Family History Of Chronic Disease Research Articles

The relationship between the World Index for Sustainability and Health (WISH) score and mental health in women: A cross-sectional study.

Diet quality has been associated with mental health, and recently, there has been growing interest in the association between sustainability of diets and human health. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to explore the relationship between a newly developed dietary index for health and sustainability, and psychological disorders among Iranian women. Participants in this cross-sectional study included 479 women living in Tehran with no history of chronic disease. A validated 168-item food frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary intake. The World Index for Sustainability and Health (WISH) was calculated, consisting of four sub-scores: less healthy, healthy, low environmental impact, and high environmental impact. Participants psychological status was assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21. Logistic regression models were used to examine the association between WISH and psychological disorders. Participant ages ranged from 20-50 years, with a mean age of 31.86 (SD:7.68) years. After adjusting for potential confounders (age, energy, BMI, marital status, education, family history of chronic disease, body satisfaction, socio-economic status, physical activity, smoking), women in the highest tertile of the healthy sub-score had significantly lower odds of experiencing depression (OR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.24-0.67), anxiety (OR: 0.45; 95% CI: 0.23-0.87) and psychological distress (OR: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.28-0.77) compared to the reference group. Similarly, the less healthy sub-score was significantly associated with depression (OR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.32-0.89), anxiety (OR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.25-0.78), and psychological distress (OR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.36-0.90). An inverse association was observed between the low environmental impact sub-score and depression (OR: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.19-0.54), anxiety (OR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.18-0.76), and psychological distress (OR: 0.30; 95% CI: 0.17-0.51). However, no further significant associations were found with the high environmental impact sub-score, except with depression (OR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.33-0.96). The healthy and low environmental impact sub-scores of the WISH were found to be inversely associated with depression, anxiety, and psychological distress. However, due to the cross-sectional study design, causality cannot be inferred. Further prospective studies are required to validate and expand upon these findings and explore potential mechanisms and alternative explanations, such as reverse causation. While this study suggests that choosing a diet that is both healthy for individuals and sustainable for the environment may be associated with lower risk of mental health issues among women, more research is needed.

Chronic diseases and determinants of community health services utilization among adult residents in southern China: a community-based cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe burden of chronic diseases has become a major public health concern, and high-efficiency use of community health services is essential in combating chronic diseases. This study described the status of chronic diseases in southern China and explored the determinants of health service utilization among adult residents.MethodsData were obtained from one part of community survey data from four counties in Ganzhou City, southern China. A multistage, stratified random sampling method was used to conduct a cross-sectional survey between 2018 and 2020. Overall, 7430 valid questionnaires were collected. A lasso-linear regression analysis was performed to explore the determinants of community health service utilization.ResultsAccording to the study, most participants (44.6%) reported having relatively good health, while 42.1% reported having moderate health. Chronic diseases were reported by 66.9% of the respondents. The three most prevalent self-reported chronic diseases were hypertension (22.6%), hyperlipidemia (5.9%), and diabetes (5.9%). Among residents with chronic diseases, 72.1% had one chronic disease, while the rest had multiple. Only 13.9% of residents frequently utilized community health services, while 18.9% never used them. Additionally, among residents who reported having chronic diseases, 14.1% had never attended community health services. Four categories of factors were the key determinants of community health service utilization: (1) personal characteristics, age, and sex; (2) health-related factors, such as family history, self-reported health conditions, and the number of chronic diseases; (3) community health service characteristics, such as satisfaction with and accessibility to community health services; and (4) knowledge of chronic diseases. Specifically, women tend to utilize healthcare services more frequently than men. Additionally, residents who are advanced in age, have a family history of chronic diseases, suffer from multiple chronic conditions, rate their self-reported health condition as poor, have a better knowledge about chronic diseases, have better accessibility to community health services, and have higher the satisfaction with community health services, tend to utilize them more frequently.ConclusionsGiven the limited healthcare resources, the government should promote the effective utilization of community health facilities as a critical community-based strategy to combat the growing threat of chronic diseases in southern China. The priority measures involve enhancing residents’ access to and satisfaction with community health services and raising awareness of chronic illnesses among older individuals with poor health status.

