The Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) assesses central sensitization-related symptoms, but its 25-item length may limit its use in large-scale research or routine clinical practice. Therefore, the aim was to develop a short version of the CSI, using a large international sample of 7862 participants across 23 countries. A multi-step Rasch analysis was applied to the 25-item version of the CSI using a training-validation paradigm to identify the subset of items that best fit a unidimensional model. Then, an expert committee reviewed the face-content validity of each item. A 7-item solution was ultimately developed (Chi-Square Value = 794.728, df = 20; p-value < 0.001; CFI = 0.96; TLI = 0.96; RMSEA = 0.09, 90%CI [0.09-0.10]; SRMR= 0.05). Internal consistency was adequate for both the CSI-25 (α = 0.93; ω = 0.93) and CSI-7 (α = 0.85; ω = 0.85). Both versions demonstrated strong discriminative validity in identifying subgroups with presumed different levels of central sensitization-related symptoms. As expected, CSI-25 and CSI-7 scores increased progressively from healthy control participants (who scored lowest) to single-site non-spinal chronic pain, chronic spinal pain, multi-site chronic pain, and fibromyalgia (who scored highest). CSI-7 Receiver Operating Characteristic curves showed excellent sensitivity and specificity, particularly in differentiating fibromyalgia from healthy control participants (area under the curve = 0.98; sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 93%). CSI-7 severity levels were empirically derived to aid clinical interpretation. To sum up, the CSI-7 offers an efficient, unidimensional, and internally consistent alternative to the CSI-25 for international use. PERSPECTIVE: The CSI-7 offers a brief, clinically useful screening tool for identifying central sensitization-related symptoms across diverse pain conditions. Derived from international data, it retains the psychometric strength of the full CSI while reducing patient burden, supporting efficient assessment in busy clinical and research settings.
INTRODUCTION:COVID-19 severely disrupted labor markets and living conditions, intensifying job precariousness and material deprivation. We examined whether pre-pandemic mental health conditions predicted socio-economic adversity during the first pandemic year and whether resilience buffered changes in mental health. METHODS:We analyzed a nationally representative longitudinal cohort of Spanish adults assessed in two assessments: November 2019 (T0, pre-pandemic) and November-December 2020 (T1). Major depressive episode (MDE), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB) were assessed at T0; job precariousness and material deprivation were measured at T1. Weighted multivariable regression models tested (i) associations between T0 mental health and T1 socio-economic adversity and (ii) associations between T1 adversity and changes in mental health symptoms, including resilience interactions. RESULTS:Pre-pandemic GAD and STB were associated with higher odds of job precariousness during the pandemic, whereas MDE was not significant after adjustment. Job precariousness was associated with small reductions in depressive, anxiety, and STB symptoms, while material deprivation was associated with increased depressive symptoms; higher resilience attenuated the deprivation-depression association. CONCLUSIONS:Pre-existing anxiety and suicide-related symptoms may identify individuals more likely to report job precariousness during socio-economic shocks. Preventing material deprivation and strengthening resilience may help reduce downstream depressive burden during crises.
Diagnostic methods in psychiatry often rely on categorical approaches, such as the skip-out procedure, which conditionally assesses symptoms based on prior responses. This study evaluates how assessment methods influence the prevalence of depressive symptoms and Major Depressive Episode (MDE), comparing the skip-out approach with a sequential assessment that evaluates all symptoms independently. It also examines how assessment method affects symptom associations and explores the relationship between self-perceived mental health and symptom count. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 2005 Spanish adults using a self-administered online version of the WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) 3.0. MDE prevalence, symptom frequencies, and associations were compared between skip-out and sequential assessments. Odds ratios with 95 % confidence intervals analyzed symptom associations with MDE, while intercorrelations and self-perceived mental health ratings were evaluated by symptom count. The skip-out method identified only 25 % of the cases detected by the sequential assessment (102 vs. 407), indicating a 75 % reduction in the detected MDE cases. Core symptoms like sadness and anhedonia were more strongly associated with MDE under skip-out, whereas non-core symptoms were better captured by sequential assessment. Sadness and concentration difficulties showed the strongest links to impairment. Over half of individuals reporting five or more symptoms rated their mental health as good or excellent. These results suggest that clinical and epidemiological assessments should consider the use of skip-out logic, as it may substantially underestimate depression prevalence and diversity. Improving assessment strategies may enhance early detection, reduce underdiagnosis, and support more tailored public health interventions.
