zhao Hu

Dr. zhao Hu

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

10Years (2017-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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25 August 2020 in Journal of Medical Internet Research
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
ZHzhao Hu
zhao Hu
XLXuhui Lin
Xuhui Lin
AKAtipatsa Chiwanda Kaminga
Atipatsa Chiwanda Kaminga
HHHuilan Hu
Huilan Hu
Background: The world is experiencing an unprecedented challenge due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. However, it is unclear whether people’s lifestyles will change as a result.Objective: The aim of this study is to explore perceived lifestyle changes after the outbreak of COVID-19 and their association with subjective well-being (SWB) among the general population in Mainland China.Methods: An online survey was conducted in May 2020. Lifestyle behaviors including leisure-time physical exercise, leisure-time screen time, and dietary intake were self-reported. SWB was measured using the General Wellbeing Schedule (GWS). Other covariates including sociodemographic factors, self-rated physical health, perceived social support, and loneliness were also assessed by a structured questionnaire. A multivariate ordinal regression method was used to analyze the association between SWB and lifestyle behaviors as well as perceived lifestyle changes.Results: A total of 1033 participants aged between 18 and 60 years were included in this study. The mean GWS score was 71.7 points. About 70% of the respondents reported spending more time looking at screens, whereas about 30% reported an increased frequency of vegetable and fruit intake after the outbreak of COVID-19. Inactive physical exercise (odds ratio [OR] 1.16, 95% CI 1.02-1.48), infrequent vegetable intake (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.10-1.90), infrequent fruit intake (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.01-1.70), and often skipping breakfast (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.08-1.91) were associated with lower SWB after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, self-rated physical health, perceived social support, and loneliness. Moreover, participants who perceived a decrease in the frequency of vegetable, fruit, and breakfast intake were more likely to report lower SWB.Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic may have positive and negative impacts on different aspects of lifestyle behaviors. Both unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and negative lifestyle changes were associated with lower SWB. These findings provide scientific evidence that can inform lifestyle guidelines and public mental health interventions during the COVID-19 outbreak.

13 July 2020 in BMJ Open
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ZHzhao Hu
zhao Hu
XZXidi Zhu
Xidi Zhu
AKAtipatsa Chiwanda Kaminga
Atipatsa Chiwanda Kaminga
TZTingting Zhu
Tingting Zhu
YNYu Nie
Yu Nie
HHHuilan Hu
Huilan Hu
Objectives To examine the association between the prevalence of poor sleep quality and depression symptoms among the elderly in the nursing homes of Hunan province in China. Design, Setting and participants This was a cross-sectional study investigating 817 elderly people from 24 nursing homes in China’s Hunan province. Main outcome measures Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) such that poor sleep quality was defined as PSQI Score >5. In addition, depression symptoms were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Linear regression models and binary logistic regression models were used to analyse the relationship between the prevalence of poor sleep quality and depression symptoms. Results The mean PSQI Score was 8.5±4.9, and the prevalence of poor sleep quality was 67.3%. Additionally, the mean GDS Score was 9.8±7.5, and the prevalence of depression symptoms was 36.0%. Elderly people with poor sleep quality had increased GDS Score (mean difference=2.54, 95% CI 1.66 to 3.42) and increased risk of depression symptoms (OR=3.19, 95% CI 2.04 to 4.98) after controlling for demographics, chronic disease history, lifestyle behaviours, social support, activities of daily living and negative life events. Conclusions The prevalence of poor sleep quality was relatively high, and this was associated with increased depression symptoms. Therefore, poor sleep quality could be speculated as a marker of current depression symptoms in the elderly.

1 September 2020 in BMJ Open
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
YYYunhan Yu
Yunhan Yu
XZXidi Zhu
Xidi Zhu
HXHuilan Xu
Huilan Xu
ZHzhao Hu
zhao Hu
WZWensu Zhou
Wensu Zhou
SYShilin Yin
Shilin Yin
Objectives To evaluate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and its influencing factors in late pregnancy. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Fourteen community in urban areas of Hengyang City. Participants The study conducted from July to October 2019, and surveyed 813 women in late pregnancy who lived in urban areas of Hengyang for more than 6 months, signed an informed consent and were without cognitive disorders, severe mental illnesses or other serious diseases. Measures Perinatal depression symptoms were evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and perinatal anxiety symptoms were evaluated using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 Scale. Sociodemographic variables, obstetric characteristics, lifestyle behaviours, family factors, social support, sleep quality and self-efficacy were obtained through structured questionnaires. Results The prevalence of depression symptoms among pregnant women in late pregnancy was 9.2% (95% CI 7.2%–11.2%). Protective factor: age between 25 and 29 years (OR=0.398; 95% CI 0.16–0.991). Risk factors: a normal relationship with her mother-in-law (OR=5.309; 95% CI 1.122–4.184), artificial insemination (OR=4.339; 95% CI 1.492–12.623), no exercise during pregnancy (OR=2.666; 95% CI 1.177–6.039), low self-efficacy (OR=4.253; 95% CI 1.518–11.916), low social support (OR=2.371; 95% CI 1.206–4.661), poor sleep quality (OR=2.134; 95% CI 1.131–4.027), existence of anxiety symptoms (OR=17.654; 95% CI 8.494–36.689). Conclusion The prevalence of depression symptoms is lower than that in developing countries, but due to the large population base of China, the problem should still be taken seriously. To prevent mental disorders of pregnant women, early screening for mental disorders, promotion of healthy lifestyles, mental healthcare during pregnancy and improved family and social support should be implemented during pregnancy nursing.

