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Background: Inaccurate test results may be a reason why vitamin D deficiency is seen as a common problem worldwide. Interferences from the sample matrix during testing are the most important factors in measurement errors. In this study, the relationship between triglycerides and total cholesterol levels and vitamin D levels in Turkey was investigated. Methods: The 25-hydroxyvitamin D test results and lipid test results studied in Turkey in 2021 were compared. Data were obtained from the Ministry of Health National Health Database. Simultaneously, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels were studied, and 1,135,644 test results were taken as the basis. Results: In the group of patients with total cholesterol levels between 0-10.33 mmol/L, the proportion of patients below 20 mg/L ranged from 56.8% to 61.8%. In the patient group with cholesterol between 10.36-259 mmol/L, the rate of patients with less than 20 mg/L was between 70.8-100%, while the rate of patients with cholesterol above 100 mg/L was 0%. The mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was 20.1 mg/L in the patient group with a total cholesterol level between 0-10.33 mmol/L, and 16 mg/L in the patient group with a cholesterol level above 10.36 mmol/L. The mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was 20.11 mg/L in the patient group with triglycerides 0-10.16 mmol/L, and the 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was 12.28 mg/L in the patient group with triglycerides 10.17-113 mmol/L. The proportion of patients with vitamin D levels above 100 mg/L was found to be 0% in the group of patients with triglycerides above 10.17-113 mmol/L. Conclusions: According to this study, there is a risk of toxicity when administering vitamin D therapy in patients with high cholesterol and triglycerides levels. This study is the first of this size in the literature. High triglycerides and cholesterol levels can cause inaccurate measurement of vitamin D levels, so care should be taken when evaluating these tests.

Objective: In this study, we examined whether there was a change in the number of children who had been screened by hip ultrasound, the age of first diagnosis, and the number of invasive and conservative treatments applied due to developmental dysplasia of the hip between 2016 and 2022 among refugees who were in "Temporary Protection Status" in Türkiye? Methods: The records were collected via the e-health database of the Turkish Ministry of Health. Over 1 month old were included in the study. Results: The number of ultrasonography (USG) that was performed for developmental dysplasia of the hip survey had significantly increased over time. The incidence for 5 years was 6 cases per 100 babies. However, the incidence of developmental dysplasia of the hip needing intervention was 0.4 cases per 1000 babies. In 2016, the most used diagnosis method was X-ray. By contrast, the use of USG has increased from 2016 to 2022. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was significantly high in 2016, 2017, and 2020. The number of invasive treatment modalities including closed reduction under anesthesia, open reduction alone, or open reduction with pelvic and/or femoral osteotomies had significantly decreased from 2016 to 2022. However, the number of abduction orthosis used for treatment also increased significantly. Conclusions: Free access to health services is effective in promoting families' compliance with screening programs for developmental dysplasia of the hip. But is not enough for initial periods of mass migrations. To increase sensitivity to screening programs for possible diseases, further efforts are needed to prevent low compliance in early cases of mass migrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Across the world, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) deficiency is a major health problem associated with many chronic diseases in the geriatric population. Prior to this study, there were no data regarding 25-OHD levels among individuals over the age of 65 in Turkey. The aim of this study was to assess 25-OHD levels and seasonal variations in these values among people over the age of 65 in Turkey. Methods: This study included vitamin D measurements taken in 2016, 2017, and 2018 from the Turkish population over the age of 65. The age, gender, and seasonal average data of the study population were defined. The study data were obtained from the database of the Ministry of Health, and a Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to assess the distribution of the data. Medians and interquartile ranges (IQRs) were calculated for all categories, as the data were nonparametric. Results: The number of vitamin D measurements taken from the geriatric individuals included in this study was 305,329 for 2016, 576,452 for 2017, and 752,837 for 2018. The medians and IQRs of the 25-OHD levels in this population were 16 mg/L (IQR 7.45-24.55 mg/L) for 2016, 16.1 mg/L (IQR 7.8-24.4 mg/L) for 2017, and 16.4 mg/L (IQR 8.95-23.85 mg/L) for 2018. Conclusions: While the 25-OHD levels of older men tended to increase during the period of seasonal sunlight in Turkey, this variability was observed in elderly women. This suggests that older women tend to live more sedentary lives and have insufficient sun exposure. Overall, the median 25-OHD levels of individuals over the age of 65 tended to decrease each year.

