Excess risks of long COVID symptoms compared with identical symptoms in the general population: A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies with control groups.

Background: It is important to understand the excess risks of symptoms of long COVID when compared to the same symptoms in the general population. We aimed to evaluate the association between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and various long-term symptoms.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies measuring long COVID symptoms lasting for at least three months after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in comparison to non-COVID-19 control groups.

Determinants of post-COVID-19 symptoms among adults aged 55 or above with chronic conditions in primary care: data from a prospective cohort in Hong Kong.

Background: Primary care patients, especially those with an older age, are one of the most vulnerable populations for post-COVID-19 symptoms. Identifying predictors of post-COVID symptoms can help identify high-risk individuals for preventive care.

Methods: Out of 977 primary care patients aged 55 years or above with comorbid physical and psychosocial conditions in a prospective cohort in Hong Kong, 207 patients infected in the previous 5-24 weeks were included.

A protocol for a randomized clinical trial assessing the efficacy of hypertonic dextrose injection (prolotherapy) in chronic ankle instability.

Background: Lateral ankle sprain (LAS) is a common injury. Conservative care is not uniformly effective. Chronic ankle instability (CAI) results in up to 70% of patients with LAS in the physically active population.

PUMA screening tool to detect COPD in high-risk patients in Chinese primary care-A validation study.

The early stage of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is not easily recognized. Screening tools can help to identify high-risk patients in primary care settings for spirometry and may be helpful in the early detection in COPD and management. This study aims to validate the PUMA questionnaire for use in Chinese primary care settings.

Vaccine Resistance and Hesitancy among Older Adults Who Live Alone or Only with an Older Partner in Community in the Early Stage of the Fifth Wave of COVID-19 in Hong Kong.

Vaccination is an effective way in providing protection against COVID-19 infection and severe outcomes. However, vaccine resistance and hesitancy are a great concern among vulnerable populations including older adults who live alone or only with an older partner. This study examined their vaccination status and reasons and associated factors of vaccine resistance and hesitancy.

Comparing effect of definition of diurnal periods by diary, fixed periods, and actigraphy on ambulatory blood pressure parameters in a Chinese population.

Background: Reliable measurement of daytime and night-time blood pressure (BP), and degree of BP dipping during sleep during ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) requires an accurate definition of sleep time (diurnal definition). However, superiority of any diurnal definition on ABPM remains unclear. The present study compared mean daytime and night-time SBP and DBP using different methods for diurnal definition: patient's diary, wide-defined and narrow-defined fixed periods, and actigraphy, in a Chinese population with diagnosed essential hypertension.

Recommending COVID-19 Vaccines to Patients: Practice and Concerns of Frontline Family Doctors.

: Recommendation from doctors is a well-recognized motivator toward vaccine uptake. Family doctors are in the prime position to advise the public on COVID-19 vaccination. We studied the practice and concerns of frontline family doctors concerning COVID-19 vaccination recommendations to patients.

Effectiveness of a mindfulness intervention for older adults to improve emotional well-being and cognitive function in a Chinese population: A randomized waitlist-controlled trial.

Background: To investigate the effect of a modified mindfulness-based stress reduction (mMBSR) program on mental well-being and cognitive function of older adults.

Method: Two hundred and fourty-six participants were randomly assigned to mMBSR (n = 120) group or waitlist control group which received mMBSR at 2-month (n = 123). Data collected at baseline, 2 and 4 months after recruitment.

Neuromuscular exercise for chronic musculoskeletal pain in older people: a randomised controlled trial in primary care in Hong Kong.

Background: Exercise therapy is commonly prescribed by primary care physicians (PCPs) in the management of chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain.

Aim: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a supervised neuromuscular (NM) exercise programme in older people with chronic MSK pain.

Design And Setting: This was a 12-week, two-arm, randomised controlled trial comparing 6 weeks of supervised NM exercise versus waiting list controls.

