Aim To investigate the effect of intermittent traction therapy (ITT) on pain in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods A total of 81 patients with CLBP were included: experimental group received ITT (n=40) and control group received conservative physical treatment (n=41) 10 times for two weeks. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used for measuring low back pain. Results In the experimental group, 26 (out of 40; 65.0%) patients were females, in the control group 20 (out of 41; 48.8%) were females (p=0.141). In a within-group comparison, median of VAS value was significantly decreased in both groups after ITT. A comparison of pre-intervention and post-intervention VAS value showed no statistically significant difference. Females from the experimental group had a significantly greater decrease of VAS compared with females from the control group. Patients in the ITT group with L5/S1 level of hernia had lower estimated marginal mean of VAS scale compared to the control group, as well the patients with left side of leg pain. Conclusion: Intermittent traction therapy is an effective treatment for pain reduction in patients with chronic low back pain.

Methods and patients: A retrospective study was conducted in the period from January to the December 2015 and as a source of data we used medical records. The study included 60 patients with active rehabilitation that starts four to six weeks postsurgery, hospitalized at the Clinic for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Clinical Center of Sarajevo (UKCS). Outcome measures were: back and leg pain, neurological deficits (leg weakness, numbness and loss of normal bowel and bladder functions) and the length of stay in hospital (LOS).

Aim: To determine the rural–urban differences in primary care practice, hospital inpatient care and total services. Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from Zenica-Doboj Canton in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH). The overall sample size for the study was 1,995. Individual interviews were conducted in one randomly selected day of the week, except Monday and Friday, on the basis of EUROPEP (European Task Force on Patient Evaluations of General Practice Care) standardized questionnaire. Results: Out of total number (n=1 995), 47.9% was urban population and median of age was 42 years for both populations. The most of urban residents (81.4%) had finished high school or higher education compared with rural residents (58.5%) (p < 0.001). There are significant differences in employment status between rural and urban population (p < 0.001). Rural residents are more likely to travel more than 15 minutes to see their health facilities compared with urban residents (61.7% vs. 24.4%, respectively). Median of distance (kilometers) from residence location to the nearest hospital was statistically significantly higher in rural Me = 8.0 (5.0 do 14.5) km compared to urban population Me = 1.5 (1.0 to 3.0) km (p < 0.001). The rural population was more likely to buy drugs for medical treatment (p < 0.001) and parenteral injections in primary care practice (p < 0.001). Conclusion: There are significant differences in the overall health care assessment of rural populations as compared to urban populations.

Introduction: Based on the statistics the population in Bosnia and Herzegovina is getting older. In 2013 the average life span for women was 73.6 years and 68.1 for men. The chronic hemodialysis program is mainly reserved for elderly patients with high mortality risk. The most common cause of hemodialysis mortality relates to cardiovascular diseases (60.2%), regardless of frequent innovations and improvement of hemodialysis procedures. The aim of the study: was to determine the mortality rate by age groups with comments on the presence of non-traditional predictors (anemia, hypoalbuminemia, CRP, vascular access and PTH) in dialysis patients in the follow-up period of 36 months. Methods: The study included all patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis treatment at the Clinic of Hemodialysis of the Clinical Center University of Sarajevo (CCUS). Results: Out of a total number of hemodialysis patients (n=232), the specific mortality rate in patients under 65 years of age was 16.8%, and 50.5% in patients over 65 years of age. According to the age groups the mortality rate in elderly patients is as follows: from 65 to 74 years (45.1%), from 75 to 84 years (55.0%), over ≥85 years (75.0%). The most frequent vascular access in patients under and above 65 is arteriovenous fistula (79.6% and 62.1 %), temporary hemodialysis catheter (11.7% and 43.8 %) and long-term hemodialysis catheter (8.8% and 4.2 %). In the age group under 65 years of age the temporary hemodialysis catheter is significantly and more frequently used in diseased patients in respect to survivors (34.8% vs. 7.0%) [χ2(2)=15.769, p=0.001]. Diseased patients from the age group over 65 had a significantly lower mean value of haemoglobin in blood (M=100.9±17.5 g/L) in respect to survivors (M=109.2±17.1)[t(93)=2.339; p=0.021], lower mean value of albumin in blood (Me=32.0; IQR=29.0 do 35.0) in respect to survivors (Me=34.0; IQR=32.0 to 38.0) [U=762.5; p=0.006], and higher mean value of CRP in blood (Me=19.3 mg/L; IQR=6.6 to 52.0) in respect to survivors (Me=7.8; IQR=4.0 to 16.7) [U=773.5; p=0.008]. Diseased patients belonging to the age group over 65 had lower mean value of PTH, but without statistical significance (p>0.05). Conclusion: older age, temporary vascular access, anaemia and hypoalbuminemia are strong predictors of mortality in hemodialysis patients. Old age does not present contraindication for hemodialysis treatment, and treatment of terminal renal illness should not be abandoned.