Predictive Ability of Hypertriglyceridemic Waist, Hypertriglyceridemic Waist-to-Height Ratio, and Waist-to-Hip Ratio for Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Clustering Screening among Chinese Children and Adolescents*

ObjectiveHypertriglyceridemic waist (HW), hypertriglyceridemic waist-to-height ratio (HWHtR), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) have been shown to be indicators of cardiometabolic risk factors. However, it is not clear which indicator is more suitable for children and adolescents. We aimed to investigate the relationship between HW, HWHtR, WHR, and cardiovascular risk factors clustering to determine the best screening tools for cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents. MethodsThis was a national cross-sectional study. Anthropometric and biochemical variables were assessed in approximately 70,000 participants aged 6–18 years from seven provinces in China. Demographics, physical activity, dietary intake, and family history of chronic diseases were obtained through questionnaires. ANOVA, χ2 and logistic regression analysis was conducted. ResultsA significant sex difference was observed for HWHtR and WHR, but not for HW phenotype. The risk of cardiometabolic health risk factor clustering with HW phenotype or the HWHtR phenotype was significantly higher than that with the non-HW or non-HWHtR phenotypes among children and adolescents (HW: OR = 12.22, 95% CI: 9.54-15.67; HWHtR: OR = 9.70, 95% CI: 6.93-13.58). Compared with the HW and HWHtR phenotypes, the association between risk of cardiometabolic health risk factors (CHRF) clustering and high WHR was much weaker and not significant (WHR: OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 0.97-1.34). ConclusionCompared with HWHtR and WHR, the HW phenotype is a more convenient indicator with higher applicability to screen children and adolescents for cardiovascular risk factors.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Regarding Cardiovascular Disease among Coronary Artery Disease and Premature Coronary Artery Disease Patients Referred to Imam Hossein Hospital, Tehran, Iran.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) studies are widely used in public health. This study aimed to investigate and compare KAP among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and premature coronary artery disease (PCAD) regarding cardiovascular disease (CVD). This cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 PCAD patients and 100 CAD patients in a general hospital in Tehran, Iran, between April and October 2022. A valid questionnaire was utilized to gather information, and descriptive analysis and logistic regression were employed for analysis using SPSS, version 23. This study involved 100 CAD and 100 PCAD patients with average ages of 68.09±7.20 and 50.20±7.65 years, respectively. Men accounted for 58% of the PCAD group and 73% of the CAD group. The PCAD group had a higher level of knowledge and exhibited a more positive attitude toward CVD than the CAD group (P=0.007 and P<0.001, respectively). The PCAD patients and those with a family history of chronic diseases had a higher level of knowledge (P=0.045 and P=0.27, respectively) and showed a more positive attitude (P=0.030 and P<0.001, respectively). However, participants with a self-reported history of chronic diseases and those who were employed exhibited a less positive attitude. Occupation was associated with nutritional and smoking status (P=0.037). Higher levels of knowledge and more positive attitudes regarding CVD were observed; still, the study population's behaviors were unsatisfactory. Educational interventions are needed to promote positive health behaviors, emphasizing the link between knowledge and risk reduction and decreased CVD and mortality rates.

