Significance of electronic health records: A comparative study of vaccination rates in patients with sickle cell disease.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the influence of electronic health records (EHR) and electronic vaccination schedule applications on the vaccination status of patients who were admitted to our Center for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD). METHODS: The vaccination status against influenza and pneumococcus infection was determined in 93 patients who were admitted to the hematology outpatient clinic, Baskent University Adana Hospital from April 2004 to March 2009. The vaccination status was then re-evaluated following establishment of EHR and electronic vaccination schedules in 2012. RESULTS: Of the 93 patients with SCD 21.5% (n = 20) were vaccinated against pneumococcus and 21.5% (n = 20) were regularly vaccinated against influenza. When the vaccination rates of 59 of 93 patients who presented for their regular control examinations were analyzed following establishment of EHR and vaccination schedules in 2012, these rates were 49.2% (n = 29) and 50.8% (n = 30) for influenza and pneumococcus, respectively, after EHR; there were 23.7% (n = 14) and 20.3% (n = 12), respectively, before EHR. A statistically significant difference was found between the vaccination rates before and after EHR (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Although viral and bacterial infections are life-threatening health problems in patients with SCD, the vaccination rates were low in high-risk patients. However, these rates increased after application of electronic vaccination schedules.

Risk factors for higher anti-HCV positivity in a border city in southern Turkey with unique population characteristics.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was conducted as a seroprevalence study on hepatitis C virus infection in a small city located in southern Anatolia, to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus and to explore the potential risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection at this population level. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 1427 (685 male (48%), 742 female) subjects agreed to participate in the study. Risk factors were examined using a questionnaire. All blood samples were tested using third-generation anti-hepatitis C virus enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS: The overall anti-hepatitis C virus prevalence was 3.1% (44/1427). There was a steady rise in the prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus positivity with age; the anti-hepatitis C virus prevalence was slightly higher in men (3.6%) than women (2.6%). The prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus positivity was significantly higher in primary school graduates (3.4%) (odds ratio [OR]: 4.1, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5-11.6, p=0.0001) and in illiterate subjects (5.0%) (OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.1-7.4, p=0.021) compared to secondary-plus graduates. Anti-hepatitis C virus positivity was higher (3.7%) in married subjects (OR: 8.7, 95% CI: 1.2-63.7, p=0.003) compared to single subjects (0.0%). Having dental procedure, delivery at home, provocative abortion, working abroad, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were factors found to increase the anti-hepatitis C virus positivity significantly. CONCLUSIONS: In the region of the current study, the anti-hepatitis C virus seroprevalence was higher compared to the whole country. Illiteracy, previous dental procedures, and working abroad in neighboring countries seem to be factors that relate to this high ratio.

High prevalence of diabetes in Adana, a southern province of Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of diabetes and glucose intolerance and their relationship with risk factors in Adana, a southern province of Turkey, where risk factors are more prominent, probably because of social and economic reasons. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The study population included 1637 randomly selected adults aged 20-79 years. Diagnosis of diabetes was based on plasma glucose values using the 1999 diagnostic criteria recommended by the World Health Organization. RESULTS: The crude prevalence of diabetes was 12.9% in men and 10.9% in women (P = 0.207). Total prevalence of diabetes was 11.6%. The screening process identified previously undiagnosed diabetes in 4.2% of individuals and impaired glucose homeostasis (consisting of impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glucose) in an additional 4.3% of subjects. The prevalence of hypertension was 26.4% among men and 36.6% among women (P < 0.0001). Total prevalence of hypertension was 32.9%, and prevalence of obesity was 43.4%. Age, sex, BMI, waist circumference, hypertension, family history of diabetes, and triglycerides were independently associated with diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of diabetes in Adana is higher than expected in both urban and rural areas. Obesity and hypertension also seem to be common metabolic disorders in this area. Age, hypertension, obesity, high triglyceride level, and family history of diabetes are independently associated with diabetes. Therefore, primary prevention through lifestyle modifications may have a critical role in the control of diabetes.