Heidi Splete

Lower muscle mass was significantly associated with more airway obstruction and reduced functional exercise capacity in adults with asthma, based on data from 114 individuals.

Previous studies have shown reduced muscle mass in asthma patients, but the impact on clinical and functional outcomes has not been well studied, wrote Edith Visser, MSc, of Medical Centre Leeuwarden (the Netherlands) and colleagues.

“Many asthma patients, especially those with severe disease, report exercise intolerance and limitations in daily activities, severely affecting their quality of life,” they said. Research into the clinical consequences of low muscle mass and low muscle strength for patients with asthma and the role of inflammation could make muscle function a potential treatment target for those with asthma, they said.

In a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, the researchers recruited 114 consecutive adults aged 18 years and older with a diagnosis of moderate to severe asthma who were seen at a single center between Jun. 2019 and Oct. 2022. The mean age of the patients was 51.9 years, 36% were men, 70% were overweight or obese, and 34 were diagnosed with severe asthma.

Participants underwent clinical, functional, and laboratory assessments at one or two visits within a 2-week period. Assessment tools included the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ-6), a questionnaire on health care use (HCU), and the ‘short questionnaire to assess health-enhancing physical activity’ (SQUASH).

Functional activity was based on the 6-minute walking distance (6MWD), and lung function tests included spirometry and fractional inhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). Muscle mass was based on fat-free mass index (FFMI) and urinary creatinine excretion rate (CER). Muscle strength was measured using hand-grip strength (HGS).

The researchers examined levels of muscle mass and strength and their relation to functional and clinical outcomes.

Overall, the mean measures of muscle mass and strength were higher in males, who had average FFMI, CER, and HGS measures of 20.1 kg/m², 15.3 mmol/day, and 48.8 kg, respectively. These measures in women were 17.3 kg/m², 10.8 mmol/day, and 29.3 kg, respectively.

After adjusting for confounding factors, patients in the lowest tertile for muscle mass based on FFMI had significantly more severe asthma based on postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second and FEV₁/forced vital capacity, as well as lower functional exercise capacity based on the 6MWD compared to those in the highest tertile. A similar association appeared between CER and FEV₁, but not FEV₁/FVC.

However, no significant associations appeared between the muscle mass measures of FFMI or CER and scores on the ACQ, AQLQ, emergency department visits, or asthma exacerbations, the researchers noted.

No relationship appeared between muscle strength and functional outcomes. However, patients in the lowest tertile of HGS had worse asthma control, worse quality of life, and a higher probability of at least one visit to the emergency department compared to patients in the highest HGS tertile.

Higher leukocyte levels were significantly associated with lower muscle mass after adjusting for age, sex, weight, and physical activity, but no other inflammatory markers were significantly associated with FFMI.

The association between lower muscle strength and poorer asthma control, lower quality of life, and greater odds of emergency department visits reflect findings from previous studies, the researchers said. The mechanisms behind the loss of muscle strength in asthma remain unclear, but physical inactivity and daily oral corticosteroid use may play a role, they added.

The study findings were limited by the cross-sectional design and the possibility that muscle weakness may instead stem from reduced physical activity associated with poor lung function and asthma control, the researchers noted. Other limitations included the potential overestimation of FFMI and the lack of statistical power to show a relationship between FFMI and emergency department visits and asthma exacerbations, they said.

However, the current study is the first known to explore the relationship between lower muscle mass and strength and a range of both functional and clinical outcomes in patients with moderate to severe asthma, they said.

“Our findings encourage longitudinal studies into muscle function as a potential target for treatment to improve asthma outcomes,” they concluded.

The study was supported by unrestricted grants from Medical Centre Leeuwarden research fund. Ms. Visser had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Lower muscle mass was significantly associated with more airway obstruction and reduced functional exercise capacity in adults with asthma, based on data from 114 individuals.

Previous studies have shown reduced muscle mass in asthma patients, but the impact on clinical and functional outcomes has not been well studied, wrote Edith Visser, MSc, of Medical Centre Leeuwarden (the Netherlands) and colleagues.

“Many asthma patients, especially those with severe disease, report exercise intolerance and limitations in daily activities, severely affecting their quality of life,” they said. Research into the clinical consequences of low muscle mass and low muscle strength for patients with asthma and the role of inflammation could make muscle function a potential treatment target for those with asthma, they said.

In a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, the researchers recruited 114 consecutive adults aged 18 years and older with a diagnosis of moderate to severe asthma who were seen at a single center between Jun. 2019 and Oct. 2022. The mean age of the patients was 51.9 years, 36% were men, 70% were overweight or obese, and 34 were diagnosed with severe asthma.

Participants underwent clinical, functional, and laboratory assessments at one or two visits within a 2-week period. Assessment tools included the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ-6), a questionnaire on health care use (HCU), and the ‘short questionnaire to assess health-enhancing physical activity’ (SQUASH).

Functional activity was based on the 6-minute walking distance (6MWD), and lung function tests included spirometry and fractional inhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). Muscle mass was based on fat-free mass index (FFMI) and urinary creatinine excretion rate (CER). Muscle strength was measured using hand-grip strength (HGS).

The researchers examined levels of muscle mass and strength and their relation to functional and clinical outcomes.

Overall, the mean measures of muscle mass and strength were higher in males, who had average FFMI, CER, and HGS measures of 20.1 kg/m², 15.3 mmol/day, and 48.8 kg, respectively. These measures in women were 17.3 kg/m², 10.8 mmol/day, and 29.3 kg, respectively.

After adjusting for confounding factors, patients in the lowest tertile for muscle mass based on FFMI had significantly more severe asthma based on postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second and FEV₁/forced vital capacity, as well as lower functional exercise capacity based on the 6MWD compared to those in the highest tertile. A similar association appeared between CER and FEV₁, but not FEV₁/FVC.

However, no significant associations appeared between the muscle mass measures of FFMI or CER and scores on the ACQ, AQLQ, emergency department visits, or asthma exacerbations, the researchers noted.

No relationship appeared between muscle strength and functional outcomes. However, patients in the lowest tertile of HGS had worse asthma control, worse quality of life, and a higher probability of at least one visit to the emergency department compared to patients in the highest HGS tertile.

Higher leukocyte levels were significantly associated with lower muscle mass after adjusting for age, sex, weight, and physical activity, but no other inflammatory markers were significantly associated with FFMI.

The association between lower muscle strength and poorer asthma control, lower quality of life, and greater odds of emergency department visits reflect findings from previous studies, the researchers said. The mechanisms behind the loss of muscle strength in asthma remain unclear, but physical inactivity and daily oral corticosteroid use may play a role, they added.

The study findings were limited by the cross-sectional design and the possibility that muscle weakness may instead stem from reduced physical activity associated with poor lung function and asthma control, the researchers noted. Other limitations included the potential overestimation of FFMI and the lack of statistical power to show a relationship between FFMI and emergency department visits and asthma exacerbations, they said.

However, the current study is the first known to explore the relationship between lower muscle mass and strength and a range of both functional and clinical outcomes in patients with moderate to severe asthma, they said.

“Our findings encourage longitudinal studies into muscle function as a potential target for treatment to improve asthma outcomes,” they concluded.

The study was supported by unrestricted grants from Medical Centre Leeuwarden research fund. Ms. Visser had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Lower muscle mass was significantly associated with more airway obstruction and reduced functional exercise capacity in adults with asthma, based on data from 114 individuals.

Previous studies have shown reduced muscle mass in asthma patients, but the impact on clinical and functional outcomes has not been well studied, wrote Edith Visser, MSc, of Medical Centre Leeuwarden (the Netherlands) and colleagues.

“Many asthma patients, especially those with severe disease, report exercise intolerance and limitations in daily activities, severely affecting their quality of life,” they said. Research into the clinical consequences of low muscle mass and low muscle strength for patients with asthma and the role of inflammation could make muscle function a potential treatment target for those with asthma, they said.

In a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, the researchers recruited 114 consecutive adults aged 18 years and older with a diagnosis of moderate to severe asthma who were seen at a single center between Jun. 2019 and Oct. 2022. The mean age of the patients was 51.9 years, 36% were men, 70% were overweight or obese, and 34 were diagnosed with severe asthma.

Participants underwent clinical, functional, and laboratory assessments at one or two visits within a 2-week period. Assessment tools included the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ-6), a questionnaire on health care use (HCU), and the ‘short questionnaire to assess health-enhancing physical activity’ (SQUASH).

Functional activity was based on the 6-minute walking distance (6MWD), and lung function tests included spirometry and fractional inhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). Muscle mass was based on fat-free mass index (FFMI) and urinary creatinine excretion rate (CER). Muscle strength was measured using hand-grip strength (HGS).

The researchers examined levels of muscle mass and strength and their relation to functional and clinical outcomes.

Overall, the mean measures of muscle mass and strength were higher in males, who had average FFMI, CER, and HGS measures of 20.1 kg/m², 15.3 mmol/day, and 48.8 kg, respectively. These measures in women were 17.3 kg/m², 10.8 mmol/day, and 29.3 kg, respectively.

After adjusting for confounding factors, patients in the lowest tertile for muscle mass based on FFMI had significantly more severe asthma based on postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second and FEV₁/forced vital capacity, as well as lower functional exercise capacity based on the 6MWD compared to those in the highest tertile. A similar association appeared between CER and FEV₁, but not FEV₁/FVC.

However, no significant associations appeared between the muscle mass measures of FFMI or CER and scores on the ACQ, AQLQ, emergency department visits, or asthma exacerbations, the researchers noted.

No relationship appeared between muscle strength and functional outcomes. However, patients in the lowest tertile of HGS had worse asthma control, worse quality of life, and a higher probability of at least one visit to the emergency department compared to patients in the highest HGS tertile.

Higher leukocyte levels were significantly associated with lower muscle mass after adjusting for age, sex, weight, and physical activity, but no other inflammatory markers were significantly associated with FFMI.

The association between lower muscle strength and poorer asthma control, lower quality of life, and greater odds of emergency department visits reflect findings from previous studies, the researchers said. The mechanisms behind the loss of muscle strength in asthma remain unclear, but physical inactivity and daily oral corticosteroid use may play a role, they added.

The study findings were limited by the cross-sectional design and the possibility that muscle weakness may instead stem from reduced physical activity associated with poor lung function and asthma control, the researchers noted. Other limitations included the potential overestimation of FFMI and the lack of statistical power to show a relationship between FFMI and emergency department visits and asthma exacerbations, they said.

However, the current study is the first known to explore the relationship between lower muscle mass and strength and a range of both functional and clinical outcomes in patients with moderate to severe asthma, they said.

“Our findings encourage longitudinal studies into muscle function as a potential target for treatment to improve asthma outcomes,” they concluded.

The study was supported by unrestricted grants from Medical Centre Leeuwarden research fund. Ms. Visser had no financial conflicts to disclose.

A model incorporating factors such as lymphocytes and lung lesions differentiated adenovirus pneumonias from Chlamydia psittaci (CPP) in a multicenter study of nearly 200 individuals.

Symptoms of pneumonia caused by CPP are often confused with other respiratory infections, particularly adenovirus pneumonia (AVP), which can delay correct diagnosis and impact treatment, Yi Li, MD, of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China, and colleagues wrote. Detailed comparisons of the two conditions are lacking.

In a retrospective study published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases, the researchers examined laboratory, clinical, and radiological differences and created a nomogram to distinguish CPP from AVP. The study population included 78 adults with CPP and 102 with AVP who were seen at a single center in China. The mean ages of the CPP and AVP patients were 61.0 years and 38.5 years, and 57.7% men and 91.2% men, respectively. Patients with CPP were significantly more likely to have hypertension and diabetes at baseline, compared with the AVP group.

The primary outcome was 30-day mortality after hospital admission, which was 10.3% and 14.7% for the CPP and AVP patients, respectively (P = 0.376). However, the incidence of cardiac injury was significantly higher in AVP patients versus those with CPP (48.0% vs. 11.5%; P < 0.001).

In a multivariate analysis, age, sex, nervous system symptoms, lymphocyte count, C-reactive protein level (CRP), and bilateral lung lesions were risk factors for CPP. The researchers combined these factors into a nomogram that showed a concordance value of 0.949 for differentiating between the CPP and AVP groups.

Overall, CPP patients were older, had more nervous system symptoms, and had higher CRP levels, compared with patients with AVP, who were more likely to be men and to have higher lymphocyte percentages and more bilateral lung lesions on chest imaging.

