Violence Exposure and Disability in Colombian Female Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: the Mediating Role of Depressive Symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Violence is an important public health problem and one of the main causes of deaths worldwide. The mental health consequences of surviving intimate partner violence (IPV) include depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Previous studies have identified that there is a relationship between depression and level of disability in female survivors of IPV. Estimating the direct, indirect or total effect of an exposure on an outcome makes it possible to identify mediating effects between a group of variables. Detecting mediation effects is useful for identifying casual pathways that generate a final outcome and provides a rationale for designing interventions to target the mediator, which in turn positively affects the outcome. The objective was to identify the mediating role of depressive symptoms on the relationship between IPV and disability. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 94 women over the age of 18 who were survivors of IPV by men. They were recruited from two public hospitals in Cali and Tuluá in southwest Colombia. An analysis of casual relationships was performed using structural equation modelling that was made up of: four exogenous observed variables (age, current relationship status [in a relationship or single], level of schooling, and history of an impairment), intermediate endogenous variables (violence and depressive symptoms), and the main endogenous variable (disability). The analyses were carried out in Stata14.2. RESULTS: The direct effect of IPV severity on the level of disability was not statistically significant (ß=0.09; P=0.63). However, the indirect effect of IPV severity on disability mediated by depressive symptoms was (ß=0.39; P<0.01). The total effect of IPV severity on the level of disability was even greater (ß=0.48; P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study found a complete mediating role of depressive symptoms on the relationship between the severity of IPV and the level of disability for the female participants in this study. The results of this research contribute to defining strategies to prevent and address intimate partner violence, depressive symptoms and disability in this population.

Prior COVID-19 vaccination and reduced risk of cerebrovascular diseases among COVID-19 survivors.

The effects of COVID-19 vaccination on short-term and long-term cerebrovascular risks among COVID-19 survivors remained unknown. We conducted a national multi-center retrospective cohort study with 151 597 vaccinated and 151 597 unvaccinated COVID-19 patients using the TriNetX database, from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2023. Patients baseline characteristics were balanced with propensity score matching (PSM). The outcomes were incident cerebrovascular diseases occurred between 1st and 30th days (short-term) after COVID-19 diagnosis. Nine subgroup analyses were conducted to explore potential effect modifications. We performed six sensitivity analyses, including evaluation of outcomes between 1st to 180th days, accounting for competing risk, and incorporating different variant timeline to test the robustness of our results. Kaplan-Meier curves and Log-Rank tests were performed to evaluate survival difference. Cox proportional hazards regressions were adopted to estimate the PSM-adjusted hazard ratios (HR). The overall short-term cerebrovascular risks were lower in the vaccinated group compared to the unvaccinated group (HR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.56-0.77), specifically cerebral infarction (HR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.48-0.79), occlusion and stenosis of precerebral arteries (HR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.53-0.98), other cerebrovascular diseases (HR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.42-0.77), and sequelae of cerebrovascular disease (HR: 0.39, 95% CI:0.23-0.68). Similarly, the overall cerebrovascular risks were lower in those vaccinated among most subgroups. The long-term outcomes, though slightly attenuated, were consistent (HR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.73-0.87). Full 2-dose vaccination was associated with a further reduced risk of cerebrovascular diseases (HR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.50-0.80) compared to unvaccinated patients. Unvaccinated COVID-19 survivors have significantly higher cerebrovascular risks than their vaccinated counterparts. Thus, clinicians are recommended to monitor this population closely for stroke events during postinfection follow-up.

Impact of COVID-19 on women living with HIV who are survivors of intimate partner violence.

