Perceived social support, perceived stress, and quality of sleep among COVID-19 patients in Iran: assessing measurement invariance of the multidimensional scale of perceived social support across gender and age.

Background: Perceived social support (PSS) plays a considerable role in mental health. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) is one of the most widely used scales, leading to much research evidence. The present study investigated its measurement model, equivalence across gender (male and female) and age groups (older patients= above 60 and non-older patients= below 60), and concurrent validity. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between March and October 2020, on patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Tehran, Iran. The scales were administered to 328 COVID-19 patients (54.6% male, aged 21 to 92) from two general hospitals; participants completed MSPSS (including friends, family, and significant others subscales), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI, include sleep latency, subjective sleep quality, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep duration, use of sleep medication, daytime dysfunction, and sleep disturbances subscales), and the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10, to assess patients' appraisal of stressful conditions). Results: The MSPSS three-factor structure was confirmed among COVID-19 patients by Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The results support the MSPSS internal consistency and configural, metric, and scalar invariance across gender and age groups. Nevertheless, small but significant differences were found across ages based on the latent factor mean of the MSPSS from friends, with a lower mean level in older patients. The coefficients of Cronbach's alpha (ranging from.92 to.96), the ordinal theta (ranging from.95 to.98), and Omega (ranging from.93 to.97) suggested high internal consistency of MSPSS. The concurrent validity of MSPSS was evidenced by its significant negative correlation with PSS-10 (τb = -.13, p <.01) and also subjective sleep quality (τb = -.22, p <.01), sleep disturbances (τb = -.26, p <.001), and daytime dysfunction (τb = -.26, p <.001). Conclusions: The MSPSS was valid and reliable for measuring individuals' perception of social support between males and females and older and non-older COVID-19 patients.

Global practice of sleep medicine: Iran.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive review of sleep medicine in Iran, focusing on the country's advancements, challenges, and the global context. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive review of sleep medicine in Iran, using various sources to ensure a thorough analysis. The national educational curriculum for sleep medicine and guidelines on sleep clinics issued by Iran's Ministry of Health served as a foundational resource. Additionally, we gathered information from the Iranian Sleep Medicine Society (ISM) website and relevant committee data sources. To enhance our understanding of the current research landscape, we performed a targeted search on PubMed using keywords related to sleep and Iran. RESULTS: The study presents a dynamic overview of sleep medicine in Iran, highlighting key advancements and challenges. Significant progress was observed in establishing standardized sleep medicine training and accredited sleep clinics. The ISM plays a pivotal role in spearheading these developments, contributing to implementing regional guidelines for sleep tests. However, challenges such as a limited number of trained specialists, a scarcity of certified sleep clinics, and obstacles to accessing sleep disorder treatments were identified. CONCLUSIONS: We advocate for the implementation of increased research initiatives, nationwide education and screening programs, and proactive measures to strengthen the landscape of sleep and circadian medicine in the country.

Sleep traits and associated factors among people living with HIV/AIDS in Iran: a two-step clustering analysis.

Sleep plays an essential role in improving the quality of life of people living with HIV (PLWH); however, sleep traits in this population are not well studied. This study aims to evaluate the sleep traits and related associated factors among PLWH in Iran. A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted with 1185 PLWH who attended Voluntary Counseling and Testing centers in 15 provinces in Iran between April 2021 and March 2022. The Berlin Obstructive Sleep Apnea questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Insomnia Severity Index were used. A two-step clustering method was employed to identify the number of sleep clusters in PLWH. Prevalence of poor sleep quality, sleepiness and insomnia were 49.6%, 21.15% and 42.7% respectively. Three sleep trait clusters were identified: I. minor sleep problems (45.6%); II. Snoring & sleep apnea (27.8%), and III. poor sleep quality and insomnia (26.7%). Age (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.033, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.017-1.050), academic education (OR 0.542, 95% CI 0.294-0.998) and HIV duration were associated with being in Snoring & sleep apnea cluster, while age (OR = 1.027, 95% CI 1.009-1.040) was associated with being in Poor sleep quality and insomnia cluster. PLWH with depression had higher odds of being in Poor sleep quality and insomnia cluster, and those with anxiety had higher odds of being in Snoring & sleep apnea cluster and Poor sleep quality and insomnia cluster. A significant proportion of PLWH have poor sleep quality, sleepiness, and insomnia. The identification of three distinct sleep trait clusters underscores the need for increased attention and tailored interventions to address the specific sleep issues experienced by PLWH.

