Self-reported Disease Research Articles

Potentially traumatic events, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and skin-related quality of life among adults with self-reported skin disease symptoms.

The connection between stress and skin disease has been extensively documented; however, there are no empirical studies investigating the incidence of traumatic event exposure and posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms among dermatology patients. To address this gap in the literature and begin to understand the associations between PTS symptoms and skin disease symptoms, this study used a sample of adults with self-reported skin disease symptoms to examine: (1) rates of potentially traumatic event (PTE) exposure and PTS symptoms; and (2) the association between PTS symptoms and skin-related quality of life, controlling for relevant covariates. Data were collected online through Cloud Research, and participants completed a battery of self-report measures. The sample included 310 participants (68.4% female) who endorsed current skin disease symptoms. Results indicated that 47.1% of participants endorsed clinical levels of PTS symptoms. Consistent with hypotheses, greater levels of PTS symptoms were associated with worse skin-related quality of life, and this association was particularly robust for arousal-related symptoms. Results shed light on the occurrence of trauma-related experiences among individuals with self-reported skin disease and indicate a link between PTS symptoms and the perceived burden of skin disease symptoms on daily living. However, this study was cross-sectional and relied on self-report measures; therefore, findings should be interpreted with caution, particularly since diagnoses could not be verified. Replication of this work in dermatology patients is needed to further understand these connections.

Abstract 4125581: Association Between Life’s Essential 8 and Premature Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: A Cross-sectional Study Among Young Adults in the United States

Background: Among patients presenting with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), the proportion of young individuals has increased in recent years. Life’s Essential 8 (LE8), containing two domains of health behaviors and health factors, is an updated monitoring measurement of cardiovascular health by assessing 8 modifiable risk factors. Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the potential relationship between the LE8 score and a history of premature ASCVD among young adults residing in the United States. Methods: This population-based cross-sectional study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey spanning 2005 to 2018, focusing specifically on adults aged 20 to 45. LE8 score was measured and categorized into low (0-49), moderate (50-79), and high (80-100) levels (Figure 1). Premature ASCVD status was determined by interviews conducted at enrollment, encompassing a self-reported composite disease history of coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, heart attack, and stroke. Following descriptive statistics, weighted multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic spline models were employed to evaluate the associations between the LE8 score and premature ASCVD. Additionally, subscale and subgroup analysis were developed. Results: Among 17,499 participants, 9846 were eligible for analysis (weighted mean age, 32.7 years; male, 50.3%), and 167 had premature ASCVD history (weighted percentage, 1.46%). The weighted mean LE8 score of the study population was 71.99 (0.3). Following the adjustment for potential confounders, individuals with higher LE8 scores exhibited a reduced risk of developing premature ASCVD (Table 1). A nonlinear relationship was observed and similar patterns were also identified in the association of health behaviors and health factors scores with premature ASCVD (Figure 2). This inverse association was consistently observed across various subgroups, including sex, age strata, ethnicity, education, and income levels, with no significant interactions identified. Conclusions: The LE8 score and its subscale scores exhibited a negative, nonlinear association with premature ASCVD. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and controlling modifiable risk factors are crucial in preventing premature ASCVD in the younger demographic. Further studies, encompassing prospective cohorts, are needed to confirm this finding.

Occupational and Hobby Exposures Associated with Myositis Phenotypes in a National Myositis Patient Registry.

To investigate occupational and hobby exposures to silica, solvents, and heavy metals and odds of idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM) phenotypes, dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM) versus inclusion body myositis (IBM), lung disease plus fever or arthritis (LD+), and systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease-overlap myositis (OM). The sample included 1390 patients (598 DM, 409 PM, and 383 IBM) ages ≥18 years from a national registry. Of these, 218 (16%) were identified with LD+, i.e., self-reported lung disease with fever and/or arthritis, and 166 (12%) with OM. Questionnaire data on jobs, hobbies, and exposures before diagnosis were evaluated using a rules-based protocol and expert assessment of silica dust, solvents, and heavy metals exposure. We calculated adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) and explored joint effects with smoking. High silica exposure was associated with an increased odds of having DM (OR=2.02; 95%CI 1.18-3.46, compared to no exposure; p-trend=0.004), LD+ (1.75; 1.10-2.78; p-trend=0.005, versus no LD), and OM (2.07; 1.19-3.61; p-trend=0.020). Moderate to high heavy metals exposure was associated with greater odds of having LD+ (1.49; 1.00-2.14; p-trend=0.026) and OM (1.59; 0.99-2.55, p-trend=0.051). Greater odds of LD+ were seen among smokers with moderate to high silica exposure versus non-smokers with low or no exposure (high-certainty assessment, 2.53; 1.31-4.90; p-interaction=0.061). These findings, based on a systematic exposure assessment, suggest that occupational and hobby exposures to silica and heavy metals contribute to adult IIM phenotypes, including DM, OM, and LD+, a possible marker for anti-synthetase or other autoantibody-associated lung disease.