INTRODUCTION:Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a prevalent and debilitating condition. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can improve coping mechanisms for CLBP and pain-related outcomes. However, the mechanisms by which they do so remain undetermined. We explored the neural correlates of CLBP symptoms and CBT action using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in women with CLBP and comorbid depression. METHODS:Forty individuals underwent fMRI followed by 8 weeks of either treatment as usual (TAU) or one of two CBT in addition to TAU: acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) or behavioral activation treatment for depression (BATD). Pain intensity, depression, psychological inflexibility, and pain catastrophizing scores were obtained at baseline and follow-up. Functional connectivity (FC) patterns of the salience network (SN), sensorimotor network (SMN), and the mesolimbic pathway (MLP), derived from resting-state fMRI examination were correlated with both baseline and delta (baseline-follow-up) pain-related psychological measures. RESULTS:Individuals receiving ACT and BATD showed reduced depression, psychological inflexibility, and pain catastrophizing. Strong baseline connectivity of the SN and SMN corresponded with higher pain intensity, but strong connectivity of the MLP and precuneus corresponded with lower pain intensity. Pain intensity changes correlated with mesolimbic-salience connectivity following ACT, and with sensorimotor connectivity following BATD. Specifically, stronger baseline FC between the MLP and posterior insula predicted greater pain intensity reduction with ACT, while stronger FC between the SMN and secondary somatosensory cortex predicted greater pain intensity reduction with BATD. FC of the SN correlated with changes in psychological inflexibility across both therapies. CONCLUSIONS:We illustrate the potential of FC as a biomarker of CLBP plus depression and the response to CBT. Our data suggest ACT and BATD have differing underlying brain mechanisms. These findings indicate that FC biomarkers could guide personalized treatment, improving individual outcomes.
PURPOSE:This study investigates associations of childhood adversities (CAs) with lifetime prevalence, 12-month prevalence, and 12-month persistence of mental disorders in a large cross-national sample of university students. METHODS:Data came from epidemiologic surveys carried out by the World Mental Health International College Student (WMH-ICS)Initiative across 18 countries (n=60,719). The web-based surveys screened for lifetime and 12-month prevalence and age-of-onset of common DSM-5 disorders (Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar I/II Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Alcohol and Drug Use disorders, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) and five types of CAs (family dysfunction, emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect). Multivariable Poisson regression models estimated associations of CA type, number, and frequency with disorders. RESULTS:The majority of incoming students reported exposure to at least one CA (64.9%), including 50.0 % family dysfunction, 42.2 % emotional abuse, 21.2 % physical abuse, 18.8 % neglect, and 5.0 % sexual abuse. Lifetime and 12-month disorders were significantly associated with CAs in multivariable models, although associations with disorder persistence were weaker. Population attributable risk proportions of 12-month disorders associated with CAs were in the range of 40.7-61.0 % for anxiety and mood disorders and 13.5-55.2 % for substance use disorders. CONCLUSION:Six out of ten university students arrive at university having been exposed to CAs. These students have substantially higher risk of mental disorders than other students, primarily due to associations with lifetime risk rather than persistence. Given the considerable distress and impairment caused by mental disorders, these results underscore the need for primary and secondary prevention efforts.
