Individual Lifestyle Research Articles

Utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Healthcare Insurance to Transform Risk Assessment, Claims Processing, and Fraud Detection

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the face of healthcare insurance by innovating key operations such as risk assessment, claim processing, and fraud detection. By applying advanced algorithms in machine learning, insurers are able to reach a more accurate risk profiling and thus offer personalized insurance pricing based on individual health conditions and lifestyles. AI- powered automated claims processing enhances operational efficiency, shortens processing time, and minimizes errors. Additionally, fraud detection systems powered by AI proactively identify suspicious activities and save insurers and policyholders from financial loss. The paper discusses the various dimensions in which AI is making an impact on the health insurance ecosystem, highlighting the potential benefit to insurers through cost savings and improved decision-making while offering customers speedier services and personalization. The paper further points to some key regulatory challenges that will need consideration in terms of data privacy, algorithmic transparency, and ethical considerations to ensure equity and compliance in the adoption of AI technologies in health insurance. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Health Insurance, Risk Profiling, Claims Processing, Fraud Detection, Pricing of Insurance, Machine Learning, Regulatory Challenges, Data Privacy, Operational Efficiency

Exploring the integration and patient engagement of balance home exercises in the daily management of multiple sclerosis: a comprehensive qualitative analysis

Purpose This study investigated the perceptions and experiences of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) regarding a home-based balance exercises program, focusing on its practicality and perceived effects for daily management and the factors influencing its implementation. Materials and Methods Employing a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 patients with MS in Switzerland (13 women, 5 men; mean age 53 ± 11 years). The study used purposive sampling to ensure diverse representations. The exercise program included 19 tailored exercises, adapted by physiotherapists for each participant. Data analysis involved inductive thematic analysis to understand the practical implementation, challenges, and perceived benefits. Results Key themes emerged, such as adaptability of exercises, implementation variability, approaches to integration, facilitators, obstacles, and perceived effects. Adaptability to fluctuating symptoms, individual lifestyle impacts, and variability in exercise practices were notable. Facilitators included personalized support from physiotherapists, while obstacles ranged from fatigue to complex exercise variants. Perceived effects varied, with some patients reporting physical and psychological benefits. Conclusions The study highlights diverse patient experiences with the balance exercises program. Key challenges included physical exertion and adapting to MS symptoms. Physiotherapists played a pivotal role in personalization and guidance. Despite challenges, patients demonstrated adaptability and proactive integration of exercises into their MS management.

Fostering Sustainable Behavior through Informal Education on Social Media: The Role of Instagram in Shaping Student Lifestyles

Abstract In today's digital society, the quest for sustainable development requires a paradigm shift in policy making, education, and individual lifestyle choices. This study explores the impact of informal education through communication technologies, with a specific focus on the social media network Instagram, to promote education for sustainable development and resulting sustainable behaviors. Based on the understanding that informal learning plays a crucial role in shaping individual attitudes and behaviors, our research seeks to uncover how students learn about sustainability in a less structured, more spontaneous manner through social media. Using a semi-structured interview methodology, the study examines the impact of sustainability education on Instagram and its role in shaping sustainable lifestyles among student users. The findings highlight the importance of emotional connection to the learning content and the relevance of the topics to everyday life. Having role models and practical tips seems to be crucial not only for learning about sustainability, but also for promoting sustainable behavior. With its various format options and different content creators, Instagram seems to be an ideal medium to raise awareness about sustainability and encourage users to take concrete sustainable actions.

Analysis of internet educational websites on tobacco cessation: A content analysis.

