1.Exploring cognitive trajectories and their association with physical performance: evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study
Jingdong SUO ; Xianlei SHEN ; Jinyu HE ; Haoran SUN ; Yu SHI ; Rongxin HE ; Xiao ZHANG ; Xijie WANG ; Yuandi XI ; Wannian LIANG
Epidemiology and Health 2023;45(1):e2023064-
OBJECTIVES:
The long-term trends of cognitive function and its associations with physical performance remain unclear, particularly in Asian populations. The study objectives were to determine cognitive trajectories in middle-aged and elderly Chinese individuals, as well as to examine differences in physical performance across cognitive trajectory groups.
METHODS:
Data were extracted from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. A total of 5,701 participants (47.7% male) with a mean age of 57.8 (standard deviation, 8.4) years at enrollment were included. A group-based trajectory model was used to identify cognitive trajectory groups for each sex. Grip strength, repeated chair stand, and standing balance tests were used to evaluate physical performance. An ordered logistic regression model was employed to analyze differences in physical performance across cognitive trajectory groups.
RESULTS:
Three cognitive trajectory groups were identified for each sex: low, middle, and high. For both sexes, higher cognitive trajectory groups exhibited smaller declines with age. In the fully adjusted model, relative to the low trajectory group, the odds ratios (ORs) of better physical performance in the middle cognitive group were 1.37 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17 to 1.59; p<0.001) during follow-up and 1.40 (95% CI, 1.20 to 1.64; p<0.001) at the endpoint. The ORs in the high trajectory group were 1.94 (95% CI, 1.61 to 2.32; p<0.001) during follow-up and 2.04 (95% CI, 1.69 to 2.45; p<0.001) at the endpoint.
CONCLUSIONS
Cognitive function was better preserved in male participants and individuals with higher baseline cognitive function. A higher cognitive trajectory was associated with better physical performance over time.
2.Clinical effect of double plasma molecular adsorption system in treatment of patients with chronic liver failure in high-altitude areas
Bowen WANG ; Mengjia PENG ; Liheng JIANG ; Fei FANG ; Yuliang WANG ; Yuandi SHEN
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2024;40(1):110-115
ObjectiveTo investigate the differences in clinical features and mortality rate between native patients with chronic liver failure (CHF) and migrated patients with CHF after treatment with double plasma molecular adsorption system (DPMAS) in high-altitude areas. MethodsA total of 63 patients with CHF who received DPMAS treatment in the intensive care unit of General Hospital of Tibet Military Command from January 2016 to December 2021 were enrolled, and according to their history of residence in high-altitude areas, they were divided into native group with 29 patients and migrated group with 34 patients. The two groups were compared in terms of baseline data and clinical features before and after DPMAS treatment. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups, and the paired t-test was used for comparison before and after treatment within each group; the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between groups, and the Wilcoxon signed rank sum test was used for comparison before and after treatment within each group; the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves, and the Log-rank test was used for comparison of the risk of death. ResultsCompared with the native group, the migrated group had a significantly higher proportion of Chinese Han patients (χ2=41.729, P<0.001), and compared with the migrated group, the native group had a significantly longer duration of the most recent continuous residence in high-altitude areas (Z=3.364, P<0.001). Compared with the native group, the migrated group had significantly higher MELD score and incidence rates of hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome, and gastrointestinal bleeding (Z=2.318, χ2=6.903, 5.154, and 6.262, all P<0.05). Both groups had significant changes in platelet count (PLT), hemoglobin count (HGB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin, total bilirubin (TBil), direct bilirubin (DBil), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatinine (Cr), and international normalized ratio (INR) after DPMAS treatment (all P<0.05). Before DPMAS treatment, compared with the native group, the migrated group had significantly higher levels of ALT, AST, TBil, DBil, LDH, Cr, BUN, and INR (all P<0.05) and a significantly lower level of HGB (P<0.05); after DPMAS treatment, compared with the native group, the migrated group had significantly greater reductions in PLT and HGB (both P<0.05) and still significantly higher levels of ALT, AST, TBil, DBil, LDH, BUN, and INR (all P<0.05). The 60-day mortality rate of patients after DPMAS treatment was 52.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 41.7 — 63.8) in the native group and 81.3% (95%CI: 77.9 — 85.6) in the migrated group. Compared with the native group (hazard ratio [HR]=0.47, 95%CI: 0.23 — 0.95), the migrated group had a significant increase in the risk of death on day 60 (HR=2.14, 95%CI: 1.06 — 4.32, P=0.039). ConclusionCompared with the native patients with CHF in high-altitude areas, migrated patients have a higher degree of liver impairment, a lower degree of improvement in liver function after DPMAS treatment, and a higher mortality rate. Clinical medical staff need to pay more attention to migrated patients with CHF, so as to improve their survival rates.