Association between self-reported behavioral habits and their respective behavioral risk factors in individuals with metabolic syndrome.

Background: Most NCDs are strongly associated and causally linked with four particular behavioral risk factors: tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and the harmful use of alcohol. The prevalence of NCDs is related to unhealthy behaviors and practices typically initiated in adolescence. Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the occurrence of behavioral risk factors associated with NCDs among secondary and undergraduate level students of Kathmandu Metropolitan City through identification of risk of smoking and alcohol, consumption of fruits and vegetables and level of physical activities. Materials and Methods: A quantitative cross sectional descriptive study was done from September to December, 2015 among 249 youths of age 14-28 years studying at various school and colleges in Kathmandu Metropolitan city. Results: The study findings were that 15.6% were smoker, 32.53% alcohol users, 38.96% consumed fruits at least once a day with mean 1.74 serving, 83.53% consumed vegetables at least once a day with mean 2.69 serving, 22.49% and 36.95% doing vigorous and moderate intensity physical activity at least 3 or more times in a week, 30 minutes at a time. The Chi-square test showed the association of sex of participants, age group of participants, permanent residence, living with family, studying in public and private school/college and family income with different behavioral risk factors. Conclusion: The study showed high proportions of participants were at risk of developing NCDs. Male were found to be harmful use of alcohol and smoking, and consuming less fruits and vegetables, and female were found to be doing less physical activity. Both male and female were at higher risk, but their behavioral risk seemed to be different according to the sex difference.

Introduction: There are significant gender differences in the epidemiology and presentation of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), physiological aspects of CVDs, response to diagnostic tests or interventions, and prevalence or incidence of the associated risk factors. Considering the independent influence of gender on early dire consequences of such diseases, this study was conducted to investigate gender differences in patients' beliefs about biological, environmental, behavioral, and psychological risk factors in a cardiac rehabilitation program. Materials and Methods: This study has cross sectional design. The sample was composed of 775 patients referred to cardiac rehabilitation unit in Imam Ali Hospital in Kermanshah, Iran. The data were collected using clinical interview and patients’ medical records. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, and chi-square test​​. To do the statistical analysis, SPSS version 20 was utilized. Results: As the results indicated, there was a significant difference between the beliefs of men and women about risk factors of heart disease (X2= 48.36; P<0.01). Men considered behavioral (55.1%) and psychological (33.7%) risk factors as the main causes of their disease, respectively. On the other hand, women regarded psychological (38.2%) and behavioral factors (26.6%) as the most common causes of cardiac conditions, respectively. Both men and women considered stress as the most important heart disease risk factor (21% and 22.3%, respectively). Also, women were less aware of the risk factors, compared to men. Conclusion: From the patients’ perspective, psychological and behavioral risk factors were the most important causes of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs); moreover, stress was the most influential risk factor for developing cardiac diseases. Thus, learning to control and manage these risk factors can help to prevent the development of CVDs and reduce the occurrence of subsequent cardiac events.

Objectives: The Self-Report Habit Index (SRHI) was originally reported as one-dimensional; however, habit has been described as characterised by several features. Moreover, one-dimensional models for the SRHI have demonstrated poor fit. Therefore, we aimed to compare multidimensional models with a one-dimensional model in both snacking and physical activity habits, besides examining further instrument characteristics.Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted with high school and university students (n = 555).Main outcome measure: The SRHI adapted for physical activity and for snaking habits was applied at one time point.Results: Nested models with one factor, two factors and three factors were compared. Next, a hierarchical second-order model was tested, and further validity issues, as well as invariance between habits, were examined. Three-dimensional models represented a better fit for both habits. However, fit was still inadequate in the snacking version. In addition, discriminant validity concerns emerged for the physical activity SRHI. Moreover, invariance between the snacking and the physical activity versions was not confirmed.Conclusions: Considering the SRHI as composed by the dimensions of ‘lack of awareness’, ‘lack of control’ and ‘history of behavioural repetition’ seems to be more accurate. Nevertheless, our findings suggest that further research is needed.

