Middle-aged Residents Research Articles

Extreme Risk Protection Orders in Connecticut, 2013-2020.

Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia have enacted Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) statutes, which allow temporary removal of firearms from individuals who pose an imminent risk of harm to themselves or others. Connecticut was the first state to enact such a law in 1999. The law's implementation and use between 1999 and 2013 were previously described, finding that ERPOs were pursued rarely for the first decade and that most orders were issued in response to concerns about suicide or self-harm rather than about interpersonal violence. The current study analyzes over 1,400 ERPOs in Connecticut between 2013 and 2020 in several domains: respondent demographics, circumstances leading to ERPO filing, type of threat (suicide, violence to others, or both), number and type of firearms removed, prevalence of mental illness and drug and alcohol use, and legal outcomes. Results are similar to the earlier study, indicating that ERPO respondents in Connecticut are primarily White, male, middle-aged residents of small towns and suburbs who pose a risk of harm to themselves (67.9%) more often than to others (42.8%). Significant gender differences between ERPO respondents are discussed, as are state-specific trends over time and differences between Connecticut and other states with published ERPO data.

How does digital literacy impact household carbon emissions? Evidence from household survey in China

In the background of rapid development of digital technology, exploring the relationship between residents' digital literacy (DL) and household carbon emissions (HCEs) is of great practical significance for China to achieve the carbon peak carbon neutral goal. Based on the three-period panel data of the China Family Panel Survey (CFPS) 2016-2020, we categorized digital literacy into digital learning, digital socialization, and digital consumption, and explored the impact of digital literacy on HCEs and its mechanisms. We find that digital literacy significantly and positively affects HCEs, while household life cycle, government governance, and ecological risk perception have a negative moderating effect on digital literacy affecting HCEs respectively. We also find that DL has the largest impact coefficient on HCEs from developmental consumption compared to survival and enjoyment consumption, and that DL has a more significant impact on HCEs from the consumption of young and middle-aged residents compared to older residents. These findings suggest that the dissemination of information and knowledge about carbon emissions through digital technologies, such as Internet platforms, can strengthen residents' awareness of environmental protection and thus promote their low-carbon consumption behavior.

The peer effects of resident stock market participation: Evidence from 2019 CHFS.

Limited resident's participation in the stock market has become a key constraint to the capital market development. Utilizing the 2019 China Household Financial Survey (CHFS) data, our paper designs probit models to examine the peer effects of residents' stock market participation and explore the intermediary mechanisms with a multiple intermediary model. We find that: (1) Resident involvement in stock market decision-making exhibits significant peer effects. (2) Heterogeneity analysis reveals that males and rural residents display more pronounced peer effects than females and urban residents. Additionally, middle-aged residents demonstrate more potent peer effects than their younger and older counterparts, with the intensity of peer effects correlating with education levels. (3)We observe that the peer effects of market participation operate by altering economic expectations and enhancing residents' financial literacy. (4) Further investigation establishes that individuals engaging in stock market investments manifest peer effects when deciding whether to diversify their stock portfolio. This study holds reference value for analyzing the impact of social interaction on financial behaviors and regulating individuals' financial conduct.

Comparison of waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio as predictors of clustering of cardiovascular risk factors among middle-aged people in rural Khanh Hoa, Vietnam.

Given the population-level variation in stature, a universal cut-off for waist circumference (WC) may not be appropriate for some populations. We compared the performance of WC and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) to detect the clustering of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in rural Vietnam. We obtained data from a baseline survey of the Khanh Hoa Cardiovascular Study comprising 2942 middle-aged residents (40-60 years). We used areas under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC), net reclassification index (NRI), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) to compare the performance of WC and WHtR in predicting CVD risk clustering (≥2 of the following risk factors: hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and elevated C-reactive protein). The optimal cut-off values for WC were 81.8 and 80.7 cm for men and women, respectively. Regarding the clustering of CVD risk factors, the AUROC (95% CI) of WC and WHtR were 0.707 (0.676 to 0.739) and 0.719 (0.689 to 0.749) in men, and 0.682 (0.654 to 0.709) and 0.690 (0.663 to 0.717) in women, respectively. Compared with WC, WHtR had a better NRI (0.229; 0.102-0.344) and IDI (0.012; 0.004-0.020) in men and a better NRI (0.154; 0.050-0.257) in women. The optimal WC cut-off for Vietnamese men was approximately 10 cm below the recommended Asian cut-off. WHtR might perform slightly better in predicting the clustering of CVD risk factors among the rural population in Vietnam.