Parents' Awareness and Knowledge of G6PD Deficiency in the Eastern Province Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, known as G6PD deficiency, is a common hematological disease in the Eastern Province. The presence of Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme in the erythrocyte is crucial, as it aids in the protection of RBCs by preventing cellular damage. It was found that more than 400 million people in the world lack this enzyme, making it the most common enzyme deficiency worldwide. Because of the high prevalence of the disease in the world and the paucity of research in Saudi Arabia about G6PD deficiency, the idea of examining and assessing the awareness and knowledge of parents who have children affected with G6PD emerged. Objective This study aimed to evaluate parental knowledge regarding G6PD deficiency, identify the common and spreadmisconceptions regarding the disease, provide general insightfor physicians about parental knowledge, and propose strategies to educate parents about G6PD deficiency. Methods Thiscross-sectional study was conducted from September 2022 to May 2023 on 459 individuals from the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Using aquestionnaire, parents with variable education levels and incomes participated. The questionnaire was available in bothArabic and English. The study aimed to gather comprehensive data regarding parental awareness and knowledge of G6PD deficiency, it focused on evaluating levels of awareness, knowledge, and misinformation of the participants. Data were analyzed by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, ver22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). The chi-square test was applied to check any association between demographics and level of knowledge (Good and Poor). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed on significant demographic variables and an odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was calculated. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The study included a total of 459 participants, 309 (67.3%) were females and 150 (32.7%) were males. Regarding the demographics, the majority of the participants were <40 years old (61.9%), Saudi (99.3%), married (98.5%), having bachelor's/diploma level or above (Master/PhD) (76.9%), having inherited disorder (44.2%), and having a family history of chronic diseases (82.6%). Furthermore, regarding the knowledge of the disease, the majority of the participants who recognized the disease (82.1%)were familiar with the term fava bean anemia rather than it being called G6PD deficiency anemia. On the other hand, 73.2%of the participants were unable to recognize the disease and had never heard of G6PD deficiency anemia. In addition, the majority of participants had deficient information regarding medication triggers (61.4%), whether the gender of a person is linked to G6PD (77.5%), and whether both parents must be carriers to have a child with G6PD deficiency anemia (50.9%). Female respondents proved to be more knowledgeable regarding this topic as 57.9%of them showed good knowledge as compared to (44.7%) of the male subjects. Conclusion There are discrepancies in the level of awareness among research participants. Our result indicates the need for educational interventions regarding the nomenclature, medication triggers, inheritance mode and its relation to gender, and the symptoms of the disease and its severity. Therefore, it is advised to spread awareness in the eastern province through brochures, medical campaigns, and by healthcare professionals in different medical organizations.

The Impact of Heart Attack and Sudden Cardiac Death Risk Perception on Lifestyle Modification Intention Among Adults in Jazan Province.

This study aimed to assess the perception of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and heart attack risk and its influence on the intention to adopt healthy lifestyle behaviors among the general population in Jazan province, Saudi Arabia. SCD refers to an abrupt and unexpected loss of heart function resulting in death, and its incidence has been alarmingly increasing worldwide. Several factors, including smoking, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and specific medications, have been associated with an elevated risk of SCD. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a pretested questionnaire distributed among the general population in Jazan province. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, and t-tests were employed for data analysis. The study included 974 participants with a mean age of 27.90 ± 9.32 years, of whom 56% were female. More than half of the participants perceived themselves as highly susceptible to SCD, and all participants demonstrated a moderate willingness and readiness to modify their unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. Age, gender, marital status, body mass index (BMI), history of hypertension, dyslipidemia, medication use, physical exercise, and family history of chronic diseases and SCD were statistically associated with the perception of SCD. The study revealed a high-risk perception and a moderate readiness to adopt lifestyle modifications. These findings can inform the development of effective strategies and support programs aimed at reducing the burden of SCD.

