Community-based Observational Study Research Articles

Neurocognitive outcomes in moderately preterm born adolescents

BackgroundEarly preterm (EP) born children are at risk of neurocognitive impairments persisting into adulthood. Less is known about moderately to late (MLP) preterm born children, especially after early childhood. The aim of this study was to assess neurocognitive functioning of MLP adolescents regarding intelligence, executive and attentional functioning, compared with EP and full-term (FT) adolescents. MethodsThis study was part of the Longitudinal Preterm Outcome Project (LOLLIPOP), a large community-based observational cohort study. In total 294 children (81 EP, 130 MLP, and 83 FT) were tested at age 14 to 16 years, regarding intelligence, speed of processing, attention, and executive functions. We used the Dutch version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Third Edition-Dutch Version (WISC-III-NL), the Test of Everyday Attention for Children, and the Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome for Children. We assessed differences between preterm-born groups with the FT group as a reference. ResultsCompared to the FT group, MLP adolescents scored significantly lower on two subtasks of the WISC-III-NL, i.e. Similarities and Symbol Search. EP adolescents performed significantly lower on all neuropsychological tests than their FT peers, except for the subtask Vocabulary. The MLP adolescents scored in between FT and EP adolescents on all tasks, except for three WISC-III-NL subtasks. ConclusionsNeurocognitive outcomes of MLP adolescents fell mostly in between outcomes of their EP and FT peers. MLPs generally performed on a low-average to average level, and appeared susceptible to a variety of moderate neurodevelopmental problems at adolescent age, which deserves attention in clinical practice.

Associations between hyperuricemia and ultrasound-detected knee synovial abnormalities in middle-aged and older population: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesKnee synovial abnormalities, potentially treatment targets for knee pain and osteoarthritis, are common in middle-aged and older population, but its etiology remains unclear. We examined the associations between hyperuricemia and knee synovial abnormalities detected by ultrasound in a general population sample.MethodsParticipants aged ≥ 50 years were from a community-based observational study. Hyperuricemia was defined as serum urate (SU) level > 416 µmol/L in men and > 357 µmol/L in women. Ultrasound of both knees was performed to determine the presence of synovial abnormalities, i.e., synovial hypertrophy, effusion, or Power Doppler signal (PDS). We examined the relation of hyperuricemia to prevalence of knee synovial abnormalities and its laterality, and the dose-response relationships between SU levels and the prevalence of knee synovial abnormalities.ResultsIn total, 3,405 participants were included in the analysis. Hyperuricemia was associated with higher prevalence of knee synovial abnormality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02 to 1.43), synovial hypertrophy (aOR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.68), and effusion (aOR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.44), respectively. There were dose-response relationships between SU levels and synovial abnormalities. Additionally, the hyperuricemia was more associated with prevalence of bilateral than with that of unilateral knee synovial abnormality, synovial hypertrophy, or effusion; however, no significant association was observed between hyperuricemia and PDS.ConclusionIn this population-based study we found that hyperuricemia was associated with higher prevalence of knee synovial abnormality, synovial hypertrophy and effusion, suggesting that hyperuricemia may play a role in pathogenesis of knee synovial abnormalities.

A cross-sectional study to assess the occupational health hazards among fisherwomen in a metropolitan city

