Background: Studies show that healthcare workers from previous pandemics have experienced high levels of stress, anxiety with negative psychological impacts. This paper aims to identify factors affecting mental health outcomes of healthcare workers during Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used to determine factors affecting mental health outcome of healthcare workers with direct contact to patients with COVID-19. Depression, anxiety and distress were measured by the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire, seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale, and 22-item Impact of Event Scale–Revised, respectively. Binomial multiple logistic regression model was used to identify the factors associated with mental health outcome. Results: 172 healthcare workers were included. Prevalence of depression, anxiety and distress symptoms among all healthcare workers were 57%, 47.7%, 65.1%, respectively. Age and living with a family with comorbidities are significantly associated with depression and anxiety. Healthcare workers aged 31 years and above are 70% less likely to have depression symptoms (OR 0.278, CI 95%, 0.11-0.72 p=0.008 and OR 0.273, CI 95%, 0.12-0.61, p=0.002). Those living with relatives with comorbidities are 2.7 times more likely to experience depression symptoms (OR 2.731, CI 95%, 1.36-5.5, p=0.005). Healthcare workers age 31-40 years has 80% less likely to experience anxiety symptoms (OR 0.212, CI 95%, 0.09-0.5, p<0.001), and those age 41 and above have 73% less likely to have anxiety symptoms (OR 0.37, CI 95%, 0.14-0.98, p<0.045). Those living with relatives with comorbidities are 2.9 times more likely to have anxiety symptoms (OR 2.889, CI 95%, 1.46-5.73, p=0.002). Level of knowledge on COVID-19 among health care workers significantly differs across severity but has no significant association with prevalence of depression. No factors were associated with distress symptom. Conclusion Cognizant of high rates of depression, anxiety and distress among our younger healthcare workers living with relatives with comorbidities will be a challenge to establish and/or improve existing programs to promote and address mental health needs. Psychological stress can accumulate over time and have an impact later in the outbreak which should be investigated in future studies.
Health Personnel ; COVID-19

Introduction: It is important to wean mechanically-ventilated patients as early as possible to avoid complications such as ventilator-associated pneumonia. Supplementing the diet with additional protein may help to stimulate muscle protein synthesis which may enhance respiratory muscle function and ventilator drive. This study aims to determine the effect of whey protein supplementation on the duration of mechanical ventilation in intensive care unit patients of Ospital ng Makati. Methods: We enrolled forty eligible patients in this openlabel randomized controlled trial and were assigned into two groups: Group A (N=20): patients were given enteral feeding using commercial formula with added whey protein, given as one serving every eight hours (equivalent to 18 g of additional protein per day) and Group B (N=20): patients were given enteral feeding using commercial formula alone. Weaning was started as soon as the patient fulfilled the criteria of spontaneous breathing trial and was considered successful if the patient maintained these criteria for 48 hours after extubation. Results: Our study’s results showed that the mechanically intubated patients in Group A have lesser ventilatordependent days with an average of 5.4 days as compared to those in Group B with an average of 7.45 days (p=0.00). Patients in Group A were also noted to have statistically significant higher increase in serum albumin, mid-arm circumference and triceps skin fold from baseline. Twentyfive percent of patients in Group B developed ventilator acquired pneumonia and none in Group A. No mortality was noted in both groups. Conclusion Whey protein supplementation in mechanically ventilated patients can be recommended to facilitate early weaning because of its effect on early muscle protein synthesis leading to improvement of lung function and ventilator drive. It can also help in preventing malnutrition and nosocomial infections during critical illness. With all these benefits of whey protein, its use can potentially lead to shorter duration of mechanical ventilation and hospital stay which can also mean less cost of care delivery.
Whey Proteins ; Weaning ; Respiration, Artificial ; Intensive Care Units ; Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: There are several ways to reduce the complications of diabetes mellitus . Food Supplements are now available and are said to benefit diabetic patients . It has been proven that intravenous aplhalipoic acid improves sensory symptoms of dabetic neuropathyResearch Design and Methods : Searches using the Medline database of National Institute of Medicine at Pubmed, Cochrane , Ovid and other medical and nonmedical search engines using search terms "oral alphalipoic acid", "AND" , " Diabetic neuropathy" , "RCT", and "meta-analysis"Statistical Analysis: Statistical Analysis was done using the review manager 4.2Results: Two published randomized , double Blind , placebo-controlled studies by Ruhnnau et al in 1999 and Ziegler in 2006 showed the effectiveness of oral lipoic acid in reducing the symptom score questionnare (TSS) .Conclusion: Since oral preparation is effective , cheaper and with better compliance rate , oral treatment is an option in the treatment is an option in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy.
Diabetic Neuropathies ; Thioctic Acid

Objective: The objectives of this study are: 1) to determine the prevalence of 3 atherosclerotic diseases (angina, stroke and claudication) in the Philippines; and 2) to determine the prevalence of 5 risk factors for these diseases (dyslipedemia, diabetes, hypertension, obesity and smoking). Methodology: Using a multi-staged cluster sampling methodology, this study evaluated 4,753 adults aged 20 or more, from 2,636 households, 79 provinces and 17 regions. The survey instruments included validated questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, and blood tests. Results: The prevalence rates of angina, stroke and claudication in adult Filipinos were 12.5 percent, 1.9 percent, and 4.2 percent respectively. The prevalence rates of various risk factors were 8.5 percent for hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol > 240mg/dl), 4.6 percent for diabetes (based on fasting blood sugar >125mg/dl or a previous history of diabetes), and 17.4 percent for hypertension (BP >140/90 mm Hg on 2 visits, or a previous history of hypertension). The prevalence of obesity was 3.2 percent in men and 6.6 percent in women when body mass index (BMI) was used. These rates rose to 12.1 percent and 54.8 percent respectively when waist-hip ratio (WHR) was used. The prevalence of current smoking was 56.3 percent in men, 12.1 percent in women, and 34.8 percent overall. Smoking, by far, was the most common risk factor noted. Discussion: These data on atherosclerosis-related diseases and risk factors from the NNHeS provide clinicians and policy-makers a bird's eye view of the Philippine situation with respect to vascular disease and its risk factors. These data may be used for policy formulation and program prioritization. In addition, the information may serve as baseline measures to evaluate the success or failure of atherosclerosis control programs in the country. A 2nd NNHeS is planned in the year 2008.

Atherosclerosis ; Coronaryartery Disease ; Cerebrovascular Accident ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Hypertension ; Dyslipidemias ; Smoking ; Obesity