Background/aim: The epidemiological data on heart failure (HF) vary between regions within the same country. We aimed to investigate the epidemiological data on HF in Türkiye across all age groups regarding seven geographical regions. Materials and methods: We included all patients from the Turkish population who received a first diagnosis of HF between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2022, using ICD-10 codes from the National Electronic Healthcare Database. The data were categorized by seven geographical regions of Türkiye. Results: The median age of index diagnosis of HF was 70 (60--78) years in all age groups and 4 (1--12) years in pediatric population. The prevalence rate of HF was the highest in the Black Sea Region at 3.103%, while the Southeastern Anatolia Region exhibited the lowest at 1.436%. In all age groups, female patients with HF were older and had a higher prevalence rate across all geographical regions than male patients. From 2017 to 2021, incidence rates of HF declined to 3.0 per 1000 person years, with a consistent decrease for each geographical region. The highest incidence rates of HF were seen in the Black Sea Region, while the Southeastern Anatolia Region had the lowest. Evaluating pediatric population with HF, prevalence of HF was 0.81 per 1000 people (female children: 0.77 per 1000 people, male children: 0.84 per 1000 people). Female children with HF demonstrated the highest prevalence in the Central Anatolia Region with a rate of 1.04 per 1000 people, while male pediatric population with HF exhibited the greatest prevalence of HF in the Mediterranean Region, reaching 0.89 per 1000 people. The lowest prevalence of children with HF in both sexes was observed in the Eastern Anatolia Region (female children: 0.62 per 1000 people, male children: 0.48 per 1000 people). Conclusion: Despite regional variations, prevalence of HF in Türkiye's regions aligns with global trends. Sex-based differences in HF prevalence were evident across all age groups, including pediatric population. Incidence rates of HF in each region exhibited a substantial decline by 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Despite Türkiye's relatively young population, there is an emerging trend of earlier diagnoses of chronic diseases, including heart failure (HF). This study aims to shed light on survival rates, potential influences of guideline-directed therapies, and sex-based differences necessitating personalized management in HF. Materials and methods: We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort analysis of 2,722,151 patients with HF using deidentified data from the Turkish Ministry of Health's national electronic database. That cohort included 2,701,099 adult patients with HF. Adult patients were divided into two groups based on their outcomes as those who were deceased and those who survived and were then compared. Multivariate regression analysis was conducted to identify variables predicting mortality. The patients' hospital admissions and length of hospital stay were analyzed based on survival status and age. Results: Out of 2,722,151 HF patients, the overall mortality rate was 33.7%, with a difference observed according to sex (32.5% in female patients, 35.0% in male patients). Survival rates at 1, 5, and 7 years after the HF diagnosis were detailed. Deceased HF patients had more comorbidities, higher natriuretic peptides, and lower glomerular filtration rates. Hospitalization patterns varied, with 41% experiencing no hospitalization. The average length of hospital stay in 2022 was 6 days, with sex- and age-specific disparities. Conclusion: The survival rate of HF in Türkiye is similar to world data. The survival of female patients is better than that of male patients. Increased survival rates can likely be attributed to the widespread use of guideline-directed therapies. Finally, high healthcare utilization is observed, especially in emergency situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Effective management of heart failure involves evidence-based use of multiple medications and their combinations. Furthermore, dosage escalation of the recommended medications is advised. In cases of advanced heart failure, long-term mechanical assistance devices or heart transplantation surgery may be necessary. Socio-economic disparities create unequal opportunities for people to access these treatments. The study aimed to analyze and compare medical and advanced heart failure treatments recommended by guidelines across various regions in Türkiye. Materials and methods: About 85 million citizens medical treatment records were utilized between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2022. Medical and heart replacement treatment opportunities for heart failure in Türkiye were evaluated in the general population and across different geographical regions. Results: According to this study, beta-blockers were the most commonly prescribed medication for heart failure in Türkiye. This was followed by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors at 44% and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists at 38.9%. However, only 0.6% of patients used angiotensin receptor blocker-neprilysin inhibitors. Despite the high incidence of diabetes mellitus among heart failure patients, only 11% used sodium-glucose cotransporter two inhibitors. The study also found that using an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) was 0.8%, and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) was 0.3% among all intracardiac device treatments. Heart replacement therapies, cardiac transplantation surgery, and long-term left ventricle-assisted device (LVAD) surgery had very low rates. Conclusion: The use of guideline-directed medical therapy is not optimal in Türkiye and varies across different geographical regions. It is a fact that heart transplant or LVAD surgery, CRT, and ICD implantation rates in Türkiye are significantly lower than those in developed countries, regardless of geographical region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Final diagnosis of heart failure (HF) relies on a combination clinical findings, laboratory and imaging tests. The aim of this study was to review the diagnostic approach to HF in Türkiye. Materials and methods: This study is a subanalysis of the nationwide TRends-HF study, based on anonymized data from National Electronic Database between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2022. Variables including date of birth, sex, socioeconomic development index, place of initial HF diagnosis, comorbidities, investigations, and diagnostic procedures were reported. Laboratory variables, including complete blood count, natriuretic peptides (NP), estimated glomerular filtration rate, uric acid, electrolytes, albumin, lipid profile, ferritin and hemoglobin A1c levels, and other imaging techniques (coronary angiogram [CAG], transthoracic echocardiography [TTE], chest X-ray [CXR], etc.) during the initial diagnosis and/or follow-up of HF patients, were obtained from the National Electronic Database. The diagnostic test usage rates were analyzed according to years, geographical regions, and socioeconomic regions of Türkiye. Results: The study population consisted of 2,722,151 HF patients (51.7% female, mean age 68.33 ± 14.01 years). All HF patients had at least one electrocardiogram and one TTE examination, and all underwent routine biochemical tests at least once during the followup period. CXR utilization rate was 93.7%, while CAG utilization rate was 17.9%. Coronary computed tomographic angiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging were performed in only 1.8% and 0.3% of patients, respectively. Among all Turkish HF patients, 16.3% had at least one NP measurement. The highest rate of NP use was observed in the Central Anatolia Region (21.0%), while the lowest rate was in the Aegean Region (11.7%). NP measurement during HF diagnosis revealed a rising trend over time (12.3% in 2016 vs. 26.3% in 2021). Conclusion: The widespread use of TTE at the beginning of the diagnosis and during follow-up is important for providing quality care to HF patients in Türkiye. However, detailed laboratory tests and advanced imaging methods are not utilized sufficiently, which could lead to issues in patient management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Heart failure (HF) is associated with a wide range of comorbidities that negatively impact clinical outcomes and cause high economic burden. We aimed to evaluate the frequency and burden of comorbidities in HF patients in Türkiye and their relationships with patients' demographic characteristics. Materials and methods: Based on ICD-10 codes in the national electronic database of the Turkish Ministry of Health covering the entire population of Türkiye (n = 85,279,553) from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2022, data on the prevalence of comorbidities in HF patients were obtained. The frequency and burden of comorbidities were analyzed separately by age groups, sex, and socioeconomic status (SES). Results: Between 2016 and 2022, there were 2,722,151 patients (51.7% female) of all ages who were diagnosed with HF. In Türkiye, the most common comorbidities of HF patients were hypertension (HT) (97.6%), atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) (84.9%), dyslipidemia (59.5%), anxiety disorder (48.1%), diabetes mellitus (DM) (45.2%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (43.6%), anemia (40.6%), and atrial fibrillation (AF) (37.1%). Female patients had higher rates of anemia, DM, HT, and anxiety disorders, while male patients had higher rates of ASCVD, COPD, and dyslipidemia. The most common comorbidity in patients under 20 years of age was congenital heart disease (52.3%). More than 90% of HF patients had ≥2 comorbidities. HF patients with ≥5 comorbidities increased from 18.1% in the group aged 20--49 years to 38.3% in the group aged 50--79 years. Comorbidities were similar across SES groups. Conclusion: The most common comorbidities in cases