Unfavorable Lifestyle Factors Research Articles

Factors Associated With Adolescent Chronic Non-Specific Pain, Chronic Multisite Pain, and Chronic Pain With High Disability: The Young–HUNT Study 2008

The aim of this study was to assess the association of chronic pain with different lifestyle factors and psychological symptoms in a large, unselected adolescent population. Pain was evaluated as chronic non-specific pain, chronic multisite pain, and in additional analyses, chronic pain with high disability. The study was performed during 2006 to 2008 in Nord-Trøndelag County, Norway. Adolescents aged 13 to 18 years were invited to participate. The response rate was 78%. The final study population consisted of 7,373. Sedentary behavior and pain were associated only in girls. In both sexes, overweight and obesity were associated with increased odds of pain. Whereas both smoking and alcohol intoxication showed strong associations with pain, the associations were attenuated after adjustments for psychosocial factors. Symptoms of anxiety and depression showed the strongest associations with pain (odds ratio 4.1 in girls and 3.7 in boys). The odds of pain increased gradually by number of unfavorable lifestyle factors reported. This study revealed consistent associations between lifestyle factors, anxiety and depression, and chronic pain, including multisite pain and pain with high disability. The consistency across the different pain categories suggests common underlying explanatory mechanisms, and despite the cross-sectional design, the study indicates several modifiable targets in the management of adolescent chronic pain. PerspectiveThis study showed a clear and consistent relation between different lifestyle factors, anxiety and depression, and the pain categories chronic non-specific pain, multisite pain, and also pain with high disability. Independent of causality, it underlines the importance of a broad perspective when studying, preventing, and treating chronic pain in adolescents.

Socio-demographic and lifestyle determinants of ‘Western-like’ and ‘Health conscious’ dietary patterns in toddlers

Determinants of a child's diet shortly after weaning and lactation have been relatively understudied. The aim of the present study was hence to identify common dietary patterns in toddlers and to explore parental and child indicators of these dietary patterns. The study was a population-based, prospective birth-cohort study in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Food consumption data of 2420 children aged 14 months were used. A 'Health conscious' dietary pattern characterised by pasta, fruits, vegetables, oils, legumes and fish, and a 'Western-like' dietary pattern characterised by snacks, animal fats, confectionery and sugar-containing beverages were extracted using principal component analysis. Low paternal education, low household income, parental smoking, multiparity, maternal BMI, maternal carbohydrate intake and television-watching of child were determinants of a 'Western-like' diet, whereas parental age, dietary fibre intake during pregnancy, introduction of solids after 6 months and female sex were inversely associated with a 'Western-like' diet of the child. Maternal co-morbidity, alcohol consumption during pregnancy and female sex were inversely associated with a 'Health conscious' dietary pattern of the child, while single parenthood, folic acid use and dietary fibre intake during pregnancy were positively associated. All aforementioned associations were statistically significant. In conclusion, both 'Western-like' and 'Health conscious' diets can already be identified in toddlers. Particularly, adherence to a 'Western-like' diet is associated with unfavourable lifestyle factors of the parents and child, and low socio-economic background. These findings can form a basis for future epidemiological studies regarding dietary patterns and health outcomes in young children.

Relationship between skipping breakfast and impaired fasting glucose along with cardiovascular and pre-diabetes condition risk factors in apparently healthy subjects

Regular food intake plays a pivotal role in normal glucose homeostasis. However, few studies have evaluated the level of fasting glucose in individuals with skipping breakfast, which theoretically means lack of supplementary energy and increased risk of subsequent hypoglycemia. We examined the prevalence of suspected habitual skipping breakfast (SHSB) (skipping at least three times /week), roughly assessed with a simple question, and fasting plasma glucose level, cardiovascular risk factors, and lifestyle factors in a cross-sectional study of 2,331 asymptomatic adults who had never been treated with insulin or oral medications for diabetes. The overall prevalence of SHSB was 16.3% (men 20.1%, women 9.4%, P<0.0001, χ2 test). Compared with normal fasting glucose, impaired fasting glucose (IFG) (100-125 mg/dl), but not high fasting glucose (≥126 mg/dL), was significantly associated with SHSB and this association remained after adjustment for relevant confounders [Odds Ratio (95% CI): 1.75 (1.33-2.30) and 2.10 (0.93- 4.71), respectively]. Age (inversely), current smoking, late dinner before sleeping, infrequent exercise, and high C-reactive protein (≥1.8 mg/L) were simultaneously associated with SHSB independently of each other. In a subgroup of subjects who underwent a 75g oral glucose tolerance test (n=1,315) of pre-diabetes groups, isolated IFG (n=272) was only significantly associated with SHSB. Current results suggest that IFG, subtle inflammatory state, and unfavorable lifestyle factors may be associated with the habit of skipping breakfast in asymptomatic adults. Causality and detailed mechanisms remain to be clarified in further studies.

Prophylactics of Erectile Dysfunction in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

For prophylactics of erectile dysfunction in patients with metabolic syndrome, all unfavorable life-style factors should be excluded and all metabolic disturbances should be corrected. This will reduce the severity and stabilize the course of metabolic syndrome. Administration of special drugs is required for prevention of erection disturbances.

