1.Exploration on the challenges and ethical countermeasures of artificial intelligence intervening in the care decision-making of older adults with disabilities
Runying WANG ; Yiyao ZHANG ; Huan DU ; Yingchun PENG
Chinese Medical Ethics 2026;39(5):656-662
Artificial intelligence (AI) is gradually being applied in the field of decision-making support for the daily care of the older adults with disabilities. However, due to their limited cognitive functions, information asymmetry with medical staff and technical parties, and a certain degree of emotional deprivation, the older adults with disabilities are in a structurally vulnerable position. Against this background, several ethical dilemmas arise when AI technology intervenes in care decision-making. First, the informed consent process is difficult to genuinely implement. Second, algorithms based on average models tend to ignore individual differences, leading to “de-personalization” of services. Third, over-reliance on technology may further weaken humanistic care, thereby undermining the individual dignity of the older adults with disabilities. Fourth, in the care decision-making involving the joint participation of the older adults with disabilities, caregivers, medical teams, and AI systems, the boundaries of responsibility among all parties remain unclear, making it difficult to assign accountability when adverse outcomes occur. Drawing on the theories of vulnerability ethics, interactive ethics, and care ethics, this paper proposes a “vulnerability-interaction-care” path and put forward three-tiered countermeasures. The first was baseline safeguards, preventing the exploitation of the vulnerability of the older adults with disabilities and their caregivers, and requiring further safeguards for their dignity. The second was process protection, enhancing transparency and accountability within the human-machine collaboration framework, as well as establishing a multi-party consultation mechanism. The third was capacity empowerment, improving the subjectivity of the older adults with disabilities through age-appropriate interaction, structured expression of intentions, and caregiver participation.
2.A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial of Tengshen Granules for Treatment of Grade 1 Hypertension
Yuru PENG ; Jiaming HUAN ; Laiyun XIN ; Zhenyuan WANG ; Cong WANG ; Yunlun LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(21):168-176
ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Tengshen Granules in the treatment of grade 1 hypertension with the syndrome of severe liver heat and hyperactive Yang combined with mild kidney Yin deficiency. MethodsA total of 120 patients with grade 1 hypertension presenting with severe liver heat and hyperactive Yang combined with mild kidney Yin deficiency were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial. Patients were randomly assigned to the observation group (Tengshen granules) and the control group (placebo), with 60 cases in each group. On the basis of lifestyle intervention, treatment was administered for 8 weeks followed by a 2-month follow-up. During the study period, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores, blood pressure, antihypertensive efficacy, blood pressure control rate, and other indicators were recorded and analyzed, and safety was evaluated. ResultsA total of 114 patients completed the trial, including 57 in the control group and 57 in the observation group. Compared with baseline, TCM syndrome scores, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure in the observation group were significantly reduced after treatment (P<0.01). Compared with the control group after treatment, systolic blood pressure in the observation group was lower from week 4 of medication (P<0.05), and this difference persisted until 2 months after drug discontinuation. For diastolic blood pressure, the observation group was superior to the control group at week 8 (P<0.01), with no statistically significant differences at other time points. Regarding syndrome improvement, the TCM syndrome scores for severe liver heat and hyperactive Yang combined with mild kidney Yin deficiency showed significant improvement at weeks 6 and 8 of treatment, with the observation group superior to the control group (P<0.05). During the 1-month follow-up after drug discontinuation, the syndrome scores in the observation group remained lower than those in the control group (P<0.01). The total effective rate of antihypertensive efficacy in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (χ2=11.389, P<0.05). In addition, the level of urinary microalbumin in the observation group was lower after treatment than before treatment (P<0.05). ConclusionTengshen granules demonstrate significant clinical efficacy and good safety in the treatment of grade 1 hypertension with severe liver heat and hyperactive Yang combined with mild kidney Yin deficiency. They can effectively reduce blood pressure and improve related TCM syndrome manifestations.