176 Background: Breast cancer research has identified certain risk factors over the years, which influence a woman's chance of getting the disease. While factors such as personal history of breast abnormalities, age and the occurrence of breast cancer among first-degree relatives have been identified as estimation factors for breast cancer risk, other factors are less conclusive. Increasingly, obesity is being analyzed as a significant risk factor for many cancers and, after tobacco use, may be one of the most modifiable behavioral cancer risk factors. Interestingly when comparing the incidence rate of breast cancer to the obesity rate nationwide many states show a disparity in the two. It may be that other behavioral risk factors are of greater importance. Methods: The US States Mississippi and West Virginia display the highest rates of obesity (over 29.4% of their population display a BMI over 30.0) and the lowest rates in breast cancer incidence nationwide (under 113.9 and 113.5 people per 100.00. residents are diagnosed with cancer each year respectively). We set out to look at various behavioral risk factors to possibly detect an underlying pattern for breast cancer. Using selected metropolitan/micropolitan area risk trend data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System from the CDC, we compared median percentages of the following risk factors: health status, exercise, diabetes, flu vaccination, current smoking, binge drinking and obesity. Results: Both states displayed higher percentages in all risk factors compared to the national average except for one in which they were below the national average: binge drinking. Rhode Island and Connecticut, the two states with the highest incidence rates in breast cancer, in turn displayed slightly higher rates of binge drinking compared to the national average. Conclusions: It appears that binge drinking might weigh more than other behavioral factors in terms of risk associated to breast cancer. Future research will need to analyze the interplay and patterns of the various risk factors as well as evaluate the association of mammographic density and alcohol drinking to further investigate the role of alcohol and binge drinking in the development of breast cancer.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are one of the major health threats in the world. Thus, identifying the factors that influence NCDs is crucial to monitor and manage diseases. This study investigates the effects of social-environmental and behavioral risk factors on NCDs as well as the effects of social-environmental factors on behavioral risk factors using an integrated research model. This study used a dataset from the 2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. After filtering incomplete responses, 5462 valid responses remained. Items including one’s social-environmental factors (household income, education level, and region), behavioral factors (alcohol use, tobacco use, and physical activity), and NCDs histories were used for analyses. To develop a comprehensive index of each factor that allows comparison between different concepts, the researchers assigned scores to indicators of the factors and calculated a ratio of the scores. A series of path analyses were conducted to determine the extent of relationships among NCDs and risk factors. The results showed that social-environmental factors have notable effects on stroke, myocardial infarction, angina, diabetes, and gastric, liver, colon, lung, and thyroid cancers. The results indicate that the effects of social-environmental and behavioral risk factors on NCDs vary across the different types of diseases. The effects of social-environmental factors and behavioral risk factors significantly affected NCDs. However, the effect of social-environmental factors on behavioral risk factors was not supported. Furthermore, social-environmental factors and behavioral risk factors affect NCDs in a similar way. However, the effects of behavioral risk factors were smaller than those of social-environmental factors. The current research suggests taking a comprehensive view of risk factors to further understand the antecedents of NCDs in South Korea.

Objective. To study the intensity of cardiovascular behavioral and other risk factors of masked arterial hypertension (MHTN) and stable arterial hypertension (SHTN) in young subjects (students of medical university). Design and methods . A full-design screening study included 423 young men and women aged 20–27, mean age 22, 59 % were women and 41 % — men. All subjects underwent clinical examination: physical examination — height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumferences, questionnaires to assess behavioral risk factors and history of the complaints; laboratory and instrumental screening: fasting serum creatinine, lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoproteins, low density lipoproteins), 30‑second breath-hold test, standard 12‑lead electrocardiography (ECG); echocardiography and 24‑hour blood pressure monitoring in HTN subjects (with MHTN and SHTN). Results. MHTN was detected in 12,3 % subjects, SHTN — in 9 %; 78,7 % were normotensives. Subjects with SHTN were overweight — BMI 28,4 (27,4; 29,7) kg/m 2. In MHTN subjects, waist and circumferences tended to increase: 77,2 (65,1; 82) and 98 (93,2; 104) cm, respectively. MHTN patients demonstrated higher office systolic blood pressure as compared to normotensives: 120 (110; 130) versus 108,5 (100; 118) mm Hg. However, they had lower BP compared to subjects with SHTN — 139 (132,3; 140) mm Hg. Family history of early cardiovascular diseases was detected in all MHTN patients (100 %), as well as in 50 % SHTN individuals and in 56 % normotensives. The highest prevalence of behavioral risk factors was found in a group of subjects with MHTN, as compared to those with SHTN and normotensives. Conclusions . Subjects with MHTN and SHTN have prevalent indicators of behavioral and other risk factors for HTN, which form its phenotype. The development of MHTN and SHTN in young subjects is associated with the severity of clinical, genetic and behavioral risk factors.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has a longstanding appreciation of the value of behavioral research. From the earliest days, when the concept of “coronary prone” behavior was introduced, to the growing recognition of the need for strategies to encourage health-promoting behaviors and lifestyles, to more recent efforts to incorporate health-related quality of life measures into our clinical studies, behavioral research has contributed much to our understanding of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although still in its infancy, the application of this discipline to lung and blood diseases, sleep disorders, and transfusion medicine issues clearly offers much promise for advances in treatment and prevention. Acknowledging that many opportunities lie in biobehavioral research, in November 1995 the NHLBI convened the Task Force on Behavioral Research in Cardiovascular, Lung, and Blood Health and Disease to chart a course for future research efforts. Composed of national experts, it was charged to review the state of knowledge in biobehavioral research in cardiovascular, lung, and blood diseases and sleep disorders over the past 5 years; identify research opportunities; and develop a comprehensive plan, including scientific priorities, for NHLBI support of research on health and behavior for the next several years. During a series of meetings that spanned nearly 2 years, the task force worked to develop a report of its findings and conclusions. The report provides a detailed summary of accomplishments to date, highlights new scientific opportunities, and identifies specific recommendations for future research. The full text, with graphics, is available on the NHLBI Web site at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/nhlbi/sciinf/taskforc.htm. The synopsis that follows was excerpted from the executive summary of the task force report. The Institute is very pleased to have this task force report to guide its activities with respect to research on health and behavior. We are grateful to the task force chair, Dr …

