Onur Hamzaoglu

Hypovitaminosis D in Obese and Overweight Schoolchildren

Aim: To determine the prevalence of vitamin D hypovitaminosis among obese and overweight schoolchildren. Design: A cross−sectional population based sample. Methods: In a cross−sectional study, 301 students (177 girls and 124 boys) aged 11−19 years were selected by multistage stratified sampling design. Subjects were classified according to their body mass index as obese, overweight and normal. Serum 25−hydroxyvitamin D (25−OHD), intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured in late winter months. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a 25−OHD 20 ng/ml. Results: The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was found as 65% in all students. Vitamin D deficiency was found in 12% and insufficiency in 53% of all students. Vitamin D deficiency in female students was about two times more common than in males. In obese and overweight schoolchildren with hypovitaminosis D, serum 25−OHD levels decreased as BMI increased. There were no correlations between serum 25−OHD and ALP and iPTH levels. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are common in obese and overweight schoolchildren, especially in girls. Obesity could be a risk factor in terms of hypovitaminosis D in adolescents. Vitamin D supplementation should be administered particularly to adolescent girls. Conflict of interest:None declared.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in schoolchildren and adolescents in Turkey: a population-based study.

AIM To determine prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MS) in the pediatric population. METHODS We studied 2,491 schoolchildren randomly selected aged 10-19 years using a multistage, stratified sampling design. Obese and overweight participants were called for further investigation (n = 456). Of these, 310 participants underwent OGTT. MS was defined according to IDF, NCEP and modified WHO guidelines. RESULTS The prevalence of obesity and overweight were 6.8% and 11.5%, respectively. While MS was found in 2.3% of the total population according to IDF guidelines, its prevalence was increased among overweight and obese individuals. MS prevalence was similar by both IDF and NCEP definitions but higher according to WHO definition. Individuals with MS were consistent by both IDF and NCEP definitions (sensitivity = 100%, specificity = 99%, positive predictive value = 95.2%). IDF and WHO defined different individuals as having MS (sensitivity = 67.5%, specificity = 90%, positive predictive value = 67.5%). CONCLUSIONS Although not as high as in developed countries, MS prevalence determined in schoolchildren and adolescents in Turkey warrants preventive measures. MS diagnosis in one of every three obese children shows that MS is an important public health problem in Turkey as well.

Working conditions and health status of child workers: cross-sectional study of the students at an apprenticeship school in Kocaeli.

Background:  Child labor remains a widespread phenomenon in todays world. The purpose of the present study was to describe the working conditions and health status of child workers in Kocaeli.

The prevalence of hopelessness among adults: disability and other related factors.

Background: Hopelessness has become an important issue in the fields of health and social care. Objective: This study aims to determine the prevalence of hopelessness and its association with the current health condition, disability, and other socio-demographic characteristics. Method: The cross-sectional study sampled a population of 501 adults in Bolu, Turkey. Questionnaires included the Household Questionnaire, the Health Condition Questionnaire, Beck Hopelessness Scale, and Brief Disability Questionnaire. Data were collected through face-to-face home interviews between September 29 and October 11, 2003. Results: The prevalence of hopelessness was 30.9%. It was higher among the literate (60.0%) (p < 0.05), males (35.0%) (p > 0.05), and agricultural workers and peasants (50.0%, 41.9%) (p < 0.05). Almost half of the participants were disabled, and 44.6% of the subjects with disabilities were hopeless (p < 0.05). Being without hope was statistically significant with gender, social class, perceived health, and disability (p < 0.05). The risk of hopelessness increased in subjects with perceived bad health, lowered social class, and disability, compared with the reference groups. Conclusions: In this study, hopelessness prevalence was high and it was also associated with the current state of health, perceived health, disability, and some socio-demographic variables. It will be important to increase the number of studies related to hopelessness and associated factors for improved mental health services planning at population level.

Nutritional status of students in Kocaeli, Turkey: A population‐based study

Background:  The aim of this study was to determine the nutritional status of students in Kocaeli, Turkey.

Use of analgesics in adults with pain complaints: prevalence and associated factors, Turkey

OBJETIVO: O uso de analgesicos tem sido amplamente reconhecido com um grande problema de saude publica com importantes consequencias na Turquia. O objetivo do estudo foi determinar a prevalencia e os padroes de uso de analgesicos por adultos e os fatores associados as queixas de dores. METODOS: Estudo transversal conduzido em 15 cidades selecionadas de cinco regioes demograficas da Turquia. A amostra estudada incluiu grupos etarios de 1.909 adultos (18-65 anos) que sofrem de dores. O metodo de amostragem seguiu estratificacao com pesos ajustados para cada estrato amostrado. Os dados foram coletados em entrevistas face-a-face, usando um questionario de levantamento semi-estruturado, composto por 28 questoes. Foram calculados os odds raios por meio de regressao logistica. RESULTADOS: A prevalencia de uso de analgesicos foi de 73,1%, sendo significativamente (p 0,05), e em sujeitos de status socioeconomico mais baixo (74,1%; p>0,05). Um em cada dez participantes usou analgesico sem prescricao medica. A nao-prescricao foi mais prevalente entre sujeitos do grupo etario 55-65 (18,1%; p 0,05), entre a populacao urbana (10,7%; p>0,05), e em sujeitos de classe economica media-baixa (13,2%; p<0,05). A regressao logistica mostrou OR significantes apenas para grupos etarios, anos de estudo, status socioeconomico e regiao demografica (p<0,05). CONCLUSOES: Os resultados mostraram que a prevalencia de uso de analgesico e sua prescricao de uso sao altas na Turquia, e esses usos sao relacionados a caracteristicas sociodemograficas.OBJECTIVE Use of analgesics has been increasingly recognized as a major public health issue with important consequences in Turkey. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and patterns of analgesics usage and associated factors in adults with pain complaints. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in 15 cities selected from five demographic regions in Turkey. The study sample population comprised 1.909 adults 18-65 age groups suffering from pain. The sampling method was multi-step stratified weighted quota-adjusted sampling. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured survey questionnaire consisting of 28 questions. Odds ratios were produced by logistic regression analyses. RESULTS The prevalence of analgesic use was 73.1%, and it was higher in females (75.7%; p<0.05), in subjects 45-54 years (81.4%; p<0.05), in subjects in rural areas (74.6%; p<0.05), in subjects in northern region (84.3%; p<0.05), in illiterate subjects (79.1%; p>0.05), and in subjects of lower socioeconomic status (74.1%; p>0.05). One in ten of the participants used non-prescription analgesics. Non-prescription analgesics were more prevalent among the 55-65 age groups (18.1%; p<0.05), among female (11.6%; p>0.05), among the urban population (10.7%; p>0.05), and in subjects of lower middle socioeconomic status (13.2%; p<0.05). Logistic regression showed statistically significant ORs only for age groups, duration of education, socioeconomic status, and demographic regions (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The results showed that the prevalence of analgesic use and prescription analgesic use is high in Turkey, and their use is related to sociodemographic characteristics.