3.A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial of Tengshen Granules for Treatment of Grade 1 Hypertension
Yuru PENG ; Jiaming HUAN ; Laiyun XIN ; Zhenyuan WANG ; Cong WANG ; Yunlun LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(21):168-176
ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Tengshen Granules in the treatment of grade 1 hypertension with the syndrome of severe liver heat and hyperactive Yang combined with mild kidney Yin deficiency. MethodsA total of 120 patients with grade 1 hypertension presenting with severe liver heat and hyperactive Yang combined with mild kidney Yin deficiency were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial. Patients were randomly assigned to the observation group (Tengshen granules) and the control group (placebo), with 60 cases in each group. On the basis of lifestyle intervention, treatment was administered for 8 weeks followed by a 2-month follow-up. During the study period, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores, blood pressure, antihypertensive efficacy, blood pressure control rate, and other indicators were recorded and analyzed, and safety was evaluated. ResultsA total of 114 patients completed the trial, including 57 in the control group and 57 in the observation group. Compared with baseline, TCM syndrome scores, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure in the observation group were significantly reduced after treatment (P<0.01). Compared with the control group after treatment, systolic blood pressure in the observation group was lower from week 4 of medication (P<0.05), and this difference persisted until 2 months after drug discontinuation. For diastolic blood pressure, the observation group was superior to the control group at week 8 (P<0.01), with no statistically significant differences at other time points. Regarding syndrome improvement, the TCM syndrome scores for severe liver heat and hyperactive Yang combined with mild kidney Yin deficiency showed significant improvement at weeks 6 and 8 of treatment, with the observation group superior to the control group (P<0.05). During the 1-month follow-up after drug discontinuation, the syndrome scores in the observation group remained lower than those in the control group (P<0.01). The total effective rate of antihypertensive efficacy in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (χ2=11.389, P<0.05). In addition, the level of urinary microalbumin in the observation group was lower after treatment than before treatment (P<0.05). ConclusionTengshen granules demonstrate significant clinical efficacy and good safety in the treatment of grade 1 hypertension with severe liver heat and hyperactive Yang combined with mild kidney Yin deficiency. They can effectively reduce blood pressure and improve related TCM syndrome manifestations.
4.A preliminary discussion on ethical regulation of brain organoid applications from the perspective of biopolitics
Runying WANG ; Yiyao ZHANG ; Huan DU ; Yingchun PENG
Chinese Medical Ethics 2026;39(10):1298-1303
From the perspective of biopolitics, brain organoids represent an emerging technological field for life governance, embodying the governmentality logic of biopower and posing challenges to traditional ethical systems and bodily categories. Under the effect of the Foucauldian medical gaze and disciplinary mechanisms, brain organoid technology may objectify life processes and give rise to new forms of subjectivation, with risk governance standing as one of the core logics behind the ethical regulation of brain organoids. This paper further compared existing regulatory paths in China, the United States, and Europe to reveal the underlying disparities in political cultures and power distribution structures. On this basis, it is proposed to introduce institutional proposals into ethical regulation, such as the formulation of ethical regulation, the implementation of ethical review, and the setting of identifiable risks, to balance the governance tension between innovative exploration and disciplinary mechanisms.
