1.Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Psychological Well-Being of Firefighters
Elisabetta RICCARDI ; Luca FONTANA ; Daniela PACELLA ; Fabio FUSCO ; Ilaria MARINARO ; Giovanna COSTANZO ; Francesco VASSALLO ; Maria TRIASSI ; Ivo IAVICOLI
Safety and Health at Work 2023;14(3):317-324
Background:
COVID-19 pandemic represented a unique stressful event that affected the physical health and psychological well-being (PWB) of individuals and communities. Monitoring PWB is essential not only to clarify the burden on mental health effects but also to define targeted psychological-supporting measures. This cross-sectional study evaluated the PWB of Italian firefighters during the pandemic.
Methods:
Firefighters recruited during the pandemic period filled out a self-administered questionnaire, the Psychological General Well-Being Index, during the health surveillance medical examination. This tool is usually used to assess the global PWB and explores six subdomains: anxiety, depressed mood, positive well-being, self-control, general health, and vitality. The influencing roles of age, gender, working activities, COVID-19, and pandemic restrictive measures were also explored.
Results:
A total of 742 firefighters completed the survey. The aggregate median PWB global score was in the “no distress” range (94.3 ± 10.3), which was higher than that observed in studies conducted using the same tool in the Italian general population during the same pandemic period. Similar findings were observed in the specific subdomains, thus suggesting that the investigated population was in good PWB condition. Interestingly, significantly better outcomes were detected in the younger firefighters.
Conclusion
Our data showed a satisfactory PWB situation in firefighters that could be related to different professional factors such as work organization and mental and physical training. In particular, our results would suggest the hypothesis that in firefighters, maintaining a minimum/moderate level of physical activity (consisting of even just going to work) might have a profoundly positive impact on psychological health and well-being.
2.Bowel movement alterations predict the severity of diverticular disease and the risk of acute diverticulitis: a prospective, international study
Antonio TURSI ; Daniele PIOVANI ; Giovanni BRANDIMARTE ; Francesco DI MARIO ; Walter ELISEI ; Marcello PICCHIO ; Gisella FIGLIOLI ; Gabrio BASSOTTI ; Leonardo ALLEGRETTA ; Maria Laura ANNUNZIATA ; Mauro BAFUTTO ; Maria Antonia BIANCO ; Raffaele COLUCCI ; Rita CONIGLIARO ; Dan L. DUMITRASCU ; Ricardo ESCALANTE ; Luciano FERRINI ; Giacomo FORTI ; Marilisa FRANCESCHI ; Maria Giovanna GRAZIANI ; Frank LAMMERT ; Giovanni LATELLA ; Daniele LISI ; Giovanni MACONI ; Debora COMPARE ; Gerardo NARDONE ; Lucia CAMARA DE CASTRO OLIVEIRA ; Chaves Oliveira ENIO ; Savvas PAPAGRIGORIADIS ; Anna PIETRZAK ; Stefano PONTONE ; Ieva STUNDIENE ; Tomas POŠKUS ; Giuseppe PRANZO ; Matthias Christian REICHERT ; Stefano RODINO ; Jaroslaw REGULA ; Giuseppe SCACCIANOCE ; Franco SCALDAFERRI ; Roberto VASSALLO ; Costantino ZAMPALETTA ; Angelo ZULLO ; Erasmo SPAZIANI ; Stefanos BONOVAS ; Alfredo PAPA ; Silvio DANESE ;
Intestinal Research 2025;23(1):96-106
Background/Aims:
Patients with diverticular disease (DD) frequently have abnormal bowel movements. However, it is unknown whether the entity of these alterations is associated with the severity of DD. We aimed to assess bowel habits and their relationship with the severity of DD according to Diverticular Inflammation and Complication Assessment (DICA) classification, Combined Overview on Diverticular Assessment (CODA) score, and fecal calprotectin (FC).
Methods:
An international, multicenter, prospective cohort study was conducted in 43 centers. A 10-point visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess the severity of constipation and diarrhea. The association of constipation and diarrhea with DICA classification, CODA score, and basal FC was tested using non-parametric tests. Survival methods for censored observations were applied to test the association of constipation and diarrhea with the incidence of acute diverticulitis over a 3-year follow-up.
Results:
Of 871 patients with DD were included in the study. Of these, 208 (23.9%) and 199 (22.9%) reported a VAS score for constipation and diarrhea at least 3 at baseline, respectively. Higher constipation and diarrhea scores were associated with increasing DICA classification, CODA score and basal FC (P< 0.001). Constipation and diarrhea scores were independently associated with an increased hazard of developing acute diverticulitis (hazard ratio [HR]constipation = 1.15 per 1-VAS point increase, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04–1.27; P=0.004; and HRdiarrhea =1.14; 95% CI, 1.03–1.26; P=0.014, respectively).
Conclusions
In newly diagnosed patients with DD, higher endoscopic and combined scores of DD severity were associated with higher scores of constipation and diarrhea at baseline. Both constipation and diarrhea were independent prognostic factors of acute diverticulitis.
