A multi-model analysis of risk factors influencing hippocampus degree centrality in Han Chinese adults who lost their only child

Objective This study explores the relationship between Hippocampus Degree Centrality (DC) values and various risk factors in Han Chinese adults who have lost their only child, a phenomenon known as “shidu”. Our goal is to develop statistical models that have the potential to predict DC values and enhance clinical diagnosis and intervention strategies for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in these parents. Methods Participants were recruited from a PTSD survey conducted in Jiangsu Province, China, between September 2016 and March 2017. The survey included Han Chinese parents who had lost their only child to causes such as traffic accidents, explosions, suicide, cancer, and sudden death. Of the 237 participants, we focused on PTSD cases that met specific criteria, excluding individuals with adrenal disorders to eliminate confounding effects. After obtaining informed consent for follow-up assessments, we analyzed data from 109 eligible participants, examining a range of statistical models - linear, flexible, LASSO, ridge, and logistic regression - to identify correlations between DC values and various risk factors. Results Cortisol, gender, BMI, and memory capability are key contributors associated with DC values in Han Chinese adults who have experienced the trauma of losing their only child. We found that cortisol levels are negatively correlated with DC values in males, and are positively correlated in females (p-value = 0.017), which forms a gender-specific correlation. Additionally, BMI (p-value = 0.011) and memory scores (p-value = 0.157) indicate that physiological and cognitive factors can influence the hippocampus. Conclusion Linear and logistic models incorporating cortisol, gender, BMI, and memory capability show the greatest potential for clinical application in diagnosing DC abnormalities. These abnormalities are key indicators of stress levels and neurocognitive function in “shidu” parents, offering valuable insights for PTSD diagnosis and intervention strategies.