There have been significant changes in the lifestyles of individuals in the past few decades, which has led to increased morbidity and mortality worldwide. Both smoking and chewing forms of tobacco are highly prevalent, especially in India, and are implicated as causes of diseases, including oropharyngeal carcinomas. Effective tobacco cessation techniques and sources can help overcome addiction and reduce the disease burden in society. The aim was to evaluate the quality and readability of contents of various sources on an internet website about tobacco cessation. i) To evaluate the readability of internet content (Google) regarding tobacco cessation using Flesch-Kincaid readability tests and the quality of internet content (Google) by using the JAMA benchmark, HONcode and DISCERN questionnaire. A content review was employed to screen the content of the Google search engine for educational tobacco cessation websites, and the top 50 websites were selected according to criteria and reviewed by two reviewers. The readability of the internet content (Google) regarding tobacco cessation was evaluated using Flesch-Kincaid readability tests. The quality of the screened sites was evaluated by using the JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) benchmark, HONcode (The Health on the Net Code of Conduct) and DISCERN (Discerning the Quality of Information for Choosing Treatments) questionnaire, and the readability and quality of the screened websites were correlated using the above instruments. FK readability ease was found to be 49% standard and 30% easy. The FK grade test found that 33% of the content could be easily understood by < 5 th grade. All 4 JAMA benchmarks were met by 23% of websites, and authorship was the least fulfilled criterion. Correlation analysis revealed a significant association between FK ease score and FK grade score. The Read-ability Ease and Read-ability Grade Levels of the websites related to tobacco cessation were not standard, and few websites fulfilled the JAMA benchmarks and had HONcode certification.

Understanding Goal Setting and Behavior Change Mechanics in an Older Adult Sitting Reduction Intervention.

We explored intervention fidelity, participant satisfaction, and the goals and reminder strategies participants chose to reduce sitting. Mixed methods approach leveraging data collected during study coaching and fidelity monitoring. A successful 6-month randomized controlled trial of a sedentary behavior (SB) intervention for adults ≥60years in Washington, USA. N = 283 (140 intervention, 143 attention control); mean age 69, 66% women, 69% Non-Hispanic White. Theory-based SB reduction intervention structured around phone-based health coaching and goal setting. Attention control received equal coaching on non-SB health topics. Coaches tracked all participant goals, and 8% of visits were randomly observed and fidelity coded using a structured template. Participants completed a satisfaction questionnaire at study end. Goals data were qualitatively grouped by reminder strategy and topic. Fidelity and satisfaction data were summarized and compared by study arm using two-sided paired t-tests. Both participants' satisfaction (>90% satisfied, between-group P = .195) and coach fidelity to intervention content and techniques were high (96% sessions set SMART goals, P = .343) across both arms. Intervention participants primarily set goals leveraging outward (e.g., fitness band prompts) and habit (e.g., adding standing to a daily meal) reminder strategies highly tailored to individual preferences and lifestyle. Participants' SB-related goals varied widely, suggesting tailored intervention approaches are important to change sitting behavior, particularly for older adults with chronic conditions.

Raman Spectroscopy Detects Bone Mineral Changes with Aging in Archaeological Human Lumbar Vertebrae from Thornton Abbey.

Archaeological human remains provide key insight into lifestyles, health, and diseases affecting past societies. However, only limited analyses can be conducted without causing damage due to the destructive nature of current technologies. The same problem exists with current clinical analyses of the skeleton, and the preferred advanced imaging techniques only provide macroscopic information. Raman spectroscopy could provide chemical information without detriment to archaeological bone samples and perhaps the need for invasive diagnostic procedures in the future. This study measured archaeological human vertebrae to investigate if chemical differences with aging were detectable with Raman spectroscopy and if differences in mineral chemistry could contribute to information on bone mineral diseases. The three lowest bones of the spine (lumbar vertebrae L3-L5), which are subject to the heaviest loading in life, of nine adults from three age groups (18-25, 25-45, and 45+ years) were provided by the Thornton Abbey Project. Three biomechanically important anatomical locations were selected for analysis; likely sites chosen to measure any chemical changes associated with aging, the vertebral body center and the zygapophyseal joints. Results detected chemical changes associated with aging. These changes relate to the minerals phosphate (∼960 cm-1) and carbonate (∼1070 cm-1), which are fundamental to bone function. Overall mineralization was found to increase with aging, but while carbonate increased with age, phosphate increased up to ∼45 years and then declined. These fluctuations were found in all three vertebrae, but were more distinct in L5, particularly in the vertebral body, indicating this is an optimal area for detecting bone mineral chemistry changes with aging. This is the first Raman analysis of bone samples from the historically significant site of Thornton Abbey. Results detected age-related changes, illustrating that ancient remains can be used to enhance understanding of modern diseases and provide information on the health and lifestyle of historic individuals.