ABSTRACT Context: Research on the working conditions and health hazards of fishing communities in developing countries is scarce. Aims: 1) To assess the occupational health hazards among women fish vendors. 2) To understand the morbidity profile in them. 3) To analyze various challenges faced by them at the workplace in this occupation. 4) To suggest various measures including ergonomic solutions that they can take to reduce these health hazards. Settings and Design: Community-based observational cross-sectional study. Methods and Material: Eight fish markets comprising women fish vendors working for more than one year (age > 30 years) in Mumbai were selected. A cluster sampling method was used. The sample size was 225. The period of the study was 2 years. Statistical Analysis Used: Chi-square test Results: The majority of study subjects had diabetes mellitus (24%) and were overweight (54.7%). Of all participants, 55.1% had musculoskeletal pain of which low back pain (69; 30.7%) was most common. There was a significant association between musculoskeletal pain status and mode of carrying boxes, χ2 (1) =56.35 as well as with duration of occupation, χ2 (3) =89.67, P < 0.001. Of all participants, 90.2% got injured of which the majority had incisional wounds (124; 61.1%). Of all participants, 55.1% suffered from skin infections of which the majority (28; 12.4%) had itching and redness of hands and legs. There was a significant association between skin infections and duration of occupation, χ2 (3) =140.53 as well as with the use of gloves (63.2% participants), χ2 (1) =20.395, P < 0.001. Conclusions: Various measures including ergonomic solutions that women fish vendors can take to reduce these health hazards need to be addressed.

One-year trajectories of nutritional status in perimenopausal women: a community-based multi-centered prospective study

BackgroundNutritional status is a modifiable factor associated with perimenopausal women’s health and quality of life. Assessing body composition indicators helps to comprehensively understand nutritional status compared with using body mass index (BMI) only. However, few published studies measured the trends in body composition among perimenopausal women.ObjectivesTo assess the one-year trajectory of the nutritional status of perimenopausal women and to explore its influential factors.MethodsA community-based observational study with 3-wave repeated measurements at 6-month intervals was carried out. The nutritional status indicators include weight, body mass index (BMI), and body composition variables. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to assess body composition. Repeated measures ANOVA and Chi-square test were used to calculate the changes in nutritional status and generalized estimating equations were performed to explore their influential factors.Results2760 participants completed the study. Increasing trajectories in weight (from 56.05 ± 7.55 to 57.02 ± 7.60), fat mass (from 17.99 ± 4.80 to 20.49 ± 4.90), and waist-hip ratio (from 0.86 ± 0.04 to 0.91 ± 0.15) were found (P < 0.001). Decreasing trajectories in skeletal muscle (from 20.30 ± 2.38 to 19.19 ± 2.46), protein level (from 7.39 ± 0.79 to 7.06 ± 0.81), and total body water (from 27.87 ± 2.92 to 27.00 ± 3.01) were found (P < 0.001). Being married/unmarried with a partner and without negative life events were associated with higher total body water, skeletal muscle, and protein level, while negatively associated with fat mass and waist-hip ratio. Age was positively associated with fat mass (P < 0.001). Participants with junior high school education were prone to increased fat mass (P = 0.018) compared with those holding primary school education and below. A per capita monthly income of 1500 to 3000 Yuan was associated with higher total body water, skeletal muscle, and protein level (P < 0.001) compared with a per capita monthly income of less than 1500 Yuan.ConclusionWorsening nutritional status exists in perimenopausal women, which is characterized by increased weight, fat mass, and waist-hip ratio, and decreased skeletal muscle, total body water, and protein level. For greater efficiency, precision nutritional interventions are needed, and recipients should be classified into different risk levels based on their sociodemographic background.

Abstract 12: Blood Pressure Phenotypes, Subclinical Cerebrovascular Diseases and Coronary Artery Calcification in Japanese Men

