Impact of hot temperatures on death in London: a time series approach

The transition of metabolic phenotypes and cardiovascular events: Panasonic cohort study 16

OBJECTIVE

The study objective was to investigate whether changes in metabolic phenotype affect the risk of cardiovascular events.

METHODS

All 117,589 participants were included in this retrospective cohort study. The metabolic phenotypes of the participants were assessed at two points (the second evaluation was set 2 years after the first evaluation), and the incidence rate of cardiovascular events was observed for 11 years. The main outcome was 3-point major adverse cardiac events (MACE), which comprises cardiovascular death, nonfatal coronary artery disease, and nonfatal stroke incidence.

RESULTS

Of the participants, 2748 (2.3%) cases of 3-point MACE were identified during follow-up. The stable metabolically healthy obesity group had a higher risk of 3-point MACE than those with stable metabolically healthy nonobesity (MHNO). Additionally, the change from metabolically healthy obesity to MHNO for 2 years decreased the risk of 3-point MACE (hazard ratio [HR], 1.12: 95% CI: 0.84-1.47) to the same level as stable MHNO. However, the change from metabolically abnormal nonobesity and metabolically abnormal obesity to MHNO for 2 years maintained a higher risk of 3-point MACE (HR, 1.66 [95% CI: 1.36-2.01]; HR, 1.91 [95% CI: 1.22-2.81]) than those with stable MHNO.

CONCLUSIONS

Change in metabolic phenotype is associated with incident 3-point MACE.

Gender differences in long term sickness absence

PURPOSE

Sickness absence is a major public health problem, given its high cost and negative impact on employee well-being. Understanding sickness absence duration and recovery rates among different groups is useful to develop effective strategies for enhancing recovery and reducing costs related to sickness absence.

METHODS

Our study analyzed data from a large occupational health service, including over 5 million sick-listed employees from 2010 to 2020, out of which almost 600,000 cases were diagnosed by an occupational health physician. We classified each case according to diagnosis and gender, and performed descriptive statistical analysis for each category. In addition, we used survival analysis to determine recovery rates for each group.

RESULTS

Mean sickness duration and recovery rate both differ significantly among groups. Mental and musculoskeletal disorders had the longest absence duration. Recovery rates differed especially during the first months of sickness absence. For men the recovery rate was nearly constant during the first 1.5 year, for women the recovery rate was relatively low in the first three months, and then stayed nearly constant for 1.5 year.

CONCLUSION

Across almost all diagnostic classes, it was consistently observed that women had longer average sickness absence durations than to men. Considering mental disorders and diseases of the musculoskeletal system, women had relatively lower recovery rates during the initial months compared to men. As time progressed, the recovery rates of both genders converged and became more similar.

Worldwide prevalence and associated risk factors of obstructive sleep apnea: a meta-analysis and meta-regression

PURPOSE

This study aimed to identify the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and associated risk factors globally.

METHODS

Six databases and registrations and three grey databases were explored for observational field research. Independently and impartially paired reviewers selected research, gathered data, and evaluated the methodological quality. Heterogeneity was investigated using subgroup analysis and meta-regression following the moderating variable in a meta-analysis of proportions with a random-effects model. The critical appraisal instrument developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute was used to evaluate the listed studies' methodology. The certainty of the evidence was evaluated using the GRADE tool.

RESULTS

A total of 8236 articles were collected during the database search, resulting in 99 articles included for qualitative synthesis, and 98 articles were included for the meta-analysis. The estimated combined prevalence of OSA was 54% [CI 95% = 46-62%; I2 = 100%]. Mean age, percentage of moderate-severe cases, and the sample's body mass index (BMI) did not affect the heterogeneity that was already present when meta-regressed (p > 0.05). Ninety-one studies were deemed to have a low risk of bias, while eight were deemed to have a moderate risk. For OSA prevalence outcomes, the GRADE criteria were considered very low.

CONCLUSION

Approximately half of the people worldwide have OSA. High BMI, increasing age, and male gender are described as risk factors in the literature, but these covariates do not affect pre-existing heterogeneity.

Familial aggregation of the aging process: biological age measured in young adult offspring as a predictor of parental mortality

Measures of biological age (BA) integrate information across organ systems to quantify "biological aging," i.e., inter-individual differences in aging-related health decline. While longevity and lifespan aggregate in families, reflecting transmission of genes and environments across generations, little is known about intergenerational continuity of biological aging or the extent to which this continuity may be modified by environmental factors. Using data from the Jerusalem Perinatal Study (JPS), we tested if differences in offspring BA were related to mortality in their parents. We measured BA using biomarker data collected from 1473 offspring during clinical exams in 2007-2009, at age 32 ± 1.1. Parental mortality was obtained from population registry data for the years 2004-2016. We fitted parametric survival models to investigate the associations between offspring BA and parental all-cause and cause-specific mortality. We explored potential differences in these relationships by socioeconomic position (SEP) and offspring sex. Participants' BAs widely varied (SD = 6.95). Among those measured to be biologically older, parents had increased all-cause mortality (HR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.13), diabetes mortality (HR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.30), and cancer mortality (HR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.13). The association with all-cause mortality was stronger for families with low compared with high SEP (P_interaction = 0.04) and for daughters as compared to sons (P_interaction < 0.001). Using a clinical-biomarker-based BA estimate, observable by young adulthood prior to the onset of aging-related diseases, we demonstrate intergenerational continuity of the aging process. Furthermore, variation in this familial aggregation according to household socioeconomic position (SEP) at offspring birth and between families of sons and daughters proposes that the environment alters individuals' aging trajectory set by their parents.

