General Adolescent Population Research Articles

Prevalence and factors associated with sexual and reproductive health literacy among youth living with HIV in Uganda: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundAdequate sexual and reproductive health literacy (SRHL) among young people has been linked to informed sexual behaviours. Studies on SRHL have largely been conducted among the general adolescent population. Little is known about youth aged 15-24 years living with human immunodeficiency virus (YLHIV). There is a possible lack of SRHL in this population, considering the high rate of teenage pregnancies and unprotected sex reported by YLHIV. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated personal and environmental factors for SRHL among YLHIV at a high-volume urban HIV Clinic in Uganda.MethodsThrough a cross-sectional survey, YLHIV receiving routine HIV care services at Baylor-Uganda HIV Clinic were interviewed using an adapted European Health Literacy Survey (HLS-EU). Using simple random sampling, eligible youth who received HIV care services between August and November 2019 were enrolled in the study. SRHL scores were computed using the HLS-EU index method; and individuals whose scores ranged from 34 to 50 were considered health literate. We used descriptive statistics to determine the prevalence. Potential associated personal and environmental factors (p<0.05) were identified by performing two-step inferential statistics, bivariate analysis and binary logistic regression. Odds ratios were calculated to estimate the likelihood of youth being health literate on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues in comparison with the reference categories, and 95% confidence intervals were determined to establish whether the relationships were statistically significant.ResultsOf the 267 YLHIV interviewed at Baylor-Uganda HIV Clinic, 167 (62.5%) were female with a mean age of 18.9 years (SD± 2.8), and the majority (242; 90.6%) were vertically infected with HIV. Only 52 (19.5%) were health literate on SRH issues. At the multivariate level, YLHIV who never had difficulty accessing SRH information were 0.391 times less likely to be health literate on SRH issues than their counterparts with challenges in accessing SRH information (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 0.391, 95% CI =0.178 to 0.860; p= 0.019). YLHIV who did not find it easy to access SRH care service points were 2.929 times more likely to be literate in SRH than those who found it easy to access such services (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 2.929, 95% CI =1.241 to 6.917; p=0.014). Additionally, YLHIV who did not listen to radio health talks were 2.406 times more likely to be health literate on SRH issues than those who did (AOR = 2.406, 95% CI =1.133 to 5.112; p=0.022).ConclusionsSRHL is an unmet need among YLHIV; only 19.5% were health literate on SRH issues. This could complicate the achievement of the UNAIDS sustainable development goal (SDG) of an HIV/AIDS-free generation by 2030 because low health literacy (HL) skills can affect the efficacy of almost all HIV disease prevention and health promotion efforts. Inaccessible SRH care service points and not listening to radio health talks were positively associated with SRHL, while having access to SRH information was negatively associated with SRHL.

Depressive symptom networks in the UK general adolescent population and in those looked after by local authorities

BackgroundDespite the importance of understanding depressive symptom constellations during adolescence and specifically in looked-after children, studies often only apply sum score models to understand depression in these populations, neglecting associations...

Pain history and experimental pressure pain responses in adolescents: Results from a population-based birth cohort.

Sensitized pain mechanisms are often reported in musculoskeletal pain conditions, but population-based paediatric studies are lacking. We assessed whether adolescents with musculoskeletal pain history had evidence of increased responsiveness to experimental pressure stimuli. Data were from 1496 adolescents of the Generation XXI birth cohort. Pain history was collected using the Luebeck Pain Questionnaire (self-reported at 13, parent-reported at 7 and 10 years). Two case definitions for musculoskeletal pain were considered: (1) cross-sectional-musculoskeletal pain lasting more than 3 months at age 13 and (2) longitudinal-musculoskeletal pain at age 13 with musculoskeletal pain reports at ages 7 and/or 10. Lower limb cuff pressure algometry was used to assess pain detection and tolerance thresholds, conditioned pain modulation effects (CPM, changes in thresholds in the presence on painful conditioning) and temporal summation of pain effects (TSP, changes in pain intensity to 10 phasic painful cuff stimulations). Adolescents with musculoskeletal pain at age 13 plus a history of pain in previous evaluations (longitudinal definition) had lower pain tolerance thresholds compared to the remaining sample (40.2 v. 49.0 kPa, p = 0.02), but showed no differences in pain detection threshold, CPM effect and TSP effect. Pain sensitivity, CPM effects and TSP effects were not significantly different when the current pain only case definition (cross-sectional) was used. Adolescents with current musculoskeletal pain who had a history of pain since childhood had lower tolerance to cuff stimulation. This may suggest long-standing musculoskeletal pain since childhood may contribute to sensitisation, rather than the presence of current pain only. Repeated musculoskeletal pain up to age 13 years may contribute to higher pain sensitivity (particularly lowered pressure pain tolerance) in the general adolescent population. This does not seem to be the case when reported pain experiences are recent or when the outcomes are temporal pain summation or CPM. In this community-based paediatric sample, the vast majority showed no sign of altered pain processing, but a small fraction may reveal some pain sensitization at 13 years of age.