BACKGROUND: Women living with HIV (WLWH) experience higher rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) compared to women without HIV, but there has been minimal research to date on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lived experiences of WLWH who are IPV survivors. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of COVID-19 impact using baseline data from an ongoing, prospective, micro-longitudinal cohort study of HIV care engagement among WLWH who have experienced lifetime IPV. We measured the impact of COVID-19 along key domains (i.e., physical health, day-to-day life, sexual/relationship behavior, substance use, HIV care, mental health, financial status, and having conflict with partners). Using independent t-tests or Fisher's exact tests, and Pearson's chi-squared tests, we compared women with and without ongoing IPV across sociodemographic characteristics, psychiatric disorders, substance use, and COVID-19 impact domains. We then built separate multivariate linear regression models for each of the different COVID-19 impact domains; ongoing IPV exposure was the primary explanatory variable of interest. RESULTS: Enrolled participants (n = 84) comprised a group of women (mean age 53.6y; SD = 9.9) who were living with HIV for a mean 23.3 years (SD = 10), all of whom had experienced lifetime IPV. Among 49 women who were currently partnered, 79.6% (n = 39) reported ongoing IPV. There were no statistically significant differences between those experiencing ongoing IPV and those who were not (or not partnered) in terms of demographic characteristics, substance use, or mental health. In multivariate models, ongoing IPV exposure was not associated with any COVID-19 impact domain. Anxiety and depression, however, were associated with COVID-19-related physical health, HIV care, and relationship conflict. Hispanic ethnicity was significantly associated with COVID-19-related physical health. More severe cocaine and opioid use were also significantly associated with COVID-19-related impact on day-to-day life. CONCLUSIONS: Among this sample of WLWH who are all lifetime IPV-survivors, nearly half had ongoing IPV exposure. The COVID-19 public health emergency period affected WLWH in varied ways, but impacts were most profound for women experiencing concurrent mental health and substance use problems. Findings have important implications for future interventions to improve women's health and social outcomes.

Fatigue in healthcare workers with mild COVID-19 survivors in Indonesia.

Persistent symptoms after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19, known as post-COVID syndrome (PCS), presented an ongoing health burden among COVID-19 survivors, including health workers. The existence of fatigue in mild COVID-19 survivors has not been widely reported. The aim of this study was to present the symptoms of fatigue in healthcare workers who experienced mild COVID-19 and the factors associated with fatigue. A cross-sectional study was conducted at H. Adam Malik General Hospital in Medan, Indonesia, from September to December 2022, included doctors, nurses, ancillary workers, and medical support workers who experienced mild COVID-19. Fatigue was measured by a fatigue assessment scale (FAS). The assessed possible risk factors were gender, age, vaccination history, comorbid, presence of PCS, duration of PCS symptoms, and number of PCS symptoms. The Chi-squared or Fisher's exact tests were used to assess the association between the incidence of fatigue and risk factors. A total of 100 healthcare workers of mild COVID-19 survivors were included. Most of them were nurses (58%), women (81%), and aged 19-30 years old (36%). The majority had incomplete vaccination history (64%), experienced PCS (71%), no comorbidities (61%), and experienced <3 months of PCS symptoms (55%). Mild to moderate fatigue was found in 23% of healthcare workers and only 1% experienced severe fatigue. No significant association was found between gender, vaccination history, and comorbidities with the incidence of fatigue. However, a significant association was observed between age (p=0.021), the presence of PCS (p=0.041), and the number of PCS symptoms (p=0.047) with fatigue incidence. Furthermore, there were significant associations between symptoms of PCS (confusion (p=0.004), insomnia (p=0.001), myalgia (p=0.035), arthralgia (p=0.028), throat pain (p=0.042), headache (p=0.042), and chest pain (p=0.011)) with fatigue. These findings can contribute to providing the necessary support for mild COVID-19 survivors and persistent fatigue.

