Adult Population In Greece Research Articles

Prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in Greece: results from the national health examination survey EMENO

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is considered the most common form of autoimmune arthritis. The disease's prevalence is around 0.5-1% worldwide, but it seems to vary among different populations. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of self-reported diagnosed RA in the general adult population in Greece. The data were derived from the Greek Health Examination Survey EMENO, a population-based survey performed between 2013 and 2016. Of the 6006 participants (response rate 72%), 5884 were eligible for this study. Prevalence estimates were calculated according to the study design. Prevalence of self-reported RA was estimated to be overall 0.5% (95% CI 0.4-0.7) being approximately three times higher in women than in men (0.7% vs 0.2%, p value = 0.004). A decrease in the prevalence of RA was observed in urban areas of the country. In contrast, higher disease rates were reported in individuals with lower socioeconomic status. Multivariable regression analysis showed that gender, age, and income were related to the occurrence of the disease. Osteoporosis and thyroid disease were the two comorbidities observed at statistically significant higher rates in individuals with self-reported RA. The prevalence of self-reported RA in Greece is similar to that reported in other European countries. Gender, age, and income are the main factors related to the disease's prevalence in Greece.

Pertussis Prevalence in Adult Population in Greece: A Seroprevalence Nationwide Study.

The reported cases of pertussis vary considerably globally. In the present nationwide study, we aimed to record the Bordetella pertussis prevalence in Greece by measuring serum IgG specific antibody levels to pertussis toxin (anti-PT IgG). General practitioners and laboratories participated in this study from 12 regions of Greece. A geographically stratified sampling plan based on regional units (NUTS level 2) was applied in order to produce a representative sample, taking into consideration age group (30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, 70–79 and 80+) and sex. In total, 1169 subjects participated in the study. The percentage of participants with anti-PT IgG antibodies higher than 50 IU/mL was 3.7%. The levels of anti-PT IgG antibodies of total sample ranged between 1.46 IU/mL to 126.60 IU/mL, with mean 17.74 IU/mL and standard deviation 14.03 U/mL (p-value < 0.001). The total seroprevalence of Greek regions for pertussis disease varied significantly among prefectures. The region with the highest seroprevalence was Peloponnese 21.3%, followed by the region of Central Greece 15.3%. The proportion of adults who have pertussis specific antibodies <50 IU/mL has been >90%, suggesting that a large number of adults may be vulnerable to infection of pertussis despite well-established vaccination programs in Greece. Despite the fact that vaccination reduced the number of reported pertussis cases in the last decades in Greece, our seroprevalence study may indicate that the herd immunity level among Greek adults is suboptimal.

Vitamin D levels in primary care patients: correlations with clinical, seasonal, and quality-of-life parameters.

The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency varies across countries and few data exist in the adult population in Greece. To assess vitamin D levels in unselected patients from primary care and to investigate possible correlations with clinical, seasonal, and quality-of-life parameters. In this cross-sectional study, 389 consecutive patients were included. They were grouped according to vitamin D status as vitamin D deficient (<20ng/mL) and vitamin D sufficient groups (≥20ng/mL). Demographic, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) scores were measured and compared between groups. Vitamin D deficiency (<20ng/mL) was observed in 50.4% of the cohort. Female gender (76% vs 66%, P = 0.026), obesity (42% vs 26%, P = 0.005), and hypertension (55% vs 43%, P = 0.023) were higher in the vitamin D deficiency group compared with the group without deficiency. After multiparametric adjustments (for age, gender, obesity, comorbidities, and seasonality), hypertension (odds ratio [OR] = 2.338, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.257-4.349, P = 0.007), excessive daytime sleepiness (ESS >10; OR = 3.345, 95% CI = 1.124-9.948, P = 0.029), depressive symptoms (BDI >10; OR = 3.769, 95% CI = 0.984-14.443, P = 0.04), and fatigue (FSS >36; OR = 7.157, 95% CI = 0.855-59.877, P = 0.04) showed significant independent associations with vitamin D deficiency in specific subgroups of patients. A large proportion of patients in primary care had vitamin D deficiency, independently associated with hypertension, sleepiness, depressive symptoms, and fatigue. Further research is needed in order to determine the role of vitamin D in these patients.

