Tag: statistics

Eur Radiol. 2022 Oct 19. doi: 10.1007/s00330-022-09177-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To explore the diagnostic potential of texture analysis applied to native T1 maps obtained from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) images for the assessment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

METHODS: This study, conducted from June 2018 to November 2020, included 119 patients (35 on hemodialysis, 55 on peritoneal dialysis, and 29 with kidney transplants) in Renji Hospital. Native T1 maps were assessed with texture analysis, using a freely available software package, in participants who underwent cardiac MRI at 3.0 T. Four texture features, selected by dimension reduction specific to the diagnosis of HFpEF, were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to examine the independent association between the selected features and HFpEF in ESRD patients.

RESULTS: Seventy-six of 119 patients were diagnosed with HFpEF. Demographic, laboratory, cardiac MRI, and echocardiogram characteristics were compared between HFpEF and non-HFpEF groups. The four texture features that were analyzed showed statistically significant differences between groups. In multivariate analysis, age, left atrial volume index (LAVI), and sum average 4 (SA4) turned out to be independent predictors for HFpEF in ESRD patients. Combining the texture feature, SA4, with typical predictive factors resulted in higher C-index (0.923 vs. 0.898, p = 0.045) and a sensitivity and specificity of 79.2% and 95.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Texture analysis of T1 maps adds diagnostic value to typical clinical parameters for the assessment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in patients with end-stage renal disease.

KEY POINTS: • Non-invasive assessment of HFpEF can help predict prognosis in ESRD patients and help them take timely preventative measures. • Texture analysis of native T1 maps adds diagnostic value to the typical clinical parameters for the assessment of HFpEF in patients with ESRD.

PMID:36260118 | DOI:10.1007/s00330-022-09177-5

West Afr J Med. 2022 Oct 20;39(10):1013-1020.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Hair loss studies have mostly been clinical with no trichoscopy features of the hair loss documented in Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the community prevalence, types of hair loss, trichoschopy features and the risk factors for the observed hair loss types.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study of traders (Fitz Patrick’s skin types V-VI) at an urban market. The traders were clinically evaluated for hair loss. Sociodemographic, clinical and trichoscopy data were recorded using a study questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Statistics such as means, medians, frequencies, t-test and chi-square test were presented. Levels of significance of all tests was set at, P<0.05%.

RESULTS: A total of 307 participants (32.6% male and 67.4% female) with a mean age of 42.7±12.8 years were studied. The prevalence of hair loss was 68.7% (51% in males and 77.3% in females) and the mean age of those with hair loss was 44.8±12.3 years. The pattern of hair loss was patterned, diffuse and localized in 94.3%, 3.8% and 1.9% respectively. The main types of hair loss were androgenetic alopecia (26.9%) and traction alopecia (71.7%). The prevalent hair practices were; braids and weave-on (extensions) in 78.2%, turban-like head gear in 76.9%, and chemical relaxers in 73.8%. Trichoscopy features characteristic of the observed hair loss types were documented.

CONCLUSION: Hair loss is common in the community. The common hair care practices and increasing age could be contributors to hair loss.

PMID:36260091

AIDS Care. 2022 Oct 19:1-5. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2022.2137100. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The current study examined the role of internalized HIV-related stigma in antiretroviral therapy adherence, viral load, and retention in care among women of color living with HIV in Los Angeles County, California. African American and Hispanic/Latino women 18 years of age and older completed a one-time brief survey between September 2017 and February 2018. Descriptive statistics, and univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were used to analyze the data. Seventy-six participants enrolled in the study and 74 completed the entire survey. Seventy-six percent of respondents were Hispanic/Latino, 24% were African American, 71% were unemployed, and 54% had less than a high school education. Thirty-five percent were defined as having “high” stigma with a score in the upper quartile of the scale. Being unemployed, having a high school education or less, and not meeting the Health Resources and Services Administration’s annual retention in care measure were associated with “high” stigma. When controlling for education and employment status, those reporting “high” stigma vs. “low” stigma were 18.8 times more likely to not meet the criteria for annual retention in care (OR = 18.8, 95% CI = 1.9-189.2, p = 0.013). Stigma-reduction interventions targeting healthcare settings may be necessary to improve patient retention and engagement in care.

PMID:36260067 | DOI:10.1080/09540121.2022.2137100

West Afr J Med. 2022 Oct 20;39(10):1007-1012.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel viral infection, now a pandemic, caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Diabetes mellitus (DM) has been associated with severe COVID-19 and poor glycaemic control is reportedly the link between these conditions. This study aimed to determine the association between DM and the severity of COVID-19.

