Nusinersen therapy changed the natural course of spinal muscular atrophy type 1: What about spine and hip?

Purpose: Spinal muscular atrophy type 1 has a devastating natural course and presents a severe course marked by scoliosis and hip subluxation in nonambulatory patients. Nusinersen, Food and Drug Administration-approved spinal muscular atrophy therapy, extends survival and enhances motor function. However, its influence on spinal and hip deformities remains unclear. Methods: In a retrospective study, 29 spinal muscular atrophy type 1 patients born between 2017 and 2021, confirmed by genetic testing, treated with intrathecal nusinersen, and had registered to the national electronic health database were included. Demographics, age at the first nusinersen dose, total administrations, and Children's of Philadelphia Infant Test of Neuromuscular Disorders scores were collected. Radiological assessments included parasol rib deformity, scoliosis, pelvic obliquity, and hip subluxation. Results: Mean age was 3.7 ± 1.1 (range, 2-6), and average number of intrathecal nusinersen administration was 8.9 ± 2.9 (range, 4-19). There was a significant correlation between Children's of Philadelphia Infant Test of Neuromuscular Disorders score and the number of nusinersen administration (r = 0.539, p = 0.05). The correlation between Children's of Philadelphia Infant Test of Neuromuscular Disorders score and patient age (r = 0.361) or the time of first nusinersen dose (r = 0.39) was not significant (p = 0.076 and p = 0.054, respectively). While 93.1% had scoliosis, 69% had pelvic obliquity, and 60.7% had hip subluxation, these conditions showed no significant association with patient age, total nusinersen administrations, age at the first dose, or Children's of Philadelphia Infant Test of Neuromuscular Disorders scores. Conclusion: Disease-modifying therapy provides significant improvements in overall survival and motor function in spinal muscular atrophy type 1. However, progressive spine deformity and hip subluxation still remain significant problems in the majority of cases which would potentially need to be addressed.

Prevalence, number of fractures, and hospital characteristics among the pediatric population with osteogenesis imperfecta: results from the nationwide registry of Türkiye.

OBJECTIVE: Osteogenesis imperfecta is a rare connective tissue disorder with an estimated number of 4-20 cases per 100 000 inhabitants. Although the prevalence differs among regions, there are only a few number of national registry studies published previously. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of osteogenesis imperfecta among the pediatric age group in Türkiye, together with the patient and hospital characteristics. METHODS: Via the e-health database of the Turkish Ministry of Health, we collected and retrospectively evaluated the medical records of the patients who were under 18 years of age with the diagnosis of osteogenesis imperfecta between 2016 and 2022. Total number of fractures, treatment modalities, and the hospital characteristics were also recorded. Two thousand seven hundred forty patients were extracted with a mean age of 9.77 ±â€…4.81 years. RESULTS: The prevalence of osteogenesis imperfecta in Türkiye among the pediatric population was calculated as 11.6 per 100 000 individuals. The median annual incidence was 31.5 per 100 000 live births between 2016 and 2022. There were 17.4 hospital admissions per patient per year. The mean age at the time of in-hospital mortality was 4.08 ±â€…5.03 years. The fracture rate per patient per year was 0.56 and conservative treatment was the most commonly preferred modality for all ages. CONCLUSION: This is the first registry-based nationwide study of osteogenesis imperfecta patients in Türkiye, providing important characteristics of the disease. Together with the help of the ongoing development of national health database systems, precision in patient identification would yield substantial benefits in terms of management of osteogenesis imperfecta.

Deciphering mortality risk of diabetes medications in heart failure patients with diabetes mellitus under triple guideline-directed medical therapy.