Interplay between lifestyle factors and polygenic risk for incident coronary heart disease in a large multiethnic cohort

IntroductionThe objective of this study was to examine the interplay of polygenic risk and individual lifestyle factors (and a composite score of lifestyle) as antecedents of CHD in a large multiethnic cohort. MethodsWe used Genetic Epidemiology Resource in Adult Health and Aging (GERA) cohort participants free of CHD at baseline (n = 60,568; 67 % female; 18 % non-European). The individual and joint associations of smoking, Mediterranean diet pattern, level of physical activity and polygenic risk with incident CHD were assessed using Cox regression adjusting for genetic ancestry and non-mediating risk factors. Hazard ratios (HRs) and number needed to treat (NNT) were estimated according to these lifestyle factors and polygenic risk categories. Strengths included large sample size, long-follow-up, ethnic diversity, a clinically-validated polygenic risk score (PRS), and rich phenotype information. ResultsAfter 14 years of follow-up, there were 3159 incident CHD events. We observed no statistically significant interactions between individual lifestyle factors and polygenic risk (all p > 0.23). For individuals with a high genetic risk, moving from the worse lifestyle combination (no favorable lifestyle factors) to the best lifestyle combination (all three) is associated with 52 % lower rate of CHD. The NNT was highest in the low polygenic risk group (34), lowest in the high polygenic risk group [19] and in-between (Jin et al., 2011) [24] in the intermediate polygenic risk group. ConclusionsLifestyle and polygenic risk together influence the risk of incident CHD. Our results support consideration of polygenic risk in lifestyle interventions because those with high polygenic risk are likely to derive the most benefit.

The Effect of Preconception Counseling According to the Theory of Planned Behavior with the Presence of the Spouse on Preconception Health Behaviors – A Training Trial Study

Background and Objective: Preconception care consists of biomedical, behavioral, and social services, along with health interventions, for women and couples before conception to improve their health status and reduce individual and environmental high-risk behaviors. This study aimed to assess to preconception counseling according to the theory of planned behavior with the presence of the spouse on preconception care behaviors. Materials and Methods: This study was an educational trial. The researcher randomly divided women into two intervention and control groups. The control group only received routine preconception care in the presence of the spouse. The intervention group, according to the theory of planned behavior, received 60-minute face-to-face counseling weekly sessions. The main outcomes of behavior were divided into two categories: screening tests and vaccinations and individual lifestyle (exercise, nutrition, and smoking). The questions also focused on men’s check-up tests. The data normality was analyzed by group, variable type, and measurement stage using the Shapiro-Wilk test and the skewness and kurtosis results. Levene's and Mochli's tests were used to check the homogeneity of variances and assumption of sphericity, respectively. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests, chi-square, repeated measures test, and SPSS 26 software. Result: The previous lifestyle behaviors were respectively 15.22 + 2.836, 15.49 + 2.769, and 16.84 + 1.894 before, immediately, and 4 weeks after the intervention in control, and 12.70 + 3.69, 15.53 + 3.02, and 16.60 + 2.73 in the intervention group, indicating no significant differences (p=0.08). However, the two groups significantly increased healthy lifestyles over time(p=0.001). The results also showed that the mean of test and vaccination was respectively 4.44 ± 2.99, 2.75 ± 6.42, and 2.49 ± 8.31 before, immediately, and 4 weeks after the intervention in control, and 4.09 + 3, 6.74 + 2.87, and 8.35 + 2.37 in the intervention group, indicating no significant differences(p=0.99). Conclusion: Since the presence of the husband during the training of women's pre-pregnancy care can affect their health behaviors regardless of the type of intervention, men are suggested to attend prepregnancy training and consultations for at least one session.

