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Medicine Apr 2021Stroke is the major leading cause of death and severe long-term disability worldwide. The consequences of stroke, aside from diminished survival, have a significant...
Stroke is the major leading cause of death and severe long-term disability worldwide. The consequences of stroke, aside from diminished survival, have a significant impact on an individual's capability in maintaining self-autonomy and life satisfaction (LS). Thus, this study aimed to assess LS and other specific domains of LS in stroke survivors following their first-ever stroke, and to describe the relationship using socio-demographic and stroke-related variables.This study recruited 376 stroke survivors (244 men and 132 women, mean age: 57 years) 1 year following stroke. Data on participants' LS (measured using the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire [LiSat-11]), socio-demographics, and stroke-related variables were collected.Univariate analysis showed that LS and the 10 specific domains were not associated with the patients' gender or stroke type; however, age at onset, marital status, and vocational situation were significantly associated with some domains in LiSat-11 (Spearman's rho = 0.42-0.87; all P < 0.05). Logistic regression revealed that verbal and cognitive dysfunction were the most negative predictors of LS (odds ratio 4.1 and 3.7, respectively).LS is negatively affected in stroke survivors 1 year post onset. The results indicate that recovering social engagement is a positive predictor of higher LS in stroke survivors. More importantly, the findings revealed that cognitive and verbal dysfunctions were the most prominent negative predictors of the overall gross level of LS. Multidisciplinary rehabilitation for stroke survivors is therefore critical.
Topics: Aged; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Personal Autonomy; Personal Satisfaction; Quality of Life; Social Participation; Statistics, Nonparametric; Stroke; Stroke Rehabilitation; Surveys and Questionnaires; Survivors
PubMed: 33879705
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000025550 -
Sleep Medicine Apr 2023To investigate the effect of frequently reported between-individual (viz., age, gender, body mass index [BMI], and apnea-hypopnea index [AHI]) and within-individual...
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of frequently reported between-individual (viz., age, gender, body mass index [BMI], and apnea-hypopnea index [AHI]) and within-individual (viz., sleep stage and sleep position) snoring sound-related factors on snoring sound parameters in temporal, intensity, and frequency domains.
METHODS
This study included 83 adult snorers (mean ± SD age: 42.2 ± 11.3 yrs; male gender: 59%) who underwent an overnight polysomnography (PSG) and simultaneous sound recording, from which a total of 131,745 snoring events were extracted and analyzed. Data on both between-individual and within-individual factors were extracted from the participants' PSG reports.
RESULTS
Gender did not have any significant effect on snoring sound parameters. The fundamental frequency (FF; coefficient = -0.31; P = 0.02) and dominant frequency (DF; coefficient = -12.43; P < 0.01) of snoring sounds decreased with the increase of age, and the second formant increased (coefficient = 22.91; P = 0.02) with the increase of BMI. Severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA; AHI ≥30 events/hour), non-rapid eye movement sleep stage 3 (N3), and supine position were all associated with more, longer, and louder snoring events (P < 0.05). Supine position was associated with higher FF and DF, and lateral decubitus positions were associated with higher formants.
CONCLUSIONS
Within the limitations of the current patient profile and included factors, AHI was found to have greater effects on snoring sound parameters than the other between-individual factors. The included within-individual factors were found to have greater effects on snoring sound parameters than the between-individual factors under study.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Snoring; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive; Sleep; Polysomnography; Demography
PubMed: 36857868
DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2023.02.012 -
International Journal of Environmental... May 2021Physical activity increases human health potential and has an impact on achieving a higher quality of life in society. The aim of our research was to determine the...
