Emotional, hyperactivity and inattention problems in adolescents with immunocompromising chronic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Objective: To assess factors associated with emotional changes and Hyperactivity/Inattention (HI) motivated by COVID-19 quarantine in adolescents with immunocompromising diseases. Methods: A cross-sectional study included 343 adolescents with immunocompromising diseases and 108 healthy adolescents. Online questionnaires were answered including socio-demographic data and self-rated healthcare routine during COVID-19 quarantine and validated surveys: Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL4.0). Results: The frequencies of abnormal emotional SDQ scores from adolescents with chronic diseases were similar to those of healthy subjects (110/343 [32%] vs. 38/108 [35%], p = 0.548), as well as abnormal hyperactivity/inattention SDQ scores (79/343 [23%] vs. 29/108 [27%], p = 0.417). Logistic regression analysis of independent variables associated with abnormal emotional scores from adolescents with chronic diseases showed: female sex (Odds Ratio [OR = 3.76]; 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) 2.00-7.05; p < 0.001), poor sleep quality (OR = 2.05; 95% CI 1.08-3.88; p = 0.028) and intrafamilial violence during pandemic (OR = 2.17; 95% CI 1.12-4.19; p = 0.021) as independently associated with abnormal emotional scores, whereas total PedsQL score was inversely associated with abnormal emotional scores (OR = 0.95; 95% CI 0.93-0.96; p < 0.0001). Logistic regression analysis associated with abnormal HI scores from patients evidenced that total PedsQL score (OR = 0.97; 95% CI 0.95-0.99; p = 0.010], changes in medical appointments during the pandemic (OR = 0.39; 95% CI 0.19-0.79; p = 0.021), and reliable COVID-19 information (OR = 0.35; 95% CI 0.16-0.77; p = 0.026) remained inversely associated with abnormal HI scores. Conclusion: The present study showed emotional and HI disturbances in adolescents with chronic immunosuppressive diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic. It reinforces the need to promptly implement a longitudinal program to protect the mental health of adolescents with and without chronic illnesses during future pandemics.

Poor Sleep quality and health-related quality of life impact in adolescents with and without chronic immunosuppressive conditions during COVID-19 quarantine

OBJECTIVE: To assess the possible factors that influence sleep quality in adolescents with and without chronic immunosuppressive conditions quarantined during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 305 adolescents with chronic immunocompromised conditions and 82 healthy adolescents. Online surveys were completed, which included questions on socio-demographic data and self-rated healthcare routine during COVID-19 quarantine and the following validated questionnaires: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL4.0), and Pediatric Outcome Data Collection Instrument (PODCI). RESULTS: The median current age [14 (10-18) vs. 15 (10-18) years, p=0.847] and frequency of female sex (62% vs. 58%, p=0.571) were similar in adolescents with chronic conditions compared with healthy adolescents. The frequency of poor sleep quality was similar in both groups (38% vs. 48%, p=0.118). Logistic regression analysis, including both healthy adolescents and adolescents with chronic conditions (n=387), demonstrated that self-reported increase in screen time (odds ratio [OR] 3.0; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3-6.8; p=0.008) and intrafamilial violence report (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.2-3.5; p=0.008) were independently associated with poor sleep quality in these adolescents. However, the PODCI global function score was associated with a lower OR for poor sleep quality (OR 0.97; 95% CI 0.94-0.99; p=0.001). Further logistic regression, including only adolescents with chronic conditions (n=305), demonstrated that self-reported increase in screen time (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.4-6.8; p=0.006) and intrafamilial violence report (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.2-3.4; p=0.011) remained independently associated with poor quality of sleep, whereas a lower PODCI global function score was associated with a lower OR for sleep quality (OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.94-0.98; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Self-reported increases in screen time and intrafamilial violence report impacted sleep quality in both healthy adolescents and those with chronic conditions. Decreased health-related quality of life was observed in adolescents with poor sleep quality.

Discrimination of acute lymphoblastic leukemia from systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis at disease onset

