Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the risk factors affecting the prevalence of osteoarthritis and the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of stroke patients from various angles, including demographic factors, socioeconomic factors, comorbidities, and lifestyle factors.Methods: A total of 13,959 patients ≥40 years of age (stroke group n = 416, non-stroke group n = 13,535) were identified from the 2016–2018 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for analysis. The European quality of life-5 dimensions questionnaire was used to compare the differences in stroke patient’s HRQoL according to the presence or absence of osteoarthritis. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the factors affecting the HRQoL of the stroke group.Results: The prevalence of osteoarthritis was 21.72% in the stroke group and 12.49% in the non-stroke group. The prevalence of osteoarthritis in female patients who had strokes was 35.95% and was significantly higher than that of male patients who had strokes (10.23%). The European quality of life-5 dimensions index indicating HRQoL was significantly lower in stroke group with osteoarthritis. Factors that significantly influenced the HRQoL in the stroke group were the presence of osteoarthritis, aerobic exercise, drinking status, types of health insurance, and educational levels.Conclusions: This study confirmed that the HRQoL was significantly lower in stroke group with osteoarthritis. Findings were taken to suggest that the active management of osteoarthritis in stroke patients are important.

Background: This study investigated the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis among stroke survivors aged over 60 years and analyzed the association between knee osteoarthritis and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in stroke survivors. Methods: We analyzed data of 287 participants who had experienced a stroke (stroke group) from the 2010-2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Among the participants, 65 stroke survivors also had knee osteoarthritis. We used the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) questionnaire to compare the differences in HRQOL according to the presence or absence of knee osteoarthritis in the stroke group. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine associated factors affecting HRQOL in the stroke group. Results: The prevalence of knee osteoarthritis was 21% in the stroke group. The EQ-5D index score was significantly lower in patients in the stroke group with knee osteoarthritis than in those without knee osteoarthritis (adjusted mean ±standard error [SE], 0.680±0.011 for stroke with knee osteoarthritis and 0.817±0.003 stroke without knee osteoarthritis; p<0.0001). Knee osteoarthritis, age, income level, education level, smoking, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease significantly influenced HRQOL in the stroke group. Conclusion: The study results confirmed that the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis was 21% in the stroke group and that HRQOL was significantly lower among patients in the stroke group with knee osteoarthritis. These findings suggest the importance of active management of knee osteoarthritis in stroke survivors for HRQOL.

Glufosinate ammonium (GLA) is widely used as a commercial herbicide in many countries. Neurotoxicity of GLA has been associated with serious neurological complications such as loss of consciousness, convulsions, and memory impairment. Late-onset memory impairment due to GLA-induced hippocampal lesions is the most distinct clinical feature in GLA poisoning. However, the lesion of the splenium of the corpus callosum (SCC) is a rare condition in GLA poisoning, so the clinical features are not well known. We report the case of a 57-year-old male patient who developed SCC damage after GLA poisoning. The patient had various late-onset neurotoxic symptoms, including prolonged overall cognitive dysfunction and psychosis-like symptoms. Emergency physicians should be aware that GLA-induced SCC lesions may be associated with various late-onset neurotoxic symptoms.

Introduction Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease affecting the axial skeleton, including the sacroiliac joint, which causes vertebral fusion in the advanced stage. However, reports of anterior cervical osteophytes compressing the esophagus and causing dysphagia in patients with AS are rare. Here, we present the case of a patient with AS and anterior cervical osteophytes who exhibited rapidly progressing dysphagia after thoracic spinal cord injury (SCI). Case Presentation The patient, a 79-year-old man, was previously diagnosed with AS and had syndesmophytes at C2-C7 without dysphagia for several years. In 2020, he began to experience paraplegia, hypesthesia, and bladder and bowel dysfunction after a fall. He also had T9 SCI American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale grade A due to a T10 transverse fracture. Four months after SCI, he developed aspiration pneumonia, and a videofluoroscopic swallowing study indicated dysphagia with epiglottic closing problems due to syndesmophytes at the C2-C3 and C3-C4 levels. He received treatment for dysphagia and VitalStim therapy thrice (once daily); however, the recurrent pneumonia and fever continued. He further underwent bedside physical therapy and functional electrical stimulation once daily. However, he died from atelectasis and exacerbation of sepsis. Discussion and Conclusion General deterioration of the patient’s physical condition due to SCI, sarcopenic dysphagia, and compression of cervical osteophytes seemed to be involved in rapid exacerbation following SCI. Early screening for dysphagia is vital in bedridden patients with AS or SCI. Additionally, assessment and follow-up are important if the number of rehabilitation treatments or the out-of-bed movement activity decreases because of pressure ulcers.