Incidence of Deliberate Self-Harm in Hong Kong Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Population-Wide Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: COVID-19 ended on May 5, 2023, and since then Hong Kong reported increased mental distress, which was speculated to be from the policies implemented during the pandemic. Despite this, longitudinal surveillance of deliberate self-harm (DSH) incidences throughout the pandemic in Hong Kong remained insufficient.

Objective: The objective of this study was to outline the changes in DSH incidences before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong, with respect to sex, age, and co-occurring mental health issues.

Initiation of warfarin is associated with decreased mortality in patients with infective endocarditis: A population-based cohort study.

Importance: The use of warfarin to prevent thromboembolism in patients with infective endocarditis (IE) remains controversial due to potentially increased bleeding risks.

Design: Population-based retrospective cohort study.

Participants: Patients aged 18 or older and diagnosed with IE in Hong Kong between January 1st, 1997 and August 31st, 2020 were included.

Reliability and concurrent validity of standardized walking obstacle course test in people with stroke.

Objectives: To investigate: (i) the intra-rater, inter-rater and test-retest reliabilities of completion times and step counts on the Standardized Walking Obstacle Course test (SWOC); (ii) correlations between SWOC scores and stroke-specific impairments; (iii) the cut-off SWOC completion times and step counts for distinguishing differences in obstacle negotiation ability in people with chronic stroke and healthy older adults.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: University-based rehabilitation centre.