A healthy lifestyle score and healthy behaviour of adults in Bulgaria

Abstract The positive impact of numerous healthy behaviours on human health and wellbeing is well known. This study is the first to provide a comprehensive single healthy lifestyle score for a heterogeneous adult population in Bulgaria. The aim of this study is to make single healthy lifestyle score of the adults in Bulgaria. The survey was carried out with 714 randomly selected participants. A relative lifestyle score (RLS) was based on smoking status, alcohol consumption, physical activity, diet and BMI of respondents. The RLS ranged from 0 to 5, and a higher score representing a healthier lifestyle. The relationship between respondents’ healthy behaviours and demographic features was determined via the Pearson correlation coefficient. We found that the healthy lifestyle score of the participants is 2.98 of 5.00. The relatively lifestyle score of halves (45.94%) of them is in the range of 3.9-4.29. Regarding smoking and alcohol consumption, respondents' behaviour is the healthiest: 63.31% nonsmokers and 68.63% abstainers. Low physical activity and mixed diet patterns are the main risk factors for optimal healthy lifestyle achievement. We identified the demographic groups that are most vulnerable. Our study provides a possibility for reliable comparisons of healthy lifestyle levels among populations across countries. The RLS is a reliable tool for assessment a healthy lifestyle both of individuals and the community.

Exploring how to widen the acceptability of public health interventions: a systematic review protocol

IntroductionHealth interventions that require significant change to individual lifestyles or social norms can pose a challenge for widespread public acceptability and uptake. At the same time, over the last two...

From click to cuisine: Unpacking the interplay of online food delivery services through barriers, trust, post-usage usefulness, and moral obligation

Online food delivery (OFD) has gained popularity because of rapid urbanization and busy lifestyles of individuals in the last decade. Nevertheless, despite the surging fame and significance of OFD, certain gaps in research demand attention. Thus, this study aims to examine comprehensive barriers (economic, efficiency, experience), trust, post-usage usefulness, loyalty, and electronic word-of-mouth (e-WoM) within OFD services. It also considers the moderating effect of moral obligation on the relationship between these concepts. PLS-SEM was employed for data analysis (n=650). The findings of the study indicate that barriers related to economic, efficiency, and user experience have a significant and detrimental impact on trust, the utility of the service after usage, electronic word-of-mouth (e-WoM), and loyalty in the context of adopting online food delivery (OFD) services. The findings contribute to a better understanding of consumers’ perception of OFD. Several theoretical and practical implications were offered.

Back pain exercise therapy remodels human epigenetic profiles in buccal and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells: an exploratory study in young male participants.

With its high and increasing lifetime prevalence, back pain represents a contemporary challenge for patients and healthcare providers. Monitored exercise therapy is a commonly prescribed treatment to relieve pain and functional limitations. However, the benefits of exercise are often gradual, subtle, and evaluated by subjective self-reported scores. Back pain pathogenesis is interlinked with epigenetically mediated processes that modify gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. Therefore, we hypothesize that therapy effects can be objectively evaluated by measurable epigenetic histone posttranslational modifications and proteome expression. Because epigenetic modifications are dynamic and responsive to environmental exposure, lifestyle choices-such as physical activity-can alter epigenetic profiles, subsequent gene expression, and health traits. Instead of invasive sampling (e.g., muscle biopsy), we collect easily accessible buccal swabs and plasma. The plasma proteome provides a systemic understanding of a person's current health state and is an ideal snapshot of downstream, epigenetically regulated, changes upon therapy. This study investigates how molecular profiles evolve in response to standardized sport therapy and non-controlled lifestyle choices. We report that the therapy improves agility, attenuates back pain, and triggers healthier habits. We find that a subset of participants' histone methylation and acetylation profiles cluster samples according to their therapy status, before or after therapy. Integrating epigenetic reprogramming of both buccal cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) reveals that these concomitant changes are concordant with higher levels of self-rated back pain improvement and agility gain. Additionally, epigenetic changes correlate with changes in immune response plasma factors, reflecting their comparable ability to rate therapy effects at the molecular level. We also performed an exploratory analysis to confirm the usability of molecular profiles in (1) mapping lifestyle choices and (2) evaluating the distance of a given participant to an optimal health state. This pre-post cohort study highlights the potential of integrated molecular profiles to score therapy efficiency. Our findings reflect the complex interplay of an individual's background and lifestyle upon therapeutic exposure. Future studies are needed to provide mechanistic insights into back pain pathogenesis and lifestyle-based epigenetic reprogramming upon sport therapy intervention to maintain therapeutic effects in the long run.

