INTRODUCTION: The growing years are paramount for bone growth and mineral accrual. Children with long-term neurological condition (LTNC) have multiple risk factors for poor bone health and fragility fractures. In Singapore, this has not been studied systematically. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the risk factors associated with fragility fractures in children with LTNC. METHODS: In this study, the search for fragility fractures was done by a retrospective review of patients with LTNC on follow-up in the paediatric neurology clinic and patients who presented with fracture to the paediatric orthopaedic clinic. Information on patients' demographics, medical history, intervention, biochemical bone markers and fracture history was collected. RESULTS: In a tertiary clinic population of 136 patients with LTNC, 65% were dependent on mobility (Gross Motor Function Classification System [GMFCS] V), 60% were underweight and 60% were fed via gastrostomy or nasogastric tube, or were on oral pureed diet. Furthermore, 60% were on anticonvulsants. The fracture rate was 3% in this population and was associated with low-impact activities such as transfer and dressing. Only 7.4% and 33% of the patients had undergone measurements of vitamin D and calcium levels, respectively. CONCLUSION The local prevalence of fragility fractures in children with LTNC on follow-up at the neurology clinic was found to be 3%. Risk factors identified were limited ambulation and compromised nutritional status associated with feeding difficulty. Recommendations to optimise bone health in children with LTNC were made. These include promoting weight-bearing activities, looking out for underweight children, avoiding vitamin D deficiency and ensuring adequate calcium intake.
Humans ; Child ; Bone Density ; Calcium ; Thinness/epidemiology* ; Fractures, Bone/etiology* ; Risk Factors

Objective: Nutrition is closely related to the health of the elderly population. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive picture of the nutrition status of elderly Chinese and its related dietary, geographical, and socioeconomic factors. Methods: A total of 13,987 ≥ 60-year-old persons from the 2010-2013 Chinese National Nutrition and Health Survey were included to evaluate various aspects of malnutrition, including underweight, overweight or obesity, and micronutrient inadequacy. Results: Overall, the prevalence of obesity, overweight, and underweight was 12.4%, 34.8%, and 5.7%, respectively, with disparities both geographically and socioeconomically. The prevalence of underweight was higher among the older old (≥ 75 years), rural residents and those with low income, with low education status, and residing in undeveloped West areas. More than 75% of the elderly do not meet the Dietary Reference Intakes for vitamins A, B Conclusions Obesity epidemic, inadequacy of micronutrient intake, and high prevalence of underweight and anemia in susceptible older people are the major nutrition challenges for the rapidly aging population in China.
Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China/epidemiology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diet/statistics & numerical data* ; Female ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Male ; Malnutrition/etiology* ; Micronutrients/deficiency* ; Middle Aged ; Nutritional Status ; Overweight/etiology* ; Risk Factors ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Thinness/etiology*

PURPOSE: Analyses of risk factors associated with surgical site infections (SSIs) after laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) have been limited. Especially, the association of an underweight body mass index (BMI) with SSIs has not been clearly defined. This study aimed to identify the impact of underweight BMI in predicting SSIs after LA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of a total of 101 consecutive patients aged > or =16 years who underwent LA by a single surgeon between March 2011 and December 2012 were retrieved from a prospectively collected database. The rate of SSIs was compared among the underweight, normal and overweight and obese groups. Also, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the factors associated with SSIs. RESULTS: The overall rate of SSIs was 12.8%. The superficial incisional SSI rate was highest in the underweight group (44.4% in the underweight group, 11.0% in the normal group, and 0% in the overweight and obese group, p=0.006). In univariate analysis, open conversion and being underweight were determined to be risk factors for SSIs. Underweight BMI was also found to be a significant predictor for SSIs in multivariate analysis (odds ratio, 10.0; 95% confidence interval, 2.0-49.5; p=0.005). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated underweight BMI as being associated with SSIs after LA. Surgeons should be more cautious to prevent SSIs in patients that are underweight when performing LA.
Adult ; Aged ; Appendectomy/*adverse effects ; Appendicitis/*surgery ; *Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Female ; Humans ; *Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Obesity/complications ; Odds Ratio ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Surgical Wound Infection/*etiology ; Thinness/*complications ; Treatment Outcome