Introduction: Hypertension, with its various phenotypes including white-coat hypertension (WCHT), masked hypertension (MHT), and sustained hypertension (SHT), is a known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Yet, it remains unclear whether the association between subclinical CVD and hypertension varies based on its phenotype, and if this relationship differs depending on the location of atherosclerosis. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that MHT, WCHT, and SHT are associated with greater subclinical cerebrovascular diseases and coronary artery calcification (CAC) compared to normotension. Methods: In this community-based observational study of Shiga Epidemiological Study of Subclinical Atherosclerosis (SESSA), a total of 740 male participants underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess the presence of lacunar infarction, white-matter hyperintensities (WMHs), microbleed, and intracranial artery stenosis (ICAS) between 2012 and 2015. They also underwent office blood pressure (BP) measurements, home BP monitoring for at least 5 consecutive days, and CAC assessments between 2010-2014. The final analysis included 686 participants without a history of CVDs. Results: Of the 686 participants, the mean age was 68.0 years (SD±8.3) and 39.3% were receiving antihypertensive medicine. Using a multivariable logistic regression analysis, WCHT, MHT, and SHT each were significantly associated with higher risk for microbleeds compared to the normotensive group (see Table). However, the association of WCHT with microbleeds was evident in participants on antihypertensive medication (Odds ratios 7.98, 95% confidence interval 2.10-30.24), but was absent in those not taking such medication (Odds ratios 1.23, 95% confidence interval 0.31-4.83). SHT was associated with lacunar infarction, ICAS and CAC compared to the normotensive group (see Table). Conclusions: In Japanese men, WCHT, MHT, and SHT were associated with subclinical cerebrovascular diseases, whereas only SHT was associated to CAC.

Drug Use-Related Discrimination in Healthcare Settings and Subsequent Emergency Department Utilization in a Prospective Cohort Study of People With a History of Injection Drug Use

Background: People with a history of injection drug use face discrimination in healthcare settings that may impede their use of routine care, leading to greater reliance on the emergency department (ED) for addressing health concerns. The relationship between discrimination in healthcare settings and subsequent ED utilization has not been established in this population. Methods: This analysis used longitudinal data collected between January 2014 and March 2020 from participants of the ALIVE (AIDS Linked to the IntraVenous Experience) study, a community-based observational cohort study of people with a history of injection drug use in Baltimore, Maryland. Logistic regressions with generalized estimating equations were used to estimate associations between drug use-related discrimination in healthcare settings and subsequent ED utilization for the sample overall and six subgroups based on race, sex, and HIV status. Results: 1,342 participants contributed data from 7,289 semiannual study visits. Participants were predominately Black (82%), mostly male (66%), and 33% were living with HIV. Drug use-related discrimination in healthcare settings (reported at 6% of study visits) was positively associated with any subsequent ED use (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.15–1.72). Positive associations persisted after adjusting for covariates, including past sixth-month ED use and drug use, among the overall sample (aOR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.04–1.59) and among some subgroups. Conclusions: Drug use-related discrimination in healthcare settings was associated with greater subsequent ED utilization in this sample. Further exploration of mechanisms driving this relationship may help improve care and optimize healthcare engagement for people with a history of injection drug use.

Diabetes risk assessment with Indian Diabetes Risk Score: A cross-sectional study among adults in rural Mandya, Karnataka

Background: Screening for diabetes using the Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS) is an inexpensive yet effective way of early diagnosis. Aims and Objectives: The present study was conducted to assess the risk of developing diabetes among individuals in rural field practice areas using IDRS. Materials and Methods: A community-based observational study was conducted among persons aged 20 years and older in the rural field practice area for 2 months. A semi-structured interview schedule, including the “IDRS” questionnaire, was used to obtain the data. Results: Out of 1100 subjects, around 50% were above 50 years, only 38.6% of the subjects had a waist circumference within the normal limits; 73.8% did moderate exercise; 86% of the subjects had no history of diabetes in their parents. The mean IDRS score of the subjects was 44.12±14.33, ranging from 10 to 90. Nearly 2/3rd (69.6%) of them were at moderate risk, and 21.2% were at high risk for developing diabetes. The IDRS score was significantly higher among those with diabetes and hypertension. Conclusion: The majority of the subjects in our study had a moderate to high risk of developing diabetes as per the IDRS.