A comprehensive physical functional assessment of survivors of critical care unit stay due to COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the physical function and respiratory muscle strength of patients - who recovered from critical COVID-19 - after intensive care unit discharge to the ward on Days one (D1) and seven (D7), and to investigate variables associated with functional impairment. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of adult patients with COVID-19 who needed invasive mechanical ventilation, non-invasive ventilation or high-flow nasal cannula and were discharged from the intensive care unit to the ward. Participants were submitted to Medical Research Council sum-score, handgrip strength, maximal inspiratory pressure, maximal expiratory pressure, and short physical performance battery tests. Participants were grouped into two groups according to their need for invasive ventilation: the Invasive Mechanical Ventilation Group (IMV Group) and the Non-Invasive Mechanical Ventilation Group (Non-IMV Group). RESULTS: Patients in the IMV Group (n = 31) were younger and had higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores than those in the Non-IMV Group (n = 33). The short physical performance battery scores (range 0 - 12) on D1 and D7 were 6.1 ± 4.3 and 7.3 ± 3.8, respectively for the Non-Invasive Mechanical Ventilation Group, and 1.3 ± 2.5 and 2.6 ± 3.7, respectively for the IMV Group. The prevalence of intensive care unit-acquired weakness on D7 was 13% for the Non-IMV Group and 72% for the IMV Group. The maximal inspiratory pressure, maximal expiratory pressure, and handgrip strength increased on D7 in both groups, but the maximal expiratory pressure and handgrip strength were still weak. Only maximal inspiratory pressure was recovered (i.e., > 80% of the predicted value) in the Non-IMV Group. Female sex, and the need and duration of invasive mechanical were independently and negatively associated with the short physical performance battery score and handgrip strength. CONCLUSION: Patients who recovered from critical COVID-19 and who received invasive mechanical ventilation presented greater disability than those who were not invasively ventilated. However, they both showed marginal functional improvement during early recovery, regardless of the need for invasive mechanical ventilation. This might highlight the severity of disability caused by SARS-CoV-2.

Toxicological profile using mass spectrometry in sudden cardiac arrest survivors admitted to a tertiary centre.

BACKGROUND: There has been no previous thorough toxicological examination of a cohort of patients with resuscitated sudden cardiac arrest. We aimed to determine the qualitative and quantitative drug composition in a resuscitated sudden cardiac arrest population, using forensic toxicology, with focus on prescribed, non-prescribed, and commonly abused drugs. METHODS: Individuals aged 18-90 years with resuscitated sudden cardiac arrest of presumed cardiac causes were prospectively included from a single tertiary center. Data from the sudden cardiac arrest hospitalization was collected from medical reports. Drugs used during resuscitation or before the blood sampling were identified and excluded in each patient. Mass spectrometry-based toxicology was performed to determine the absence or presence of most drugs and to quantify the findings. RESULTS: Among 186 consecutively enrolled resuscitated sudden cardiac arrest patients (median age 62 years, 83% male), 90% had a shockable rhythm, and were primarily caused by ischemic heart disease (66%). In total, 90 different drugs (excluding metabolites) were identified, and 82% of patients had at least one drug detected (median of 2 detected drugs (IQR:1-4)) (polypharmacy). Commonly abused drugs were present in 16%, and QT-prolonging drugs were present in 12%. Polypharmacy (≥5drugs) were found in 19% of patients. Importantly, none had potentially lethal concentrations of any drugs. CONCLUSION: In resuscitated sudden cardiac arrest patients with cardiac arrest of presumed cardiac cause, routine toxicological screening provides limited extra information. However, the role of polypharmacy in sudden cardiac arrest requires further investigation. No occult overdose-related cardiac arrests were identified.

The long-term association between exposure to wartime bombing earlier in life and post-traumatic stress later in life among today's older Vietnamese population.

This analysis examines the relationship between exposure to American wartime bombardments earlier in life and later-life PTSD among current surviving Vietnamese aged 59+. It also assesses whether the relationship varies by military status during the war - formal military, informal military, or civilian - and whether associations are explained by exposure to violence and malevolent conditions. Data link survey responses from the 2018 Vietnam Health and Aging Study to provincial-wide level bombing intensity using U.S. Department of Defense records from the Theater History of Operations Vietnam database. PTSD measured using nine items from the PTSD Checklist. Analyses employ multivariate logistic quantile regression. Findings examined for a sample of 2290 Vietnamese survivors and a subsample of 736 Vietnamese that moved at least once during wartime. Results show a robust and significant positive association between province-wide bombing intensity and later-life PTSD scores. Interaction effects indicate civilians have overall lower levels of PTSD than those that were in the formal or informal military, but the association between bombing and PTSD is stronger among civilians. Much of the association is a function of exposure to violence and less is a function of exposure to malevolent conditions. Findings confirm earlier studies that have shown severe deleterious impacts of war trauma, and arial bombardments particularly, on long-term psychological health, while extending extant literature to civilian populations living in Vietnam during intense aerial bombing episodes.

