Predictors of depression: lifestyle choices during the pandemic.

Our study intends to specify the impact of the singular pandemic stressors on the population and also quantify the contribution of different predictors of depression; some of them are stronger than others, and this research shows how the whole effect is divided into single items. This research included a structured online survey using data from 11,340 respondents from six European countries during the first months of the pandemic. The statistical analysis focused on how behavioural patterns appear in different groups of the population and how they mark the psychological wellbeing of these groups with regard to various factors. We targeted social media's role and analyzed the impact of its consumption on symptoms of depression in different groups divided by age and other characteristics. The analysis creates a mosaic of lifestyle choices and other characteristics that manifest different effects on depression inside selected groups whereas several groups generated by the cluster analysis are less vulnerable to their effect than others. Regarding our findings, the perceived reality through information sources and the manner of their processing seems to be more significant than the tangible reality (poor self-reported health correlated with depression more strongly than intrinsic health limitations).

Health-related behavioral changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. A comparison between cohorts of French and Italian university students.

This cross-sectional observational study compares the health behaviors of university students in France and Italy, examining how their choices and lifestyles were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with the aim of contributing to the development of adequate public health and higher education institutions interventions. The French cohort was investigated between January and February 2022, while the Italian cohort was examined between March and April 2022. In both contexts, data were collected through web surveys using institutional directories of university degree programs. Data were collected using standardized tools, validated and recovered in full or partial form. The tool used consisted of three specific sections (general experience, eating habits, physical activity), to which a fourth, dedicated to describing the sociographic picture of the respondents, was added. It was found that the pandemic mainly affected the mental health and sense of well-being of young people in both countries. The pandemic altered dietary habits (41.8% of the French subjects and 38.3% of the Italians declared an increasing of their food intake), alcohol consumption (9.0% of the Italian respondents and 4.0% of the French respondents reported an increased alcohol consumption), propensity to smoke (among the French 85.3% subjects remained non-smokers versus 65.3% of the Italian subjects), sleep quality (25.7% of Italian students 16.6% of French students experienced a decline in the quality of their sleep), and physical activity levels (the percentage of physically active French subjects rose to 72.4%, whereas among Italian students, it dropped to 68,4%). The results emphasize the need for the implementation of relational and psychological interventions, even digital, to face the consequences of social isolation and negative changes in everyday behaviors due to the restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Is hybrid cardiac rehabilitation superior to traditional cardiac rehabilitation?

BACKGROUND: The current COVID-19 pandemic imposes changes in the management of cardiac pathologies. Cardiac rehabilitation needs to define new protocols to welcome patients back. In connection with the observations of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology, the choice of cardiac tele-rehabilitation appeared to be unavoidable. AIM: This retrospective research based on data from the Program for the Medicalisation of Information Systems (PMSI) and the electronic medical record analyzes the effect of Hybrid Cardiac Rehabilitation. METHODS: One hundred and ninety-two patients (29 females and 163 males) with an average of 56.9 years old (±10.3) were able to benefit from a Hybrid Cardiac Rehabilitation program. The data concerning the Stress Test and the Wall Squat Test were collected. RESULTS: We have noticed that patients had improved their cardiorespiratory capacity on the initial and final Stress Test 6.6 (±1.8) MET to 8.2 (±1.9) MET (p < 0.0001). We also found that patients improved lower limb muscle strength 75.1 (±44.8) seconds to 105.7 (±49.7) seconds (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Hybrid Cardiac Rehabilitation protocols can be set up in this pandemic situation. The programme effectiveness appears to be comparable to the traditional model. However, additional studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of this programme in the long term.

Resistance strategy to ageism-based frailty in Italian older women in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between resistance to ageism-based frailty (A-BF) and physical activity (PA) and sport in a cohort of women, aged 65 and older, living in Central Italy. The study was conducted in the spring of 2021 when rigorous COVID-19 containment measures were in force across Italy. A quanti-qualitative investigation was carried out in the cohort. A questionnaire to evaluate older women's engagement in (PA) and sport was administered and subsequently semi-structured phone interviews with those subjects who were found to be physically active were conducted to evaluate their forms of resistance to the crisis. A total number of 88 subjects responded and participated in the survey. Two tools were used to determine the study outcomes in the quantitative investigation. An altered version of Godin and Shephard's Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GSLTPAQ) was used to evaluate the engagement of women in PA and sport. Moreover, subjects' motivation to exercise was evaluated when they completed the survey using the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-2), a tool that assesses exercise regulation according to the Self-Determination Theory (SDT) framework. The active women resulting from the quantitative investigation were then interviewed in the qualitative investigation, using an interview grid. In the quantitative investigation it was found that PA is correlated with autonomy. Identified and intrinsic regulations prevail in women who are engaged in medium or high PA, vice-versa external regulation, introjected regulation and amotivation prevail in women who are engaged in insufficient PA or who are sedentary. In the qualitative investigation it was found that the participants experienced ambivalence, conflicts and crises at multiple levels (individual, interpersonal and institutional), generating contrasting feelings, which they faced by developing an active, peaceful and silent form of resistance by caring for their bodies and minds engaging in PA and sport.