BACKGROUND: Scientific evidence regarding the impact of different combinations of diabetes medications in heart failure patients with diabetes mellitus (HFwDM) remains limited. AIM: We aimed to investigate the effect of monotherapy and combination therapy for DM on all-cause mortality in HFwDM under triple guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT). METHOD: This nationwide retrospective cohort study included adult HFwDM under triple GDMT between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2022.We collected the data from the National Electronic Database of the Turkish Ministry of Health.We created various combination including different diabetes medications based on the current guidelines for DM.The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. RESULTS: A total of 321,525 HFwDM under triple GDMT (female:49%, median age:68[61-75] years) were included. The highest rate of prescribed combination therapy was metformin and sulfonylureas (n = 55,266). In Cox regression analysis, insülin monotherapy had the highest risk for all-cause mortality (HR:2.25, 95CI%:2.06 - 2.45), whereas combination therapy including metformin, SGLT2i, and sulfonylureas provided the most beneficial effect on survival (HR:0.29, 95CI%:0.22-0.39) when compared to patients not receiving diabetes medication. Among patients taking diabetes medications, the inclusion of SGLT2i demonstrated a survival benefit (p < 0.05), despite concurrent use of volume-retaining medications such as insulin and thiazolidinediones. Conversely, combinations of diabetes medications without SGLT2i did not demonstrate any survival benefit compared to patients not taking diabetes medication (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study underscored the use of SGLT2i as monotherapy or as a part of combination diabetes medications to improve survival among HFwDM, while also highlighting that combinations lacking SGLT2i did not confer any survival benefit.

Survival in systemic sclerosis associated pulmonary arterial hypertension in the current treatment era-results from a nationwide study.

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a leading cause of mortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc). This nationwide study aims to describe real world treatment characteristics and assess survival rates of patients with SSc-PAH. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, patients with SSc-PAH were identified from Turkish Ministry of Health National Electronic Database (from January 2016 to September 2022), using ICD-10 codes. Data on demographics, treatment characteristics, and death was collected. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to calculate cumulative probabilities of survival at 1, 3, and 5 years. RESULTS: Five hundred forty-seven patients (90.7% female) with SSc-PAH were identified. Median age at PAH diagnosis was 59.9 (50.0-67.4) years. During a median follow-up duration of 3.2 (1.5-4.8) years, 199 (36.4%) deaths occurred. Estimated survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 90.2%, 73.2%, and 56.6%, respectively. Survival was similar among patients with and without interstitial lung disease (p = 0.20). Patients who used immunosuppressives had better survival than those who did not (p < 0.001). No difference was observed in survival rates according to initial PAH-specific treatment regimen (monotherapy or combination) (p = 0.49). CONCLUSION: Compared to most of historical cohorts, higher survival rates for SSc-PAH were observed in this study. Early diagnosis of PAH may have contributed to these findings. The impact of immunosuppressive therapy on prognosis of SSc-PAH needs to be further investigated in prospective studies. Key Points • Early diagnosis is pivotal for better outcomes in SSc-PAH. • Implementation of PAH treatment guidelines in routine clinical practice is still poor and should be improved. • Effect of immunosuppressive therapies on disease course has to be defined in SSc-PAH.

Prevalence and incidence of multiple sclerosis in Turkey: A nationwide epidemiologic study.

BACKGROUND: Many studies on multiple sclerosis (MS) reveal different prevalence and epidemiologic results. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed to determine the epidemiologic profile of MS using official health records in Turkey. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with MS from the official health data of the Ministry of Health, representing the entire population of Turkey, were included in the study. Prevalence and incidence calculations were performed using the data on gender, age, year of birth, city of residence, and year of diagnosis. RESULTS: As a result of the study, the number of patients with the ICD code G35 was determined as 201,061 and the number of patients with this code entered at least three times was determined as 82,225. The prevalence of MS in Turkey was calculated as 96.4 per 100,000 and the female/male ratio as 2.1/1. The incidence of MS in 2022 was 6.2 per 100,000 and the mean patient age was 43.1 ± 13.3 years (female: 43.0 ± 13.1 vs male: 43.2 ± 13.7) while the mean age at first diagnosis was 34.0 ± 13.0 (female: 33.6 ± 12.6 vs male: 34.9 ± 13.7). CONCLUSION: The research was conducted via Official Database of Turkey, which includes population of 85 million and provides valuable insights into the prevalence and incidence rates of this chronic disease.