Prevalence of hypertension and its risk factors among urban school children of Belagavi- a cross sectional study

Background: Primary hypertension is becoming common among apparently healthy children. Measures for early diagnosis of pre hypertension and hypertension along with its risk factors during childhood could benefit from earlier intervention and follow-up. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted among 270 urban school students of Belagavi of class 10th in 2016 by using a structured questionnaire followed by anthropometry and blood pressure measurement. Results: About 39% of children had family history of hypertension and 27% had family history of chronic diseases. Majority had inadequate consumption of vegetables (84.07%) and fruits (83.70%). The overall physical activity among the students was inadequate (78.15%) and about 46.30% of them got easily angered, stressed or irritated. The waist circumference of 14.07% students was falling in obese category. About 11.48% of them were overweight and 7.04% were obese according to their body mass index. Among the students, 71.85% had normal blood pressure and 18.15% had pre-hypertension. Hypertension was detected among 10.00% of students of which 5.56% belonged to stage I and 4.44% belonged to stage II hypertension. Statistical association between the blood pressures of school children showed significance with family history of chronic diseases (p=0.025), body mass index and waist circumference (p&lt;0.001). Conclusions: One tenth of the children had hypertension and one fifth of the children had pre-hypertension. The children who were obese had increased blood pressure than those with normal weight. Health promotion at early phase of life can help in the prevention of hypertension.

Healthy lifestyle program for hypertensive adolescents with a Vitamin D deficiency

The purpose of this study is to gauge the efficacy of a healthy lifestyle program on adolescents who are hypertensive as well as deficient in Vitamin D. It has been a known fact that Vitamin D deficiency from birth to early childhood is linked to a higher risk of elevated systolic blood pressure during childhood and adolescence.: This study employed a quasi-experimental research design which took a purposive sample of 300 hypertensive adolescents who were formally diagnosed as Vitamin D deficient and attended follow-up consultations in an out-patient paediatric clinic in Banha University Hospital in Benha City, Egypt.Several factors such as the respondents’ socio-economic data and family history of chronic disease were taken into consideration when the study was done. The subjects’ healthy lifestyle practices were also assessed both before and after they had been through the healthy lifestyle program. It also monitored the subjects’ blood pressure and their intake of vitamin D before, during and after the course of the program. The study’s subjects were asked to fill out a questionnaire before and after the program to evaluate their knowledge regarding hypertension and vitamin D deficiency. An observation checklist was used before and after the program to evaluate the subjects’ practices when taking blood pressure measurements. The study showed that 72 percent of adolescents had a family history of hypertension. It also showed that female subjects exhibited a remarkable improvement in terms of their healthy lifestyle knowledge and practices after going through the healthy lifestyle program when compared to their male counterparts. The study showed a statistically significant relationship between the adolescents’ healthy lifestyle and their socio-demographic characteristics such as their gender being female aged between 14-18 years old with secondary education and having appropriate economic status and healthy house conditions.The study also showed that among the male adolescent subjects, 94 percent were physically active, 60 percent were aged between 11-14 years and 55.7 percent had non-appropriate economic status. : The study concluded that the healthy lifestyle program was effective in changing the healthy lifestyle knowledge and practices of the adolescent subjects which in turn enabled them to manage their hypertensive condition and overcome their vitamin D deficiency.

Assessment of knowledge of hypertension and its risk factors among urban school children of Belagavi: a cross sectional study

Background: Hypertension has not just remained the disease of adults, but the prevalence is also increasing in children and adolescents. Knowledge of the predisposing risk factors of hypertension is an important step in the modification of lifestyle behaviours to prevent further morbidity and mortality. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted among 270 students of 10th standard, belonging to 3 urban schools of Belagavi in 2016 using a structured questionnaire with an intention to assess their knowledge regarding hypertension and its risk factors. Results: Majority students (69.26%) belonged to class II and III of B.G Prasad socio-economic status and 70.37% came from nuclear family. While headache (80%) was the most answered symptom, heart diseases (67%) was the commonly answered complication. Most students had good knowledge regarding prevention and risk factors like unhealthy diet, physical inactivity etc. Majority had fair knowledge about general factors (54.81%), symptoms (41.11%) and complications (34.11%). Knowledge about stress factors (46.67%) and preventive measures (62.22%) was very good. All these differences were statistically significant (p&lt;0.001). Conclusions: The overall knowledge about hypertension and its risk factors among the school students was good (68.52%) and there was significant association between the overall knowledge levels with the mothers education and family history of chronic diseases.

