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Abstract Background Although metreleptin replacement therapy was shown to improve metabolic alterations in lipodystrophic syndromes, patients’ adherence and satisfaction with treatment have never been evaluated. The 20 patients with lipodystrophic syndromes participating in the French compassionate program of metreleptin therapy filled in a self-questionnaire including an Adherence Evaluation Test, the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM®-vII), and items about physical appearance. Results 15 patients were women, median age was 32.5 years (IQT 25–75 (16.2;49.5), 18 had diabetes. Adherence with metreleptin (one daily subcutaneous injection) was poor in 25%, excellent in 25% and acceptable in 50% of patients. On a 0-to-100 scale, patients’ satisfaction scores reached 66.7 (52.1;81.2) for effectiveness, 55.6 (44.4;66.7) for ease/comfort of use, and 83.3 (52.1;83.3) for global satisfaction with metreleptin therapy. Self-reported side effects were frequent injection site reactions 100 (79.2;100). Satisfaction scores did not differ in patients with partial (n = 10) or generalized (n = 10) lipodystrophic syndromes, did not correlate with metabolic improvement, but were significantly higher in compliant patients with fewer side effects. Morphological appearance was reported improved under metreleptin therapy in 13 among 17 patients. Conclusions Metreleptin increases health self-perception and decreases morphotype-associated stigmatization in most patients with lipodystrophic syndromes, but poor comfort of use and local side effects weaken adherence.

The resurgence of COVID-19 could deepen the psychological impacts of the pandemic which poses new challenges for mental health professionals. Among the actions that should be prioritized is the monitoring of the groups that have shown greater psychological vulnerability during the first stage of the pandemic. The first aim of our study is to explore the fear reactions to COVID-19 between genders during the second wave of the outbreak in Cuba. Second, establish possible predictors of fear of COVID-19 in relation to gender. Specifically, we will evaluate how anxiety related to COVID-19, health self-perception, and worry about the resurgence of COVID-19 predict fear reactions among women and men in the Cuban population. A cross-sectional online study was designed. The research was conducted between August 16 and October 18, 2020. A total of 373 people completed the online survey. A socio-demographic questionnaire, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale were used. An independent-samples t-test was conducted to compare the fear, worry, anxiety and self-perceived health scores, between genders. The relationship between those variables and fear of COVID-19, was investigated using Pearson correlation coefficient. Finally, multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the possible associations (predictors) related to fear of COVID-19. In our study, women, compared to men, presented greater fear reactions, greater concern about resurgence of COVID-19 and poorer self-perceived health. Anxiety reactions in our sample showed no differences between genders. In women, anxiety of COVID-19, worry about resurgence of COVID-19, and self-perceived health are associated with fear reactions to COVID-19. In the case of men, the self-perceived health showed no associations with fear reactions. Our results confirm the results of several related investigations during the first wave of the pandemic where women have shown greater psychological vulnerability compared to men. However, we cannot rule out that the real impact of the pandemic on mental health in men is much greater than that described by the studies conducted to date. Additional studies are needed on the psychological impact of COVID-19 on men.

Introduction: Self-assessment of health status can be considered a good predictor of population morbidity and mortality. Sociodemographic, environmental and health conditions can influence health self-perception. However, in rural areas, the identification of morbidities that affect workers' health and their general health condition is unknown. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between health self-perception and the occurrence of morbidities according to type of work. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, population-based study of a rural area of Brazil. Health self-perception outcomes were classified as good (very good or good) or not good (fair, poor or very poor). Rural work, classified as yes or no, was considered to be the exposure. Crude and adjusted Poisson regression analyses were performed, obtaining prevalence ratio (PR) estimates and the respective confidence intervals (95%CI). All analyses were stratified by sex and adjusted for confounding factors. Results: The sample comprised 893 individuals. The not good health self-perception prevalence was 27.6%, with a significant difference between the sexes (24.2% of men v 32.5% of women, p=0.014). Although associated with rural work in the crude model, self-perception was not associated with type of work after adjustment (PR: 1.02, 95%CI: 0.83-1.27). The risk of developing obesity (PR: 0.65, 95%CI: 0.47-0.91) and cardiovascular diseases (PR: 0.32, 95%CI: 0.12-0.87) was lower in men who developed rural activities. Also, women who reported doing rural work presented a lower risk for respiratory diseases (PR: 0.47; 95%CI: 0.22-0.97). Conclusion: The association between rural work and not good health self-perception, cardiovascular disease and obesity in women, and respiratory diseases in men seems to be highly dependent on sociodemographic context.