Chronic musculoskeletal pain prospectively predicts insomnia in older people, not moderated by age, gender or co-morbid illnesses.

The study evaluated if chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain predicts the severity of insomnia, and whether the effect is moderated by age, gender, and number of comorbid diseases in older people. An 18-month prospective study was performed within the framework of a community health program in Hong Kong. A total of 498 older people aged ≥ 60 with multimorbidity were recruited.

Impact of COVID-19 on loneliness, mental health, and health service utilisation: a prospective cohort study of older adults with multimorbidity in primary care.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the psychological health and health service utilisation of older adults with multimorbidity, who are particularly vulnerable.

Aim: To describe changes in loneliness, mental health problems, and attendance to scheduled medical care before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design And Setting: Telephone survey on a pre-existing cohort of older adults with multimorbidity in primary care.

Efficacy of Intra-Articular Hypertonic Dextrose (Prolotherapy) for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: To test the efficacy of intra-articular hypertonic dextrose prolotherapy (DPT) vs normal saline (NS) injection for knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Methods: A single-center, parallel-group, blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted at a university primary care clinic in Hong Kong. Patients with KOA (n = 76) were randomly allocated (1:1) to DPT or NS groups for injections at weeks 0, 4, 8, and 16.

Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the traditional Chinese intermittent and constant osteoarthritis pain (ICOAP) questionnaire for knee osteoarthritis.

Objectives: To translate and culturally adapt the Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis and Pain (ICOAP) measure to a traditional Chinese version, and to study its psychometric properties in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Method: The ICOAP was translated and cross-culturally adapted into traditional Chinese according to the recommended international guidelines. A total of 110 participants with KOA in Hong Kong were invited to complete the traditional Chinese ICOAP (tChICOAP), the Chinese Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain subscale and the Chinese Short form of Health Survey (SF-12v2).

Clinic-Based Patellar Mobilization Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Purpose: We performed a phase 2 randomized clinical trial to evaluate the preliminary effectiveness of a clinic-based patellar mobilization therapy (PMT) in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Methods: We recruited 208 patients with knee osteoarthritis at primary care clinics in Hong Kong. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to the intervention group or the control group.

The independent role of deprivation in abdominal obesity beyond income poverty. A population-based household survey in Chinese adults.

Background: Individual-level deprivation takes into account the non-monetary aspects of poverty that neither income poverty nor socio-economic factors could fully capture; however, it has rarely been considered in existing studies on social inequality in obesity. Therefore, we examined the associations of deprivation, beyond income poverty, with both general and abdominal obesity.

Methods: A territory-wide two-stage stratified random sample of 2282 community-dwelling Hong Kong adults was surveyed via face-to-face household interviews between 2014 and 2015.

Efficacy of intra-articular hypertonic dextrose prolotherapy versus normal saline for knee osteoarthritis: a protocol for a triple-blinded randomized controlled trial.

Background: Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA) is a very common condition with prevalence rising with age. It is a major contributor to global disability and has a large socioeconomic burden worldwide. Conservative therapies have marginal effectiveness, and surgery is reserved for severe symptomatic KOA.

Meaning and its association with happiness, health and healthcare utilization: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Meaning in life is not only a significant component of psychological well-being, but also a neglected issue with clinical importance that needs to be studied further, especially its association with health and healthcare utilization.

Objective: To study the level of meaning and its association with happiness, health and healthcare utilization among the elderly in Hong Kong.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey via telephone was conducted among 1000 elderly aged 60 years or above in Hong Kong.

Comparing the Effects of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Sleep Psycho-Education with Exercise on Chronic Insomnia: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Background: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a potential treatment for chronic insomnia. We evaluated the efficacy of MBCT for insomnia (MBCT-I) by comparing it with a sleep psycho-education with exercise control (PEEC) group.

Methods: Adults with chronic primary insomnia (n = 216) were randomly allocated to the MBCT-I or PEEC group.