Anaforoglu, Inan; Sancak, Seda; Akbas, Emin Murat; Oruk, Guzide Gonca; Canat, Masum; Tezcan, Kadriye Aydln; Uc, Ziynet Alphan; Gorar, Suheyla; Duman, Gulhan Cavlak; Yaylali, Guzin Fidan

Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the current situation of hypoparathyroid patients and to investigate the relationship between treatment adherence and quality of life. Study design Prospective, multicentre study. Methods Adult patients presenting with the diagnosis of hypoparathyroidism to 20 different endocrinology clinics were included. They were receiving conventional therapies for hypoparathyroidism, using calcium, active vitamin D, and magnesium. We collected data on demographic features, disease- and treatment-related information, and results of routine laboratory tests, treatment adherence, and presence of complications. Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Short Form-36 quality of life assessments were administered. Results Among the 300 patients studied, 60.7 % were adherent to their treatment, and 34.1 % had complications. Anxiety and depression scores were significantly higher in non-adherent versus treatment-adherent patients (p ≤ 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). Most of the domains of quality-of-life scores were also significantly lower in non-adherent patients. Both anxiety and depression scores showed significant, negative correlations with serum calcium and magnesium concentrations (r = -0.336, p ≤ 0.001 and r = -0.258, p ≤ 0.001, respectively). Conclusions Nearly 40 % of the patients were non-adherent to conventional treatment for hypoparathyroidism, and such patients had higher anxiety and depression scores and poorer quality of life scores. Conventional treatment might not be sufficient to meet the needs of patients with hypoparathyroidism. In addition to seeking new therapeutic options, factors influencing quality of life should also be investigated and strategies to improve treatment adherence should be developed.

Baloglu, Ismail; Turkmen, Kultigin; Selcuk, Nedim Yllmaz; Tonbul, Halil Zeki; Ozcicek, Adalet; Hamur, Hikmet; Iylsoy, Sinan; Akbas, Emin Murat

Introduction and aim Cardiovascular diseases remain the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), visceral fat depot of the heart, was found to be associated with coronary artery disease in cardiac and non-cardiac patients. Increased visceral adiposity is associated with proinflammatory activity, impaired insulin sensitivity, increased risk of atherosclerosis and high mortality. In the present study we aimed to investigate the relationship between EAT and visceral adiposity index (VAI) in patients with diabetes. Methods This was a cross-sectional study involving 128 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (73 females, 55 males; mean age, 54.09+±+9.17 years) and 32 control subjects (23 females, 9 males; mean age, 50.09+±+7.81 years). EAT was measured by using a trans-thoracic echocardiograph. Parameters such as waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), triglyceride and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were used to calculate VAI. Result EAT and VAI measurements were significantly higher in patients with diabetes when compared to control subjects. In the bivariate correlation analysis, VAI was positively correlated with uric acid level (r=0.214, p=0.015), white blood cell count (r= 0.262, p=0.003), platelet count (r=0.223, p=0.011) and total cholesterol levels (r= 0.363, p<0.001). Also, VAI was found to be the independent predictor of EAT. Conclusion Simple calculation of VAI was found to be associated with increased EAT in patients with type 2 diabetes.