The Effect of Social Isolation on Physical Activity during the COVID-19 Pandemic in France.

The objective of this cross-sectional study is to analyze the changes in physical activity (PA) practice of a sample of 2099 French adults, mostly females, who answered an online questionnaire during the first COVID-19 lockdown (March-May 2020). A descriptive analysis of participants was performed using relative frequencies. Chi-squared tests were performed to compare the responses of selected variables. Multinomial logistic regressions were performed to compare the variations of PA with all the variables identified. The age of participants ranged from 18 to 88. Among people who practiced PAs before the first lockdown, the probability to keep practicing PAs is higher among those with a lower level of education, among housewives and retirees and among those who lived in cities of 10,000-19,999 inhabitants. For those who did not practice PAs before the social distancing, the probability of starting to practice is greater in those with a lower level of education and for those who suffered from a chronic disease. Our results place the emphasis on the complexity and multifactoriality of the changes that emerged during the first lockdown. The "education" factor emerges, as a significant determinant of PA that should certainly be explored further.

Outdoor Physical Activity During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic. A Comparative Analysis of Government Restrictions in Italy, France, and Germany.

Introduction: Mandated restrictions on outdoor physical activity (PA) during the coronavirus pandemic disrupted the lifeworld of millions of people and led to a contradictory situation. On the one hand, PA was perceived as risky behaviour, as it might facilitate transmission of the virus. On the other hand, while taking precautions, regular PA was an important tool to promote the population's health during the lockdown. Methods: This paper examines the differences in government restrictions on PA in France, Germany, and Italy during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. We draw on techniques of qualitative content analysis and apply a critical theoretical framework to assess the countries' restrictions on PA. Results: Our analysis shows that the restrictions on PA varied in the three countries, in all three countries. This variance is attributed both to differences in the timing and severity of the pandemic in the countries analysed, as well as to the divergence in the relationships between the countries' sport and health systems. Conclusion: At the national level, the variance in restrictions on PA reflect the differences in the spread of the coronavirus and in the health systems' understanding of and approach to PA. The global scientific discourse on the pandemic represents a further key influencing factor. The management of the coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated that the extreme complexity of societies in terms of public health, politics, and the economy pose challenges and unsolvable contradictions.

[Care and follow-up of cardiovascular disease in women]. / Prise en charge et suivi de la pathologie cardio-vasculaire chez la femme.

The condition of women has vastly improved over recent decades: respect of equality, better salary conditions and health status. Although women, like men, are living longer, certain differences in care are emerging. This survey studies the characteristics of women's cardiovascular health, especially in terms of treatment and follow-up.

Neuroenhancement in French and Romanian University Students, Motivations and Associated Factors.

This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the use of neuroenhancers, the motivations and factors associated with their use in French and Romanian university students. Students from two universities in France (Rouen and Opal Coast University) and one in Romania (Cluj-Napoca) were asked to complete a self-administered anonymous questionnaire, either online or on paper, about the use of three different categories of substance: Prescription drugs (methylphenidate, modafinil, and beta-blockers), drugs of abuse (alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, and amphetamines), and soft enhancers (coffee, vitamins, caffeine tablets, and energy drinks). In total, 1110 students were included: The users were 2.2% for prescription drugs, 4.3% for drugs of abuse, and 55.0% for soft enhancers. Students used neuroenhancement to stay awake for study (69.3%), to improve concentration (55.5%), to decrease stress (40.9%), and to improve memory (39.6%). Neuroenhancement was considered to meet expectations by 74.4% of users. The factors associated with the use of drugs of abuse were frequent binge drinking (Adjusted Odds Ratio-AOR: 6.49 [95% CI: 2.53-16.6]), smoking (AOR: 5.50 [95% CI: 2.98-10.14]), having a student job (AOR: 2.42 [95% CI 1.13-5.17]), and being male (AOR: 2.23 [95% CI:1.21-4.11]). No significant associations with eating disorders were detected for any of the three categories of substances. University students reported neuroenhancement with prescription drugs, drugs of abuse, and mainly soft enhancers. These substances were used mainly to increase the waking hours. Educational programs in universities seem to be required in order to increase student awareness of the problems caused by neuroenhancements, and to decrease the associated risks by changing students' attitudes and beliefs.