Perceptions of diabetes risk and prevention in Nairobi, Kenya: A qualitative and theory of change development study.

Type 2 diabetes is increasing in Kenya, especially in urban settings, and prevention interventions based on local evidence and context are urgently needed. Therefore, this study aimed to explore diabetes risk and co-create a diabetes prevention theory of change in two socioeconomically distinct communities to inform future diabetes prevention interventions. In-depth interviews were conducted with middle-aged residents in two communities in Nairobi (one low-income (n = 15), one middle-income (n = 14)), and thematically analysed. The theory of change for diabetes prevention was informed by analysis of the in-depth interviews and the Behaviour Change Wheel framework, and reviewed by a sub-set (n = 13) of interviewees. The key factors that influenced diabetes preventive practices in both communities included knowledge and skills for diabetes prevention, understanding of the benefits/consequences of (un)healthy lifestyle, social influences (e.g., upbringing, societal perceptions), and environmental contexts (e.g., access to (un)healthy foods and physical activity facilities). The proposed strategies for diabetes prevention included: increasing knowledge and understanding about diabetes risk and preventive measures particularly in the low-income community; supporting lifestyle modification (e.g., upskilling, goal setting, action planning) in both communities; identifying people at high risk of diabetes through screening in both communities; and creating social and physical environments for lifestyle modification (e.g., positive social influences on healthy living, access to healthy foods and physical activity infrastructure) particularly in the low-income community. Residents from both communities agreed that the strategies were broadly feasible for diabetes prevention but proposed the addition of door-to-door campaigns and community theatre for health education. However, residents from the low-income community were concerned about the lack of government prioritisation for implementing population-level interventions, e.g., improving access to healthy foods and physical activity facilities/infrastructure. Diabetes prevention initiatives in Kenya should involve multicomponent interventions for lifestyle modification including increasing education and upskilling at individual level; promoting social and physical environments that support healthy living at population level; and are particularly needed in low-income communities.

ИММУННОДИСПЕРСИОННЫЙ АНАЛИЗ ФАГОЦИТАРНОЙ ГРУППЫ ИММУНОГРАММЫ

The effects of coronavirus infection on the human genotype are still poorly understood. Some patients complain of memory impairment, some notice hair thinning, etc. Recently, medical specialists have also attracted attention to the study of the human immune system against coronavirus. The immunograms of middle-aged residents of Perm Krai during the pandemic have been analyzed. Immunograms were divided into two categories according to the patients' disease state. The immunograms of patients in the state of illness, which was evaluated by the deviation of immunoglobulins IgA, IgM from the reference interval and recovered patients, were of interest. Patients were grouped into three age groups ranging from 19 to 50 years. Small excesses in the absolute value of phagocytosis and phagocytic count were observed in those in the disease state. Decreases in the absolute value of phagocytosis, phagocytic number and phagocytic index were observed in the middle group with increased immunoglobulin levels.

Association of Dietary Patterns with Metabolic Syndrome among Middle-Aged Adults in Shiraz, Iran: Shiraz Heart Study (SHS).

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a noncommunicable disease with a high burden, including the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular events, and death. It is characterized by abdominal obesity, elevated blood pressure, increased fasting plasma glucose levels, hypertriglyceridemia, and reduced levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. MetS is preventable by modifying lifestyle and dietary patterns, which are major contributing factors. This research aimed to investigate the dietary patterns of the Shiraz Heart Study (SHS) and their associations with the occurrence of MetS and its components among middle-aged residents of Shiraz. Based on data from the Shiraz Heart Study (SHS), a prospective cohort study, the nutritional status of 1,675 participants was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Three food patterns were extracted from the analysis named as vegan, western, and carbohydrate. Subjects were categorized into three levels for three major dietary patterns: low, moderate, and high, based on their adherence to each pattern. After adjusting the effect of co-founder variables, the relationship between dietary patterns, and the risk of developing MetS was analyzed. Of the 1,675 participants, 728 (43.5%) of them were male. The prevalence of MetS was 47.2%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that high adherence to the vegan pattern was negatively associated with the occurrence of MetS (P value <0.001), while low adherence to the western pattern was also negatively associated (P value <0.05). Healthier diets, such as vegan diets, are significantly related to lower rates of MetS among the 40-70-year-old people in Shiraz, Iran.