Numerous studies suggest that subjects suffering from a mental health condition before the COVID-19 pandemic were at higher risk of contagion, but mostly are cross-sectional or retrospective. The BIOVAL-D-COVID-19 is a longitudinal cohort study design with 922 subjects who full filled two evaluations from an online survey of Spanish residents before and during the pandemic. Mental health conditions assessed were: Major Depressive Episode (MDE), Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours (STB) and subthreshold of panic and bipolar disorder (BD). Mental health screening instruments used were: the Spanish version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) version 3.0 for the evaluation of MDE, the GAD-7 scale to evaluate GAD; STB was evaluated with four items from the CIDI questionnaire. Panic Disorder and BD were screened from a modified and self-reported version of the CIDI. A bivariate plus five logistic regression models were developed for each mental health condition adjusted by socio-demographic variables; employment status; general and physical health; comorbidity; and including all previous variables and the other mental health conditions. We found in bivariate model that MDE; GAD and STB were statistically significant risk factors of contagion of COVID-19. The logistic regression models developed reveal that having a previous GAD (aOR 3.30 1.31-8.31) or STB (aOR 2.16 CI 95% 1.01-4.62) was statistically significant associated with COVID-19 contagion, independently of all variables included. MDE was not a risk factor of contagion when it was adjusted by comorbidity (aOR 0.99 CI 95% 0.47-2.09). It is recommended to detect those subjects with previous GAD or STB as vulnerable groups of infection to reduce contagion rates.
BackgroundPeople living with HIV (PLWH) face structural and psychosocial factors that affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We aimed to evaluate how syndemic conditions affected HRQoL in PLWH.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 861 PLWH, to determine whether syndemic conditions (monthly income; sexual satisfaction; depressive symptoms; social role satisfaction; social isolation; cognitive function; nicotine dependence; perception of stigma) have an effect on HRQoL. A linear regression model and measures of Additive Interaction (AI) were used to determine the effects of syndemic conditions on HRQoL, controlling for other risk factors.ResultsOverall, the most frequently observed were stigma perception (56.9%), poor cognitive function (50.6%) and the perception of social isolation (51.6%). The presence of depressive symptoms was the risk factor most associated with worse Physical Health (PH) (B 3.93, 2.71-5.15) and Mental Health (MH) (B 5.08, 3.81-6.34) in linear regression model. Specifically, an interaction was observed between poor cognitive function and poor satisfaction with social role on worse PH and MH (AI 2.08, 0.14-4.02; AI 2.69, 0.15-5.22, respectively); and low income and perception of stigma (AI 2.98, 0.26-5.71), low income and perception of social isolation (AI 2.79, 0.27-5.32), and low income and poor satisfaction with social role (AI 3.45, 0.99-5.91) on MH.ConclusionThese findings provide evidence that syndemic factors impact HRQoL. HIV prevention programs should screen and address co-occurring health problems to improve patient-centered health care and outcomes.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the political and health measures have profoundly affected the health of our populations. However, very few studies have been published assessing its impact using a prospective cohort. The aim of this study is to describe the impact on physical and mental health due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the general population in Spain, and according to COVID-19 clinical status, during the first year of the pandemic. A longitudinal cohort study with two online surveys were performed on a representative sample of the adult Spanish population before (N = 2005, October/November 2019) and during the pandemic (N = 1357, November/December 2020). We assessed disability using the World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS), major depressive episode (MDE) and suicidal thoughts and behaviours (STB), using an adapted version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 3.0); generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) using the GAD-7 scale; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms using the PTSD checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). For physical health, there was a statistically significant loss of weight (mean/SD) (T0, 73.22/15.56 vs. T1, 71.21/11.94), less use of tobacco (T0, 11.4% vs. T1, 9.0%) and decreased disability (mean/SD) (T0, 21.52/9.22 vs. T1, 19.03/7.32). For mental health, there was a significant increase in MDE (T0, 6.5% vs. T1, 8.8%) and in the prevalence of GAD (T0, 13.7% vs. T1, 17.7%). The prevalence of STB (T0, 15.1% vs. T1, 7.1%) significantly decreased. Individuals who declared they had been diagnosed with COVID-19 (3.6%) showed a worsening in physical health and an increase in mental health problems and PTSD symptoms. Although suicide risk during the first year of the pandemic was significantly less, many suicide risk factors increased: such as the incidence and persistence of MDE and GAD, the presence of PTSD symptoms in those diagnosed with COVID-19, and a worsening in self-assessed health status. We expect an increase in STB in the population in the long-term. Future research should gather information about the long-term impact of the pandemic.