Prevalence and risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases among employees in a university setting: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundGlobally, around 41 million people die due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which accounts for more than 75% of global deaths. The major NCDs, namely, Cardiovascular diseases, Cancers, Respiratory diseases and Diabetes accounts for 80% of deaths in the world. This is one of the major public health concerns in low and middle-income countries like India. The present study aims to study the prevalence and risk factors associated with Non-Communicable Diseases among employees in a university setting in Gujarat. MethodsPrimary data was collected through a structural questionnaire with the guidelines given by WHO STEP-wise approach to NCDs. There was total 1025 participants in the study. Bivariate and logistics regression were used to show the prevalence and the influence of risk factors of NCDs with the help of STATA 14 software. ResultsPrevalence of NCDs among the university employees was 10.15%. The prevalence of diabetes (DM), cardio vascular diseases (CVDs) and hypertension were 7.2%, 3.2% and 17% respectively. Having family history of chronic diseases (OR: 2.17; 95% CI:1.39–3.41) and >50 years of age (OR:3.47; 95% CI:1.19–10.14) were 2.17 and 3.47 times at higher risk of NCDs. Moreover obesity (OR: 8.34; 95% CI: 1.12–9.42), unhealthy waist-hip-ratio and hypertension (OR: 1.85; 95% CI:1.15–2.96) increase the risk of such diseases. ConclusionThe study recommends to focus on employees who have history of chronic diseases in their families and encourage people and households to reduce the risk of NCDs through changes in lifestyle, namely physical activity and improvement in substance abuse behaviour.

Fizyoterapi ve Rehabilitasyon Bölümü Öğrencilerinde COVID-19 Korkusunu Etkileyen Faktörler: Tanımlayıcı Bir Araştırma

Objective: To determine the level of fear of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and the factors that affect the fear of COVID-19 in students of the physiotherapy and rehabilitation departments. Material and Methods: The study involved 253 volunteer students from 4 different universities in Türkiye. Utilizing an online data collection technology, the participant information form and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale were used to collect the study's data. Results: Female gender (p=0.06), not working in any job (p=0.76), income source only (p=0.92), smoking (p=0.26), and not using alcohol (p=0.88), history of chronic disease (p=0.32), no previous COVID-19 infection (p=0.96), 12 weeks after COVID-19 infection (p=0.17), 3 doses of vaccination (p=0.63), using public transportation (p=0.49) were factors that increased the level of fear in physiotherapy and rehabilitation department students. In addition, the fear levels of the students who had a family history of chronic disease (p=0.007) and had the thought of freezing the school (p=0.001) were significantly higher than the others. On the other hand, there was no significant difference between the fear of COVID-19 and terms of living environment, number of theoretical lessons, number of practical lessons and class size (p>0.05). Conclusion: Physiotherapy and rehabilitation department students have low-to-moderate fear of COVID-19. Those with a chronic disease in their family have a high fear of COVID-19, and those with a high level of fear consider freezing the school. The number of practical and theoretical lessons and class size have no effect on the level of fear.

ABCA1 C69T Gene Polymorphism Association with Dysglycemia in Saudi Prediabetic Adults

Studies suggest that ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1 C69T) polymorphism is associated with a decreased incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and that there is an association between ABCA1 C69T polymorphism and the risk of dyslipidemia in diabetic individuals. However, other studies contradict these suggestions. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of ABCA1 C69T (rs1800977) gene polymorphism in a representative sample of the Saudi population not previously diagnosed with diabetes and its possible association with dyslipidemia and dysglycemia. A cross-sectional design was used to recruit nondiabetic adults of both genders from the Saudi population in Jeddah by employing a stratified, two-stage cluster sampling method. A total of 650 people (337 men and 313 women) were recruited. Demographic, dietary, and lifestyle variables, as well as medical history and family history of chronic diseases, were collected using a predesigned questionnaire. Fasting blood samples were taken for the determination of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and lipids profile, which were followed by a 1-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Real-time PCR technology was used to determine the ABCA1 C69T gene SNP (rs1800977). The T allele of ABCA1 C69T (rs1800977) was very frequent (TT in 44.9% and CT in 43.7%). There was a trend toward significance for a higher dysglycemia percentage in people with CT and TT genotypes (25.7%, and 23.3%, respectively) compared with CC genotypes (16.2%). In addition, FPG and 1-h plasma glucose were significantly higher in people with both TT and CT genotypes compared to CC genotypes. However, T allele was not associated with any dysregulation of lipid parameters.