Unseen Threefold Mortality After the First Ten Days in Hemodialysis Patients Following Joint Arthroplasty: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study of 1,287 Arthroplasty Patients on Hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: The study addresses the growing number of hemodialysis (HD) patients undergoing joint arthroplasty, who are at higher risk of complications and mortality. Previous research has often overlooked deaths after discharge. This study aimed to examine early outcomes in a large nationwide cohort of patients who underwent arthroplasty for elective and fracture-related reasons. METHODS: Between 2016 and 2022, a study was conducted using the e-Nabiz database of the Türkiye Ministry of Health, focusing on patients aged 18 years and above who underwent elective or fracture-related arthroplasty. This study included 1,287 patients reliant on dialysis who underwent total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty, or hemiarthroplasty (HA), with 7.7% of them receiving dialysis for the first time. Propensity score matching was used to create an equally sized group of non-dialysis-dependent patients, ensuring demographic balance in terms of age, sex, a comorbidity index, and surgery type. The primary objective was to compare mortality rates 10, 30, and 90 days after arthroplasty. RESULTS: The first-time dialysis patients who underwent HA had significantly higher 30- and 90-day mortality rates compared to the chronic dialysis group (P = .040 and P < .001, respectively). Also, the HD patients consistently exhibited higher 90-day mortality rates across all surgery types. With total knee arthroplasty, HD patients had a mortality rate of 8.7%, in stark contrast to 0% among non-HD patients (P < .001). Similarly, with total hip arthroplasty, HD patients had a 12% mortality rate, while non-HD patients had a markedly lower rate of 2.7% (P = .008). In the case of HA, HD patients had a significantly elevated 90-day mortality rate of 31.9%, in contrast to 17.1% among non-HD patients (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Joint arthroplasty has higher rates of mortality and complications among HD patients. Surgical decisions must be based on patients' overall health, necessitating collaboration among specialists. These patients should be closely monitored.

Insights from Turkey's big data: unraveling the preventability, pathogenesis, and risk management of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Extensive research into dementia has more recently honed in on several key areas. These areas include the advancement of techniques such as the accumulation of amyloid-ß and tau proteins, the monitoring of cerebral hypometabolism rates etc. The primary objective of this study is to explore the intricate interplay between Alzheimer's disease (AD)-other dementias (D) and various chronic illnesses in terms of time, intensity, and connectivity. In this context, we retrospectively examined data of 149,786 individuals aged 65 and above who received diagnoses of AD and D in the year 2020. At first, logistic regression (LR) analysis has been made with "sex", "age" and "foreigner" (citizenship status) independent variables for AD and D. The LR models shows that while "sex" and "age" variables have a small rate on the risk of developing AD/D, it is detected that being a foreigner increase the risk of AD and D as 69.8% and 88.5% respectively. Besides, the LR models have middle-level success prediction rate for both of the two dependent variables. Additionally, we used the parallel coordinates graphs method within the R Studio to visualize their relationships and connections. The findings of this investigation strongly suggest that AD/D don't stand as isolated conditions, but rather stem from intricate interactions and progressive processes involving diverse chronic diseases over time. Notably, ailments including hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and psychological disorders, contribute substantially to the emergence of both AD and D. This study highlights that the fight against AD/D can only be possible with next-generation prophylactic interventions that can predict and manage risks. Such an approach holds the potential to potentially lower AD and dementia to levels that are amenable to treatment.

