Coping with COVID: risk and resilience factors for mental health in a German representative panel study.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic might affect mental health. Data from population-representative panel surveys with multiple waves including pre-COVID data investigating risk and protective factors are still rare. METHODS: In a stratified random sample of the German household population (n = 6684), we conducted survey-weighted multiple linear regressions to determine the association of various psychological risk and protective factors assessed between 2015 and 2020 with changes in psychological distress [(PD; measured via Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression and Anxiety (PHQ-4)] from pre-pandemic (average of 2016 and 2019) to peri-pandemic (both 2020 and 2021) time points. Control analyses on PD change between two pre-pandemic time points (2016 and 2019) were conducted. Regularized regressions were computed to inform on which factors were statistically most influential in the multicollinear setting. RESULTS: PHQ-4 scores in 2020 (M = 2.45) and 2021 (M = 2.21) were elevated compared to 2019 (M = 1.79). Several risk factors (catastrophizing, neuroticism, and asking for instrumental support) and protective factors (perceived stress recovery, positive reappraisal, and optimism) were identified for the peri-pandemic outcomes. Control analyses revealed that in pre-pandemic times, neuroticism and optimism were predominantly related to PD changes. Regularized regression mostly confirmed the results and highlighted perceived stress recovery as most consistent influential protective factor across peri-pandemic outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: We identified several psychological risk and protective factors related to PD outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. A comparison of pre-pandemic data stresses the relevance of longitudinal assessments to potentially reconcile contradictory findings. Implications and suggestions for targeted prevention and intervention programs during highly stressful times such as pandemics are discussed.

Are we equally at risk of changing smoking behavior during a public health crisis? Impact of educational level on smoking from the TEMPO cohort.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic as a public health crisis has led to a significant increase in mental health difficulties. Smoking is strongly associated with mental health conditions, which is why the pandemic might have influenced the otherwise decline in smoking rates. Persons belonging to socioeconomically disadvantaged groups may be particularly affected, both because the pandemic has exacerbated existing social inequalities and because this group was more likely to smoke before the pandemic. We examined smoking prevalence in a French cohort study, focusing on differences between educational attainment. In addition, we examined the association between interpersonal changes in tobacco consumption and educational level from 2018 to 2021. METHODS: Using four assessments of smoking status available from 2009 to 2021, we estimated smoking prevalence over time, stratified by highest educational level in the TEMPO cohort and the difference was tested using chi2 test. We studied the association between interpersonal change in smoking status between 2018 and 2021 and educational attainment among 148 smokers, using multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Smoking prevalence was higher among those with low education. The difference between the two groups increased from 2020 to 2021 (4.8-9.4%, p < 0.001). Smokers with high educational level were more likely to decrease their tobacco consumption from 2018 to 2021 compared to low educated smokers (aOR = 2.72 [1.26;5.89]). CONCLUSION: Current findings showed a widening of the social inequality gap in relation to smoking rates, underscoring the increased vulnerability of persons with low educational level to smoking and the likely inadequate focus on social inequalities in relation to tobacco control policies during the pandemic.

Using big data and Population Health Management to assess care and costs for patients with severe mental disorders and move toward a value-based payment system.

BACKGROUND: Mental health (MH) care often exhibits uneven quality and poor coordination of physical and MH needs, especially for patients with severe mental disorders. This study tests a Population Health Management (PHM) approach to identify patients with severe mental disorders using administrative health databases in Italy and evaluate, manage and monitor care pathways and costs. A second objective explores the feasibility of changing the payment system from fee-for-service to a value-based system (e.g., increased care integration, bundled payments) to introduce performance measures and guide improvement in outcomes. METHODS: Since diagnosis alone may poorly predict condition severity and needs, we conducted a retrospective observational study on a 9,019-patient cohort assessed in 2018 (30.5% of 29,570 patients with SMDs from three Italian regions) using the Mental Health Clustering Tool (MHCT), developed in the United Kingdom, to stratify patients according to severity and needs, providing a basis for payment for episode of care. Patients were linked (blinded) with retrospective (2014-2017) physical and MH databases to map resource use, care pathways, and assess costs globally and by cluster. Two regions (3,525 patients) provided data for generalized linear model regression to explore determinants of cost variation among clusters and regions. RESULTS: Substantial heterogeneity was observed in care organization, resource use and costs across and within 3 Italian regions and 20 clusters. Annual mean costs per patient across regions was €3,925, ranging from €3,101 to €6,501 in the three regions. Some 70% of total costs were for MH services and medications, 37% incurred in dedicated mental health facilities, 33% for MH services and medications noted in physical healthcare databases, and 30% for other conditions. Regression analysis showed comorbidities, resident psychiatric services, and consumption noted in physical health databases have considerable impact on total costs. CONCLUSIONS: The current MH care system in Italy lacks evidence of coordination of physical and mental health and matching services to patient needs, with high variation between regions. Using available assessment tools and administrative data, implementation of an episodic approach to funding MH could account for differences in disease phase and physical health for patients with SMDs and introduce performance measurement to improve outcomes and provide oversight.