The current study is the first known to provide a way to distinguish CPP and AVP, the researchers wrote. “The antibiotic treatments, prognoses, and life support measures of CPP and AVP are considerably different. Therefore, differentiating the two diseases through early identification of specific clinical characteristics is vital.”

The findings were limited by several factors including the small sample size, retrospective design, and the use of mNGS to diagnose CPP in the absence of standard clinical diagnostic kits, which may have resulted in underestimated CPP incidence, the researchers noted.

However, “the nomogram we established combines patient data on age, sex, and readily available laboratory results to reasonably predict CPP, thus making rapid and direct diagnosis possible,” they said.

The study was supported by the Key R&D Program of Hunan Province, Project Program of National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Hunan Natural Science Youth Foundation, and the national key clinical specialist construction programs of China. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

A model incorporating factors such as lymphocytes and lung lesions differentiated adenovirus pneumonias from Chlamydia psittaci (CPP) in a multicenter study of nearly 200 individuals.

Symptoms of pneumonia caused by CPP are often confused with other respiratory infections, particularly adenovirus pneumonia (AVP), which can delay correct diagnosis and impact treatment, Yi Li, MD, of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China, and colleagues wrote. Detailed comparisons of the two conditions are lacking.

In a retrospective study published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases, the researchers examined laboratory, clinical, and radiological differences and created a nomogram to distinguish CPP from AVP. The study population included 78 adults with CPP and 102 with AVP who were seen at a single center in China. The mean ages of the CPP and AVP patients were 61.0 years and 38.5 years, and 57.7% men and 91.2% men, respectively. Patients with CPP were significantly more likely to have hypertension and diabetes at baseline, compared with the AVP group.

The primary outcome was 30-day mortality after hospital admission, which was 10.3% and 14.7% for the CPP and AVP patients, respectively (P = 0.376). However, the incidence of cardiac injury was significantly higher in AVP patients versus those with CPP (48.0% vs. 11.5%; P < 0.001).

In a multivariate analysis, age, sex, nervous system symptoms, lymphocyte count, C-reactive protein level (CRP), and bilateral lung lesions were risk factors for CPP. The researchers combined these factors into a nomogram that showed a concordance value of 0.949 for differentiating between the CPP and AVP groups.

Overall, CPP patients were older, had more nervous system symptoms, and had higher CRP levels, compared with patients with AVP, who were more likely to be men and to have higher lymphocyte percentages and more bilateral lung lesions on chest imaging.

The current study is the first known to provide a way to distinguish CPP and AVP, the researchers wrote. “The antibiotic treatments, prognoses, and life support measures of CPP and AVP are considerably different. Therefore, differentiating the two diseases through early identification of specific clinical characteristics is vital.”

The findings were limited by several factors including the small sample size, retrospective design, and the use of mNGS to diagnose CPP in the absence of standard clinical diagnostic kits, which may have resulted in underestimated CPP incidence, the researchers noted.

However, “the nomogram we established combines patient data on age, sex, and readily available laboratory results to reasonably predict CPP, thus making rapid and direct diagnosis possible,” they said.

The study was supported by the Key R&D Program of Hunan Province, Project Program of National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Hunan Natural Science Youth Foundation, and the national key clinical specialist construction programs of China. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

A model incorporating factors such as lymphocytes and lung lesions differentiated adenovirus pneumonias from Chlamydia psittaci (CPP) in a multicenter study of nearly 200 individuals.

Symptoms of pneumonia caused by CPP are often confused with other respiratory infections, particularly adenovirus pneumonia (AVP), which can delay correct diagnosis and impact treatment, Yi Li, MD, of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China, and colleagues wrote. Detailed comparisons of the two conditions are lacking.

In a retrospective study published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases, the researchers examined laboratory, clinical, and radiological differences and created a nomogram to distinguish CPP from AVP. The study population included 78 adults with CPP and 102 with AVP who were seen at a single center in China. The mean ages of the CPP and AVP patients were 61.0 years and 38.5 years, and 57.7% men and 91.2% men, respectively. Patients with CPP were significantly more likely to have hypertension and diabetes at baseline, compared with the AVP group.

The primary outcome was 30-day mortality after hospital admission, which was 10.3% and 14.7% for the CPP and AVP patients, respectively (P = 0.376). However, the incidence of cardiac injury was significantly higher in AVP patients versus those with CPP (48.0% vs. 11.5%; P < 0.001).

In a multivariate analysis, age, sex, nervous system symptoms, lymphocyte count, C-reactive protein level (CRP), and bilateral lung lesions were risk factors for CPP. The researchers combined these factors into a nomogram that showed a concordance value of 0.949 for differentiating between the CPP and AVP groups.

Overall, CPP patients were older, had more nervous system symptoms, and had higher CRP levels, compared with patients with AVP, who were more likely to be men and to have higher lymphocyte percentages and more bilateral lung lesions on chest imaging.

The current study is the first known to provide a way to distinguish CPP and AVP, the researchers wrote. “The antibiotic treatments, prognoses, and life support measures of CPP and AVP are considerably different. Therefore, differentiating the two diseases through early identification of specific clinical characteristics is vital.”

The findings were limited by several factors including the small sample size, retrospective design, and the use of mNGS to diagnose CPP in the absence of standard clinical diagnostic kits, which may have resulted in underestimated CPP incidence, the researchers noted.

However, “the nomogram we established combines patient data on age, sex, and readily available laboratory results to reasonably predict CPP, thus making rapid and direct diagnosis possible,” they said.

The study was supported by the Key R&D Program of Hunan Province, Project Program of National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Hunan Natural Science Youth Foundation, and the national key clinical specialist construction programs of China. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Fluorescence-optical imaging (FOI) identified early signs of psoriatic arthritis, based on data from 2 years of follow-up of a cohort of 389 adults at 14 rheumatology centers.

Approximately 25% of individuals with psoriasis go on to develop psoriatic arthritis (PsA), but there are no validated biomarkers to identify patients at risk for progression to PsA, Michaela Koehm, MD, of Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and colleagues wrote in RMD Open.

FOI is a technique that allows assessment of changes in microvascularization and subdermal skin inflammation, and because individuals with psoriasis who develop PsA have shown changes in blood vessel formation in the early stages of disease, the researchers sought to determine if FOI could be used to predict early PsA.

The researchers conducted a multicenter, two-part observational cohort study. The two parts, known as XCITING and XTEND, included 389 adults aged 18-75 years with plaque psoriasis deemed at increased risk for PsA. The patients were seen at rheumatology sites in Germany between Jan. 28, 2014, and March 16, 2017. The XTEND study included clinic visits 18-24 months after the XCITING study.

Participants underwent a complete clinical examination, with musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) and FOI on both hands at a single visit. Those with positive FOI findings not seen with clinical exam or MSUS underwent MRI within 7 days. Patients with positive FOI but negative findings on clinical exam, MSUS, and MRI were followed for 2 years in the XTEND study.

The primary outcome was the ability of FOI to detect musculoskeletal inflammation, compared with clinical examination and MSUS.

Overall, 50% of the patients were diagnosed with PsA. A total of 116 (30%) had positive FOI findings; complete MRI data were available for 108 of these patients, including 68 negative MRIs and 40 positive MRIs.

In the XTEND study, another 12% of patients who were positive on FOI but not on MRI also developed PsA by the end of the 2-year follow-up. In comparison, the researchers noted that “literature data on yearly incidence rates [of PsA] in different national cohorts indicate an incidence rate of approximately 4.3% per year.”

A total of 149 of the 196 patients with PsA confirmed by either clinical exam or MSUS were also positive on FOI, yielding a sensitivity of 76.0%. The specificity of FOI was 39.5%.

The sensitive visualization of musculoskeletal inflammation possible with FOI “may exceed its ability to detect clinically manifest PsA at high sensitivity or specificity, but early visualization is arguably of greater value as other imaging methods are currently available for detection of later stages of PsA,” the researchers wrote in their discussion. “A technique allowing early identification of PsA may be especially valuable for nonrheumatologists, including dermatologists and general practitioners, and help expedite more efficient referral to specialists.”

The findings were limited by several factors, including the nonrandomized design and small subgroup numbers, the researchers noted. Other limitations include the presence of alternative conditions such as osteoarthritis that might have complicated the imaging; the focus only on the hands; and potential variation in FOI assessment related to technical standards such as temperature and positioning.

However, the results support FOI as a safe and effective method of detecting early signs of joint inflammation that could predict increased risk for PsA in psoriasis patients, the researchers said.

The researchers added that more work is needed to evaluate FOI in clinical practice, but FOI has the potential to identify vascularization changes earlier than other imaging modalities and in advance of clinical symptoms.

“Accordingly, FOI may have the potential to improve patient outcomes in PsA by reducing the time to initiation of early treatment,” they concluded.

The study was supported by Fraunhofer ITMP, a nonprofit organization, and a research grant from Pfizer Germany. Some of the researchers disclosed financial relationships with many pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer.

Fluorescence-optical imaging (FOI) identified early signs of psoriatic arthritis, based on data from 2 years of follow-up of a cohort of 389 adults at 14 rheumatology centers.

Approximately 25% of individuals with psoriasis go on to develop psoriatic arthritis (PsA), but there are no validated biomarkers to identify patients at risk for progression to PsA, Michaela Koehm, MD, of Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and colleagues wrote in RMD Open.

FOI is a technique that allows assessment of changes in microvascularization and subdermal skin inflammation, and because individuals with psoriasis who develop PsA have shown changes in blood vessel formation in the early stages of disease, the researchers sought to determine if FOI could be used to predict early PsA.

The researchers conducted a multicenter, two-part observational cohort study. The two parts, known as XCITING and XTEND, included 389 adults aged 18-75 years with plaque psoriasis deemed at increased risk for PsA. The patients were seen at rheumatology sites in Germany between Jan. 28, 2014, and March 16, 2017. The XTEND study included clinic visits 18-24 months after the XCITING study.

Participants underwent a complete clinical examination, with musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) and FOI on both hands at a single visit. Those with positive FOI findings not seen with clinical exam or MSUS underwent MRI within 7 days. Patients with positive FOI but negative findings on clinical exam, MSUS, and MRI were followed for 2 years in the XTEND study.

The primary outcome was the ability of FOI to detect musculoskeletal inflammation, compared with clinical examination and MSUS.

Overall, 50% of the patients were diagnosed with PsA. A total of 116 (30%) had positive FOI findings; complete MRI data were available for 108 of these patients, including 68 negative MRIs and 40 positive MRIs.

In the XTEND study, another 12% of patients who were positive on FOI but not on MRI also developed PsA by the end of the 2-year follow-up. In comparison, the researchers noted that “literature data on yearly incidence rates [of PsA] in different national cohorts indicate an incidence rate of approximately 4.3% per year.”

A total of 149 of the 196 patients with PsA confirmed by either clinical exam or MSUS were also positive on FOI, yielding a sensitivity of 76.0%. The specificity of FOI was 39.5%.

The sensitive visualization of musculoskeletal inflammation possible with FOI “may exceed its ability to detect clinically manifest PsA at high sensitivity or specificity, but early visualization is arguably of greater value as other imaging methods are currently available for detection of later stages of PsA,” the researchers wrote in their discussion. “A technique allowing early identification of PsA may be especially valuable for nonrheumatologists, including dermatologists and general practitioners, and help expedite more efficient referral to specialists.”

The findings were limited by several factors, including the nonrandomized design and small subgroup numbers, the researchers noted. Other limitations include the presence of alternative conditions such as osteoarthritis that might have complicated the imaging; the focus only on the hands; and potential variation in FOI assessment related to technical standards such as temperature and positioning.

However, the results support FOI as a safe and effective method of detecting early signs of joint inflammation that could predict increased risk for PsA in psoriasis patients, the researchers said.

The researchers added that more work is needed to evaluate FOI in clinical practice, but FOI has the potential to identify vascularization changes earlier than other imaging modalities and in advance of clinical symptoms.

“Accordingly, FOI may have the potential to improve patient outcomes in PsA by reducing the time to initiation of early treatment,” they concluded.

The study was supported by Fraunhofer ITMP, a nonprofit organization, and a research grant from Pfizer Germany. Some of the researchers disclosed financial relationships with many pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer.

Fluorescence-optical imaging (FOI) identified early signs of psoriatic arthritis, based on data from 2 years of follow-up of a cohort of 389 adults at 14 rheumatology centers.

