Objectives This study aims to investigate the potential factors associated with mental health outcomes among Chinese adults during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic. Methods This is an ...online cross-sectional survey conducted among Chinese adults in February 2020. Outcome measurements included the three-item UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA-3), two-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2), two-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-2), and two items from the Clinician-Administered Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Scale. COVID-19 related factors, physical health, lifestyle, and self-efficacy were also measured. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were performed. Results This study included 1456 participants (age: 33.8±10.5 years; female: 59.1%). The prevalence of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, loneliness, and PTSD symptoms were 11.3%, 7.6%, 38.7%, and 33.9%, respectively. In multivariable analysis, loneliness was associated with being single, separated/divorced/widowed, low level of education, current location, medication, more somatic symptoms, lower self-efficacy, and going out frequently. Depression was associated with fear of infection, binge drinking, more somatic symptoms, lower self-efficacy, and longer screen time. Anxiety was associated with more somatic symptoms and lower self-efficacy. PTSD symptoms were associated with more somatic symptoms, lower self-efficacy, higher perceived risk of infection, fear of infection, and self-rated more negative influence due to the epidemic (p<0.05). Conclusions Mental health problems during the COVID-19 epidemic were associated with various biopsychosocial and COVID-19 related factors. Psychological interventions should be aware of these influencing factors and prioritize support for those people at higher risk.
The study evaluated if chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain predicts the severity of insomnia, and whether the effect is moderated by age, gender, and number of comorbid diseases in older people. An ...18-month prospective study was performed within the framework of a community health program in Hong Kong. A total of 498 older people aged ≥ 60 with multimorbidity were recruited. The predictors included the presence of chronic MSK pain, pain measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), insomnia measured by baseline Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and number of co-morbid diseases, age, and gender. The outcome was ISI repeated at 18 months. The moderators included age, gender, and number of comorbid diseases. Multivariate linear regression and moderation analysis were conducted. We found that the presence of chronic MSK pain (β = 1.725; 95% CI, 0.607-2.842; P < 0.01) predicted the severity of ISI, after controlling for age, gender, BMI, and the number of comorbid diseases. Participants with chronic MSK pain throughout the period had worse trend of improvement in ISI compared to those who were "pain-free" (β = 2.597; 95% CI, 1.311-3.882; P < 0.001). Age, gender, and number of comorbid diseases did not moderate the longitudinal relationship. We propose that pain management should prioritized in the prevention of insomnia.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the psychological health and health service utilisation of older adults with multimorbidity, who are particularly vulnerable.
To describe changes in loneliness, ...mental health problems, and attendance to scheduled medical care before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Telephone survey on a pre-existing cohort of older adults with multimorbidity in primary care.
Mental health and health service utilisation outcomes were compared with the outcomes before the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong using paired
-tests, Wilcoxon's signed-rank test, and McNemar's test. Loneliness was measured by the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. The secondary outcomes (anxiety, depression, and insomnia) were measured by the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder tool, and the Insomnia Severity Index. Appointments attendance data were extracted from a computerised medical record system. Sociodemographic factors associated with outcome changes were examined by linear regression and generalised estimating equations.
Data were collected from 583 older (≥60 years) adults. There were significant increases in loneliness, anxiety, and insomnia, after the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak. Missed medical appointments over a 3-month period increased from 16.5% 1 year ago to 22.0% after the onset of the outbreak. In adjusted analysis, being female, living alone, and having >4 chronic conditions were independently associated with increased loneliness. Females were more likely to have increased anxiety and insomnia.
Psychosocial health of older patients with multimorbidity markedly deteriorated and missed medical appointments substantially increased after the COVID-19 outbreak.
Psychological and behavioural interventions may be effective in reducing menopause-related symptoms. This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Mindfulness-based Stress ...Reduction (MBSR) in reducing menopause-related symptoms by comparing with an active control group, the menopause education control (MEC). Symptomatic peri-menopausal and post-menopausal women with mild to moderate symptoms were recruited. The primary outcome was overall menopausal symptoms measured by modified Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS). Secondary outcomes include subscales of the GCS perceived stress, mindfulness and health related Quality of Life. All outcome measures were collected at baseline, 2 months (immediately post intervention), 5 and 8 months (3 and 6 months post intervention respectively). Both MBSR (n = 98) and MEC (n = 99) groups reported a reduction in total GCS score at 8 months. Between group analysis show significant symptom score reduction in MBSR group on Anxiety and Depression subscales of GCS. No differences were found between groups on other GCS subscales and majority of the secondary outcome measures. The findings show that menopausal symptoms in both MBSR and MEC significantly reduced over the study period. MBSR show a greater reduction of psychological symptoms of depression and anxiety above active controls but do not reduce other somatic, urogenital and vasomotor symptoms.
To evaluate longitudinal changes in subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFChT) among children receiving atropine 0.05%, 0.025%, or 0.01% over 2 years and their associations with treatment outcomes in ...myopia control.
Double-blinded randomized controlled trial.
SFChT was measured at 4-month intervals using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Cycloplegic spherical equivalent (SE), axial length (AL), best-corrected visual acuity, parental SE, outdoor time, near work diopter hours, and treatment compliance were also measured.
314 children were included with qualified choroidal data. The 2-year changes in SFChT from baseline were 21.15 ± 32.99 µm, 3.34 ± 25.30 µm, and −0.30 ± 27.15 µm for the atropine 0.05%, 0.025%, and 0.01% groups, respectively (P < .001). A concentration-dependent response was observed, with thicker choroids at higher atropine concentrations (β = 0.89, P < .001). Mean SFChT thickness significantly increased at 4 months in the atropine 0.025% (P = .001) and 0.05% groups (P < .001) and then remained stable until the end of the second year (P > .05 for all groups). Over 2 years, an increase in SFChT was associated with slower SE progression (β = 0.074, P < .001) and reduced AL elongation (β = −0.045, P < .001). In the mediation analysis, 18.45% of the effect on SE progression from atropine 0.05% was mediated via its choroidal thickening.