Epidemiology and Perception of Acne Among Adolescents in Jos, Nigeria: Cross-Sectional School-Based Study.

Adolescents who make up a vast majority of the secondary school population are at a stage at which they are largely affected by acne. This condition, which is widely visible and easily recognized by peers, has numerous misperceptions surrounding it, which may influence attitudes toward people affected by it. There is a paucity of information on the prevalence of acne and how adolescents in Jos, Nigeria, view the condition. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of acne, perceived risk factors, and the accuracy of self-report among adolescents in Jos, Nigeria. The study also sought to understand perceptions surrounding acne in this age group. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents attending private and public secondary schools in Jos, Nigeria. In total, 482 students were recruited through a multistaged stratified random sampling method. A self-administered semistructured questionnaire was used to collect information on history of acne, perceptions of causes, and the attitude toward those who have the condition. All participants were examined for the presence of acne. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analysis were conducted using SPSS (version 26; IBM Corp). The self-reported prevalence of acne was 44% and that upon clinical examination was 55%. Self-report showed a moderate degree of agreement with clinical diagnosis (Cohen κ=57.3%; P<.001). Predictive factors for the presence of acne in general were age of ≥15 years (odds ratio [OR] 1.79, 95% CI 1.12-2.87; P=.02), being in a private school (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.38-3.42; P=.001), and being in a senior secondary class (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.32-3.47; P=.002). The female gender (OR 3.03, 95% CI 1.64-5.61; P=.001) and religion (OR 3.24, 95% CI 1.27-8.24; P=.02) were predictive for acne only among adolescents aged <15 years, while a positive family history was predictive in those aged ≥15 years (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.15-3.61; P=.02). A distinct perception and attitude pattern surrounding acne was observed, as a significant proportion (84/131, 64.1% vs 47/131, 35.9%; P=.02) of those who related acne to a biological phenomenon had acne themselves; however, the belief that acne is caused by skin lightening practices was significantly more common in those without acne (19/28, 67.9%) than in those with acne (9/28, 32.1%; P=.01). One-fourth of the adolescents (n=122, 25.3%) had no idea of the possible causes of acne. Though acne is a prevalent skin condition among Nigerian adolescents, many misperceptions and unfavorable attitudes surround acne and persons affected by the condition. Our findings have revealed the need to work with the school health program to educate the general adolescent population about acne, to refer and manage teenagers with acne.

Poster 295: Surgical Management and Outcomes of Patellar Instability in Hispanic Adolescents Mirrors the General Adolescent Population