Estimated physical fitness and sociability: an interdisciplinary pilot study among French students.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this pilot study is to explore the main social factors influencing estimated physical fitness. METHODS: During the academic year of 2014/2015, 909 students from two French universities of the Hauts-de-France region completed a study including standardized anonymous self-reported questionnaires. Data were related to age, sex, social class, physical activity, social life and sociability. Physical fitness estimation was assessed through a validated VO2max questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 749 17- to 24-year-old students were included. The mean age was 19.58. The sample was composed mainly of girls (59.68%). The mean estimated VO2max was 39.30±2.29 for males and 32.79±2.56 for girls. Some significant dependence and risk factors were found between estimated PF and some sociocultural aspects. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows the importance of the socialization environment. The role, the age and the employment status of the parents are significant as they are a reference for the practice of sports and physical activities. The level of independence and sociability is strongly correlated to estimated physical fitness. These findings stress the need to develop a more holistic study, based on comprehensive and interdisciplinary approaches.

[Utility of the 6-minute walk test in assessing maintenance of physical activity after cardiac rehabilitation]. / Utilité du test de marche de 6 minutes comme outil d'évaluation de la poursuite de l'activité physique après une rééducation réadaptation cardiovasculaire.

Evaluation of therapeutic patient education (TPE) is an integral part of cardiac rehabilitation programs. An important component of this involves assessing continued physical activity (PA) after rehabilitation. Few tools are available to assess the maintenance of physical activity, and we argue that use of a field test like the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) can provide some useful indicators. Objective: to study the utility of the 6MWT as a tool for assessing maintenance of PA in post-rehabilitation follow-up. Methods: we conducted a retrospective study of 168 patients (133 men and 35 women) with a mean age of 60.65 years (+/-9.7). First, we analyzed the data from a stress test (ST) and a 6MWT at the beginning and end of rehabilitation. We then analyzed the data from a 6MWT and an International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) performed six months after the end of rehabilitation. Results: there was a significant correlation between the 6MWT and the initial and final ST (r=0.5456, p<0.001 for the initial ST, r= 0.604, p<0.001 for the final ST), confirming the validity of using this test in cardiac rehabilitation. We observed a slight correlation between the 6MWT and the IPAQ (r=0.3923, p<0.001) six months post-rehabilitation. The IPAQ results show that patients with a significant level of physical activity during the week maintain their 6MWT distance. Conclusion: the 6MWT is a reliable test in cardiac rehabilitation. It can be used in conjunction with the IPAQ to assess patient adherence to physical activity guidelines in post-rehabilitation follow-up.

[A therapeutic patient education health network for cardiovascular disease]. / Un réseau de santé pour l'éducation thérapeutique en cas de pathologies cardiovasculaires.

Therapeutic patient education (TPE) for those suffering from cardiovascular disease forms an important part of the management of risk factors. It must be continued throughout the course of the disease. The creation of a health network focused on TPE facilitates the emergence of healthier lifestyle habits and improves the care management of these patients.

Nutritional status and eating disorders among medical students from the Cluj-Napoca University centre.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The nutritional disorders are modifiable predisposing factors of the current leading causes of morbidity and premature mortality, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancers. An early recognition of appropriate interventions could decrease the burden of medical costs and increase the healthy life expectancy. The aims of our study were the description of nutritional status, its associated factors, and the detection of eating disorders among Romanian medical students of the "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted during the 2015-2016 academic year, including medical students from all study years, by an online questionnaire. The statistics, both descriptive and inferential, were calculated using EpiInfo. RESULTS: A total of 222 students from the University Romanian section were included, with a sex-ratio (men:women) of 0.22. The average body mass index of the medical students included was 21.3±3.3 kg/m2, for females it was 20.7±3 kg/m2 and for males 23.9±3.1 kg/m2. For the nutritional disorders such as overweight, the prevalence among males (30%) had a net predominance (p<0.001) over females (4.4%), while for underweight, it was prevalent only for female students (20.3%). Overweight was associated with low academic performance (odds ratio (OR)=7.2; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1-53.94), smoking (OR=2.4; 95% CI: 1-5.76) and binge drinking (OR=3; 95% CI: 1.26-7.25). Eating disorders were reported by 25.7% of the students and were significantly more prevalent in students in the second academic study cycle (47.4%; 95% CI: 34.7-60.3%) and in students with jobs (7%; 95% CI: 2.3-16.1%). CONCLUSIONS: In this survey, two different distribution models of nutritional disorders for both genders were identified, with the predominance of overweight among men. Eating disorders were more prevalent among students in the second study cycle and those with jobs at the same time.

[Physical activity of students: prevalence and profiles of associated risk behaviours]. / Activité physique chez les étudiants : prévalence et profils de comportements à risque associés.

More than 40% of students do not practice any PA. These results highlight the need for a better understanding to develop intervention strategies for students, based on new public health approaches. The contribution of social and physical environmental factors to changes in PA needs to be further explored. .