Assessing Regional Weather's Impact on Spinal Cord Injury Survivors, Caregivers, and General Public in Miami, Florida.

(1) Background: Climate change is increasing the already frequent diverse extreme weather events (EWE) across geographic locations, directly and indirectly impacting human health. However, current ongoing research fails to address the magnitude of these indirect impacts, including healthcare access. Vulnerable populations such as persons with spinal cord injury (pSCI) face added physiologic burden such as thermoregulation or mobility challenges like closure of public transportation. Our exploratory research assessed commute and transport to healthcare facilities as well as the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors (KAB) of pSCI regarding EWE and climate change when compared to pSCI caregivers (CG) and the general public (GP). (2) Methods: A KAB survey was employed to conduct a cross-sectional assessment of pSCI, CG, and GP in Miami from October through November 2019 using snowball sampling. Descriptive and logistic regression statistical analyses were used. (3) Results: Of 65 eligible survey respondents, 27 (41.5%) were pSCI, 11 (17%) CG, and 27 (41.5%) GP. Overall, pSCI reported EWE, particularly flooding and heavy rain, affecting their daily activities including healthcare appointments, more frequently than CG or GP. The overall models for logistic regression looking at commute to and attendance of healthcare appointments were statistically significant. pSCI self-report being less vulnerable than others, and a large proportion of each group was not fully convinced climate change is happening. (4) Conclusions: This study provided insight to the KAB of 3 population subgroups in Miami, Florida. pSCI are significantly more vulnerable to the effects of regional weather events yet exhibit disproportionate self-perception of their vulnerability. Continued and more comprehensive research is needed to characterize the barriers that vulnerable populations face during weather events.

Quantitative analysis of apparent diffusion coefficients to predict neurological prognosis in cardiac arrest survivors: an observational derivation and internal-external validation study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to validate apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and thresholds to predict poor neurological outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survivors by quantitatively analysing the ADC values via brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: This observational study used prospectively collected data from two tertiary academic hospitals. The derivation cohort comprised 70% of the patients randomly selected from one hospital, whereas the internal validation cohort comprised the remaining 30%. The external validation cohort used the data from another hospital, and the MRI data were restricted to scans conducted at 3 T within 72-96 h after an OHCA experience. We analysed the percentage of brain volume below a specific ADC value at 50-step intervals ranging from 200 to 1200 × 10-6 mm2/s, identifying thresholds that differentiate between good and poor outcomes. Poor neurological outcomes were defined as cerebral performance categories 3-5, 6 months after experiencing an OHCA. RESULTS: A total of 448 brain MRI scans were evaluated, including a derivation cohort (n = 224) and internal/external validation cohorts (n = 96/128, respectively). The proportion of brain volume with ADC values below 450, 500, 550, 600, and 650 × 10-6 mm2/s demonstrated good to excellent performance in predicting poor neurological outcomes in the derivation group (area under the curve [AUC] 0.89-0.91), and there were no statistically significant differences in performances among the derivation, internal validation, and external validation groups (all P > 0.5). Among these, the proportion of brain volume with an ADC below 600 × 10-6 mm2/s predicted a poor outcome with a 0% false-positive rate (FPR) and 76% (95% confidence interval [CI] 68-83) sensitivity at a threshold of > 13.2% in the derivation cohort. In both the internal and external validation cohorts, when using the same threshold, a specificity of 100% corresponded to sensitivities of 71% (95% CI 58-81) and 78% (95% CI 66-87), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this validation study, by consistently restricting the MRI types and timing during quantitative analysis of ADC values in brain MRI, we observed high reproducibility and sensitivity at a 0% FPR. Prospective multicentre studies are necessary to validate these findings.

Factors associated with health behaviours among stroke survivors: A mixed-methods study using COM-B model.