of HF in Türkiye are HT, ASCVD, dyslipidemia, DM, COPD, anemia, and AF, respectively, and more than 90% of patients have ≥2 comorbidities. While ASCVD and dyslipidemia were more common in male patients, anemia, DM, and anxiety disorders were more common in female patients. The number of comorbid conditions increased with advanced age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Patient satisfaction refers to the degree to which patients' expectations from health care services are met and is a critical indicator used to measure the overall quality of this service. This study aims to analyze overall patient satisfaction and regarding factors in our country, providing valuable insights for policymakers, clinicians, and researchers who aim to improve the quality of health care services and patient outcomes. Furthermore, as a nationwide assessment, this study reveals the potential of big data analytics in health services. METHODS: Integrated e-Pulse and Health Statistics and Causal Analysis (SINA) systems were used to gather satisfaction scores given by patients after any health care service obtained for overall health care service, physician, personnel other than physician, sanitization (from 0 to 100). The data were processed and analyzed using libraries Pandas and NumPy in the Python programming language. RESULTS: A total of 37.674.978 scores were given by a total of 11.421.857 patients regarding health care service they obtained involving ratings of 207.339 physicians, between the years of 2016 and 2023. Mean health care rating was 80.4 over 100, mean physician rating was 82, mean rating for personnel other than physicians was 78.4 and mean rating for sanitization was 77.7. When the top 15 most scored facilities were investigated, overall point was highest for Family Medicine centers (94.62) and lowest for Women's Health and Pediatric Diseases hospitals. When rate of 100 points given for each clinic after an admission was investigated, it was lowest for emergency medicine, pediatric emergency medicine, dentistry, endodontia, dermatology and pandemic clinics, and highest for oncology, radiation oncology and family medicine clinics. Waiting time to admission and length of hospital stay seemed to be important factors for patient satisfaction. CONCLUSION: This is the largest study regarding patient satisfaction in Turkiye and was conducted by the foremost health care provider, the Ministry of Health. This limited data may provide implications to be assessed to keep the positive trend in our country in patient satisfaction and future analyses evaluating infinite potential factors to hasten the progress of health care in our country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: The comparative risk of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) among users of direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) versus vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) is a topic of ongoing debate. This study leverages a comprehensive national health database to evaluate the incidence of GIB, associated risk factors, and postbleeding management strategies among anticoagulated patients. Materials and methods: Utilizing the Turkish Ministry of Health's e-Nabız system, we conducted a retrospective analysis of patients treated with DOACs and warfarin from January 2017 to July 2023. GIB events were identified using ICD codes, and comorbidities, prior medication use, interventions, and mortality rates were analyzed. Drug survival and patterns of changes following GIB were also evaluated. Results: Among 102,545 patients with a GIB event during anticoagulant treatment, DOAC users were older with a higher prevalence of comorbidities, except for chronic obstructive lung disease, compared to VKA users. GIB-related mortality was 0.6% in the DOAC group and 0.4% in the VKA group at admission after the GIB (p < 0.01). In all drug groups, approximately half of the patients discontinued anticoagulation due to GIB after 3 months, the rate being highest with apixaban (61.9%). In patients who continued anticoagulation, the anticoagulant prior to GIB remained the most common agent in all groups, with rivaroxaban having the highest retention rate (40.7%). Conclusion: This nationwide study indicates a higher frequency of GIB in DOAC users versus VKA users, with age and comorbidities potentially contributing to this trend. Mortality rates were comparable to the previous literature but warrant further investigation. The significant rate of discontinuation following GIB raises concerns about ongoing anticoagulation management. These findings underscore the need for cautious case management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: This study aimed to scrutinize nationwide utilization trends of shoulder arthroplasty for proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) using a comprehensive national surgical database. Materials and methods: A retrospective study was conducted with 4181 patients who underwent shoulder arthroplasty due to PHF between 2016 