Project description:ObjectiveScreening inventories are important tools in clinical settings and research but may be sensitive to temporary fluctuations. Therefore, we revisited data from a longitudinal study with the Lund University Checklist for Incipient Exhaustion (LUCIE) that comprised occupationally active individuals (n?=?1355; 27-52 years; 57% women) and one initial paper and pencil survey and 10 subsequent equally spaced online surveys. In the present study we examine to what extent the LUCIE scores changed across 3 years (11 assessments) and whether episodes of temporary elevated LUCIE scores (LTE) coincided with reports of negative or positive changes at work or in private life.ResultsIn the total sample, the prevalence rates for the four LUCIE classifications of signs of increasing exhaustion (from no exhaustion to possible exhaustion disorder) ranged from 65.4-73.0%, 16.6-20.9%, 6.2-9.6%, and 3.4-5.0%. Of 732 individuals screened for LTE episodes, 16% had an LTE episode. The LTE episodes typically coincided with reports of adverse changes at work or, to a lesser extent, in private life. Thus, LUCIE classifications appear reliable and lend themselves to repeated use on the same individuals, or group of individuals. Even single episodes of elevated LUCIE scores seem appropriately to indicate adverse reactions to the work situation.
Project description:ObjectiveAs part of our research on Swedish school principals, we examined the concurrent validity between the Karolinska Exhaustion Disorder Scale (KEDS) and the Lund University Checklist for Incipient Exhaustion (LUCIE) in a cross-sectional study sample (N = 2670). Specifically, we examined: (a) to what extent LUCIE and KEDS identified the same individuals and their level of agreement, and (b) to what extent the present observations among school-principals agreed with previous observations made in a highly educated and healthy study sample drawn from the general population.ResultsDepending on established cut-points on LUCIE, the Kappa agreement (K) between LUCIE and KEDS varied between fair (K = 0.34 [95% Confidence Interval = 0.30-0.38]) and moderate (K = 0.54 [95% Confidence Interval = 0.51-0.58]). While the instruments did not always identify the same individuals, the most reasonable comparison between KEDS and LUCIE was achieved when the cut-off on LUCIE was made between step two and step three. The results essentially replicated our previous results observed in a highly educated and healthy study sample drawn from the general population. The level of agreement suggests that KEDS and LUCIE scores are supplementary rather than interchangeable. Thus, individual result from KEDS and LUCIE are probably best understood in dialogue with the person screened.
Project description:We aimed to identify plasma biomarkers that predict changes in bone mineral density (BMD) and increase the understanding of impaired BMD after heart transplantation (HT). Twenty-eight adult patients were included. Data, including densitometry and 29 plasma proteins, before and 1 year after HT were analyzed. Pre-HT plasma levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) correlated with post-HT T score in lumbar spine, adjusted for age, gender, and BMI (1.72 [95% CI 1.33; 2.22], p = 0.011). Change (∆; post-HT-pre-HT) in plasma levels of melusin correlated to ∆T score from the lumbar spine (p = 0.028). ∆plasma levels of TR-AP, ITGB2, and Stromelysin-1 correlated to ∆T score from the femoral neck (p < 0.05). However, no correlations remained after adjustments for age, gender, and BMI. In conclusion, elevated plasma FGF23 pre-HT predicted an increase in lumbar BMD after HT. However, the results are surprising since FGF23 is known to be inversely correlated with BMD. This may partly be explained by the complex pathophysiology in this particular cohort. Due to the explorative nature of the study and the small sample size, further investigations of biochemical markers on bone metabolism in this patient population are encouraged.