Energy drinks consumption in Italian adolescents: preliminary data of social, psychological and behavioral features.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of energy drink (ED) consumption and the associations with social, psychological and behavioral features among an Italian adolescent sample. METHODS: A cross-sectional prevalence study of 450 Italian adolescents attending middle school was conducted. The Italian versions of the European Food Safety Authority's adolescent Energy Drinks Questionnaire and of the Depression and Anxiety in Youth Scale (DAYS) were administered to evaluate ED use and its psychological correlates. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a logistic model to estimate the associations between ED consumption and socio-demographic characteristics, psychological factors and risky behaviors. RESULTS: The prevalence of ED consumers was 57%, of whom 49% used alcohol mixed with ED. A total of 9% exhibited high chronic consumption, 31% average chronic consumption and 8% high acute consumption. Males were significantly more likely to use ED (OR=2.7, 95% CI: 1.8-4.0, P=0.00) and to engage in high acute consumption (OR=4.0, 95% CI: 1.1-13.8, P=0.03). Regular smoking was associated with ED use (OR=3.4, 95% CI: 1.2-9.1, P=0.02). No relationship was observed between ED use and depression (OR=1.6, 95% CI: 0.9-3.0, P=0.10) and anxiety (OR=0.8, 95% CI: 0.5-1.4, P=0.44), although those who were depressed with a suggestive but not statistically significant increased risk of acute ED use (OR=2.7, 95% CI: 1.0-7.4, P=0.06). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of ED consumption among middle school Italian students was high and it was associated with another risky behavior, smoking, but not with anxiety or depression. About half of ED consumers used alcohol mixed with ED.

Prevalence and factors associated with problematic internet use: an Italian survey among L'Aquila students.

AIM: In this study we examined the prevalence of internet addiction (IA) and its associated factors in a sample of Italian students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an observational study that involved 1403 students aged 15-24 and conducted in L'Aquila, Italy. 1129 students accepted to participate in our study and completed the Internet Addiction Test: 41% were male and the mean age of total sample was 19±2.8 years. RESULTS: The prevalence of "average user" was 51% (95% CI: 48-54). The prevalence of "problematic user" was 23% (95% CI: 21-26). Among the students with a problematic use, 8 were addicted, the 0.7% in the whole sample. There was a significant age difference (p=0.029), but no gender difference (p=0.311) between "average users" and "problematic users". The association of internet use and educational level (School or University) was not significant (p=0.704). DISCUSSION: Our results showed that about one student out of 100 had an IA. Gender and educational level were not significantly associated with IA. Instead, we found a strong association with age: there was not a decrease of internet use during a lifetime, with negative consequences on quality of life. CONCLUSION: Our study reported a percentage of 30% of problematic internet use among students. These findings suggest the importance of early detection among youth and of structured interventions that should be carried out to prevent abnormal global life functioning.

Prevalence and risk factors of vision impairment among children of employees of Telecom, Italy.

PURPOSE: To define the prevalence, causes, and risk factors of vision impairment (VI) in children. METHODS: In this study, relatives of Association for Supplemental Health Insurance to the Employees of Telecom members aged 5-16 years were examined in all Italian regions. A standardized record card was used to collect data on medical history; keratometry; objective refraction; uncorrected, presenting, and best-corrected visual acuity (VA); examination of the pupils, adnexa, and anterior segment; direct ophthalmoscopy; posterior segment and fundus examination; and assessment for ocular pathology. Binocular and monocular VI were defined by a VA <5/10 (or <20/40). RESULTS: The campaign included 17,508 children, 12,798 of whom (73.1%) were examined (and 12,740 on whom all VA data were gathered). The prevalence of uncorrected, presenting, and best-corrected VI in the better eye was 9.0%, 2.51%, and 0.10%, respectively. The following variables were associated with presenting VI: age 10-16 years, family history of myopia, female sex, family history of keratoconus, and hypertension. Myopia is the main cause of VI (82.6%). A total of 96% of children with presenting VI had correctable VI. CONCLUSIONS: Correctable VI because of myopia is an important public health problem in school-age children in Italy.