Exploring Regional Disparities in Heart Failure Epidemiology and Outcomes: A Comprehensive Study Across Geographical Regions in Türkiye.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a common condition that affects 1-3% of the general population. Its prevalence exhibits notable international and intranational disparities, partly explained by socioeconomic status, religion, ethnic diversity, and geographic factors. A comprehensive understanding of the epidemiological symptoms of HF in different regions of Türkiye has yet to be revealed. Aims: To examine epidemiological data from 2016 to 2022, focusing on crucial patient characteristics and geographical regions, to determine the incidence and prevalence of HF in Türkiye across seven diverse geographical regions. Study Design: A nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study. Methods: The comprehensive National Electronic Database of the Turkish Ministry of Health was used in this study to obtain data that covers the whole Turkish population from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2022. The International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10) codes were used to identify adults with HF (n = 2,701,099) and associated comorbidities. Türkiye is divided into seven geographically distinct regions. Epidemiological characteristics and survival data of these regions were analyzed separately. All-cause mortality was set as the primary outcome. Results: In , the total estimated prevalence of adult patients with HF is 2.939%, ranging from 2.442% in Southeastern Anatolia to 4.382% in the Black Sea Region. Except for the Eastern Anatolia Region, the three most often reported comorbidities were hypertension, dyslipidemia, and anxiety disorders. The rates of prescribing guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for HF and other medications varied significantly. GDMT prescription rates were lowest in the Eastern Anatolia Region (82.6% for beta-blockers, 48.7% for RASi, 31.8% for mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and 9.4% for SGLT2i). The Mediterranean and Aegean regions had the highest median N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels of 1,990,0 pg/ml (518.0-6,636,0) and 1,441,0 pg/ml (363.0-5,000,0), respectively. From 2016 to 2022, 915,897 (33.9%) of 2,701,099 patients died. The Eastern Anatolia Region had the lowest all-cause mortality rate of 26.5%, whereas the Black Sea Region had the highest all-cause mortality rate of 35.3%. Conclusion: Our real-world analysis revealed geographic disparities in HF characteristics, such as decreased mortality in socioeconomically challenged regions. Higher stress susceptibility in developed regions may increase the likelihood of adverse outcomes.

Navigating Heart Failure: Unveiling Sex Disparities in Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy Combinations.

Major heart failure (HF) trials remain insufficient in terms of assessing the differences in clinical characteristics, biomarkers, treatment efficacy, and safety because of the under-representation of women. The study aimed to present sex-related disparities in HF management, including differences in demographics, co-morbidities, cardiac biomarkers, prescribed medications, and treatment outcomes. The study utilized anonymized data from the Turkish Ministry of Health's National Electronic Database between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2022. The cohort analysis included 2,501,231 adult patients with HF. Specific therapeutic combinations were analyzed using a Cox regression model to obtain relative risk reduction for all-cause death. The primary end point was all-cause mortality. In the cohort, 48.7% (n = 1,218,911) were male, whereas 51.3% (n = 1,282,320) were female. Female patients exhibited a higher median age (71 vs 68 years) and manifested higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus, anemia, atrial fibrillation, anxiety, and ischemic stroke. Male patients demonstrated higher rates of previous myocardial infarction, dyslipidemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic kidney disease. Higher concentrations of natriuretic peptides were observed in female patients. Renin-angiotensin aldosterone inhibitor, ß blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i), and ivabradine were more commonly prescribed in male patients, whereas loop diuretics, digoxin, and ferric carboxymaltose were more frequent in female patients. Male patients had higher rates of cardiac resynchronization therapy and implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation rates. All-cause mortality and hospitalization rates were higher in male patients. Compared with monotherapy, all combinations, including SGLT2i, showed a beneficial effect on all-cause mortality in both female and male patients with HF. In hospitalized patients with HF, the addition of digoxin to renin-angiotensin aldosterone inhibitor, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and ß blockers was superior to monotherapy regarding all-cause mortality in female patients with HF compared with male patients with HF. In conclusion, this study highlights that sex-specific responses to HF medication combinations compared with monotherapy and differences in co-morbidities underscore the importance of tailored management strategies. Digoxin showed a contrasting effect on all-cause mortality between both sexes after hospitalization, whereas SGLT2i exhibited a consistent beneficial effect in both sexes when added to all combinations.

