Prevalence and Related Factors of Depression Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings From the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Background@#The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has greatly altered the daily lives of people in unprecedented ways, causing a variety of mental health problems. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of depression among Korean adults during the COVID-19 pandemic and explore the factors associated with depressive mood using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey (KNHANES). @*Methods@#We analyzed participants aged ≥ 19 years from KNHANES 2018 (n = 5,837) and 2020 (n = 5,265) to measure and compare the prevalence of depression before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Depression was defined as a score ≥ 10 on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Furthermore, we performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis to investigate the independent predictors of depressive mood during the COVID-19 pandemic. @*Results@#The prevalence of depression was notably higher during the COVID-19 pandemic than in the pre-pandemic period (5.2% vs. 4.3%, P = 0.043). In a multivariate model, female sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-2.41), age < 50 years (19–29 years: aOR, 7.31; 95% CI, 2.40–22.21; 30–39 years: aOR, 7.38; 95% CI, 2.66–20.47; 40–49 years: aOR, 4.94; 95% CI, 1.84–13.31 compared to ≥ 80 years), unemployment (aOR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.41–2.85), upper-middle class household income (aOR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.18– 2.85 compared to upper-class income), being a beneficiary of Medicaid (aOR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.33–4.14), poor self-rated health (aOR, 4.99; 95% CI, 1.51–3.47 compared to good self-rated health), and current smoking (aOR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.51–3.47) were found to be significant risk factors for depression during the pandemic. @*Conclusion@#Depression was significantly more prevalent among Korean adults during the COVID-19 pandemic than in the pre-pandemic era. Therefore, more attention should be paid to individuals vulnerable to depression during pandemics. Implementing psychological support public policies and developing interventions to prevent the adverse outcomes of COVID-19-related depression should be considered.

Delayed Diagnosis of Chromosome 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome Due to Late-Onset Generalized Epilepsy

No abstract available.

Successful Treatment of Glycine-Receptor-Antibody-Mediated Progressive Encephalomyelitis with Rigidity and Myoclonus by Combining Steroids and Azathioprine

No abstract available.

Medullary Infarction Presenting as Sudden Cardiac Arrest: Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature

The causes of sudden death after medullary infarction involve arrhythmia, central respiratory failure, and dysautonomia. Sudden cardiac arrest in a medullary infarction is uncommon. Most of these cases experienced sudden cardiopulmonary arrest within 2 weeks from stroke onset as the extent of lesion increased. Here, we report two cases of medullary infarction presenting as sudden cardiac arrest. These cases indicate that medullary infarction could be one of the causes of sudden cardiac arrest.

Giant Cell Arteritis Associated Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy: Sudden Vision Loss on the Contralateral Side of Headache

No abstract available.

Late-onset MELAS with Chronic Kidney Disease

Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acid and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) is a multisystem mitochondrial disorder that typically presents in childhood. We report a case of MELAS syndrome diagnosed in a 45-year-old man presented with chronic kidney disease before a stroke-like episode. Genetic testing revealed a m.3243A>G point mutation in the mtDNA. The original diagnostic criteria for MELAS required the onset of stroke-like episodes prior to 40 years of age but this case demonstrates that disease onset may delay in certain individuals.

Posterior Cerebral Artery Infarction in a Patient with Coexisting Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia and Patent Foramen Ovale

Patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) are at risk of developing pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (pAVMs). Paradoxical embolism may occur through pAVMs or patent foramen ovale (PFO) and lead to cerebral infarction. We present a case of cerebral infarction with both pAVM associated with HHT and PFO. Evidence of a right-to-left shunt can suggest other treatment options for stroke prevention, and patients without evidence of conventional stroke etiologies require a thorough evaluation.

Posterior Cerebral Artery Infarction in a Patient with Coexisting Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia and Patent Foramen Ovale

Patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) are at risk of developing pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (pAVMs). Paradoxical embolism may occur through pAVMs or patent foramen ovale (PFO) and lead to cerebral infarction. We present a case of cerebral infarction with both pAVM associated with HHT and PFO. Evidence of a right-to-left shunt can suggest other treatment options for stroke prevention, and patients without evidence of conventional stroke etiologies require a thorough evaluation.