Impact of work arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in France.

•Symptoms of anxiety/depression were found in 28.8% of the participants at least once.•Unemployment and financial difficulties were associated with anxiety/depression.•Targeted mental health support could lessen mental health impact.

Rehospitalization for pneumonia after first pneumonia admission: Incidence and predictors in a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hospital readmissions are a frequent complication of pneumonia. Most data regarding readmissions are obtained from the United States, whereas few data are available from the European healthcare utilization (HCU) systems. In a large cohort of Italian patients with a previous hospitalization for pneumonia, our aim was to evaluate the incidence and predictors of early readmissions due to pneumonia. METHODS: This is a observational retrospective, population based, cohort study. Data were retrieved from the HCU databases of the Italian Lombardy region. 203,768 patients were hospitalized for pneumonia between 2003 and 2012. The outcome was the first rehospitalization for pneumonia. The patients were followed up after the index hospital admission to estimate the hazard ratio, and relative 95% confidence interval, of the outcome associated with the risk factors that we had identified. RESULTS: 7,275 patients (3.6%) had an early pneumonia readmission. Male gender, age ≥70 years, length of stay of the first admission and a higher burden of comorbidities were significantly associated with the outcome. Chronic use of antidepressants, antiarrhythmics, glucocorticoids and drugs for obstructive airway diseases were also more frequently prescribed in patients requiring rehospitalization. Previous use of inhaled broncodilators, including both beta2-agonists and anticholinergics, but not inhaled steroids, were associated with an increased risk of hospital readmission. CONCLUSIONS: Frail elderly patients with multiple comorbidities and complex drug regimens were at higher risk of early rehospitalization and, thus, may require closer follow-up and prevention strategies.

The effects of two longpass filters on visual performance.

PURPOSE: This study compared visual performance and optical properties of three filters. METHOD: Two groups of twenty adults were recruited: wearers of progressive addition lenses (PAL, 46-73 years) and wearers of single vision lenses (SVL, 26-55 years). Three spectacle filters (Hoya, Japan) were compared: clear control, Standard Drive (STD), and Professional Drive (PRO) lenses. Optical transmittance was measured by a Jasco V-650 spectrophotometer. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was measured in photopic (BCVAphotopic) and mesopic (BCVAmesopic) conditions and under glare (BCVAglare). Photopic contrast sensitivity (CS) was also measured. RESULTS: The three longpass filters show cutoff at 426±2nm (STD/PRO) and 405±2nm (clear lens). BCVAglare improved with Drive filters compared to the clear one (p<0.05) from 0.03 to -0.02 (STD) and to -0.01 (PRO) for PAL and from -0.08 to -0.12 (STD and PRO) for SVL. For PAL, BCVAmesopic improved from 0.15 to 0.12 (STD, p<0.05) and 0.13 (PRO), while no substantial difference was observed for SVL. CS showed some improvements with Drive lenses at some angular frequencies between 6 and 18 cycles/deg, mainly for the PAL group. No BCVAphotopic differences were found. After testing all filters, each for two weeks, 79% (PAL) and 60% (SVL) of participants preferred Drive lenses. CONCLUSIONS: Drive lenses are found to maintain or improve some visual functions compared to the clear lens. The improvement of mesopic visual acuity, visual acuity under glare, and contrast sensitivity is mainly attributed to the reduction of intraocular light scattering as a consequence of the total light attenuation in the spectral range below the cutoff.