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted at the Baskent University Adana, Ankara, and Istanbul hemodialysis centers. Patients completed Short Form 36 Health Survey questionnaires voluntarily to evaluate quality of life. The questions were answered independently by patients while they were undergoing hemodialysis treatment. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 54 ± 16.5 years. Quality of life was found to be higher in men (44.7 ± 19.2), and there was a negative correlation between quality of life and age in both sexes, as well as marriage age, number of pregnancies, and age of patient at the first live birth in women (P < .05). We found statistically significant differences between men and women regarding physical health and mental health dimensions. Quality of life scores increased with level of education (P < .001). In addition, patients in Ankara had the highest quality of life compared with Istanbul and Adana (P < .01). Average time on hemodialysis treatment, the number of weekly hemodialysis sessions, mean time of the disease, and mean duration of abandoning hemodialysis sessions were negatively associated with all components of quality of life (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: We found that sex, education level, social status, and home city of patients had a high impact on quality of life. Thus, it is essential to educate both male and female patients regarding sex/gender and health issues before transplant to increase the recipient's physical and mental health dimensions.

Influence of Social, Economic, Familial, Marital Status, and Disease Adaptation on the Physical and Mental Health Dimensions of Patients Who Are Candidates for Renal Transplant.

OBJECTIVES: End-stage renal disease is a disease with a long duration, requiring patients to live with the limitations imposed by their condition. Stressors associated with this disease are demanding, with patients dependent on support from their social environment. Here, we aimed to show the influences of familial, social, economic, and marital status on quality of life in patients with end-stage renal disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients (190 women/188 men) who were under hemodialysis treatment and on transplant wait lists were included in the study. To evaluate the quality of life, patients completed the Short Form 36 health survey questionnaire voluntarily while undergoing hemodialysis treatment. All Short Form 36 questionnaire components were analyzed separately, and all social, economic, and business life dimensions were examined with another questionnaire. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between single and married patients regarding physical and mental health dimensions (P < .001), with quality of life higher in single patients than in married. Patients who lived in villages had lower health quality than patients who resided in cities or towns (P < .01). Patients who were home owners and who had a job had higher degrees of health quality than those who did not (P < .01). The lowest Short Form 36 scores were in housewives and farmers (P < .001). Comparisons between patients who went home after hemodialysis versus those who went to work showed better Short Form 36 scores in working patients (P < .001). Patients with private insurance and family support had better Short Form 36 scores (P < .001). Patients who did not comply with their doctor and dietician showed the lowest health quality (P < .05). Regular or irregular drug use did not affect scores. CONCLUSIONS: Familial, social, economic, and marital statuses, in addition to the influence of disease adaptation, independently affected the well-being of patients with end-stage renal disease.

Quality of life and postmenopausal symptoms among women in a rural district of the capital city of Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: To determine menopause-related symptoms and quality of life in women aged 40-80 years living in a rural area of Turkey. METHODS: A total of 338 women were evaluated in this cross-sectional study. As data sources we used a questionnaire that elicited information on the descriptive, fertility and menopausal characteristics of the women, the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and the Short Form-36 (SF-36). RESULTS: The mean age at menopause was 46.5 +/- 0.4 years. The complaint stated most often as 'severe or very severe' was 'hot flushes and sweating' (50.7%). The physical functioning, physical role, bodily pain, general health, social functioning, emotional role and mental health scores of postmenopausal women were statistically higher (p < 0.05) than those of premenopausal women. Scores on physical function, physical role, general health and social function decreased significantly with age in postmenopausal women (p < 0.05), while none of the quality-of-life domain scores differed significantly with age in premenopausal women. CONCLUSIONS: Quality of life is worse in postmenopausal women than premenopausal women, and in older than younger women in the postmenopausal period. Thus rural populations are primarily in need of public health care in the postmenopausal period.

Population-based study of diabetes and risk characteristics in Turkey: results of the turkish diabetes epidemiology study (TURDEP).

OBJECTIVES: To investigate for the first time the prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) nationwide in Turkey; to assess regional variations and relationships between glucose intolerance and lifestyle and physical risk factors. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The Turkish Diabetes Epidemiology Study (TURDEP) is a cross-sectional, population-based survey that included 24,788 subjects (age > or =20 years, women 55%, response 85%). Glucose tolerance was classified according to World Health Organization recommendations on the basis of 2-h blood glucose values. RESULTS: Crude prevalence of diabetes was 7.2% (previously undiagnosed, 2.3%) and of IGT, 6.7% (age-standardized to world and European populations, 7.9 and 7.0%). Both were more frequent in women than men (P < 0.0001) and in those living in urban rather than rural communities (P < 0.001). Prevalence rates of hypertension and obesity were 29 and 22%, respectively. Both were more common among women than men (P < 0.0001). Prevalence of diabetes and IGT increased with rising BMI, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist girth (P < 0.0001). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that age, BMI, WHR, familial diabetes, and hypertension were independently associated with diabetes, age, BMI, WHR, familial diabetes, and hypertension with IGT (except for familial diabetes in women with IGT). Education was related to diabetes in men but was protective for diabetes and IGT in women. Socioeconomic status appeared to decrease the risk of IGT in men while it increased the risk in women. Smoking had a protective effect for IGT in both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes and IGT are moderately common in Turkey by international standards. Associations with obesity and hypertension have been confirmed. Other lifestyle factors had a variable relationship with glucose tolerance.