Case fatality rate and its determinants among admitted stroke patients in public referral hospitals, Northwest, Ethiopia: A prospective cohort study.

According to the global burden of disease 5.5 million deaths were attributable to stroke. The stroke mortality rate is estimated to be seven times higher in low-income countries compared to high-income countries. The main aim of the study was to assess the 28 days case fatality rate and its determinants among admitted stroke patients in public referral hospitals, in Northwest Ethiopia. A hospital-based prospective cohort study was conducted from December 2020 to June 2021. The study population was 554 stroke patients. Based on Akakian Information Criteria, the Gompertz model was fitted to predict the hazard of death. The study included admitted stroke patients who were treated in the general medical ward and neurology ward. The mean age of the participants was 61 ± 12.85 years and 53.25% of the patients were female. The 28-days case fatality rate of stroke was 27.08%. The results from Gompertz parametric baseline hazard distribution revealed that female sex adjusted hazard rate (AHR = 0.27, 95% CI:0.18-0.42), absence of a family history of chronic disease (AHR = 0.50, 95%CI:0.29-0.87), good GCS score (AHR = 0.21, 95% CI:0.09-0.50) and the absence of complication during hospital admission (AHR = 0.16, 95% CI:0.08-0.29) were factors which decrease hazard of 28 days case fatality rate. While, hemorrhagic stroke sub-type (AHR = 1.38, 95% CI:1.04-3.19), time from symptom onset to hospital arrival (AHR = 1.49, 95% CI:1.57-2 .71), time from confirmation of the diagnosis to initiation of treatment (AHR = 1.03, 95% CI:1.01-1.04), a respiratory rate greater than 20 (AHR = 7.21, 95% CI:3.48-14.9), and increase in NIHSS score (AHR = 1.16, 95% CI:1.10-1.23) were factors increasing hazard of 28 days case fatality rate of stroke. At 28-days follow-up, more than one-fourth of the patients have died. The establishment of separate stroke centers and a network of local and regional stroke centers with expertise in early stroke evaluation and management may address challenges.

Association Between University Students’ Reported Family History of Chronic Disease and Fruit and Vegetable Intake

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study is to explore the association between reported family history (FHx) of heart disease (HD), cancer, and/or diabetes, with fruit and vegetable (f/v) intake in college students.MethodsData were collected between 2006–21 from the College Health and Nutrition Assessment Survey, an ongoing, cross-sectional study conducted at a midsized, northeast university. Reported FHx data were obtained from a personal health history form; age, race, and gender were collected from an online survey. Three-day food records analyzed via online nutrient software (Diet&WellnessPlus) were used to calculate average f/v intake (cups/day). Anthropometric assessments (height, weight, body composition) were measured in duplicate after overnight fast. Mean f/v intake was compared between students with FHx and those without FHx via ANCOVA; daily calories, BMI, and gender served as covariates.ResultsAfter omission for missing data, the final sample (n = 8686) was 70.1% female and 94.3% white; the mean age was 18.9 ± .01 years. Overall, 84% of total sample reported having a FHx of at least one of the three diseases. Almost half (47%) reported FHx of heart disease, 46.2% reported FHx of diabetes, and 69% reported a FHx of cancer. Mean total f/v intake of subjects was 3.2 ± .02 cups/day. Those with a FHx of diabetes consumed slightly less f/v than those without a FHx (3.2 ± .03 vs 3.1 ± .03, p = .04) and those with a FHx of cancer also consumed less than those not reporting a FHx (3.2 ± .3 vs 3.1 ± .2, p = .04).ConclusionsFindings suggest most students were aware of FHx of at least one chronic disease, and only small differences in f/v intake were observed between those with FHx and without FHx. Increasing students’ awareness of risk factors for future disease including genetic predisposition may be important in the promotion of healthier diets and lifestyle behaviors.Funding SourcesNew Hampshire Agriculture Experiment Station and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch Project 1,010,738.