Alcohol and mortality in Mexico: prospective study of 150 000 adults

Alcohol consumption is a leading cause of premature death globally, but there is no large-scale prospective evidence from Mexico. The Mexico City Prospective Study recruited 150 000 adults aged 35 years or older between 1998 and 2004. Participants were followed up until Oct 1, 2022 for cause-specific mortality. Cox regression in those with no self-reported chronic disease at entry (adjusted for age, sex, district, education, physical activity, smoking, and diabetes) was used to relate baseline-reported alcohol consumption (never, former, occasional [less than monthly], and regular [at least monthly, split into <70, ≥70 to <140, ≥140 to <210, and ≥210 g/week]) to mortality at ages 35-74 from all causes, and from a pre-specified alcohol-related set of underlying causes. Heavy episodic drinking (normally consuming >5 [men] or >4 [women] drinks on a single occasion) and type of preferred drink were also examined. Among 138 413 participants aged 35-74 years at recruitment, 21 136 (15%) were regular alcohol drinkers (14 863 [33%] men, 6273 [7%] women), of whom 13 383 (63%) favoured spirits and 6580 (31%) favoured beer. During follow-up, there were 13 889 deaths at ages 35-74 years, including 3067 deaths from the pre-specified alcohol-related causes. Overall, J-shaped associations with mortality were observed. Compared with occasional drinkers, those with baseline-reported consumption ≥210 g/week had 43% higher all-cause mortality (rate ratio [RR] 1·43 [95% CI 1·30-1·56]) and nearly three times the mortality from the pre-specified alcohol-related causes (2·77 [2·39-3·20]). Death from liver disease was strongly related to alcohol consumption; the RR comparing regular drinkers of ≥140 g/week with occasional drinkers was 4·03 (3·36-4·83). Compared with occasional light drinking, occasional heavy episodic drinking was associated with 20% higher alcohol-related mortality (1·20 [1·06-1·35]), and regular heavy episodic drinking was associated with 89% higher alcohol-related mortality (1·89 [1·67-2·15]). Drinks with alcohol percentages higher than spirits were associated with the greatest increased mortality risk, even after accounting for the total alcohol consumed. In this Mexican population, higher alcohol consumption, episodic drinking, and very high percentage alcoholic products were all associated with increased mortality. Wellcome Trust, the Mexican Health Ministry, the National Council of Science and Technology for Mexico, Cancer Research UK, British Heart Foundation, and the UK Medical Research Council. For the Spanish translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Psychometric Property of the Japanese Version of Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease Scale in Individuals with Chronic Diseases

BackgroundAlthough accurately assessing self-efficacy for self-management is crucial in chronic illness care, important, there is a scarcity of validated psychometric properties in Japan. This study aimed to validate a Japanese version of the Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease (SEMCD-J) scale. MethodsIndividuals with self-reported chronic diseases, symptoms, or conditions for over one year were recruited online. The SEMCD-J was translated through translation, back translation, and cognitive interviews with 15 participants. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Center for Disease Control and Prevention Healthy Days Core Module-4 (CDC-HRQOL-4) were used to evaluate the scale’s validity. Test-retest reliability was assessed two weeks after the initial measurement. ResultsOf 500 participants, 494 were analyzed and 149 were analyzed for test-retest reliability. The mean item score was 5.54 ± 2.12. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with a 1-factor model showed good fit (CFI = 0.94, TLI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.23, SRMR = 0.04). CFA with a 2-factor model showed better fit (CFI = 0.99, TLI = 0.98, RMSEA = 0.11, SRMR = 0.01). Cronbach’s α of the total, Factor 1, and Factor 2 were 0.97, 0.97, and 0.92. Their item-total correlations ranged from 0.88 to 0.95, 0.93 to 0.97, and 0.92 to 0.93, respectively. Their interclass correlation coefficients were 0.63, 0.58, and 0.66, respectively. The minimum detectable change was 3.56. Pearson’s correlation analyses indicated that SEMCD-J was significantly associated with PHQ-9 (r = -0.57, p < 0.001) and the dimensions of CDC-HRQOL-4, namely, the degree of general health (r = -0.55, p < 0.001), physically unhealthy days (r = -0.46, p < 0.001), mentally unhealthy days (r = -0.48, p < 0.001), and functionally unhealthy days (r = -0.50, p = < 0.001). ConclusionThe validity and reliability of the SEMCD-J were indicated to be acceptable.