Association between psychological discomforts and sleep quality among people living with HIV/AIDS.

BACKGROUND: Psychological discomfort and sleep problems are considered separate disorders. Due to the high prevalence of both disorders among people living with HIV (PLWH), this study was designed to evaluate how those challenges are present among PLWH. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from a national survey of 1185 confirmed PLWH from 15 provinces in Iran from April to August 2019. Psychological discomfort and sleep quality were assessed using standardized versions of related Persian questionnaires. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between psychological discomfort and sleep quality in PLWH. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of poor sleep quality, depression, anxiety, and stress was 47.71%, 50.95%, 44.26%, and 41.77%, respectively. The results of multivariate-adjusted logistic regression showed that each psychological discomfort covariate increased the odds of poor sleep quality. Depression by adjusting for anxiety and stress, anxiety by adjusting for depression and stress, and stress by adjusting for depression and anxiety all increased the odds of poor sleep quality. CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of psychological discomfort was observed in PLWH. Depression, anxiety, and stress were strongly associated with sleep quality. PLWH needed more attention and social support in order to reduce sleep and psychological issues.

A nationwide study on the prevalence and contributing factors of obstructive sleep apnea in Iran.

Reliable obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) prevalence information in Iran is lacking due to inconsistent local study results. To estimate OSA prevalence and identify clinical phenotypes, we conducted a nationally representative study using multi-stage random cluster sampling. We recruited 3198 individuals and extrapolated the results to the entire Iranian population using complex sample survey analyses. We identified 3 clinical phenotypes as "sleepy," "insomnia," and "restless legs syndrome (RLS)." The prevalence of OSA was 28.7% (95%CI: 26.8-30.6). The prevalence of "sleepy," "insomnia," and "RLS" phenotypes were 82.3%, 77.8%, and 36.5% in women, and 64.8%, 67.5%, and 17.9% in men, respectively. "Sleepy" and "insomnia" phenotypes overlapped the most. Age (OR: 1.9), male sex (OR: 3.8), BMI (OR: 1.13), neck circumference (OR: 1.3), RLS (OR: 2.0), and insomnia (OR: 2.3) were significant OSA predictors (p-values: 0.001). In men, "sleepy" phenotype was associated with youth and unmarried status but not in women. The "insomnia" phenotype was associated with shorter sleep duration in women; cardiovascular diseases (CVD), urban residency, and shorter sleep duration in men. "RLS" phenotype was associated with shorter sleep duration and CVD in women and older age, lower educational level, CVD, and hypertension in men. The findings point to the need for funding of OSA screening in Iran, for a different assessment of men and women, and for future sleep research to consider overlapping phenotypes.

Incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and outcomes in COVID-19 patients with and without antiviral medications: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury is a complication of COVID-19 and is associated with severity. Despite no specific antiviral treatment strategy, lopinavir/ritonavir and remdesivir have been used. Data on the association between AKI and receiving antiviral agents with outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 is scarce. We aimed to determine the incidence of AKI and its outcomes in COVID-19 patients with and without antiviral medications. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study on hospitalized adult patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection in a tertiary center. The primary endpoint was determining mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and length of hospitalization affected by AKI development using antiviral agents. The logistic regression method was used to explore the predictive effects of AKI and antiviral therapy on composite outcomes (i.e., mortality, ICU admission, and prolonged hospitalization) in four defined groups by AKI development/not and utilizing antivirals/not. We used IBM SPSS version 24.0 software for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Out of 833 COVID-19 patients who were included, 75 patients were treated with antiviral agents and developed AKI. There was a significant difference in the occurrence of AKI and using antiviral medications (p = 0.001). Also, the group using antiviral agents and the development of AKI had the highest rate of preexisting hypertension (p = 0.002). Of note, the group of patients who used antiviral agents and also developed AKI had the most remarkable association with our composite outcome (p<0.0001), especially ICU admission (OR = 15.22; 95% CI: 8.06-27.32). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of AKI among COVID-19 patients treated with antiviral agents is linked to increased severity and mortality. Therefore, it is imperative to explore preventive measures for AKI development in patients receiving antiviral therapy. Larger-scale randomized controlled trials may be warranted to provide a more comprehensive understanding of these associations.