Association between hyponatremia, inflammation, and mortality in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis: A nationwide observations.

INTRODUCTION: Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disorder often present in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the effect of hyponatremia on mortality in patients undergoing PD. METHODS: The health records of adult individuals with an inserted PD catheter identified via the centralized national e-health database were used. RESULTS: The mean age of the 846 patients included in the study was 52.48 years (±14.6). The mean sodium level was 136.51 mEq/L. Sodium levels <137 mEq/L were associated with higher death risk independent of comorbidities. There was a 0.821 times less reduction in mortality for each mEq /L increase in serum sodium. CONCLUSION: Our study provides evidence that monitoring and adjusting serum sodium levels is crucial in managing PD patients with hyponatremia, as low serum sodium level was found to be a significant and independent predictor of mortality.

The burden of scoliosis: a nationwide database study on demographics, incidence, and surgical rates.

INTRODUCTION: Scoliosis is characterized as a three-dimensional deformity of the spine, affected by variety of factors, including biological, mechanical, hormonal, and genetics. METHODS: Our study's primary objective was to delineate the demographics, incidence, and prevalence of scoliosis from a nationwide perspective, analyze the surgical intervention rates, with the aim of offering more insightful guidance to orthopedic physicians. This nationwide cohort study was conducted from digital database for healthcare information management. Relevant population data, for children under 18 years old, was extracted from the official government census within the period of January 2015 to December 2022. Utilizing diagnostic code of M41 [Scoliosis] was used to define the patient pool from ICD-10. Demographic variables, type of operations (posterior only, anterior only, or combined), and complications were documented. Incidence and prevalence values were calculated using population figures and case numbers. RESULT: There were 276,521 patients with an average incidence of 129 per 100,000. Frequency of females was 1.45 times greater than that of males (p < 0.001). A total of 10,417 surgeries were performed in 10,311 patients during the inspection period (3.8% of all cases). Posterior fusion was by far the most common surgical approach (n = 10.111; 97%) followed by anterior fusion (n = 200; 1,9%). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal a significant increase in the average incidence of scoliosis diagnosis, rising from 107 per 100,000 individuals in 2015 to 161 per 100,000 in 2022. Scoliosis now impacts an estimated 1.2% of children and adolescents in Turkey. The risk is 1.45 times higher in females than in males.

Fracture Patterns and Mortality in Osteopetrosis: A 7-year Retrospective Analysis from Türkiye's National Registry.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to determine the demographic data, fracture treatment methods, and medical treatments of patients diagnosed with osteopetrosis in the national registry. METHODS: Patients with International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 code Q78.2 for osteopetrosis between January 1, 2016 and April 11, 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Data on sex, age at time of diagnosis, fracture history, mortality, and use of medications were evaluated for all patients. In addition, open reduction and internal fixation, closed reduction and internal fixation, closed reduction and casting, and conservative treatment methods were noted. The number of patients requiring deformity surgery was determined. The incidence and prevalence of osteopetrosis were also calculated in this cross-sectional study. RESULTS: A total of 476 patients diagnosed with osteopetrosis were identified. The mean age at time of diagnosis of these patients was 5.79 ± 5.43 years. A total of 101 patients died. As the age at diagnosis decreased, the mortality rate of the patients increased with statistical significance ( P <0.001). A total of 192 fractures were seen in 121 osteopetrosis patients in this study. Femur fractures were most common among these patients with osteopetrosis. A history of fracture was statistically significantly less common in patients using a combination of vitamin D + calcium compared with patients not using such medication ( P <0.001). In this 7-year cross-sectional study, the incidence was found to be 1 in 416,000 and the prevalence was 0.00199% in the population under 18 years of age. CONCLUSION: Younger age at diagnosis is associated with higher mortality in patients with osteopetrosis. In addition, the combination of vitamin D and calcium were associated with lower fracture incidence. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level II.

Trends in heart failure between 2016 and 2022 in Türkiye (TRends-HF): a nationwide retrospective cohort study of 85 million individuals across entire population of all ages.