Objectives: Literature has shown that there are differences in care across demographics for sports- related injuries. Delay to physician evaluation, delay to surgery, and decreased surgical management has been documented in common pathology such as ACL tears and Shoulder Instability. Recent research has demonstrated that for Patellar Instability in adolescents, African-American patients had lower odds of having surgical management in addition to their care costing more overall, even when controlled for insurance status. The Hispanic population is a growing minority group who face challenges not just in economic status, but language barriers that may also impart inequitable care for one of the most common diagnoses seen in a Sports clinic. The purpose of this study is to assess for any major differences in care provided to adolescent patients who identify as Hispanic compared to the remainder of the adolescent population. Methods: Patellar Instability patients who underwent MPFL Reconstruction at a single center between September 2008 through December 2015 were collected. Inclusion criteria were age &lt; 19 at time of surgery, preoperative and postoperative data available during chart review, case was performed as the index primary reconstructive procedure, and minimum of 3 month follow-up data available. Charts were reviewed to gather demographic and clinical information including age, sex, race, ethnicity, number of instability episodes, MRI at time of initial evaluation, time from injury to surgery, engagement in postoperative physical therapy, number of postoperative visits attended, Kujala score, and complications. Independent variable t-test was used for analysis of number of clinic visits, therapy sessions, and the Kujala score. The remainder of analysis was completed using χ2 testing. Significance was set at p = 0.05. Results: 95 patients (40 male (42%), 55 female (58%)) met the inclusion criteria. Mean patient age was 15.5. 37 patients identified as Hispanic (38.9%) and 58 (61.1%) of patients identified as non-Hispanic. 58.5% of all patients had an MRI available at their first clinic visit, 69.2% of patients had 2 or more dislocation events prior to surgery, and 37% of patients were formally cleared for return to activity. Hispanic patients more frequently had an MRI prior to surgery compared to non-Hispanic patients (73% vs 50%, p = .039). Otherwise, there was no statistically significant difference in observations between Hispanics patients and non-Hispanic patients, including number of dislocations prior to surgery (p = 0.13), number of clinic visits preoperatively or postoperatively (p = 0.51 and 0.09, respectively), number of therapy sessions attended postoperatively (p = 0.46), or the patient reported outcome as measured by the Kujala score (mean = 91.56 vs 95.25, p = 0.13). Complications in the cohort included 1 infection and 1 case of arthrofibrosis. 2 patients in the Hispanic cohort required revision for recurrent instability compared with 5 patients in the non-Hispanic cohort (p = 0.56). Conclusions: Adolescents with patellar instability who identify as Hispanic had similar outcomes scores and complication rates after operative treatment in the form of MPFL Reconstruction. Hispanic patients more frequently had an MRI at their first clinic visit prior to surgery, but the remainder of the perioperative work-up and care was similar to the non-Hispanic cohort. Though significant deviations in care were not found in this study, reviews to elucidate any variations in care should continue in efforts to ensure equitable treatment of at-risk populations.

The prevalence and burden of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) in a general adolescent population

BackgroundLittle is known about the prevalence and impairment associated with possible Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) in community adolescent populations. We aimed to investigate the prevalence, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and psychological distress associated with possible ARFID in a sample of adolescents from the general population in New South Wales, Australia.MethodsA representative sample of 5072 secondary school students aged between 11 and 19 years completed the online EveryBODY survey in 2017. The survey included demographic data, eating behaviours, psychological distress and both physical and psychosocial health-related quality of life.ResultsThe prevalence of possible ARFID was 1.98% (95% CI 1.63–2.41) and did not differ significantly across school years 7–12. The weight status of participants with possible ARFID did not differ significantly from those without possible ARFID. When measuring gender identity, the ratio of males to females with possible ARFID was 1:1.7. This was statistically significant, however, the effect size was very small. Psychological distress and HRQoL did not differ significantly between the possible ARFID and non-ARFID group.ConclusionsThe prevalence of possible ARFID was found to be similar to that of anorexia nervosa and binge eating disorder in the general adolescent population. Adolescents who identify as girls rather than boys may be more likely to develop ARFID, replication with new samples is required to confirm these findings. The impact of ARFID on HRQoL may be minimal in adolescence and become more significant in adulthood, further research using longitudinal design, healthy control groups and/or diagnostic interviews is required.

Profils cliniques et prise en charge des enfants et adolescents transgenres dans une consultation spécialisée d’Île-de-France