Symbol Digit Modalities Test: Greek Normative Data for the Oral and Written Version and Discriminative Validity in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

The purpose of this study was to generate normative data on the Symbol Digits Modalities Test (SDMT) for the written and oral versions in the Greek adult population. We also investigated the test's validity in discriminating the performance of healthy adults from two groups of adults diagnosed with relapsing remitting (RRMS) and secondary progressive (SPMS) multiple sclerosis. The sample consisted of 609 healthy men and women between the ages of 18 and 65. All participants were monolingual native Greek adult speakers. Each healthy participant was administered either the written (n=460) or oral (n=149) versions of the SDMT. Discriminant validity was examined by comparing 35 healthy participants who had completed the oral version of the SDMT to 35 age - and education-matched RRMS and SPMS patients. Linear regression models explained between 36% and 55% of the variance in the SDMT oral and written version scores. Age was the strongest predictor of difference in SDMT written and oral version performance, followed by education that also accounted for a further proportion of the SDMT variance. On the contrary, gender was found not to contribute significantly to the variance in the SDMT for either the written or the oral versions. As a result, age- and education-adjusted norms were generated. Regarding the tests discriminative validity, we found that both MS patient groups scored significantly lower than the healthy group. This is the first study to provide comprehensive normative data for the SDMT in the adult population in Greece, impacting the future practice of neuropsychological assessment in this country.

Prevalence, comorbidity, quality of life and use of services of obsessive-compulsive disorder and subthreshold obsessive-compulsive symptoms in the general adult population of Greece

Objective: We aimed to describe the epidemiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related subthreshold symptoms in the general population of Greece and to assess the comorbidity, use of health services and impact on quality of life of these syndromes in the general population.Methods: This was a secondary analysis of the 2009–2010 general population Greek psychiatric morbidity survey (4902 participants living in private households, response rate 54%). Psychiatric disorders were assessed with the revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R). Quality of life was assessed with the EuroQoL EQ-5D.Results: 1.69% of the participants (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.33%–2.05%) met criteria for current OCD while 2.79% met criteria for subthreshold obsessive-compulsive symptoms (95%CI: 2.33%–3.26%). In the adjusted analysis few sociodemographic associations remained statistically significant. Although the full-blown syndrome was more severe in terms of comorbidity and quality of life our results showed that even subthreshold obsessive-compulsive symptoms were associated with significant comorbidity and reductions in quality of life. Use of mental health services was small.Conclusions: OCD is an under-treated public health problem that needs more attention in Greece and elsewhere. Provision of specialised mental health services should be a priority for publicly funded national health systems.KeypointsOCD is common in the general population of Greece with few sociodemographic associations apart from subjective financial difficulties.The comorbidity pattern of the full-blown syndrome versus the subthreshold obsessive-compulsive symptoms is similar and differs in magnitude in the expected way.Quality of life in OCD is greatly reduced especially when there is chronicity and/or comorbidity with depression.Use of services is limited but comorbidity with depression may increase the chances of consultation with a mental health professional.

Management of diabetes mellitus and patients' attitude towards the disease: Data from a nationwide study in Greece

AimTo examine management of diabetes mellitus (DM) and patients' attitude towards DM in a random sample of the adult Greek population. Methodss: We selected a random sample of adults with self-reported DM (n = 1002) from a population-based nationwide study using the effective random sampling technique. Collection of data was performed through phone interviews. ResultsPrevalence of type 1 DM was 3.5% and of type 2 DM 96.5%. Prevalence of type 1 DM declined while of type 2 DM increased with age. No gender or residency differences were found between type 1 and type 2 DM. A total of 72.0% of subjects with type 2 DM were treated with oral antidiabetic drugs (OAD), 11.5% were treated with insulin and 7.1% were treated with both OAD and insulin. Internists specialized in DM were mainly doctors who started insulin treatment. Almost half of insulin naive subjects were skeptical towards insulin initiation and their main concern was the needle punch. ConclusionsIn a random nationwide sample of the adult population in Greece the majority of subjects with self-reported DM had type 2 DM. Most patients with type 2 were treated with OAD. Almost half of insulin naive subjects were skeptical towards insulin initiation.

Association of periodontal disease with self-reported systemic disorders in Greece.