Awareness of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Among the Middle-Aged Population in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Background Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), a common and often underdiagnosed condition, imposes a significant burden on individuals, particularly in middle-aged populations. This study aims to assess the awareness and prevalence of CTS among middle-aged residents in Riyadh, highlighting the crucial need for targeted educational initiatives to address knowledge gaps. Methodology A cross-sectional study design was employed to capture a snapshot of CTS awareness and prevalence among the middle-aged population in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Participantsaged 40-60residing in Riyadhwere included. A self-reported questionnaire gathered data on demographics, CTS diagnosis, and awareness levels regarding symptoms, risk factors, treatment, and the impact of CTS. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and Chi-squared tests. Results We collected 415 valid responses to the questionnaire. The demographic profile revealed a balanced gender distribution, with 48.4% (n=201) males and 51.6% (n=214) females, and a majority (66.5%; n=276) within the 40-50 age range. A substantial 87.2% (n=362) reported no prior CTS diagnosis. Neuroimaging studies were infrequently conducted at 15.9% (n=66). Participants exhibited significant knowledge gaps, notably in the awareness of CTS diagnosis 66.3% (n=275) uncertainty, symptoms 55.4% (n=230) lack of knowledge, and risk factors 54.7% (n=227) lack of awareness. The results indicated uncertainty regarding the relationship between CTS and diabetes 63.9% (n=265) and knowledge gaps on anesthesia methods for CTS operations 64.1% (n=294). The association between age and CTS diagnosis was significant (p-value0.004), while awareness did not significantly vary with gender or age. Conclusion This study unveils a substantial lack of awareness about CTS among the middle-aged population in Riyadh, emphasizing the need for targeted educational interventions. The prevalence of CTS remains underreported, with a notable gap in understanding symptoms, risk factors, and available treatments; the findings underscore the vital importance of targeted educational programs designed to raise public awareness, bridge information gaps, and empower individuals to make informed decisions about their hand health.

СРАВНИТЕЛЬНЫЙ АНАЛИЗ 9-ЛЕТНЕЙ ДИНАМИКИ ПАРАМЕТРОВ СЕРДЕЧНО-СОСУДИСТОГО СТАТУСА ЖИТЕЛЕЙ АРКТИЧЕСКИХ И ЮЖНЫХ ТЕРРИТОРИЙ ТЮМЕНСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

Introduction. Studies show that coronary atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease in the Arctic and Subarctic regions have their own characteristics and need to be further studied. Aim. To conduct a comparative prospective analysis of clinical, laboratory, echocardiographic and coronary angiography data in middle-aged residents of the Arctic regions compared with residents of the south of Tyumen region. Material and methods. From the Coronary Angiography Registry we selected 229 patients of mean age 45-59 years who underwent coronary angiography more than once between 2000 and 2021. The average interval between the 1st and 2nd survey points was 9.0±3.4 years. Patients who underwent coronary angiography to verify the diagnosis, patients with stable coronary artery disease and old myocardial infarction were included. Individuals with acute coronary syndrome were not included. Patients were divided into 2 groups: 85 residents of Tyumen and the south of Tyumen region and 144 residents of the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. Differences between groups and dynamics of the studied parameters were assessed using the application package IBM SPSS Statistics 21. Results and discussion. The groups were comparable in demographic characteristics. Initially, cardiovascular status was more severe in Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug group of patients: more severe (II and III) functional classes of exertional angina and a history of myocardial infarction, hemodynamically significant coronary lesions, including coronary artery occlusion, were more common. In Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug group, the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was initially lower. During the follow-up period, obesity and echo-signs of post-infarction changes were detected in patients of Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug more often, higher asynergy index and triglyceride levels were recorded. Intergroup differences in the incidence of myocardial infarction and occlusive lesions and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels persisted. Conclusion. During 9-year follow-up, middle-aged patients who underwent elective coronary angiography and lived in the Arctic zone had more severe baseline indicators of cardiovascular status, as well as their more significant negative dynamics compared to patients lived in the south of Tyumen region.