Non-communicable disease comorbidities in HIV patients: diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and obstructive sleep apnea as a neglected issue.

The present study evaluates the non-communicable disease (NCD) patterns and related risk factors among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Iran. This national cross-sectional survey study was conducted on 1173 confirmed PLWHs with a mean age of 35.35 (56.82 Over 50 years old, 33.90 Under 50 years old) admitted from 15 different provinces in the country. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association of factors with having at least one NCD comorbidity. From 1173 PLWH, 225(19.18%) participants experienced at least one NCD (15.20% and 38.69% among under- and over-50-year-old patients, respectively). The prevalence of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and sleep apnea among all patients was 1.59%, 2.05%, 1.55%, and 10.26%, respectively. The similar prevalence for each NCD among those over 50 years was 10.11%, 15.71%, 9.01%, 25.44%, and 1.01%, 1.12%, 1.04%, and 9.23% among those under 50 years, respectively. The odds of being at risk of at least one NCD stood higher in patients over 50 years (ORadj = 2.93, 95% CI 1.96-4.37), married (ORadj = 2.48, 95% CI 1.41-4.35), divorced or widowed (ORadj = 2.78, 95% CI 1.48-5.20), and obese (ORadj = 3.82, 95% CI 2.46-5.91). According to our findings regarding the prevalence of NCDs among patients under 50 years of age, we recommend that policymakers give greater consideration to this group in the screening and care programs for NCDs since adults and the elderly are both vulnerable to the risk factors for developing NCDs.

Drug use patterns and related factors among female sex workers in Iran in 2019-2020: results from Integrated Bio-Behavioral Surveillance-III (IBBS-III).

INTRODUCTION: Drug use is highly prevalent among female sex workers (FSWs). Some forms of drug use, such as injecting drug users (IDU), put them at greater risks for HIV and blood born disease (BBD). In this study, the pattern of drug use and its related factors among Iranian FSWs were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed based on the data of the integrated bio-behavioral surveillance-III (IBBS-III) on FSWs in 8 cities of Iran using the respondent-driven sampling (RDS) method conducting in 2019-2020. Of the 1515 FSWs participating in the IBBS-III study, 1,480 answered questions about drug use. To calculate the prevalence of drug use lifetime and in the past month, weighted analysis was used. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate the factors related to drug use. RESULTS: The prevalence of lifetime drug use and the prevalence of current drug use (single and poly drug use) among FSWs were estimated to be 29.3% and 18.86%, respectively. According to multivariate regression analysis, the odds ratio (odds) of lifetime drug use showed a statistically significant association with lower education (AOR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.07-1.3), being a direct sex worker (AOR = 1.77; 95% CI: 1.21-2.61), working in team houses or hangouts (AOR = 1.51; 95% CI: 1.10-2.06), a history of intentional abortion (AOR = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.07-1.87), condom use in the last sex (AOR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.19-2.17), a history of imprisonment (AOR = 3.05; 95% CI: 2.25-4.14), HIV positive tests (AOR = 8.24; 95% CI: 1.66-40.9), alcohol use (AOR = 1.69; 95% CI: 1.29-2.29), and finding sexual clients in places such as parties, shopping malls, streets, and hotels, or by friends (AOR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.01-2.12). CONCLUSION: Given that drug use among FSWs is about 14 times higher than that of the Iranian general population, it is imperative that drug reduction programs be integrated into service packages. Specifically, prevention programs should be prioritized for occasional drug users within this population as they are at a greater risk of developing drug use issues compared to the general population.