Background: Data on the burden of heart failure (HF) outside western countries are limited, but available data suggest it may present differently in other countries. The aim of this study was to examine the incidence, prevalence, and survival rates of HF in Türkiye, with a specific focus on how these rates vary according to age, sex, comorbidities, and socioeconomic status (SES). Methods: We harnessed the extensive National Electronic Database of the Turkish Ministry of Health, covering Turkey's entire population from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2022, to identify 2,722,151 cases of HF and their associated comorbidities using ICD-10 codes. Analyzing the primary endpoint of all-cause mortality, our study utilized anonymized data to examine patient demographics, comorbidities, socioeconomic status, and survival patterns, employing statistical techniques to delve into relationships and trends. The data were segmented by gender, socioeconomic status, and age, involving cross-tabulations and statistical metrics to explore connections, odds ratios, and survival rates. Findings: The estimated prevalence of HF was 2.114% in Türkiye at the end of 2022, with an annual incidence ranging between 3.00 and 6.06 per 1000 person years. Females were older than males (69.8 ± 13.9 years vs. 66.8 ± 13.9 years, respectively). The most common comorbidities were congenital heart diseases and anemia under the age of 20, and hypertension and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in the adult population. Only 23.6% (643,159/2,722,151) of patients were treated with any triple guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) and 3.6% (96,751/2,722,151) of patients were on quadruple GDMT. The survival rates for patients with HF at 1, 5, and 7 years were 83.3% (95% CI: 83.2-83.3), 61.5% (95% CI: 61.4-61.6), and 57.7% (95% CI: 57.6-57.8) among females, and 82.1% (95% CI: 82.0-82.2), 58.2% (95% CI: 58.1-58.3), and 54.2% (95% CI: 54.0-54.3) among males. Despite a tendency for an increase from the highest to the lowest SES, the prevalence of HF and mortality were paradoxically lowest in the lowest SES region. Interpretation: The prevalence, incidence, and survival rates of HF in Türkiye were comparable to western countries, despite the notable difference of HF onset occurring 8-10 years earlier in the Turkish population. Drug usage statistics indicate there is a need for effective strategies to improve treatment with GDMT. Funding: None.

Improving health-care planning for fracture patients in Türkiye: insights from a nationwide study.

BACKGROUND: The distribution of fractures may vary according to age and gender. In a country like Türkiye, which has high population density and covers a large geographical area, it is important to understand the regional variations in fractures and identify the health institutions in which patients seek treatment to plan new health-care investments effectively. The objective of our study was to investigate the distribution of fractures across the seven regions of Türkiye considering age, gender, and the level of health institutions the patients visited. METHODS: Between January 2021 and May 2023, the total number of fractures, locations of the fractures, patient age and gender, geographical regions, and levels of the health-care institutions to which the patients presented were examined through the e-Nabiz personal health record system. Age groups were divided into pediatric (0-19 years), adult (20-64 years), and geriatric (≥65 years) categories. Geographical regions included the Marmara, Central Anatolia, Black Sea, Eastern Anatolia, Aegean, Mediterranean, and Southeastern Anatolia regions. RESULTS: A total of 2,135,701 patients with 2,214,213 fractures were analyzed. Upper extremity fractures were the most common among all considered fracture groups (1,154,819 fractures, 52.2%). There were 643,547 fractures in the pediatric group, 1,191,364 fractures in the adult group, and 379,302 fractures in the geriatric group. While the total number of fractures was higher among men with 1,256,884 fractures (58.9%), the rate among women was higher in the geriatric group (67.2%). Geographically, the highest number of fractures was observed in the Marmara region (714,146 fractures), and 67.92% of all patients presented to secondary health-care institutions (1,500,780 fractures). The most commonly diagnosed fracture in the study population was distal radius fractures. The most common fracture in the geriatric group was femur fractures while distal radius fractures were the most common fractures in the adult and the pediatric groups. CONCLUSION: By understanding the distribution of fractures in Türkiye based on fracture site, geographical region, age, and gender, it becomes possible to improve the planning of patient access to health-care services. In regions with limited health resources, a more successful resource distribution can be achieved by considering fracture distributions and age groups.

