Effect of cancer treatment on sleep quality in cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

BACKGROUND: Sleep problems are one of the most common symptoms experienced by cancer patients. The causes of poor sleep quality might be due to treatment and its side effects. Thus, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis with the aims of investigating sleep quality during treatment in cancer patients. METHODS: Comprehensive search strategy was conducted in the following original databases: PubMed, Web of Science (ISI), Scopus, Embase, PsycINFO, and Ovid, from 1950 to 15th February 2021. Studies that investigated the sleep quality during treatment in cancer patients were included. Two investigators extracted all relevant data, independently. For deriving mean difference, random-effects meta-analyses were used. We assessed quality of studies by Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). RESULTS: A total of 27 studies (1884 participants) were included in the syntheses on sleep quality. The mean global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in cancer patients before the initiation of treatment was 7.11 (95% CI: 6.48, 7.74), during 8.31 (95% CI: 6.34, 10.27), after the treatment 7.10 (95% CI: 6.54, 7.66), and finally, the mean global PSQI in the time of follow-up was estimated 7.33 (95% CI: 6.27, 8.39); all the results were meaningful (P < 0.001). The mean difference showing the quality of sleep was better before the initiation of treatment compared to after the treatment. CONCLUSION: Cancer patients who underwent cancer treatment face lots of problems and adverse effects caused by treatment. Our results revealed that cancer patients experience poor quality of sleep during the whole trajectory of cancer even after a year from the initiation of treatment. After the end of treatment, sleep quality got better compared to during the treatment and returned to before the treatment level, but it is still poor and needs more sleep-related interventions to improve.

Prevalence of depression among amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) people have a high risk of severe mental disorders, like depression, which impacts their function, quality of life, and mobility. However, there are no estimates of depression based paper published. This study aimed conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of depression in ALS patients around the world. METHODS: PubMed/Medline, Web of science, Scopus, Embase, and Ovid are searched to identify papers that reporting the prevalence of depression. Studies are included in random-effects meta-analyses of the prevalence of depression. Subgroup analyses are performed on the severity of depression, instruments of depression, type of studies, and study regions. RESULTS: 46 eligible studies reported prevalence of depression. The pooled prevalence of depression among ALS people was 34% (27%-41%). According to the severity of depression, mild, moderate, and severe depression were 29%, 16%, and 8%, respectively. For studies using BDI, PHQ, and HADS, the pooled prevalence of depression was 50%, 20%, and 15%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: ALS people have a high prevalence of depression. The high prevalence of depression causes a reduction of quality of life and mobility. The study identifies a population group at high risk needing special attention in clinical practice.

The association between diet quality and obesity-related metabolic risks.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the association between dietary quality measured by inflammatory potential of a diet and Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010), and obesity-related metabolic risks in a representative sample of Iranian obese adults. METHOD: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 obese adults. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated 168-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Diet quality was measured using AHEI-2010 and Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Pattern (EDIP) scores. RESULTS: Those in the upper quartile of AHEI-2010 were associated with lower serum level of triglycerides (TG), and higher body mass index (BMI), compared to participants in the lower quartile. Those in the higher quartile of EDIP score were associated with higher serum level of TG. Greater adherence to AHEI-2010 had 70% lower odds of high fasting blood glucose (FBG), compared with those in the first quartile [Q4 vs Q1: OR, 0.3 (95% CI: 0.1-0.8), p trend = 0.02] Those in the highest quartile of EDIP score had a 60% higher odds of high diastolic blood pressure, compared with those in the lowest quartile [Q4 vs Q1: OR, 2.4 (95% CI: 1.1-5.5), p trend = 0.05] after controlling for potential covariates. CONCLUSIONS: High diet quality incorporating more anti-inflammatory diet may have a potential benefit in reducing obesity-related metabolic risks.