The aim of this retrospective investigation was to examine the occurrence of periodontal disease in patients referred to a specialist clinic for neurosurgery and to explore possible associations between common systemic disorders and periodontal disease in an adult population in Greece. The study sample consisted of 1,652 individuals, 760 males and 892 females, aged 40 to 68 years, with a mean age of 57.3 ± 4.7 years. Data were collected by means of an oral clinical examination and a self-administered questionnaire. Statistical analysis of questionnaire items was performed by using a multiple linear regression analysis model in order to estimate correlations between systemic disorders as independent variables, and the relative frequency of periodontal pockets of 5 mm or more and the frequency of clinical attachment loss of 6 mm or more as dependent variables. The relative frequencies of periodontal pockets >= 5.0 mm and clinical attachment loss >= 6.0 mm as expressed in terms of mean values were 76% and 70.2%, respectively, for individuals who suffer from cardiovascular disease and 62.3% and 52.9% respectively, for those who suffer from respiratory disease. The depth of periodontal pockets was significantly and positively correlated to the presence of respiratory diseases (P = 0.0001) and diabetes mellitus (P = 0.0001) after adjustment for age, gender and smoking, whereas clinical attachment loss was significantly and positively correlated to the presence of diabetes mellitus (P = 0.0001) and cardiovascular diseases (P = 0.037). Based on the clinical criteria for established periodontitis, the current study supports associations between periodontal disease and systemic disorders such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Prevalence and Distribution of Cervical Dentin Hypersensitivity in a Greek Population

Background and aims. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of dentin hypersensitivity in an adult population in Greece. Materials and methods. Eight hundred patients participated in the present study, including 380 males and 420 females with an age range of 18‒64 years. All the subjects answered questions regarding gender, age, educational level, teeth affected and any factor that initiated dentin hypersensitivity. This was followed by a clinical examination involving assessment of sensitive teeth per patient and any buccal gingival recession associated with sensitive teeth. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square test. Results. Our findings showed that 13.5% of the patients had dentine hypersensitivity. Prevalence of hypersensitivity in females (15%) was not significantly higher (p=0.465) than males (11.8%). The mean number of sensitive teeth per patient showed a peak in the 35‒44 age group and then reduced slowly in the older and younger cohorts. The teeth most commonly affected by dentin hypersensitivity were the first and second premolars of both jaws followed by the canines of both jaws. The majority (82.5%) of sensitive teeth had at least 1-3 mm of gingival recession. Pain-initiating stimuli frequently observed were the consumption of cold drinks followed by consumption of hot drinks and tooth-brushing. A statistically significant difference was recorded between dentin hypersensitivity and educational level (p=0.045). Conclusions. The prevalence of dentin hypersensitivity in an adult population sample in Greece was 13.5% and the mean number of sensitive teeth per patient was observed to increase with age.

First National Epidemiological Survey on the Prevalence of Obesity and Abdominal Fat Distribution in Greek Adults

Aim: To provide estimates of the prevalence of obesity, overweight and body fat distribution among the adult population of Greece. Design: Epidemiological, cross-sectional nationwide survey providing self-reported data. Subjects: A total of 17,341 men and women aged from 20 to 70 years and classified into five 10-year age groups participated. The selection was conducted by stratified sampling through household family members of Greek children attending school. Measurements: The participants reported data on weight, height, waist and hip circumference. BMI and waist-to-hip ratio were calculated. Abdominal obesity was defined as waist circumference ≧102 cm in men and ≧88 cm in women. Results: In the total population, the mean BMI was 26.5 kg/m², (27.3 in men, 25.7 in women). The overall prevalence of obesity was 22.5%, (26% in men, 18.2% in women) while that of overweight was 35.2% (41.1% in men, 29.9% in women). The percentages of obesity and overweight in men were similar in almost all age groups, while in women they progressively increased with age. Abdominal obesity was more frequent among women than men (35.8 vs. 26.6%, respectively), especially after the age of 50. Conclusions: Excess body weight is reaching epidemic proportions in Greece and obesity rates are among the highest, if not the highest, in Western society. The problem affects particularly men, and women after menopause. Interestingly, more women than men present with abdominal obesity. Preventive and treatment strategies are urgently needed to stop the obesity epidemic in this Mediterranean European country.

Frequency of rubella antibodies among adult population in Greece

SUMMARYNo significant sex difference in the incidence of immunity to rubella at the ages of 20–25 was found in a comparative study of young adults from the Greater Athens area as well as from the rural department of Corinthia. The immunity to rubella of Greek adults on a national scale was then studied in a respresentative sample of 1200 males 20–25 years old. In 83·2% of them neutralizing antibodies to rubella were detected. A statistically higher proportion of immunes was found among those from urban areas. The factors responsible for the relative prevalence of immunity to rubella in various population groups are discussed.