and 2022 using national health records. They are grouped as hemiarthroplasty (HA), anatomical total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), and reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA). The patients' demographic data, length of hospital stay, revision histories, transfusion rates, mortality data, trends in arthroplasty methods over the years, the distribution of cases by hospital characteristics and geographical regions were analyzed. Results: Treatment with HA was administered to 22.1% of patients, TSA to 30.2%, and RSA to 47.7%. The lowest revision rate was observed after HA (4.3%), while higher rates were recorded after TSA (7.9%) and RSA (7.4%) (p = 0.019). It was observed that there was a significant increasing trend in RSA rates and a decreasing trend in HA and TSA rates over time (p < 0.001). Conclusion: From 2016 to 2022, there appears to have been a significant increase in the utilization of RSA for the arthroplasty treatment of proximal humeral fractures in Türkiye, and it is used more frequently than HA. However, revision rates after RSA are still higher than those after HA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anticitrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) are specific for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosis. However, they could be positive in other diseases and even in healthy populations. The aim was to investigate the prevalence of positive RF and anti-CCP antibodies in persons admitted to hospital for any reason and on a national scale. Materials and methods: The National Electronic Health Database, which contains the clinical records of over 80 million people, was used to design this multicenter, retrospective cohort study. The subjects included in the study were divided into age groups according to 10-year periods. RA cases were identified using ICD-10 codes that included M05, M06, M08, and their subgroups. RF and anti-CCP positivity were evaluated in terms of their contribution to the risk of being diagnosed with RA, with the change according to age and sex. Results: During the 1.1.2018-31.12.2021 period, 13,918,072 RF tests were performed in 11,849,440 people, whereas 1,183,607 anti-CCP tests were performed in 1,020,967 people. Moreover, 797,089 people had both tests performed at least once. The RF positivity rate in patients who only requested RF tests was 14.72% and it was 35.04% for anti-CCP positivity in those who only requested anti-CCP tests. The rate of concomitant RF and anti-CCP positivity was 22.56%. An RA diagnosis was made in 27.8% of RF-positive people, 39.73% of anti-CCP-positive people, and 56.6% of co-RF and anti-CCP-positive people. RF positivity and concomitant RF and anti-CCP positivity increased with age and were more common in females. Conclusion: RF and anti-CCP positivity may be seen in a healthy population with female predominance. As age increases, the risk of RF positivity rises, but anti-CCP positivity does not change. Concomitant RF and anti-CCP positivity shows the highest risk of RA development with respect to either antibody positivity alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Türkiye is a country with an increasing life expectancy and an older adult population in parallel with the rest of the world. Several national small-scale studies were performed regarding the prevalence and characteristics of dementia in Türkiye, and the results of these studies differ from each other. We aimed to determine the prevalence of dementia in Türkiye to present the demographic characteristics, the frequency of use of health services, and the management of dementia. Materials and methods: Patients aged 65 years and over with a diagnosis of any type of dementia between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2020, were retrospectively screened from the electronic health records of the Ministry of Health using ICD-10 codes. Results: In 2019, the total number of dementia cases identified in individuals aged 65 years and older was 247,727, of whom 150,529 (60.8%) were women. In 2020, the total number of dementia cases identified in this age group was 233,949, with 142,878 (61.1%) of these cases being women. The rate of patients admitted to the emergency department was 72.3% and 66.2% of all dementia patients in 2019 and 2020, respectively. In terms of the use of outpatient clinics, most patients with dementia were admitted to neurology (71.0% in 2019 and 62.4% in 2020). The geriatric medicine outpatient clinic was the least used by patients with dementia both in 2019 and 2020. Conclusion: The prevalence of patients living with dementia in Türkiye is lower than the global average. This suggests that most dementia cases are overlooked, highlighting the need to raise dementia awareness both in the community and among primary health care providers who frequently encounter older individuals. The study is significant in that it is the first to show the nationwide frequency of dementia in Türkiye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]