The Mennonite population suffered several bottlenecks due to religious/political persecution, increasing the frequency of diseases with a strong genetic component. We evaluated health self-perception in 430 Mennonites from South Brazilian settlements (two rural, one urban), along with life habits, xenobiotic exposure, and chronic ilnesses, using a modified version of the 2013 Brazilian National Health Survey and eight psychometric tests (applied in 2016–2018). Mennonites from rural settlements considered their health worse (P < 0.0001). This was independently associated with any psychiatric disease (OR 3.10, P = 0.037), depression diagnosis (OR 2.39, P = 0.002), spinal pain (OR 1.76, P = 0.015), waist circumference (OR 1.02, P = 0.009) and geographic origin (OR 0.64, P = 0.003). In the multivariate analysis including the scales, independent association also occurred with higher anxiety (ASI-R: OR 6.48, P = 0.014) and depression scores (BDI: OR 6.72, P = 0.008). Thus, a worse health self-perception was unequivocally associated with diagnosed or present depression/anxiety, independent of other contributors, suggesting a strong link between both. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Self-assessment of health status can be considered a good predictor of population morbidity and mortality. Sociodemographic, environmental and health conditions can influence health self-perception. However, in rural areas, the identification of morbidities that affect workers’ health and their general health condition is unknown. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between health self-perception and the occurrence of morbidities according to type of work. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, population-based study of a rural area of Brazil. Health self-perception outcomes were classified as good (very good or good) or not good (fair, poor or very poor). Rural work, classified as yes or no, was considered to be the exposure. Crude and adjusted Poisson regression analyses were performed, obtaining prevalence ratio (PR) estimates and the respective confidence intervals (95%CI). All analyses were stratified by sex and adjusted for confounding factors. Results: The sample comprised 893 individuals. The not good health self-perception prevalence was 27.6%, with a significant difference between the sexes (24.2% of men v 32.5% of women, p=0.014). Although associated with rural work in the crude model, self-perception was not associated with type of work after adjustment (PR: 1.02, 95%CI: 0.83–1.27). The risk of developing obesity (PR: 0.65, 95%CI: 0.47–0.91) and cardiovascular diseases (PR: 0.32, 95%CI: 0.12–0.87) was lower in men who developed rural activities. Also, women who reported doing rural work presented a lower risk for respiratory diseases (PR: 0.47; 95%CI: 0.22–0.97). Conclusion: The association between rural work and not good health self-perception, cardiovascular disease and obesity in women, and respiratory diseases in men seems to be highly dependent on sociodemographic context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze substance abuse and health self-perception in children and adolescents from the province of Cádiz (Spain). Methodology: Participants were 738 students, 50.9 boys and 49.1% girls, from elementary school to high school (1st to 12th grade, mean age 12.2. years), who responded a Spanish adaptation of the Health Behavior in School-aged Children Inventory. Results: No difference was observed in percentage of boys and girls reporting to smoke or drink alcohol. Smoking and drinking habits increased with age, being higher in 11th and 12th grade students. Significant differences were observed among the percentage of smokers and non smokers recognizing to have parents, older brothers or friends who smoke. Rates of drug abuse were generally low, being cannabis the most frequently consumed illicit drug. Most respondents had a perception of excellent or good health, with no significant gender differences. About half of subjects considered that health exclusively depends on self behavior, but an important percentage also gave a relevant role to luck. Stomach-ache was the most frequent physical complaint, followed by headache. Psychological complaints mainly corresponded to nervousness and bad temper. Only a small percentage of subjects declared the use of medicines or tablets without prescription. No significant difference in the percentage of respondent who perceived an excellent or good health was observed among substance users and non users. Conclusions: Substance abuse and health self-perception in children and adolescents are the result of the interaction of a complex series of individual and social factors. Activities aimed to improve health focusing on partial aspects of adolescents' lifestyle most probably will have limited results, and global programs are required.Objetivo: El objetivo del estudio ha sido analizar el uso de sustancias tóxicas y la autopercepción del estado de salud en niños y adolescentes de la provincia de Cádiz. Metodología: Participaron 738 alumnos, 50.9% de chicos y 49.1% de chicas, que cursaban educación primaria y secundaria (desde 1º educación primaria a 2º de bachillerato, edad media 12,2 