5.Roles and Mechanisms of Inflammasomes in Aging and Age-related Diseases
Xin PENG ; Yan QIAN ; Long ZHANG ; Huan CHEN ; Hong-Wei HOU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(10):2684-2702
Systemic chronic inflammation associated with advancing age is closely linked to the onset and progression of multiple age-related diseases. This persistent inflammatory state, commonly termed inflammaging, reflects complex interactions between accumulated cellular damage and dysregulated immune responses. Inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes of the innate immune system that respond to cellular stress and damage and amplify inflammatory signaling. Their sustained or recurrent activation may contribute to the establishment and maintenance of inflammaging. This review focuses on the NLRP3 inflammasome and summarizes its activation mechanisms, regulatory pathways, and pathological significance within the aging microenvironment. Particular attention is given to neurodegenerative diseases, osteoarthritis, atherosclerosis, and type 2 diabetes, emphasizing shared activation mechanisms and tissue-specific effects. Although initiating stimuli differ among these conditions, several molecular events can contribute to NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Priming mediated by nuclear factor‑κB (NF‑κB) promotes the expression of NLRP3 and pro-interleukin-1β, whereas lysosomal damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, reactive oxygen species accumulation, mitochondrial DNA release, and potassium efflux can participate in activation pathways. These events are interconnected rather than obligatory sequential steps in every setting. Inflammasome assembly promotes caspase-1 activation, which facilitates interleukin-1β and interleukin-18 maturation and gasdermin D cleavage, potentially leading to pyroptosis. The relative contributions of these processes depend on cell type, tissue context, and disease stage. Within aging tissues, persistent damage signals and impaired cellular homeostasis may favor repeated inflammasome activation, establishing a cycle of inflammatory amplification and further tissue injury. However, the pathological consequences vary across organs. In neurodegenerative diseases, inflammasome signaling is associated with neuroinflammation and neuronal vulnerability; in osteoarthritis, it may contribute to joint inflammation and cartilage degeneration. In atherosclerosis, it is implicated in vascular inflammation and plaque progression, whereas in type 2 diabetes, it is linked to metabolic inflammation and impaired glucose homeostasis. These distinctions underscore the importance of interpreting shared molecular mechanisms within specific tissue environments. The review further discusses the therapeutic potential of targeting inflammasomes to mitigate inflammaging and associated disease processes. Strategies include inhibiting NLRP3 activation, modulating upstream stress and priming pathways, and limiting downstream inflammatory signaling or pyroptotic cell death. By interrupting shared mechanisms of inflammatory amplification, these approaches may offer opportunities for coordinated intervention across multiple age-related disorders. Nevertheless, mechanistic overlap does not imply uniform therapeutic responses, and benefits observed in experimental models should not be equated with established clinical efficacy or evidence of delayed human aging.Successful clinical translation will require careful consideration of disease stage, tissue specificity, treatment timing, and the consequences of prolonged interference with innate immune defenses. Long-term safety is particularly important for older populations and preventive applications. The limited availability of validated biomarkers of inflammasome activity also complicates patient stratification, assessment of target engagement, and monitoring of therapeutic responses. Future research should clarify causal relationships, identify contexts in which inflammasome inhibition is most beneficial, and establish reliable translational endpoints. Overall, inflammasomes represent an important link between aging-associated damage and chronic inflammatory amplification, supporting their investigation as shared targets for early intervention in multiple age-related diseases, while highlighting the need for disease-specific evaluation and rigorous assessment of benefits and risks.