Association of family history of cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) and individual health behaviours: Analysis of CARRS study from South Asia

ObjectivesFamily history is considered as an important predictor of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and diabetes. Available research findings suggest that family history of chronic diseases is associated with perceived risk of disease and adoption of healthy behaviours. We examined the association between family history of cardio-metabolic diseases (CMDs) and healthy behaviours among adults without self-reported CMDs. MethodsCross-sectional data of 12,484 adults, without self-reported CMDs, from the baseline survey of Centre for cArdiometabolic Risk Reduction in South-Asia (CARRS) cohort study were analysed. ResultsFamily history was positively associated with non-smoking and high fruits & vegetables consumption in the age group of 45–64 years and moderate to high physical activity in the age group ≥65 years after adjusting for sex, education, wealth index, city and body mass index. ConclusionsUnderstanding perceived risks and cultural or psychological factors related to family history through ethnographic studies may deepen understanding of these associations.

Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Maternal Chronic Diseases in the Future: A Cross-Sectional Study Using KoGES-HEXA Data.

Adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) are associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and metabolic syndrome (MS), in the future. We designed a large-scale cohort study to evaluate the influence of APOs (preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), stillbirth, macrosomia, and low birth weight) on the incidence of chronic diseases, body measurements, and serum biochemistry in the future and investigate whether combinations of APOs had additive effects on chronic diseases. We used health examinee data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES-HEXA) and extracted data of parous women (n = 30,174; mean age, 53.02 years) for the analysis. Women with APOs were more frequently diagnosed with chronic diseases and had a family history of chronic diseases compared with women without APOs. Composite APOs were associated with an increased risk of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, angina pectoris, stroke, and MS (adjusted odds ratio: 1.093, 1.379, 1.269, 1.351, 1.414, and 1.104, respectively) after adjustment for family history and social behaviors. Preeclampsia and GDM were associated with an increased risk of some chronic diseases; however, the combination of preeclampsia and GDM did not have an additive effect on the risk. APOs moderately influenced the future development of maternal CVD and metabolic derangements, independent of family history and social behaviors.

Relationship between Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms and Anxiety Levels during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Healthcare Professionals vs. Non-Healthcare Professionals

The present study investigated the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on anxiety levels, contamination and responsibility/control obsessions and associated OC behaviors in healthcare versus non-healthcare professionals. The study also aimed to examine the relationship between anxiety levels and obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptom levels, gender, age, educational level, and personal and family history of chronic diseases. The 664 participants included 395 (59.5%) men and 269 (40.5%) women and comprised 180 (27.1%) healthcare professionals and 484 (72.9%) non-healthcare professionals. The survey included three data collection tools: (i) Sociodemographic data form, (ii) Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and (iii) the Dimensional Obsessive-Compulsive Scale Abriged (DOCS-A) pre- and post-pandemic forms. The BAI scores established a moderate positive correlation with post-pandemic DOCS-A total scores and a weak positive correlation with pre-pandemic DOCS-A total scores (<i>p</i> < 0.001 for both). Pre- and post-pandemic DOCS-A total and subdimension scores were significantly higher in women than in men (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Participants with a personal history of chronic diseases had higher BAI and DOCS-A scores compared to participants with no such history (<i>p</i> < 0.001 and <i>p</i> < 0.001, respectively). The results indicated a significant increase in OC symptoms during the pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic period and a moderate correlation between the anxiety levels and OC symptom severity. It was also revealed that female gender and personal or family history of chronic diseases posed a higher risk for the increase in anxiety and OC symptoms and healthcare professionals had a higher risk of developing anxiety symptoms compared to non-healthcare professionals.

