[Articles] Effects of non-pharmacological interventions on depressive and anxiety symptoms in pregnant women: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Our findings indicate that mindfulness therapy significantly reduces the risk of depressive and anxiety symptoms in both high-risk pregnancy population and healthy populations. Therefore, when selecting non-pharmacologic therapies for managing depressive and anxiety symptoms during pregnancy, it is recommended that this therapy be considered. We cannot overlook the limitations of this study. For example, some interventions, such as muscle acupoint therapy for depressive symptoms and relaxation therapy for anxiety symptoms, have limited literature support.

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Dicembre 2024

Identifying Best Practices for Improving the Evaluation and Management of Stroke in Rural Lower-Resourced Settings: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Stroke, Ahead of Print. Considerable variation exists in the delivery of acute stroke care and stroke outcomes across settings and population groups. This is attributable in part to variation in resources among emergency departments in the United States, most notably in rural regions. Structural constraints of the US health care system, including the geographic distribution of where patients live relative to the location of hospitals and certified stroke centers, will continue to mean that many patients with stroke initially present to community emergency departments that have fewer stroke-related resources. These sites also tend to serve populations in rural areas who experience disparities in care and outcomes. Reducing health disparities related to stroke for populations in rural areas requires investment in these more remote community settings as the anchor of the stroke chain of survival for their respective communities. This scientific statement performs a critical appraisal examining challenges in rural stroke care related to access and variation in stroke-related capabilities for the acute phase of care to inform strategies and propose solutions. The scientific statement considers the value of expansion of Acute Stroke Ready Hospital and Primary Stroke Center certification in rural areas, the role of telehealth and improved transfer processes, as well as increased engagement and mentorship from larger, comprehensive centers to the rural hospitals to which they are connected. Multistakeholder collaboration and policy interventions need to be directed to enhance public awareness, impart staff training, grow infrastructure, enhance access to clinical expertise, streamline data management, and implement quality assessment and improvement programs.

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Dicembre 2024

Exploring symptoms perception and barriers to medication adherence among Thai Muslim patients with non-communicable diseases in a rural community in southern Thailand: a mixed-methods study

Objectives
This study aimed to explore the prevalence of medication non-adherence and influence of symptom perception and various barriers on medication adherence among Thai Muslim patients in a rural subdistrict of southern Thailand.

Design
Explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach.

Setting
A rural community in southern Thailand.

Methods
Data collection spanned from March to December 2023. In the quantitative phase, 138 Muslim patients diagnosed with non-communicable diseases were enrolled, and their medication adherence and associated factors were assessed. In the qualitative phase, 22 participants were selected for in-depth interviews, and their symptom perceptions and the obstacles they faced in adhering to medication were explored. A focus group discussion involving 10 healthcare workers from a subdistrict health-promoting hospital was conducted to gain insights into healthcare providers’ perspectives on patients’ perceptions of symptoms and barriers to medication adherence.

Outcome measures
Medication non-adherence was assessed, and the influence of symptom perception and various barriers on medication adherence was evaluated

Results
The prevalence of medication non-adherence in the study sample was 75.36%. The following factors were significantly associated with medication non-adherence: occupation (farmer) (adjusted OR=3.93; 95% CI 1.04 to 12.64), lack of recommendations on adjusting medication schedules/dosages during Ramadan (adjusted OR=2.65; 95% CI 1.06 to 6.61) and patients’ perception of no symptoms (adjusted OR=3.72; 95% CI 1.23 to 11.25). The qualitative analysis highlighted patient-related issues, such as lack of symptom perception, limited health literacy regarding disease information and treatment and personal reasons for non-adherence (eg, forgetfulness, occupational constraints and transportation challenges for medical appointments). Additionally, healthcare system-related factors, patient–doctor relationships and communication gaps in medication management during Ramadan were identified as factors influencing medication non-adherence.

Conclusions
To improve adherence, healthcare providers should prioritise fostering positive patient–provider relationships and promoting patient care through enhanced health literacy initiatives.

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Dicembre 2024

Acceptance and the influencing factors towards intermittent self-catheterisation among patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction in China: a multicentre cross-sectional study

Objectives
The psychological acceptance of intermittent self-catheterisation (ISC) significantly impacts its initial adoption and long-term compliance among patients. However, our understanding of this acceptance remains limited. This study aims to investigate ISC’s psychological acceptance and identify influencing factors among neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) patients in China.

Design
A cross-sectional study design.

Participants
A total of 394 patients with NLUTD were recruited from 15 tertiary general hospitals in China.