Factors Influencing the Online Attention to the 2022 Beijing Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games

&lt;p&gt;This study aims to identify the factors influencing the online attention to the 2022 Beijing Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games. In order to accomplish the same, data of online attention to its Baidu index were collected. Factors influencing the online attention to the 2022 Beijing Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games included in this study are populations of the gross and regional permanent residents and young and middle-aged residents and the per-capita disposable income in the China Statistical Yearbook, and the Internet penetration rate in Internet Report. The results demonstrated that the online attention to the 2022 Beijing Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games would be significantly enhanced by increasing the Internet penetration rate and per-capita income. Simultaneously, young and middle-aged groups will also play a role in the remarkable enhancement of online attention. In addition, the large population base of the permanent residents will also help in improving it. There is a clear difference in the geographical distribution between North and South of China in terms of online attention.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

Neighborhood Social Environment and Self-Perceptions of Aging.

Self-perceptions of aging (SPA) are associated with health and well-being later in life. Although prior studies have identified individual-level predictors of SPA, the role of neighborhood social context in SPA remains largely unexplored. A neighborhood social environment may act as a critical avenue for older adults to remain healthy and socially active, contributing to their evaluations of how they grow old. The present study aims to fill the previous research gap by examining the relationship between neighborhood social environment and SPA, and how age may moderate this relationship. This study is guided by Bronfenbrenner's Ecology of Human Development theory and Lawton's Ecological Model of Aging, positing that an individual's aging experience is deeply rooted in their residential environment. Our sample includes 11,145 adults aged 50+ from the 2014 and 2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. We included 4 social and economic aspects of neighborhoods: (1) neighborhood poverty; (2) percentage of older adults; (3) perceived social cohesion; and (4) perceived disorder. Multilevel linear regression models showed that respondents in neighborhoods with higher percentages of the older population and with perceptions of high neighborhood disorder reported more negative SPA. Those who perceived their neighborhoods as more socially cohesive reported more positive SPA. Controlling for individual socioeconomic and health status, only neighborhood social cohesion remained significant. We also found significant interaction effects between neighborhood social cohesion and age: The effects of neighborhood cohesion on SPA were stronger in middle age than in old age. Our findings provide insights into how neighborhood social context is associated with SPA, suggesting that a socially cohesive neighborhood may be important to promote more favorable perceptions of aging, particularly for middle-aged residents.

Ethnomedicinal Plants Used by Middle-Aged Residents in San Antonio, Tandag City, Surigao Del Sur, PhilippinesFull Text

People all around the globe are always looking for ways to use plants as medicines to treat various ills and diseases. The study on medicinal plants and their traditional usage is currently popular around the world. Moreover, with the arising diseases and the need for more cost-effective medications, documentation of the claimed medicinal plants by local communities is vital because it will open a lot of opportunities for the discovery and improvement of new and affordable plant-based medicines. In the province of Surigao del Sur Philippines, the older generation are the ones who apply their traditional knowledge on the use of herbal plants. Thus, this study limits on the middle-aged residents in the village of San Antonio, Tandag City in Surigao del Sur Philippines on their use of traditional knowledge in using herbal plants. Forty-six respondents were chosen following the convenient sampling technique. Gathered data on demographic profile of the respondents, plant part used, methods used in the preparation of herbal plant, name of ailments was quantified using descriptive statistics (frequency, sum, and percentage). Likewise, calculation of used value was determined using percentage. Correlation between the age and gender to methods of plant parts used were done using Pearson Correlation. A total of 46 (7 males and 39 females) served as respondents in this study. Highest number of respondents belonged to ages 45 to 49. Almost one third of the respondents residing in the said barangay for 41-50 years. Meanwhile, most of the respondents were using medicinal plants for 1-10 years. It was also found that most of the respondents obtained their source of ethnomedicinal knowledge from their ancestors. Twenty-three medicinal plants from 15 families, the majority of which belonged to the Lamiaceae genus were used as herbal plants. Most of these plants are collected as herbs and shrubs. Leaves are commonly harvested for use and taken orally as decoctions. Viral diseases (cough and cold) were the most dominant ailments treated by the herbal plants. Oregano/Kalabo (Coleus aromaticus) had the highest use-value). It further shows that age is correlated with the changes to the methods of plant preparation while gender is not correlated. The study shows that despite increased urbanization, the village of San Antonio still has a range of plant species with medicinal importance. Thus, in the context of a wider local use as well as possible scientific and pharmaceutical applications, these herbal plants might be further examined for safety and efficacy.