Cost analysis of 25-hydroxy vitamin D tests in Turkiye with big data: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the population causes physicians to request more vitamin D tests and increases laboratory costs. It is aimed at investigating the demanded numbers and cost analyzes of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) tests with the big data obtained from the national information health system of the Turkish Ministry of Health. METHODS: Between 2017 and 2018, all inpatient and outpatient tests and 25(OH)D tests in all medical biochemistry laboratories in Turkiye were determined based on department and institution type. The cost amount, distribution among health institutions, and test request rates were calculated. In both years, the top ten most expensive tests, according to health institutions, were evaluated. RESULTS: The total number of medical biochemistry tests performed in 2017 and 2018 was 1.424.948.155 and 1.713.134.326, respectively. The number of 25 (OH)D tests analyzed in the same years was 8.698.393 and 13.919.127, respectively. When the data of the 2 years are compared, the consumption of 25 (OH)D tests increased by 37% in General hospital laboratories, whereas it increased by 115.09% in primary health laboratories. When all health institutions were evaluated, the increase rate in 25 (OH)D test demand was 60%, while the cost increase rate was 23%. CONCLUSION: This report showed that the demands for 25(OH)D testing are increasing steeply, especially in primary health-care facilities. In this direction, laboratory information system test demand restrictions in accordance with national and international guidelines are important issues for policymakers.

Hypertriglyceridemia and its impact on hematological indicators: A study based on Turkish national health database.

OBJECTIVE: The hematocrit (Hct) to hemoglobin (Hb) ratio, generally at 3.0 in healthy individuals, can vary in certain disease states. An emerging area of interest is the potential influence of triglyceride concentrations on this ratio and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) levels. This study aimed to identify the changes in HbA1c and the Hct/Hb ratio as triglyceride concentration increases. METHODS: This research involved an extensive analysis of 35,656,613 laboratory samples taken between January 2015 and December 2022 in Türkiye, including the respective triglyceride, Hb, Hct, and HbA1c results. The laboratory test results were obtained from the national health database of the Turkish Ministry of Health. The triglyceride levels were divided into 24 groups, each incremented by 100 mg/dL from a range of 0-3099 mg/dL. Mean and standard deviation values of Hb and Hct were calculated for each group, and the Hct/Hb ratio was graphically represented. RESULTS: The average HbA1c values ranged between 4.37±0.85 and 7.76±3.19 across the groups, Hb averages ranged from 9.75±1.7 to 14.03±2.21, Hct averages from 27.35±4.97 to 38.86±5.66, and Hct/Hb ratios varied between 2.77 and 3.03. The overall average for all samples was identified as 5.15±0.13 for HbA1c, 38.48±5.13 for Hct, 12.73±1.65 for Hb, and 3.02 for the Hct/Hb ratio. CONCLUSION: It was observed that the Hct/Hb ratio gradually decreased as triglyceride levels increased. Evaluating anemia based on Hb concentration in individuals with hypertriglyceridemia might be misleading. It is recommended to use a correction factor based on triglyceride level.

Epidemiology and demographics of pediatric proximal femur fractures in Türkiye: results from a government-based health registry.