AIMS: To identify factors associated with health behaviours among stroke survivors, through a multi-centre study. DESIGN: A sequential mixed methods design. METHODS: In the quantitative research phase, a total of 350 participants were recruited through multi-stage sampling from December 2022 to June 2023. General information questionnaires, The Stroke Prevention Knowledge Questionnaire (SPKQ), Short Form Health Belief Model Scale (SF-HBMS), Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLPII), and the WHOQOL-BREF (World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire, Brief Version) were distributed across five tertiary hospitals in Henan province, China. For the qualitative research component, semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore the barriers and facilitators of health behaviour. This study adheres to the GRAMMS guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 315 participants (90.0%) completed the survey. Identified barriers to health behaviour included residing in rural areas, higher scores on the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and mRS, as well as lower scores on SPKQ, SF-HBMS and WHOQOL-BREF. Twenty-four individuals participated in qualitative interviews. Twenty-eight themes were identified and categorised by frequency, covering areas such as knowledge, skills, intentions, social influences, social/professional role and identity, environmental context and resources, beliefs about capabilities, beliefs about consequences and behavioural regulation. Both quantitative and qualitative data suggested that health behaviour among stroke survivors is at a moderate level, and the identified barrier factors can be mapped into the COM-B model (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation and Behaviour). CONCLUSION: The study indicates that key barriers to health behaviour among stroke survivors align with the COM-B model. These identified factors should be carefully considered in the planning of future systematic interventions aimed at improving health behaviours among stroke survivors. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Patients were invited to completed questionnaires in the study and semi-structured interviews. The investigators provided explanation of this study' content, purpose and addressed issues during the data collection.

Association of depressive symptom severity and suicidal ideation with health-related quality of life among stroke survivors, NHANES 2005-2018.

Stroke, a critical health issue in the US, not only has physical repercussions but also potentially affects the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) through neuropsychiatric outcomes like depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts. This study utilized a nationally representative sample of 1302 US stroke survivors (age ≥ 20) from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005-2018) to assessed relationships between QoL via the CDC HRQOL-4 and evaluated depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Participants (mean age: 64.4; 56.0 % female) showed that 40.7 % had at least mild depressive symptoms, and 18.8 % exhibited major depressive symptoms. Suicidal ideation was reported by 8.1 %. After sociodemographic and health condition adjustments, mild and major depressive symptoms, along with suicidal ideation, were associated with poorer general health status and more physically and mentally unhealthy days and activity limitation days. A dose-response relationship between PHQ-9 scores and HRQoL outcomes was evident (All P for trend <0.001). Stroke survivors with suicidal ideation also experienced more physically and mentally unhealthy days and activity limitation days. Depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation are associated with reduced HRQoL among US stroke survivors, underscoring the importance of thorough neuropsychiatric evaluations and interventions to bolster stroke survivors' well-being.

Optimizing Rehabilitation Outcomes for Stroke Survivors: The Impact of Speed and Slope Adjustments in Anti-Gravity Treadmill Training.

Background and Objectives: This study explored the efficacy of customized anti-gravity treadmill (AGT) training, with adjustments in speed and incline, on rehabilitation outcomes for stroke patients, focusing on knee extensor muscle strength, joint angle, balance ability, and activities of daily living (ADLs). Materials and Methods: In this study, 30 individuals diagnosed with a stroke were divided into three groups. Experimental group 1 (EG1) underwent training without changes to speed and incline, experimental group 2 (EG2) received training with an increased incline, and experimental group 3 (EG3) underwent training with increased speed. Initially, all participants received AGT training under uniform conditions for two weeks. Subsequently, from the third to the sixth week, each group underwent their specified training intervention. Evaluations were conducted before the intervention and six weeks post-intervention using a manual muscle strength tester for knee strength, TETRAX for balance ability, Dartfish software for analyzing knee angle, and the Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI) for assessing activities of daily living. Results: Within-group comparisons revealed that AGT training led to enhancements in muscle strength, balance ability, joint angle, and ADLs across all participant groups. Between-group analyses indicated that EG2, which underwent increased incline training, demonstrated significant improvements in muscle strength and balance ability over EG1. EG3 not only showed significant enhancements in muscle strength, joint angle, and ADLs when compared to EG1 but also surpassed EG2 in terms of knee strength improvement. Conclusions: In conclusion, the application of customized AGT training positively impacts the rehabilitation of stroke patients, underscoring the importance of selecting a treatment method tailored to the specific needs of each patient.