OBJECTIVE: To assess clinical and laboratory features that differentiate acute lymphoblastic leukemia from systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis at disease onset. METHODS: Fifty-seven leukemia patients with musculoskeletal involvement, without blasts on peripheral blood and without glucocorticoid therapy at disease onset and 102 systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients (International League of Associations for Rheumatology criteria) were retrospectively evaluated. The following features were examined: fever, rheumatoid rash, arthritis, limb pain, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, pericarditis, myocarditis, pleuritis, weight loss, bleeding, anemia, leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and lactic dehydrogenase levels. RESULTS: The median age at disease onset was significantly higher in leukemia patients than in those with systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (5.8 vs. 3.8 years). In addition, the frequencies of limb pain, hepatomegaly, weight loss and hemorrhagic manifestations were significantly higher in leukemia patients than in systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients (70 percent vs. 1 percent, 54 percent vs. 32 percent, 30 percent vs. 8 percent, and 9 percent vs. 0 percent, respectively). Likewise, the frequencies of anemia, leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and high lactic dehydrogenase levels were statistically higher in leukemia patients than in patients with systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (88 percent vs. 57 percent, 39 percent vs. 1 percent, 60 percent vs. 1 percent, 77 percent vs. 1 percent, and 56 percent vs. 14 percent, respectively). Remarkably, multivariate analysis revealed that limb pain (OR = 553; 95 percent CI =46.48-6580.42) and thrombocytopenia (OR = 754.13; 95 percent CI =64.57-8806.72) were significant independent variables that differentiated leukemia from systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The R2 of the Nagelkerke test was 0.91, and the Kaplan-Meier survival curves were similar for acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients with and without limb pain. CONCLUSION: Our study emphasizes the importance of investigating leukemia in patients presenting with musculoskeletal manifestations and, in particular, limb pain associated with thrombocytopenia.

Envolvimento renal na púrpura de Henoch-Schõnlein: uma análise multivariada de fatores prognósticos iniciais / Renal involvement in Henoch-Schõnlein purpura: a multivariate analysis of initial prognostic factors

OBJETIVOS: Identificar fatores preditivos iniciais de envolvimento renal nas crianças e adolescentes com púrpura de Henoch-Schõnlein. MÉTODOS: Por um período de 21 anos, os prontuários de 142 pacientes com diagnóstico de púrpura de Henoch-Schõnlein admitidos em nosso Hospital Universitário foram revistos. Os fatores preditivos iniciais avaliados nos primeiros 3 meses incluíram: dados demográficos, manifestações clínicas (púrpura palpável persistente, artrite, dor abdominal, dor abdominal intensa, sangramento gastrointestinal, orquite, envolvimento do sistema nervoso central e hemorragia pulmonar), exames laboratoriais (níveis séricos de IgA) e tratamento utilizado (corticosteróides, imunoglobulina endovenosa e medicação imunossupressora). Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos (com presença ou ausência de nefrite) e avaliados de acordo com a análise univariada e multivariada. RESULTADOS: Nefrite foi evidenciada em 70 pacientes (49,3 por cento). A análise univariada revelou que dor abdominal intensa (p = 0,0049; OR = 1,6; IC95 por cento 1,18-2,21), sangramento gastrointestinal (p = 0,004; OR = 1,6; IC95 por cento 1,10-2,26) e uso dos corticosteróides (p = 0,0012; OR = 1,7; IC95 por cento 1,28-2,40) foram associados com uma maior incidência de envolvimento renal. Na análise multivariada, a regressão logística mostrou que a única variável independente na predição da ocorrência de nefrite foi dor abdominal intensa (p < 0,012; OR = 2,593; IC95 por cento 1,234-5,452). CONCLUSÕES: Dor abdominal intensa representou um preditor significativo da nefrite na púrpura de Henoch-Schõnlein. Conseqüentemente, os pacientes pediátricos com esta manifestação clínica devem ser rigorosamente seguidos, devido ao maior risco de acometimento renal.

OBJECTIVES: To identify initial predictive factors of renal involvement in children and adolescents with Henoch-Schõnlein purpura. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 142 patients admitted to our University Hospital over a 21-year period with a diagnosis of Henoch-Schõnlein purpura. The initial predictive factors assessed, observed during the first 3 months, included: demographic data, clinical manifestations (persistent palpable purpura, arthritis, abdominal pain, severe abdominal pain, gastrointestinal bleeding, orchitis, central nervous system involvement and pulmonary hemorrhage), laboratory tests (serum IgA levels) and treatment given (corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin and immunosuppressive drugs). Patients were divided into two groups (presence or absence of nephritis) and assessed by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Evidence of nephritis was detected in 70 patients (49.3 percent). The univariate analysis revealed that severe abdominal pain (p = 0.0049; OR = 1.6; 95 percentCI 1.18-2.21), gastrointestinal bleeding (p = 0.004; OR = 1.6; 95 percentCI 1.10-2.26) and corticosteroid use (p = 0.0012; OR = 1.7; 95 percentCI 1.28-2.40) were all associated with increased incidence of renal involvement. In the multivariate analysis, logistic regression demonstrated that the only independent variable that predicted nephritis was intense abdominal pain (p < 0.012; OR = 2.593; 95 percentCI 1.234-5.452). CONCLUSIONS: Severe abdominal pain was a significant predictor of nephritis in Henoch-Schõnlein purpura. Consequently, pediatric patients exhibiting this clinical manifestation should be rigorously monitored, due to the increased risk of renal involvement.