Sputnik V vaccine-related complications and its impression on inflammatory biomarkers in healthcare providers.

PURPOSE: The current pandemic made scientists create new platforms of vaccines to fight against SARS-CoV-2. Without a doubt, the new forms of present vaccines could develop a diversity of unknown complications. Sputnik V vaccine with two different adenovirus vectors (Ad26 priming and Ad5 boost) was first announced safe and effective by Russia. However, there are controversies surrounding this vaccine such as the possible decline of its immunogenicity and diminished neutralizing capacity against some Covid-19 variants. In addition, its impression on serum biomarkers is not clearly surveyed. The present study aimed to evaluate the frequency of Sputnik V vaccine-related complications and its impression on inflammatory and hematologic biomarkers. MATERIALS &METHODS: An observational cohort study was performed to evaluate the side effects and serum biomarkers changes in healthcare workers receiving Sputnik V vaccine. The vaccine adverse events were recorded daily within 60 days. The blood samples were obtained before vaccination, and on the10th day after each dose of vaccination. The prevalence of all complications and inflammatory biomarkers levels were compared between two doses. All analyses were performed using SPSS software version 22.0. RESULTS: Totally, 126 participants completed the study. The mean age was 37.19 â€‹± â€‹7.73 years. The prevalence of all complications was higher following the first dose than the second dose. The most common side effects were pain at the injection site, body pain, fever, headache, weakness, vertigo, sore throat and sleep disorder. The hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume of red blood cells and neutrophils count declined following vaccination significantly (P-value; 0.04, 0.039, 0.000 respectively). CONCLUSION: It seems the side effects of Sputnik-V vaccine are mild and decrease significantly after the second dose. The decreasing level of hematocrit, MCV and neutrophil count was found significant following vaccination.

Relationship between physical activity, healthy lifestyle and COVID-19 disease severity; a cross-sectional study.

Aim: The COVID-19 pandemic is a global health emergency, and therefore the prevention and treatment of this disease is an important priority of world health. In the present study, some risk factors, including unhealthy nutrition, obesity, and physical inactivity, were assessed in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, and their effects on the severity and duration of disease were evaluated. Subject and methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study. Data was collected from all patients who visited the respiratory emergency department from March 20, 2020 to April 24, 2020 in the University Hospital. The outcome measures were body mass index, diet quality that was evaluated with a 16-item food intake questionnaire, and physical activity level that was assessed by the global physical activity questionnaire. Results: Two hundred and six patients' data was analyzed. The results investigated that patients with lower levels of physical activity or lower MET.min/week were affected by a more severe form of the disease (p = 0.05 and p = 0.03, respectively). We found that patients with a healthier dietary pattern were affected by lower severity of illness (p < 0.05). Conclusion: It seems that increasing levels of physical activity may partly reduce the severity of COVID-19 disease. Some dietary patterns such as increasing fruit and poultry consumption as well as drinking less tea were correlated significantly with a less severe form of the disease. The results did not confirm previous concerns regarding a potentially harmful effect of smoking on the severity or duration of symptoms.

HIV prevalence and associated factors among female sex workers in Iran: a bio-behavioral survey in 2020.

