Depression and seasonal sensitivity among medical students residing in high southern latitudesBackground: There is no evidence for the association of depressive symptoms with the sense of well-being of undergraduate medical students residing in high southern latitudes (HSL). Aim: To assess the frequency of depressive symptoms and its relationship with seasonal sensitivity and quality of life in medical students residing in HSL. Material and Methods: The Beck anxiety and depressive symptoms inventory, the seasonal pattern assessment questionnaire and the quality-of-life questionnaire of the WHO were applied to 102 medical students residing in Magallanes, Chile. Results: Fifty-two percent of respondents reported some degree of depressive symptoms. These symptoms were significantly associated with the seasonal pattern score (r = 0.432, p < 0.01). They were also inversely associated with parameters of physical health and psychosocial health (r = -0.567, p < 0.01 and r = -0.708, p < 0.01, respectively). There was also a correlation between depressive and anxiety symptoms. Conclusions: Depressive symptoms are common in medical students residing in HSL and they are associated with seasonal sensitivity and quality of life measures.

Objetivo: este estudio tuvo como propósito, determinar la existencia de una asociación entre el índice de masa corporal y la regulación cardiovascular en estudiantes de medicina. Materiales y métodos: Estudio transversal con un diseño aleatorio. La muestra se compuso por 54 estudiantes de medicina (21,2 ± 1,6 años) que fueron evaluados y clasificados según el índice de masa corporal: Normopeso (NP; IMC < 25 kg/m2); Sobrepeso (SP; IMC≥ 25 kg/m2); Obesos (OB; IMC a 30 Kg/m2). Medidas antropométricas, presión arterial y variabilidad de frecuencia cardiaca (HRV) fueron las variables evaluadas. Resultados: 51,9% de los estudiantes presenta sobrepeso u obesidad. El índice de masa corporal correlaciona negativamente con el parámetro de variabilidad de frecuencia cardíaca, especialmente al compararla en los dominios de tiempo de HRV (p<0,001). También se observaron diferencias en el control autonómico cardíaco al comparar los grupos de estudio en LnRMSSD (p<0,01) y LnSDNN (p<0,01). Conclusión: los estudiantes de medicina que presentan mayor índice de masa corporal se asocian a un menor control autonómico cardíaco y menor acción parasimpática en la regulación del sistema cardiovascular.

Confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted lifestyles worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of confinement on anxiety symptoms and sleep quality in people living in extreme southern latitudes. The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were administered to 617 people, 74.2% of whom were women. The sample was grouped according to confinement: the zone of confinement (CZ) (46.5%) and the zone of partial confinement (PZ) (53.5%). In addition, the sample was further categorized into four age subgroups (18–25 years; 26–40 years; 41–50 years; over 50 years). Higher levels of anxiety and worse sleep quality were found in the CZ group than in the PZ group. Women had higher levels of anxiety and worse sleep quality than men. A significant bidirectional relationship between anxiety and sleep quality was observed, even after controlling for sex. This study demonstrated that women and young adults were more vulnerable to the effects of confinement on anxiety symptoms and sleep quality in populations at southern latitudes.