METHODS: This was a retrospective study involving 86 patients with COVID-19 admitted to a tertiary hospital in South-Western Nigeria. Socio-demographic, clinical and laboratory data were extracted from their medical records. Ethical approval was obtained and descriptive and inferential statistics computed.

RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 61 ± 16.1 years and 61.6% were males. Fever was noted in 67.4% of patients and, similarly, 67.4% of the patients had an SpO2<94% in ambient air when admitted. Thirty-six percent (36%) of the study patients had DM. Amongst patients with DM and those without DM, 72.2% and 62%, respectively, had severe or critical COVID-19 (p=0.323). Patients with DM were older than those without DM (65.8 years vs 57.3 years; p=0.015). The frequency of oxygen desaturation, respiratory failure, acute kidney injury (AKI) and multi-organ failure were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients with DM (p=0.037, 0.043, 0.004 and 0.016, respectively). Mortality was higher in COVID-19 patients with DM but this was not statistically significant (p=0.214). The odds of a patient with diabetes and COVID-19 developing respiratory failure and acute kidney injury were 1.395 (95%CI 1.154-6.913) and 1.125 (95%CI 1.025-1.621), respectively.

CONCLUSION: Diabetes mellitus was recorded in older patients with COVID-19 and associated with suboptimal oxygen saturation at presentation, respiratory failure, and acute kidney injury. There was no association found between DM and COVID-19 severity and mortality.

PMID:36260053

Epidemiol Rev. 2022 Oct 19:mxac010. doi: 10.1093/epirev/mxac010. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Randomized trials are often designed to collect outcomes at fixed points in time after randomization. In practice, the number and timing of outcome assessments can vary among participants. (i.e., irregular). In fact, the timing of assessments may be associated with the outcome of interest (i.e., informative). For example, in a trial evaluating the effectiveness of treatments for major depressive disorder, not only did the timings of outcome assessments vary among participants, but symptom scores were associated with assessment frequency. This type of informative observation requires appropriate statistical analysis. While analytic methods have been developed, they are rarely used. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on irregular assessments with a view toward developing recommendations for analyzing trials with irregular and potentially informative assessment times. We show how the choice of analytic approach hinges on assumptions about the relationship between the assessment and outcome processes. We argue that irregular assessment should be treated with the same care as missing data, and propose that trialists: adopt strategies to minimize the extent of irregularity; describe the extent of irregularity in assessment times; make their assumptions about the relationships between assessment times and outcomes explicit; adopt analytic techniques that are appropriate to their assumptions; assess sensitivity of trial results to their assumptions.

PMID:36259969 | DOI:10.1093/epirev/mxac010

Waste Manag Res. 2022 Oct 19:734242X221126376. doi: 10.1177/0734242X221126376. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This study uses material flow analysis to investigate the amounts and pathways of municipal plastic waste (MPW) in Thailand. The aim is to understand the country’s situation and investigate the effects of Thailand’s Roadmap on Plastic Waste Management 2018-2030, which sets a goal for recycling ‘target plastic waste’ at 100% by 2027. The analysis was conducted using waste statistics between 2008 and 2020 and waste forecasts. Two scenarios of plastic waste management, the business-as-usual, and the national roadmap, were constructed for 2025 and 2030. In 2030, the annual MPW generation is projected to reach 2.19 Mt. Under the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario, the recycling and utilisation rate will be 32.3% of waste generated. About 30.3% of waste generated will not be treated properly and possibly leaked into the open environment. Under the roadmap scenario, the recycling and utilisation rate will increase to 98.4%, while 1.6% of waste generated will not be treated properly. The recycling rate for target plastic waste in 2027 could only reach 67.1% because plastic waste is required as fuel for waste incinerators and industries. With the roadmap fully implemented, certain effects can be foreseen for waste-to-energy and plastic industries. Findings from this study stress on the importance of holistic policy planning, efficient prioritising and allocating of waste as a resource, and cooperation from all sectors for sustainable plastic waste management.

PMID:36259956 | DOI:10.1177/0734242X221126376

Nursing. 2022 Nov 1;52(11):57-61. doi: 10.1097/01.NURSE.0000889816.36819.74.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To explore the stress, experience, and unmet needs of parents whose child has attempted suicide.

