Hemn Hassan Mohamed; Raouf Rahim Merza
Abstract
Background: The risk of fractured vertebral increases in patients with rheumatoid arthritis as they are more likely to suffer from osteopenia, and osteoporosis.Objectives: This study aimed to investigating the rate and risk factors of vertebral fractures in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Methods: ...
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Background: The risk of fractured vertebral increases in patients with rheumatoid arthritis as they are more likely to suffer from osteopenia, and osteoporosis.Objectives: This study aimed to investigating the rate and risk factors of vertebral fractures in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Methods: We recruited 201 patients aged between 30 and 70 who attended the rheumatology department at Shahid Hemn Teaching Hospital in Sulaymaniyah, between January and September 2022. Medical records were reviewed for disease and treatment characteristics while also clinically evaluated by a rheumatologist. Spinal radiographs were assessed by two experienced radiologists blinded to patients’ clinical diagnosis and status. Compression fractures were classified by using the Genant semiquantitative method, and the type of fracture was classified as wedged fracture, biconcave fracture, or crushed fracture.Results: Of the 201 included participants, 151 were female, and 50 were male. The BMI of women was higher than men by nearly four points (P<0.001). Most women were also illiterate (68/151, 45.0%) and unemployed (139/151, 92.1%). Hypertension (28.4%) and diabetes mellitus (14.4%) were the most reported comorbidities. Women were more likely to have higher DAS28 scores while men had more vertebral fractures (P=0.003). The probability of fractures increased with age, male sex, and illiteracy compared to primary school, osteopenia, and osteoporosis through simple and multiple logistic regression models.Conclusion: With at least one fracture affects females and males at a rate of 27.8% and 52.0%, respectively. Also reported that age, male sex, illiteracy, osteopenia, and osteoporosis significantly increase the risk of fractures.
Humberto Guanche Garcell; Ariadna Villanueva Arias; Cristobal A. Pancorbo Sandoval; Adam Bode Sado; Ramón Nonato Alfonso Serrano; Francisco Gutierrez García
Abstract
Background: Identifying risk factors for surgical site infection (SSI) after appendectomies could be useful in focusing prevention programs. Objective: The current study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with SSI in a cohort of patients from a single center in Western Qatar. Methods: This ...
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Background: Identifying risk factors for surgical site infection (SSI) after appendectomies could be useful in focusing prevention programs. Objective: The current study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with SSI in a cohort of patients from a single center in Western Qatar. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out at The Cuban Hospital (Dukhan, Qatar) on patients who had undergone an appendectomy from January 2013 through September 2016. Data extracted from the patient files included demographics, comorbidities and toxic habits, surgery type, procedure duration, wound type, appendicitis-type, American Anesthesiology Score, body mass index, selected laboratory tests, and compliance with antibiotic prophylaxis. Results: The study variables, type of surgery performed, procedure duration, wound and appendicitis type, serum albumin, and timing of antibiotic prophylaxis, were found to be related to the occurrence of SSI in univariate analysis (P = 0.000). Logistic regression showed that open appendectomies (odds ratio [OR] = 22.90, 95% CI; 8.04-65.21), low serum albumin (OR = 0.92, 95% CI; 0.85-0.99), and improper timing of antibiotic prophylaxis (OR = 44.92, 95% CI; 3.39-594.91) were independently associated with the occurrence of SSI. Conclusion: Cases of complex appendicitis, open procedure, low serum albumin level, and improper timing of antibiotic prophylaxis constituted the risk factors for SSI in the setting of this study. The infection control program should focus on improving the quality of antibiotic prophylaxis and closely monitoring patients who undergo open surgical procedures.
Mazou Temgoua; Gloria Ashuntantang; Marie José Essi; Joël Nouktadie Tochie; Moussa Oumarou; Acho Fon Abongwa; Aimé Mbonda; Samuel Kingue
Abstract
Background: In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the trend in the number of patients admitted for maintenance hemodialysis is on the rise. The identification of risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD) ensures adequate primary and secondary preventive measures geared at reducing the burden of CKD in low-resource ...
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Background: In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the trend in the number of patients admitted for maintenance hemodialysis is on the rise. The identification of risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD) ensures adequate primary and secondary preventive measures geared at reducing the burden of CKD in low-resource settings. A family history of CKD is an established risk factor for CKD in high-income countries. However, data on family predisposition to CKD is scarce in the literature on SSA. Objective: The current study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of CKD in family relatives of a Cameroonian population of hemodialysis patients (HDP) followed-up in a major hemodialysis referral center in Cameroon. Methods: The current cross-sectional study was conducted over four months on a consecutive sample of first-degree family relatives of end-stage renal disease patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis at the hemodialysis unit of the General Hospital of Yaoundé. For each participating family relative, socio-demographic characteristics, clinical data, and biological data including fasting blood glucose, proteinuria, and serum creatinine were collected. Results: A total of 82 first-degree family relatives of HDP were recruited. The prevalence of CKD among the participants was 15.8%. The main identified risk factors for CKD were age (P=0.0015), female gender (P=0.0357), hypertension (P=0.0004), regular intake of herbal remedies (P=0.0214), and diabetes mellitus (P=0.0019). Conclusion: Overall, the current findings suggest an urgent need for population education, routine screening of CKD, and the identification of risk factors in first-degree family relatives of HDP in Cameroon.
Habib Yaribeygi; Mohammad Javad Hosseini; Hamid Rokhsarizadeh; Gholam Hossein Meftahi; Mahmoud Salesi
Abstract
Background: Intravenous catheterization is a routine technique in medical centers which can cause diverse problems such as thrombophlebitis. Objective: This study aimed to resolve replacement scheduling and proper cannula diameter and position issues for intravenous catheters. Methods: In this 2015 experimental ...
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Background: Intravenous catheterization is a routine technique in medical centers which can cause diverse problems such as thrombophlebitis. Objective: This study aimed to resolve replacement scheduling and proper cannula diameter and position issues for intravenous catheters. Methods: In this 2015 experimental cohort study, 232 hospitalized patients receiving medication intravenously were assessed for the occurrence of thrombophlebitis (TF). Involved TF factors such as age, gender, cannula size, site of cannula in hand veins, duration of usage, and underlying disease were evaluated in patient and healthy control groups. Results: TF developed in 55 of 232 patients. The percentages of incidence were similar in men and women (30%). The patient mean age was lower than that of the control, but the difference was not significant. Average weight was significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group. The average duration of cannula in situ was significantly lower in patients than in the control group. The highest rate of TF occurred in the narrowest cannula usage and dorsal hand vein positions. The mean time of developing TF was lower than that indicated in CDC guidelines. Furthermore, 24 patients with TF (34%) had diabetes mellitus. Conclusion: In the current study, the percentage of TF occurrence was higher in patients with weight increase, use of narrower cannulae, dorsal hand vein positions, and a history of diabetes. Furthermore, TF can develop within 72 hours. It was concluded that some patients may be more susceptible to TF and require more care. Accordingly, the CDC guidelines’ offered scheduling for intravenous catheter replacement is not trustworthy.