The Relationship between Mental Health Literacy and Subjective Well-Being of Young and Middle-Aged Residents: Perceived the Mediating Role of Social Support and Its Urban-Rural Differences

This study investigates mental health literacy among young and middle-aged urban and rural residents and the differences in mental health literacy, perceived social support and subjective well-being. From January to February 2022, 620 participants (320 rural and 300 urban residents) from three provinces of China were selected by convenience sampling. A general data questionnaire, mental health literacy scale, perceived social support scale and subjective well-being scale were administered. The mental health literacy scores of urban residents were 3.34 ± 0.57 and those of rural residents were 2.73 ± 0.79. The results of multiple regression analysis showed that the mental health literacy scores of rural residents were more significant than those of urban residents in terms of sex and age, while urban residents’ mental health literacy scores were more significant than those of rural residents in terms of monthly income. Mental health literacy, perceived social support and subjective well-being of young and middle-aged urban and rural residents were all positively correlated (P < 0.01). While the level of mental health literacy is better among urban residents than rural residents, perceived social support plays a partial mediating role between mental health literacy and subjective well-being of both urban and rural residents, and should be the focus of researchers seeking to improve the level of well-being of residents.

Факторы риска развития абдоминального ожирения у жителей Санкт-Петербурга молодого и среднего возраста

Aim. To identify the most significant factors contributing to the development of abdominal obesity (AO) in young and middle-aged residents of St. Petersburg. Design. A single-stage study conducted according to the “case — control” type. Materials and methods. We examined 966 employees of various institutions of the city of St. Petersburg who underwent a dispensary examination in 2008–2009. Of these, 503 patients (366 women and 137 men) with AO were included in the study, whose diagnosis was established according to anthropometric studies (measurements of waist circumference, WC). The comparison group consisted of 50 people (38 women and 12 men) without AO, comparable in age and gender with patients with AO. Results. 82.7% of people aged 30 to 39 years were obese, 91.3% of patients aged 40–49 years and 97.9% of participants aged 50–55 years, the prevalence of obesity increased with age (p &lt; 0.01). Patients with AO were significantly more likely than participants in the comparison group to eat easily digestible carbohydrates (268 (53.3%) and 12 (24%), respectively, p &lt; 0.001) and fats (248 (49.3%) and 11 (22%), respectively, p &lt; 0.001). Among patients with AO, those who ate 1–2 times a day or, conversely, 6 or more times a day had body weight (p &lt; 0.001) and body mass index (BMI) (p &lt; 0.01) significantly higher than those examined who ate 4 times a day. When comparing BMI and WC in AO patients with different birth weights, it was found that AO patients whose birth weight was more than 4 kg had higher BMI and WC values. 482 (95.8 %) patients with abdominal obesity (AO) had low physical activity — less than 210 minutes weekly; 21 (4.2 %) patients with AO — at least 210 minutes weekly (р &lt; 0.001). Almost all the examined patients without AO had higher education 49 (98%), while among patients with AO — only 297 (59%), p &lt; 0.001. The analysis of the income level structure revealed that the income level of individuals with AO is slightly lower than in the group without AO. Conclusion. The prevalence of AO among residents of St. Petersburg aged 30–55 years is 52.1%. We have created a model based on the calculation of the logistic regression equation to assess the risk of AO development. The most significant parameters influencing its formation are highlighted: the level of education, age, type of nutrition, number of meals per day, birth weight, gender, income level, physical activity. Keywords: abdominal obesity, risk factors for the development of abdominal obesity, body mass index, waist circumference.

Cosmetic Use and Skin Care Behavior According to Monthly Income of Middle-aged Chinese Women

With the development of the Chinese economy and changes in cultural life, middle-aged women's desire for a healthy and beautiful life has increased, and interest in skin care has continued to increase.Pay more attention to skin care to look more attractive. In addition, investment in skin care is increasing as professional women's participation in society increases and demand for appearance. In this study, middle-aged women in their 30s and 50s living in Liaoning Province of China, were studied to find out the differences in cosmetics use and skin care behavior depending on their monthly income. A total of 205 middle-aged residents of Shenyang, Tieling and Dandong were surveyed. All 185 of them were used as the final analysis materials except for 20 inattentive or missing answers. Frequency analysis was conducted to find out the general characteristics of the survey subjects, cosmetics use, and skin care, and a case care test was conducted to find out the difference between cosmetics use management and skin care according to monthly income. This study used the SPSSWIN 21.0 program, and all empirical analyses were verified at a significance level of 5%. People with high monthly incomes have a high demand for cosmetics, and low-income middle-aged women have a lower desire to use cosmetics than working women due to a lack of income. Prices are an important factor in the cosmetics purchase process, indirectly affecting consumers' desire to buy cosmetics, and low-income middle-aged women are less willing to use cosmetics than working women because they cannot buy expensive cosmetics due to lack of income. Economic income is the basic factor that affects women's consumption behavior in beauty direction, and the basis for economic factors is that the amount of skin care expenditure of high-income people is larger depending on monthly income and facial skin care investment. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the differences in cosmetics use and skin care behavior according to monthly income for middle-aged women in their 30s to 50s living in various occupations in Shenyang, Tiering, and Dandong of China.