To study awareness of breastfeeding practices among mothers in a rural practice area of Andhra Pradesh

Background: Breastfeeding patterns influence the beneficial effects on the physical growth and development of children. Breastfeeding provides optimal nutrition and immunity and reduces the incidents of several insidious diseases in the future. However, breastfeeding practices vary with country-specific and inter-country factors, especially in rural areas. Hence, the current study aimed to find breastfeeding practices among mothers in different rural population of Andhra Pradesh. Aim and Objective: The aim of the study is to investigate breastfeeding practices among mothers in different rural population of Andhra Pradesh. Materials and Methods: A community-based observational study was carried out in the Rural Health Training Centre of Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. The study was carried out on 395 mothers with children aged between 0 and 24 months. The pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was executed and collected demographic, breastfeeding patterns, and anthropometric variables from all participants. Results: The children aged between 0 and 24 months were 395 children, 199 (50.4%) were males, and 196 (51.4%) were females. The maximum was 12–24 months 230 (58.2%), whereas 62% of mothers were aged between 20 and 24 years. Among them, 148 (37.5%) were illiterate and 126 (31.9%) were literate and 370 (93.7%) were homemakers. About 99% of children were breastfed, of which 19.89% were exclusively breastfed and 70.1% of mothers started giving complementary feeding earlier. The prevalence of underweight is 24.8%, whereas stunting is 31.9%. There is significant association was found between good breastfeeding with better nutritional status. Conclusion: The current study reveals that breastfeeding patterns have an immense effect on the nutritional status of children. Breastfeeding practices are not similar in rural and urban areas. The education of breastfeeding improves the quality of life for children in rural areas.

Assessing adherence to hypertension medications and its impact on blood pressure control: A community-based observational study

Background: Hypertension is a prevalent cardiovascular condition requiring effective medication management for blood pressure control. Aims and Objectives: The aim is to explore the relationship between adherence to hypertension medications and its impact on blood pressure control among a diverse population. Materials and Methods: A participant cohort of 500 adults, with a mean age of 56 years, was examined for their adherence to hypertension medications and blood pressure control outcomes. Adherence was assessed through self-report questionnaires and pill count analysis, while blood pressure control was defined as systolic blood pressure below 140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressurebelow 90 mmHg. The statistical analysis included logistic regression with adjustments for potential confounding variables. Results: The participant cohort displayed a balanced gender distribution and predominantly managed hypertension through multi-drug regimens. Around 65% reported high medication adherence, confirmed by pill count analysis. Notably, 55% achieved the defined blood pressure control target, indicating effective management. A robust association was observed between high adherence and improved blood pressure control (adjusted odds ratio=1.65, 95% confidence interval: 1.28–2.12, P&lt;0.001). Participants with high adherence were 1.65 times more likely to attain target blood pressure control than those with lower adherence, with a high level of statistical significance. Conclusions: This study highlights the crucial link between medication adherence and blood pressure control in hypertensive individuals. High adherence increases the likelihood of optimal blood pressurecontrol, underscoring patient commitment. Tailored interventions and support mechanisms are essential for enhancing adherence and improving hypertension management outcomes.

Association between hyperuricaemia and hand osteoarthritis: data from the Xiangya Osteoarthritis Study

ObjectiveThe pathogenesis of hand osteoarthritis (OA) remains unknown. Hyperuricaemia, which is related to inflammation, may play a role in hand OA, but evidence is lacking. In a large population-based study,...

Association between gut microbiome-related metabolites and symptomatic hand osteoarthritis in two independent cohorts