Predictors of Burden for First-Ever Stroke Survivor's Long-Term Caregivers: A Study of KOSCO.

Long-term changes in caregiver burden should be clarified considering that extended post-stroke disability can increase caregiver stress. We assessed long-term changes in caregiver burden severity and its predictors. This study was a retrospective analysis of the Korean Stroke Cohort for Functioning and Rehabilitation. Patients with an acute first-ever stroke were enrolled from August 2012 to May 2015. Data were collected at 6 months and 6 years after stroke onset. The caregiver burden was measured with a subjective caregiver burden questionnaire based on the Korean version of the Caregiver Burden Inventory. The caregivers' characteristics and patients' clinical and functional status were also examined at each follow-up. A high caregiver burden, which suggests a risk of burnout, was reported by 37.9% and 51.7% of caregivers at 6 months and 6 years post-stroke, respectively. Both the caregiver burden total score and proportion of caregivers at risk of burnout did not decrease between 6 months and 6 years. The patients' disability (OR = 11.60; 95% CI 1.58-85.08; p = 0.016), caregivers' self-rated stress (OR = 0.03; 95% CI 0.00-0.47; p = 0.013), and caregivers' quality of life (OR = 0.76; 95% CI 0.59-0.99; p = 0.042) were burden predictors at 6 months. At 6 years, only the patients' disability (OR = 5.88; 95% CI 2.19-15.82; p < 0.001) and caregivers' psychosocial stress (OR = 1.26; 95% CI 1.10-1.44; p = 0.001) showed significance. Nearly half of the caregivers were at risk of burnout, which lasted for 6 years after stroke onset. The patients' disability and caregivers' stress were burden predictors in both subacute and chronic phases of stroke. The findings suggest that consistent interventions, such as emotional support or counseling on stress relief strategies for caregivers of stroke survivors, may reduce caregiver burden. Further research is needed to establish specific strategies appropriate for Korean caregivers to alleviate their burden in caring for stroke patients.

Why do people get burned? Qualitative analysis of the causes of burns in a large survey of burn survivors.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the national epidemiology of burns is necessary for effective planning of prevention and treatment services. However, epidemiological studies of burns have often focused on short-term and retrospective investigations of a specific group of burned patients in Iran. Therefore, we conduct a comprehensive study from August 2016 to October 2017, in the Burn Research Center of Iran University of Medical Sciences on approximately 1700 hospitalized burn patients at Motahari Hospital to identify the underlying causes of burns. In this study, an open-ended question was asked about how the burn occurred in the patients. The current study was designed and conducted for the qualitatively analyzing of the responses to this question, using the content analysis method, in order to maximize its use in policymaking and prevention. METHODS: Content analysis of written responses to open-ended questions was done as a part of a large questionnaire survey. This survey was conducted by face-to-face interview at a national referral center for burn injuries. RESULTS: Answers from 1595 patients were coded and the underlying causes of injury were categorized into three themes and 43 subthemes. These underlying causes were lack of knowledge and awareness, inappropriate equipment, and inevitable accidents. The underlying cause of lack of knowledge and awareness had the highest proportion in causing burns in both men and women. The most common subthemes in descending order included lack of skills, dangerous actions, improper location of hot liquids, individual mistakes, and improper use of flammable materials. The top five subthemes with the highest average percentage of burn in patients in descending order were deficiency of residential equipment, self-immolation, accidents, inappropriate location of flammable materials, and unsafe kitchen appliances. CONCLUSION: The focus of prevention programs on educating and increasing awareness of individuals, preferably women, is suggested. Educational programs, tailored to occupational standards and workplace and household equipment, are recommended for men in work environments.

Emotional distress, social support, and functional dependence predict readiness for hospital discharge in a prospective sample of cognitively intact cardiac arrest survivors.

