Subjective cognitive failures after stroke in young adults: prevalent but not related to cognitive impairment

Few studies exist on subjective cognitive failures after a stroke in young adults (≤50 years) and their relation to objective cognitive performance is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of subjective cognitive failures in patients with a stroke in young adulthood and their relation with objective cognitive impairment. This study is part of the “Follow-Up of Transient ischemic attack and stroke patients and Unelucidated Risk factor Evaluation”-study (FUTURE study), including patients, aged 18–50 years, admitted to our hospital between 1980 and 2010 with a first-ever TIA or ischemic stroke. The prevalence of subjective cognitive failures in patients was determined and compared with 146 age- and sex-matched stroke-free controls. The relation of subjective failures with objective cognitive performance was investigated with linear and logistic regression analysis. 160 patients with a TIA and 277 with an ischemic stroke were included. After a mean follow-up of 10.1 (SD 8.3) years, the prevalence of subjective memory failures was 86.4 % and that of subjective executive failures was 67.4 % in patients, versus 69.7 % (p = 0.008) and 41.4 % (p = 0.002) in controls. A weak association between subjective memory failures and objective immediate (beta ?0.12, p = 0.011) and delayed memory performance (beta ?0.13, p = 0.010) was observed in patients. Subjective cognitive failures are prevalent after stroke in young adults, but not strongly related to objective cognitive impairment. Therefore, extensive neuropsychological assessment is essential for determination of objective cognitive impairment. However, it is important that subjective cognitive failures are recognized as they may indicate underlying psychosocial problems.     

First validation of the model of sustainable mental health: Structural model validity and the indirect role of adaptation

Objectives

There is a growing interest in mental well-being as a vital outcome in clinical practice in addition to mental illness. The model of sustainable mental health (SMH) was recently introduced to delineate how interventions can improve mental health by targeting barriers and resources of adaptation to life stressors, improving the ability to adapt and thereby reducing mental illness and improving mental well-being. The aim of the current study is to empirically validate the conceptual model of SMH as well as the assumed indirect role of ability to adapt.

Methods

This study used an existing dataset of the general population with self-reported reduced well-being due to the corona crisis (n = 849, mean age 53 years, SD = 15). Measurements of mental illness (depression and anxiety), mental well-being, ability to adapt, a specific barrier for adaptation (i.e., repetitive negative thinking), and a specific resource for adaptation (i.e., positive reframing) were included. Structural equation modeling was used to assess both the structural validity of the model and the indirect effect of ability to adapt.

Results

An acceptable to good fit was found for the model of SMH and all paths between the proposed elements of the model were significant and in the hypothesized direction. Ability to adapt served as an indirect pathway trough which repetitive negative thinking (B = 0.149, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.016–0.028) and positive reframing (B = 0.163, 95% CI = 0.065–0.123) were linked with mental illness and mental well-being.

Conclusion

The current study provides the first empirical support of the internal validity of the model of SMH in a sample of the general population with reduced well-being, suggesting that barriers and resources to adaptation have an effect on mental illness and mental well-being through the ability to adapt. The model of SMH may therefore be a good model to use in research and clinical practice for developing, implementing, and evaluating a balanced treatment approach targeting both barriers and resources for adaptation.     

Health-related quality of life in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis: A longitudinal population-based cohort study

Background & Aims

Data regarding health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are sparse and have only been studied cross-sectionally in a disease which runs a fluctuating and unpredictable course. We aim to describe HRQoL longitudinally by using repeated measurements in a population-based cohort.

Methods

Every 3 months from May 2017 up to August 2020, patients received digital questionnaires at home. These included the EQ-5D, 5-D Itch, patient-based SCCAI and patient-based HBI. The SF-36, measuring HRQoL over eight dimensions as well as a physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) score, was sent annually. Data were compared with Dutch reference data and a matched IBD disease control from the population-based POBASIC cohort. Mixed-effects modelling was performed to identify factors associated with HRQoL.

Results

Three hundred twenty-eight patients completed 2576 questionnaires. A significant reduction of small clinical relevance in several mean HRQoL scores was found compared with the Dutch reference population: 46.4 versus 48.0, p = .018 for PCS and 47.5 versus 50.5, p = .004 for MCS scores. HRQoL outcomes were significantly negatively associated with coexisting active IBD (PCS −12.2, p < .001 and MCS −12.0, p < .001), which was not the case in case of quiescent IBD. Decreasing HRQoL scores were also negatively associated with increasing age (PCS −0.1 per 10 years, p = .002), female sex (PCS -2.8, p < .001), diagnosis of AIH overlap (PCS -3.7, p = .059), end-stage liver disease (PCS -3.7, p = .015) and presence of itch (PCS -9.2, p < .001 and MCS −3.1, p = .078). The odds of reporting a clinically relevant reduction in EQ-5D scores showed seasonal variation, being lowest in summer (OR = 0.48 relative to spring, p = .037). In patients with liver transplant, HRQoL outcomes were comparable to the Dutch general population.

Conclusions

PSC patients report impaired HRQoL of small clinical relevance compared with the general population. After liver transplantation, HRQoL scores are at comparable levels to the general population. HRQoL scores are associated with potentially modifiable factors such as itch and IBD activity.