6.Effects of low-load blood flow restriction exercise and high-intensity resistance exercise on the thigh microcirculation function of athletic young men
Yong PENG ; Jiangping HU ; Huan ZHU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(2):393-401
BACKGROUND:Microcirculation,as the only place for the energy metabolism of body substances,is closely related to the human movement ability.Resistance exercise is an effective way to improve the function of microcirculation,but some studies have also pointed out that blood flow restriction exercise can also improve the function of microcirculation and has the advantages of small load and high safety. OBJECTIVE:To compare the effects of 6-week low-load blood flow restriction exercise and high-intensity resistance exercise on the thigh microcirculation function of athletic young men,and to explore the possible mechanism by which exercises improve microcirculation function from the perspective of vascular endothelial function. METHODS:Sixty sports students from Hubei Minzu University were divided into control group,high-intensity resistance exercise group and low-load blood flow restriction exercise group according to the random number table method,with 20 students in each group.The low-load blood flow restriction exercise group performed a low-load blood flow restriction exercise for 6 weeks(three times a week,90 minutes each,at an exercise intensity of 30%1RM).The high-intensity resistance exercise group received a high-intensity resistance exercise for 6 weeks(three times a week,90 minutes each,at an exercise intensity of 70%1RM).The control group did not perform any form of exercise training during this period.Microcirculatory blood perfusion,transcutaneous partial pressure,muscle oxygen saturation,nitric oxide,endothelial nitric oxide synthase,endothelin 1,vascular endothelial cell growth factor,thigh circumference,and muscle strength were tested in each group on the day before the intervention and the morning after the end of the 6-week intervention. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After the exercise intervention,heating values of microcirculatory blood flow perfusion and blood cell movement speed in the low-load blood flow restriction exercise group and the high-intensity resistance exercise group were significantly different from those in the control group and before the exercise intervention(P<0.05).The heating values of microcirculatory blood flow perfusion and blood cell movement speed showed significant differences between the low-load blood flow restriction exercise group and the high-intensity resistance exercise group(P<0.05).After the exercise intervention,the levels of nitric oxide,endothelial nitric oxide synthase,endothelin 1,and vascular endothelial cell growth factor were significantly different in the low-load blood flow-limiting exercise group and the high-intensity resistance exercise group compared with the control group and the pre-exercise intervention(P<0.05).After the exercise intervention,thigh circumference and thigh muscle strength were significantly different in low-load blood flow restriction group and high-intensity resistance exercise groups compared with the pre-exercise intervention(P<0.05).All these findings indicate that 6-week low-load blood flow restriction exercise and high intensity resistance exercise may regulate the secretion of vascular factors such as endogenous nitric oxide synthase,endothelin-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor to improve the function of thigh microcirculation and increase the contractile strength of the thigh muscle.In addition,And low-load blood flow restriction exercise has better intervention effects on microcirculatory blood perfusion volume and blood cell movement speed,so low-load blood flow restriction exercise is more advantageous than high-intensity resistance exercise in improving microcirculation function.
7.Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of fluorescent-labeled Astragalus polysaccharides in mice.
Xiao-Huan WANG ; Peng-Xin LI ; Ting-Ting GONG ; Yun-Qian LU ; Bo YANG ; Xiang-Tao WANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(7):1959-1968
In this study, the reductive amination method was used to label IR783 on Astragalus polysaccharides(APS) for the first time, which was verified by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy. Quantitative analysis methods of APS-IR783 in plasma and various tissue were established using a multifunctional microplate reader. The pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of APS-IR783 in mice were investigated after a single intravenous injection of 30 mg·kg~(-1) APS-IR783, and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using DAS 2.0 software. The results showed that the APS used had a mass fraction of 93.69%, a relative molecular weight of 1.55×10~5, and a polydispersity index(PDI, M_w/M_n) of 1.73, close to a homogeneous polysaccharide. The IR783 labeling yield reached 86.50%, and the content of IR783 in APS-IR783 was 0.72%. After a single intravenous injection of 30 mg·kg~(-1), the pharmacokinetic parameters of APS in mouse plasma were as follows: T_(max) was(0.67±0.26) h; C_(max) was(1 599.29±159.30) mg·L~(-1); T_(1/2α) and T_(1/2β) were(2.29±3.06) h and(0.44±0.05) h, respectively; AUC_(0-t) was(23 398.91±2 907.03) mg·h·L~(-1); AUC_(0-∞) was(27 710.55±3 506.55) mg·h·L~(-1); MRT_(0-∞) was(34.38±12.59) h; CL was 0.001 L·h~(-1)·kg~(-1); V_z was(0.042±0.017) L·kg~(-1). The in vivo biodistribution study demonstrated that the in vivo exposure ratios of APS in different tissue were in the following order: spleen > liver > kidney > lung > heart > small intestine > muscle > large intestine > brain > stomach, where the top five tissue accounted for 87.54% of the total area under the curve(AUC). This study successfully labeled APS with a water-soluble near-infrared fluorescent probe of IR783 for the first time and revealed the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of APS in mice. The paper provides detailed in vivo behavior of APS after intravenous injection, which lays the foundation for the development and utilization of APS and related natural medicines.
