Mid and lower thoracic kyphosis changes during adulthood: the influence of age, sex and thoracic coronal curvature.

INTRODUCTION: There is conflicting data on how thoracic kyphosis changes throughout adulthood. We evaluated mid and lower thoracic kyphosis (MTK) in various age groups and the influence of age, sex and coronal curve (CC) on MTK. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 1323 patients 15-80 years-old (54.4% females) previously evaluated with chest radiographs. We established three groups: patients 15-40 (group 1); 41-60 (group 2) and 61-80 years old (group 3). MTK (T5-T12) and CC were measured using Cobb's method. We established differences in MTK between groups using ANOVA with Bonferroni correction. We performed a correlation analysis of MTK with age and CC, and a linear regression analysis to determine if age, sex and CC independently predicted MTK. RESULTS: MTK increased with older age: mean MTK group 1 = 23.4°; group 2 = 27.9° and group 3 = 34.4°, p < 0.01. The increase in MTK was observed in both genders. Scoliosis was more common in females (15.4%) than in males (6.7%), p < 0.01. MTK was correlated with age (r = 0.4; p < 0.01) and slightly correlated with CC (r = 0.07, p < 0.01). MTK was larger in females than in males (29.1° vs. 27.6°, p < 0.01). Age (ß-coefficient = 0.26) and CC (ß-coefficient = 0.14), but not sex, independently influenced MTK in the regression analysis. CONCLUSION: MTK increases with advancing age during adulthood in both genders; CC, but not sex, was an independent predictor of MTK.

Weight loss exclusively through diet for knee osteoarthritis. / Weight loss exclusively through diet for knee osteoarthritis.

INTRODUCTION: Knee osteoarthritis is a highly prevalent chronic disease, associated with various risk factors and with multiple treatment options. Overweight is among the main risk factors and also constitutes an aggravating factor of the symptoms. It has been suggested that weight loss would be able to improve symptoms and to stop the progression. It can be achieved by several methods: exercise, diet, drugs, surgery, or a combination of them. Apparently, diet is a reasonable option given its availability, low technical complexity and greater acceptability, especially in the population susceptible to developing knee osteoarthritis, but it is not clear whether the benefit of diet as the only intervention leads to symptomatic improvement. METHODS: We searched in Epistemonikos, the largest database of systematic reviews in health, which is maintained by screening multiple information sources, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, among others. We extracted data from the systematic reviews, reanalyzed data of primary studies, conducted a meta-analysis and generated a summary of findings table using the GRADE approach. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: We identified seven systematic reviews including six primary studies overall, all corresponding to randomized trials. We concluded diet may improve functionality and quality of life, with probably minimal or no adverse effects. However, we are uncertain whether diet reduces pain as the certainty of the evidence has been assessed as very low.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La artrosis de rodilla es una enfermedad crónica altamente prevalente, asociada a diversos factores de riesgo y con múltiples opciones para su tratamiento. Dentro de los factores de riesgo más importantes se encuentra el sobrepeso, que además constituye un factor agravante de los síntomas. Se ha planteado que la baja de peso es beneficiosa en el manejo de los síntomas y detención de la progresión, pudiendo lograrse a través de distintos métodos: ejercicio, dietas, fármacos, cirugía, o bien una combinación de ellos. Aparentemente, la dieta constituye una opción razonable dado su disponibilidad, baja complejidad técnica y mayor disposición a una buena adherencia, especialmente en población susceptible a desarrollar artrosis de rodilla, pero no existe claridad sobre el beneficio de la dieta como medio exclusivo para lograr una mejoría en los síntomas. MÉTODOS: Realizamos una búsqueda en Epistemonikos, la mayor base de datos de revisiones sistemáticas en salud, la cual es mantenida mediante búsquedas en múltiples fuentes de información, incluyendo MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, entre otras. Extrajimos los datos desde las revisiones identificadas y analizamos los datos de los estudios primarios. Con esta información, generamos un resumen estructurado denominado FRISBEE (Friendly Summaries of Body of Evidence using Epistemonikos), siguiendo un formato preestablecido, que incluye mensajes clave, un resumen del conjunto de evidencia (presentado como matriz de evidencia en Epistemonikos), metanálisis del total de los estudios cuando sea posible, una tabla de resumen de resultados con el método GRADE y una sección de otras consideraciones para la toma de decisión. RESULTADOS Y CONCLUSIONES: Identificamos siete revisiones sistemáticas, que en conjunto incluyeron seis estudios primarios, todos correspondientes a ensayos aleatorizados. Concluimos que la dieta podría mejorar la funcionalidad y la calidad de vida, con probablemente mínimos o nulos efectos adversos. Sin embargo, no está claro si disminuye el dolor porque la certeza de la evidencia es muy baja.

Scheuermann's disease in patients 15-40 years old: A study to determine its prevalence and its relationship with age and sex using chest radiographs as screening tool.

BACKGROUND: There is insufficient knowledge of the epidemiology of Scheuermann's disease. The data available comes from estimations from young adults with obvious deformity, from studies evaluating children who may not have developed the deformity yet, or from older populations who can develop vertebral wedging secondary to other causes. We aimed to determine the prevalence of Scheuermann's disease in patients 15-40 years old using plain chest radiographs as a screening tool. METHODS: We evaluated 454 patients aged 15-40 years old studied using standing plain chest radiographs. We measured thoracic kyphosis from T5 to T12; using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), we determined inter- and intra-observer agreement. To determine the prevalence of Scheuermann's disease we used the Sorensen criteria. We performed a correlation analysis of thoracic kyphosis and age, and a linear regression to determine the impact of age and sex on the kyphosis angle. RESULTS: The prevalence of Scheuermann's disease was 2.2% (0.9-3.5%). The prevalence was not different in females (1.4%) and males (2.8%), p = 0.36. Inter-and intra-observer agreements were excellent: ICC = 0.93 (0.84-0.97) and 0.97 (0.95-0.98). There was a small positive correlation of kyphosis angle with age (r = 0.110; p = 0.019). Linear regression revealed that age (ß = 0.138; p = 0.019) was an independent predictor of kyphosis angle, but sex was not (ß-coefficient = 0.007; p = 0.994). CONCLUSION: We found a prevalence of Scheuermann's disease of 2.2%, without significant differences between males and females. Age independently influenced the kyphosis angle; sex did not. This study allows a better understanding of the epidemiology of Scheuermann's disease.