Depressive symptoms are common among people living with HIV (PLWH). The aim of this study was to identify the determinants of depressive symptoms in PLWH in Spain. A total of 1060 PLWH participated in this cross-sectional study and completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The odds ratios for the presence of depressive symptoms were analyzed in a multivariable logistic regression model, including sociodemographic data, comorbidities, health-related behaviors, and social-environment-related variables. We found an overall prevalence of depressive symptoms of 21.42%; by subgroup, namely men, women, and transgender persons, prevalence was 18.13%, 32.81%, and 37.14%, respectively. Moreover, social isolation (OR = 1.05 [CI, 1.02–1.08]) and poor physical and mental quality of life (OR = 1.06 [CI, 1.02–1.09] and OR = 1.13 [CI, 1.09–1.17], respectively) were associated with depressive symptoms. As protective factors, we identified serodisclosure to more people (vs. none; OR = 0.39 [CI, 0.17–0.87]), satisfaction with social roles (OR = 0.86 [CI, 0.79–0.94]), better cognitive function (OR = 0.92 [CI, 0.89–0.95]), and sexualized drug use once in a lifetime (OR = 0.52 [CI, 0.29–0.93]). This study showed a high prevalence of depressive symptoms in PLWH, especially among women and transgender people. The association between psychosocial variables and depressive symptoms highlights the multidimensionality of the problem and identifies areas for intervention. This study found that the management of mental health issues is an area that needs to be improved and tailored to specific groups, with the aim of enhancing the well-being of PLWH.
Objective: The objective of the study is to assess the health status of immigrant men and women from non-EU countries living in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain) and to identify the social determinants of health from a gender perspective. Method: Cross-sectional analysis from a cohort of immigrant families recruited in Badalona and Santa Coloma de Gramenet, in Spain (PELFI cohort). In 2015-2016, 167 immigrants answered the baseline epidemiological questionnaire and the 5-level EuroQol instrument (EQ-5D) which measures health status. To identify health determinants, Tobit models were constructed to the EQ-5D index. Results: Women rated poorer self-perceived health (p = 0.005). To be diagnosed with and illness was only associated with poor self-perceived health among men (p < 0.05). Length of residence, domestic work, and especially double workload deteriorated women's health. After adjusting models by demographics and social determinants, permanent administrative status (-0.136; p = 0.015) and social support (0.182; p = 0.02) were associated with health status in both sexes. To have a job was associated with better health only in men. Conclusions: Non-EU immigrants living in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona are a socially vulnerable group of population and present inequalities in health by sex. Social support and occupation are key factors of their health status. Interventions to reduce immigrant vulnerabilities and inequalities in health should promote their social inclusion and cohesion from a gender perspective. (C) 2021 SESPAS. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U.
Identifying major depression in children and adolescents is more challenging than in adults. Questionnaires are often used for screening or guiding clinical assessment. Several instruments of different lengths are used as equivalent measures in diagnostic decisions. In this paper, we explore to what extent 18 commonly used depression scales for children and adolescents explore depression clinical symptoms as established by standard DSM-5 diagnosis criteria. We analyzed scale content adequacy by examining the overlap between scale contents and consensus clinical symptoms, the diagnostic time frame for active symptom assessment, and readability for the target age group. The 18 scales encompassed 52 distinct symptoms. These scales included just 50% of clinical symptoms required for diagnosis. The content overlap was low; on average, 29% of symptoms coincide across scales. Half of the scales did not use the standard period for active symptom appraisal, and some did not include a period for assessment. The reading levels on six scales were inappropriate for the scale's target population age group. The substantial heterogeneity in defining the depressive syndrome, the low overlap among scales, different periods of a positive diagnosis, and mismatch of reading competence for detecting may lead to heterogeneity in clinical diagnoses when using different scales. Improving the content of self-report in terms of homogeneity of diagnostic criteria would lead to better diagnostic decisions and patient management.