Endothelial Progenitor Cells, Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Cytokine Levels and Atherosclerosis – Results from a Large Population-Based Study

BackgroundEPC number and functionality are assumed to reflect the endogenous vascular repair capacity with the EPC pool declining in higher ages and being exhausted by unfavorable life-style and risk factors. This intriguing and clinically highly relevant concept, however, has so far been derived from small case-control studies and patient series.Methodology and Principle FindingsIn the population-based Bruneck Study EPC number and EPC-colony forming units (EPC-CFU) were assessed as part of the fourth follow-up evaluation (2005) in 571 and 542 subjects, respectively. EPC number declined with age (p = 0.013), was significantly lower in women (p = 0.006) and higher in subjects on statin, hormone replacement or ACE inhibitor/angiotensin-receptor blockers, and correlated positively with moderate alcohol consumption. Unexpectedly, a positive relation between EPC number and several vascular risk factors emerged. In a step forward multivariate linear regression analysis EPC number was independently related with SDF1α, MMP-9, triglycerides, alcohol consumption, and Hba1c. EPC-CFU in turn was related to SDF1α and diastolic blood pressure. Moreover, EPC number showed a significant positive association with the Framingham risk score (P = 0.001). Finally, there was an inverse association between EPC number and common carotid artery intima-media thickness (p = 0.02) and the carotid artery atherosclerosis score (p = 0.059).ConclusionsOur population-based data confirm the decline of EPC number with advancing age and lend first epidemiological support to a role of SDF-1α and MMP9 in EPC differentiation, mobilization and homing, but are conflict with the view that EPC number is unfavorably affected by cardiovascular risk factors. EPC number increases with the cardiovascular risk estimated by the Framingham risk score (FRS), which in the absence of similar changes for EPC-CFU. Finally, we demonstrate a significant inverse association between EPC number and extent of carotid atherosclerosis even though this association was only of moderate strength and not entirely consistent in other vascular territories.

Myocardial Infarction Among Professional Drivers

Professional drivers are at an increased risk of myocardial infarction but the underlying causes for this increased risk are uncertain. We identified all first events of myocardial infarction among men age 45-70 years in Stockholm County for 1992 and 1993. We selected controls randomly from the population. Response rates of 72% and 71% resulted in 1067 cases and 1482 controls, respectively. We obtained exposure information from questionnaires. We calculated odds ratios (ORs), with and without adjustment for socioeconomic status, tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, physical inactivity at leisure time, overweight status, diabetes and hypertension. The crude OR among bus drivers was 2.14 (95% confidence interval = 1.34-3.41), among taxi drivers 1.88 (1.19-2.98) and among truck drivers 1.66 (1.22-2.26). Adjustment for potential confounders gave lower ORs: 1.49 (0.90-2.45), 1.34 (0.82-2.19) and 1.10 (0.79-1.53), respectively. Additional adjustment for job strain lowered the ORs only slightly. An exposure-response pattern (by duration of work) was found for bus and taxi drivers. The high risk among bus and taxi drivers was partly explained by unfavorable life-style factors and social factors. The work environment may contribute to their increased risk. Among truck drivers, individual risk factors seemed to explain most of the elevated risk.

Health, environment and quality of life: an epidemiological perspective on urban development

Until the 20th century, west European health status was primarily determined by environmental factors, especially hygienic conditions and housing standards. Since the public health transition unfavourable social and life-style factors have gradually become the most significant causes of avoidable health loss. This paper identifies the principal determinants of health, and reviews the changing relative importance of environmental and societal forces for health status. It is concluded that the current situation calls for new definitions of health and well being, as well as for a new demarcation of the field of environmental quality. Environmental health should be part of an integrated, multi-disciplinary, multi-sectoral approach towards deprived urban areas, incorporating policies on socio-economic, spatial and environmental aspects of neighbourhoods. As a consequence, environmental health science should also widen its scope, integrating urban planning, architecture, social psychology, epidemiology, public health and environmental sciences.

Sleep disorders in the elderly.

Sleep is important for health and quality of life at all ages, and poor sleep interacts with many medical conditions. Somatic and psychiatric diseases, and unfavourable habits and life-style factors, increase the propensity to insomnia in older persons. As health deteriorates with age, sleep becomes poorer. Heart disease and stroke, cancer, painful conditions, breathing disorders and nocturnal polyuria syndrome often disturb sleep. Dementia and depression, which are often associated with sleep disturbances, are also more prevalent in the elderly. Moreover, true age-related sleep deterioration occurs after the age of 75 years. Attempts to improve sleep should first and foremost be focused on elimination of somatic and psychiatric symptoms as far as possible, and on modification of lifestyle factors that may affect sleep quality. For short term treatment, hypnotics are appropriate; for longer periods, nonpharmacological methods, for example light therapy or behavioural modification techniques, should be considered, as many hypnotic drugs are less suitable for long term use. However, there are situations when sleep medication must continue for long periods, especially in elderly patients with severe diseases and poor quality of life. In these patients, careful individualisation of therapy is appropriate.