Approximately 25% of individuals with psoriasis go on to develop psoriatic arthritis (PsA), but there are no validated biomarkers to identify patients at risk for progression to PsA, Michaela Koehm, MD, of Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and colleagues wrote in RMD Open.

FOI is a technique that allows assessment of changes in microvascularization and subdermal skin inflammation, and because individuals with psoriasis who develop PsA have shown changes in blood vessel formation in the early stages of disease, the researchers sought to determine if FOI could be used to predict early PsA.

The researchers conducted a multicenter, two-part observational cohort study. The two parts, known as XCITING and XTEND, included 389 adults aged 18-75 years with plaque psoriasis deemed at increased risk for PsA. The patients were seen at rheumatology sites in Germany between Jan. 28, 2014, and March 16, 2017. The XTEND study included clinic visits 18-24 months after the XCITING study.

Participants underwent a complete clinical examination, with musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) and FOI on both hands at a single visit. Those with positive FOI findings not seen with clinical exam or MSUS underwent MRI within 7 days. Patients with positive FOI but negative findings on clinical exam, MSUS, and MRI were followed for 2 years in the XTEND study.

The primary outcome was the ability of FOI to detect musculoskeletal inflammation, compared with clinical examination and MSUS.

Overall, 50% of the patients were diagnosed with PsA. A total of 116 (30%) had positive FOI findings; complete MRI data were available for 108 of these patients, including 68 negative MRIs and 40 positive MRIs.

In the XTEND study, another 12% of patients who were positive on FOI but not on MRI also developed PsA by the end of the 2-year follow-up. In comparison, the researchers noted that “literature data on yearly incidence rates [of PsA] in different national cohorts indicate an incidence rate of approximately 4.3% per year.”

A total of 149 of the 196 patients with PsA confirmed by either clinical exam or MSUS were also positive on FOI, yielding a sensitivity of 76.0%. The specificity of FOI was 39.5%.

The sensitive visualization of musculoskeletal inflammation possible with FOI “may exceed its ability to detect clinically manifest PsA at high sensitivity or specificity, but early visualization is arguably of greater value as other imaging methods are currently available for detection of later stages of PsA,” the researchers wrote in their discussion. “A technique allowing early identification of PsA may be especially valuable for nonrheumatologists, including dermatologists and general practitioners, and help expedite more efficient referral to specialists.”

The findings were limited by several factors, including the nonrandomized design and small subgroup numbers, the researchers noted. Other limitations include the presence of alternative conditions such as osteoarthritis that might have complicated the imaging; the focus only on the hands; and potential variation in FOI assessment related to technical standards such as temperature and positioning.

However, the results support FOI as a safe and effective method of detecting early signs of joint inflammation that could predict increased risk for PsA in psoriasis patients, the researchers said.

The researchers added that more work is needed to evaluate FOI in clinical practice, but FOI has the potential to identify vascularization changes earlier than other imaging modalities and in advance of clinical symptoms.

“Accordingly, FOI may have the potential to improve patient outcomes in PsA by reducing the time to initiation of early treatment,” they concluded.

The study was supported by Fraunhofer ITMP, a nonprofit organization, and a research grant from Pfizer Germany. Some of the researchers disclosed financial relationships with many pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer.

A diabetes screening program built into an electronic medical records system identified diabetes or prediabetes in 52% of individuals flagged for abnormal hemoglobin A1c, based on data from more than 2,000 adults.

“Despite the best efforts of clinicians, researchers, and educators, the number of patients living with undiagnosed diabetes is still rising and is currently at approximately 8.5 million, and the number of people unaware of their prediabetes is approximately 77 million,” lead investigator Kristie K. Danielson, PhD, said in an interview. Screening for diabetes is critical to start treatment early, to potentially reverse prediabetes, and to prevent the long-term complications of diabetes and reduced life expectancy.

sittithat tangwitthayaphum/Getty Images

In a pilot study published in JAMA Network Open, Dr. Danielson and colleagues reviewed data from 8,441 adults who visited a single emergency department in Chicago during February–April 2021.

The EMR at the hospital contained a built-in best practice alert (BPA) that flagged patients as being at risk for type 2 diabetes based the American Diabetes Association recommendations; the identification algorithm included age 45 years and older, or those aged 18-44 years with a body mass index of 25 kg/m² or higher, no previous history of diabetes, and no A1c measure in the last 3 years, according to the EMR.

A total of 8,441 adult patients visited the ED during the study period; 2,576 triggered BPA tests, and 2,074 had A1c results for review. Among the patients with A1c results, 52% had elevated values of 5.7% or higher. Of these, a total of 758 individuals were identified with prediabetes (A1c, 5.7%-6.4%), 265 with diabetes (A1c, 6.5%-9.9%), and 62 with severe diabetes (A1c, 10% or higher).

After testing, 352 patients with elevated A1c were contacted by the researchers. The mean age of this group was 52.2 years, 54.5% were women, and nearly two-thirds (64.8%) were non-Hispanic Black. The median income of those contacted was in the 44th percentile, and 50% had public insurance.

Most of those contacted (264 patients) were not aware of a previous diagnosis of prediabetes or diabetes; the remaining 88 had a previous diagnosis, but only 51 self-reported receiving treatment, the researchers noted.

Although the screening program successfully identified a significant number of previously undiagnosed individuals with diabetes, prediabetes, or poorly controlled diabetes, its feasibility in routine practice requires further study, the researchers wrote.

The findings were limited by several factors including the identification of patients previously diagnosed with diabetes but who were not being treated, and the potential bias toward individuals of higher socioeconomic status, the researchers noted. However, the results support further exploration of the program as a way to identify undiagnosed diabetes, especially in underserved populations.
 

Diabetes in underserved groups goes undetected

“We were surprised by the sheer number of people newly diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes,” which was far greater than expected, commented Dr. Danielson of the University of Illinois at Chicago. “Clearly, we tapped into a new population that has not often been seen by primary care providers or endocrinologists, as is often the case for underserved and vulnerable individuals who visit the emergency department as a first line for health care.”

The screening alert system is straightforward to build into an existing EMR, with technical support, Dr. Danielson said. “In theory, it should be able to be incorporated into other clinical centers and emergency departments. One of the current limitations that we are seeing is that the EMR is still flagging some people already diagnosed with diabetes to be screened for diabetes.” However, “because of this, we also see this as an opportunity to identify and reach out to those with diabetes who are still underserved and not receiving the appropriate diabetes care they need.”

The study results have broader public health implications, Dr. Danielson added. “We have identified a new, large population of people with diabetes who need medical care and diabetes education. This will further add to the burden of health care and costs, and it raises the ethical question of screening and not having full resources readily available to help.

“In my opinion, the study sheds light on a significant issue that will hopefully help drive change at both a health systems and public health level locally and nationally,” she added.

“One of the significant research gaps that has emerged now is how to link these new patients to health care and diabetes education at our institution after they leave the emergency department,” said Dr. Danielson. Diabetes screening in the ED setting is “a very novel area for health system scientists, social workers, and others to now come to the table and collaborate on next steps to help our patients.”

The study was initiated by the investigators, but was supported by a grant from Novo Nordisk to two coauthors. Dr. Danielson also disclosed grant funding from Novo Nordisk during the conduct of the study.

A diabetes screening program built into an electronic medical records system identified diabetes or prediabetes in 52% of individuals flagged for abnormal hemoglobin A1c, based on data from more than 2,000 adults.

“Despite the best efforts of clinicians, researchers, and educators, the number of patients living with undiagnosed diabetes is still rising and is currently at approximately 8.5 million, and the number of people unaware of their prediabetes is approximately 77 million,” lead investigator Kristie K. Danielson, PhD, said in an interview. Screening for diabetes is critical to start treatment early, to potentially reverse prediabetes, and to prevent the long-term complications of diabetes and reduced life expectancy.

sittithat tangwitthayaphum/Getty Images

In a pilot study published in JAMA Network Open, Dr. Danielson and colleagues reviewed data from 8,441 adults who visited a single emergency department in Chicago during February–April 2021.

The EMR at the hospital contained a built-in best practice alert (BPA) that flagged patients as being at risk for type 2 diabetes based the American Diabetes Association recommendations; the identification algorithm included age 45 years and older, or those aged 18-44 years with a body mass index of 25 kg/m² or higher, no previous history of diabetes, and no A1c measure in the last 3 years, according to the EMR.

A total of 8,441 adult patients visited the ED during the study period; 2,576 triggered BPA tests, and 2,074 had A1c results for review. Among the patients with A1c results, 52% had elevated values of 5.7% or higher. Of these, a total of 758 individuals were identified with prediabetes (A1c, 5.7%-6.4%), 265 with diabetes (A1c, 6.5%-9.9%), and 62 with severe diabetes (A1c, 10% or higher).

After testing, 352 patients with elevated A1c were contacted by the researchers. The mean age of this group was 52.2 years, 54.5% were women, and nearly two-thirds (64.8%) were non-Hispanic Black. The median income of those contacted was in the 44th percentile, and 50% had public insurance.

Most of those contacted (264 patients) were not aware of a previous diagnosis of prediabetes or diabetes; the remaining 88 had a previous diagnosis, but only 51 self-reported receiving treatment, the researchers noted.

Although the screening program successfully identified a significant number of previously undiagnosed individuals with diabetes, prediabetes, or poorly controlled diabetes, its feasibility in routine practice requires further study, the researchers wrote.

The findings were limited by several factors including the identification of patients previously diagnosed with diabetes but who were not being treated, and the potential bias toward individuals of higher socioeconomic status, the researchers noted. However, the results support further exploration of the program as a way to identify undiagnosed diabetes, especially in underserved populations.
 

Diabetes in underserved groups goes undetected

“We were surprised by the sheer number of people newly diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes,” which was far greater than expected, commented Dr. Danielson of the University of Illinois at Chicago. “Clearly, we tapped into a new population that has not often been seen by primary care providers or endocrinologists, as is often the case for underserved and vulnerable individuals who visit the emergency department as a first line for health care.”

The screening alert system is straightforward to build into an existing EMR, with technical support, Dr. Danielson said. “In theory, it should be able to be incorporated into other clinical centers and emergency departments. One of the current limitations that we are seeing is that the EMR is still flagging some people already diagnosed with diabetes to be screened for diabetes.” However, “because of this, we also see this as an opportunity to identify and reach out to those with diabetes who are still underserved and not receiving the appropriate diabetes care they need.”

The study results have broader public health implications, Dr. Danielson added. “We have identified a new, large population of people with diabetes who need medical care and diabetes education. This will further add to the burden of health care and costs, and it raises the ethical question of screening and not having full resources readily available to help.

“In my opinion, the study sheds light on a significant issue that will hopefully help drive change at both a health systems and public health level locally and nationally,” she added.

“One of the significant research gaps that has emerged now is how to link these new patients to health care and diabetes education at our institution after they leave the emergency department,” said Dr. Danielson. Diabetes screening in the ED setting is “a very novel area for health system scientists, social workers, and others to now come to the table and collaborate on next steps to help our patients.”

The study was initiated by the investigators, but was supported by a grant from Novo Nordisk to two coauthors. Dr. Danielson also disclosed grant funding from Novo Nordisk during the conduct of the study.

A diabetes screening program built into an electronic medical records system identified diabetes or prediabetes in 52% of individuals flagged for abnormal hemoglobin A1c, based on data from more than 2,000 adults.

“Despite the best efforts of clinicians, researchers, and educators, the number of patients living with undiagnosed diabetes is still rising and is currently at approximately 8.5 million, and the number of people unaware of their prediabetes is approximately 77 million,” lead investigator Kristie K. Danielson, PhD, said in an interview. Screening for diabetes is critical to start treatment early, to potentially reverse prediabetes, and to prevent the long-term complications of diabetes and reduced life expectancy.

sittithat tangwitthayaphum/Getty Images

In a pilot study published in JAMA Network Open, Dr. Danielson and colleagues reviewed data from 8,441 adults who visited a single emergency department in Chicago during February–April 2021.

The EMR at the hospital contained a built-in best practice alert (BPA) that flagged patients as being at risk for type 2 diabetes based the American Diabetes Association recommendations; the identification algorithm included age 45 years and older, or those aged 18-44 years with a body mass index of 25 kg/m² or higher, no previous history of diabetes, and no A1c measure in the last 3 years, according to the EMR.