Objective: Acute sleep deprivation can induce antidepressant effects. We hypothesized that overnight calls can trigger symptoms of hypomania during the post-on-call period. Methods: Online anonymous cross-sectional survey among Spanish-speaking healthcare professionals, including the Hypomania Symptom Checklist-32 (HCL-32). Results: 2099 respondents. Most of them reported that they usually feel worse on their post-on-call period (91,3%), but the 51,6% acknowledged having felt better at least once and 33,4% reported it happened in at least at 50% of their calls. Up to 4,9% reached the cut-off at HCL-32. Males, younger professionals, those with less years of practice and residents were more likely to full fit hypomania criteria. Participants and their environment correctly identified the symptoms and their negative consequences. Conclusions: On-calls with sleep deprivation may trigger hypomanic symptoms with reported negative consequences among healthcare professionals, showing how working conditions' impact in professionals' wellbeing and raising concerns about decision-making performance after long-lasting working shifts. (c) 2022 Published by Elsevier B.V.
It remains unknown whether the type of aerosol generating device is affecting efficacy and safety among non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) adults. The proposal of this network meta-analysis (NMA) is to evaluate effectiveness and safety of inhaled antibiotics administered via dry powder inhaler (DPI) and via nebulizers (SVN) among adult patients with NCFB. Inclusion criteria were randomized-controlled trials, adults (≥18 years) with NCFB, and inhaled antibiotics administered via DPI as intervention. Search strategy was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from 2000 to 2019. Sixteen trials (2870 patients) were included. Three trials (all ciprofloxacin) used DPIs and thirteen used SVN (three ciprofloxacin). Both DPI and SVN devices achieved similar safety outcomes (adverse events, antibiotic discontinuation, severe adverse events, and bronchospasm). Administration of ciprofloxacin via DPI significantly improved time to first exacerbation (87 days, 95% CI 34.3–139.7) and quality of life (MD −7.52; 95% CI −13.06 to −1.98) when compared with via SVN. No other significant differences were documented in clinical efficacy (at least one exacerbation, FEV1% predicted) and microbiologic response (bacterial eradication, emergence of new potential pathogens, and emergence of antimicrobial resistance) when comparing devices. Our NMA documented that time to first exacerbation and quality of life, were more favorable for DPIs. Decisions on the choice of devices should incorporate these findings plus other criteria, such as simplicity, costs or maintenance requirements.
The objective of the study is to assess the health status of immigrant men and women from non-EU countries living in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain) and to identify the social determinants of health from a gender perspective.Cross-sectional analysis from a cohort of immigrant families recruited in Badalona and Santa Coloma de Gramenet, in Spain (PELFI cohort). In 2015-2016, 167 immigrants answered the baseline epidemiological questionnaire and the 5-level EuroQol instrument (EQ-5D) which measures health status. To identify health determinants, Tobit models were constructed to the EQ-5D index.Women rated poorer self-perceived health (p=0.005). To be diagnosed with and illness was only associated with poor self-perceived health among men (p<0.05). Length of residence, domestic work, and especially double workload deteriorated women's health. After adjusting models by demographics and social determinants, permanent administrative status (-0.136; p=0.015) and social support (0.182; p=0.02) were associated with health status in both sexes. To have a job was associated with better health only in men.Non-EU immigrants living in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona are a socially vulnerable group of population and present inequalities in health by sex. Social support and occupation are key factors of their health status. Interventions to reduce immigrant vulnerabilities and inequalities in health should promote their social inclusion and cohesion from a gender perspective.