Since gut microbiome dysbiosis can cause inflammatory disorders by affecting host metabolism, we postulate that the gut microbiome and related metabolites could play a role in hand osteoarthritis. We characterised gut microbiome-related metabolites in people with symptomatic hand osteoarthritis (SHOA) in two independent cohorts. Using data collected from a large-sample community-based observational study (discovery cohort), we assessed the relations of the microbial function and plasma key metabolites related to altered microbial function with SHOA. Finally, we verified the relations of plasma metabolites to SHOA in an independent observational study (validation cohort). In the discovery cohort (n=1359), compared to those without SHOA, participants with SHOA had significantly altered microbial functions related to tryptophan metabolism (Q=0.025). Therefore we measured the plasma tryptophan metabolites and found that participants with SHOA had higher levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (odds ratio [OR]=1.25, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09-1.42) and 5-hydroxytryptophol (OR=1.13, 95% CI: 1.04-1.23), but lower levels of indole-3-lactic acid (ILA) (OR=0.85, 95% CI: 0.72-1.00), skatole (OR=0.93, 95% CI: 0.88-0.99) and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (OR=0.90, 95% CI: 0.85-0.96). Findings from the validation cohort (n=142) verified that lower levels of ILA were related to SHOA (OR=0.70, 95% CI: 0.53-0.92). Alterations of the microbial function of tryptophan biosynthesis and tryptophan metabolites, especially lower levels of ILA, are associated with SHOA. These findings suggest the role of the microbiome and tryptophan metabolites in developing of SHOA and may contribute to future translational opportunities. National Key Research and Development Plan and National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Association between dietary intake and symptoms of depression and anxiety in pregnant women: Evidence from a community-based observational study.

Dietary intake is considered as a crucial factor affecting mental health symptoms, particularly depression and anxiety symptoms, especially in the case of pregnant women. This study explored the role of dietary intake in depression and anxiety symptoms of pregnant women and provided evidence for primary care interventions. We enrolled 806 pregnant women in their third trimester from 14 communities in Hengyang City, Hunan Province, China, from July 2019 to September 2019. The Chinese version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire-7 (GAD-7) were used to assess depression and anxiety symptoms. Dietary intake, demographic characteristics, BMI, and pregnancy characteristics were collected using a self-designed, structural questionnaire. A covariate-adjusted logistic regression was conducted to examine the relationship between mental health symptoms and dietary intake. The prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms in our population were 7.7% (95% CI: 5.9%-9.5%) and 9.2% (95% CI: 7.2%-11.2%), respectively. Women consuming eggs and egg products once a week (OR: 3.688, 95% CI: 1.476-9.215) were more likely to have depression symptom than consumed eggs and egg products once or more per day. Consuming green leafy vegetable <2-3 times per month had a significantly greater risk for depression symptoms than consuming the same once or more per day (OR: 3.450, 95% CI: 1.145-10.393). Women who consumed eggs and egg products 2-3 times a week had an increased likelihood of experiencing anxiety symptoms (OR: 2.253, 95% CI: 1.049-4.837). Anxiety symptoms in women consuming green leafy vegetables <2-3 times per month probably increased by 3.988 times (95% CI: 1.327-11.985) compared with women consuming the same once or more per day. Consuming salted and smoked food <2-3 times per month was protective against anxiety symptoms (OR: 0.181, 95% CI: 0.040-0.828) than consuming the same every day. Implementing interventions to promote healthy dietary among pregnant women is crucial due to its association with mental health. However, future researches are warranted to confirm the reliability and causal association obtained in this study.

A Community-Based Observational Study on Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Single-Use Plastics Ban in Rural Puducherry, South India

Background: India's industries produce nearly 9,000,000 metric tons of disposable plastic annually. Government of Puducherry implemented a ban on single-use plastics from 1st August 2019. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) levels concerning the use and legislation of single-use plastics among rural Puducherry's community residents.&#x0D; Methods: A 6-month community-based observational study was conducted in rural Puducherry using multistage random sampling among 450 households. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to an adult member (aged &gt; 18 years) in each household before and after the plastic ban. Data collection utilized the Epi-collect 5 application, and SPSS v16 was used for statistical analysis, employing paired t-test and chi-square test (p-value &lt; 0.05)&#x0D; Results: Mean age of study participants was 39.64 (13.23) years, nearly 57% of them were female. Before ban, 80.4% of the subjects were carrying their shopping contents using plastic bags provided by the seller in the rural area, whereas after ban implementation, it has reduced to 16.4%. Mean KAP score before ban was 8 +2.8 (95% CI: 7.7-8.2) and after ban, it increased to 15.2 +1.8 (95% CI: 15-15.4). The pre- and post-ban KAP scores differences were found to be statistically significant (p-value &lt; 0.05). The perception of the law banning the use of plastic bags was found to be significantly higher in younger age group, female gender, and groups with higher educational and occupational status (p = 0.01)&#x0D; Conclusion: The study results will be useful for planning future needs and Information, Education Communication strategies for effective implementation and plastic use reduction in future.

