ObjectiveTo investigate the development, production and use of children’s drugs in Sichuan Province, analyze the problems existing in these links, and provide suggestions for ensuring that children’s needs for drugs are met. MethodsThe self-filling electronic questionnaire was used to investigate the production, procurement and use of children’s drugs in 14 pharmaceutical companies producing children’s drugs and 20 general hospitals with pediatric departments or children’s hospitals in Sichuan province. ResultsThe 14 surveyed pharmaceutical companies reported that 116 children’s drugs were being developed or produced (75 first-class children’s drugs with exact medication information for children, 41 second-class children’s drugs only noted as children's discretionary reduction or use according to clinician’s instructions), out of which 109 (93.97%) drugs had been approved for marketing, 21 (18.10%) were national essential medicines and 76 (65.52%) were covered by national basic medical insurance. The dosage forms of first-class children's drugs were mainly tablets (28, 37.34%) and granules (19, 25.34%), while oral solution (3, 4.00%), syrup (5, 6.67%) and other dosage forms suitable for children were less. According to the surveyed results on the use of children's drugs in hospitals, there were 57 children’s drugs whose minimum use units needed to be manually divided into smaller ones on average in each hospital, and it was the most common operation pattern that pharmacists informed nurses, patients or patients’ family members of the dose splitting methods and then splitting drugs’ minimum use units by themselves. ConclusionThere is a great demand for splitting minimum use units of drugs whose strength is too big for children in medical institutions, and some children’s drugs need to be developed and further modified to meet the clinical children’s drug needs. We should further increase investments and policy supports for the children’s drugs, promote children’s clinical trials, and encourage the research and development of children’s drugs.
Objective To investigate the status of frailty in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and to analyze the influence of COVID-19 disease on the prevalence of frailty. Methods This study was conducted using a cross-sectional survey method. COVID-19 patients admitted to a centralized isolation point in Guangzhou were selected for an questionnaire survey by “questionnaire star”, between November and December 2022. The questionnaire included the general information questionnaire, Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI), the COVID-19 symptom scale and Mental Resilience Scale (RS-11). Multi-model logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influence of COVID-19 on the occurrence of debilitation. Results A total of 667 questionnaires were distributed, of which 594 were valid, with an effective rate of 89.1%. There were 150 patients (25.3%) were frail, 444 patients (74.7%) were non-frail, and 51 patients (8.6%) were newly frail after infected COVID-19. The median TFI score before COVID-19 was 3 (2, 4) points, 16.7% (99/594) were in a weak state. The median TFI score after COVID-19 was 3 (2, 5) points, 25.3% (150/594) were in a weak state. There were statistically significant differences in TFI scores (Z=−6.596, P＜0.001) and the incidence of debilitation (χ2=351.648, P＜0.001) before and after COVID-19. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after controlling disease factors, demographic factors and psychosocial factors, the score of the COVID-19 symptom score was always the influencing factor of COVID-19 patients. The overall change trend of COVID-19 symptom score was statistically significant (P<0.001). Conclusions The COVID-19 symptom score is an important risk factor or predictor of frailty in patients with COVID-19. As the level of COVID-19 symptom score increases, the risk of frailty in COVID-19 patients increases.
Objective To investigate the prevalence of cognitive impairment and identify its influencing factors among lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, providing a scientific basis for targeted interventions. Methods A convenience sample of lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy at West China Hospital, Sichuan University between April and October 2024 was enrolled. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the Mini-Mental State Examination, Nutritional Risk Screening 2002, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Barthel index, and FRAIL scale. Univariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression were performed to determine factors associated with cognitive impairment. Results A total of 380 patients undergoing chemotherapy for lung cancer were enrolled, and 205 (53.9%) of them had cognitive impairment. Univariate analyses revealed that there were statistically significant differences between the cognitively normal group and the cognitive impairment group in age, educational level, work status, nutritional status, Barthel index, and FRAIL scale score (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression showed that advanced age [odds ratio (OR)=1.045, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.015, 1.075), P=0.002] and FRAIL scale score [OR=1.369, 95%CI (1.165, 1.609), P<0.001] were identified as independent risk factors for cognitive impairment, whereas higher educational attainment served as a protective factor, compared with patients with primary school education or below, patients with junior high school, high school/secondary vocational school, college, or undergraduate education and above had a lower risk of cognitive impairment [OR=0.437, 0.258, 0.243, 0.120, P<0.05]. Conclusions Cognitive impairment is highly prevalent among lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and is significantly influenced by age, educational level, and frailty. Healthcare providers should develop targeted interventions based on these factors to reduce the prevalence of cognitive impairment.