VNTR (CAG)n polymorphism of the ATXN2 gene and metabolic parameters of cardiovascular risk associated with the degree of obesity in the Amerindian population of Oaxaca

IntroductionThe ATXN2 gene has a VNTR (CAG)n with locus in exon1. Long alleles within the normal range (22–29 repeats) are associated with severe obesity in people from the United Kingdom, Indonesia and the Caribbean. ObjectiveTo analyse the influence of VNTR (CAG)n on metabolic profile in adults with obesity and pre-obesity, as well as to estimate its effect on the risk of developing diabetes. Methods and material255 adults of Chinantec Amerindian ethnic origin were included, who underwent anthropometric and biochemical evaluation. The VNTR was amplified by end-point PCR and by 8% PAGE electrophoresis. ResultsDifferences were found in the waist/hip circumference index and body mass index in the carriers of genotypes different to the one homozygous for 22 repeats with a Student's t-test value of 0.0041 and 0.0334, respectively. We also found an association with a family history of chronic disease. ConclusionThe VNTR of ATXN2 is associated with obesity in Mexican adults of Chinantec ancestry.

The prevalence of chronic diseases among residents in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

Background: Physicians&amp;apos; well-being is crucial for recruitment and retention in the medical profession. This study aims to identify the prevalence of chronic diseases and its associated risk factors among residents in Saudi residency programs. Methods: A cross-sectional study with more than 370 participants was conducted between February 2021 and January 2022. Data were collected through an English-language self-administered online questionnaire. Results: The most frequently reported chronic health problems were hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and gastrointestinal diseases, primarily associated with residency-related stress and workload. The stress and isolation that residents experience may cause health and emotional disturbances. Less than half of the participating residents reported a family history of chronic disease. Conclusion: This study reveals the essential need for healthcare providers to assess their struggles, which affect them directly and impact patients indirectly, and seek a suitable solution for those challenges.

Ankle-Brachial Index Is Independently Associated With Cardiovascular Outcomes and Foot Ulcers in Asian Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background and AimsThe ankle-brachial index (ABI) is an efficient tool for objectively documenting the presence of lower-extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The predictive factors of cardiovascular events and diabetic foot ulcer were not clear from the ABI examination in Taiwanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).MethodsWe enrolled 482 patients with type 2 DM who regularly visited the outpatient department of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and received ABI as well as brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV) examinations from 2010 to 2017. Age, gender, PAD symptoms, comorbidities, family history of chronic diseases, lifestyle (smoking, alcohol consumption, and exercise), height, weight, waist circumference, monofilament testing and foot ulcer status were studied.ResultsThere were 104 (22%) patients (mean age, 67.8 years) with the ABI <1.0. These patients with low ABI (ABI<1.0) had a significantly older age (p=0.001), higher delta PWV (p<0.001), higher rates of stroke (p=0.007), myocardial infarction (p=0.016), and foot ulcer (p=0.039). In a multivariable analysis model, the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for myocardial infarction, stroke, and foot ulcers associated with low ABI were 1.219 (0.397-3.743, p=0.729), 1.204 (0.556-2.610, p=0.638), and 2.712 (1.199-6.133, p=0.017), respectively. The patients with low PWV (PWV<1400 cm/s) were significantly younger (p<0.001) and had a lower rate of hypertension (p<0.001), and higher percentages of stroke (p=0.027) and dialysis (p=0.041) family history.ConclusionsLow ABI was associated with cardiovascular events and diabetic foot ulcer independently in patients with type 2 DM.