Prevalence of pain among adults in Turkey

Abstract Background: Epidemiological studies suggest that pain is an important public health problem. Aim: To determine prevalence of pain and the characteristics of pain symptoms. Method: A cross-sectional study was performed on the adult population in Turkey. This study was carried out in 15 cities selected from five demographic regions with a questionnaire consisting of 28 questions, and 2994 participants were interviewed with face-to-face interviews. Data were analyzed with chi-squared and Fisher exact tests. Results: The prevalence of pain among adults in Turkey was 63.7%. The prevalence increased with age and was higher in females, urban residents, in western and central regions than in males, rural residents and other demographic regions (p < 0.001). The most involved age was 55–65 years. The prevalence of pain in head, lower back, lower extremities and abdomen was 34.4%, 14.1%, 12.0% and 10.9%, respectively.

Prevalence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Kocaeli: An Industrialised City in Turkey

BACKGROUND Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an important cause of mortality worldwide. AIMS The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in residents who were ≥40 years old and living in a heavily industrialised city of Turkey, Kocaeli, using the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease Initiative questionnaire. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional study. METHODS 1035 residents ≥40 years old and living in Kocaeli were surveyed. Spirometry and the basic BOLD questionnaire was performed. RESULTS 946 subjects entered into the analysis. The prevalence of stage I or higher COPD was 13.3% (8.7% for women and 16.5% for men), the prevalence of COPD at GOLD stage II or higher was 7.1% (4.1% for women and 9.2% for men). We also noted a high prevalence of COPD in never-smokers. CONCLUSION Besides cigarette smoking, occupational exposure to fumes, chemicals and dusts might have also contributed to the high prevalence of COPD noted in residents who were ≥40 years old and living in Kocaeli, Turkey.

Traffic Accidents Resulting in Death and Injury on an International Road Passing Through a City in Kocaeli, Turkey

ABSTRACT Deaths and injuries linked to traffic accidents are important public health issues. In this descriptive study, the accidents resulting in death and injury between 2000 and 2004 on the city portion of the D-100 were compared with those on the other roads within the city. The D-100 had a fatality risk approximately 2 times higher than that of the other roads within the city. The percentage of trucks of the total vehicles involved in accidents that occurred on the D-100 resulting in death and injury was 14.87% in 2002, 13.18% in 2003, and 9.88% in 2004. The main proposals of this study are to limit the use of the D-100s city portion to city traffic, and prevent heavy cargo vehicles from using the road as a transit route.

Ureteral stent infections: a prospective study ☆

Urinary tract infection is one of the most frequently seen infections in the community and also in hospitals. It can be seen in a broad clinical spectrum ranging from asymptomatic bacteriuria to acute pyelonephritis accompanied with sepsis. One of these clinical conditions is infection of the urinary system with functional or structural abnormalities. If complicated urinary tract infection is considered, pre-treatment urine culture should be taken in order to define the causative pathogen and antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Renal damage, bacteremia, sepsis and increased mortality are more likely in this group of patients. Fixing the complicating factor is equally important as antimicrobial treatment. The presence of ureteral stent is also a predisposing factor for urinary tract infection. In recent years, the use of ureteral stents has increased in urology practice in order to provide drainage of urine. Ureteral stents lead to the formation of foreign bodies such as biofilms. Studies have revealed that biofilms formed by microorganisms are responsible for approximately 65% of nosocomial infections, which increase treatment costs significantly. As the use of ureteral stent increased, the incidence of complicated urinary tract infection, which is one of the complications of ureteral stent, also increased.1 The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of infection and asymptomatic bacteriuria and comorbid factors associated with the development of urinary tract infection in the adult patients with ureteric stent. Between the dates August 2008 and January 2011 the patients who placed ureteral stent in our Urology Department were evaluated. Sixty patients aged 18 years and more and with sterile urine who agreed to participate in the study were asked to sign an informed consent form. After ureteral stent was placed the patients were monitored 0–30 day, 31–90 day, 91–150 day, 151–210, >210 days intervals. The association of urinary tract infection during the treatment and patients’ age, sex, underlying illnesses, reasons for ureteral stent placement, length of stent placement were analyzed. Patients with ureteral stents were recommended to come to the hospital immediately in case of dysuria, fever, and