Aim : The main goal of our study was to determine whether metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a positive predictor for more frequent occurrence of postoperative respiratory complications (PORC) in patients undergoing abdominal wall surgery, laparoscopy or laparotomy. Methods : The retrospective-prospective study which included 101 patients divided in two groups: MetS-patients with metabolic syndrome (n=50) and non MetS patients, (n=51) according to International Diabetes Federation (IDF) inclusion criteria for MetS, was conducted at General Hospital „Prim. dr. Abdulah Nakas“ in the period from January to April 2014. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained during preoperative examination and patients were followed up for 30 days postoperatively. Results : The frequency of respiratory complications in MetS group was significantly higher compared to non MetS group (98.0% vs. 27.5%, p<0.001) as was frequency of antibiotics, corticosteroids, oxygen, bronchodilatators and mechanical ventilation administration. The most frequent respiratory complication in MetS group was respiratory failure due to intermittent oxygen hyposaturation less than 85% (42.9%) and pneumonia in the nonMetS group (42.6%), but there was no significant difference in type of respiratory complications. In logistic regression analysis metabolic syndrome was a significant independent predictor of respiratory complications onset after abdominal surgery (β=6.17; p<0.001) in addition to the upper abdominal wall surgery, as well as history of chronic bronchitis and COPD. Conclusion : There was a significant difference in the frequency of PORC between MetS and control group of patients and metabolic syndrome appears to be an independent positive predictor of PORC after abdominal surgery. Key words: postoperative respiratory complications (PORC),abdominal surgery

Kronicna bubrežna bolest (HBB) je važan javno-zdravstveni problem (1). Prema definiciji KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) HBB je definirana kao strukturno ili funkcionalno ostecenje bubrega, koje traje >3 mjeseca, s posljedicama za zdravlje i klasificirana je na osnovi uzroka, kategorije glomerularne filtracije i kategorije albuminurije (2). HBB ima nekoliko stadija, a posljednji, terminalni stadij ili end-stage of renal disease (ESRD) odgovara uremiji s glomerularnom filtracijom 90 dana se također povecala i u 2011. godini iznosila 123,1 (3). Također, i u drugim zemljama koje vode renalni registar, zabilježen je porast incidencije i prevalencije pacijenata s ESRD. U svijetu je, u odnosu na modalitet tretmana zamjene bubrežne funkcije u razdoblju 2001.-2010. godina, bila najzastupljenija HD (68,5-69,2 %), zatim transplantacija bubrega (22,5-23,1 %), te peritonejska dijaliza (8,3-8,5 %) (4). U Bosni i Hercegovini u razdoblju 2006.-2011., HD je najucestalija metoda zamjene bubrežne funkcije s ucestaloscu UCINAK INTRADIJALIZNOG PROGRAMA VJEŽBANJA NA KVALITETU ŽIVOTA I FIZICKE MOGUCNOSTI U HEMODIJALIZIRANIH PACIJENATA

AIM To determine the effect of a 16-week intradialytic exercise program consisting of 30 minutes of exercise during the first two hours of dialysis with three times a week frequency, on the quality of life (QoL), level of depression/anxiety and physical perfor- mance in hemodialysis (HD) patients. METHODS The clinical, longitudinal, prospective study with one-group repeated measures design was conducted during a 16-week period. A convenience sample of 52 HD patients, who had been on HD for a minimum of 6 months, were included. QoL, level of depression and anxiety (questionnaires: SF-36, Back Depression Inventory (BDI) and Back Anxiety Inventory (BAI)) and physical performance (modifying Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Manual Muscle Testing (MMT)) were assessed at baseline and after 4-month exercise program. RESULTS The following scales of SF-36 questionnaire were improved after 16-week exercise program: role functioning/emotional (P=0.01 8), energy/fatigue (P = 0.002) and social functi- oning (P = 0.030). Level of depression and anxiety were significantly decreased in males (P = 0.007 and P = 0.022, respectively) and females (P = 0.001 and P = 0.000, respectively). VAS scale and MMT were significantly increased in males (P = 0.000 and P = 0.001, respectively) and females (P = 0.01 9 and P = 0.001, respectively) after 16-week exercise program. CONCLUSION Exercise program improves some aspects of QoL and physical performance, and decreases the level of depression and anxiety in HD patients.

Introduction: Cerebrovascular insult (CVI) is acute or sub-acute occurrence of symptoms which signal death of cerebral cells caused by localized disruption of arterial circulation in the brain. The goal of this study is toinvestigate whether ischemic or hemorrhagic CVI can be used as predictor of rehabilitation.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in the period from January 2009 to the December 2009 and as a source of data we used medical records. The study included 89 patients who had CVI and who werehospitalized at the Clinic for Physical medicine and rehabilitation, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo (CCUS). We analyzed socio-demographic variables such as gender and age and clinical variables: the diagnosis,the length of stay in hospital (LOH), and Barthel index (BI) at admission and discharge from hospital.Results: Out of 89 patients, 78/89 (87.6%) were patients with ischemic CVI (group A), and 11/89 (12.4%) with hemorrhagic CVI (group B). There was not a signifi cant association between the gender and type of CVI[(χ2(1)= .041, P> .05]. There was a statistically signifi cant difference in median of length of hospitalization (LOH) between two groups (U=186.5; z=-3,025; P= .002). There was not a statistically signifi cant differencein median of BI at admission (U=317.0; z=-1,399; P= .162) and  discharge (U=319.0; z=-1.374; P= .169) between two groups.Conclusion: Patients with hemorrhagic CVI have a longer stay in hospital and consequently more expensive cost of treatment.