Introduction:IBSA has been defined as taking, distributing, and/or making threats to distribute, a sexual image without a person's consent, and up to date there is still limited research on IBSA perpetration and characteristics of IBSA perpetrators. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify characteristics of IBSA perpetrators, in order to guide future intervention and prevention programs.Methods:An online survey was conducted regarding IBSA related behaviors and psychopathology. The original sample comprised 1,370 Spanish college students (74% females).Results:The IBSA perpetrator subsample comprised 284 participants (49.5% females). Our findings indicate that perpetrators are more commonly males, with higher psychopathology scores, especially in hostility scales, with previous IBSA victimization experiences, and who usually target friends, to have fun or as a joke, or partners, to flirt. Furthermore, when examining intragroup differences regarding perpetration level of severity, results showed that those who reported engaging in the most severe forms of IBSA reported higher rates of psychopathology and hostility. Yet, to intervene in those who present more severe behaviors, we must also pay attention to depression, somatization and sleep disturbances.Conclusions:IBSA perpetrators share key factors that could be targeted in forensic and clinical interventions, and that should be taken into account when designing effective offender intervention programs. Intervention programs should focus on anger-management issues that help reduce perpetrators' hostility and anxiety symptoms, and should also be aimed at modifying attitudes that justify perpetration behaviors and contribute to harmful interactions with their friends or to intimate partner violent dynamics.
Background: The aim is to analyze whether people with low resilience are at higher risk of mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spanish adults. Methods: a longitudinal cohort study was carried out. Resilience was measured with the CD-RISC. Mental health problems that were assessed included: Major Depressive Episode (MDE), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors (STB), and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Results: we found statistically significant differences between groups and resilience scores in MDE [F (3; 48.40) = 19.55], GAD [F (3; 19.63) = 6.45] and STB [F (3; 111.74) = 31.94]. Multivariable analyses showed individuals with very low resilience were at a 5-fold risk of Incidence of MDE and a 4-fold risk of STB. Persistent group presented a 21-fold risk of MDE and 54-fold risk of STB. No evidence of higher risk was found for GAD. Individuals with low resilience and exposed to COVID-19 were not at higher risk. Individuals with low resilience were at higher risk of PTSD in general population [β(95% CI) = −3.25 (−3.969 to −2.54)], but not for individuals with COVID-19. Conclusions: in the general population, having low or very low resilience increases the risk of suffering MDE, STB, and PTSD, but not GAD during the COVID-19 pandemic, and not in the population with COVID-19.
AIMS:To identify the risk factors for lymphoedema following axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in a European sample and to propose a lymphoedema prediction model for this population.DESIGN:Predictive retrospective cohort study comparing women who developed lymphoedema in 2 years of undergoing ALND with those who did not developed lymphoedema.METHODS:We reviewed the clinical records of 504 women who, between January 2008 and May 2018, underwent surgery for breast cancer that involved ALND. Logistic regression was used to identify significant risk factors for lymphoedema. The prediction accuracy of the model was assessed by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.RESULTS:Of the 504 women whose records were analysed, 156 developed lymphoedema. Significant predictors identified in the regression model were level of lymph node dissection, lymph node status, post-operative complications, body mass index (BMI) and number of lymph nodes extracted. The prediction model showed good sensitivity (80%) in the study population.CONCLUSIONS:The factor contributing most to the risk of lymphoedema was the level of lymph node dissection, and the only patient-related factor in the prediction model was BMI. The model offers good predictive capacity in this population and it is a simple tool that breast care units could use to assess the risk of lymphoedema following ALND. Nurses with specialist knowledge of lymphoedema have a key role to play in ensuring that women receive holistic and individualized care.IMPACT:What problem did the study address? Secondary lymphoedema is one of the main complications in the treatment of breast cancer. What were the main findings? The prediction model included five factors associated with the risk of lymphoedema following ALND. The strongest predictor was the level of lymph node dissection, and the only patient-related factor was BMI. Where and on whom will the research have an impact? The prediction model offers breast care units a tool for assessing the risk of lymphoedema in women undergoing surgery involving ALND. The results highlight the importance of weight reduction as a preventive measure and support a more conservative surgical approach.