A total of 8,441 adult patients visited the ED during the study period; 2,576 triggered BPA tests, and 2,074 had A1c results for review. Among the patients with A1c results, 52% had elevated values of 5.7% or higher. Of these, a total of 758 individuals were identified with prediabetes (A1c, 5.7%-6.4%), 265 with diabetes (A1c, 6.5%-9.9%), and 62 with severe diabetes (A1c, 10% or higher).

After testing, 352 patients with elevated A1c were contacted by the researchers. The mean age of this group was 52.2 years, 54.5% were women, and nearly two-thirds (64.8%) were non-Hispanic Black. The median income of those contacted was in the 44th percentile, and 50% had public insurance.

Most of those contacted (264 patients) were not aware of a previous diagnosis of prediabetes or diabetes; the remaining 88 had a previous diagnosis, but only 51 self-reported receiving treatment, the researchers noted.

Although the screening program successfully identified a significant number of previously undiagnosed individuals with diabetes, prediabetes, or poorly controlled diabetes, its feasibility in routine practice requires further study, the researchers wrote.

The findings were limited by several factors including the identification of patients previously diagnosed with diabetes but who were not being treated, and the potential bias toward individuals of higher socioeconomic status, the researchers noted. However, the results support further exploration of the program as a way to identify undiagnosed diabetes, especially in underserved populations.
 

Diabetes in underserved groups goes undetected

“We were surprised by the sheer number of people newly diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes,” which was far greater than expected, commented Dr. Danielson of the University of Illinois at Chicago. “Clearly, we tapped into a new population that has not often been seen by primary care providers or endocrinologists, as is often the case for underserved and vulnerable individuals who visit the emergency department as a first line for health care.”

The screening alert system is straightforward to build into an existing EMR, with technical support, Dr. Danielson said. “In theory, it should be able to be incorporated into other clinical centers and emergency departments. One of the current limitations that we are seeing is that the EMR is still flagging some people already diagnosed with diabetes to be screened for diabetes.” However, “because of this, we also see this as an opportunity to identify and reach out to those with diabetes who are still underserved and not receiving the appropriate diabetes care they need.”

The study results have broader public health implications, Dr. Danielson added. “We have identified a new, large population of people with diabetes who need medical care and diabetes education. This will further add to the burden of health care and costs, and it raises the ethical question of screening and not having full resources readily available to help.

“In my opinion, the study sheds light on a significant issue that will hopefully help drive change at both a health systems and public health level locally and nationally,” she added.

“One of the significant research gaps that has emerged now is how to link these new patients to health care and diabetes education at our institution after they leave the emergency department,” said Dr. Danielson. Diabetes screening in the ED setting is “a very novel area for health system scientists, social workers, and others to now come to the table and collaborate on next steps to help our patients.”

The study was initiated by the investigators, but was supported by a grant from Novo Nordisk to two coauthors. Dr. Danielson also disclosed grant funding from Novo Nordisk during the conduct of the study.

Individuals diagnosed with a severe physical health condition were significantly more likely to commit suicide at 6 months and at 1 year later, based on data from more than 47 million individuals in a national database.

Previous smaller studies have shown a link between increased risk for suicide and a range of health conditions including cancer, coronary heart disease, neurologic conditions, diabetes, and osteoporosis, Vahé Nafilyan, PhD, of the Office for National Statistics, Newport, England, and colleagues wrote.

However, large-scale population-level studies of the association between specific diagnoses and suicide are lacking, they said.

In a study published in The Lancet Regional Health–Europe, the researchers reviewed a dataset that combined the 2011 Census, death registration records, and the Hospital Episode Statistics. The study population included 47,354,696 individuals aged 6 years and older living in England in 2017. The mean age of the study population was 39.6 years, and 52% were female. The researchers examined deaths that occurred between Jan. 1, 2017, and Dec. 31, 2021.

The primary outcome was the time from the date of a diagnosis or first treatment of a severe physical health condition to a death by suicide. The health conditions included in the analysis were low-survival cancers, chronic ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and degenerative neurological disease.

The diagnosis of any of these conditions significantly increased the risk for suicide compared with controls. The highest risk appeared within 6 months of a diagnosis or first treatment, but the increased risk persisted at 1 year.

The suicide rate among low-survival cancer patients was 16.6 per 100,000 patients, compared with 5.7 per 100,000 controls; at 1 year, these rates were 21.6 and 9.5 per 100,000 patients and controls, respectively.

For COPD patients, the suicide rate at 6 months after diagnosis was 13.7 per 100,000 patients versus 5.6 per 100,000 matched controls; the suicide rates at 1 year were 22.4 per 100,000 patients and 10.6 per 100,000 matched controls.

The suicide rate at 6 months for individuals diagnosed with chronic ischemic heart disease was 11.0 per 100,000 patients and 4.2 per 100,000 matched controls; at 1 year, the suicide rates were 16.1 per 100,000 patients and 8.8 per 100,000 matched controls.

The 1-year suicide rate was especially high among patients with degenerative neurological conditions (114.5 per 100,000 patients); however, the estimate was considered imprecise because of the rarity of these diseases and subsequent low number of suicides, the researchers noted.

The results support data from previous studies showing links between increased risk of suicide and severe physical conditions, the researchers wrote. Patterns of suicide were similar between men and women and after adjusting for sociodemographic factors.

The findings were limited by the inability to fully control for a history of depression or self-harm, and by the imprecise estimates given the rare occurrence of suicide overall, the researchers noted. Other limitations included the late registration of deaths from external causes and the focus only on suicides that occurred in England and Wales, meaning that individuals who traveled abroad for assisted suicide were not captured in the dataset.

“Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms driving the elevated risk of suicide and help provide the best support to these patients,” the researchers concluded.

However, the current results enhance the literature with a large, population-based review of the elevated suicide risk among individuals newly diagnosed with severe health conditions, and reflect the need for better support for these patients to help with coping, they said.

The study was funded by the Office for National Statistics. The researchers reported no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

Individuals diagnosed with a severe physical health condition were significantly more likely to commit suicide at 6 months and at 1 year later, based on data from more than 47 million individuals in a national database.

Previous smaller studies have shown a link between increased risk for suicide and a range of health conditions including cancer, coronary heart disease, neurologic conditions, diabetes, and osteoporosis, Vahé Nafilyan, PhD, of the Office for National Statistics, Newport, England, and colleagues wrote.

However, large-scale population-level studies of the association between specific diagnoses and suicide are lacking, they said.

In a study published in The Lancet Regional Health–Europe, the researchers reviewed a dataset that combined the 2011 Census, death registration records, and the Hospital Episode Statistics. The study population included 47,354,696 individuals aged 6 years and older living in England in 2017. The mean age of the study population was 39.6 years, and 52% were female. The researchers examined deaths that occurred between Jan. 1, 2017, and Dec. 31, 2021.

The primary outcome was the time from the date of a diagnosis or first treatment of a severe physical health condition to a death by suicide. The health conditions included in the analysis were low-survival cancers, chronic ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and degenerative neurological disease.

The diagnosis of any of these conditions significantly increased the risk for suicide compared with controls. The highest risk appeared within 6 months of a diagnosis or first treatment, but the increased risk persisted at 1 year.

The suicide rate among low-survival cancer patients was 16.6 per 100,000 patients, compared with 5.7 per 100,000 controls; at 1 year, these rates were 21.6 and 9.5 per 100,000 patients and controls, respectively.

For COPD patients, the suicide rate at 6 months after diagnosis was 13.7 per 100,000 patients versus 5.6 per 100,000 matched controls; the suicide rates at 1 year were 22.4 per 100,000 patients and 10.6 per 100,000 matched controls.

The suicide rate at 6 months for individuals diagnosed with chronic ischemic heart disease was 11.0 per 100,000 patients and 4.2 per 100,000 matched controls; at 1 year, the suicide rates were 16.1 per 100,000 patients and 8.8 per 100,000 matched controls.

The 1-year suicide rate was especially high among patients with degenerative neurological conditions (114.5 per 100,000 patients); however, the estimate was considered imprecise because of the rarity of these diseases and subsequent low number of suicides, the researchers noted.

The results support data from previous studies showing links between increased risk of suicide and severe physical conditions, the researchers wrote. Patterns of suicide were similar between men and women and after adjusting for sociodemographic factors.

The findings were limited by the inability to fully control for a history of depression or self-harm, and by the imprecise estimates given the rare occurrence of suicide overall, the researchers noted. Other limitations included the late registration of deaths from external causes and the focus only on suicides that occurred in England and Wales, meaning that individuals who traveled abroad for assisted suicide were not captured in the dataset.

“Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms driving the elevated risk of suicide and help provide the best support to these patients,” the researchers concluded.

However, the current results enhance the literature with a large, population-based review of the elevated suicide risk among individuals newly diagnosed with severe health conditions, and reflect the need for better support for these patients to help with coping, they said.

The study was funded by the Office for National Statistics. The researchers reported no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

Individuals diagnosed with a severe physical health condition were significantly more likely to commit suicide at 6 months and at 1 year later, based on data from more than 47 million individuals in a national database.

Previous smaller studies have shown a link between increased risk for suicide and a range of health conditions including cancer, coronary heart disease, neurologic conditions, diabetes, and osteoporosis, Vahé Nafilyan, PhD, of the Office for National Statistics, Newport, England, and colleagues wrote.

However, large-scale population-level studies of the association between specific diagnoses and suicide are lacking, they said.

In a study published in The Lancet Regional Health–Europe, the researchers reviewed a dataset that combined the 2011 Census, death registration records, and the Hospital Episode Statistics. The study population included 47,354,696 individuals aged 6 years and older living in England in 2017. The mean age of the study population was 39.6 years, and 52% were female. The researchers examined deaths that occurred between Jan. 1, 2017, and Dec. 31, 2021.

The primary outcome was the time from the date of a diagnosis or first treatment of a severe physical health condition to a death by suicide. The health conditions included in the analysis were low-survival cancers, chronic ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and degenerative neurological disease.

The diagnosis of any of these conditions significantly increased the risk for suicide compared with controls. The highest risk appeared within 6 months of a diagnosis or first treatment, but the increased risk persisted at 1 year.

The suicide rate among low-survival cancer patients was 16.6 per 100,000 patients, compared with 5.7 per 100,000 controls; at 1 year, these rates were 21.6 and 9.5 per 100,000 patients and controls, respectively.

For COPD patients, the suicide rate at 6 months after diagnosis was 13.7 per 100,000 patients versus 5.6 per 100,000 matched controls; the suicide rates at 1 year were 22.4 per 100,000 patients and 10.6 per 100,000 matched controls.

The suicide rate at 6 months for individuals diagnosed with chronic ischemic heart disease was 11.0 per 100,000 patients and 4.2 per 100,000 matched controls; at 1 year, the suicide rates were 16.1 per 100,000 patients and 8.8 per 100,000 matched controls.

The 1-year suicide rate was especially high among patients with degenerative neurological conditions (114.5 per 100,000 patients); however, the estimate was considered imprecise because of the rarity of these diseases and subsequent low number of suicides, the researchers noted.

The results support data from previous studies showing links between increased risk of suicide and severe physical conditions, the researchers wrote. Patterns of suicide were similar between men and women and after adjusting for sociodemographic factors.

The findings were limited by the inability to fully control for a history of depression or self-harm, and by the imprecise estimates given the rare occurrence of suicide overall, the researchers noted. Other limitations included the late registration of deaths from external causes and the focus only on suicides that occurred in England and Wales, meaning that individuals who traveled abroad for assisted suicide were not captured in the dataset.

“Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms driving the elevated risk of suicide and help provide the best support to these patients,” the researchers concluded.

However, the current results enhance the literature with a large, population-based review of the elevated suicide risk among individuals newly diagnosed with severe health conditions, and reflect the need for better support for these patients to help with coping, they said.

The study was funded by the Office for National Statistics. The researchers reported no relevant financial relationships.

A version of this article originally appeared on Medscape.com.

The bacterial diversity in lesional and nonlesional skin of patients with psoriasis (PsO) with or without psoriatic arthritis (PsA) was significantly lower than that of healthy control skin, based on data from 74 individuals.

Previous studies in humans and animals have suggested that microbes play a role in PsO pathogenesis, but microbial analyses of PsA are lacking, wrote Alba Boix-Amorós, PhD, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, and colleagues.

“The passage from PsO to PsA may, in part, be driven by microbial triggers, which deserves further investigation,” they wrote.

In a study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, the researchers recruited 23 patients with PsO and 31 with PsA from the dermatology and rheumatology clinics at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine/NYU Langone Health in New York. An additional 20 healthy individuals with no history of PsA or PsO were recruited from within NYU to serve as controls. All participants were aged 18 years and older, and more than 75% were White. Males made up 65.4%, 47.8%, and 55.0% of the PsA, PsO, and control groups.