The Importance of Developmental Assets to Mental Health in Norwegian Youth

In the present study, we examined the importance of developmental assets to prolonged sadness (i.e., being sad most of the time or all the time for no reason in the last month) and suicide attempt. Cross–sectional data on items measuring developmental assets as well as prolonged sadness and suicide attempt were collected from high school students in Norway (N = 591, 55% girls). The findings from independent t–tests indicated that youth with poor mental health reported less developmental assets relative to their peers who did not report such problems. In logistic regression, asset categories, such as Positive identity and Personal assets, were significantly associated with poor mental health (especially prolonged sadness) after adjusting for other asset categories and demographic factors, such as age, sex, and parents' educational background. The influence of Empowerment and Family assets, which was significant when only the assets were assessed, was no longer significant when demographic variables were also considered. While more research on factors that can promote youth mental health is needed, our findings suggest that policies and programmes that ensure that youth have access to the necessary developmental resources and opportunities may also be empowering youth, enhancing their mental health, and consequently, facilitating their active involvement in their community.

Vaccination coverage and vaccine hesitancy among vulnerable population of India

Vaccination coverage in India has improved from 44% to 62%, an increase of 19% over a span of 10 y (2006-2016), the inequity continues among the vulnerable people belonging to tribal groups and migrant population. In order to leave no one behind strategy, their vaccination coverage, reasons for low coverage were analyzed from available literary sources through this review article. A systematic search for relevant articles was conducted and articles published in various journals over the past 5 y were included. The vaccine coverage among the vulnerable population ranged from 31% to 89% from various studies. It was found that parents' education status, income of the family and lack of awareness of the schedule were the most important reasons for vaccine hesitancy. Introduction of cash assistance integrated into other national program, digitalizing vaccination cards, involvement of local healers are few strategies suggested in this article.

Vulnerability to extreme-heat-associated hospitalization in three counties in Michigan, USA, 2000-2009

With climate change, extreme heat (EH) events are increasing, so it is important to understand who is vulnerable to heat-associated morbidity. We determined the association between EH and hospitalizations for all natural causes; cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal diseases; diabetes mellitus; and acute myocardial infarction in Michigan, USA, at different intensities and durations. We assessed confounding by ozone and how individual characteristics and health insurance payer (a proxy for income) modified these associations. We obtained Michigan Inpatient Database, National Climatic Data Center, and US Environmental Protection Agency ozone data for May-September, 2000-2009 for three Michigan counties. We employed a case-crossover design and modeled EH as an indicator for temperature above the 95th, 97th, or 99th percentile thresholds for 1, 2, 3, or 4 days. We examined effect modification by patient age, race, sex, and health insurance payer and pooled the county results. Among non-whites, the pooled odds ratio for hospitalization on EH (97th percentile threshold) vs. non-EH days for renal diseases was 1.37 (95 % CI = 1.13-1.66), which increased with increasing EH intensity, but was null among whites (OR = 1.00, 95 % CI = 0.81, 1.25). We observed a null association between EH and cardiovascular hospitalization. EH (99th percentile threshold) was associated with myocardial infarction hospitalizations. Confounding by ozone was minimal. EH was associated with hospitalizations for renal disease among non-whites. This information on vulnerability to heat-associated morbidity helps characterize the public health burden of EH and target interventions including patient education.

Associations between academic stressors, reaction to stress, coping strategies and musculoskeletal disorders among college students

BACKGROUND

The adverse health effects of stress are enormous, and vary among people, probably because of differences in how stress is appraised and the strategies individuals use to cope with it. This study assessed the association between academic stress and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among 1365 undergraduates.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a Nigerian university at the beginning of the 2010/2011 academic session with the same group of participants. The Life Stress Assessment Inventory, Coping Strategies Questionnaire, and Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment were administered as tools of data gathering.

RESULTS

Students' stress level and associated MSDs were higher during the examination period than the pre-examination periods. Stressors were significantly associated with increased risk of MSDs in both sexes were those related to changes (odds ratio (OR) = 1.7, p = 0.002) and pressures (OR = 2.09, p = 0.001). Emotional and physiological reactions to stress were significantly associated with MSDs in both sexes, with higher odds for MSDs in females, whereas cognitive and behavioral reactions showed higher odds (though non-significant) in males. The risk of MSDs was higher in respondents who adopted avoidance and religious coping strategies compared with those who adopted active practical and distracting coping strategies.

CONCLUSIONS

Stress among students could be significantly associated with MSDs depending on individuals' demographics, stressors, reactions to stress, and coping methods. Interventions to reduce stress-induced MSDs among students should consider these factors among others.