A comprehensive lifestyle index and its associations with DNA methylation and type 2 diabetes among Ghanaian adults: the rodam study

BackgroundA series of modifiable lifestyle factors, such as diet quality, physical activity, alcohol intake, and smoking, may drive the rising burden of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) among sub-Saharan Africans globally. It is unclear whether epigenetic changes play a mediatory role in the associations between these lifestyle factors and T2DM. We assessed the associations between a comprehensive lifestyle index, DNA methylation and T2DM among Ghanaian adults.MethodsWe used whole-blood Illumina 450 k DNA methylation data from 713 Ghanaians from the Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants (RODAM) study. We constructed a comprehensive lifestyle index based on established cut-offs for diet quality, physical activity, alcohol intake, and smoking status. In the T2DM-free discovery cohort (n = 457), linear models were fitted to identify differentially methylated positions (DMPs) and differentially methylated regions (DMRs) associated with the lifestyle index after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and technical covariates. Associations between the identified DMPs and the primary outcome (T2DM), as well as secondary outcomes (fasting blood glucose (FBG) and HbA1c), were determined via logistic and linear regression models, respectively.ResultsIn the present study population (mean age: 52 ± 10 years; male: 42.6%), the comprehensive lifestyle index showed a significant association with one DMP annotated to an intergenic region on chromosome 7 (false discovery rate (FDR) = 0.024). Others were annotated to ADCY7, SMARCE1, AHRR, LOXL2, and PTBP1 genes. One DMR was identified and annotated to the GFPT2 gene (familywise error rate (FWER) from bumphunter bootstrap = 0.036). None of the DMPs showed significant associations with T2DM; directions of effect were positive for the DMP in the AHRR and inverse for all the other DMPs. Higher methylation of the ADCY7 DMP was associated with higher FBG (p = 0.024); LOXL2 DMP was associated with lower FBG (p = 0.023) and HbA1c (p = 0.049); and PTBP1 DMP was associated with lower HbA1c (p = 0.002).ConclusionsIn this explorative epigenome-wide association study among Ghanaians, we identified one DMP and DMR associated with a comprehensive lifestyle index not previously associated with individual lifestyle factors. Based on our findings, we infer that lifestyle factors in combination, affect DNA methylation, thereby influencing the risk of T2DM among Ghanaian adults living in different contexts.

Lifestyle and sleep quality of schoolchildren living in Amazonas, Brazil

Lifestyle is something inherent to the world's population, different in each place and often varying from individual to individual. Lifestyle is directly related to health and encompasses various factors, including sleep, the quality of which is considered a determining factor, especially as it is related to the individual's development and well-being. This study sought to assess the impact of lifestyle on sleep quality in school adolescents in the city of Jutaí, in the state of Amazonas. To this end, information was collected from 356 students (167 boys and 189 girls) from the city's public school system, with an average age of around 13.10 ± 1.27 years, average body mass of 47.35 ± 11.45, average height of 1.52 ± 0.09 and BMI of 20.33 ± 3.60. The following instruments were used for data collection: Body Mass Index (BMI), the Individual Lifestyle Profile questionnaire (Nahas et al, 2000) and the mini sleep questionnaire (Zomer, 1985). The lifestyle variables analysed showed an intermediate level for nutrition, positive for stress, physical activity and social relationships oscillating between intermediate and positive, and positive preventive behaviour. Finally, it was found that most of the students surveyed - 181 participants (≅ 51.1%) - had good sleep, 46 (≅13.2%) had slightly altered sleep, 38 (≅10.7%) and 89 (25%) had severely altered sleep. There seems to be a direct relationship between sleep quality and lifestyle.