Animals
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Mice
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Polysaccharides/chemistry*
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Tissue Distribution
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Astragalus Plant/chemistry*
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Male
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*
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Fluorescent Dyes/pharmacokinetics*
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Female
8.A scoping analysis of transitional care practice and evaluation indicators for patients receiving percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage
Huan YU ; Xiaomei WANG ; Mei WANG ; Rui WANG ; Guoqing PENG ; Liyun GONG
Journal of Interventional Radiology 2025;34(7):777-783
Objective To make a comprehensive review about transitional care practice for patients receiving percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage(PTBD)and to analyze the current transitional care contents and evaluation indexes so as to provide guidance for improving the quality of transitional care services for discharged patients carrying a PTBD tube.Methods A scoping review study design was used to conduct a computerized retrieval of academic papers concerning the transitional care practice for discharged patients carrying a PTBD tube from the databases of PubMed,WOS Core Collection,CINAHL,Embase,Cochrane Library,CNKI,VIP,Wanfang med online,and Sinomed.The retrieval time period was from the establishment of the database to August 20,2024.Two investigators independently screened the literature to determine the studies to be included and the relevant information to be extracted.Results A total of 18 papers were enrolled in this study.The transitional care ways included telephone follow-up,home visit,online platform follow-up,and outpatient clinic follow-up.The intervention contents extended from in-hospital to out-of-hospital for up to 6 months.The evaluation indexes focused on the patient's knowledge about PTBD tube,the incidence of tube-related complications,the satisfaction with care,self-care ability,etc.Conclusion At present,the transitional care for discharged patients carrying a PTBD tube has a variety of content elements,which can improve the self-care ability and quality of life of the discharged patients carrying a PTBD tube to a certain extent,although more individualized transitional care modes need to be further explored.The evaluation indexes are mainly the outcome assessment of PTBD tube care.It is necessary to strengthen the quality supervision of organizational structure and nursing process.
9.Efficacy and safety of coblopasvir hydrochloride capsules/sofosbuvir tablets with or without ribavirin tablets in treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection
Chunyan MOU ; Danqing XU ; Huan MU ; Jiangyan ZHANG ; Lixian CHANG ; Yuanqiang HE ; Yingyuan ZHANG ; Weikun LI ; Xiuling ZHANG ; Xiliang HE ; Qin PENG ; Li LIU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(9):1779-1787
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic efficacy, influencing factors, and safety of a treatment regimen based on coblopasvir hydrochloride capsules/sofosbuvir tablets in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in a real-world setting. MethodsA total of 253 patients who attended The Third People’s Hospital of Kunming from September 1, 2021 to May 31, 2024 were enrolled, among whom there were 86 patients with compensated liver cirrhosis (CLC group) and 167 patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC group). The patients were treated with coblopasvir hydrochloride capsules (60 mg)/sofosbuvir tablets (400 mg) with or without ribavirin tablets for 12 weeks, and they were followed up for 12 weeks after drug withdrawal. The primary outcome measures were the rate of sustained virologic response at week 12 after treatment (SVR12) and safety, and the secondary outcome measures were the changes in liver function, renal function, blood routine, and liver stiffness measurements (LSM) after 4 weeks of treatment, after 12 weeks of treatment, and at 12 weeks after drug withdrawal. The independent-samples t test and the Mann-Whitney U test were used for comparison of continuous data between two groups, and the Friedman test was used for comparison between multiple groups, while the Bonferroni method was used for paired comparison within each group; the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. The Logistic analysis was used to investigate related influencing