Postnatal Kangaroo mother care practice at home and comparison of improvement in vital parameters in low-birth-weight babies in-home setup and non-teaching hospital setup in rural coal mines area Jharkhand, India: A community-based observational study.

Low birth weight (LBW) newborns especially those <2000 g are more prone to hypothermia due to which other physiological parameters gets deteriorated in the 1st week of life. The objective of this observational study was to continue Kangaroo mother care practice at home and to ascertain whether KMC was effective in improving the vital parameters of LBW babies when it is given at home in a rural coal mines area, in Jharkhand, India. This study was a community-based prospective observational study, done over three years from November 2019 to November 2022. In this study, we included 156 pairs of both mothers and LBW babies (weight 1500 g to <2000 g). After discharge from the hospital on day 3, KMC was continued at home on day 4, day 5, and day 6. Data of four physiological parameters, namely, temperature, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, and heart rate were collected before and after KMC and analyzed. Among 400 newborns, 156 LBW babies (39.0%) who were given KMC at home showed similar but statistically significant improvement of vital parameters, especially in temperature and oxygen saturation (P < 0.0001) compared to the same babies 156 (39.0%) given KMC in the hospital (P < 0.001). Kangaroo mother care, which was continued at home, has a significant role in the Improvement of vital parameters, especially concerning temperature and oxygen saturation. If the babies in the weight range of 1500 g to <2000 g are healthy, well-breast-fed, and have no other risk factors, they can be discharged early and managed at home by delivering supportive care and nursing care along with Kangaroo mother care with continuous follow-up.

The association of dietary patterns with muscle mass and strength in old age: The Hordaland Health Study.

The single nutrient approach in nutrition research lacks the ability to account for synergistic relationships between dietary components. Current evidence suggests that diet quality, reflecting overall dietary intake, may influence muscle health. In a community-based observational study in Western Norway, we examined dietary patterns in relation to muscle mass and strength at age 67-70. The current analysis was conducted in men and women of The Hordaland Health Study (HUSK), who participated in both the second (HUSK2) and third study wave (HUSK3). Dietary patterns were extracted by principal component analysis (PCA) on food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) data. Individual dietary pattern scores (DPS) for HUSK2 (age 46-49) and HUSK3 (age 67-70), and overall DPS (oDPS) were calculated. Outcome variables were appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASMM) and handgrip strength (HGS)measured in HUSK3. The relationships of HUSK3 DPS and oDPS with ASMM and HGSwere assessed by multivariate linear regression analysis adjusted for potential confounding factors. We identified three distinct dietary patterns, labelled 'Western', 'Healthy', and 'Sweets-focused'. A significant positive association was observed between the oDPS for the 'Healthy' dietary pattern and ASMM in both men and women at age 67-70. No significant associations were found between HUSK3 DPS or oDPS for any of the identified dietary patterns and HGS in our population. Higher oDPS on a dietary pattern predominantly rich in fish, vegetables, nuts and seeds, fruit and berries, and eggs was associated with better ASMM at age 67-70. To establish the influence of diet quality on muscle health, further long-term studies with repeated dietary assessments are warranted.