METHODS: A 23-question survey and a 53-item Family Management Measurement questionnaire were distributed to the parents of children admitted to an acute care facility for a suicide attempt (SA). Quantitative data were analyzed using Statistical Analysis System. Responses to the open-ended questions were sorted, synthesized, and clustered into tentative categories.

RESULTS: Eleven parents enrolled, but only 10 completed the qualitative questions. Three themes emerged: feelings of helplessness, uncertainty, and life management difficulty. Parents rated their stress as moderate (6.6 out of 10). Internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) was questionable (0.69); however, three of six subscales were good to excellent (0.81-0.95).

CONCLUSION: Families experience stress, feelings of hopelessness, and uncertainty after an SA. More research is needed to better understand and quantify parental experiences.

PMID:36259910 | DOI:10.1097/01.NURSE.0000889816.36819.74

Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2022 Oct 17;25:e220027. doi: 10.1590/1980-549720220027. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate if the diet quality and its components are associated with breast cancer risk.

METHODS: A case-control study was conducted with 332 women, 114 who were diagnosed with breast cancer, and 218 control individuals. Groups were matched for age, body mass index, and menopausal status. The quality of diet was assessed using Brazilian Healthy Eating Index Revised (BHEI-R) and its components. Food consumption was measured through three 24-h dietary recalls and assessed using the NDS-R software. For statistical analyses, it was performed an adjusted logistic regression, estimation of the Odds Ratio (OR), and 95% confidence interval (95%CI), with a p-value <0.05.

RESULTS: The BHEI-R score, classified into quartiles, did not differ between groups in the lowest quartile of diet quality (p=0.853). The components total cereals (p=0.038), saturated fat (p=0.039) and Gord_AA (fat, alcohol, and added sugar) (p=0.023) had higher scores among the case group. The scores for total fruits (p=0.010) and milk and dairy products (p=0.039) were higher among the control group. The BHEI-R components and the quality of diet were not associated with the outcome.

CONCLUSION: Diet quality, assessed by the BHEI-R and its components, was not associated with breast cancer.

PMID:36259887 | DOI:10.1590/1980-549720220027

Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2022 Oct 17;25:e220025. doi: 10.1590/1980-549720220025. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between adolescent and young adult homicide mortality rates in Brazilian municipalities according to gender, race, and contextual characteristics at the municipal and federation unit levels.

METHODS: This is an ecological study that used secondary data available from the death records of the Mortality Information System and socioeconomic data from the Brazilian Census. The dependent variables were homicide mortality rates among people aged 15-29 years by sex and race from 2015 to 2017. The contextual variables were related to education, income, schooling, and vulnerability. Multilevel linear regression was applied in an ecological model to verify the first- and second-level variables’ effect. Each variable’s effect was estimated using β and its respective confidence intervals (95%CI) and statistical significance.

RESULTS: There was a direct and significant relationship between the adolescent and young adult mortality rates and the homicide mortality rates among adults, regardless of sex and race/skin color. However, this relationship was more pronounced among black adolescents and young adults. At the federative unit level, the human development index was significantly related to the mortality rates of black men, white men, and white women.

CONCLUSION: There is racial inequality in adolescent and young adult mortality from violence in Brazil; the rates are related to municipal characteristics, such as violence in the adult population and inequalities in education and social protection.

PMID:36259885 | DOI:10.1590/1980-549720220025

Rev Bras Enferm. 2022 Oct 17;75Suppl 2(Suppl 2):e20210878. doi: 10.1590/0034-7167-2021-0878. eCollection 2022.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: to verify the association between sociodemographic and reproductive characteristics with rural workers’ reproductive autonomy.

METHODS: a cross-sectional study, with a sample of 346 women and application of the Reproductive Autonomy Scale. Multinomial regression was performed to analyze associations between independent variables and outcomes.

RESULTS: in the analysis of subscales “Decision-making”, “My sexual partner or someone else such as a parent”, “Both me and my partner” and “Me”, women experienced greater reproductive autonomy in relation to their partners. For outcomes “Decision about which method to use”, “When to have a baby” or “About unplanned pregnancy”, the highest prevalence was for category “Me”, with statistically significant associations.

CONCLUSIONS: the sociodemographic and reproductive characteristics among the most vulnerable women, in terms of the social, economic and cultural context in which they are inserted, may be associated with greater difficulties in exercising reproductive autonomy.

PMID:36259879 | DOI:10.1590/0034-7167-2021-0878