The movement restrictions put in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic required modification of the population’s usual routines, including those of the most vulnerable groups such as patients with schizophrenia. This was a retrospective observational study. We used an online survey to collect information on patient adherence to the Mediterranean diet (Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener questionnaire), physical exercise (International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form), and tobacco consumption and levels of anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) before and during the movement restrictions. A total of 102 people with schizophrenia participated in this study. During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown the participants significantly increased the number of minutes spent sitting per day (z = −6.73; p < 0.001), decreased the time they spent walking (z = −6.32; p < 0.001), and increased their tobacco consumption (X2 = 156.90; p < 0.001). These results were also accompanied by a significant increase in their reported levels of anxiety (z = −7.45; p < 0.001) and depression (z = −7.03, p < 0.001). No significant differences in patient diets during the pandemic compared to before the movement restrictions were reported. These results suggest the need to implement specific programs to improve lifestyle and reduce anxiety and depression during possible future pandemic situations.

Autopercepción del estado de salud como indicador de la calidad de vida de los pacientes con deterioro cognitivo en función de su lugar de residencia: domicilio versus centro sociosanitario Self-perception of health status as an indicator of the quality of life in patients with cognitive dysfunction based on the residence: home care versus nursing home RESUMENObjetivo: analizar la relación entre las variables sociodemográficas y clínicas en pacientes con deterioro cognitivo en función del lugar de residencia (domicilio familiar frente a instituciones), comparándola con la autopercepción del estado de salud de ambos grupos. Material y métodos: estudio comparativo observacional transversal. La muestra estuvo formada por 71 sujetos, de los cuales 44 recibían cuidado informal en su domicilio y asistían a un centro de día (Valencia, España), y 27 que residían en un centro sociosanitario (Teruel, Valencia), ambos situados en zona rural. Los participantes fueron evaluados mediante el índice de comorbilidad de Charlson, Mini-Mental Test de Folstein (MMSE), test de fluidez verbal, autopercepción del estado de salud mediante escala visual analógica del Euro-Qol y variables sociodemográficas que incluyeron: sexo, edad, nivel de estudios, estado civil y número de hijos.Resultados: los principales resultados apuntan a que pese a que los pacientes que residen en sus hogares tienen un peor estado cognitivo en relación con el MMSE (diferencia de 3,09 puntos; p = 0,003) y la fluidez verbal (diferencia de 3,05 puntos 5,32; p = 0,000), su autopercepción del estado de salud es superior frente a aquellos que viven en un centro sociosanitario (diferencia de 21,22 puntos; p = 0,000). Conclusiones: los sujetos que residen en el domicilio presentan una autopercepción de su estado de salud mejor que aquellos que residen en el centro sociosanitario, pese a que su estado cognitivo muestra peores resultados.Este aspecto contribuye a la mejora de la utilización de los recursos necesarios hacia los ámbitos donde los cuidados sean más eficaces.PALABRAS CLAVE: Calidad de vida, estado de salud, deterioro cognitivo, atención en el hogar, centro sociosanitario.

Background Virtual reality (VR) is used as a distraction measure during painful clinical procedures associated with the use of needles. These procedures include vaccinations, blood draws, or the administration of medications, which can cause children to feel increased levels of pain and fear. Objective The objective of this study was to collect and analyze the current evidence regarding the effectiveness of VR as a tool to distract children from pain and fear during needle procedures as compared to that of standard techniques. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed. We included randomized clinical trials (RCTs) or quasi-RCTs with participants younger than 21 years who underwent needle procedures in which the main distraction measure used was VR and where the main outcome measure was pain. The databases searched included the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Cochrane libraries. In this systematic review, the studies were analyzed by applying the Critical Appraisal Skills Program guide in Spanish and the Jadad scale. In the meta-analysis, the effect size of the studies was analyzed based on the results for pain and fear in children. Results From 665 unique search results, 21 studies were included in this systematic review, most of which reported low methodological quality. The study sample cohorts ranged from a minimum of 15 participants to a maximum of 220 participants. Ten studies were included in the meta-analysis. The global effect of using VR as a distraction measure was a significant reduction in pain (inverse variance [IV] –2.37, 95% CI –3.20 to –1.54; Z=5.58; P<.001) and fear (IV –1.26, 95% CI –1.89 to –0.63; Z=3.92; P<.001) in children in the experimental groups. Conclusions The quality of the studies was mostly low. The main limitations were the impossibility of blinding the participants and health care personnel to the VR intervention. Nonetheless, the use of VR as a distraction measure was effective in reducing pain and fear in children during procedures involving needles.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of three different physical exercise programs on the symptomatology, body composition, physical activity, physical fitness, and quality of life of individuals with schizophrenia. A total of 432 patients were assessed for eligibility and 86 were randomized into the aerobic (n = 28), strength (n = 29) or mixed (n = 29) groups. Positive, negative, and general symptoms of psychosis, body mass index (BMI), physical activity (IPAQ-SF), physical fitness (6-min walk test [6MWT] and hand-grip strength [HGS]), and quality of life (WHOQUOL-BREF) were assessed at baseline, post-intervention (16 weeks), and at 10-months. Our results at 16 weeks showed significant improvements in all three groups in the negative, general, and total symptoms with moderate to large effect sizes (P < 0.01, ηp2 > 0.11), no change in the BMI, 6MWT or IPAQ-SF, and a significant improvement in the HGS test in the strength and mixed groups (P ≤ 0.05, ηp2 > 0.08). Nonetheless, all the improvements had disappeared at 10 months. We concluded that 3 weekly sessions of a moderate to vigorous progressive exercise program for 16 weeks improved the symptomatology of individuals with schizophrenia in all three groups, with no differences between them. However, the effects had declined to baseline levels by the 10-month follow-up, suggesting that exercise interventions should be maintained over time.

Some studies have been conducted in Ethiopia to analyze the predictive factors associated with recovery or mortality in children with acute malnutrition, but no recent studies carried out in Oromia have analyze nutritional recovery status in this children. we studied the factors affecting nutritional recovery for survival in acutely malnourished children Southern Ethiopia. cohort study that included the children admitted to the (blinded for review) hospital (Oromia, Ethiopia) for acute malnutrition from January 2015 to December 2016 (n = 440). Kaplan–Meier tests and log-rank tests were used to describe the survival. Chi-squared tests and Spearman and Mann–Whitney U correlation tests were also employed. The mean survival time was shorter in children with severe versus moderate malnutrition at admission (49 days vs. 101 days; log-rank p = 0.042). The survival time was shorter in children with severe acute malnutrition at the time of admission. Survival time of children with moderate acute malnutrition was shorter in children who came from rural areas compared to urban areas. Severe acute malnutrition was associated with hospital stays, death rates, or transfer to another hospital. Practical implications: the results of this study may improve the care of children with malnutrition.