Anxiety and depression in primary care patients suffering of rheumatoid diseases.

Rheumatic diseases are chronic debilitating conditions with a known association with anxiety and depression. Individuals with rheumatic diseases experience more psychological distress as these conditions mostly follows a painful, progressively disabling course. The aim of this study was to assess the levels and explore factors associated with anxiety and depression experienced by Greek patients with rheumatic diseases. The sample consisted of 108 patients with rheumatic diseases who visited a rheumatology outpatient clinic. Data collection was conducted using a questionnaire which included patients' characteristics and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Anxiety Scale (SAS). Of the 108 patients in the current study, 44.6% and 41.5% were assessed with depression and anxiety, respectively. Among patients exhibiting depression, 13% had severe depression, with the rest having moderate (12%) and mild (19.6%) severity of depression. Among patients exhibiting anxiety, the majority (20.2%) exhibited mild anxiety, whereas 17% of patients exhibited moderate and 4.3% severe anxiety. Higher levels of depression were experienced by those who experienced severe pain (p=0.001), those who were relapsed (p=0.008), those who had quitted their job due to health limitations (p=0.021), those who had the experience of a miscarriage (p=0.021) and those who used antidepressant or antianxiety medication (p<0.001). Higher levels of anxiety were experienced by female (p=0.011), the unemployed (p=0.047), those who experienced severe pain (p<0.001), those who were relapsed (p=0.015) and those who used antidepressant or antianxiety medication (p<0.001). Individuals with rheumatic diseases should be monitored for accompanying anxiety or depression during follow-up. Given their high prevalence, their profound impact on quality of life, and the range of effective treatments available, health care providers should be encouraged to screen all patients for both anxiety and depression. It is important to assess patients' characteristics when implementing strategies to confront with psychiatric disorders in this vulnerable population group.

Adherence and long-term outcomes of therapy in paediatric patients in Greece using the easypod™ electromechanical device for growth hormone treatment: The phase IV multicentre easypod™ connect observational study (ECOS).

BACKGROUND: The easypod™ injection device allows automatic recording and transmission of adherence data from patients receiving recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH [Saizen®]) to treat growth disorders. This analysis aimed to evaluate the adherence of Saizen® administered via easypod™ in a cohort of Greek patients from the easypod™ connect observational study (ECOS). METHODS: The phase IV, open-label, multicentre, observational, and longitudinal ECOS study (EMR200104-520, NCT01363674) enrolled patients treated for a minimum of 6 months and up to 3 years. The primary endpoint was to assess the mean rate of adherence to treatment at different time points, where good adherence was defined as ≥85%. Change in height, height standard deviation score (SDS), height velocity and height velocity SDS were evaluated after 1 year of treatment as secondary endpoints, together with the impact of adherence on growth outcomes using the Spearman's product moment. RESULTS: Of the 180 patients enrolled, 86 were included in the analysis. The mean adherence to Saizen®, as recorded via easypod™, was high at each individual time point, and was maintained at 95.5% after 1 year of treatment. Clinically meaningful positive changes were also noted for all of the secondary endpoints (median increase in height = 7.25 cm, height SDS = 0.32, median height velocity = 7.62 cm/year and height velocity SDS = 1.65). However, no significant correlation was noted between adherence and growth outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: rhGH replacement therapy using Saizen® with easypod™ led to full compliance to the treatment in a representative Greek population from ECOS, and provided additional insights on how the easypod™ device can assist physicians in monitoring adherence and help to optimise linear growth in paediatric patients with growth disorders.

Determinants of adherence to gluten-free diet in Greek children with coeliac disease: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: A strict and lifelong commitment to a gluten-free diet (GFD) remains one of the most challenging issues in children with coeliac disease. The present study aimed to record compliance rates and investigate the connection between dietary compliance and demographics, disease-related factors and parental knowledge. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Parents of 90 Greek children diagnosed with coeliac disease were recruited from the outpatient gastroenterology clinic of a children's hospital in Athens, Greece. Dietary compliance and a range of demographic and clinical data were obtained from parents through a specially constructed questionnaire. Further data included parental perceived and actual knowledge about coeliac disease and GFD. Compliant and noncompliant groups were compared for measured factors and a multivariate approach was followed to elicit independent effects of compliance determinants. RESULTS: Overall, 44.4% of children with coeliac disease were reported to be compliant to a strict GFD. A 1-year increase in the age of the child was associated with 15% lower odds of adhering to a strict diet after adjusting for other variables (odds ratio (OR)=0.85, 95% CI: 0.75-0.96). Parental perceived knowledge was also independently and significantly associated with dietary compliance (OR=3.3, 95% CI=1.1-9.8). No statistically significant correlation emerged between dietary compliance and other clinical or demographic variables. DISCUSSION: Low compliance rates to GFD were observed in children with coeliac disease. Information based on children's age and perceived parental knowledge can be used to develop risk profiles that health care professionals can utilise to identify children likely to be noncompliant and thus adjust their counselling strategy accordingly.

Problems experienced by haemodialysis patients in Greece.

Even though Greece has a disproportionate number of haemodialysis stations for the treatment of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and a rapidly rising number of patients on dialysis, there has been no study of the lived experience of haemodialysis treatment in Greece. ESRD and dialysis drastically impact patients' everyday life, therefore expectations and desires play a major role in adapting to alterations and restrictions. An understanding of these culturally-influenced expectations and desires is essential for the delivery of holistic nursing care. This study aimed to explore how Greek patients receiving long-term haemodialysis perceived their problems and to describe the impact of haemodialysis on their lives. Using a grounded theory approach, 23 patients with ESRD receiving haemodialysis were purposively recruited from two hospital dialysis centres in Athens, Greece. Data were collected during 2006 by personal interviews. Given a distinctive patient experience of haemodialysis, some insight into their common concerns can facilitate provision of healthcare services that adequately meets their needs. By developing an understanding of the experience of renal illness and therapy for a group of people using dialysis, this study was intended as a contribution towards enabling healthcare professionals to provide more effective support to people who are living with this chronic condition.