Validity and Reliability of Self-Reported Prevalent and Incident Cardiovascular Disease Among Asian Adults

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in Asians. We aimed to examine the validity and reliability of self-reported (SR) CVD in 6762 Chinese, Malay, and Indian adults aged 40–80 years who attended the baseline (November 2004) and 6-year follow-up visit (2011–2017) of a population-based cohort study in Singapore. CVD was defined based on the presence of existing (prevalent) or new onset (incident) cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or stroke. The validity of SR-CVD was assessed by comparing it against diagnosed CVD using sensitivity and specificity. The reliability of SR-CVD was evaluated by calculating the percentage of positive agreement between baseline and follow-up visits. The sensitivity and specificity of SR-CVD were 62.7% and 93.8% for prevalent SR-CVD and 50.9% and 98.5% for incident SR-CVD. The negative predictive value (NPV) was 98.1% for both prevalent and incident SR-CVD. The reliability of positive self-reports between the baseline and follow-up was substantial, at 85%. The excellent specificity and NPV of SR-CVD suggest that it could serve as a valuable tool for excluding AMI and stroke. However, its moderate sensitivity suggests that positive SR-CVD reports should prompt further clinical evaluation to prevent potential false positives.

Sex-specific associations of cigarettes and E-cigarettes use with self-reported premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease among adults aged 18–54 in the United States

Sex-specific associations of cigarettes and E-cigarettes use with self-reported premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease among adults aged 18–54 in the United States

Addressing data quality issues to assess clinical and epidemiological risk factors for COVID-19 among documented cases in Liberia: a single-centre, retrospective, observational study

IntroductionIdentification of risk factors for severe COVID-19 can help to inform case management in resource-constrained settings. We aimed to rigorously but retroactively address data issues to identify risk factors for...

The association between periodontal disease and coronary artery disease: insights from imaging, observational and genome-wide data

Abstract Background Periodontal disease is the sixth most common disease worldwide. It has been suggested that it may be a contributory risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). From a public health perspective, prevention of periodontal disease is relatively straightforward and cost-effective: daily brushing, flossing and, where applicable, smoking cessation. Purpose This study utilises imaging, longitudinal and genomic data to characterise the association between periodontal disease and CAD. Methods 481,915 individuals from the UK Biobank were included in this study, 18.9% (n = 91,022) of whom had self-reported periodontal disease. For the imaging analysis, a maximum of 59,019 had paired cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) data. Multivariable linear regression models were constructed to examine the association of periodontal disease on CMR outcomes with LV end-diastolic volume, LV mass, LV mass:volume ratio (MVR), LV ejection fraction, LV global longitudinal strain and native T1 values considered as prognostically important phenotypes. The relationship between periodontal disease and incident CAD was assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression models. To examine the relationship of genetically-determined periodontal disease on CAD, a de novo GWAS for periodontal disease was performed and a genome-wide polygenic risk score (PRS) was constructed. Results Periodontal disease was associated with a significantly higher LV MVR (effect size = 0.00233, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.0006, 0.004) and significantly lower LV native global T1 value (effect size = -0.86 ms, 95% CI = -1.63, -0.09). The presence of periodontal disease was independently associated with a significantly increased hazard of incident CAD (HR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.07, 1.13) at a median follow-up time of 13.8 years (Figure 1). Each standard deviation increase in the periodontal disease PRS was associated with increased odds of CAD (OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.02, 1.05) (Figure 2). Conclusion Using an integrated approach across imaging, observational and genomic data, periodontal disease is independently associated with biomarkers of subclinical remodelling as well as incident CAD. These findings highlight the potential importance of periodontal disease in the broader context of cardiovascular disease prevention.