años), a los que se aplicó la versión española del Inventario de Conductas de Salud en Escolares. Resultados: No se observaron diferencias en el porcentaje de chicos y chicas que fumaban o bebían alcohol. Los hábitos de consumo de tabaco y alcohol se incrementaban con la edad, alcanzando sus máximos valores en los alumnos de bachillerato. Se encontraron diferencias significativas en el porcentaje de fumadores y no fumadores que reconocían el tener padres, hermanos mayores o amigos que fumaban. El consumo de drogas ilegales era generalmente reducido, predominando la utilización del cannabis. La mayoría de los sujetos tenían una percepción de su salud como excelente o buena. En torno a la mitad de los encuestados consideraban que la salud depende exclusivamente del propio comportamiento, aunque una parte importante también le otorgaba un papel relevante a la suerte. El dolor de estómago era el síntoma físico más frecuente, seguido del dolor de cabeza. Entre los síntomas psicológicos predominaban el nerviosismo y el estar irritado o enfadado. Solo un pequeño porcentaje declaraba consumir medicamentos o píldoras no prescritos. No se observaron diferencias significativas en el porcentaje de los que reconocían una salud excelente o buena entre los usuarios y no usuarios de sustancias tóxicas. Conclusiones: El abuso de sustancias tóxicas y la auto-percepción del estado de salud en niños y adolescentes es el resultado de la interacción de una compleja serie de factores individuales y sociales. Las actividades diseñadas para la mejora de la salud centradas en aspectos parciales del estilo de vida tendrán probablemente resultados limitados, requiriéndose el desarrollo de programas globales.

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Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze substance abuse and health self-perception in children and adolescents from the province of Cádiz (Spain). Methodology: Participants were 738 students, 50.9% boys and 49.1% girls, from elementary school to high school (1st to 12th grade, mean age 12.2. years), who responded to a Spanish adaptation of the Health Behavior in School-aged Children Inventory. Results: No difference was observed in the percentage of boys and girls reporting to smoke or drink alcohol. Smoking and drinking habits increased with age, being higher in 11th and 12th grade students. Significant differences were observed among the percentage of smokers and non smokers recognizing to have parents, older brothers or friends who smoke. Rates of drug abuse were generally low, being cannabis the most frequently consumed illicit drug. Most respondents had a perception of excellent or good health, with no significant gender differences. About half of subjects considered that health exclusively depends on self behavior, but an important percentage also gave a relevant role to luck. Stomach-ache was the most frequent physical complaint, followed by headache. Psychological complaints mainly corresponded to nervousness and bad temper. Only a small percentage of subjects declared the use of medicines or tablets without prescription. No significant difference in the percentage of respondents who perceived excellent or good health was observed among substance users and non users. Conclusions: Substance abuse and health self-perception in children and adolescents are the result of the interaction of a complex series of individual and social factors. Activities aimed to improve health focusing on partial aspects of adolescents' lifestyle most probably will have limited results, and global programs are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although metreleptin replacement therapy was shown to improve metabolic alterations in lipodystrophic syndromes, patients' adherence and satisfaction with treatment have never been evaluated. The 20 patients with lipodystrophic syndromes participating in the French compassionate program of metreleptin therapy filled in a self-questionnaire including an Adherence Evaluation Test, the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM®-vII), and items about physical appearance.Results: 15 patients were women, median age was 32.5 years (IQT 25-75 (16.2;49.5), 18 had diabetes. Adherence with metreleptin (one daily subcutaneous injection) was poor in 25%, excellent in 25% and acceptable in 50% of patients. On a 0-to-100 scale, patients' satisfaction scores reached 66.7 (52.1;81.2) for effectiveness, 55.6 (44.4;66.7) for ease/comfort of use, and 83.3 (52.1;83.3) for global satisfaction with metreleptin therapy. Self-reported side effects were frequent injection site reactions 100 (79.2;100). Satisfaction scores did not differ in patients with partial (n = 10) or generalized (n = 10) lipodystrophic syndromes, did not correlate with metabolic improvement, but were significantly higher in compliant patients with fewer side effects. Morphological appearance was reported improved under metreleptin therapy in 13 among 17 patients.Conclusions: Metreleptin increases health self-perception and decreases morphotype-associated stigmatization in most patients with lipodystrophic syndromes, but poor comfort of use and local side effects weaken adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]