Outcome measure
The patients completed a comprehensive questionnaire that included demographic and clinical characteristics, along with study instruments such as the Intermittent Catheterization Acceptance Test (I-CAT), the Intermittent Catheterization Satisfaction Questionnaire (InCaSaQ), the Intermittent Catheterization Difficulty Questionnaire and the Intermittent Self-Catheterization Questionnaire (ISC-Q). Pearson’s correlation analysis explored interrelationships among questionnaire scores, while Spearman’s correlation assessed relationships between categorical independent variables and I-CAT scores. Additionally, multiple linear regression analysis identified key factors influencing psychological acceptance of ISC.

Results
Nearly half of the participants (46.2%) reported psychological challenges in accepting ISC, and more than 50% of the participants exhibited fear and low self-esteem in their I-CAT questionnaire scores. The I-CAT scores were strongly correlated with ISC training (r=0.861), ISC follow-up (r=0.766) and psychological well-being (r=–0.774). Regression analysis identified significant factors influencing ISC acceptance, including urinary tract infections, types of catheters, ISC training, ISC follow-up, province, and scores on the ISC-Q and InCaSaQ questionnaires, which collectively explained 85.5% of the variance in acceptance rates (F=161.409).

Conclusions
Psychological difficulties in accepting ISC are prevalent among NLUTD patients. Key factors that facilitate ISC acceptance include receiving ISC training, follow-up support and favourable ISC-Q scores. In contrast, barriers like the use of non-hydrophilic catheters present significant challenges. Notably, ISC acceptance varies significantly across different regions. Therefore, targeted strategies are recommended to enhance positive factors, reduce negative ones and consider regional disparities, thereby improving overall ISC acceptance.

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Dicembre 2024

Lower Suicide Risks in Adolescents With Obesity Taking GLP-1 Drugs

Regulatory agencies, including the US Food and Drug Administration, have evaluated reports of suicidal thoughts or actions in patients treated with glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, but a recent review of the medical records of adolescents with obesity suggests that GLP-1 drugs do not increase suicide risk. In fact, the treatment was associated with a lower risk of suicidal ideation or attempts.

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Dicembre 2024

[Articles] Association between major depressive disorder or depressive symptoms and the risk of vascular complications among patients with type 2 diabetes, and the mediating role of metabolic biomarkers: an analysis of the UK Biobank cohort

Our findings highlight the role of MDD and depressive symptoms in the development of vascular complications among people with T2DM, and suggest that the effect of improving mental health on vascular outcomes in patients with T2DM should be investigated in future work.

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Dicembre 2024

Saving Legs & Lives: the efficacy of a community-based cardiovascular rehabilitation programme versus usual care on exercise capacity and quality of life in patients who have undergone lower limb revascularisation for peripheral arterial disease–protocol for a single-centre randomised-controlled trial

Introduction
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is an atherosclerotic condition characterised by stenosis or occlusion of the arteries in the lower limbs. Patients with PAD commonly report intermittent claudication (leg pain/discomfort) during physical activities, which significantly limits the ability to walk and perform activities of daily living. Supervised exercise training is an effective therapy that can improve walking capacity in people with PAD. Emerging evidence also suggests that supervised exercise therapy following lower limb revascularisation can further enhance walking capacity when compared with revascularisation alone. However, access to dedicated exercise programmes for patients with PAD is limited in most countries, and there is a need to test the efficacy of alternative rehabilitation strategies and referral pathways. This randomised-controlled study aims to assess the efficacy of a cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR) programme versus usual care on walking capacity and quality of life in patients who have undergone lower limb revascularisation for PAD.

Methods and analysis
This will be a single-centre, prospective, parallel group, randomised-controlled trial. Sixty-six participants who have undergone a lower limb revascularisation procedure for PAD, in the previous 12 months, will be randomly allocated to a CR programme or a usual care (control) group. The CR programme will include two supervised exercise sessions per week for 6 weeks primarily consisting of intermittent treadmill walking at a moderate exercise intensity and home-based walking advice. During the 6-week programme, participants will also attend one education seminar (5.5 hours) which will cover topics such as diet, medications, exercise training and lifestyle modifications for the management of cardiovascular diseases. The control group will receive usual care and medical advice from their local doctor and vascular surgeon. The primary outcome will be 6-min walk distance. Secondary outcomes include pain-free walking distance during the six-minute walk test, maximal and pain-free walking time during a graded treadmill walking test, cardiorespiratory fitness, self-reported walking capacity, disease-specific quality of life, and self-reported and objectively measured physical activity levels. Exploratory outcomes include brachial artery flow-mediated dilation, arterial stiffness, ankle-brachial blood pressure index and biomarkers of cardiovascular disease risk. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline (week 1), following the CR/usual care period (week 8) and again at 6-month follow-up (week 34).

Ethics and dissemination
This study has received ethics approval from the Human Research Ethics Committees of Queensland Health Metro North Hospital and Health Service (94155) and the University of the Sunshine Coast (S231914). Findings from this study will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and through national and international conference presentations.

Trial registration number
ACTRN12623000190606.

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Dicembre 2024