ContextFrench clinical data on the medical management of transgender children and adolescents are scarce. Yet, the topic regularly comes to the forefront of the media. MethodIn this article, we propose to retrospectively describe all the children and adolescents received since 2012 in the largest specialized gender identity consultation for children and adolescents in Île-de-France. In addition to their sociodemographic characteristics, we study the presence or not of gender incongruence according to the ICD 11 criteria, the psychiatric and social vulnerabilities, and describe the main management modalities proposed: social transition, puberty blockage, hormonal transitions and/or rare surgical transitions. These last three proposals were discussed in multidisciplinary concertation meetings. ResultsWe collected 239 youths aged 3 to 20 years. The mean age at which youth and their families were seen at the first appointment was 14.5 years (±3.16). In all, 91% of the sample had gender incongruence, with 32% expressing gender incongruence before puberty. Two-thirds were youth assigned female at birth (P<0.05). In terms of psychopathology, depressive and anxiety disorders, as well as suicidality, came well ahead of other psychiatric co-occurrences. School ostracism and rejection were common. Compared to the general adolescent population, the young people in the specialized consultation are much more exposed to discrimination and insults, and even sexual aggression in the public space, than their peers, and the internalization of transphobia by these young people is particularly important. In all, 40% of the young people made a social transition before the first consultation and 74% and 61% of them did so within the family and at school (the average age of social transition at school=15.13 years). In all, 35% of the young people made the name change official at the town hall (the average age=16.26 years). Puberty blockers were used by 11% of the youths who had reached puberty (mean age=13.9 years, mean time to initiation=10 months). In total, fewer than half of the youths (44%) received masculinizing or feminizing sex hormone treatment (mean age=16.9 years, mean time to initiation=14 months). In all, 8.7% of the young people who received sex hormone treatment underwent fertility preservation. Requests for surgery before the age of 18 remain very rare. The most frequent are torsoplasties (20%) performed at a mean age of 18.44 years and never before 16 years. ConclusionThe results of this cohort are close to those reported by other European centers in terms of the higher proportion of young people assigned female at birth. However, they differ with a lower proportion of hormonal treatment. Social transition is the most frequent request in our center, but it is not systematic. We wonder whether the place of narration while in our care may explain these differences.

Psychometric properties of the UPPS-P in Chilean adolescents and adults in treatment

The UPPS-P impulsivity scale has been used extensively to examine the association of impulsivity facets with psychiatric disorders, including substance use and related problems. However, it is still unclear if the original five-factor conceptualization of impulsivity constitutes the best model of its factor structure. The current study developed an adaptation of the original 59-item version of the UPPS-P for use with Chilean population and examined its factor structure in general-population adolescents (N = 838) and adults in substance use treatment (N = 316). Results indicated that all models had poor fit to the data, but Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling yielded 3-factor and hierarchical models that were adequate in capturing the underlying structure of the UPPS-P. Both the unidimensional and bifactor models were discarded, indicating that a general impulsivity factor is not supported, reinforcing the heterogenous nature of impulsivity as a construct. In addition, associations of UPPS-P facets with substance use-related problems suggest that it might be useful in clinical populations.

Prevalence and risk factors of disordered eating behavior in youth with hypertension disorders.

Adolescents with certain health conditions requiring lifestyle management, such as diabetes mellitus, have higher disordered eating behavior (DEB) risk than the general adolescent population, but DEB is underdiagnosed and can lead to adverse health consequences. In youth with other conditions requiring lifestyle counseling such as hypertension (HTN), DEB prevalence and associated risk factors are unknown. We hypothesized that youth with HTN disorders would have higher DEB prevalence than the general adolescent population, and that obesity, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and less specialized lifestyle counseling would be associated with higher DEB risk. Prospective cross-sectional study of youth aged 11-18years with HTN disorders. We excluded patients with diabetes mellitus, kidney failure or transplantation, or gastrostomy tube dependence. We collected data via surveys and electronic health record abstraction. We administered the validated SCOFF DEB screening questionnaire. We compared DEB prevalence using a one-sample z-test of proportions (p0 = 0.1) and estimated DEB risk by obesity, CKD, and lifestyle counseling source using multivariable generalized linear models. Of 74 participants, 59% identified as male, 22% as Black or African American, and 36% as Hispanic or Latino; 58% had obesity and 26% had CKD. DEB prevalence was 28% (95% CI 18-39%, p < 0.001). CKD was associated with higher DEB prevalence (adjusted RR 2.17, 95% CL 1.09 to 4.32), but obesity and lifestyle counseling source were not. DEB prevalence is higher in youth with HTN disorders and comparable to other conditions requiring lifestyle counseling. Youth with HTN disorders may benefit from DEB screening. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Stability and Change in Substance Use Among Swedish Adolescents: A Latent Transition Analysis