Prevalence and clinical presentation of Post-COVID syndrome in patients recovered from acute COVID infections in North Kerala

Background: Post-acute COVID symptoms have become a major health concern and one of the most important causes of morbidity throughout the world. Hence, it is important to document the pattern of presentation in post-COVID syndrome patients in India, which has been one of the countries with the largest acute COVID-19 infections. Aims and Objectives: This study was done to estimate the prevalence of post-acute COVID syndrome in patients recovered from acute COVID infection and to determine the factors influencing with its incidence. Materials and Methods: Community-based observational study in which patients who have recovered from acute COVID infection 3–6 months before the study period were selected using multistage sampling. Data were collected through house visits using a pre-validated questionnaire containing details of acute COVID-19 infection, treatment taken, vaccination status before the infection, symptoms in the period between 4 and 12 weeks, and symptoms after 12 weeks of acute COVID infection. Results: Out of the 265 patients studied, 14.34% had ongoing symptomatic COVID-19 in the first 3 months of acute illness and 9.81% had post-COVID symptoms even after 3 months. 17.74% of the patients had a history of pre-existing comorbid illnesses and 31.32% had received two doses of vaccination before acquiring COVID-19 infection. 92.83% were treated in home quarantine, 4.91% needed hospitalization without oxygen supplementation, and 2.26% required oxygen or ventilatory support. The most common post-COVID symptoms reported were tiredness, easy fatiguability, breathlessness, and body ache. Female gender, presence of comorbidities, and mode of treatment had a significant role in predicting the incidence of post-COVID symptoms. Conclusion: The study clearly showed that the severity of acute COVID infection has a significant correlation with the incidence of both ongoing symptomatic COVID and post-COVID syndrome. Other factors that increased the incidence included female gender and pre-existing comorbidities.

Adverse Events Following Immunization Among Children Under Two Years of Age: A Prospective Observational Study From North India.

Vaccination is one of the most cost-effective child survival health interventions. A single serious adverse event following immunization (AEFI) or a cluster of events may lead to a loss of public confidence in the program and a major setback to immunization coverage. This study was conducted to assess the incidence of AEFIs in children less than two years of age. A prospective community-based observational study was conducted in the North Indian state of Uttarakhandfrom October 2017 to February 2018. A total of 255 children who attended the selected sub-centres for immunization were finally included in the study. Follow-up home visits on the 8th and 30th day of vaccination were carried out to identify any occurrences of AEFIs. Among 255 children, 212 AEFIs from 152 vaccinated subjects were reported. The majority of the AEFIs were reported in the age group 0-1 years. The incidence of AEFIs was 33.0 per 100 doses of vaccines administered. The most common AEFI reported was fever (101, 47.6%), followed by swelling (53, 25.0%). Among the vaccines, Pentavalent + oral polio vaccine (OPV) (48.8 per 100 doses) was majorly responsible for AEFIs, followed by diphtheria pertussis tetanus (DPT) +measles and rubella (MR) + OPV (46.6 per 100 doses). Our findings revealed that although the incidence of AEFI reported was high, all of them were minor and no serious AEFIs were identified. The awareness among health professionals and the public regarding the reporting of AEFIs should be continued to increase the safety profile of vaccines.

Psychometric properties of Concise Associated Symptom Tracking (CAST) scale in youths and young adults: Findings from the Texas youth depression and suicide research network (TX-YDSRN)

Symptoms of irritability, anxiety, panic, and insomnia are common in patients with depression, and their worsening after antidepressant treatment initiation is associated with poorer long-term outcomes. The Concise Associated Symptom Tracking (CAST) scale was developed to measure these symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD). Here, we evaluate the psychometric properties of CAST in an ongoing community-based observational study involving children, adolescents, and young adults. Individuals from the ongoing Texas Youth Depression and Suicide Research Network (TX-YDSRN; N = 952) with CAST data available were included. Fit statistics [Goodness of Fit Index (GFI), Comparative Fit Index (CFI), and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA)] from confirmatory factor analyses were used to evaluate the five- and four-domain structure of CAST. Item response theory (IRT) analyses were also used. Individuals were grouped based on age (in years) as youths (8–17) and young adults (18–20). Correlations with other clinical measures were used to inform construct validity. Four-domain (irritability, anxiety, panic, and insomnia) 12-item structure of CAST (CAST-12) was optimal for youths (N = 709, GFI = 0.906, CFI = 0.919, RMSEA = 0.095) and young adults (N = 243, GFI = 0.921, CFI = 0.938, RMSEA = 0.0797) with Cronbach's alpha of 0.87 and 0.88, respectively. Slope of each item exceeded 1.0 on IRT analyses suggesting adequate discrimination for each item. Scores on irritability, anxiety, panic, and insomnia were significantly correlated with similar items on other scales. Together these findings suggest that CAST-12 is a valid self-report measure of irritability, anxiety, insomnia, and panic in youths and young adults.