AIM: To inform screening, referral and treatment initiatives, we tested the hypothesis that emotional distress, social support, functional dependence, and cognitive impairment within 72 hours prior to discharge predict readiness for discharge in awake and alert cardiac arrest (CA) survivors. METHODS: This was a secondary analysis of a prospective single-center cohort of CA survivors enrolled between 4/2021 and 9/2022. We quantified emotional distress using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-5 and PROMIS Emotional Distress - Anxiety and Depression Short Forms 4a; perceived social support using the ENRICHD Social Support Inventory; functional dependence using the modified Rankin Scale; and cognitive impairment using the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status. Our primary outcome was readiness for discharge, measured using the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale. We used multivariable linear regression to test the independent association of each survivorship factor and readiness for discharge. RESULTS: We included 110 patients (64% male, 88% white, mean age 59 [standard deviation ± 13.1 years]). Emotional distress, functional dependence, and social support were independently associated with readiness for discharge (adjusted ß's [absolute value]: 0.25-0.30, all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Hospital systems should consider implementing routine in-hospital screening for emotional distress, social support, and functional dependence for CA survivors who are awake, alert and approaching hospital discharge, and prioritize brief in hospital treatment or post-discharge referrals.

Patient characteristics associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms in intensive care unit survivors during a one-year follow-up: A multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are at risk of suffering from posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) after ICU survival. OBJECTIVES: To describe the prevalence of high levels of PTSS the first year after ICU admission. Further, to identify specific combinations of patient characteristics (latent classes based on pre-ICU data, demographics, and clinical characteristics), and to investigate possible associations among these classes and PTSS at 3, 6, and 12 months after ICU admission. METHODS: Self-reported PTSS were measured with Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). PTSS and possible predictive factors (pre-ICU data, demographics, and clinical characteristics) were analyzed using descriptive statistics, latent class analysis, and linear mixed model for repeated measures. RESULTS: High PTSS levels (IES-R ≥ 33) were reported by 14.9 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] [10.0; 21.1]), 16.7 % (95 % CI [11.5; 23.1]), and 18.4 % (95 % CI [12.9; 25.0]) of patients (sample 1, n = 174) at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. Three latent classes were identified (sample 2, n = 417). PTSS were significantly associated with class 2 (male with longer hospital stay) at 6 months and class 3 (age≥70, lower level of education, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score, being mechanically ventilated) at all three measurement times. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of high levels of PTSS is the greatest 12 months after ICU admission. Health professionals can use this information to be aware of specific groups of ICU patients reporting PTSS during the first year and follow up on these.

Exposure to Holocaust is associated with chronic morbidity in older adults-Results from national health and nutrition surveys.

BACKGROUND: Although studies have suggested that Holocaust survivors are more likely than their non-Holocaust-exposed counterparts to suffer from mental and chronic morbidity, methodology differences and potential confounders often compromise result replicability and external validity. We examined associations between Holocaust exposure and chronic morbidity, as well as overall risk of mortality. METHODS: Sociodemographic, health-related behavior and nutritional-intake data from two representative National Health and Nutrition Survey Ages 65 and Over-the 2005-2006 MABAT ZAHAV 1 (MZ1) and the 2014-2015 MZ2, including face-to-face interviews and anthropometric measurements-were analyzed. Demographic, health, nutritional and lifestyle characteristics, and exposure to the Holocaust were self-reported. Longitudinal data on overall mortality were obtained by linking the MZ1 population to the population registry dataset. Associations between Holocaust exposure and prevalence of chronic morbidity and risk factors were estimated by multivariable logistic regression analyses, and to risk of overall mortality by Cox regression analysis, both adjusted to significant covariates. RESULTS: Among 2096 study participants aged 75.7 ± 6.1 years, 47.0% male, 518 were Holocaust survivors. In the fully adjusted model, Holocaust exposure was associated with increased prevalence of heart disease (odds ratio [OR] 1.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-1.83), metabolic syndrome (OR 2.28, CI 1.23-4.21), and stroke (OR 1.77, CI 1.17-2.69), but not cancer or osteoporosis. Holocaust exposure did not substantially affect the overall risk of mortality (hazard ratio 1.10, CI 0.92-1.32). CONCLUSIONS: Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms governing long-term outcomes of exposure to acute physical or mental trauma.

