Mediterranean Diet Adherence, Sleep Disturbances and Emotional Well-Being in Skin Ulcer Burden: Insights from a
Tonia Samela1,2, Giulia Raimondi1, Damiano Abeni1
1Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Istituto Dermopatico Dell'Immacolata, IDI-IRCCS, 00167 Rome, Italy.
Background:
Chronic skin ulcers are characterized by an impaired and delayed wound healing process, posing a major economic and healthcare burden. These multifactorial conditions are influenced by both biological, clinical and psychosocial factors. The aim of our cross-sectional study was to investigate the influence of psychosocial and lifestyle factors-specifically adherence to the Mediterranean diet, emotional health, sleep quality and demographic characteristics-on physical symptoms and clinical severity in patients with skin ulcers, using a multidisciplinary approach to identify key predictors of disease burden.
Methods:
A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on patients with skin ulcers, using data from a monocentric pathology registry. Collected variables included gender, age, dietary habits (specifically, adherence to the Mediterranean diet), sleep disturbances, educational level, anxiety and depressive symptoms, Physician Global Assessment (PGA), Patient Global Assessment (PtGA), and Skindex-17 (a dermatology-specific quality of life measure). Hierarchic multivariate linear regression models were applied to identify predictors of physical symptoms and clinical severity, while simultaneously controlling for potential confounders.
Results:
Older age, poorer adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and elevated anxiety levels emerged as the strongest predictors of worse physical symptoms, as measured by the Skindex-17. Male sex and more severe depressive symptoms were significantly associated with higher PGA scores. Our data also suggest older age and poorer Mediterranean diet adherence to influence clinical severity. Lastly, sleep disturbances were also found to correlate with patient-reported severity.
Conclusions:
Our study underscores the impact of psychosocial and behavioral/lifestyle factors on the clinical burden of skin ulcers through a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach. In particular, our data indicate that dietary patterns and emotional health appear to shape both symptom perception and clinical evaluation, emphasizing the need for holistic management strategies.
More Related Videos
04:33Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression
Published on: April 26, 2024
04:53A Clinical Trial Assessing the Safety, Efficacy, and Delivery of Olive-Oil-Based Three-Chamber Bags for Parenteral Nutrition
Published on: September 20, 2019
Related Concept Videos
01:28Peptic Ulcer Disease III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Few clinical manifestations differentiate gastric ulcers from duodenal ulcers. Distinctions in the location, timing, and pain relief are crucial for healthcare providers in differentiating between gastric and duodenal ulcers during clinical assessments.
01:24Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
01:30Peptic Ulcer Disease I: Introduction
An acute ulcer, marked by superficial erosion and minimal inflammation, swiftly resolves upon identifying and addressing the underlying cause. In contrast, a chronic ulcer persists, potentially eroding through the muscular wall and forming fibrous tissue.
Peptic ulcers can also be...
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
01:13Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
01:26Peptic Ulcer Disease IV: Management
The therapeutic approach involves ensuring adequate rest, implementing drug therapy, promoting smoking cessation, making dietary modifications, and emphasizing long-term follow-up care.
Pharmacological management
The prevailing therapy for peptic ulcers involves a combination of managing the patient's current...