factors. ResultsThe 253 patients with chronic HCV infection had a mean age of 49.38±8.65 years, and there were 151 male patients (59.7%). Of all patients, 33.99% (86/253) had liver cirrhosis, 25.69% (65/253) had hypertension, 10.67% (27/253) had HIV infection, 8.70% (22/253) had diabetes, 3.95% (10/253) had liver cancer, 1.98% (5/253) had chronic hepatitis B, and 7.91% (20/253) were treatment-experienced patients. As for genotype distribution, 2.77% (7/253) had genotype 1, 12.65% (32/253) had genotype 2, 66.01% (167/253) had genotype 3, 16.60% (42/253) had genotype 6, and 1.98% (5/253) had unknown genotype. The patients had an overall SVR12 rate of 92.09%, with an SVR12 rate of 93.02% in the CLC group and 91.02% in the CHC group. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age (odds ratio [OR]=1.086, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.007 — 1.170, P=0.032) and HCC (OR=9.178, 95%CI: 1.722 — 48.912, P=0.009) were independent influencing factors for sustained virologic response. Compared with baseline data, the CLC group had significant reductions in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (χ2=107.103, P0.05), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (χ2=90.602, P0.05), and LSM (χ2=42.235, P0.05) after 12 weeks of treatment, while the CHC group had significant reductions in total bilirubin (χ2=15.113, P0.05), ALT (χ2=202.237, P0.05), AST (χ2=161.193, P0.05), and LSM (χ2=37.606, P0.05). The incidence rate of serious adverse events was 1.58%, and none of the patients withdrew from drug therapy; the patients with such events were relieved after active symptomatic treatment. The incidence rate of all adverse events was 23.72%, among which fatigue (17.39%) and nausea (2.37%) were the most common adverse events, and these events often disappeared within 2 weeks or were gradually relieved after symptomatic treatment. ConclusionCoblopasvir hydrochloride capsules/sofosbuvir tablets with or without ribavirin tablets has good efficacy and safety in the treatment of chronic HCV infection.
10.Influencing factors for kinesiophobia among elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
HE Huan ; ZHAO Xue ; CAI Peng ; ZHAN Xiaoya ; MA Lei
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(7):659-663
Objective:
To investigate the influencing factors for kinesiophobia among elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), so as to provide the reference for alleviating kinesiophobia among COPD patients.
Methods:
From December 2023 to July 2024, COPD patients aged 60 years and above who sought medical treatment at a tertiary grade-a hospital in Guiyang City were selected. Demographic information was collected through questionnaire surveys. Kinesiophobia, exercise self-efficacy, social support, type D personality and coping styles were assessed using the Chinese version of Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, the Chinese version of the Self-Efficacy for Exercise Scale, Social Support Rating Scale, Type D Personality Scale and Chinese version of the Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire, respectively. Factors affecting kinesiophobia among elderly patients with COPD were analyzed using a multiple linear regression model.
Results:
A total of 300 COPD patients were surveyed, including 238 males (79.33%) and 62 females (20.67%). The majority of patients had a disease duration of less than 5 years, with 130 cases (43.33%). The average kinesiophobia score was (48.01±7.74) points. The average exercise self-efficacy score was (3.39±1.01) points. The average social support score was (34.42±6.76) points. There were 280 patients (93.33%) with type D personality. The average scores of the confrontation, avoidance, and resignation dimensions of coping styles were (17.42±5.00), (13.76±1.91), and (11.81±2.95) points, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that age (70-<80 years, β'=0.124; ≥80 years, β'=0.205), educational level (primary school and below, β'=0.228; junior high school, β'=0.182), household monthly income per capita (<3 000 yuan, β'=0.234; 3 000~<5 000 yuan, β'=0.165), social support (β'=0.294), type D personality (β'= 0.170), and coping styles (confrontation dimension, β'=-0.140; avoidance dimension, β'=0.154; resignation dimension, β'=0.175) statistically associated with kinesiophobia among elderly patients with COPD.
Conclusion
Kinesiophobia among elderly patients with COPD is associated with age, educational level, household monthly income per capita, social support, type D personality and coping styles.


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