Background: Research is needed on how substance use patterns develop over time in the general adolescent population. This knowledge is crucial in calibrating prevention and other interventions. Method: The study concerns use of cigarettes, alcohol, and cannabis in a nationally representative cohort of Swedish adolescents (n = 3999). Two waves (9th and 11th school grade) from the Futura01 study were analyzed using latent transition analysis (LTA) and multinomial regression analysis. Results: Four substance use patterns, were identified, ranging from Non-user, Alcohol experienced, Alcohol User to Co-user of cigarettes, alcohol, and cannabis. Statuses thus conveyed a continuum from no use to more advanced use. Half of the individuals remained in their original status between time-points, and half transitioned, most often one step on the continuum. Alcohol user was the most stable status over time (0.78), and the Non-user status the least (0.36). The probability of remaining in the Alcohol experienced status was 0.57, and 0.45 for the Co-user status. There was a low probability of transitioning from alcohol to cannabis use. Females were more likely to belong to Alcohol experienced and males to Co-user statuses, but these associations weakened over time. Conclusions: The study identified transitions across substance use statuses between time-points. These usually concerned different levels of alcohol use, and not into more advanced substance use that included the illegal substance cannabis. The study corroborates that young Swedes belong to a “sober” generation and usually do not transition from legal into illegal substance use during late adolescence, though with some gender differences.

Associations between frequent nightmares, nightmare distress and depressive symptoms in adolescent psychiatric patients

BackgroundNightmares are common in patients with psychiatric disorders. Patients with psychiatric disorders often experience depressive symptoms. Nightmares have been associated with depressive symptoms among adolescents. Previous studies have explored the mediating role of nightmare distress in the relationship between frequent nightmares and depressive symptoms in the general adolescent population. We aimed to explore the associations between frequent nightmares, nightmare distress, and depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescent patients with psychiatric disorders. MethodsA total of 408 adolescents participated in this study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to measure nightmare frequency, nightmare distress, depressive symptoms, and covariates. Linear regressions and mediation analyses were performed to examine the associations between nightmare frequency, nightmare distress, and depressive symptoms. ResultsThe mean age of participants was 15.31 ± 1.88 years, and 152 (37.3%) were boys. The prevalence of frequent nightmares in adolescent patients with psychosis was 49.3%. Girls reported more frequent nightmares and had significantly higher scores of depressive symptoms and nightmare distress. Patients with frequent nightmares had higher scores of nightmare distress and depressive symptoms. Frequent nightmares and nightmare distress were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Nightmare distress had a full mediating effect on the correlation between frequent nightmares and depressive symptoms. ConclusionsIn Chinese adolescent patients with psychiatric disorders, frequent nightmares and nightmare distress were associated with depressive symptoms, whereas the association between frequent nightmares and depressive symptoms was mediated by nightmare distress. Interventions for nightmare distress may be more useful in reducing depressive symptoms in adolescent patients with psychiatric disorders.

The longitudinal relationship between dissociative symptoms and self-harm in adolescents: a population-based cohort study.

Previous studies have reported that dissociative symptoms (DIS) are associated with self-harm (SH) in adolescents. However, most of these studies were cross-sectional, which limits the understanding of their theoretical relationship. We aimed to investigate the longitudinal relationship between DIS and SH in the general adolescent population. We used data from the Tokyo Teen Cohort study (N = 3007). DIS and SH were assessed at times 1 and 2 (T1 and T2) (12years of age and 14years of age, respectively). DIS were assessed using the parent-report Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and severe dissociative symptoms (SDIS) were defined as a score above the top 10th percentile. The experience of SH within 1year was assessed by a self-report questionnaire. The longitudinal relationship between DIS and SH was examined using regression analyses. Using logistic regression analyses, we further investigated the risk for SH at T2 due to persistent SDIS and vice versa. DIS at T1 tended to predict SH at T2 (odds ratio (OR) 1.11, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.25, p = 0.08), while SH at T1 did not predict DIS at T2 (B = -0.03, 95% CI -0.26 to 0.20, p = 0.81). Compared with adolescents without SDIS, those with persistent SDIS had an increased risk of SH at T2 (OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.28 to 5.33, p = 0.01). DIS tended to predict future SH, but SH did not predict future DIS. DIS may be a target to prevent SH in adolescents. Intensive attention should be given to adolescents with SDIS due to their increased risk of SH.