The researchers collected skin swabs from lesional and nonlesional skin of individuals with PsO and PsA and from the upper and lower extremities of the healthy controls. The microbiota analysis included 148 samples that were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing.

The microbiome diversity was significantly greater in healthy skin, compared with lesional and nonlesional psoriatic skin (P < .05 for both). Specifically, levels of Cutibacterium and Kocuria were significantly higher in healthy skin than in psoriatic skin (P = .016 and P = .011, respectively), while psoriatic skin showed higher levels of Staphylococcus.

No significant microbiome differences were noted between lesional and nonlesional PsO and PsA samples. The finding that the microbiome of nonlesional psoriatic skin was more similar to lesional psoriatic skin than to healthy skin was unexpected, and suggests the development of microbial dysbiosis in psoriatic skin independent of the presence of lesions, the researchers wrote.

The researchers also found that levels of Corynebacterium in nonlesional PsA samples were significantly elevated, compared with nonlesional PsO samples (P < .05), which suggests a possible role for the microbe as a biomarker for disease progression, the researchers said.

“One important application of these data is the potential development of therapeutic options for the treatment of psoriatic disease and/or the prevention of PsA,” the researchers wrote in their discussion.

The findings were limited by several factors, including the combination of samples from upper and lower extremities and the exclusion of data from the scalp, the researchers noted. Other limitations included the use of only 16S rRNA gene sequencing, which presents a less comprehensive view of the microbiome, they said.

However, the results support the role of the skin microbiome in psoriasis pathogenesis, with details on microbiota across the psoriatic disease spectrum, they said.

The study received no outside funding. Dr. Boix-Amorós had no financial conflicts to disclose. Several coauthors disclosed financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies including Janssen, AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Novartis, Sanofi, and UCB.

The bacterial diversity in lesional and nonlesional skin of patients with psoriasis (PsO) with or without psoriatic arthritis (PsA) was significantly lower than that of healthy control skin, based on data from 74 individuals.

Previous studies in humans and animals have suggested that microbes play a role in PsO pathogenesis, but microbial analyses of PsA are lacking, wrote Alba Boix-Amorós, PhD, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, and colleagues.

“The passage from PsO to PsA may, in part, be driven by microbial triggers, which deserves further investigation,” they wrote.

In a study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, the researchers recruited 23 patients with PsO and 31 with PsA from the dermatology and rheumatology clinics at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine/NYU Langone Health in New York. An additional 20 healthy individuals with no history of PsA or PsO were recruited from within NYU to serve as controls. All participants were aged 18 years and older, and more than 75% were White. Males made up 65.4%, 47.8%, and 55.0% of the PsA, PsO, and control groups.

The researchers collected skin swabs from lesional and nonlesional skin of individuals with PsO and PsA and from the upper and lower extremities of the healthy controls. The microbiota analysis included 148 samples that were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing.

The microbiome diversity was significantly greater in healthy skin, compared with lesional and nonlesional psoriatic skin (P < .05 for both). Specifically, levels of Cutibacterium and Kocuria were significantly higher in healthy skin than in psoriatic skin (P = .016 and P = .011, respectively), while psoriatic skin showed higher levels of Staphylococcus.

No significant microbiome differences were noted between lesional and nonlesional PsO and PsA samples. The finding that the microbiome of nonlesional psoriatic skin was more similar to lesional psoriatic skin than to healthy skin was unexpected, and suggests the development of microbial dysbiosis in psoriatic skin independent of the presence of lesions, the researchers wrote.

The researchers also found that levels of Corynebacterium in nonlesional PsA samples were significantly elevated, compared with nonlesional PsO samples (P < .05), which suggests a possible role for the microbe as a biomarker for disease progression, the researchers said.

“One important application of these data is the potential development of therapeutic options for the treatment of psoriatic disease and/or the prevention of PsA,” the researchers wrote in their discussion.

The findings were limited by several factors, including the combination of samples from upper and lower extremities and the exclusion of data from the scalp, the researchers noted. Other limitations included the use of only 16S rRNA gene sequencing, which presents a less comprehensive view of the microbiome, they said.

However, the results support the role of the skin microbiome in psoriasis pathogenesis, with details on microbiota across the psoriatic disease spectrum, they said.

The study received no outside funding. Dr. Boix-Amorós had no financial conflicts to disclose. Several coauthors disclosed financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies including Janssen, AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Novartis, Sanofi, and UCB.

The bacterial diversity in lesional and nonlesional skin of patients with psoriasis (PsO) with or without psoriatic arthritis (PsA) was significantly lower than that of healthy control skin, based on data from 74 individuals.

Previous studies in humans and animals have suggested that microbes play a role in PsO pathogenesis, but microbial analyses of PsA are lacking, wrote Alba Boix-Amorós, PhD, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, and colleagues.

“The passage from PsO to PsA may, in part, be driven by microbial triggers, which deserves further investigation,” they wrote.

In a study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, the researchers recruited 23 patients with PsO and 31 with PsA from the dermatology and rheumatology clinics at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine/NYU Langone Health in New York. An additional 20 healthy individuals with no history of PsA or PsO were recruited from within NYU to serve as controls. All participants were aged 18 years and older, and more than 75% were White. Males made up 65.4%, 47.8%, and 55.0% of the PsA, PsO, and control groups.

The researchers collected skin swabs from lesional and nonlesional skin of individuals with PsO and PsA and from the upper and lower extremities of the healthy controls. The microbiota analysis included 148 samples that were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing.

The microbiome diversity was significantly greater in healthy skin, compared with lesional and nonlesional psoriatic skin (P < .05 for both). Specifically, levels of Cutibacterium and Kocuria were significantly higher in healthy skin than in psoriatic skin (P = .016 and P = .011, respectively), while psoriatic skin showed higher levels of Staphylococcus.

No significant microbiome differences were noted between lesional and nonlesional PsO and PsA samples. The finding that the microbiome of nonlesional psoriatic skin was more similar to lesional psoriatic skin than to healthy skin was unexpected, and suggests the development of microbial dysbiosis in psoriatic skin independent of the presence of lesions, the researchers wrote.

The researchers also found that levels of Corynebacterium in nonlesional PsA samples were significantly elevated, compared with nonlesional PsO samples (P < .05), which suggests a possible role for the microbe as a biomarker for disease progression, the researchers said.

“One important application of these data is the potential development of therapeutic options for the treatment of psoriatic disease and/or the prevention of PsA,” the researchers wrote in their discussion.

The findings were limited by several factors, including the combination of samples from upper and lower extremities and the exclusion of data from the scalp, the researchers noted. Other limitations included the use of only 16S rRNA gene sequencing, which presents a less comprehensive view of the microbiome, they said.

However, the results support the role of the skin microbiome in psoriasis pathogenesis, with details on microbiota across the psoriatic disease spectrum, they said.

The study received no outside funding. Dr. Boix-Amorós had no financial conflicts to disclose. Several coauthors disclosed financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies including Janssen, AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Novartis, Sanofi, and UCB.

Current depression guidelines offer incomplete guidance for clinicians to identify antidepressant withdrawal, based on data from a review of 21 guidelines.

Previous research suggests that approximately half of patients who discontinue or decrease dosage of antidepressants experience withdrawal symptoms, wrote Anders Sørensen, MD, of Copenhagen University Hospital, and colleagues. These symptoms are diverse and may include flulike symptoms, fatigue, anxiety, and sensations of electric shock, they noted. Most withdrawal effects last for a few weeks, but some persist for months or years, sometimes described as persistent postwithdrawal disorder, they added.

“Symptoms of withdrawal and depression overlap considerably but constitute two fundamentally different clinical conditions, which makes it important to distinguish between the two,” the researchers emphasized.

In a study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, the researchers identified 21 clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for depression published between 1998 and 2022. The guidelines were published in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Ireland, and New Zealand. They compared descriptions of withdrawal from antidepressants and calculated the proportion of CPGs with different information.

Overall, 15 of the 21 studies in the review (71%) noted that antidepressants are associated with withdrawal symptoms, but less than half (43%) used the term “withdrawal symptoms,” or similar. Of the nine guidelines that mentioned withdrawal symptoms, five used the term interchangeably with “discontinuation symptoms” and six used the term “discontinuation symptoms” only when discussing antidepressant withdrawal. In addition, six CPGs specifically stated that patients who stop antidepressants can experience withdrawal symptoms, and five stated that these symptoms also can occur in patients who are reducing or tapering their doses.

The type of withdrawal symptoms was mentioned in 10 CPGs, and the other 11 had no information on potential withdrawal symptoms, the researchers noted. Of the CPGs that mentioned symptoms specifically associated with withdrawal, the number of potential symptoms ranged from 4 to 39.

“None of the CPGs provided an exhaustive list of the potential withdrawal symptoms identified in the research literature,” the researchers wrote in their discussion.

Only four of the guidelines (19%) mentioned the overlap in symptoms between withdrawal from antidepressants and depression relapse, and only one provided guidance on distinguishing between the two conditions. Most of the symptoms of withdrawal, when described, were characterized as mild, brief, or self-limiting, the researchers noted.

“Being in withdrawal is a fundamentally different clinical situation than experiencing relapse, requiring two distinctly different treatment approaches,” the researchers emphasized. “Withdrawal reactions that are more severe and longer lasting than currently defined in the CPGs could risk getting misinterpreted as relapse, potentially leading to resumed unnecessary long-term antidepressant treatment in some patients,” they added.

The findings were limited by several factors including the inclusion only of guidelines from English-speaking countries, which may limit generalizability, the researchers noted. Other potential limitations include the subjective judgments involved in creating different guidelines, they said.

However, the results support the need for improved CPGs that help clinicians distinguish potential withdrawal reactions from depression relapse, and the need for more research on optimal dose reduction strategies for antidepressants, they concluded.

The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Current depression guidelines offer incomplete guidance for clinicians to identify antidepressant withdrawal, based on data from a review of 21 guidelines.

Previous research suggests that approximately half of patients who discontinue or decrease dosage of antidepressants experience withdrawal symptoms, wrote Anders Sørensen, MD, of Copenhagen University Hospital, and colleagues. These symptoms are diverse and may include flulike symptoms, fatigue, anxiety, and sensations of electric shock, they noted. Most withdrawal effects last for a few weeks, but some persist for months or years, sometimes described as persistent postwithdrawal disorder, they added.

“Symptoms of withdrawal and depression overlap considerably but constitute two fundamentally different clinical conditions, which makes it important to distinguish between the two,” the researchers emphasized.

In a study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, the researchers identified 21 clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for depression published between 1998 and 2022. The guidelines were published in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Ireland, and New Zealand. They compared descriptions of withdrawal from antidepressants and calculated the proportion of CPGs with different information.

Overall, 15 of the 21 studies in the review (71%) noted that antidepressants are associated with withdrawal symptoms, but less than half (43%) used the term “withdrawal symptoms,” or similar. Of the nine guidelines that mentioned withdrawal symptoms, five used the term interchangeably with “discontinuation symptoms” and six used the term “discontinuation symptoms” only when discussing antidepressant withdrawal. In addition, six CPGs specifically stated that patients who stop antidepressants can experience withdrawal symptoms, and five stated that these symptoms also can occur in patients who are reducing or tapering their doses.

The type of withdrawal symptoms was mentioned in 10 CPGs, and the other 11 had no information on potential withdrawal symptoms, the researchers noted. Of the CPGs that mentioned symptoms specifically associated with withdrawal, the number of potential symptoms ranged from 4 to 39.

“None of the CPGs provided an exhaustive list of the potential withdrawal symptoms identified in the research literature,” the researchers wrote in their discussion.

Only four of the guidelines (19%) mentioned the overlap in symptoms between withdrawal from antidepressants and depression relapse, and only one provided guidance on distinguishing between the two conditions. Most of the symptoms of withdrawal, when described, were characterized as mild, brief, or self-limiting, the researchers noted.

“Being in withdrawal is a fundamentally different clinical situation than experiencing relapse, requiring two distinctly different treatment approaches,” the researchers emphasized. “Withdrawal reactions that are more severe and longer lasting than currently defined in the CPGs could risk getting misinterpreted as relapse, potentially leading to resumed unnecessary long-term antidepressant treatment in some patients,” they added.