Lived Experiences Among Critically Ill and Near-Death Survivors Relating to the COVID-19 Infection: A Phenomenological Study.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in severe illnesses worldwide. Around 655.5 million cases were having been confirmed, including 6.6 million deaths. The extreme cases experienced near death in the intensive care unit (ICU). This study explored the survivors' experience of being near death while critically ill with the infection. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive phenomenological study was employed. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 14 participants from Northeastern Thailand. Content analysis was applied by using Creswell's strategy. RESULTS: Four themes emerged: (a) anxiety and fear of dying alone, (b) environmental chaos, (c) using Thai Buddhist teaching in coping, and (d) returning from the brink of death. Moreover, the patients felt great gratitude and were grateful to the health care team. DISCUSSION: Traumas experienced by patients in the ICU included physical and psychological distress, coping strategies, and an understanding of cultural awareness. CONCLUSION: Psychological and culturally congruent care should be implemented for patients in the ICU.

Fertility Potential and Gonadal Function in Survivors of Reduced-Intensity Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

The use of reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) regimens has increased in an effort to minimize hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) end-organ toxicity, including gonadal toxicity. We aimed to describe the incidence of fertility potential and gonadal function impairment in adolescent and young adult survivors of HCT and to identify risk factors (including conditioning intensity) for impairment. We performed a multi-institutional, international retrospective cohort study of patients age 10 to 40 years who underwent first allogeneic HCT before December 1, 2019, and who were alive, in remission, and available for follow-up at 1 to 2 years post-HCT. For females, an AMH level of ≥.5 ng/mL defined preserved fertility potential; an AMH level of ≥.03 ng/mL was considered detectable. Gonadal failure was defined for females as an elevated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level >30 mIU/mL with an estradiol (E2) level <17 pg/mL or current use of hormone replacement therapy (regardless of specific indication or intent). For males, gonadal failure was defined as an FSH level >10.4 mIU/mL or current use of hormone replacement therapy. A total of 326 patients (147 females) were available for analysis from 17 programs (13 pediatric, 4 adult). At 1 to 2 years post-HCT, 114 females (77.6%) had available FSH and E2 levels and 71 (48.3%) had available AMH levels. FSH levels were reported for 125 males (69.8%). Nearly all female HCT recipients had very low levels of AMH. One of 45 (2.2%) recipients of myeloablative conditioning (MAC) and four of 26 (15.4%) recipients of reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) (P = .06) had an AMH ≥.5 ng/m, and 8 of 45 MAC recipients (17.8%) and 12 of 26 RIC recipients (46.2%) (P = .015) had a detectable AMH level. Total body irradiation (TBI) dose and cyclophosphamide equivalent dose (CED) were not associated with detectable AMH. The incidence of female gonadal hormone failure was 55.3%. In univariate analysis, older age at HCT was associated with greater likelihood of gonadal failure (median age, 17.6 versus 13.9; P < .0001), whereas conditioning intensity (RIC versus MAC), TBI, chronic graft-versus-host disease requiring systemic therapy, and CED were not significantly associated with gonadal function. In multivariable analysis, age remained statistically significant (odds ratio [OR]. 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03 to 1.22) for each year increase; P = .012), Forty-four percent of the males had gonadal failure. In univariate analysis, older age (median, 16.2 years versus 14.4 years; P = .0005) and TBI dose (P = .002) were both associated with gonadal failure, whereas conditioning intensity (RIC versus MAC; P = .06) and CED (P = .07) were not statistically significant. In multivariable analysis, age (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.06-1.27 for each year increase; P = .0016) and TBI ≥600 cGy (OR, 6.23; 95% CI, 2.21 to 19.15; P = .0008) remained significantly associated with gonadal failure. Our data indicate that RIC does not significantly mitigate the risk for gonadal failure in females or males. Age at HCT and (specifically in males) TBI use seem to be independent predictors of post-transplantation gonadal function and fertility status. All patients should receive pre-HCT infertility counseling and be offered appropriate fertility preservation options and be screened post-HCT for gonadal failure.