Age Differences In Symptoms Research Articles

Effective targets of intervention on generalized anxiety symptoms across whole adolescence and emerging adulthood: network analysis and insilico intervention.

Early-onset generalized anxiety symptoms have severe impacts on youth development. Age differences in anxiety symptoms are obscure. Effective intervention targets need further investigation. Adolescents and emerging adults (N = 65,048; 10-24 years; 50.63% female; Mage = 15.78, SD = 3.62) reported generalized anxiety symptoms and demographic information. They were divided into four subgroups: early adolescence (10-12 years), middle adolescence (13-15 years), late adolescence (16-18 years), and emerging adulthood (19-24 years) according to their developmental stages. Network analysis was used to compare age differences in symptom roles between subgroups. In silico intervention (i.e., computer simulation-based intervention) was employed to disclose the intervention targets (i.e., treatment and prevention targets) and efficacy of symptom-specific interventions within dynamic network systems. Network comparison tests indicated that the involvement of anxiety symptoms in networks varied with developmental stages, particularly between early and middle adolescence. In silico intervention revealed that nervousness was the most effective treatment target to alleviate network state in all subgroups. Excessive worry in early adolescence and uncontrollable worry from middle adolescence to emerging adulthood emerged as the most effective prevention targets. The current study highlights the importance of middle adolescence as a crucial phase for preventive intervention and emphasizes the need for differentiated prevention and treatment strategies for particular populations.

Treatment of Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis: Impact of Patient Sex and Life Expectancy on Treatment Choice.

In adults with severe aortic stenosis, sex and age differences in symptoms and diagnosis may lead to delays in intervention. Choice of intervention partly depends on expected longevity because bioprosthetic valves have limited durability, particularly in younger patients. Current guidelines recommend the following: a mechanical valve in younger adults (aged <50 years) if lifelong anticoagulation is possible and acceptable and a valve-sparing procedure is not possible; surgical mechanical or bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in adults aged 50-65 years; and transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for those aged >80 years based on lower mortality and morbidity compared to SAVR and adequate valve durability. For patients aged 65-80 years, the choice between TAVI and a bioprosthetic SAVR depends on expected longevity, which is greater in women than men, as well as associated cardiac and noncardiac conditions, valvular and vascular anatomy, estimated risk of SAVR versus TAVI and expected complications and patient preferences.

Sex and age differences in symptoms and signs of dry eye disease in a Norwegian cohort of patients

PurposeTo investigate sex and age differences in symptoms and signs in a Norwegian clinic-based cohort of patients with dry eye disease (DED). MethodsVisitors at the Norwegian Dry Eye Clinic were examined using Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire score, tear osmolarity, tear break-up time (TFBUT), ocular surface staining, corneal sensitivity, Schirmer I test, and meibum expressibility (ME) and quality (MQ). A diagnosis of DED was made by an ophthalmologist based on symptoms and signs, and only DED patients were enrolled in the study: 1823 patients (338 males; mean age 51.2 ± 16.2 years; 1485 females; mean age 52.5 ± 16.0 years). The patients were divided into age subgroups: 20–39 years, 40–59 years and ≥60 years. Sex differences in the aforementioned tests were analyzed. Values were reported as mean ± standard deviation (SD), and intergroup comparisons were performed using Mann-Whitney U test. Multiple regression was used to analyze sex and age influences on symptoms and signs. ResultsWhen patients of all ages were analyzed, females had increased osmolarity, shorter TFBUT, reduced MQ and ME and higher corneal sensitivity. OSDI, Schirmer I test, ocular surface staining and corneal staining were not significantly different between the sexes. Only with TFBUT and ME were the sex difference present in all age subgroups. Multiple regression showed that all parameters were influenced by either sex or age, but only TFBUT and ME were influenced by both sex and age. (all p < 0.05). ConclusionsSex and age differences in dry eye were most consistent in TFBUT and ME, that indicate differences in meibomian gland functionality. Sex and age subgroup stratification is important in future studies investigating DED in other populations.

Sex and age differences in symptoms in borderline personality symptomatology

Objective. Variations in the symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD) as a function of sex and age remain unclear. In this study, we examined sex and age differences with regard to various symptoms encountered in BPD. Methods. Using a compilation of four samples, all cross-sectional from the same recruitment site and with identical self-report measures for borderline personality symptomatology (BPS), we examined sex- and age-related differences with regard to borderline personality among 1,503 primary care patients. Results. Men and women did not differ significantly in their overall scores or rates of BPS. With regard to sex differences in symptoms among respondents with substantial BPS, engagement in sexually abusive relationships was more common among women than men. Overall scores and rates of BPS were greater among younger respondents compared to older respondents. With regard to age differences among those with substantial BPS, self-cutting and scratching were more common in younger individuals whereas finding life dull and meaningless was more common among older individuals. Conclusions. There appear to be few overall symptomatic differences among individuals with borderline personality with regard to sex and age.