The findings were limited by several factors including the inclusion only of guidelines from English-speaking countries, which may limit generalizability, the researchers noted. Other potential limitations include the subjective judgments involved in creating different guidelines, they said.

However, the results support the need for improved CPGs that help clinicians distinguish potential withdrawal reactions from depression relapse, and the need for more research on optimal dose reduction strategies for antidepressants, they concluded.

The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Current depression guidelines offer incomplete guidance for clinicians to identify antidepressant withdrawal, based on data from a review of 21 guidelines.

Previous research suggests that approximately half of patients who discontinue or decrease dosage of antidepressants experience withdrawal symptoms, wrote Anders Sørensen, MD, of Copenhagen University Hospital, and colleagues. These symptoms are diverse and may include flulike symptoms, fatigue, anxiety, and sensations of electric shock, they noted. Most withdrawal effects last for a few weeks, but some persist for months or years, sometimes described as persistent postwithdrawal disorder, they added.

“Symptoms of withdrawal and depression overlap considerably but constitute two fundamentally different clinical conditions, which makes it important to distinguish between the two,” the researchers emphasized.

In a study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, the researchers identified 21 clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for depression published between 1998 and 2022. The guidelines were published in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Ireland, and New Zealand. They compared descriptions of withdrawal from antidepressants and calculated the proportion of CPGs with different information.

Overall, 15 of the 21 studies in the review (71%) noted that antidepressants are associated with withdrawal symptoms, but less than half (43%) used the term “withdrawal symptoms,” or similar. Of the nine guidelines that mentioned withdrawal symptoms, five used the term interchangeably with “discontinuation symptoms” and six used the term “discontinuation symptoms” only when discussing antidepressant withdrawal. In addition, six CPGs specifically stated that patients who stop antidepressants can experience withdrawal symptoms, and five stated that these symptoms also can occur in patients who are reducing or tapering their doses.

The type of withdrawal symptoms was mentioned in 10 CPGs, and the other 11 had no information on potential withdrawal symptoms, the researchers noted. Of the CPGs that mentioned symptoms specifically associated with withdrawal, the number of potential symptoms ranged from 4 to 39.

“None of the CPGs provided an exhaustive list of the potential withdrawal symptoms identified in the research literature,” the researchers wrote in their discussion.

Only four of the guidelines (19%) mentioned the overlap in symptoms between withdrawal from antidepressants and depression relapse, and only one provided guidance on distinguishing between the two conditions. Most of the symptoms of withdrawal, when described, were characterized as mild, brief, or self-limiting, the researchers noted.

“Being in withdrawal is a fundamentally different clinical situation than experiencing relapse, requiring two distinctly different treatment approaches,” the researchers emphasized. “Withdrawal reactions that are more severe and longer lasting than currently defined in the CPGs could risk getting misinterpreted as relapse, potentially leading to resumed unnecessary long-term antidepressant treatment in some patients,” they added.

The findings were limited by several factors including the inclusion only of guidelines from English-speaking countries, which may limit generalizability, the researchers noted. Other potential limitations include the subjective judgments involved in creating different guidelines, they said.

However, the results support the need for improved CPGs that help clinicians distinguish potential withdrawal reactions from depression relapse, and the need for more research on optimal dose reduction strategies for antidepressants, they concluded.

The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Children and teens with concussions who returned to school sooner showed fewer symptoms after 2 weeks than those who returned to school later, based on data from more than 1,600 individuals aged 5-18 years.

The timing for return to school after a concussion has been the subject of guidelines, but data on how the timing of school returns affects later symptom burdens are limited, Christopher G. Vaughan, PhD, of Children’s National Hospital, Rockville, Md., and colleagues wrote.

Examining how the timing of return to school (RTS) affects later symptoms is needed to inform early postinjury management, they said.

In the new study published in JAMA Network Open, the researchers identified 1,630 children and teens aged 5-18 years who were treated for concussions at nine Canadian pediatric EDs. The primary outcome was symptom burden at 14 days post concussion, based on the Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory (PCSI). Early RTS was defined as missing fewer than 3 days of school post concussion.

Overall, the mean number of missed school days was 3.74 (excluding weekends). When divided by age, the mean number of missed days was 2.61 for children aged 5-7 years, 3.26 for those aged 8-12 years, and 4.71 for those aged 13-18 years.

Slightly more than half (53.7%) of the participants had an early RTS of 2 missed days or fewer. Later RTS was most common in the oldest age group, followed by the middle and younger age groups.

The researchers used a propensity score–matched analysis to determine associations. At 14 days, an early RTS was associated with reduced symptoms among 8- to 12-year-olds and 13- to 18-year-olds, though not in the youngest patients aged 5-7 years. In addition, the researchers created quantiles based on initial symptom ratings.

For the youngest age group, the association between early RTS and reduced symptoms at day 14 was higher among those with lower initial symptoms.

For the two older groups, the association was higher for those with higher initial symptoms (based on the PCSI).

The findings that earlier RTS was associated with a lower symptom burden at day 14 for those with higher levels of symptoms at baseline was surprising, but the mechanisms of the timing and effect of RTS requires more study, the researchers wrote in their discussion.

The effect of early RTS on symptoms may be in part related to factors such as “the benefits of socialization, reduced stress from not missing too much school, maintaining or returning to a normal sleep-wake schedule, and returning to light to moderate physical activity (gym class and recreational activities),” the researchers noted.

Another study related to recovery and concussion recently appeared in Neurology. In that study, the authors found that those athletes who took a longer time to recover from a sports-related concussion could still return to play with additional time off, but the methods and populations differed from the current study, which focused on RTS rather than returning to play.

The current study findings were limited by several factors including the lack of randomization for RTS timing and a lack of data on the variety of potential supports and accommodations students received, the researchers noted.

However, the results were strengthened by the large size and diverse nature of the concussions, and the roughly equal representation of boys and girls, they said.

Although randomized trials are needed to determine the best timing for RTS, the current study suggests that RTS within 2 days of a concussion is associated with improved symptoms, “and may directly or indirectly promote faster recovery,” they concluded.
 

Early return remains feasible for most children and teens

“Return to school can be a complicated issue for children and teens with concussions,” said Caitlyn Mooney, MD, a pediatrician and specialist in sports medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, said in an interview. Although much research has focused on diagnosis and return to sport after a concussion, there has been less focus on returning to school and learning. Various issues post concussion can make schooling difficult, and students may experience trouble with vision, concentration, sleep, headaches, and more.

Despite this knowledge, studies that specifically address recommended school protocols are limited, Dr. Mooney said. “Additionally, all concussions are different; while some students will need minimal help to return and succeed in school, others may need individualized learning plans and accommodations for school.” A return to school ideally would be a team-based approach with input from the parent, patient, physician, and educators.

“The theory of cognitive rest stems from the idea that a concussion causes metabolic dysfunction in the brain, and that increasing the metabolic demands of the brain can result in symptoms and a delayed return to school,” said Dr. Mooney.

Evidence suggests that those who start resting early after a concussion improve more quickly, “but there has been ongoing discussion over the years of what is the correct balance of cognitive rest to returning to modified activity,” she said. “This has led to the current general recommendation of rest for 24-48 hours followed by a gradual return to school as tolerated.”

Although the current study is large, it is limited by the lack of randomization, Dr. Mooney noted, therefore conclusions cannot be made that the cause of the improved symptoms is a quicker return to school.

However, the results support data from previous studies, in that both of the older age groups showed less disease burden at 14 days after an earlier return to school, she said.

“With prolonged absences, adolescents get isolated at home away from friends, and they may have increased mood symptoms. Additionally, I have found a high number of my patients who do not go to school as quickly have more sleep disturbance, which seems to increase symptoms such as difficulty concentrating or headaches,” she said. “It seems like the students do benefit from a routine schedule even if they have to have some accommodations at school, especially older students who may have more stress about missing school and falling behind on schoolwork.”

The message for pediatricians is that return to school should be individualized, Dr. Mooney said.

Although the current study does not dictate the optimal return to school, the results support those of previous studies in showing that, after 1-2 days of rest, an early return does not harm children and teens and may improve symptoms in many cases, she said. “In my experience, sometimes schools find it easier to keep the student at home rather than manage rest or special accommodations,” but the current study suggests that delaying return to school may not be the right choice for many patients.

“I hope this study empowers clinicians to advocate for these students, that the right place for them is in the classroom even with rest, extra time, or other accommodations,” said Dr. Mooney.

“Each concussion should be evaluated and treated individually; there will likely be a few who may need to stay home for a longer period of time, but this study suggests that the majority of students will suffer no ill effects from returning to the normal routine after a 2-day rest,” she noted.

The study was supported by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research. Dr. Vaughan and several coauthors disclosed being authors of the Postconcussion Symptom Inventory outside of the current study. Dr. Mooney had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Children and teens with concussions who returned to school sooner showed fewer symptoms after 2 weeks than those who returned to school later, based on data from more than 1,600 individuals aged 5-18 years.

The timing for return to school after a concussion has been the subject of guidelines, but data on how the timing of school returns affects later symptom burdens are limited, Christopher G. Vaughan, PhD, of Children’s National Hospital, Rockville, Md., and colleagues wrote.

Examining how the timing of return to school (RTS) affects later symptoms is needed to inform early postinjury management, they said.

In the new study published in JAMA Network Open, the researchers identified 1,630 children and teens aged 5-18 years who were treated for concussions at nine Canadian pediatric EDs. The primary outcome was symptom burden at 14 days post concussion, based on the Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory (PCSI). Early RTS was defined as missing fewer than 3 days of school post concussion.

Overall, the mean number of missed school days was 3.74 (excluding weekends). When divided by age, the mean number of missed days was 2.61 for children aged 5-7 years, 3.26 for those aged 8-12 years, and 4.71 for those aged 13-18 years.

Slightly more than half (53.7%) of the participants had an early RTS of 2 missed days or fewer. Later RTS was most common in the oldest age group, followed by the middle and younger age groups.

The researchers used a propensity score–matched analysis to determine associations. At 14 days, an early RTS was associated with reduced symptoms among 8- to 12-year-olds and 13- to 18-year-olds, though not in the youngest patients aged 5-7 years. In addition, the researchers created quantiles based on initial symptom ratings.

For the youngest age group, the association between early RTS and reduced symptoms at day 14 was higher among those with lower initial symptoms.

For the two older groups, the association was higher for those with higher initial symptoms (based on the PCSI).

The findings that earlier RTS was associated with a lower symptom burden at day 14 for those with higher levels of symptoms at baseline was surprising, but the mechanisms of the timing and effect of RTS requires more study, the researchers wrote in their discussion.

The effect of early RTS on symptoms may be in part related to factors such as “the benefits of socialization, reduced stress from not missing too much school, maintaining or returning to a normal sleep-wake schedule, and returning to light to moderate physical activity (gym class and recreational activities),” the researchers noted.

Another study related to recovery and concussion recently appeared in Neurology. In that study, the authors found that those athletes who took a longer time to recover from a sports-related concussion could still return to play with additional time off, but the methods and populations differed from the current study, which focused on RTS rather than returning to play.

The current study findings were limited by several factors including the lack of randomization for RTS timing and a lack of data on the variety of potential supports and accommodations students received, the researchers noted.

However, the results were strengthened by the large size and diverse nature of the concussions, and the roughly equal representation of boys and girls, they said.

Although randomized trials are needed to determine the best timing for RTS, the current study suggests that RTS within 2 days of a concussion is associated with improved symptoms, “and may directly or indirectly promote faster recovery,” they concluded.
 

Early return remains feasible for most children and teens

“Return to school can be a complicated issue for children and teens with concussions,” said Caitlyn Mooney, MD, a pediatrician and specialist in sports medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, said in an interview. Although much research has focused on diagnosis and return to sport after a concussion, there has been less focus on returning to school and learning. Various issues post concussion can make schooling difficult, and students may experience trouble with vision, concentration, sleep, headaches, and more.

Despite this knowledge, studies that specifically address recommended school protocols are limited, Dr. Mooney said. “Additionally, all concussions are different; while some students will need minimal help to return and succeed in school, others may need individualized learning plans and accommodations for school.” A return to school ideally would be a team-based approach with input from the parent, patient, physician, and educators.

“The theory of cognitive rest stems from the idea that a concussion causes metabolic dysfunction in the brain, and that increasing the metabolic demands of the brain can result in symptoms and a delayed return to school,” said Dr. Mooney.

