Is Mental Health Worse in Medical Students than in the General Population? A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background and Objectives: In recent years, there has been a notable increase in university students experiencing severe mental illness. The transition to university life can be demanding, leading to mental health disorders. Persistent stress and anxiety can cause demotivation, difficulties with concentration, cognitive impairment, and reduced academic performance. Mental health issues can also impact social relationships and overall well-being. This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the mental health of medical students and compare it with the mental health of the non-student population. Materials and Methods: The survey collected demographic information such as age and gender. Participants were questioned about their self-perceived mental distress, diagnosed mental disorders, and history of therapy for mental distress. Various validated assessment tools were utilized to assess mental health and quality of life. Results: Medical students exhibit a higher self-perception of mental symptoms that does not translate into a significantly higher prevalence of diagnosed mental disorders. Medical students experience higher levels of anxiety and subclinical depressive symptoms and lower quality of life. Female participants reported lower QoL scores and higher levels of anxiety symptoms compared with male participants. While the prevalence of mental disorders did not differ significantly between genders (except for clinical anxiety), females tended to perceive a higher burden of mental health challenges. Conclusions: By addressing mental health issues among medical students, especially females, institutions can create a more supportive and conducive learning environment. Encouraging open conversations about mental health and providing accessible mental health services can help in destigmatizing mental health challenges and promoting early intervention when needed.

Atrial Fibrillation and Other Cardiovascular Factors and the Risk of Dementia: An Italian Case-Control Study.

Dementia is a major neurologic syndrome characterized by severe cognitive decline, and it has a detrimental impact on overall physical health, leading to conditions such as frailty, changes in gait, and fall risk. Depending on whether symptoms occur before or after the age of 65, it can be classified as early-onset (EOD) or late-onset (LOD) dementia. The present study is aimed at investigating the role of cardiovascular factors on EOD and LOD risk in an Italian population. Using a case-control study design, EOD and LOD cases were recruited at the Modena Cognitive Neurology Centers in 2016-2019. Controls were recruited among caregivers of all the dementia cases. Information about their demographics, lifestyles, and medical history were collected through a tailored questionnaire. We used the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) to estimate the EOD and LOD risk associated with the investigated factors after adjusting for potential confounders. Of the final 146 participants, 58 were diagnosed with EOD, 34 with LOD, and 54 were controls. According to their medical history, atrial fibrillation was associated with increased disease risk (ORs 1.90; 95% CI 0.32-11.28, and 3.64; 95% CI 0.32-41.39 for EOD and LOD, respectively). Dyslipidemia and diabetes showed a positive association with EOD, while the association was negative for LOD. We could not evaluate the association between myocardial infarction and EOD, while increased risk was observed for LOD. No clear association emerged for carotid artery stenosis or valvular heart disease. In this study, despite the limited number of exposed subjects and the high imprecision of the estimates, we found positive associations between cardiovascular disease, particularly dyslipidemia, diabetes, and atrial fibrillation, and EOD.