Despite the overall decline in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence, it remains unacceptably high in key populations. This study aimed to estimate prevalence of HIV infection and high-risk behaviors among female sex workers (FSWs). This study was a cross-sectional survey of FSWs conducted between December 2019 and August 2020 in eight geographically diverse cities in Iran. After providing informed consent, participants completed a bio-behavioral questionnaire and after completion of the interview, rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) and dried blood spots (DBS) were collected to determine HIV and syphilis status as per national guidelines, if the women consented. All analyzes were based on RDS adjustment. Weighting was done according to Giles'SS estimator. Among the 1515 FSWs, the overall prevalence of HIV and syphilis were 1.6% (95% CI: 0.8-2.3) and zero, respectively. The highest HIV prevalence was observed in Shiraz (5.1%) and Khorramabad city (1.6%). In addition, HIV-positive FSWs had a higher mean age at first sexual contact than HIV-negative FSWs (21.4 ± 5.6 vs. 17.2 ± 4.2 years). Injection drug use and a history of arrest or incarceration were associated with an increased odds of HIV infection (OR = 6.25; 95% CI: 1.90-20.55 and OR = 4.57; 95% CI: 1.64-12.72, respectively). Based on the results, strategies to improve early HIV diagnosis, harm reduction, and use of testing and treatment strategies are needed to reduce and control HIV infections.

Population-based cross-sectional study of sex-specific dose-response associations between night sleep duration and hypertension in Islamic Republic of Iran.

Background: Several studies have suggested that sleep disorders have adverse effects on blood pressure. However, the findings remain controversial and only a few studies have investigated the association between sleep duration and hypertension among all age and sex subgroups. Aim: To evaluate the dose-response association between sleep duration and blood pressure in the Iranian population using the Ravansar non-communicable disease cohort study. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 9865 participants aged 35-65 years from the 2014-2017 Ravansar non-communicable disease cohort study. Night sleep duration was classified as ≤5 hours, 6 hours, 7 hours, 8 hours, 9 hours, and ≥10 hours. The association between self-reported sleep duration and hypertension was examined using multivariable logistic regression in STATA version 14. Restricted cubic spline analysis showed the dose-response association between sleep duration and hypertension. Results: The age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension was 16.50% among men, 24.20% among women and 20.50% in the total population. Compared with reference sleep duration (7 hours) in the total population, the multivariable odds ratio [OR (95% CI)] for hypertension was 0.70 (0.55-0.88) for the group with 9 hours sleep duration and 0.90 (0.74-1.09) for the group with ≤5 hours sleep duration. Among pre-menopausal women, we observed an inverse association between 9 hours sleep duration and hypertension [0.62 (0.42-0.90)]. The age-adjusted cubic spline suggested a linear inverse association between sleep duration and prevalence of hypertension among men and the total population and a non-linear association among women. Conclusion: Longer sleep duration (from 9 hours) had a negative association with hypertension. Further studies are needed to identify the risk factors associated with sleep duration and hypertension among the general population in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Evaluation of Blood Biochemistry and Cardiopulmonary status of Hospitalized Covid-19 Patients in 3 Months Post Discharged Follow up Survey.

BACKGROUND: The new coronavirus causes systemic inflammation and damage to various organs. So, this study aimed to follow up patients with COVID -19 after recovery for three months by performing cardiac, pulmonary and laboratory tests. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of COVID-19 patients who were discharged from Baharloo Hospital. The diagnosis of COVID-19 was confirmed by PCR or long CT scan. Inclusion criteria were age over 18 years and patients with more than 50% of pulmonary involvement in lung CT scan. The patients were called to Baharloo hospital three months after recovery and were examined for cardiac, pulmonary and blood tests. RESULT: Our study included 178 participants with mean age of 55.70, and 50.6% of them were male. Among pulmonary factors in the hospital, 71.9%, 15.7%,1.7%,19.1% and 53.4% had positive GGO, consolidation, reverse halo sign, traction bronchiectasis and vascular enlargement, respectively. After three months follow up, percentage of patients who had reticulation, honeycombing, fibrotic brand and bullae were 12%, 1.1%,8.4% and 0%, respectively. The Mean values of FVC and FEV1 were reported 4.21 and 3.01, respectively. Among Cardiac factors, positive PVC, PAC and mean Pap were decreased after three months. Only Growth in myalgia and Decreased sense of taste were statistically significant. Also, D dimer, UA protein, PMN, Ferritin CRP, PMN, LDH and HB amounts had decreased significantly. CONCLUSION: Our study indicated that in addition to pulmonary changes, rapid damage to other organs and the occurrence of cardiac symptoms and changes in laboratory result were also reported in patients recovered from COVID-19.