Socioecological factors influencing the risk of developing hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in India: a rapid review

BackgroundThe prevalence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDPs) in India is 11%, which is one of the highest rates globally. Existing research on HDPs in India primarily focuses on biological risk factors, with minimal research on how socioecological factors combine to increase risk of HDPs. We conducted a rapid review using Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model to understand the social and cultural factors associated with HDPs among Indian pregnant women to identify possible intervention targets that may uniquely improve health in this population. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model is a framework that can be used to understand the complex relationship between multiple influences on health.MethodsWe reviewed studies published between January 2010 and January 2024 using PubMed, Science Direct, and Scopus databases. Search terms included variants of hypertension, pregnancy, and India. Inclusion criteria were: (1) peer-reviewed journal article; (2) published between January 2010 to January 2024; (3) participants consisted of Indian women living in India; (4) studies evaluated socioecological risk factors associated with HDPs. One independent reviewer performed searches, screening, data extraction, and quality assessment. Each included study was then organized within Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model.ResultsA total of 921 studies were generated from the initial search, with 157 exclusions due to duplicates. Following screening for inclusion and exclusion criteria at the title/abstract and full text levels, 17 studies remained in the final review. Socioecological risk factors of HDPs were identified at each level, with the most commonly identified influences including: low socioeconomic status (SES), lacking community education and knowledge on HDP management and prevention, and lacking prenatal HDP screening.ConclusionThis study determined that the high risk for HDPs in India is influenced by many intertwined socioecological factors. Women in rural and low SES areas need more health education on HDP management and prevention. There also needs to be more adequate prenatal HDP screening, with at least 4 and ideally 8 prenatal visits. Prenatal screenings should be accompanied with culturally appropriate patient education, especially for low SES women who have limited literacy, so that they can effectively make individual and microsystemic lifestyle decisions aimed at either managing or preventing HDPs.

Mortality salience and helping behavior amidst public crisis: cross-sectional evidence during COVID-19.

As a real mortality salience, a public crisis would have a major impact on individual minds, behaviors, and lifestyles. COVID-19 provides us with a stark real-world example to understand these implications. Previous research has revealed that some individuals become more willing to help the infected at the risk of their own lives, while others become more self-centered and indifferent during COVID-19. To explain this paradoxical phenomenon, our study used two rival mediators in the relationship between mortality salience and helping behavior during COVID-19: death anxiety and death reflection. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Chinese college students (N = 684) during the pandemic. We used a parallel mediation model to explore the mediating roles of death anxiety and death reflection in the relationship between mortality salience and helping behavior during COVID-19. The results of our study indicate two key findings. First, mortality salience is negatively related to helping behavior during COVID-19 via death anxiety. This suggests that individuals with higher levels of mortality salience experienced increased death anxiety, which in turn led to a decrease in helping behavior. Second, mortality salience is positively related to helping behavior during COVID-19 via death reflection. This indicates that individuals with higher levels of mortality salience engaged in deeper reflection on death, which subsequently resulted in an increase in helping behavior. Our study provides valuable insights into the complex relationship between mortality salience and helping behaviors in the time of public crisis, and can help lead to more positive attitudes toward public crisis events such as COVID-19.

The influence of assistance in home-based exercise programmes for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Regular physical activity (PA) decreases the risk of comorbidities associated with a sedentary lifestyle in individuals with intellectual disabilities (IDs). They also may experience additional barriers that may prevent PA, including access, proper instruction and support. At-home PA programming is a feasible alternative to long-term adherence. This study aimed to determine (1) how an at-home DVD programme affects PA adherence and (2) the extent to which caregiver support influences PA. Thirty-one adolescent or adult-aged participants with mild or moderate ID were randomised into a DVD or control group exercise intervention. Participants were given autonomy to choose what type of PA modality from the intervention they would like to participate in. Caregiver support during the PA was also measured. The two-way repeated-measures MANOVA demonstrated that the intervention DVD group was statistically significant, with a large effect size in PA minutes (P=0.014, ηP2=0.236) and rate of perceived exertion (P=0.002, ηP2=0.342) compared with the control group. The findings demonstrated that using an adapted DVD increased PA minutes and the rate of perceived exertion without high levels of caregiver support.