Cannabis use in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The most available data on the prevalence of cannabis use come from population surveys conducted in high-income countries in North America, Oceania and Europe. Less is known about the prevalence of cannabis use in Africa. This systematic review aimed to summarize general population-level cannabis use in sub-Saharan Africa since 2010. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO and AJOL databases in addition to Global Health Data Exchange and grey literature without language restriction. Search terms related to 'substance', 'Substance-Related Disorders' and 'Prevalence' and 'Africa South of the Sahara' were used. Studies that reported cannabis use in the general population were selected, while studies from clinical populations and high-risk groups were excluded. Prevalence data on cannabis use in the general population of adolescents (10-17 years) and adults (≥ 18 years) in sub-Saharan Africa were extracted. The study included 53 studies for the quantitative meta-analysis and included 13 239 participants. Among adolescents, the life-time, 12-month and 6-month prevalence of cannabis use were 7.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 5.4-10.9%], 5.2% (95% CI = 1.7-10.3%) and 4.5% (95% CI = 3.3-5.8%), respectively. The corresponding life-time, 12-month and 6-month prevalence of cannabis use among adults were 12.6% (95% CI = 6.1-21.2%), 2.2% (95% CI = 1.7-2.7%, with data only available from Tanzania and Uganda) and 4.7% (95% CI = 3.3-6.4%), respectively. The male-to-female life-time cannabis use relative risk was 1.90 (95% CI = 1.25-2.98) among adolescents and 1.67 (CI = 0.63-4.39) among adults. Life-time cannabis use prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa appears to be approximately 12% for adults and just under 8% for adolescents.

Clinical improvement of teens participating in a dbt skills training

IntroductionDialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) developed by Linehan has been shown to be widely effective in improving emotional regulation capacity in patients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder in adults and adolescents, but also for other profiles of emotional dysregulation, even in the general non-clinical population through emotional regulation skills training programs in schools.ObjectivesThe objective was to describe psychopathological characteristics and to evaluate clinical outcome variables (self-harm, suicide attempts, admissions and emotional regulation difficulties) in young patients who participated in the DBT skills training group carried out by the child and adolescent psychiatry team of Hospital del Mar (Barcelona) between February 2020 and April 2022.MethodsProspective longitudinal study with two evaluations (before starting the group and after finishing it). The clinical variables were evaluated by reviewing the medical records, and the improvement in emotional regulation difficulties was evaluated through the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) adaptation to adolescents before and after the intervention.ResultsA total of 36 participants have been referred and assessed to participate in the previously mentioned emotional regulation program. The mean age was 15.6 years (14-17 years old). 100% of the participants were female. All of them met criteria for BPD according to the SCID-II questionnaire; but only 23 patients (63.9%) had BPD as their main diagnosis. 63.9% (n=23) presented psychiatric comorbidities, being 27.8% (n= 10) ADHD, 30.6% (n= 11) substance use disorder and 47.2% (n= 17) eating disorders,77.8% (n=28) had presented self-injurious behaviour, 52% (n=18) had committed a suicide attempt, requiring hospital admission in 36.2% (n=13) at some point in their lives before the therapy group. In the three months after the end of the group, admissions were reduced to 17% (n=6), suicide attempts to 14.8% (n=5) and non-suicidal self-injurious behaviours to 27.8% (n=10).The mean score of all participants on the DERS scale was 129.91 points before participating in the DBT skills group and 105 points right after the group finished. Higher scores translate into greater emotional regulation difficulties.ConclusionsThe reduction in DERS scores, self-injurious behaviours, suicide attempts, and admissions was notable for all participants. It remains to add the results of the groups currently in operation and perform the statistical analysis of all the results. It is necessary to continue studying and testing the benefits of DBT both in the clinical adolescent population and in the general child and adolescent population in order to generalize the promising results observed in our sample. At Hospital del Mar, we will continue to expand the DBT program so that more children and adolescents with emotional dysregulation can benefit.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Safety and effectiveness of monovalent COVID-19 mRNA vaccination and risk factors for hospitalisation caused by the omicron variant in 0.8 million adolescents: A nationwide cohort study in Sweden.