Introduction: There are significant gender differences in the epidemiology and presentation of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), physiological aspects of CVDs, response to diagnostic tests or interventions, and prevalence or incidence of the associated risk factors. Considering the independent influence of gender on early dire consequences of such diseases, this study was conducted to investigate gender differences in patients' beliefs about biological, environmental, behavioral, and psychological risk factors in a cardiac rehabilitation program. Materials and Methods: This study has cross sectional design. The sample was composed of 775 patients referred to cardiac rehabilitation unit in Imam Ali Hospital in Kermanshah, Iran. The data were collected using clinical interview and patients’ medical records. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, and chi-square test​​. To do the statistical analysis, SPSS version 20 was utilized. Results: As the results indicated, there was a significant difference between the beliefs of men and women about risk factors of heart disease (X2= 48.36; P<0.01). Men considered behavioral (55.1%) and psychological (33.7%) risk factors as the main causes of their disease, respectively. On the other hand, women regarded psychological (38.2%) and behavioral factors (26.6%) as the most common causes of cardiac conditions, respectively. Both men and women considered stress as the most important heart disease risk factor (21% and 22.3%, respectively). Also, women were less aware of the risk factors, compared to men. Conclusion: From the patients’ perspective, psychological and behavioral risk factors were the most important causes of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs); moreover, stress was the most influential risk factor for developing cardiac diseases. Thus, learning to control and manage these risk factors can help to prevent the development of CVDs and reduce the occurrence of subsequent cardiac events.

Physician screening for multiple behavioral health risk factors

Behavioural risk factors and cardiovascular disease: are women at higher risk?

Self-report measures of physical activity (PA) can result in respondent over-reporting. Accelerometers provide direct estimates of movement but lack context. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) may elicit PA estimates that are less prone to bias than traditional self-report measures, while providing context. PURPOSE: To examine the convergent validity of EMA-assessed PA compared to an accelerometer. METHODS: In 2014, the Pathways between Socioeconomic Status and Behavioral Cancer Risk Factors (PATHS) Study enrolled 238 free-living adults from Dallas, TX. Participants completed surveys of PA behaviors [International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)], and wore an accelerometer on their waist while concurrently completing daily EMAs for 7 days. Weekly summary estimates included: sedentary time, moderate-, vigorous-, and moderate- to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA). Spearman correlation coefficients and Lin’s concordance correlation coefficients (LCC) were used to examine the linear association and agreement for EMA and self-report measures compared to accelerometry. RESULTS: Participants were aged 43.3 (±13.1) years and predominantly Black (51.7%), overweight/obese (74.8%), and low income (52.4%). Based on accelerometer data, participants spent an average of 3,400.8 (±864.0) minutes per week sedentary; median (25th, 75th percentile) levels of MVPA was 121.5 (66.0, 225.0) minutes per week. The linear associations of EMA and self-reports with accelerometer estimates were statistically significant for sedentary time (EMA: ρ=0.16 [p=0.03]), moderate intensity PA (EMA: ρ=0.29 [p<0.01]; BRFSS: ρ=0.17 [p=0.02]; IPAQ: ρ=0.24 [p<0.01]) and MVPA (EMA: ρ=0.31 [p<0.01]; BRFSS: ρ=0.17 [p=0.02]; IPAQ: ρ=0.20 [p<0.01]). Only EMA estimates were statistically significant compared to accelerometer for agreement (moderate intensity PA: LCC=0.30 [95%CI: 0.18, 0.43]; vigorous intensity PA: LCC=0.06 [95%CI: 0.03, 0.10]; MVPA: LCC=0.28 [95%CI: 0.16, 0.41]). CONCLUSIONS: EMA showed better correlation and agreement to accelerometer estimates than traditional self-report methods. These findings suggest that EMA may be a practical alternative to assess PA in free-living settings. Funded by MRSGT-10-104-01-CPHPS (to DK)

