Depression and anxiety mediate perceived social support to predict health-related quality of life in pregnant women living with HIV.

Pregnant women living with HIV represent one of the most high-priority groups for HIV treatment and health assessment. Although social support has been shown to be a protective factor for improved health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and depression and anxiety have been identified as two major causes of psychological distress among people living with HIV, it is still unclear how social support, anxiety, and depression interact to influence HRQoL. The objective of our study was to demonstrate the nature of predictors, direct effects and mediator effects among social support, anxiety, depression symptoms and HRQoL in pregnant women living with HIV. We investigated a total of 101 pregnant women living with HIV in Yunnan province in China from April 2016 to June 2016. All participants completed the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), the Chinese version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales (HADS) and Quality of Life instruments (EuroQoL Five Dimensions Questionnaire, EQ-5D). The relationships between the variables were examined by Pearson's or Spearman's correlation analysis. Predictor effects were tested using separate multiple regressions, controlling for demographic variables and HIV diagnosis variables. Direct and mediation effects of social support on HRQoL were tested using a structural equation model (SEM). Anxiety and depression symptoms were negatively correlated with subjective social support, support utilization, social support and HRQoL. Social support significantly predicted better HRQoL, and anxiety and depression symptoms significantly predicted poorer HRQoL. Anxiety and depression symptoms partially mediated the associations between social support and HRQoL. Anxiety and depression symptoms completely mediated the associations of objective support and support utilization with HRQoL. Interventions to improve HRQoL in pregnant women living with HIV must consider the mediation effect of anxiety and depression symptoms on the association between social support and HRQoL. Social support interventions are valid only when anxiety and depression symptoms are managed effectively.

The investigation of the aged deformity in longevous area of Yunnan Province / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective To investigate on out the deformity in the elderly of longevous area and the characteristics of the regions in Yunnan Province. Methods According to the forth census information, using multistage sample typical survey to the 18 counties (cities) with centenarians over 1/100 000. The deformity types of people aged 60 and over and the deformity rate of various age groups and its distribution were investigated. Results Among the 6 477 people aged 60 and over investigated, a total of 1 928 people were in deformity, the deformity rate was 29 8%. The elder the people, the higher the deformity rate was. The highest deformity rate was in Kunming and Chuxiong prefectures. The audition deformity was highest among all types of deformity in elder people. The occurrence of fracture was highest in Miao Nation in Honghe prefecture, reaching 18.1%. About 14 % of the centenarian people sufferred from dementia. Conclusions Effective control in blood pressure and osteoporosis are important method to protect the elder people and to promote the level of quality of life of the elderly.