Prevalence of short and long sleep duration: Ravansar NonCommunicable Disease (RaNCD) cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of short and long sleep duration varies in different countries and changes over time. There are limited studies on Iranians' sleep duration, and we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of short and long sleep duration and associated factors among people living in Kermanshah, Iran. METHODS: This population-based cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2014 and February 2017. Data was collected from 10,025 adults aged 35 to 65 years using census sampling, and we evaluated the short and long sleep duration (≤ 6 and ≥ 9 h, respectively) and its relation with the socio-demographic factors and health-related status of the participants. RESULTS: Mean age of participants was 48.1 years (standard deviation = 8.2), and 47.4% of participants were male. Of our participants, 11.6% had short, and 21.9% had long sleep duration. Age ≥ 50 years, female gender, being single, mobile use for longer than 8 h per day, working in night shifts, moderate and good levels of physical activity, BMI ≥ 30, past smoking, and alcohol use were associated with short sleep duration (P < 0.05). Female gender and living in rural areas were associated with long sleep duration (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In the Ravansar population, short and long sleep duration are prevalent, with long sleep duration having higher prevalence. People at risk, such as night shift workers, as well as modifiable factors, such as mobile phone use, can be targeted with interventions to improve sleep hygiene.

Intentional abortion and its associated factors among female sex workers in Iran: Results from national bio-behavioral surveillance-2020.

PURPOSE: In addition to estimating the prevalence of intentional abortion in Iranian female sex workers (FSWs), this study identified related factors using the data of a national study. METHODS: This cross-sectional study utilizes the third round of integrated bio-behavioral surveillance-III data in Iranian FSWs in December 2019 and August 2020, and 1515 Participants were selected in 8 geographically diverse cities in Iran. Logistic regression was performed using unweighted analysis to identify factors associated with intentional abortion. Stata software (version 14), respondent-driven sampling analyses, and R (version 4.1.2) was used for data analysis. RESULTS: From 1390 participants with valid responses to the abortion question, 598 (37.3%; 95% CI: 32.43, 42.11%) reported intentional abortion during their life. According to the age groups, the highest prevalence of abortion was in the age group of 31 to 40 years (42.60%). In the multivariate logistic regression model, the marital status (divorced women (AOR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.29, 3.27), concubines (AOR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.02, 3.11)), work experience in brothels (AOR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.84), the type of sex (AOR = 2.75, 95% CI: 1.35, 5.58), the history of sexual violence (AOR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.19, 2.01), and alcohol consumption (AOR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.18, 2.01) were significantly associated with a history of intentional abortion. CONCLUSION: Intentional abortion's prevalence among Iranian FSWs has been much higher than that of the general female population in Iran, which is an alarming issue in the public health of this group and needs more effective interventions. In addition, alcohol consumption, working in a brothel, and being divorced are essential factors in increasing abortions among sex workers.

Sleep microstructure and clinical characteristics of patients with restless legs syndrome.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sleep-related movement disorder, often accompanied by sleep disruption. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has a controversial prevalence among patients with RLS. We evaluated the clinical and sleep features of patients who attended our sleep clinic considering RLS and OSA. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we obtained health records of 1,497 patients during 2015-2019 who underwent polysomnography (PSG). Baseline characteristics, sleep-related and RLS questionnaires, and sleep microstructure were assessed. Descriptive and analytical assessments were performed. RLS was assessed according to the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group criteria. RESULTS: RLS was found in 19.4% of patients, with more prevalence among women (26.9% vs 16.4%). RLS affected 19.1% of patients with OSA. Patients with RLS were significantly older with higher insomnia and depression and worse PSG results. As the respiratory disturbance index increased, the odds of RLS slightly decreased (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.80 [0.67-0.94]). The odds of OSA (respiratory disturbance index ≥ 5) was not affected by RLS. OSA in patients with RLS was significantly associated with a higher limb movement index. RLS in patients with OSA was significantly associated with higher insomnia, depression, and limb movement index (men and women), higher wake after sleep onset and percentage of N1 sleep (men), and lower sleep efficiency (men). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with RLS had worse PSG results, higher insomnia, and depression. Although men with OSA+/RLS+ had worsened PSG results, PSG parameters in women with OSA+/RLS+ did not differ from the OSA+/RLS- group. Patients with either OSA or RLS should be evaluated for possible comorbidities, including insomnia and depression. Notably, sex-specific characteristics need more consideration in sleep clinics. CITATION: Amirifard H, Jameie M, Akbarpour S, et al. Sleep microstructure and clinical characteristics of patients with restless legs syndrome. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(11):2653-2661.

