Psychological Impacts Related to Stress and Fear during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cardiovascular Diseases, Diabetes and Psychological Disorders as Risk Factors

Background and Aims: Patients and the general public are under insurmountable psychological pressure which may lead to various psychological problems, such as anxiety, fear, depression, and insomnia, causing, consequently, the impaired quality of life. Psychological crisis intervention plays a pivotal role in the overall deployment of health-related quality of life and disease control. A novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS- CoV-2), a pathogen of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has affected several sector activities, including people’s health. To enhance infection control methods, appropriate interventions, and public health policies, the present study aims to assess the fear and peri-traumatic stress during the COVID-19 inBrazil. Method: A cross-sectional survey has been conducted from April 12th to 18th from 2020, using the Peri-Traumatic Distress Scale (CPDI) and the Fear Scale (FCV-19S) aiming to measure the peri-traumatic stress and fear as psychological reactions during the COVID-19 pandemic. For that purpose, an online spreadsheet was used to send the questionnaire and scales to a sample of 1844 participants as a collecting information tool. After the data analysis, the individuals were separated into 4 groups: Group 1 (1232) population without chronic health conditions;group 2 (298) patients with previous psychological suffering, group 3 (229) patients with cardiovascular diseases, group 4 (71) patients with diabetes. For analysis, G1 were considered control for comparison with groups 2, 3 and 4. Results: All the groups showed the CPDI and FCV-19S increased in comparison with the G1 group. Concerning CPDI, the G 3 was increased when compared to G1, G2 and G4. The G3 had the FCV-19S higher in comparison with G1, G2 and G4. The Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test showed a statistical difference between the control group in comparison with 2 and 3 groups (Mann-Whitney p < 0.05). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the Brazilian population, with patients with heart disease and hypertension presenting the highest numbers of stress and fear, with numbers comparable and even higher than those who reported previous psychological distress.

Preliminary Report on Phenom^®Femoral Component in Total Hip Replacement: The Correlation between Outcome Scores in a Cross-Seccional Study

Background: The main purpose of the present study was to assess the short term performance of a cementless femoral stem in total hip replacement. Methods: Cross-sectional observational study of a 48-patient cohort with Phenom? femoral stems implanted between June 1, 2014 and September 1, 2018, to determine clinical performance, stability, and radiographic osseointegration. Patients were followed-up from 13 to 76 months (mean: 44.5 months) and assessed using the Harris Hip Score-HHS, the Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score-HOOS and radiographs. Results: All stems were radiologically stable. Mean Harris Hip Score was 89.8 and the HOOS was 80.4. No statistical differences were observed among patients with different diagnoses. Conclusions: The short-term results revealed satisfactory clinical outcomes and radiological signs of implant stability in all cases. Using two functional scores was useful in detecting biases and a low to moderate agreement was found between the scores.

Psychological Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Brazilian Population: Occupational Analysis

Context and objectives :The unexpected pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) affected several activities and exposed workers, students and the large mass of unemployed people to an economic and psychological pressure that could lead to various problems, such as anxiety, fear, depression and insomnia, consequently causing impairment of quality of life. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the COVID-19 Peri-Traumatic Distress Index (CPDI) and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) to measure peri-traumatic stress and fear, such as psychological reactions during the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. An online spreadsheet was used as a data collection tool to send the questionnaire and scales to a sample of 1,844 participants. Data were analyzed in groups of health professionals, students and teachers, and an analysis was performed between unemployed and employed people in order to evaluate the impact of employment on the population’s mental health. Results: All groups presented from moderate to high CPDI and FCV-19S scores, and students and unemployed people had higher levels of stress and fear. Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the Brazilian population, with students and the unemployed showing the highest rates of stress and fear.

Effects of Aerobic Conditioning on Individuals Post-Stroke: What Is the Evidence?

Background: Stroke has been considered the major cause of chronic disability in the world and ranks among the leading causes of death. Despite the fact that new vascular events often happen and risk factors are the same that Cardiovascular Diseases, secondary prevention through non-pharmacological measures, are not part of the routine physical rehabilitation after stroke. Objective: The aim is to answer the following clinical question: Should aerobic fitness be part of the physical rehabilitation of individuals post-stroke? Methodological Design: The methodology used in the study was an integrative literature review. Inclusion Criteria: Articles in English are published in secondary databases: systematic reviews with or without meta-analysis, which address the question PICO: patient (post-stroke), intervention (aerobic exercise), comparison (with or without aerobic conditioning) the outcome (volume of oxygen consumed peak (VO2peak), quality of life (QoL), morbidity and mortality). Outcomes: VO2peak, QoL, complications and mortality. Analysis of Studies: The methodological quality of included studies is assessed using the tools: PRISMA and R-AMSTAR. Results: There was “good” evidence for the inclusion of aerobic exercise on physical rehabilitation of post-stroke individuals to improve their physical capacity (VO2peak), facilitating the completion of activities of daily living and gait. There was weak evidence on the association of aerobic fitness with positive results on QoL in stroke victims and insufficient results to evaluate the effect of aerobic fitness on the risk of stroke recurrence and mortality. Conclusion: The aerobic conditioning should be included in the rehabilitation of stroke victims.

