Omega-3 supplements in the prevention and treatment of youth depression and anxiety symptoms: A scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: Omega-3 supplements may be efficacious in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in adults, particularly as an adjunct to antidepressant medication. However, research in young people is limited. Thus, this scoping review aimed to summarise existing evidence on the efficacy of omega-3 supplementation in treating depression and anxiety symptoms in young people aged 14-24. A secondary aim was to determine whether grey literature intended for the general public accurately reflects the evidence. METHOD: Four databases (Cochrane CENTRAL, EmBASE, PsycINFO, PubMed) were searched from inception to 4th August 2021. Eligible peer-reviewed studies were empirical studies which examined the efficacy of omega-3 supplements in preventing/treating anxiety and/or depression symptoms in young people aged 14-24. Risk of bias was assessed for randomised studies using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Selected grey literature databases were also searched, with eligible sources assessed for quality. A stakeholder group including young people with lived experience of anxiety/depression, parents/carers and mental health professionals informed the research questions and data interpretation. Findings were summarised using narrative synthesis. RESULTS: 17 empirical studies (N = 1240 participants) meeting inclusion criteria were identified. Studies varied in treatment and participant characteristics. In general, the data did not support the view that omega-3 supplements were efficacious in improving symptoms of anxiety or depression in young people aged 14-24. In contrast, most grey literature sources recommended the use of omega-3 supplements in young people. DISCUSSION: Evidence for efficacy of omega-3 supplementation in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in young people was inconclusive. More research is needed to identify potential mechanisms and moderators of the effect of omega-3 supplements on depression and anxiety symptoms in young people.

COVID-19 and Dr. Google: Parents' changing experience using online health information about their children's health during the pandemic.

AIMS: To identify how the COVID-19 pandemic influences parents' use of the internet, including social media, when seeking health-related information about the pandemic relevant to their children. METHODS: This study employed semi-structured interviews to explore the factors affecting parents of young children when information-seeking online about their children's health related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents of children with and without chronic health conditions were interviewed in July and August 2020. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, then analysed using theoretical thematic analysis, based on Social Cognitive Theory. RESULTS: Through interviews with 13 parents, we identified a myriad of factors that affected parents' internet searching. The decision to access online health information and the regulation of its usage was multifaceted and relied upon the interactions between environmental triggers and parents' information needs, personal attitudes, and circumstances. Overall, parents felt supported by online health information during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the majority were confident in their ability to navigate the plethora of online health information. However, parents of children with chronic conditions had unmet information needs in relation to COVID-19 and their children's condition. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding parents' attitudes and behaviours when seeking online health information that is relevant to their children during a global pandemic can inform the optimisation of online health content delivery to parents.

Gender Difference in Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Outcomes Following the Survival of Acute Coronary Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that women with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are less likely to receive in-hospital care such as revascularisation procedures and secondary prevention medications. Therefore, the aim was to determine if the rate of secondary preventive care and outcomes also differ by sex in patients with ACS at 6 and 12 months after discharge. METHODS: Of ACS patients recruited from 43 hospitals between 2009 to 2018, 9,283 were discharged alive and followed up at 6 months as part of the Cooperative National Registry of Acute Coronary Care, Guideline Adherence and Clinical Events (CONCORDANCE) registry. Multivariable logistic regression models within the framework of generalised estimating equations were used to compare the rate of medication use, smoking, cardiac rehabilitation participation, major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE: myocardial infarction, heart failure or stroke) and all-cause death at 6 and 12 months after discharge between female and male patients. RESULTS: Of 9,283 ACS patients, 2,676 (29%) were women. At 6-month post discharge, women were more likely to have comorbidities than men. After adjusting for clinical characteristics, women had lower odds of attending cardiac rehabilitation than men (OR [95% CI]: 0.87 [0.78, 0.98]) and no sex difference in the odds of using ≥75% of the indicated medications or smoking. Women had higher odds of having a MACE compared to men (1.35 [1.03, 1.77]) but there was no difference for all-cause death between women and men. Moreover, at 12 months after discharge, women were less likely to be on ≥75% of the indicated medications (0.84 [0.75, 0.95]) but no difference was found in the odds of smoking, MACE and all-cause death. CONCLUSION: Our findings from a large contemporary Australian registry dataset suggest that women attend cardiac rehabilitation programs less often and are more likely to have a MACE at 6 months of surviving ACS. At 12 months post discharge, women were less likely to use the indicated secondary prevention medications. Development of effective secondary prevention methods tailored to women are needed.