We evaluate the epidemiology and incidence of pediatric proximal femur fractures, treatment trends among different hospital levels, and complication rates among different treatment modalities by examining a national health registry in Türkiye. The health records of individuals aged ≤16 years admitted to public, private, and university hospitals were collected via the e-health database of the Turkish Ministry of Health. A total of 2388 children treated for proximal femur fractures from 2016 to 2021 with at least 2 years of follow-up were included in the study. While 2033 (85.1%) patients were treated with closed reduction and spica casts, 355 (14.8%) were operated on. Mean age was 8.603 ±â€…5.11 years. Male incidence was 2-fold greater compared to female patients (36.4% female and 63.6% male patients; P < 0.001). The frequency of cases was significantly increased in the age groups of 3-4 and 13-16 years. Comorbidities causing limited ambulation were detected in 6.5% of all cases, and 163 (8.0%) patients in the conservative group and 98 (27.6%) patients in the surgery group had at least one complication. The incidence was 0.45 per 100 000 children aged ≤16 years. This study reports the largest patient cohort to date, providing evidence on the epidemiology and incidence of pediatric proximal femur fractures using health registry data. We have found that the most common treatment modality for proximal femur fractures is closed reduction with spica casts. The rate of avascular necrosis is similar among patients treated surgically and those treated conservatively.

Prevalence, Incidence, and Surgical Treatment Trends of Cerebral Palsy across Türkiye: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder in childhood. Our aim is to identify the demographics of CP in Turkish children in addition to clinical associations and surgical preferences. METHODS: Based on national health system data and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 code for CP, data were evaluated from a total of 53,027 children with CP born between 2016 and 2022, and 9658 of them underwent orthopedic surgery in those years. The incidence and frequency of CP were assessed for the parameters of age and gender. Age at the time of surgery; codes pertaining to surgical interventions; and regions, cities, and hospitals where diagnoses and surgical procedures were performed were also evaluated. RESULTS: There were 29,606 male (55.8%) and 23,421 (44.2%) female patients. The diagnoses of the patients were mostly (76.1%) performed in secondary and tertiary hospitals. The prevalence of CP among children in 2016-2022 was estimated to be 7.74/1000 children. The minimum and maximum incidence rates of cerebral palsy among children between 2016 and 2022 were calculated to be 0.45 and 1.05 per 1000, respectively. Tenoplasty-myoplasty tendon transfer operations were the most common surgeries (47.1%). CONCLUSION: CP remains a significant health challenge, underpinning a considerable proportion of childhood motor dysfunction. A dedicated national registry system for CP focused on classifying the condition, streamlining treatment, and tracking outcomes would be a valuable tool in our collective efforts to address this critical issue more effectively.

Clinical characteristics of adult and paediatric patients with familial hypercholesterolemia: A real-life cross-sectional study from the Turkish National Database.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is the most common cause of premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Türkiye is among the countries with the highest rate of ASCVD. However, no population-based study has been published so far on the prevalence of FH, demographic and clinical characteristics, burden of ASCVD, treatment compliance, and attainment of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets. METHODS: We performed a study using the Turkish Ministry of Health's national electronic health records involving 83,063,515 citizens as of December 2021 dating back 2016. Adults fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of definite or probable FH according to the Dutch Lipid Network Criteria (DLNC), and children and adolescents fulfilling the criteria of probable FH according to the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) Consensus Panel report formed the study population (n = 157,790). The primary endpoint was the prevalence of FH. RESULTS: Probable or definite FH was detected in 0.63% (1 in 158) of the adults and 0.61% (1 in 164) of the total population. The proportion of adults with LDL-C levels >4.9 mmol/L (190 mg/dL) was 4.56% (1 in 22). The prevalence of FH among children and adolescents was 0.37% (1 in 270). Less than one-third of the children and adolescents, and two-thirds of young adults (aged 18-29) with FH were already diagnosed with dyslipidaemia. The proportion of adults and children and adolescents on lipid-lowering treatment (LLT) was 32.1% and 1.5%, respectively. The overall discontinuation rate of LLT was 65.8% among adults and 77.9% among children and adolescents. Almost no subjects on LLT were found to attain the target LDL-C levels. CONCLUSIONS: This nationwide study showed a very high prevalence of FH in Türkiye. Patients with FH are diagnosed late and treated sub-optimally. Whether these findings may explain the high rates of premature ASCVD in Türkiye needs further investigation. These results denote the urgent need for country-wide initiatives for early diagnosis and effective management of FH patients.