Surfing a culturally-relevant physical activity: a new wave for health promotion

Abstract Background Surfing originated with Native Hawaiians prior to Western contact. It has since gained worldwide popularity, with an estimated 50 million surfers globally, and recently became an official Olympic sport. Associations have been reported between surfing and mental and physical health outcomes, greater community cohesion, and stronger intra-family relationships. Despite this evidence, surfing is deeply understudied in the context of health promotion. Purpose Surfing was analyzed from a mixed methods perspective to explore factors associated with lifetime participation and current engagement, including gender, race/ethnicity, chronic disease, social context, meaning, and average time of participation. Methods Hawai’i adult residents (n = 1066) completed an online or phone questionnaire. Modified Poisson regression models were fit for lifetime engagement and having a self-reported chronic disease, adjusting for primary race/ethnicity, age, gender, and education. Results Over their lifetime, 42% of respondents (50% men and 37% women) had participated in surfing. Engagement was highest during youth and young adulthood, and decreased with age, yet trends varied notably by race/ethnicity, gender, and generation. Lifetime surfing engagement was significantly related to lower likelihood of diabetes (aPR:0.72; 95%CI:0.56-0.92;p=0.009). Individuals who regularly participated in surfing typically did so with friends (78%) or family (61%); average surfing session duration was 209 minutes. Qualitative results revealed the relevance of surfing across levels of influence for health and wellbeing from physical fitness to community, culture, history and spirituality. Conclusions This work provides insights on the health promotion opportunities of surfing across the life-course and populations, including disease prevention and management. This study has implications for planning and policy locally and globally to achieve optimal community and planetary health. Key messages • Surfing is not only a sport for elite athletes, but also an activity that can support community and individual health and wellbeing in many populations over the lifespan. • Promotion of surfing and public ocean access can support multidimensional influences for wellbeing and should be a focus of cross sector collaborations for optimal community and planetary health.

Dose-Response Independent and Joint Associations of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior With Mortality Risk in 40 156 Australian Adults With Coronary Heart Disease.

Little is known about the relationship between physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) with death in people with coronary heart disease. The aim was to examine the independent and joint associations of PA and SB with death. This is a prospective cohort study including Australian participants aged ≥45 years with self-reported coronary heart disease (2006-2020). Self-reported PA (min/wk) and SB (h/d) were the exposures. Cardiac and all-cause death were the main outcomes. The cohort included 40 156 participants (mean age, 70.3 (SD, 10.3) years; 15 278 women [38%]). During a median follow-up of 11.1 (interquartile range, 6.2-14.4) years, 2497 cardiac and 12 240 all-cause deaths were recorded. Compared with no PA, a 20% to 30% lower risk of cardiac and all-cause death was associated with any level of PA. Walking and moderate to vigorous PA at 150 to 300 min/wk was associated with a 43% to 44% lower risk of cardiac death and 35% to 40% lower risk of all-cause death. Compared with ≥10.5 h/d of SB, participants who were sedentary for 7 to 10.4 h/d experienced an ≈25% reduced associated risk of cardiac and all-cause death. A 56% associated reduction in all-cause mortality risk was found if SB was limited to <3.4 h/d. If participants completed >150 min/wk moderate to vigorous PA and spent <7 h/d in SB, the associated risk of cardiac and all-cause death was reduced by ≈70%. All people with coronary heart disease should be encouraged to meet the PA guidelines and limit SB to <7 h/d, noting any increase in physical activity and decrease in SB is better than none to prevent premature death.

Falls and fall-related injuries: prevalence, characteristics, and treatment among participants of the Geelong Osteoporosis Study.