The Role of Age and Sex in Symptoms, Neurocognitive Performance, and Postural Stability in Athletes After Concussion

Background: Researchers have begun to focus on age and sex differences in concussion outcomes. Results suggest that younger athletes and female athletes may take longer to recover from a concussion. However, little is known about the interactive effects of age and sex on symptoms, neurocognitive testing (NCT), and postural stability. Hypothesis/Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine sex and age differences in symptoms, NCT, and postural stability following concussion. We hypothesized that high school and female athletes would have worse symptoms, NCT, and postural stability than college and male athletes, respectively. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A total of 296 concussed athletes from a multistate, 2-year study were enrolled in this study. Participants completed the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test (ImPACT) and Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) at baseline and again at 2, 7, and 14 days after concussion. Participants completed the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) at 1, 2, and 3 days after concussion. Results: Female athletes performed worse than male athletes on visual memory (mean, 65.1% and 70.1%, respectively; P = .049) and reported more symptoms (mean, 14.4 and 10.1, respectively) after concussion (P = .035). High school athletes performed worse than college athletes on verbal (mean, 78.8% and 82.7%, respectively; P = .001) and visual (mean, 65.8% and 69.4%, respectively; P = .01) memory. High school athletes were still impaired on verbal memory 7 days after concussion compared with collegiate athletes (P = .001). High school male athletes scored worse on the BESS than college male athletes (mean, 18.8 and 13.0, respectively; P = .001). College female athletes scored worse on the BESS than high school female athletes (mean, 21.1 and 16.9, respectively; P = .001). Conclusion: The results of the current study supported age differences in memory and sex differences in memory and symptoms and an interaction between age and sex on postural stability after concussion that warrant consideration from clinicians and researchers when interpreting symptoms, specific components of NCT, and postural stability tests. Future research should develop and assess interventions tailored to age and sex differences and include younger (<14 years) participants.

Gender and age differences in symptom distress and functional disability one year after heart transplant surgery

Objective Symptoms and functional status are major concerns for heart transplant (HT) recipients. The study objective was to examine gender and age differences in symptom distress and functional disability 1 year after HT surgery. Methods The sample (N = 237) consisted of 44 female and 193 male patients who were divided into younger (n = 66) and older (n = 171) groups with the breakpoint at age 50 years. Data from chart review and 2 questionnaires (Heart Transplant Symptom Checklist and Sickness Impact Profile) were analyzed with chi-square test, t tests, analysis of variance, and multivariate analysis of variance. Results Women reported worse symptom distress (overall, plus cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, dermatologic symptoms) and more functional disability (overall, plus disability in ambulation, mobility, self-care, home management). Older patients reported more disability in ambulation and work. Gender by age interactions showed that older men reported worse genitourinary symptoms and younger women reported worse dermatologic symptoms. Conclusion There were more gender than age differences in symptoms and disability.

Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of eating disorder endorsements among adolescents and young adults from China

This research assessed the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of eating disorder symptoms among young people from China. A sample of 1320 females and 783 males between 12 and 22 years of age was recruited from academic settings in various regions of China and completed a back-translated Chinese version of the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale, as well as measures of body dissatisfaction and demographics. As expected, reported eating disorder symptoms and body dissatisfaction were significantly higher for females than males. Eating disorder symptoms and body dissatisfaction were also more pronounced for participants from higher income households. Finally, age differences in symptoms and body dissatisfaction were inconsistent. In sum, findings extend past prevalence research and highlight specific sociodemographic correlates of eating pathology and body dissatisfaction among Chinese adolescents and young adults.

Age differences in symptoms of depression and anxiety: examining behavioral medicine outpatients.

This study examined whether symptoms of depression and concomitant anxiety differed between older and younger medical outpatients referred to a behavioral medicine clinic. In a sample of 178 male veterans aged 21-83 years, older adults (> or = 60 years) reported lower overall depressive symptoms on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and anxiety symptoms on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory than did younger adults ( < 60 years). Depressive symptoms were highly prevalent. Among older adults, 60.0% scored 10 or higher on BDI and 33.8% scored 16 or higher. Among younger adults, 70.8% scored 10 or higher on BDI, and 48.7% scored 16 or higher. The age difference in overall depressive symptoms was driven by cognitive-affective symptoms. While older adults had lower cognitive-affective symptoms than did younger adults, the two groups did not differ on somatic-performance symptoms. these results suggest the importance of assessing cognitive-affective depressive symptoms in both older and younger male medical outpatients.

The influence of age and sex on the onset and early course of schizophrenia.

A new standardised interview for the retrospective assessment of onset and early course of schizophrenia (IRAOS) was used to study the influence of age and sex on time of onset and psychopathology before first admission in 267 schizophrenic patients admitted for the first time. Mean age at onset, according to various operationalised definitions, differed by three to four years between the sexes. The age distribution at the earliest sign of mental disorder showed an early and steep increase until the age of 25 in males, and a delayed and smaller increase in females, with a second peak in women aged 45-79. Schizophrenia began with negative symptoms in 70% of cases, appearing two to six years before admission, and all positive symptoms appearing up to two years before. Both positive and negative symptoms accumulated exponentially. The early course of the disease was similar across age groups, except there was a longer period of negative symptoms before first admission in late-onset schizophrenia in women. The few significant age differences in symptoms were presumably due to general age-dependent reaction patterns like anxiety and depression or the cognitive development of personality, as indicated by an increase in fully elaborated positive symptoms, especially systematised paranoid delusions, with age.

Clinician-rated symptoms and signs of depression in aged Finns.

The study describes symptoms and signs of depression in elderly (60 years or over) Finns. Lists of symptoms and signs assessed by the examining physicians in a population study were used in rating, and the symptoms and signs of persons diagnosed as depressed were compared to those of persons who were not depressed. The commonest symptoms both in men and women were sleep disturbances, fatiguability, loss of interest, depressed mood, loss of activity, pains, pessimism and sense of uselessness. In addition, worry was a common symptom in women. Hallucinations and other delusions than those about unforgivable behaviour were very uncommon. Loss of libido did not strongly indicate occurrence of depression, and in persons aged 70 years or over it could not be included in symptoms of depression. Sex differences in the commonest symptoms of depression were evident: worry, crying spells, helplessness, loneliness, suicidal ideas and pains were more common in depressed women than in depressed men. Some age differences in symptoms were also found both in men and in women. Sad expression was a common sign of depression in both sexes. In addition, slow movements, scarcity of gestures and slow speech were quite common signs in depressed men and stooping posture was quite common in depressed women.