University of Kansas

About: University of Kansas is a education organization based out in Lawrence, Kansas, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 38183 authors who have published 81381 publications receiving 2986312 citations. The organization is also known as: KU & Univ of Kansas.

A prospective, longitudinal, multicenter study of service utilization and costs in fibromyalgia

Abstract: Objective. To study, for the first time, service utilization and costs in fibromyalgia, a prevalent syndrome associated with high levels of pain, functional disability, and emotional distress. Methods. Five hundred thirty-eight fibromyalgia patients from 6 rheumatology centers were enrolled in a 7-year prospective study of fibromyalgia outcome. Patients were assessed every 6 months with validated, mailed questionnaires which included questions regarding fibromyalgia symptoms and severity, utilization of services, and work disability. Results. Fibromyalgia patients averaged almost 10 outpatient medical visits per year, and when nontraditional treatments were considered, this number increased to ∼1 visit per month. Patients were hospitalized at a rate of 1 hospitalization every 3 years. In each 6-month study period, patients used a mean of 2.7 fibromyalgia-related drugs. Costs increased over the course of the study. The mean yearly per-patient cost in 1996 dollars was $2,274. However, results were skewed by high utilizers, and many patients used few services and had limited costs. Total costs and utilization were independently associated with the number of selfreported comorbid or associated conditions, functional disability, and global disease severity. Compared with patients with other rheumatic disorders, those with fibromyalgia were more likely to have lifetime surgical interventions, including back or neck surgery, appendectomy, carpal tunnel surgery, gynecologic surgery, abdominal surgery, and tonsillectomy, and were more likely than other rheumatic disease patients to report comorbid or associated conditions. Almost 50% of hospitalizations occurring during the study were related to fibromyalgia-associated symptoms. Conclusion. The average yearly cost for service utilization among fibromyalgia patients is $2,274. Fibromyalgia patients have high lifetime and current rates of utilization of all types of medical services. They report more symptoms and comorbid or associated conditions than patients with other rheumatic conditions, and symptom reporting is linked to service utilization and, to a lesser extent, functional disability and global disease severity.

Falls and Parkinson's Disease

Abstract: SummaryOne hundred patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and five patients with progressive supranuclear palsy were questioned about the frequency, circumstances, and consequences of falling. Parkinsonian symptoms were scored using the unified rating scale. Thirty-eight percent of parkinsonian pati

Longitudinal Analysis: Modeling Within-Person Fluctuation and Change

Abstract: Section 1: Building Blocks for Longitudinal Analysis 1. Introduction to the Analysis of Longitudinal Data 2. Between-Person Analysis and Interpretation of Interactions 3. Introduction to Within-Person Analysis and Model Comparisons Section 2: Modeling the Effects of Time 4. Describing Within-Person Fluctuation over Time 5. Introduction to Random Effects of Time and Model Estimation 6. Describing Within-Person Change over Time Section 3: Modeling the Effects of Predictors 7. Time-Invariant Predictors in Longitudinal Models 8. Time-Varying Predictors in Models of Within-Person Fluctuation 9. Time-Varying Predictors in Models of Within-Person Change Section 4: Advanced Applications 10. Analysis over Alternative Metrics and Multiple Dimensions of Time 11. Analysis of Individuals within Groups over Time 12. Analysis of Repeated Measures Designs Not Involving Time 13. Additional Considerations and Related Models

Etiopathogenesis of osteoarthritis.

Abstract: In this article, the authors posit that, because osteoarthritis (OA) involves all of the tissues of the synovial joint, the emphasis on the loss of cartilage, in particular, is misguided. In contrast, the authors view OA as a process that is attempting to contain a mechanical problem in the joint. They argue that OA is best defined as failed repair of damage that has been caused by excessive mechanical stress on joint tissues. Because the body's innate mechanisms for repairing the damaged tissues cannot be effective in the face of the overwhelming mechanical abnormality, they cannot solve the problem of OA.