Falls are a significant public health challenge, especially among older adults. In Australia, falls and related injuries incur an annual cost of $2.3 billion. However, there is a scarcity of prevalence data on falls among population-based groups. This study aimed to report the characteristics, circumstances, and treatment for falls and fall-related injuries in a population-based sample of Australian men and women. Participants from the Geelong Osteoporosis Study provided cross-sectional data: baseline for men (2001-2006) and 10-year follow-up for women (2004-2008). Falls over the previous 12 months were self-reported by 2,631 participants aged 20-97 years (1,533 men and 1,098 women). The study described the timing, location, cause, and treatment of falls. Fall prevalence was standardized to the 2006 Australian population. Data collection included self-reported prior fractures, medication, disease conditions, anthropometry, and biochemical tests. Binary logistic regression identified factors linked to fall-related injuries. Fall rates by age group: 20-29 (24.4%), 30-39 (21.5%), 40-49 (18.7%), 50-59 (24.9%), 60-69 (25.0%), 70-79 (34.6%), 80+ (40.5%). The age-standardized prevalence of falls was 25.0% (95% CI: 23.4-26.7%). In adults ≥65 years, the age-standardized prevalence of falls was 32.4% (95% CI: 29.3-35.5%). Fallers were typically older, less mobile, had higher BMI and cholesterol levels, and were more likely to have musculoskeletal conditions, cancer, and polypharmacy. Men had a higher fall risk, but fewer fall-related fractures compared to women. Most falls occurred outdoors (62.1%), were due to extrinsic cause (58.5%), and were on the same level (78.5%). Factors associated with fall-related injuries included being female, elevated falls and falls outside the home. Nearly half (45.7%) of those injured sought medical attention, primarily from general practitioners (25.7%) and emergency departments (12.6%). Falls are common, occurring in approximately one quarter of adults in this study, with a greater prevalence among those ≥65 years. Women experienced fewer multiple falls than men. Many participants sought medical attention, primarily from general practitioners. This research identifies fall characteristics and circumstances, informing targeted prevention strategies to reduce occurrences and alleviate burdens on healthcare systems and individuals.

Oral Health Related Factors Predicting Severe COVID-19 Disease in Elderly Swedes.

To analyse different background factors that may serve as predictors for acquiring symptoms of severe COVID-19 disease. A postal questionnaire was sent to the total population of individuals born between 1942 (80 years, n = 6299) and 1932 (90 years, n = 1904) living in the Örebro and Östergötland counties, Sweden, in 2017 and repeated in 2022. Tentative predictive factors for self-reported severe COVID-19 disease were based on the responses from the 2017 questionnaire related to general and oral health and prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Response rate to the main questionnaire in 2022 was 66% (5375/8203), and 577 reported having been sick with COVID-19 out of which 359 agreed to answer a separate questionnaire on COVID-19. This questionnaire was returned by 278/359 of the participants corresponding to a response rate of 77%. Information gleaned from the 2017 pre-COVID-19 survey revealed a relatively large number of associations between severity of subsequently self-reported COVID-19 disease and several diverse tentative related factors found in unadjusted regression analyses. Based on statistically significant correlations in the adjusted regression analysis, significant predictive factors (based on self-reports from 2017) for contracting severe COVID-19 were in decreasing order of odds ratios (OR): reported removable partial or complete denture usage (OR 6.2, CI 2.2-17.2); reported periodontal problems in the past year (OR 3.4, CI 1.1-10.4); and reported daytime dry mouth (OR 2.5, CI 1.2-5.2). Removable dentures, periodontal problems and daytime dry mouth were predictors for developing symptoms of severe COVID-19 disease.

Characterizing Fatigue by Multiple Sclerosis Subtype and Determining Validity of a Fatigue Scale Specific to Persons With Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.

Fatigue is a common and debilitating symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS). Prior work suggests that the prevalence of fatigue is higher in progressive MS (PMS) than relapsing MS (RRMS). No patient-reported outcomes of fatigue have been validated specifically for individuals with PMS, despite evidence that they characterize fatigue differently than individuals with RRMS. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize fatigue in both the RRMS and PMS subtypes and determine the convergent validity of the Fatigue Symptoms and Impacts Questionnaire (FSIQ) for individuals with PMS. A nationwide survey yielded 806 (637 RRMS, 169 PMS) complete responses. The survey collected demographic information and self-reported disease severity, as well as measures of fatigue, health-related quality of life, and self-reported functioning. People with PMS reported significantly more severe fatigue than those with RRMS (P < .001). The FSIQ subdomains of physical, cognitive/emotional, and coping demonstrated moderate (r = 0.5-0.75) to excellent (r > 0.75) validity (P < .001) with other measures of fatigue. More severe fatigue in people with PMS as compared to those with RRMS underscores the importance of using validated tools to capture fatigue in persons with PMS. The FSIQ is a valid and freely available tool to capture the physical, mental, and emotional fatigue of individuals with PMS.

Potential association between allergenic food exposure and skin disease in Bangladesh: An application of principal component logistic regression (PCLR).