Lactate Dehydrogenase to Albumin ratio as a Predictive Factor of COVID-19 Patients' Outcome; a Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction:  Despite the increasing vaccination coverage, COVID-19 is still a concern. With the limited health care capacity, early risk stratification is crucial to identify patients who should be prioritized for optimal management. The present study investigates whether on-admission lactate dehydrogenase to albumin ratio (LAR) can be used to predict COVID-19 outcomes. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study evaluated hospitalized COVID-19 patients in an academic referral center in Iran from May 2020 to October 2020. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the value of LAR in the prediction of mortality. The Yuden index was used to find the optimal cut-off of LAR to distinguish severity. Patients were classified into three groups (LAR tertiles), first: LAR<101.46, second: 101.46≤LAR< 148.78, and third group: LAR≥148.78. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the association between tertiles of LAR, as well as the relationship between each one-unit increase in LAR with mortality and ICU admission in three models, based on potential confounding variables. Results: A total of 477 patients were included. Among all patients, 100 patients (21%) died, and 121 patients (25.4%) were admitted to intensive care unit (ICU). In the third group, the risk of mortality and ICU admission increased 7.78 times (OR=7.78, CI: 3.95-15.26; p <0.0001) and 4.49 times (OR=4.49, CI: 2.01-9.04; p <0.0001), respectively, compared to the first group. The AUC of LAR for prediction of mortality was 0.768 (95% CI 0.69- 0.81). LAR ≥ 136, with the sensitivity and specificity of 72% (95%CI: 62.1-80.5) and 70% (95%CI: 64.9-74.4), respectively, was the optimal cut-off value for predicting mortality. Conclusion: High LAR was associated with higher odds of COVID-19 mortality, ICU admission, and length of hospitalization. On-admission LAR levels might help health care workers identify critical patients early on.

High dose melatonin as an adjuvant therapy in intubated patients with COVID-19: A randomized clinical trial.

Objective: In the COVID-19 pandemic, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has infected millions of people worldwide. Mortality primarily results from the inflammation state and its complications. High-dose melatonin has been established as an anti-inflammatory agent. This study evaluated high-dose melatonin as an adjuvant therapy in critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: We conducted a double-blinded, randomized clinical trial of 21 mg of melatonin per day compared with a placebo in 67 patients with COVID-19. We enrolled patients older than 18 years of age with documented SARS-CoV-2 infection, who were admitted to the intensive care unit and underwent invasive mechanical ventilation. Administration of melatonin and placebo through a nasogastric tube continued for 5 days. The main outcomes were mortality rate, duration of mechanical ventilation, changes in oxygenation indices, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Results: No significant differences were observed in mortality and duration of mechanical ventilation between the control and intervention groups. After 5 days of the intervention, the mean (±standard deviation) CRP and platelet count were 47.28 (±38.86) mg/L and 195.73 (±87.13) × 1000/µL, respectively, in the intervention group and 75.52 (±48.02) mg/L and 149.62 (±68.03) × 1000/µL, respectively, in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: High-dose melatonin in intubated patients with COVID-19 was associated with a decrease in CRP levels. However, this treatment did not apparently affect patient outcomes.