Red meat consumption is associated with prediabetes and diabetes in rural Vietnam: a cross-sectional study.

To examine the association between red/processed meat consumption and glycaemic conditions (i.e. prediabetes (preDM) and diabetes mellitus (DM)) among middle-aged residents in rural Khánh Hòa, Vietnam. In this cross-sectional study, a multinomial logistic regression model was used to examine the association between daily consumption of red/processed meat (0-99 g, 100-199 g or ≥ 200 g) and preDM/DM with adjustments for socio-demographic, lifestyle-related and health-related variables. Khánh Hòa Province, Vietnam. The study used data collected through a baseline survey conducted during a prospective cohort study on CVD among 3000 residents, aged 40-60 years, living in rural communes in Khánh Hòa Province. The multinomial regression model revealed that the relative-risk ratios for DM were 1·00 (reference), 1·11 (95 % CI = 0·75, 1·62) and 1·80 (95 % CI = 1·40, 2·32) from the lowest to the highest red/processed meat consumption categories (Ptrend = 0·006). The corresponding values for preDM were 1·00 (reference), 1·25 (95 % CI = 1·01, 1·54) and 1·67 (95 % CI = 1·20, 2·33) (Ptrend = 0·004). We did not find any evidence of statistical significance in relation to poultry consumption. Increased red/processed meat consumption, but not poultry consumption, was positively associated with the prevalence of preDM/DM in rural communes in Khánh Hòa Province, Vietnam. Dietary recommendations involving a reduction in red/processed meat consumption should be considered in low- and middle-income countries.

Carotid Atherosclerosis, Microalbuminuria, and Estimated 10-Year Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Sub-Saharan Africa

Carotid atherosclerosis and microalbuminuria are associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) but are understudied in sub-Saharan Africa. To evaluate the association of carotid atherosclerosis and microalbuminuria with 10-year ASCVD risk in middle-aged sub-Saharan African individuals. This cross-sectional study conducted analyses of baseline data from the African-Wits-INDEPTH (International Network for the Demographic Evaluation of Populations and Their Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries) genomic study (AWI-Gen). Women and men aged 40 to 60 years without baseline CVD and drawn from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa were included. Hypotheses for the analyses were formulated after data collection. The main exposures were carotid atherosclerosis, assessed using carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) using B-mode ultrasonography, and microalbuminuria, measured using spot urine albumin (SUA) and urine albumin-creatinine ratio (uACR). The main outcome was high ASCVD risk, defined as a 2018 Pooled Cohort Equations score of 7.5% or greater. Associations were estimated using adjusted multivariable logistic regression analyses. A total of 9010 participants with a mean (SD) age of 50 (6) years and 4533 (50.3%) women were included. High CIMT, SUA, and uACR were each associated with older age (eg, mean [SD] age of participants with high vs reference range CIMT: 55 [5] years vs 50 [6] years; P < .001) and high prevalence of both diabetes and hypertension (eg, hypertension among those with high vs reference range SUA: 213 of 1117 [19.1%] vs 356 of 2549 [14.0%]; P < .001). Smokers were likely to have higher vs reference range SUA (210 [18.8%] vs 407 [16.0%]) and uACR (138 of 707 [19.5%] vs 456 of 2797 [16.3%]). Carotid atherosclerosis was common in Burkina Faso (82 of 262 [31.3%]) and Ghana (91 [34.7%]), while microalbuminuria, measured by SUA, was common in Kenya (272 [24.4%]) and South Africa (519 [46.5%]). SUA was associated with higher odds of carotid atherosclerosis (odds ratio [OR], 1.77; 95% CI, 1.04-3.01) compared with uACR (OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.27-0.95). Common CIMT, SUA, and uACR were associated with 10-year ASCVD risk, with CIMT having a stronger association with 10-year ASCVD risk in both women (OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.78-2.14) and men (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.55-1.93) than SUA (women: OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.12-1.43; men: OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.26-1.55) and uACR (women: OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.10-1.54; men: OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.15-1.46). The presence of microalbuminuria measured by SUA may indicate risk of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis and high 10-year ASCVD risk in middle-aged residents of sub-Saharan Africa. These data should be confirmed in longitudinal studies of cardiovascular events.