Physical activity increases human health potential and has an impact on achieving a higher quality of life in society. The aim of our research was to determine the relationship between a physically active lifestyle and the quality of life of female students in the context of demographic and social factors (major, age, marital status, professional activity). The research was conducted among a group of 285 women studying physical culture and social sciences in Poznań and Szczecin (Poland). Average age: 22.7 ± 4.90. The standardized World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHQOL-BREF) questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life of female students, and the original survey technique was used to study the lifestyle of people undertaking physical activity in the context of socio-demographic factors. Nonparametric statistics were applied in the analyses of the results. The effect size was calculated for each test: E for the Kruskal-Wallis H test, Glass rank biserial correlation (rg) for the Mann-Whitney U test, and Cramér's V for the χ test. The value of p ≤0.05 was assumed to be a significant difference. In the study, it was shown that a higher overall quality of life and health satisfaction, as well as better results in the physical, psychological, and environmental domains, were achieved by female students who assessed their lifestyle as physically active in comparison to those physically inactive. Higher scores of overall quality of life and satisfaction with health were found among female students of physical education and people participating in physical recreation, who also achieved better results in the environmental domain. Female students aged 23-25 had a higher quality of life in the physical, psychological, and social domains. Having a partner or spouse had a positive effect on the quality of life of female students defined by the social domain. A higher overall quality of life and satisfaction with health were characteristic of people who were employed. In the search of factors positively influencing the quality of life of society, it seems necessary to promote a physically active lifestyle among students. The observed differences in the quality of life and health satisfaction of female students of selected majors require targeted programs and interventions that improve the quality of their lives at various stages of their studies. Such activities increase the health potential of the individual and society, not only in the biological, but also psychosocial dimension.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Exercise; Female; Humans; Poland; Quality of Life; Students; Surveys and Questionnaires; Universities; Young Adult
PubMed: 34068299
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18105194 -
PloS One 2022Improving Quality of Life (QoL) for patients with chronic diseases is a critical step in controlling disease progression and preventing complications. The COVID-19...
BACKGROUND
Improving Quality of Life (QoL) for patients with chronic diseases is a critical step in controlling disease progression and preventing complications. The COVID-19 pandemic has hampered chronic disease management, lowering patients' quality of life. Thus, we aimed to assess the quality of life and its determinants in patients with common chronic diseases, in Northwest Ethiopia during the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1815 randomly selected chronic patients with common chronic diseases. A standardized WHOQOL BREF tool was used, and electronic data collection was employed with the kobo toolbox data collection server. Overall QoL and the domains of Health-Related Quality of life (HRQoL) were determined. Structural equation modelling was done to estimate independent variables' direct and indirect effects. Path coefficients with a 95% confidence interval were reported.
RESULTS
About one in third, (33.35%) and 11.43% of the study participants had co-morbid conditions and identified complications, respectively. The mean score of QoL was 56.3 ranging from 14.59 and 98.95. The environmental domain was the most affected domain of HRQoL with a mean score of 52.18. Age, psychological, and environmental domains of HRQoL had a direct positive effect on the overall QoL while the physical and social relationships domains had an indirect positive effect. On the other hand, the number of medications taken, the presence of comorbidity, and complications had a direct negative impact on overall QoL. Furthermore, both rural residency and the presence of complications had an indirect negative effect on overall QoL via the mediator variables of environmental and physical health, respectively.
CONCLUSION
The quality of life was compromised in chronic disease patients. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the environmental domain of HRQoL was the most affected. Several socio-demographic and clinical factors had an impact on QoL, either directly or indirectly. These findings highlighted the importance of paying special attention to rural residents, patients with complications, patients taking a higher number of medications, and patients with comorbidity.
Topics: Humans; Latent Class Analysis; Quality of Life; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Pandemics; Chronic Disease
PubMed: 36472997
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278557 -
International Journal of Environmental... Aug 2022The employment rate of older people in Japan is expected to increase in the future owing to the increase in the retirement age. Preventing frailty is imperative to...
The employment rate of older people in Japan is expected to increase in the future owing to the increase in the retirement age. Preventing frailty is imperative to maintaining productive roles of older adults. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the association between productive roles and frailty factors among community-dwelling older adults. A total of 135 older adults, enrolled in 2017, participated in the study. Productive roles and domains related to frailty were measured. We measured usual gait speed and grip strength for the physical domain; Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) scores for the cognitive and mental domains; and social role and group activity for the social domain. Multivariate-adjusted logistic regression models revealed that having productive roles was associated with faster usual gait speed (odds ratios [OR] = 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.08; = 0.005) and lower GDS-15 score (OR = 0.79; 95% CI, 0.64-0.97; = 0.023). These results suggest that health promotion to maintain gait speed and prevent depressive symptoms may contribute to maintaining productivity in community-dwelling older adults.