Real-world evidence on the safety and effectiveness of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination against severe disease caused by the omicron variant among adolescents is sparse. In addition, evidence on risk factors for severe COVID-19 disease, and whether vaccination is similarly effective in such risk groups, is unclear. The aim of the present study was therefore to examine the safety and effectiveness of monovalent COVID-19 mRNA vaccination against COVID-19 hospitalisation, and risk factors for COVID-19 hospitalisation in adolescents. A cohort study was conducted using Swedish nationwide registers. The safety analysis included all individuals in Sweden born between 2003 and 2009 (aged 11.3 to 19.2 years) given at least 1 dose of monovalent mRNA vaccine (N = 645,355), and never vaccinated controls (N = 186,918). The outcomes included all-cause hospitalisation and 30 selected diagnoses until 5 June 2022. The vaccine effectiveness (VE) against COVID-19 hospitalisation, and risk factors for hospitalisation, were evaluated in adolescents given 2 doses of monovalent mRNA vaccine (N = 501,945), as compared to never vaccinated controls (N = 157,979), for up to 5 months follow-up during an omicron predominant period (1 January 2022 to 5 June 2022). Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, baseline date, and whether the individual was born in Sweden. The safety analysis showed that vaccination was associated with 16% lower (95% confidence interval (CI) [12, 19], p < 0.001) risk of all-cause hospitalisation, and with marginal differences between the groups regarding the 30 selected diagnoses. In the VE analysis, there were 21 cases (0.004%) of COVID-19 hospitalisation among 2-dose recipients and 26 cases (0.016%) among controls, resulting in a VE of 76% (95% CI [57, 87], p < 0.001). Predominant risk factors for COVID-19 hospitalisation included previous infections (bacterial infection, tonsillitis, and pneumonia) (odds ratio [OR]: 14.3, 95% CI [7.7, 26.6], p < 0.001), and cerebral palsy/development disorders (OR: 12.7, 95% CI [6.8, 23.8], p < 0.001), with similar estimates of VE in these subgroups as in the total cohort. The number needed to vaccinate with 2 doses to prevent 1 case of COVID-19 hospitalisation was 8,147 in the total cohort and 1,007 in those with previous infections or developmental disorders. None of the individuals hospitalised due to COVID-19 died within 30 days. Limitations of this study include the observational design and the possibility of unmeasured confounding. In this nationwide study of Swedish adolescents, monovalent COVID-19 mRNA vaccination was not associated with an increased risk of any serious adverse events resulting in hospitalisation. Vaccination with 2 doses was associated with a lower risk of COVID-19 hospitalisation during an omicron predominant period, also among those with certain predisposing conditions who should be prioritised for vaccination. However, COVID-19 hospitalisation in the general population of adolescents was extremely rare, and additional doses in this population may not be warranted at this stage.

Self-reported physical activity behaviors of childhood cancer survivors: comparison to a general adolescent population in Korea

Adequate physical activity (PA) can significantly contribute to the prevention of undesirable health outcomes in childhood cancer survivors (CCS). This study aimed to identify the patterns of PA and related factors in Korean CCS. Study subjects were 184 adolescents selected from an ongoing cohort study of Korean CCS and 1,840 sex- and school grade-matched controls randomly selected from the participants of the 2019 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. Information on PA and sedentary behaviors was collected by self-administered questionnaire. We estimated body mass index (BMI)-adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the advisable healthy behaviors of CCS compared with healthy controls using conditional logistic regression analysis. In addition, the associations of advisable healthy behaviors of CCS with sociodemographic and clinical factors were estimated using multiple logistic regression analysis. CCS were less likely to be physically active than controls, but this finding was evident only in males. The ORs (95% CIs) for regular exercise, moderate intensity PA, vigorous intensity PA, and walking were 0.42 (0.27-0.65), 0.39 (0.24-0.63), 0.53 (0.33-0.84), and 0.64 (0.42-0.98), respectively, in male CCS compared with same-sex controls. Compared with same-sex controls, male CCS were 4.60 times and female survivors were 15.19 times more likely to sleep longer than 8h a day. Among CCS, males were 2.92 times and 3.07 times more likely to perform moderate intensity PA and muscle-strengthening exercise, respectively, than female. Higher BMI (OR: 1.16), highest family income (OR: 3.98), and a caregiver who performed regular exercise (OR: 2.08) were positively associated with vigorous intensity PA of CCS. With increasing time after treatment completion, the probability of engaging in sedentary activity for less than 6h per day decreased (OR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.79-1.00). Korean adolescent CCS were physically inactive compared with control adolescents. Several sociodemographic factors such as sex, family income, caregiver PA, and obesity level were associated with PA behaviors of CCS. Strategic effort would be needed to increase physical activity of childhood cancer survivors in adolescent period with consideration of various sociodemographic factors found in this study.