Estimating accelerated biological ageing using machine learning and metabolomics data in people with mental disorders

IntroductionAccelerated biological ageing might contribute to the higher prevalence of age-related diseases and excess mortality amongst individuals with mental disorders. Recent advances in machine learning and the collection of high-dimensional molecular “omics” data allow for the quantification of biological age.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to use machine learning methods to predict biological age from nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy metabolomics data and to identify psychiatric traits associated with accelerated biological ageing.MethodsThe UK Biobank is a multicentre community-based observational study that recruited &gt;500,000 middle-aged and older adults. 168 metabolomic measures were quantified using the Nightingale Health platform. Phase 1 release of these data included a random subset of 118,462 UK Biobank participants. Metabolomic age delta (MetaboAgeΔ) was defined as the difference between predicted biological age and observed chronological age. We estimated group differences in MetaboAgeΔ between individuals with and without mental disorders and examined whether polygenic scores for mental disorders predicted MetaboAgeΔ.ResultsUp to 110,780 participants with complete data on all metabolomic measures were included in the analysis. Individuals with a history of mental disorders had higher MetaboAgeΔ values than people without a mental illness. For example, MetaboAgeΔ suggested that the difference between predicted biological age and observed chronological age was about two-years greater amongst individuals with bipolar disorder than amongst people without mental illness. Polygenic scores for mental disorders were positively correlated with MetaboAgeΔ.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that individuals with a history of mental disorders or with higher polygenic scores for mental disorders were biologically older than their chronological age.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Impact of low birth weight and breastfeeding practices on the nutritional status of children aged 2 to 5 years in the slums

Malnutrition among children in developing countries is a major public health problem, especially in India. Inappropriate feeding practices, in combination with other causes such as infection and food shortage, may be responsible for 1/3rd of malnutrition. Moreover, the risk of mortality is inversely related to children's height-for-age and weight-for-height.&#x0D; The aim: To assess the nutritional status of children aged 2 to 5 years in the urban field practice area of SVIMS-Sri Padmavathi Medical College for Women, Tirupati and to determine the impact of low birth weight, breastfeeding practices and other related factors on the nutritional status of the above study population.&#x0D; Materials and methods: This is a community-based observational cross-sectional study conducted among 282 children aged 2 to 5 years in the urban field practice area of SVIMS-Sri Padmavathi Medical College for Women, Tirupati. Socio-demographic data, Birth history, breastfeeding practices and anthropometric measurements were noted in the study questionnaire. Nutritional status was determined using HAZ, WHZ and WAZ scores of WHO child growth standards. Data was entered and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 26 version to test for association between categorical variables, and a p-value &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant.&#x0D; Results: A total of 282 school children with mean age of 39.9 (+10.4) months participated in the study, of which 132 (46.8 %) were boys and 150 (53.2 %) were girls. This study observed exclusive breastfeeding in 193 (68.4 %) children. Prevalence of stunting, wasting and being underweight were 22 %, 12.4 % and 23.8 %, respectively. A statistically significant association was found between stunting (p=0.006) and underweight (p=0.001) with low birth weight children.&#x0D; Conclusions: The present study revealed a high prevalence of malnutrition, especially stunting, a common outcome of long-term malnutrition among young children. Low birth weight and inappropriate breastfeeding practices result in long-term adverse consequences on the nutrition of preschool children, which should be prevented through appropriate strategies.