Risk factors Associated with Pain Severity in Syrian patients with non-specific low back Pain.

BACKGROUND: Low back pain (LBP) majorly contributes to activity limitations and work absences worldwide. Therefore, a comprehensive knowledge of the risk factors linked to non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) can enable early and timely interventions to achieve long-term improvements. Current study aimed to assess the risk factors associated with the severity of NSLBP patients in Syria. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional design and a self-assessment questionnaire to collect data on NSLBP, as well as personal and physical factors, across four provinces in Syria (Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, and Latakia) from November 2021 to September 2022. The assessments incorporated the Short Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36), the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Then we examined the relationship between the severity of NSLBP and these potential risk factors. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize the demographic characteristics of the participants. Additionally, multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the risk factors for non-specific low back pain. RESULTS: The study included a total of 875 patients with NSLBP. The results indicated that patients with primary school education, a high body mass index (BMI), prolonged driving and sitting durations, smoking habits, and recurrent low back pain had higher VAS and ODI scores, as well as lower SF-36 scores (p < 0.01). Additionally, workers and drivers had higher VAS and ODI scores and lower SF-36 scores compared to waiters and patients who lifted objects heavier than 10 kg for more than a quarter of their work time for over 10 years (p < 0.01). The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that lower education levels, low back pain lasting 1-7 days, chronic low back pain in the past year, smoking, driving for prolonged time, and higher BMI were associated with more severe VAS scores. CONCLUSION: The severity of NSLBP is related to lower education levels, poor living conditions, strenuous physical labor, inactive lifestyle, and driving for a long time. Additionally, patients with recurrent NSLBP experience more intense pain. To manage these issues, potential interventions could include reducing obesity rates, limiting the duration of hard physical work, limiting driving duration and reducing sedentary behaviors and smoking. These measures may help alleviate the overall burden of NSLBP.

Risk factors associated with the severity of overactive bladder among Syrian patients with type 2 diabetes.

The prevalence of overactive bladder (OAB) is known to be higher in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). However, few studies have examined specific risk factors contributing to its progression among diabetes mellitus (DM) patients, so this study aimed to investigate the risk factors specific to diabetes mellitus that influence overactive bladder in the Syrian population. This cross-sectional study was conducted at four endocrinology centers in four Syrian provinces: Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Hama, and Latakia. The study was comprised of patients who had been diagnosed with both T2DM and OAB and had visited these centers from February 2020 to January 2023. The Arabic version of the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) scale was used to categorize the participants based on the severity score into two groups: the mild OAB group and the moderate-severe OAB group. A logistic analysis was conducted to assess the risk factors associated with the OAB among patients with diabetes. Among the 153 patients diagnosed with both DM and OAB, significant distinctions were found between the two groups concerning the severity of overactive bladder, age, duration of diabetes, symptomatic diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), and ankle reflex (P < 0.05). Furthermore, a multivariate analysis revealed that age (OR 1.48, 95% CI 0.89-2.19), duration of diabetes (OR 1.94, 95% CI 0.53-2.23), and symptomatic DPN (OR 2.74, 95% CI 1.39-4.13) independently acted as risk factors for the advancement of OAB. The severity of OAB in Syrian patients with diabetes is closely associated with the severity of DM. Factors such as age, duration of diabetes, and symptomatic DPN are independent predictors of the severity of OAB. Patients who experience symptomatic DPN are at an increased risk of developing OAB.

Risk factors associated with overactive bladder severity in patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of overactive bladder (OAB) is known to be higher in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) however there are not many studies about specific risk factors contributing to its progression among diabetes mellitus (DM) patients, so this study aimed to investigate the risk factors specific to DM that influence the progression of OAB in Syrian population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out at five endocrinology centers situated in four Syrian provinces: Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Hama, and Latakia. The study comprised patients who were diagnosed with both T2DM and OAB and had visited these centers from March 2020 and February 2024. The Arabic version of the OAB Symptom Score (OABSS) scale was used to categorize the participants based on the severity score into two groups: the mild OAB group and the moderate-severe OAB group. A logistic analysis was conducted to assess the risk factors associated with the progression of OAB among patients with diabetes. RESULT: Among the 186 patients diagnosed with both DM and OAB, significant distinctions were found between the two groups concerning the severity of OAB, age, duration of diabetes, symptomatic diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), and ankle reflex (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a multivariate analysis revealed that age (odds ratio [OR] 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.68-1.58), duration of diabetes (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.75-3.74), and symptomatic DPN (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.17-3.54) independently acted as risk factors for the advancement of OAB. CONCLUSION: The progression of OAB in Syrian patients with diabetes is closely associated with the severity of DM. Factors such as age, duration of diabetes, and symptomatic DPN are independent predictors of the severity of OAB. Patients who experience symptomatic DPN are at an increased risk of developing OAB.

Predictive value of clinical risk factors for bladder dysfunction in Syrian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a prevalent disorder that affects the endocrine and metabolic systems. Among the various complications associated with DM, diabetic bladder dysfunction (DBD) is the most frequently occurring genitourinary complication. The presence of DBD can lead to complications that affect the upper urinary tract, significantly impacting the quality of life for individuals with DM. Therefore, it is crucial to identify early risk factors for DBD and predict its onset. Given the absence of studies involving bladder dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Syria, this study aims to examine the risk factors associated with bladder dysfunction in T2DM patients and develop a predictive model to identify DBD early. Patients diagnosed with T2DM were enrolled in six endocrinology centers spread across four Syrian provinces between January 2018 and December 2023. Factors that showed an association with DBD in the bivariate analysis, with a significance level of p < 0.05, were included in a multiple logistic regression analysis. The logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors and develop a prediction model. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the predictive performance of the identified risk factors and the prediction model for DBD. One hundred and eighty-four patients were included in this study, and they were divided into the DBD group (n = 88) and the non-DBD group (n = 96). Seven variables showed significance in the bivariate analysis. Furthermore, the multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that age (OR [95% CI]: 0.981 [0.614 - 1.337]), p < 0.007; diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) (OR [95% CI]: 1.421 [1.027 - 3.308]), p = 0.03; glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (OR [95% CI]: 0.942 [0.821 - 1.141]), p = 0.042; and percentage of monocyte (Mono%) (OR [95% CI]: 1.109 [0.812 - 1.258]), p = 0.031 were independent risk factors for DBD. Analysis of the ROC curve revealed that the area under the curve (AUC) for age, DPN, HbA1c, and Mono were 0.703, 0.541, 0.613, and 0.836, respectively. Age, DPN, HbA1c, and Mono% were risk factors for DBD. The prediction model constructed based on the four risk factors had a good predictive value for predicting the occurrence of DBD.