Topics: Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Frail Elderly; Frailty; Geriatric Assessment; Humans; Independent Living
PubMed: 36078554
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191710838 -
Neurocritical Care Oct 2021Despite one third of children with acquired brain injury (ABI) experiencing new functional impairments following critical care admission, there is limited research... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
Despite one third of children with acquired brain injury (ABI) experiencing new functional impairments following critical care admission, there is limited research investigating the impact of new functional impairments on overall health-related quality of life (HRQOL) or among important HRQOL domains. We aimed to investigate the association between new functional impairments, measured by the Functional Status Scale (FSS), and HRQOL in pediatric patients with ABI after critical care.
METHODS
We conducted a secondary analysis of a prospective observational study of 275 children aged 2 months to 18 years with ABI. The primary exposure evaluated was change in FSS from baseline at hospital discharge, categorized per prior work (no change, 1-2 point increase, and ≥ 3 point increase). The primary outcome was overall HRQOL 6 months after hospital discharge, measured by the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) total score. Secondary outcomes were PedsQL domain scores. PedsQL total and domain scores were transformed into age-standardized z scores for analyses. Multiple linear regression models evaluated the association between FSS change category and HRQOL (overall and domain z scores) when controlling for demographic and clinical characteristics and were reported as β-coefficients with 95% confidence intervals.
RESULTS
Complete data were analyzed for 195 (71%) children, including 127 with traumatic brain injury. New functional impairment was common with 32 (16%) patients experiencing FSS increases ≥ 3, 50 (26%) patients with FSS increases of 1-2 points, and 113 (58%) patients with no change from prehospital baseline. The majority of children (63%) demonstrated HRQOL ratings ≥ 1 standard deviation below healthy age-based standards (z scores ≤ - 1). Regression models demonstrated older age, female sex, presence of comorbidities, and preadmission cardiopulmonary resuscitation were all significantly associated with poorer overall HRQOL (all p < 0.05). FSS increase ≥ 3 at discharge was significantly associated with worse overall HRQOL at follow-up (β = - 1.07; 95% confidence interval = - 1.63 to - 0.52) when controlling for the aforementioned significant factors, and significantly improved model fit (p value for change = 0.001). Similar findings in secondary analyses were found for physical domain scores, with FSS increase showing a significant association with worse physical HRQOL scores and improvements in model fit. Change in FSS was not significantly associated with other HRQOL domain scores (emotional, social, school, psychosocial).
CONCLUSIONS
Many children with ABI after critical care experience new functional impairments (FSS increases) and worse HRQOL than healthy peers. FSS increase at discharge is a significant risk factor for worse HRQOL in the months after hospital discharge and improves HRQOL models beyond illness and demographic variables alone.
Topics: Aged; Child; Female; Functional Status; Humans; Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; Patient Discharge; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life
PubMed: 34272680
DOI: 10.1007/s12028-021-01271-8 -
International Journal of Environmental... Nov 2022With the growing life expectancy for older adults, this study aims to examine the correlation among sociodemographic characteristics and the combined effect of...
BACKGROUND
With the growing life expectancy for older adults, this study aims to examine the correlation among sociodemographic characteristics and the combined effect of QoL-related domains including physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environmental factors with the overall QoL level of older adults in Taiwan.
METHODS
The WHOQOL-BREF Taiwanese Version questionnaire was adopted and conducted using a randomized telephone interview system from community household elders. In total, 1078 participants aged 65 years and older were recruited. A multiple regression model was used to examine the statistical significance between the overall QoL score as the dependent variable and the sociodemographic characteristics, and 26 items of QoL-related questionnaires as the independent variables.
RESULTS
Categories including female, aged 85 years and above, higher education level, and better financial situation had significantly higher overall QoL level. Except the physical health domain and six items, the correlations among all other domains and their including items of questionnaires with overall QoL level were significant.
CONCLUSION
The Taiwanese WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire can be used to examine the overall QoL level of elders in Taiwan. Nevertheless, the robust systems of universal health care and long-term care in Taiwan may have led to the no significance of the six items.
Topics: Aged; Female; Humans; Independent Living; Mental Health; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires; Taiwan; Male; Aged, 80 and over
PubMed: 36429340
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192214621 -
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal... Jan 2023Women cooperate over multiple domains and while research from western contexts portrays women's networks as limited in size and breadth, women receive help, particularly...