The impact of green space on nonaccidental and cause-specific mortality in the Adventist Health Study-2 population.

There is growing interest in evaluating the long-term health effects of neighborhood environments, particularly green space. However, only a limited body of research further incorporates multiple ambient air pollutants. This study looked at the relationship between green space, as measured by the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, and mortality adjusted by key confounders in the Adventist Health Study-2, a longitudinal cohort study from 2002 to 2015, across the contiguous United States (N = 67,400). We used Cox proportional hazard regression models to assess the risk of nonaccidental, cardiovascular disease (CVD), ischemic heart disease (IHD), and respiratory disease mortality from green space around subjects' home address under multiple covariate and pollutant adjustments. We found a 0.1 unit increase in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index was associated with nonaccidental (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.96 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.93, 0.99]), CVD (HR: 0.94 [95% CI: 0.90, 0.98]), and IHD (HR: 0.87 [95% CI: 0.81, 0.94]) mortality, with the greatest precision in fully adjusted three-pollutant models using the 1000-m buffer. Effect estimates were strengthened in urban areas, when incorporating seasons, and for females. However, all associations between green space and respiratory mortality were null. This study supports evidence that increased neighborhood green space is inversely associated with nonaccidental, CVD, and IHD mortality, where the inclusion of multiple environmental covariates had a greater impact on effect estimate magnitude and precision than adjustment by individual lifestyle and health factors.

Visualization obesity risk prediction system based on machine learning

Obesity is closely associated with various chronic diseases.Therefore, accurate, reliable and cost-effective methods for preventing its occurrence and progression are required. In this study, we developed a visualized obesity risk prediction system based on machine learning techniques, aiming to achieve personalized comprehensive health management for obesity. The system utilized a dataset consisting of 1678 anonymized health examination records, including individual lifestyle factors, body composition, blood routine, and biochemical tests. Ten multi-classification machine learning models, including Random Forest and XGBoost, were constructed to identify non-obese individuals (BMI < 25), class 1 obese individuals (25 ≤ BMI < 30), and class 2 obese individuals (30 ≤ BMI). By evaluating the performance of each model on the test set, we selected XGBoost as the best model and built the visualized obesity risk prediction system based on it. The system exhibited good predictive performance and interpretability, directly providing users with their obesity risk levels and determining corresponding intervention priorities. In conclusion, the developed obesity risk prediction system possesses high accuracy and interactivity, aiding physicians in formulating personalized health management plans and achieving comprehensive and accurate obesity management.

The effect of parental pain, disability benefits and education on risk of long-term sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders and the modifying effect of sleep and physical activity: the HUNT study

BackgroundFamily factors, sleep, and physical activity have previously been associated with risk of sick leave and disability benefits due to musculoskeletal disorders. However, how these factors act during adolescence and young adulthood is unclear. The aim of this study was to (i) examine if chronic pain, disability benefits and education in parents influence the risk of long-term sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders in young adulthood, and (ii) to explore if offspring sleep problems and physical activity modify these effects.MethodsA population-based prospective study of 18,552 adolescents and young adults (≤ 30 years) in the Norwegian HUNT Study. Survey data was linked to national registry data on sick leave, disability benefits, family relations and educational attainment. We used Cox regression to estimate hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for long-term (≥ 31 days) sick leave due to a musculoskeletal disorder in offspring associated with parental factors and the joint effect of parental factors and offspring lifestyle factors.ResultsParental chronic pain (HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.27–1.45), disability benefits (HR 1.41, 95% CI 1.33–1.48) and low educational attainment (HR 1.78, 95% CI 1.67–1.90) increased the risk of long-term sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders among offspring. There was no strong evidence that sleep and physical activity modified these effects.ConclusionChronic pain, disability benefit and low education in parents increased the risk of long-term sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders among offspring, but these effects were not modified by offspring sleep problems or physical activity level. The findings suggest that efforts beyond individual lifestyle factors might be important as preventive measures.