3.Bowel movement alterations predict the severity of diverticular disease and the risk of acute diverticulitis: a prospective, international study
Antonio TURSI ; Daniele PIOVANI ; Giovanni BRANDIMARTE ; Francesco DI MARIO ; Walter ELISEI ; Marcello PICCHIO ; Gisella FIGLIOLI ; Gabrio BASSOTTI ; Leonardo ALLEGRETTA ; Maria Laura ANNUNZIATA ; Mauro BAFUTTO ; Maria Antonia BIANCO ; Raffaele COLUCCI ; Rita CONIGLIARO ; Dan L. DUMITRASCU ; Ricardo ESCALANTE ; Luciano FERRINI ; Giacomo FORTI ; Marilisa FRANCESCHI ; Maria Giovanna GRAZIANI ; Frank LAMMERT ; Giovanni LATELLA ; Daniele LISI ; Giovanni MACONI ; Debora COMPARE ; Gerardo NARDONE ; Lucia CAMARA DE CASTRO OLIVEIRA ; Chaves Oliveira ENIO ; Savvas PAPAGRIGORIADIS ; Anna PIETRZAK ; Stefano PONTONE ; Ieva STUNDIENE ; Tomas POŠKUS ; Giuseppe PRANZO ; Matthias Christian REICHERT ; Stefano RODINO ; Jaroslaw REGULA ; Giuseppe SCACCIANOCE ; Franco SCALDAFERRI ; Roberto VASSALLO ; Costantino ZAMPALETTA ; Angelo ZULLO ; Erasmo SPAZIANI ; Stefanos BONOVAS ; Alfredo PAPA ; Silvio DANESE ;
Intestinal Research 2025;23(1):96-106
Background/Aims:
Patients with diverticular disease (DD) frequently have abnormal bowel movements. However, it is unknown whether the entity of these alterations is associated with the severity of DD. We aimed to assess bowel habits and their relationship with the severity of DD according to Diverticular Inflammation and Complication Assessment (DICA) classification, Combined Overview on Diverticular Assessment (CODA) score, and fecal calprotectin (FC).
Methods:
An international, multicenter, prospective cohort study was conducted in 43 centers. A 10-point visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess the severity of constipation and diarrhea. The association of constipation and diarrhea with DICA classification, CODA score, and basal FC was tested using non-parametric tests. Survival methods for censored observations were applied to test the association of constipation and diarrhea with the incidence of acute diverticulitis over a 3-year follow-up.
Results:
Of 871 patients with DD were included in the study. Of these, 208 (23.9%) and 199 (22.9%) reported a VAS score for constipation and diarrhea at least 3 at baseline, respectively. Higher constipation and diarrhea scores were associated with increasing DICA classification, CODA score and basal FC (P< 0.001). Constipation and diarrhea scores were independently associated with an increased hazard of developing acute diverticulitis (hazard ratio [HR]constipation = 1.15 per 1-VAS point increase, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04–1.27; P=0.004; and HRdiarrhea =1.14; 95% CI, 1.03–1.26; P=0.014, respectively).
Conclusions
In newly diagnosed patients with DD, higher endoscopic and combined scores of DD severity were associated with higher scores of constipation and diarrhea at baseline. Both constipation and diarrhea were independent prognostic factors of acute diverticulitis.
4.Bowel movement alterations predict the severity of diverticular disease and the risk of acute diverticulitis: a prospective, international study
Antonio TURSI ; Daniele PIOVANI ; Giovanni BRANDIMARTE ; Francesco DI MARIO ; Walter ELISEI ; Marcello PICCHIO ; Gisella FIGLIOLI ; Gabrio BASSOTTI ; Leonardo ALLEGRETTA ; Maria Laura ANNUNZIATA ; Mauro BAFUTTO ; Maria Antonia BIANCO ; Raffaele COLUCCI ; Rita CONIGLIARO ; Dan L. DUMITRASCU ; Ricardo ESCALANTE ; Luciano FERRINI ; Giacomo FORTI ; Marilisa FRANCESCHI ; Maria Giovanna GRAZIANI ; Frank LAMMERT ; Giovanni LATELLA ; Daniele LISI ; Giovanni MACONI ; Debora COMPARE ; Gerardo NARDONE ; Lucia CAMARA DE CASTRO OLIVEIRA ; Chaves Oliveira ENIO ; Savvas PAPAGRIGORIADIS ; Anna PIETRZAK ; Stefano PONTONE ; Ieva STUNDIENE ; Tomas POŠKUS ; Giuseppe PRANZO ; Matthias Christian REICHERT ; Stefano RODINO ; Jaroslaw REGULA ; Giuseppe SCACCIANOCE ; Franco SCALDAFERRI ; Roberto VASSALLO ; Costantino ZAMPALETTA ; Angelo ZULLO ; Erasmo SPAZIANI ; Stefanos BONOVAS ; Alfredo PAPA ; Silvio DANESE ;
Intestinal Research 2025;23(1):96-106
Background/Aims:
Patients with diverticular disease (DD) frequently have abnormal bowel movements. However, it is unknown whether the entity of these alterations is associated with the severity of DD. We aimed to assess bowel habits and their relationship with the severity of DD according to Diverticular Inflammation and Complication Assessment (DICA) classification, Combined Overview on Diverticular Assessment (CODA) score, and fecal calprotectin (FC).
Methods:
An international, multicenter, prospective cohort study was conducted in 43 centers. A 10-point visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess the severity of constipation and diarrhea. The association of constipation and diarrhea with DICA classification, CODA score, and basal FC was tested using non-parametric tests. Survival methods for censored observations were applied to test the association of constipation and diarrhea with the incidence of acute diverticulitis over a 3-year follow-up.
Results:
Of 871 patients with DD were included in the study. Of these, 208 (23.9%) and 199 (22.9%) reported a VAS score for constipation and diarrhea at least 3 at baseline, respectively. Higher constipation and diarrhea scores were associated with increasing DICA classification, CODA score and basal FC (P< 0.001). Constipation and diarrhea scores were independently associated with an increased hazard of developing acute diverticulitis (hazard ratio [HR]constipation = 1.15 per 1-VAS point increase, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04–1.27; P=0.004; and HRdiarrhea =1.14; 95% CI, 1.03–1.26; P=0.014, respectively).
Conclusions
In newly diagnosed patients with DD, higher endoscopic and combined scores of DD severity were associated with higher scores of constipation and diarrhea at baseline. Both constipation and diarrhea were independent prognostic factors of acute diverticulitis.