Background: Research efforts to measure the concept of healthy ageing have been diverse and limited to specific populations. This diversity limits the potential to compare healthy ageing across countries and/or populations. In this study, we developed a novel measurement scale of healthy ageing using worldwide cohorts. Methods: In the Ageing Trajectories of Health-Longitudinal Opportunities and Synergies (ATHLOS) project, data from 16 international cohorts were harmonized. Using ATHLOS data, an item response theory (IRT) model was used to develop a scale with 41 items related to health and functioning. Measurement heterogeneity due to intra-dataset specificities was detected, applying differential item functioning via a logistic regression framework. The model accounted for specificities in model parameters by introducing cohort-specific parameters that rescaled scores to the main scale, using an equating procedure. Final scores were estimated for all individuals and converted to T-scores with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10. Results: A common scale was created for 343 915 individuals above 18 years of age from 16 studies. The scale showed solid evidence of concurrent validity regarding various sociodemographic, life and health factors, and convergent validity with healthy life expectancy (r = 0.81) and gross domestic product (r = 0.58). Survival curves showed that the scale could also be predictive of mortality. Conclusions: The ATHLOS scale, due to its reliability and global representativeness, has the potential to contribute to worldwide research on healthy ageing.
ABSTRACT Background Scarce evidence verifying the clinical impact of baloxavir on influenza complications is found. Methods PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched through December 2020. Randomized-controlled trials (RCT) that enrolled patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza receiving neuraminidase inhibitors (NAI) or baloxavir comparing to placebo were assessed. PROSPERO Registration-number: CRD42021226854. Results Twenty-one RCTs (11,697 patients) were included. Antiviral administration significantly reduced time to clinical resolution (mean difference: −21.3 hours) and total influenza-related complications (OR:0.55, 95%CI: 0.42–0.73). Specifically, antivirals significantly decreased bronchitis (OR:0.54, 95%CI: 0.38–0.75), sinusitis (OR:0.51, 95%CI: 0.33–0.78), acute otitis media (OR:0.48, 95%CI: 0.30–0.77), and antibiotic prescription (OR:0.62; 95%CI: 0.48–0.80). A positive trend favored antivirals administration to reduce pneumonia (OR:0.47, 95%CI: 0.16–1.33), or hospitalization rates (OR:0.65; 95%CI: 0.34–1.24) compared to placebo, but did not reach statistical significance. Adverse events (AE) were reported in 11%, 8.9%, and 5.1% of NAIs, placebo and baloxavir recipients, respectively. Compared with NAIs, administration of baloxavir showed non-significantly reduced AEs (OR:0.74, 95%CI: 0.53–1.04). Conclusions Single-dose baloxavir and NAIs were superior to placebo to reduce complications in uncomplicated influenza, with 40% significant reduction in antibiotic prescription. Safety and efficacy of single-dose baloxavir were non-inferior to NAIs.
The aim of this study was to analyse the association between individual mental well-being and social, economic, lifestyle and health factors. Cross-sectional study on a representative sample of 13,632 participants (> 15y/o) from the Catalan Health Interview Survey 2013–2016 editions. Mental well-being was assessed with the Warwick–Edinburg Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS). Linear regressions were fitted to associate well-being and sociodemographic, relational, lifestyle and health variables according to minimally sufficient adjustment sets identified using directed acyclic graphs. Predictors entered the model in blocks of variable types and analysed individually. Direct and total effects were estimated. Health factors significantly contributed to mental well-being variance. Presence of a mental disorder and self-reported health had the largest effect size (eta2 = 13.4% and 16.3%). The higher individual impact from a variable came from social support (β = − 12.8, SE = 0.48, eta2 = 6.3%). A noticeable effect gradient (eta2 = 4.2%) from low to high mental well-being emerged according to economic difficulties (from β = 1.59, SE = 0.33 for moderate difficulties to β = 6.02 SE = 0.55 for no difficulties). Younger age (β = 5.21, SE = 0.26, eta2 = 3.4%) and being men (β = 1.32, SE = 0.15, eta2 = 0.6%) were associated with better mental well-being. Direct gender effects were negligible. This study highlights health and social support as the most associated factors with individual mental well-being over socioeconomic factors. Interventions and policies aimed to these factors for health promotion would improve population mental well-being.