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) includes pulmonary components with increased comorbidity rates, as well as being a systemic disease. Comorbidities may frequently occur in COPD patients over 40 yr old. We report the comorbidities of patients with COPD, diagnosed by spirometry, in a population-based epidemiologic survey in Korea. Data were derived from the fourth Korean Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2008, a stratified multistage clustered probability design survey of a sample representing the entire population of Korea. Results of spirometry and various health-related questionnaires were analyzed in 2,177 subjects aged > or = 40 yr. The prevalence of COPD (FEV1/FVC < 0.7) in subjects > or = 40 yr of age was 14.1%. Multivariate analysis showed that underweight (odds ratio [OR] 3.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-8.98), coronary heart disease (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.20-0.93) and dyslipidemia (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.45-0.82) were significantly associated with COPD, whereas allergic rhinitis, anemia, arthritis, chronic renal failure, depression, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, gastrointestinal ulcer, and osteoporosis were not. Underweight might be more prevalent but coronary heart disease and dyslipidemia are less prevalent in Koreans with than without COPD in population setting.
Adult ; Comorbidity ; Coronary Disease/complications/diagnosis ; Dyslipidemias/complications/diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/diagnosis/*epidemiology/etiology ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Spirometry ; Thinness

Objective: To explore the association between weight gain during the first half of pregnancy and the risk of hypertension disorder of pregnancy (HDP). Methods: This prospective cohort study recruited singleton pregnant women in the first trimester from November 2016 to March 2019 at 19 community hospitals in Tianjin. According to pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), the cohort was divided into 3 groups: underweight(BMI<18.5 kg/m²), normal-weight(18.5-24.9 kg/m²), and overweight/obese(≥25.0 kg/m²). The basic information of the participants was gathered through questionnaires, and the height, weight, and blood pressure of the participants were measured along with routine pregnancy examinations. The rate of gestational weight gain (rGWG) in the 3 periods (0-13⁺⁶, 14⁺⁰-20⁺⁶, and 0-20⁺⁶ weeks) of the participants was calculated. To observe the occurrence of HDP, the participants were followed up to 42 days postpartum. Using a generalized linear model, the association between rGWG at the 3 periods during the first half of pregnancy and HDP after 20 weeks of gestation was evaluated. Results: A total of 9 805 pregnant women were finally included, with the age of (30.6±3.8) years old, 9 418 (96.1%) Han ethnicity, and 6 845 (69.8%) primipara. There were 1 184 (12.1%), 6 831 (69.7%) and 1 790 (18.3%) participants in the underweight, normal-weight, and overweight/obese groups. Five hundreds and eight pregnant women were diagnosed with HDP (5.2%). The incidences of HDP were 1.8% (21/1 184), 3.9% (269/6 831), and 12.2% (218/1 790), respectively, in underweight, normal-weight, and overweight/obese groups. Adjusted for age, pre-pregnancy BMI, primipara, and family history of hypertension, women in the entire cohort with rGWG ≥ 0.18 kg/week before 13⁺⁶ weeks of pregnancy had a 28% higher HDP risk than those with rGWG ≤ 0.00 kg/week (RR=1.28, 95%CI 1.04-1.55, P=0.015), and the risk of HDP was increased by 39% in the overweight/obese group (RR=1.39, 95%CI 1.04-1.85, P=0.026), while no correlation was found between rGWG and HDP in underweight and normal-weight pregnant women (P>0.05). Weight gain during 14⁺⁰-20⁺⁶ weeks of pregnancy in any group was not related to the risk of HDP (P>0.05).In the entire cohort, compared to rGWG ≤0.14 kg/week, rGWG≥0.28 kg/week prior to 20⁺⁶ weeks increased HDP risk by 36% (RR=1.36, 95%CI 1.11-1.67, P=0.003). Normal-weight pregnant women with rGWG≥0.29 kg/week faced a 46% higher risk of HDP than those with rGWG≤0.15 kg/week (RR=1.46, 95%CI 1.11-1.93, P=0.008).In the overweight/obese group, excessive weight gain before 20⁺⁶ weeks seemed to increased risk of HDP, but the difference was not statistically significant (RR=1.35,95%CI 0.99-1.85, P=0.059), while the connection was nonexistent in underweight women. Conclusions: Except for pre-pregnancy underweight women, excessive weight gain during the first half of pregnancy is associated with increased risk of HDP among pregnant women.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Adult ; Overweight/complications* ; Thinness/epidemiology* ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Weight Gain ; Body Mass Index ; Obesity/complications* ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced/etiology* ; Cohort Studies ; Pregnancy Complications