Evidence suggests that those who start resting early after a concussion improve more quickly, “but there has been ongoing discussion over the years of what is the correct balance of cognitive rest to returning to modified activity,” she said. “This has led to the current general recommendation of rest for 24-48 hours followed by a gradual return to school as tolerated.”

Although the current study is large, it is limited by the lack of randomization, Dr. Mooney noted, therefore conclusions cannot be made that the cause of the improved symptoms is a quicker return to school.

However, the results support data from previous studies, in that both of the older age groups showed less disease burden at 14 days after an earlier return to school, she said.

“With prolonged absences, adolescents get isolated at home away from friends, and they may have increased mood symptoms. Additionally, I have found a high number of my patients who do not go to school as quickly have more sleep disturbance, which seems to increase symptoms such as difficulty concentrating or headaches,” she said. “It seems like the students do benefit from a routine schedule even if they have to have some accommodations at school, especially older students who may have more stress about missing school and falling behind on schoolwork.”

The message for pediatricians is that return to school should be individualized, Dr. Mooney said.

Although the current study does not dictate the optimal return to school, the results support those of previous studies in showing that, after 1-2 days of rest, an early return does not harm children and teens and may improve symptoms in many cases, she said. “In my experience, sometimes schools find it easier to keep the student at home rather than manage rest or special accommodations,” but the current study suggests that delaying return to school may not be the right choice for many patients.

“I hope this study empowers clinicians to advocate for these students, that the right place for them is in the classroom even with rest, extra time, or other accommodations,” said Dr. Mooney.

“Each concussion should be evaluated and treated individually; there will likely be a few who may need to stay home for a longer period of time, but this study suggests that the majority of students will suffer no ill effects from returning to the normal routine after a 2-day rest,” she noted.

The study was supported by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research. Dr. Vaughan and several coauthors disclosed being authors of the Postconcussion Symptom Inventory outside of the current study. Dr. Mooney had no financial conflicts to disclose.

Children and teens with concussions who returned to school sooner showed fewer symptoms after 2 weeks than those who returned to school later, based on data from more than 1,600 individuals aged 5-18 years.

The timing for return to school after a concussion has been the subject of guidelines, but data on how the timing of school returns affects later symptom burdens are limited, Christopher G. Vaughan, PhD, of Children’s National Hospital, Rockville, Md., and colleagues wrote.

Examining how the timing of return to school (RTS) affects later symptoms is needed to inform early postinjury management, they said.

In the new study published in JAMA Network Open, the researchers identified 1,630 children and teens aged 5-18 years who were treated for concussions at nine Canadian pediatric EDs. The primary outcome was symptom burden at 14 days post concussion, based on the Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory (PCSI). Early RTS was defined as missing fewer than 3 days of school post concussion.

Overall, the mean number of missed school days was 3.74 (excluding weekends). When divided by age, the mean number of missed days was 2.61 for children aged 5-7 years, 3.26 for those aged 8-12 years, and 4.71 for those aged 13-18 years.

Slightly more than half (53.7%) of the participants had an early RTS of 2 missed days or fewer. Later RTS was most common in the oldest age group, followed by the middle and younger age groups.

The researchers used a propensity score–matched analysis to determine associations. At 14 days, an early RTS was associated with reduced symptoms among 8- to 12-year-olds and 13- to 18-year-olds, though not in the youngest patients aged 5-7 years. In addition, the researchers created quantiles based on initial symptom ratings.

For the youngest age group, the association between early RTS and reduced symptoms at day 14 was higher among those with lower initial symptoms.

For the two older groups, the association was higher for those with higher initial symptoms (based on the PCSI).

The findings that earlier RTS was associated with a lower symptom burden at day 14 for those with higher levels of symptoms at baseline was surprising, but the mechanisms of the timing and effect of RTS requires more study, the researchers wrote in their discussion.

The effect of early RTS on symptoms may be in part related to factors such as “the benefits of socialization, reduced stress from not missing too much school, maintaining or returning to a normal sleep-wake schedule, and returning to light to moderate physical activity (gym class and recreational activities),” the researchers noted.

Another study related to recovery and concussion recently appeared in Neurology. In that study, the authors found that those athletes who took a longer time to recover from a sports-related concussion could still return to play with additional time off, but the methods and populations differed from the current study, which focused on RTS rather than returning to play.

The current study findings were limited by several factors including the lack of randomization for RTS timing and a lack of data on the variety of potential supports and accommodations students received, the researchers noted.

However, the results were strengthened by the large size and diverse nature of the concussions, and the roughly equal representation of boys and girls, they said.

Although randomized trials are needed to determine the best timing for RTS, the current study suggests that RTS within 2 days of a concussion is associated with improved symptoms, “and may directly or indirectly promote faster recovery,” they concluded.
 

Early return remains feasible for most children and teens

“Return to school can be a complicated issue for children and teens with concussions,” said Caitlyn Mooney, MD, a pediatrician and specialist in sports medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, said in an interview. Although much research has focused on diagnosis and return to sport after a concussion, there has been less focus on returning to school and learning. Various issues post concussion can make schooling difficult, and students may experience trouble with vision, concentration, sleep, headaches, and more.

Despite this knowledge, studies that specifically address recommended school protocols are limited, Dr. Mooney said. “Additionally, all concussions are different; while some students will need minimal help to return and succeed in school, others may need individualized learning plans and accommodations for school.” A return to school ideally would be a team-based approach with input from the parent, patient, physician, and educators.

“The theory of cognitive rest stems from the idea that a concussion causes metabolic dysfunction in the brain, and that increasing the metabolic demands of the brain can result in symptoms and a delayed return to school,” said Dr. Mooney.

Evidence suggests that those who start resting early after a concussion improve more quickly, “but there has been ongoing discussion over the years of what is the correct balance of cognitive rest to returning to modified activity,” she said. “This has led to the current general recommendation of rest for 24-48 hours followed by a gradual return to school as tolerated.”

Although the current study is large, it is limited by the lack of randomization, Dr. Mooney noted, therefore conclusions cannot be made that the cause of the improved symptoms is a quicker return to school.

However, the results support data from previous studies, in that both of the older age groups showed less disease burden at 14 days after an earlier return to school, she said.

“With prolonged absences, adolescents get isolated at home away from friends, and they may have increased mood symptoms. Additionally, I have found a high number of my patients who do not go to school as quickly have more sleep disturbance, which seems to increase symptoms such as difficulty concentrating or headaches,” she said. “It seems like the students do benefit from a routine schedule even if they have to have some accommodations at school, especially older students who may have more stress about missing school and falling behind on schoolwork.”

The message for pediatricians is that return to school should be individualized, Dr. Mooney said.

Although the current study does not dictate the optimal return to school, the results support those of previous studies in showing that, after 1-2 days of rest, an early return does not harm children and teens and may improve symptoms in many cases, she said. “In my experience, sometimes schools find it easier to keep the student at home rather than manage rest or special accommodations,” but the current study suggests that delaying return to school may not be the right choice for many patients.

“I hope this study empowers clinicians to advocate for these students, that the right place for them is in the classroom even with rest, extra time, or other accommodations,” said Dr. Mooney.

“Each concussion should be evaluated and treated individually; there will likely be a few who may need to stay home for a longer period of time, but this study suggests that the majority of students will suffer no ill effects from returning to the normal routine after a 2-day rest,” she noted.

The study was supported by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research. Dr. Vaughan and several coauthors disclosed being authors of the Postconcussion Symptom Inventory outside of the current study. Dr. Mooney had no financial conflicts to disclose.

The number of daily meals, but not the timing between first and last daily meals, was significantly associated with weight changes over a 6-year period, in a prospective study of more than 500 adults.

Some studies suggest that timing food intake – through time-restricted eating or intermittent fasting – can promote weight loss, but these strategies have yielded similar weight loss to eating throughout the day in randomized trials, and population-based studies of meal intervals and weight changes are needed, Di Zhao, PhD, of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, and colleagues wrote.

hayatikayha/Getty Images

“Obesity is an epidemic,” corresponding author Wendy Bennett, MD, also of Johns Hopkins University, said in an interview. “We are interested in identifying ways to prevent weight gain over time and reduce obesity risk, since telling people to ‘just eat less’ doesn’t always work.”

In a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the researchers recruited 1,017 adults who were patients at one of three health systems; of these, complete data were available for 547 individuals.

The participants downloaded an app called Daily24 to record the timing of their meals and sleep for at least 1 day. The researchers used electronic medical records to obtain information on weight and comorbidities of the participants for up to 10 years before study enrollment through 10 months after enrollment.

The mean age of the participants was 51.1 years, 78% were women, and 78% were White; the mean body mass index was 30.8 kg/m².

The mean interval from first to last meal was 11.5 hours, and this was not associated with change in weight. The mean times from waking up to the first meal and the time from the last meal to sleeping were 1.6 hours and 4.0 hours, respectively, and these were not associated with weight changes over the follow-up period, the researchers wrote. Sleep duration (mean of 7.5 hours) also was not associated with weight change over time.

However, the total daily number of large and medium-sized meals was associated with weight gain over time, while those who reported more smaller meals showed weight loss. A daily increase of one large, medium, or small meal was associated with an average annual weight change of 0.69 kg, 0.97 kg, and –0.30 kg, respectively.

 

Benefits of time-restricted eating remain unclear

“Animal studies have shown benefits for time restricted feeding, but there are still questions about whether or not it helps prevent weight gain or promotes weight loss in humans,” Dr. Bennett said in an interview.

As for the current study findings, “we were not surprised; humans are more complicated than animals, and we have complicated behaviors, especially with eating,” she said.

“We showed that windows of eating (eating for longer periods of time or less in a day) was not associated with weight change over time among patients from three health systems,” said Dr. Bennett. “The main implication is that restricting your window of eating, such as eating over less time, or having more fasting time, may not reduce weight gain over time, while eating fewer large meals is associated with less weight gain over time.”

The findings were limited by several factors including the exclusion of many younger and less educated individuals, the short follow-up period, and lack of information on weight loss intention at baseline, the researchers noted. Other limitations included the inability to evaluate time-restricted eating or fasting, and the inclusion of individuals currently seeking care, which may limit generalizability.

However, the results were strengthened by the repeated measures of weight, detailed information on obesity risk factors, and real-time assessment of eating behaviors. The results do not support time-restricted eating as a long-term weight-loss strategy, and more studies are needed with a longer follow-up period, the researchers concluded.

However, there may be a role for time restricted eating as a method of total calorie control, Dr. Bennett said.

“Other studies do show that people might be able to use time-restricted eating or intermittent fasting to help them reduce their caloric intake and thus lose weight, so it can still be a helpful weight loss tool for some people who can adhere to it,” she said.

The study was supported by a grant from the American Heart Association to Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Bennett had no financial conflicts to disclose.
 

The number of daily meals, but not the timing between first and last daily meals, was significantly associated with weight changes over a 6-year period, in a prospective study of more than 500 adults.

Some studies suggest that timing food intake – through time-restricted eating or intermittent fasting – can promote weight loss, but these strategies have yielded similar weight loss to eating throughout the day in randomized trials, and population-based studies of meal intervals and weight changes are needed, Di Zhao, PhD, of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, and colleagues wrote.

hayatikayha/Getty Images

“Obesity is an epidemic,” corresponding author Wendy Bennett, MD, also of Johns Hopkins University, said in an interview. “We are interested in identifying ways to prevent weight gain over time and reduce obesity risk, since telling people to ‘just eat less’ doesn’t always work.”

In a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the researchers recruited 1,017 adults who were patients at one of three health systems; of these, complete data were available for 547 individuals.

The participants downloaded an app called Daily24 to record the timing of their meals and sleep for at least 1 day. The researchers used electronic medical records to obtain information on weight and comorbidities of the participants for up to 10 years before study enrollment through 10 months after enrollment.

The mean age of the participants was 51.1 years, 78% were women, and 78% were White; the mean body mass index was 30.8 kg/m².

The mean interval from first to last meal was 11.5 hours, and this was not associated with change in weight. The mean times from waking up to the first meal and the time from the last meal to sleeping were 1.6 hours and 4.0 hours, respectively, and these were not associated with weight changes over the follow-up period, the researchers wrote. Sleep duration (mean of 7.5 hours) also was not associated with weight change over time.

However, the total daily number of large and medium-sized meals was associated with weight gain over time, while those who reported more smaller meals showed weight loss. A daily increase of one large, medium, or small meal was associated with an average annual weight change of 0.69 kg, 0.97 kg, and –0.30 kg, respectively.

