Social anxiety, self-esteem and quality of life among hypertensive patients during COVID-19 local epidemic in China: A mediation analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the mediating role of self-esteem in social anxiety and QoL during the COVID-19 local epidemic in China. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey. METHODS: This study conveniently selected 344 hypertensive patients from a Grade-A tertiary hospital in Wuhu, Anhui Province, as the study population. Participants completed the demographic questionnaire, the social phobia inventory, the self-esteem scale and the 36-item short-form health survey. RESULTS: Social anxiety, self-esteem and QoL were significantly correlated with each other. Social anxiety showed no direct effect on QoL (ß = 0.011, p > 0.05). Social anxiety showed an indirect effect on QoL (ß = -0.248, p < 0.001). Self-esteem fully mediated the association between social anxiety and QoL in hypertensive patients. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Hypertensive patients in this study were participants during the data collection process. Nursing staff from the cardiology department at the hospital of a hospital in Wuhu City, Anhui Province assisted in the recruitment phase of the data collection process.

Loneliness, depression and sleep quality among the type 2 diabetic patients during COVID-19 local epidemic: A mediation analysis.

AIMS: To investigate loneliness, depression and sleep quality in patients with Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) and to examine the mediating role of depression between loneliness and sleep quality among this group of patients with T2DM. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: A group of T2DM patients was recruited from a tertiary hospital affiliated with a university in Wuhu City, Anhui Province from May to October 2021 by convenient sampling. Pearson correlation analysis and structural equation modelling were used for data analysis in this study. RESULTS: The direct effect of loneliness on sleep quality was not statistically significant, but the indirect effect of depression on sleep quality was statistically significant. Depression mediated the relationship between loneliness and sleep quality. Depression can affect emotional health and reduce sleep quality. We should reduce the loneliness of patients, prevent the occurrence of depression and improve the quality of sleep.

Predictive Factors of the Effectiveness of Caudal Epidural Steroid Injections in Managing Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain and Radiculopathy.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective clinical outcome analysis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and determine whether demographic, comorbid factors, or physical examination findings may predict the outcome of caudal epidural steroid injections in managing patients with chronic low back pain and radiculopathy SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA:: The caudal epidural approach is commonly utilized with patients who are on anticoagulation or who have had prior lumbar surgery to treat L5 or S1 radiculopathies. METHODS: A retrospective review of 136 patients undergoing an initial caudal epidural steroid injection for radiculopathy from January 1, 2006 to August 30, 2013. The patients were assessed before their injections for their pain levels: visual analog scale, presence of lumbar paraspinal and sciatic notch sensitivity, pain with provocative maneuvers, motor weakness, and sensory loss. The patients were then reassessed following their injection for their visual analog scale pain levels, percentage improvement, and duration of pain relief. RESULTS: Stepwise regression was used to determine whether demographic, comorbid factors, or physical examination signs were predictive of percentage improvement or length of relief following an injection. Among these variables, duration of symptoms was found to be negatively significantly related with a P-value of 0.032 for percentage of improvement. For each week of the duration of symptoms, the percentage of improvement decreased by 0.07%. Regarding physical examination findings, presence of pain with lumbar extension was negatively and significantly related to length of relief duration with a P-value of 0.0124. The mean length of relief duration is 38.37 weeks for individuals without painful lumbar extension and 14.68 weeks for individuals with painful lumbar extension CONCLUSIONS:: The mean length of relief following a caudal injection is reduced by 62% in patients who exhibit pain with lumbar extension.