There are growing concerns about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of older adults. We examined the effect of the pandemic on the risk of depression in older adults.

We analyzed data from the prospective cohort study of Korean older adults, which has been followed every 2 years. Among the 2308 participants who completed both the third and the fourth follow-up assessments, 58.4% completed their fourth follow-up before the outbreak of COVID-19 and the rest completed it during the pandemic. We conducted face-to-face diagnostic interviews using Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and used Geriatric Depression Scale. We performed generalized estimating equations and logistic regression analyses.

The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increased depressive symptoms in older adults [b (standard error) = 0.42 (0.20), p = 0.040] and a doubling of the risk for incident depressive disorder even in euthymic older adults without a history of depression (odds ratio = 2.44, 95% confidence interval 1.18–5.02, p = 0.016). Less social activities, which was associated with the risk of depressive disorder before the pandemic, was not associated with the risk of depressive disorder during the pandemic. However, less family gatherings, which was not associated with the risk of depressive disorder before the pandemic, was associated with the doubled risk of depressive disorder during the pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly influences the risk of late-life depression in the community. Older adults with a lack of family gatherings may be particularly vulnerable.

A certain degree of pulmonary stenosis after total correction of tetralogy of Fallot has been considered acceptable. But the long-term outcomes are not well understood. We observed the natural course of immediate pulmonary stenosis and investigated related factors for progression.

Fifty-two patients with acceptable pulmonary stenosis immediately after operation were enrolled. Acceptable pulmonary stenosis was defined as peak pressure gradient between 15 and 45 mmHg by Doppler echocardiography. Latent class linear mixed model was used to differentiate patients with progressed pulmonary stenosis, and the factors related to progression were analysed.

Pulmonary stenosis progressed in 14 patients (27%). Between the progression group and no progression group, there were no significant differences in operative age, sex, and the use of the transannular patch technique. However, immediate gradient was higher in the progression group (32.1 mmHg versus 25.7 mmHg, p = 0.009), and the cut-off value was 26.8 mmHg (sensitivity = 65.3%, specificity = 65.8%). Main stenosis at the sub-valve was observed more frequently in the progression group (85.7% versus 52.6%, p = 0.027). Despite no difference in the preoperative pulmonary valve z value, the last follow-up pulmonary valve z value was significantly lower in the progression group (−1.15 versus 0.35, p = 0.002).

Pulmonary stenosis immediately after tetralogy of Fallot total correction might progress in patients with immediate pulmonary stenosis higher than ≥26.8 mmHg and the main site was sub-valve area.

To maintain pulmonary valvar function subsequent to repair of tetralogy of Fallot, we have inserted a homograft monocusp when a transjunctional patch was required. In this study, we have evaluated the mid- to long-term outcomes, aiming to determine the durability of the homograft.

Among 218 repairs performed for tetralogy of Fallot between July, 1996, and June, 2005, we inserted homograft monocusps in 54 patients, 4 of whom had associated absent pulmonary valve syndrome, 3 had pulmonary valvar atresia, and 1 had an atrioventricular septal defect with common atrioventricular junction. The median body weight at surgery was 7.8 kilograms, with a range from 3.9 to 42 kilograms. The function of the monocusp valve was assessed by regular echocardiography, using the Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox regression model for statistical analyses.

There were 2 early deaths (3.7%), associated with respiratory infection. No late deaths were observed during the follow-up, which ranged from 0.3 to 120 months, with a median of 64.3 months. Freedom from valvar dysfunction was 67.2 ± 6.7% at 1 year, 37.1 ± 7.3% at 3 years, 23.8 ± 6.7% at 5 years, and 21.2 ± 6.4% at 7 years. We needed to replace the valve in 1 patient during follow-up. We found that ABO blood group incompatibility, stenosis of the pulmonary arteries, and associated absent pulmonary valve syndrome all adversely affected the function of the monocusp.

Our experiences show that insertion of a homograft monocusp can prevent pulmonary regurgitation in the early period after repair of tetralogy of Fallot, but the effects are limited in duration as degeneration progressed. We still need to determine whether this finding can improve the longer-term function of the right ventricle.