 

Benefits of time-restricted eating remain unclear

“Animal studies have shown benefits for time restricted feeding, but there are still questions about whether or not it helps prevent weight gain or promotes weight loss in humans,” Dr. Bennett said in an interview.

As for the current study findings, “we were not surprised; humans are more complicated than animals, and we have complicated behaviors, especially with eating,” she said.

“We showed that windows of eating (eating for longer periods of time or less in a day) was not associated with weight change over time among patients from three health systems,” said Dr. Bennett. “The main implication is that restricting your window of eating, such as eating over less time, or having more fasting time, may not reduce weight gain over time, while eating fewer large meals is associated with less weight gain over time.”

The findings were limited by several factors including the exclusion of many younger and less educated individuals, the short follow-up period, and lack of information on weight loss intention at baseline, the researchers noted. Other limitations included the inability to evaluate time-restricted eating or fasting, and the inclusion of individuals currently seeking care, which may limit generalizability.

However, the results were strengthened by the repeated measures of weight, detailed information on obesity risk factors, and real-time assessment of eating behaviors. The results do not support time-restricted eating as a long-term weight-loss strategy, and more studies are needed with a longer follow-up period, the researchers concluded.

However, there may be a role for time restricted eating as a method of total calorie control, Dr. Bennett said.

“Other studies do show that people might be able to use time-restricted eating or intermittent fasting to help them reduce their caloric intake and thus lose weight, so it can still be a helpful weight loss tool for some people who can adhere to it,” she said.

The study was supported by a grant from the American Heart Association to Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Bennett had no financial conflicts to disclose.
 

The number of daily meals, but not the timing between first and last daily meals, was significantly associated with weight changes over a 6-year period, in a prospective study of more than 500 adults.

Some studies suggest that timing food intake – through time-restricted eating or intermittent fasting – can promote weight loss, but these strategies have yielded similar weight loss to eating throughout the day in randomized trials, and population-based studies of meal intervals and weight changes are needed, Di Zhao, PhD, of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, and colleagues wrote.

hayatikayha/Getty Images

“Obesity is an epidemic,” corresponding author Wendy Bennett, MD, also of Johns Hopkins University, said in an interview. “We are interested in identifying ways to prevent weight gain over time and reduce obesity risk, since telling people to ‘just eat less’ doesn’t always work.”

In a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the researchers recruited 1,017 adults who were patients at one of three health systems; of these, complete data were available for 547 individuals.

The participants downloaded an app called Daily24 to record the timing of their meals and sleep for at least 1 day. The researchers used electronic medical records to obtain information on weight and comorbidities of the participants for up to 10 years before study enrollment through 10 months after enrollment.

The mean age of the participants was 51.1 years, 78% were women, and 78% were White; the mean body mass index was 30.8 kg/m².

The mean interval from first to last meal was 11.5 hours, and this was not associated with change in weight. The mean times from waking up to the first meal and the time from the last meal to sleeping were 1.6 hours and 4.0 hours, respectively, and these were not associated with weight changes over the follow-up period, the researchers wrote. Sleep duration (mean of 7.5 hours) also was not associated with weight change over time.

However, the total daily number of large and medium-sized meals was associated with weight gain over time, while those who reported more smaller meals showed weight loss. A daily increase of one large, medium, or small meal was associated with an average annual weight change of 0.69 kg, 0.97 kg, and –0.30 kg, respectively.

 

Benefits of time-restricted eating remain unclear

“Animal studies have shown benefits for time restricted feeding, but there are still questions about whether or not it helps prevent weight gain or promotes weight loss in humans,” Dr. Bennett said in an interview.

As for the current study findings, “we were not surprised; humans are more complicated than animals, and we have complicated behaviors, especially with eating,” she said.

“We showed that windows of eating (eating for longer periods of time or less in a day) was not associated with weight change over time among patients from three health systems,” said Dr. Bennett. “The main implication is that restricting your window of eating, such as eating over less time, or having more fasting time, may not reduce weight gain over time, while eating fewer large meals is associated with less weight gain over time.”

The findings were limited by several factors including the exclusion of many younger and less educated individuals, the short follow-up period, and lack of information on weight loss intention at baseline, the researchers noted. Other limitations included the inability to evaluate time-restricted eating or fasting, and the inclusion of individuals currently seeking care, which may limit generalizability.

However, the results were strengthened by the repeated measures of weight, detailed information on obesity risk factors, and real-time assessment of eating behaviors. The results do not support time-restricted eating as a long-term weight-loss strategy, and more studies are needed with a longer follow-up period, the researchers concluded.

However, there may be a role for time restricted eating as a method of total calorie control, Dr. Bennett said.

“Other studies do show that people might be able to use time-restricted eating or intermittent fasting to help them reduce their caloric intake and thus lose weight, so it can still be a helpful weight loss tool for some people who can adhere to it,” she said.

The study was supported by a grant from the American Heart Association to Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Bennett had no financial conflicts to disclose.
 

Higher levels of anxiety sensitivity were associated with more severe depression in adults with dissociative identity disorder, based on data from 21 individuals.

Anxiety sensitivity refers to fear of the signs and symptoms of anxiety based on the individual’s belief that the signs of anxiety will have harmful consequences, wrote Xi Pan, LICSW, MPA, of McLean Hospital, Belmont, Mass., and colleagues.

Anxiety sensitivity can include cognitive, physical, and social elements: for example, fear that the inability to focus signals mental illness, fear that a racing heart might cause a heart attack, or fear that exhibiting anxiety signs in public (e.g., sweaty palms) will cause embarrassment, the researchers said.

Previous studies have found associations between anxiety sensitivity and panic attacks, and anxiety sensitivity has been shown to contribute to worsening symptoms in patients with anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and trauma-related disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder. However, “anxiety sensitivity has not been studied in individuals with complex dissociative disorders such as dissociative identity disorder (DID)” – who often have co-occurring PTSD and depression, the researchers said.

In a study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, the authors analyzed data from 21 treatment-seeking adult women with histories of childhood trauma, current PTSD, and dissociative identity disorder. Participants completed the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), Beck Depression Inventory-II, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Multidimensional Inventory of Dissociation, and PTSD Checklist for DSM-5.

Anxiety sensitivity in cognitive, physical, and social domains was assessed using ASI subscales.

Pearson correlations showed that symptoms of depression were significantly associated with anxiety sensitivity total scores and across all anxiety subscales. However, no direct associations appeared between anxiety sensitivity and PTSD or severe dissociative symptoms.

In a multiple regression analysis, the ASI cognitive subscale was a positive predictor of depressive symptoms, although physical and social subscale scores were not.

The researchers also tested for an indirect relationship between anxiety sensitivity and dissociative symptoms through depression. “Specifically, more severe ASI cognitive concerns were associated with more depressive symptoms, and more depressive symptoms predicted more severe pathological dissociation symptoms,” they wrote.

The findings were limited by the inability to show a direct causal relationship between anxiety sensitivity and depression, the researchers noted. Other limitations included the small sample size, use of self-reports, and the population of mainly White women, which may not generalize to other populations, they said.

However, the results represent the first empirical investigation of the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and DID symptoms, and support the value of assessment for anxiety sensitivity in DID patients in clinical practice, they said.

“If high levels of anxiety sensitivity are identified, the individual may benefit from targeted interventions, which in turn may alleviate some symptoms of depression and dissociation in DID,” the researchers concluded.

The study was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health and the Julia Kasparian Fund for Neuroscience Research. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.
 

Higher levels of anxiety sensitivity were associated with more severe depression in adults with dissociative identity disorder, based on data from 21 individuals.

Anxiety sensitivity refers to fear of the signs and symptoms of anxiety based on the individual’s belief that the signs of anxiety will have harmful consequences, wrote Xi Pan, LICSW, MPA, of McLean Hospital, Belmont, Mass., and colleagues.

Anxiety sensitivity can include cognitive, physical, and social elements: for example, fear that the inability to focus signals mental illness, fear that a racing heart might cause a heart attack, or fear that exhibiting anxiety signs in public (e.g., sweaty palms) will cause embarrassment, the researchers said.

Previous studies have found associations between anxiety sensitivity and panic attacks, and anxiety sensitivity has been shown to contribute to worsening symptoms in patients with anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and trauma-related disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder. However, “anxiety sensitivity has not been studied in individuals with complex dissociative disorders such as dissociative identity disorder (DID)” – who often have co-occurring PTSD and depression, the researchers said.

In a study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, the authors analyzed data from 21 treatment-seeking adult women with histories of childhood trauma, current PTSD, and dissociative identity disorder. Participants completed the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), Beck Depression Inventory-II, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Multidimensional Inventory of Dissociation, and PTSD Checklist for DSM-5.

Anxiety sensitivity in cognitive, physical, and social domains was assessed using ASI subscales.

Pearson correlations showed that symptoms of depression were significantly associated with anxiety sensitivity total scores and across all anxiety subscales. However, no direct associations appeared between anxiety sensitivity and PTSD or severe dissociative symptoms.

In a multiple regression analysis, the ASI cognitive subscale was a positive predictor of depressive symptoms, although physical and social subscale scores were not.

The researchers also tested for an indirect relationship between anxiety sensitivity and dissociative symptoms through depression. “Specifically, more severe ASI cognitive concerns were associated with more depressive symptoms, and more depressive symptoms predicted more severe pathological dissociation symptoms,” they wrote.

The findings were limited by the inability to show a direct causal relationship between anxiety sensitivity and depression, the researchers noted. Other limitations included the small sample size, use of self-reports, and the population of mainly White women, which may not generalize to other populations, they said.

However, the results represent the first empirical investigation of the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and DID symptoms, and support the value of assessment for anxiety sensitivity in DID patients in clinical practice, they said.

“If high levels of anxiety sensitivity are identified, the individual may benefit from targeted interventions, which in turn may alleviate some symptoms of depression and dissociation in DID,” the researchers concluded.

The study was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health and the Julia Kasparian Fund for Neuroscience Research. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.
 

Higher levels of anxiety sensitivity were associated with more severe depression in adults with dissociative identity disorder, based on data from 21 individuals.

Anxiety sensitivity refers to fear of the signs and symptoms of anxiety based on the individual’s belief that the signs of anxiety will have harmful consequences, wrote Xi Pan, LICSW, MPA, of McLean Hospital, Belmont, Mass., and colleagues.

Anxiety sensitivity can include cognitive, physical, and social elements: for example, fear that the inability to focus signals mental illness, fear that a racing heart might cause a heart attack, or fear that exhibiting anxiety signs in public (e.g., sweaty palms) will cause embarrassment, the researchers said.

Previous studies have found associations between anxiety sensitivity and panic attacks, and anxiety sensitivity has been shown to contribute to worsening symptoms in patients with anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and trauma-related disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder. However, “anxiety sensitivity has not been studied in individuals with complex dissociative disorders such as dissociative identity disorder (DID)” – who often have co-occurring PTSD and depression, the researchers said.

In a study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, the authors analyzed data from 21 treatment-seeking adult women with histories of childhood trauma, current PTSD, and dissociative identity disorder. Participants completed the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), Beck Depression Inventory-II, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Multidimensional Inventory of Dissociation, and PTSD Checklist for DSM-5.

Anxiety sensitivity in cognitive, physical, and social domains was assessed using ASI subscales.

Pearson correlations showed that symptoms of depression were significantly associated with anxiety sensitivity total scores and across all anxiety subscales. However, no direct associations appeared between anxiety sensitivity and PTSD or severe dissociative symptoms.

In a multiple regression analysis, the ASI cognitive subscale was a positive predictor of depressive symptoms, although physical and social subscale scores were not.

The researchers also tested for an indirect relationship between anxiety sensitivity and dissociative symptoms through depression. “Specifically, more severe ASI cognitive concerns were associated with more depressive symptoms, and more depressive symptoms predicted more severe pathological dissociation symptoms,” they wrote.

The findings were limited by the inability to show a direct causal relationship between anxiety sensitivity and depression, the researchers noted. Other limitations included the small sample size, use of self-reports, and the population of mainly White women, which may not generalize to other populations, they said.

However, the results represent the first empirical investigation of the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and DID symptoms, and support the value of assessment for anxiety sensitivity in DID patients in clinical practice, they said.

“If high levels of anxiety sensitivity are identified, the individual may benefit from targeted interventions, which in turn may alleviate some symptoms of depression and dissociation in DID,” the researchers concluded.

The study was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health and the Julia Kasparian Fund for Neuroscience Research. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.