Allergenic foods can trigger skin conditions, yet their impact in Bangladesh remains underexplored. This study aims to investigate the potential association between exposure to allergenic foods and the development of skin disease across Bangladesh. We conducted a cross-sectional survey with 970 respondents from the divisions of Dhaka, Sylhet, Rangpur, and Chattogram who self-reported skin disease triggered by food allergens. We analyzed the data using multiple response analysis and principal component logistic regression. Approximately 64% of respondents had skin disease attributable to allergenic foods, with a relatively higher proportion among females (52%) than males (48%). Beef (67%), Brinjal (47.1%), Hilsa (45.8%), and Shrimp (23.7%) were the most frequently cited allergenic foods. Principal component logistic regression identified two highly significant principal components: the first representing Hilsa, Beef, and Brinjal (odds ratio = 2.256), and the sixth reflecting Corn (odds ratio = 1.342). Individuals who consumed foods with high loadings of the first principal component were 125.6% more likely to develop skin disease than nonconsumers, while those exposed to Corn had a 34.2% higher risk. The findings highlight prevalent allergenic foods in Bangladesh and their substantial impact on skin health, underscoring the need for dietary awareness and tailored interventions to mitigate allergic skin conditions in this population.

Lifestyle aspects are associated with common mental disorders in women over 40 years older in a population-based study

Background & AimsCommon mental disorders (CMD) are more prevalent in women, as well as noncommunicable diseases. Diet and physical activity are lifestyle modifiable factors that might help on managing these conditions. MethodsThis study aimed to investigate the association between lifestyle aspects (diet and physical activity) and common mental disorders in women aged 40+ years. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, population-based study (2015 ISA-Nutrition) with a representative sample of São Paulo-SP-Brazil urban residents. The present study was conducted with data from 467 women aged 40+ years old. Common Mental Disorders (dependent variable) were investigated by the Self-Reporting Questionnaire-20 (SRQ-20); the independent variables of interest were: the inflammatory potential of the diet was evaluated by dietary inflammatory index (DII), and physical activity level (evaluated by IPAQ) adopting the leisure dimension of physical activity. We considered as adjusting variables the presence of self-reported Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD), the age intervals (defined as 40-45, 46-50, 51-55, 56-60, 61+ years old), schooling, (according to years of formal education), Body Mass Index (BMI); and ethnicity (self-declared skin color). Simple and multi-adjusted logistic regression models were performed to investigate the associations. ConclusionsThe main findings indicate that the prevalence of CMD was 32.2%, and the frequency of having one or more NCD was 67.2%. In the final regression model, CMD was associated with the highest tertile of the DII (OR=2.215; p=0.003) and having three, and four or more NCD (OR= 6. 735; p<0.001, and OR= 3.874; p=0.033, respectively). Altogether, our results indicate that dietary inflammatory characteristics, and physical activity, along with NCD, are associated with CMD, in women aged 40+ years old, in different dimensions.

Predictive validity of the Questionnaire for Medical Checkup of Old-Old for all-cause mortality and disability incidence.

The Questionnaire for Medical Checkup of Old-Old (QMCOO) has been used nationwide in Japan as part of the health checkup for latter-stage older adults since the financial year 2020. Although the QMCOO is useful in screening for frailty, its cutoff values for predicting adverse health outcomes have rarely been assessed. Therefore, this study aimed to calculate the cutoff values for predicting all-cause mortality and disability incidence and to evaluate their predictive validity. This study included 3837 health checkup recipients aged ≥75 years residing in Higashiura Town, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The health checkup was conducted from June 1, 2020, to January 31, 2021. Mortality and disability incidence were analyzed separately. For the latter, participants with a disability history were excluded, leaving 3040 available for analysis. During the follow-up of 11 191 and 8550 person-years, 276 died and 438 developed a disability, respectively. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (95% confidence intervals) for all-cause mortality and disability incidence were 0.68 (0.65-0.71) and 0.66 (0.63-0.68), respectively, with QMCOO cutoff values at 3/4 and 2/3 points. Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, self-reported diseases, and frequency of alcohol consumption demonstrated the predictive validity of those cutoff values. The optimal cutoff value of the QMCOO for predicting all-cause mortality was 3/4, while the optimal cutoff value for predicting disability incidence was 2/3 among an older Japanese population. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; ••: ••-••.