Who Leaves and Who Enters? Flow Measures of Neighborhood Change and Consequences for Neighborhood Crime

Objectives Longitudinal studies of the relationship between neighborhood change and changes in crime typically focus exclusively on the net level of change in key socio-demographic characteristics. Methods We instead propose a demographic accounting strategy that captures the composition of neighborhood change: our measures capture which types of people are more likely to leave, stay, or enter the neighborhood. We use data for 3,325 tracts in the Southern California region over nearly two decades of 2000–2010 and 2010–2017 and construct flow measures based on race/ethnicity; the length of residence of owners and renters; the age structure. Results These flow measures improve the predictive power of the models—implying important theoretical insights. Neighborhoods with higher percentages of middle-aged residents who recently entered the neighborhood exhibit larger increases in violent and property crime. The relative stability of those in the highest crime-prone ages (aged 15–29) is associated with the largest increases in violent and property crime. The greater loss of Black and Asian residents decreased crime while moderate outflows of Latinos increased crime. The mobility of long- and short-term renters was related to crime changes. Conclusions This new technique will likely encourage further theoretical innovation for the neighborhoods and crime literature.

Does Environmental Information Disclosure Improve the Health Level of Middle-Aged and Old Residents? Evidence From China.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to empirically examine the impact of environmental information disclosure on the health of middle-aged and old residents and investigate whether such disclosure can improve the health of middle-aged and old residents.MethodsThis study matches the data of the Pollution Information Transparency Index (PITI) and China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study in 2018 and uses the ordered logistic regression model to assess the impact of environmental information disclosure on the health of middle-aged and old residents. Furthermore, stepwise regression, ordinary least square, and ordered probit regression models are used for robustness tests. The IV-Ordered probit regression model solves the endogenous problem.ResultsEnvironmental information disclosure has a significant positive correlation with the health level of middle-aged and old residents. After the robustness test and endogenous problem handling, this conclusion still holds. Estimation results show that when PITI increases by 1 unit, the probability of improving the self-reported health level and actual health level of middle-aged and old residents increases by 1 and 0.87%, respectively. The impact of environmental information disclosure on the health of middle-aged and old residents also has significant regional heterogeneity. Specifically, the impact is mainly reflected in the central region of China.ConclusionEnvironmental information disclosure can improve the health of middle-aged and old residents. To improve the health of middle-aged and old residents, it is necessary to implement and enhance the environmental information disclosure system continuously. The anti-driving effect of environmental information disclosure on the treatment of environmental pollution must be intensified further, particularly focusing on the central region of China, where is more polluted and more concentrated than other regions.

Regular Physical Activities and Related Factors among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in Jinan, China: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of regular physical activity (RPA) among middle-aged and older adults in urban communities in Jinan, China, and to identify the factors related to RPA. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among middle-aged and elderly urban residents. A total of 1406 participants were included in the final data analysis. The results of the four models consistently showed that the relevant factors of RPA were educational level, previously diagnosed hypertension (PDH) and depression. In terms of educational level, compared with illiteracy, from the first model to the fourth model, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of senior middle school were 2.072 (1.418, 3.026), 2.072 (1.418, 3.026), 1.905 (1.289, 2.816) and 1.926 (1.302, 2.848), respectively, and the ORs and 95% CIs of college or above were 2.364 (1.462, 3.823), 2.364 (1.462, 3.823), 2.001 (1.208, 3.312) and 2.054 (1.239, 3.405). In terms of PDH, compared with those with PDH, from the first model to the fourth model, ORs and 95% CIs of non-PDH were 1.259 (1.003, 1.580), 1.259 (1.003, 1.580), 1.263 (1.006, 1.585) and 1.261 (1.004, 1.584), respectively. For depression, compared with those without depression, also from the first model to the fourth model, ORs and 95% CIs of depression were 0.702 (0.517, 0.951), 0.702 (0.517, 0.951), 0.722 (0.532, 0.981) and 0.719 (0.529, 0.977), respectively. In conclusion, the results of this study showed that participation in RPA among middle-aged and older adults in Jinan urban communities was significantly associated with education level, PDH and depression.