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Popova V, Geneva-Popova M, Popova-Belova S, Doykov M, Valkanov S, Batalov Z, Marinkov A, Karalilova R. Diagnostic and prognostic role of serum interleukin-6 and carotid ultrasonography to detect subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with RA and ANCA-associated vasculitis. Rheumatol Int 2024:10.1007/s00296-024-05568-7. [PMID: 38554194 DOI: 10.1007/s00296-024-05568-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) can affect multiple organs with severe life-threatening manifestations. Disease monitoring is difficult due to a lack of defined biomarkers. We aimed to assess the diagnostic role of serum interleukin-6 and vascular ultrasonography in AAV and subclinical atherosclerosis. The study included 20 AAV patients and two control groups of 34 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 35 healthy controls. The levels of Il-6, carotid intima-media thickness test (CIMT), atherosclerotic plaque, and degree of stenosis were investigated. A GRACE-risk score was calculated for AAV and RA patients. The AAV patients had elevated levels of IL-6 (115 ± 23.96) compared to the RA patients (91.25 ± 42.63) and the healthy controls (15.65 ± 3.30), p < 0.001. IL-6 showed a diagnostic accuracy of 73% in distinguishing AAV from RA patients (AUC = 0.730; 95% CI 0.591 to 0834). In the AAV group, CIMT was 1.09, above the upper reference value of 0.90, p < 0.001. The AAV patients had a higher median GRACE risk score, and 60% of them had a high risk of cardiovascular events as compared to 35% of the RA patients. Sonography of extracranial vessels and serum levels of IL-6 can be used in daily clinical practice to diagnose and monitor patients with AAV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Velichka Popova
- Department of Rheumatology, Medical Faculty, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
| | - Mariela Geneva-Popova
- Department of Rheumatology, Medical Faculty, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | | | - Mladen Doykov
- Department of Urology and General Medicine, Medical Faculty, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Stanislav Valkanov
- Department of Urology and General Medicine, Medical Faculty, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Zguro Batalov
- Department of Rheumatology, Medical Faculty, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Aleksandar Marinkov
- Department of Rheumatology, Medical Faculty, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Rositsa Karalilova
- Department of Rheumatology, Medical Faculty, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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Marinkov A, Dimova R, Karalilova R, Keskinova D, Bahariev D, Batalov K, Popova V, Batalov Z, Batalov A. The COVID-19 pandemic's impact on rheumatic disease patients' satisfaction with access to medical services. Rheumatol Int 2024; 44:157-164. [PMID: 37776498 DOI: 10.1007/s00296-023-05413-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 hurt various lifestyle aspects, especially the treatment and follow-up of patients with chronic diseases such as autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (RD). The new circumstances changed the frequency of medical examinations and the way patients with rheumatic diseases are followed up. The objective is to study the impact of COVID-19 on RD patients' satisfaction with access to medical services. A national multicenter observational cross-sectional anonymous online survey was conducted on patients with RD using a specially developed web-based platform and structured questionnaire https://rheumatologycovid19.bg/ . The study was carried out with the support of intra-university project №6/2022 MU-Plovdiv. 1288 patients participated, with an average age of 47.03 (SD ± 12.80 years), of whom 992 (81.6%) were women. The questionnaire contained 41 questions grouped into 5 panels. Descriptive statistics were used-mean, alternative analysis, logistic regression and Decision Tree using the CRT (classification and regression trees) method. The study found that RD patients' satisfaction with access to medical services was influenced by communication type and the frequency of visits to the rheumatologist, difficulties in prescribing and finding medicines and the presence of comorbidities. The likelihood of patients' satisfaction with their rheumatologist was 5.5 and 3 times higher for in-person and other means of communication, respectively, compared to those without any communication. The relative share of patients who communicated by phone was larger (59%) compared to pre-pandemic (41%), where direct contact with the physician prevailed (80%). The results of the study confirmed the need to optimize remote access to medical care for patients with RD during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandar Marinkov
- Department of Propaedeutics of Internal Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Clinic of Rheumatology, UMHAT "Kaspela", Medical University of Plovdiv, 64 Sofia Str, Plovdiv, 4002, Bulgaria
| | - Rositsa Dimova
- Department of Health Management and Health Economics, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, 4002, Bulgaria.
| | - Rositsa Karalilova
- Department of Propaedeutics of Internal Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Clinic of Rheumatology, UMHAT "Kaspela", Medical University of Plovdiv, 64 Sofia Str, Plovdiv, 4002, Bulgaria
| | - Donka Keskinova
- Department of Applied and Institutional Sociology, Faculty of Philosophy and History, University of Plovdiv Paisiy Hilendarski, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Dimitar Bahariev
- Department of Propaedeutics of Internal Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Clinic of Rheumatology, UMHAT "Kaspela", Medical University of Plovdiv, 64 Sofia Str, Plovdiv, 4002, Bulgaria
- Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, 4002, Bulgaria
| | - Konstantin Batalov
- Department of Propaedeutics of Internal Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Clinic of Rheumatology, UMHAT "Kaspela", Medical University of Plovdiv, 64 Sofia Str, Plovdiv, 4002, Bulgaria
| | - Velichka Popova
- Department of Propaedeutics of Internal Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Clinic of Rheumatology, UMHAT "Kaspela", Medical University of Plovdiv, 64 Sofia Str, Plovdiv, 4002, Bulgaria
| | - Zguro Batalov
- Department of Propaedeutics of Internal Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Clinic of Rheumatology, UMHAT "Kaspela", Medical University of Plovdiv, 64 Sofia Str, Plovdiv, 4002, Bulgaria
| | - Anastas Batalov
- Department of Propaedeutics of Internal Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Clinic of Rheumatology, UMHAT "Kaspela", Medical University of Plovdiv, 64 Sofia Str, Plovdiv, 4002, Bulgaria
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Dickov V, Stefanovic V, Turo L, Marinkov A. Alcohol (ab)use in the student population of Novi Sad and preventive measures. Eur J Public Health 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckv176.237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Stefanovic V, Dickov V, Turo L, Marinkov A. Nutritional status among students of University of Novi Sad - a study. Eur J Public Health 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckv176.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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