Prospective Cytokine Profiling in Aqueous Humor Reveals a Proinflammatory Microenvironment in Highly Dense Nuclear Cataracts.

To investigate if the cytokine profile in the aqueous humor (AH) of cataract patients varies according to cataract type and severity. This prospective study included 397 eyes of 397 patients (median age, 76 years; range, 30-94 years) who underwent standard small-incision phacoemulsification surgery. Cataracts were graded using the LOCS III system: mild (≤3), moderate (3.5-5), and severe (≥5). Biometric measurements from the IOL master 700 (Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany) were used to differentiate between thick (>4.5 mm) and thin lenses. Information about age, gender, and self-reported diseases was obtained from patient records. Eleven different proteins were measured in AH using a multiplex cytokine assay (AYOXXA Biosystems, Cologne, Germany), including IL- 6, IL-8, angiopoietin 2, C-reactive protein (CRP), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), platelet-derived growth factor BB, placental growth factor, CXCL12, CXCL13, and CXCL10. Statistical analysis was performed using R and included nonparametrical testing, linear regression, and k-means clustering. Higher nuclear LOCS grades correlated with increased levels of CCL2 (360 vs. 387 vs. 517 pg/mL, P < 0.001), VEGF-A (270 vs. 292 vs. 390 pg/mL, P = 0.012), IL-8 (3.1 vs. 4.2 vs. 5.7 pg/mL, P = 0.018), and CXCL10 (52 vs. 61 vs. 90 pg/mL, P = 0.003). No associations were observed for cortical and subcapsular cataracts. Thicker lenses were associated with significantly increased levels of CRP, CXCL10, CXCL12, IL-6, IL-8, and VEGF-A. The cytokine profile of AH varies based on cataract grading and lens thickness. In highly dense nuclear cataracts, CCL2, VEGF-A, IL-8, and CXCL10 were elevated.

A Longitudinal Investigation of the Prevalence and Incidence of Self-Reported COVID-19 Disease and the Pandemic's Impact Among Seventh-day Adventist and Non-Adventists Living in the UK.

This research investigated the prevalence and incidence of COVID-19 infection among Seventh-day Adventist Christians in the UK compared to non-Adventists and assessed the pandemic's impact on their health and dietary intake. Seventh-day Adventists and non-Adventists in the UK completed an online survey, including a Food Frequency Questionnaire, a 24-h dietary recall, and health and lifestyle questions. Participants were followed for 2years to determine COVID-19 incidence rates. The baseline survey was completed by 170 people, 86 of whom were Adventists. The follow-up at 2years showed a significantly lower self-reported COVID-19 incidence among Adventists (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.2, 1.0, p = 0.05). The incidence rate among Adventists was 65.48 per 1000 person-years versus 121.79 per 1000 person-years among non-Adventists. Adventists were less likely to experience long COVID (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.12, 0.78, p = 0.01). Despite being older, Adventists had a significantly lower COVID-19 incidence rate. The Adventist lifestyle, including healthy eating habits, fasting, a plant-based diet, and abstaining from alcohol and coffee, was prevalent in this sample. More research is needed to explore the association between the Adventist lifestyle and infectious disease.

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C Virus and Factors Associated with It in Armenia, 2021.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is among the leading causes of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Knowledge of its prevalence and risk factors can help to effectively fight the virus. This study was the first to investigate the seroprevalence of HCV, its genotypes, and factors associated with it among the general adult population of Armenia selected countrywide via cluster sampling. Anti-HCV antibodies were detected using third-generation immunoassay. Polymerase chain reaction and genotyping was performed among anti-HCV-positive individuals. Shortly after testing, the participants underwent a telephone survey. Logistic regression models were fitted to identify factors associated with anti-HCV antibody positivity and chronic HCV infection. The prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies among 3831 tested individuals was 2% (99% CI 1.4, 2.5), and chronic HCV infection was 0.7% (99% CI 0.4, 1.0), with genotypes 3 and 2 being the most common. The risk factors for chronic HCV infection included self-reported chronic liver disease (95% CI 1.47, 15.28), having tattoos (95% CI 1.34, 10.94), ever smoking (95% CI 1.16, 9.18), and testing positive for hepatitis B virus core antibody (95% CI 1.02, 7.17). These risk factors demonstrate that there could be room for strengthening infection control measures to prevent the transmission of HCV in Armenia.