Four reasons why we should screen for dissociation in competitive sports

Four reasons why we should screen for dissociation in competitive sports

Exposure to volatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is associated with the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Korean adolescents: Korea National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) 2015–2017

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most frequent liver diseases among adolescents. Several animal studies have suggested that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) increase NAFLD risk. However, few epidemiological studies have confirmed the association between VOCs, PAHs and NAFLD in the general adolescent population. Therefore, we analyzed 798 adolescents from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS), 2015–2017, to examine the associations of urinary metabolites of VOCs and PAHs with serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and NAFLD prevalence. We performed linear regression, logistic regression, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to evaluate the association of urinary VOCs and PAHs metabolites with ALT levels and NAFLD prevalence. After adjusting for all covariates, urinary benzylmercapturic acid and 2-hydroxyfluorene levels were found to increase ALT activity and NAFLD prevalence. Additionally, the BKMR analyses showed a significantly positive overall effect on ALT activity and NAFLD prevalence with urinary concentrations of VOCs and PAHs metabolites, with 2-hydroxyfluorene as the biggest contributor. Our study suggests that exposure to low-level VOCs and PAHs may have a detrimental effect on NAFLD risk in adolescents. Given the increasing prevalence of NAFLD in adolescents, future cohort studies are confirmed to comprehend the effect of these chemicals on NAFLD risk.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components in Brazilian adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective:To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and its components among Brazilian adolescents.Data source:Databases, such as LILACS, MEDLINE, and SciELO, were searched for original cross-sectional studies published between 2010 and 2021. The inclusion criteria were determined based on the mnemonic CoCoPop — Condition, Context, and Population: studies determining the prevalence of MS and its components (condition) in the general population of Brazilian adolescents, female and male (population), enrolled in public or private schools in rural or urban areas (context). Reviews, editorials, and articles that did not directly relate to the prevalence of MS or that included non-adolescent age groups or groups with specific health conditions (obesity/overweight and others) were excluded.Data synthesis:A total of 15 studies, including 43,227 adolescents, were identified. MS prevalence (95% confidence interval [95%CI]) was 2.9% (2.65–3.18) and 2.4% (1.90–2.90) (p<0.001) in males and females, respectively, by using the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. There was a significant difference in MS prevalence among Brazilian regions (Q=24.7; p<0.001). The lowest MS prevalence (95%CI) was determined for North Region of Brazil, 1.8% (1.52–2.13), and the highest for Northeast Region of Brazil, 2.9% (2.62–3.23). Regarding MS components, a higher prevalence (95%CI) was found for low high-density lipoprotein (HDL), 22.1% (12.49–36.17), followed by abdominal obesity, 11.0% (8.05–14.94), and arterial hypertension, 10.3% (7.84–13.48).Conclusions:This study allowed the determination of the prevalence of MS and the MS components in Brazilian adolescents, highlighting relevant aspects to be addressed on public health management.

School Without Walls High School Students and COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy

In Washington, D.C., adolescents aged 12 to 17 have a relatively low COVID-19 vaccination rate compared to the overall population of D.C.— about 66 percent of adolescents aged 12 to 15 and 62 percent of teenagers aged 16 to 17 have received at least one shot, compared to 82 percent for the whole of D.C. This number falls even further when socio-demographic data are explored. School Without Walls High School students appear to have received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine at a higher rate than the general adolescent population. Approximately 97% of participants reported having received at least one shot compared to 95% of all Washington, D.C. residents as of April 17th, 2022 (Ivory et al., 2021), as well as 100% of participants aged 12 to 15 compared to 85% of all Washington, D.C. adolescents aged 12 to 15 as of April 17th, 2022 (Vaccination Data | Coronavirus, 2021). Two possible reasons for this are that SWWHS students appear to be both better informed than the general population about COVID-19 and the risks of contracting it, and more aware of the risk of infecting others who are more vulnerable.