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and correlates of behavioral non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors among a national sample of school-going adolescents in the Seychelles. Cross-sectional data were analyzed from 2540 school adolescents (median age 14 years, interquartile range = 2), in the Seychelles “Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS)” in 2015. Behavioral NCD risk factors (current tobacco use, current alcohol use, inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, soft drink consumption, overweight or obesity, physical inactivity, and leisure-time sedentary behavior) were assessed by self-report. Among the seven individual behavioral risk factors, the highest prevalence was physical inactivity (82.7%), followed by daily soft drink consumption (68.3%), inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption (60.9%), leisure-time sedentary behavior (51.0%), current alcohol use (47.6%), overweight or obesity (28.2%), and current tobacco use (23.4%). The total mean number of behavioral NCD risk factors was 3.6 (Standard Deviation = 1.3), and the proportion of co-occurrence of having three or more behavioral NCD risk factors was 80.7%. In adjusted linear regression analysis, male sex, older age, and psychological distress were positively, and school attendance and peer support were negatively associated with the total number of behavioral NCD risk factors. A high prevalence of multiple behavioral NCD risk factors were found and several associated factors were identified, such as male sex, older age, psychological distress, school truancy, and lack of peer support, which may help in aiding intervention programs in this population.

To form a competent social policy of the enterprise, aimed at reducing the risk of chronic non-infectious diseases, early loss of ability to work, information is needed not only about working conditions, but also about the priority behavioral health risk factors for workers. In order to identify the priority behavioral health risk factors for the workers of the machine-building enterprise the characteristics of the lifestyle, information on the awareness and perception of behavioral and occupational health risk factors (by active interviewing method) were obtained. The observation groups consisted of machine-tool workers of the machine-building enterprise with different work experience (Group 1 — ≤5 years; Group 2 — &gt; 5 years). Numerous violations of lifestyle characteristics of machine operators were revealed, priority health risk factors were established: bad habits, low physical activity, violation of quality nutrition, low medical activity. The absence of self-preserving behavior in everyday life and in the workplace was shown. The increase in the prevalence of behavioral risk factors in the dynamics of length of service, and pronounced differences in the understanding of the significance of behavioral and occupational risk factors depending on age have been established. The results justified the need for a differentiated approach to the development of preventive programs to preserve health and longevity of the contingent of workers, taking into account the length of service, age and nature of work.

Our research objects were behavioral risk factors that could cause contagion with coronavirus infection (hereinafter called COVID-19). Our research goal was to assess prevalence of behavioral risk factors that could cause contagion with COVID-19 among population in Belarus. The present work contains results obtained via online questioning that included 7,590 respondents and employed a specifically designed questionnaire covering most common behavioral risk factors of contagion with COVID-19. The factors were related to adherence to recommendations on physical and social distancing, use of personal protective equipment, and sticking to personal hygiene rules; the questionnaire also asked respondents to give a subjective estimate of their health and whether they had specific symptoms typical for COVID-19. Data analysis involved assessing prevalence of behavioral risk factors, and occurrence of a relation between specific factors and values of prevalence ratio. We determined prevalence of the most common behavioral risk factors and assessed to what extent risk factors influenced prevalence of subjective complaints by patients that they had symptoms typical for COVID-19. It was shown that certain behavioral risk factors authentically influenced prevalence of subjective symptoms of the disease. Subjective symptoms were more widely spread among respondents who regularly went to work as well as those whose family members regularly went to work or an educational establishment; among respondents who used public transport, went to shopping centers and catering facilities every day; among respondents who didn’t keep social distance, didn’t pay proper attention to personal hygiene, didn’t use antiseptics, and had a habit to touch their face with their hands; among smoking respondents; among respondents who attended mass events, family and corporate parties; and also respondents whose relatives, close friends, or colleagues had returned from abroad. Our research results can be used for carrying out information campaigns aimed at COVID-19 prevention; they can also give grounds for performing more profound studies on assessing contributions made by various behavioral factors into risks of contagion with COVID-19

Impact of Fatty Liver Disease on Health Care Utilization and Costs in a General Population: A 5-Year Observation