Low concentration atropine induced a choroidal thickening effect along a concentration-dependent response throughout the treatment period. The choroidal thickening was associated with a slower SE progression and AL elongation among all the treatment groups. Choroidal response can be used for assessment of long-term treatment outcomes and as a guide for concentration titrations of atropine.
To test the efficacy of intra-articular hypertonic dextrose prolotherapy (DPT) vs normal saline (NS) injection for knee osteoarthritis (KOA).
A single-center, parallel-group, blinded, randomized ...controlled trial was conducted at a university primary care clinic in Hong Kong. Patients with KOA (n = 76) were randomly allocated (1:1) to DPT or NS groups for injections at weeks 0, 4, 8, and 16. The primary outcome was the Western Ontario McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC; 0-100 points) pain score. The secondary outcomes were the WOMAC composite, function and stiffness scores; objectively assessed physical function test results; visual analogue scale (VAS) for knee pain; and EuroQol-5D score. All outcomes were evaluated at baseline and at 16, 26, and 52 weeks using linear mixed model.
Randomization produced similar groups. The WOMAC pain score at 52 weeks showed a difference-in-difference estimate of -10.34 (95% CI, -19.20 to -1.49,
= 0.022) points. A similar favorable effect was shown on the difference-in-difference estimate on WOMAC function score of -9.55 (95% CI, -17.72 to -1.39,
= 0.022), WOMAC composite score of -9.65 (95% CI, -17.77 to -1.53,
= 0.020), VAS pain intensity score of -10.98 (95% CI, -21.36 to -0.61,
= 0.038), and EuroQol-5D VAS score of 8.64 (95% CI, 1.36 to 5.92,
= 0.020). No adverse events were reported.
Intra-articular dextrose prolotherapy injections reduced pain, improved function and quality of life in patients with KOA compared with blinded saline injections. The procedure is straightforward and safe; the adherence and satisfaction were high.
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection has spread worldwide since late 2019. People who have social contacts with COVID-19 patients might be at higher risk of physical or mental health problems. ...This study investigated whether people who had social contacts with COVID-19 patients would have poorer physical or mental outcomes, and different attitudes and behaviors. Chinese adults were recruited to fill in an online survey using snowball sampling during 21st-26nd February 2020. Physical symptoms, psychological outcomes, quality of life, COVID-19 related attitudes, and behaviors were measured. The differences in the outcomes between participants who had COVID-19 social contacts and those who had not were analyzed. The survey included 1,447 non-infected eligible participants. Among those, 173 (12.0%) reported at least one confirmed/suspected case in their social contacts. In the multiple regression adjusted for demographic data, the presence of confirmed/suspected infection cases in one's social contacts was significantly associated with poorer physical and mental outcomes, lower health-related quality of life, and different COVID-19 related attitudes and behaviors (p<0.05). In conclusion, people who had social contacts with COVID-19 patients were at risk of adverse health outcomes. Future studies are needed to understand the long-term impacts. Similarly, strategies to improve health outcomes for these people are needed.
Objectives This study aims to investigate the potential factors associated with mental health outcomes among Chinese adults during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic. Methods This is an ...online cross-sectional survey conducted among Chinese adults in February 2020. Outcome measurements included the three-item UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA-3), two-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2), two-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-2), and two items from the Clinician-Administered Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Scale. COVID-19 related factors, physical health, lifestyle, and self-efficacy were also measured. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were performed. Results This study included 1456 participants (age: 33.8±10.5 years; female: 59.1%). The prevalence of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, loneliness, and PTSD symptoms were 11.3%, 7.6%, 38.7%, and 33.9%, respectively. In multivariable analysis, loneliness was associated with being single, separated/divorced/widowed, low level of education, current location, medication, more somatic symptoms, lower self-efficacy, and going out frequently. Depression was associated with fear of infection, binge drinking, more somatic symptoms, lower self-efficacy, and longer screen time. Anxiety was associated with more somatic symptoms and lower self-efficacy. PTSD symptoms were associated with more somatic symptoms, lower self-efficacy, higher perceived risk of infection, fear of infection, and self-rated more negative influence due to the epidemic (p<0.05). Conclusions Mental health problems during the COVID-19 epidemic were associated with various biopsychosocial and COVID-19 related factors. Psychological interventions should be aware of these influencing factors and prioritize support for those people at higher risk.
Radiation exposure with repeated radiography required at follow-up poses serious health concerns for scoliosis patients. Although spinous process angle (SPA) measurement of spinal curvatures with ...ultrasound has been reported with promising results, an evidence-based account on its accuracy for translational application remains undefined. This prospective study involved 952 idiopathic scoliosis patients (75.7% female, mean age 16.7 ± 3.0 y, Cobb 28.7 ± 11.6°). Among 1432 curves (88.1%) detected by ultrasound, there was good correlation between radiologic Cobb angles measured manually on EOS (E_Cobb) whole-spine radiographs and automatic ultrasound SPA measurement for upper spinal curves (USCs) (r = 0.873, apices T7–T12/L1 intervertebral disc) and lower spinal curves (LSCs) (r = 0.740, apices L1 or below) (p < 0.001). Taller stature was associated with stronger correlation. For E_Cobb <30°, 66.6% USCs and 62.4% LSCs had absolute differences between E_Cobb and predicted Cobb angle calculated from SPA ≤5°. Ultrasound could be a viable option in lieu of radiography for measuring coronal curves with apices at T7 or lower and Cobb angle <30°.
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