30 April 2020 in Frontiers in Psychiatry
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
YNYu Nie
Yu Nie
ZHzhao Hu
zhao Hu
TZTingting Zhu
Tingting Zhu
HHHuilan Hu
Huilan Hu
Our study aims to explore the risk factors for suicidal ideation and their interaction among the elderly in nursing homes in Hunan province, China. A cross-sectional study was conducted among the elderly in nursing homes in Hunan Province. Twenty-four nursing homes were selected by multistage cluster random sampling, and 817 elderly residents were investigated using a set of structured questionnaires. The main outcome measures included general information, suicidal ideation, depression symptoms, social support, activities of daily living (ADL), stressful life events, and sleep quality. Multivariate binary logistic regression was performed to explore the risk factors for suicidal ideation among the elderly in nursing homes, and additive interaction was used to analyze the interaction between risk factors. The prevalence of suicidal ideation among the elderly in nursing homes in Hunan province was 17.9% (95% confidence interval(CI): 15.2%, 20.6%). Living in a rural area (odds ratio(OR)=1.88, 95% CI: 1.03, 3.44), infrequent visits from relatives (OR=2.61, 95% CI: 1.42, 4.78), history of chronic disease (OR=2.34, 95% CI: 1.09, 5.01), depression symptoms (OR=8.11, 95% CI: 4.52, 14.54), lower social support (OR=3.85, 95% CI: 1.94, 7.61), and ADL disability status (OR=4.38, 95% CI: 2.10, 9.14) increased the risk of suicidal ideation. Additive interactions were detected between depression symptoms and ADL status, with a relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) of 8.73 (95% CI: 2.04, 15.43), and between depression symptoms and social support, with an RERI of 5.98 (95% CI: 0.86, 11.10). The prevalence of suicidal ideation among the elderly in nursing homes is relatively high. Both physical conditions and psychosocial factors were associated with suicidal ideation among the elderly. These findings have significant implications for the prediction and prevention of suicidal behaviors.

ZHzhao Hu
zhao Hu
QLQin Lulu
Qin Lulu
HXHuilan Xu
Huilan Xu
Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a synthetic intervention model aimed at preventing type 2 diabetes and controlling plasma glucose, body weight and waist circumference in elderly individuals with prediabetes in rural China. Methods: We randomly assigned 434 (180 men and 254 women; mean age, 69 years; mean body mass index, 23.6 kg/m2) with prediabetes to either the intervention group or the control group. Each participant in the intervention group received synthetic intervention for 1 year. Results: The incidence of diabetes was 4.2% in the intervention group, versus 19.7% in the control group at the end of 1 year (p < 0.001). Compared with the control group, the intervention group experienced a great decrease in fasting glucose (−3.9 vs. 2.2 mg/dL, p < 0.001), body weight (−3.2 vs. 1.7 kg, p < 0.001), waist circumference (−2.4 vs. 1.0 cm, p < 0001), total cholesterol (−9.1 vs. −4.6 mg/dL. p = 0.014) and HbA1c (−1.0 vs. 0.1 mg %, p = 0.002) at the end of 1 year. Conclusions: The incidence of diabetes of the control group was higher than that of the intervention group. Besides, the synthetic intervention contributes to weight loss and glucose decrease, and may be effective in reducing the risk of diabetes among elderly individuals with prediabetes in rural China.

5 August 2020 in BMJ Open
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
BZBaohua Zheng
Baohua Zheng
YYYunhan Yu
Yunhan Yu
XZXidi Zhu
Xidi Zhu
ZHzhao Hu
zhao Hu
WZWensu Zhou
Wensu Zhou
HXHuilan Xu
Huilan Xu
Objective: To explore the prevalence of depressive symptoms among women in late pregnancy, and assess mediating effect of self-efficacy in the association between family functions and the antenatal depressive symptoms.Design: Community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among women during the third trimester of pregnancy.Setting: This study was conducted among pregnant women registered at community health service centres of urban Hengyang City, China from July to October 2019.Participants: 813 people were selected from 14 communities by multi-staged cluster random sampling method.Main outcome measures: The Family Adaptation Partnership Growth Affection and Resolve Index, the General Self-efficacy Scale and Patient Health Questionnaire were used to access family functions, self-efficacy and antenatal depression symptoms, respectively.Results: In this study, 9.2% pregnant women reported the symptoms of antenatal depression (95 CI% 7.2% to 11.2%). After adjustment, the results showed that severe family dysfunction (adjusted OR, AOR 3.67; 95% CI 1.88 to 7.14) and low level of self-efficacy (AOR 3.16; 95% CI 1.37 to 7.27) were associated with antenatal depressive symptoms (p<0.05). Furthermore, self-efficacy level partially mediated the association between family functions and antenatal depressive symptoms(β=−0.05, 95% CI −0.07 to −0.03, p<0.05) and the mediating effect accounted for 17.09% of the total effect.Conclusions: This study reported 9.2% positive rates of antenatal depression symptoms among women in the third trimester of pregnancy in Hengyang city, China. The mediating effect of self-efficacy on the association between family functions and antenatal depression symptoms among women in the third trimester of pregnancy was found in this study, which provide a theoretical basis to maternal and child health personnel to identify high-risk pregnant women and take targeted intervention for them.