Nan-Ping Yang

Bone mass in schizophrenia and normal populations across different decades of life

BackgroundChronic schizophrenic patients have been reported as having higher osteoporosis prevalence. Survey the bone mass among schizophrenic patients and compare with that of the local community population and reported data of the same country to figure out the distribution of bone mass among schizophrenic patients.Methods965 schizophrenic patients aged 20 years and over in Yuli Veterans Hospital and 405 members aged 20 and over of the community living in the same town as the institute received bone mass examination by a heel qualitative ultrasound (QUS) device. Bone mass distribution was stratified to analyzed and compared with community population.ResultsSchizophrenic patients have lower bone mass while they are young. But aging effect on bone mass cannot be seen. Accelerated bone mass loss during menopausal transition was not observed in the female schizophrenic patients as in the subjects of the community female population.ConclusionSchizophrenic patients have lower bone mass than community population since they are young. Further study to investigate the pathophysiological process is necessary to delay or avoid the lower bone mass in schizophrenia patients.

The Impact of Falls and Fear of Falling on Health-Related Quality of Life in Taiwanese Elderly

This study aimed to investigate the relationship among falls, fear of falling (FOF), and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in elderly people living in the community. The study was a community-based surveillance with residents aged 65 or over in Taipei, Taiwan. Data were collected in face-to-face interviews. Of the 4,056 participants, the prevalence of falls was 13.8% and the prevalence of FOF among women (62.6%) was significantly higher than that among men (46.2%). Adjusted by covariate factors, fear of falling was identified as a major factor related to HRQOL in the elderly and should be emphasized to assist the improvement of HRQOL in geriatrics.

Epidemiological survey of orthopedic joint dislocations based on nationwide insurance data in Taiwan, 2000-2005

BackgroundThe epidemiology of acute orthopedic dislocations is poorly understood. A nationwide database provides a valuable resource for examining this issue in the Taiwanese population.MethodsA 6-year retrospective cohort study of 1,000,000 randomly-sampled beneficiaries from the year 2005 was used as the original population. Based on the hospitalized and ambulatory data, the concomitant ICD9-CM diagnosis codes and treatment codes were evaluated and classified into 8 and 3 major categories, respectively. The cases matching both inclusive criteria of dislocation-related diagnosis codes and treatment codes were defined as incident cases.ResultsDuring 2000-2005, the estimated annual incidence (per 100,000 population) of total orthopedic dislocations in Taiwan was 42.1 (95%CI: 38.1-46.1). The major cause of these orthopedic dislocations was traffic accidents (57.4%), followed by accident falls (27.5%). The annual incidence dislocation by location was shoulder, 15.3; elbow, 7.7; wrist, 3.5; finger, 4.6; hip, 5.2; knee, 1.4; ankle, 2.0; and foot, 2.4. Approximately 16% of shoulder dislocations occurred with other concomitant fractures, compared with 17%, 53%, 16%, 76% and 52%, respectively, of dislocated elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle cases. Including both simple and complex dislocated cases, the mean medical cost was US

Estimated prevalence of orthopaedic fractures in Taiwan—A cross-sectional study based on nationwide insurance data

612 for treatment of a shoulder dislocation,

Prevalence of Associated Injuries of Spinal Trauma and Their Effect on Medical Utilization Among Hospitalized Adult Subjects : A Nationwide Data-based Study

504 for the elbow,

Incidence, risk factors and consequences of falling injuries among the community-dwelling elderly in Shihpai, Taiwan

1,232 for the wrist,

The incidence and characterisation of hospitalised acute spinal trauma in Taiwan—A population-based study

1,103 for the hip,

Factors associated with dental caries among institutionalized residents with schizophrenia in Taiwan: a cross-sectional study

1,888 for the knee, and

Utilization of and Direct Expenditure for Emergency Medical Care in Taiwan: A Population-based Descriptive Study

1,248 for the ankle.ConclusionsIn Taiwan, three-quarters of all orthopedic dislocations were of the upper limbs. The most common complex fracture-dislocation was of the knee, followed by the wrist and the ankle. Those usually needed a treatment combined with open reduction of fractures and resulted in a higher direct medical expenditure.

Effects of plasma magnesium and prolactin on quantitative ultrasound measurements of heel bone among schizophrenic patients.

BACKGROUND Injury is the most common diagnostic category in the emergency unit, but no survey of epidemiological data for trauma or orthopaedic fractures has been made to date in Taiwan. A nationwide study of orthopaedic injuries is therefore necessary and would be of benefit to the Taiwanese population. METHODS A qualified dataset, provided by a governmental authority, containing the original claims data of 1,000,000 randomly-sampled claimants from the year 2005 in Taiwan was analyzed, and a survey was made of 12 categories of orthopaedic fracture based on the ICD9-CM codes using two sets of data: inpatient data and ambulatory care data. RESULTS The prevalence of orthopaedic fractures in Taiwan was estimated to be 234.9 (95% CI: 226.8-235.0) per 10,000 for ambulatory visitors and 61.2 (95% CI: 59.7-62.7) per 10,000 for inpatients. After combining these two datasets, the overall prevalence of fractures of various bones were estimated to be as follows (per 10,000): clavicle or scapula, 16.8; humerus, 15.9; radius or ulna, 38.6; carpal, metacarpal or phalanges, 31.5; femoral neck, 17.4; femur, 13.5; patella, 6.1; tibia or fibula, 24.8; ankle, 13.1; tarsal, metatarsal or foot phalanges, 22.7; vertebrae, 42.4; and pelvis, 4.6. The estimated lifetime prevalence of any fracture was calculated at 23.4% for female and 15.8% for male Taiwanese aged 85 years. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of various orthopaedic fractures increases with age, and a higher prevalence of orthopaedic fractures but a lower admission rate were found in Taiwan in comparison with other countries. In addition, the estimated lifetime fracture rates for men and women were more equal and lower in Taiwan than in other countries.