Evaluation of Fear and Peritraumatic Distress during COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil

COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread exponentially worldwide, especially in America. At the end of August 2020, Brazil is one of the most affected countries with more than three and a half million cases and up to 114,250 deaths. This study aims to assess the fear and peri-traumatic stress during the COVID-19 pandemics in Brazil, to enhance infection control methods, appropriate interventions, and public health policies. A cross-sectional survey has been conducted from April 12th to 18th using the Peri-Traumatic Distress Scale (CPDI) and the Fear Scale (FCV-19S) aiming to measure the peri-traumatic stress and fear as psychological reactions during the COVID-19 pandemic. For that purpose, an online spreadsheet was used to send the questionnaire and scales to a sample of 1844 participants as a collecting information tool. Significant positive relationship (r = 0.660, p < 0.001) and internal consistencies on CPDI and FCV-195 scales (Cronbach Alfa scores 0.90 and 0.88 respectively) were shown. Results highlight significant gender differences as in both scales women’s mean scores are higher showing that it is paramount that women’s voices were represented in policy spaces as socially constructed gender roles place them in a strategic position to enhance multi-level interventions (primary and secondary effects of COVID-19), equitable policies, and new approaches to control the pandemic.

Clinical Assessment of Treatment Outcomes Following Borago officinalis Extract Therapy in Patients Presenting with Cyclical Mastalgia

In order to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Borago officinalis (900 mg borage oil capsules) in the treatment of patients presenting with cyclic mastalgia, 91 subjects were included in the study. Efficacy assessments were performed based on data obtained prior to the start of treatment (Pretreatment), and after each menstrual cycle (Assessment 2—following 45 days of treatment;and Assessment 3—at the end of the 90-day treatment period). Primary efficacy measures considered the results of the Mastalgia Questionnaire, including a 100 mm visual analog pain scale assessing mean, most intense mastalgia severity, and impact on work, sleep, and sexual activity. Safety and tolerability measures included any changes in vital signs and physical exam in relation to pretreatment, any changes in clinical laboratory exams in relation to pretreatment, and the occurrence of adverse events after the first dose of study medication. The VAS scores of the mean mastalgia and most severe mastalgia both showed statistically significant

Multidimensional Pain Inventory(MPI):Adaptation to Orthodontic Patients and Its Psychometric Properties

Background: Pain perception may result from orthodontic treatment and should be considered in clinical management. Its assessment should not be limited to the intensity of perceived pain but should also consider the psychosocial and behavioral aspects involved. Objective: The aims of this study were to adapt and validate the Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI) for orthodontic patients, and present a proposal to calculate an overall score of the pain-related aspects and compare these scores with the usual methodology used. Methods: Face validity of the MPI was estimated and orthodontic version (MPI-Orthodontic) was developed. Factorial validity was evaluated by confirmatory analysis. Convergent and discriminant validity and reliability were estimated. The fit of Second-Order Hierarchical Models was estimated. Concurrent validity of MPI-Orthodontic was evaluated against the Visual Analogue Scale. Invariance of the factorial models was evaluated for independent samples and according to sex and age. Overall score was calculated using the matrix of regression weights and compared to simple arithmetic mean. Results: 507 individuals (63.3% women;age: 26.32 (SD = 11.70) years) participated. For the fit of Part I (psychosocial aspects) of the MPI-Orthodontic, it added correlation between two items and excluded one item;for Part II (behavioral aspects) two items were excluded. The models presented adequate fit to the sample. Reliability was adequate. MPI-Orthodontic presented invariance for independent samples and adequate concurrent and divergent validity. Score obtained with the simple arithmetic mean was overestimated for Part I and underestimated for Part II. Conclusion: MPI-Orthodontic was valid, reliable and invariant for the evaluation of the orthodontic pain. It is recommended to calculate overall weighted scores for pain assessment.