Women cooperate over multiple domains and while research from western contexts portrays women's networks as limited in size and breadth, women receive help, particularly with childcare, from a diverse range of individuals (allomothers). Nonetheless, little exploration has occurred into why we see such diversity. Wide maternal childcare networks may be a consequence of a lack of resource accumulation in mobile hunter-gatherers-where instead households rely on risk-pooling in informal insurance networks. By contrast, when households settle and accumulate resources, they are able to by absorbing losses. Thus, the size and composition of mothers' childcare networks may depend on risk-buffering, as captured by mobile and settled households in the Agta, a Philippine foraging population with diverse lifestyles. Across 78 children, we find that childcare from grandmothers and sisters was higher in settled camps, while childcare from male kin was lower, offering little support for risk-buffering. Nonetheless, girls' workloads were increased in settled camps while grandmothers had fewer dependent children, increasing their availability. These results point to gender-specific changes associated with shifting demographics as camps become larger and more settled. Evidently, women's social networks, rather than being constrained by biology, are responsive to the changing socioecological context. This article is part of the theme issue 'Cooperation among women: evolutionary and cross-cultural perspectives'.
Topics: Child; Humans; Male; Female; Child Care; Child Health; Grandparents; Mothers; Family Characteristics
PubMed: 36440566
DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0435 -
BMC Public Health Aug 2014Domain-specific physical activities may have different correlates and health effects, but few large studies have examined these questions, especially their separate...
BACKGROUND
Domain-specific physical activities may have different correlates and health effects, but few large studies have examined these questions, especially their separate associations with adiposity.
METHODS
We analysed cross-sectional data of 466 605 adults without any prior chronic diseases, enrolled during 2004-8, from 10 diverse localities across China. Physical activity level in each of 4 domains (occupation, commuting, household, and active-recreation), calculated as metabolic equivalent (MET)-hr/day, was related to social-demographic factors and measures of adiposity (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference [WC], and bio-impedance derived percentage body fat), using multivariable linear and logistic regression models.
RESULTS
The overall mean age was 50.8 years. The mean total physical activity was 21.7 MET-hr/day, mainly from occupation (62%) and household chores (26%), but little from active-recreation (4%), with women having a much higher household activity than men. Older participants had a lower level of occupational activity but a higher level of household and active-recreational activity, particularly after retirement. There was no linear association of occupational activity with adiposity, but working women tended to have a lower adiposity (e.g. 1.0 cm WC) than non-working women. In men, there was an inverse and apparently linear association between adiposity and levels of both commuting-related and household activities, with 3 MET-hr/day associated with -0.11 and -0.13 kg/m(2) BMI, -0.42 and -0.62 cm WC, and -0.28 and -0.33 percentage points of body fat, respectively. In women, only household activity showed a linear, but weaker, association with adiposity. A higher adiposity was observed among men and women with higher levels of active-recreational activity.
CONCLUSIONS
In Chinese adults, physical activity mainly involves occupation and housework, with little from active-recreational activity. Domain-specific physical activities varied by socio-demographic factors and had different associations with adiposity.
Topics: Activities of Daily Living; Adipose Tissue; Adiposity; Adult; Aged; Body Mass Index; China; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demography; Exercise; Female; Household Work; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Motor Activity; Obesity; Occupations; Recreation; Retirement; Sedentary Behavior; Waist Circumference; Work
PubMed: 25106853
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-826 -
BMC Public Health Jun 2019Relatively little is known about how total sedentary time is accumulated in different domains and if correlates of sedentary time differ across domains. Time use surveys...
BACKGROUND
Relatively little is known about how total sedentary time is accumulated in different domains and if correlates of sedentary time differ across domains. Time use surveys present a unique opportunity to study sedentary time in more detail. This study aimed to use the 2006 Dutch time use survey to 1) describe the (sedentary) time use of Dutch adults, and 2) explore socio-demographic and health-related correlates of total (non-occupational) and domain-specific sedentary time.
METHODS
The Dutch time use survey randomly selected participants from a population-representative research sample of Dutch households. Participants reported daily activities on seven consecutive days using a time use diary and socio-demographic and health-related characteristics during telephone interviews. All reported activities were coded for activity domain (i.e. education; household; leisure; occupation; sleep; transport; voluntary work) and activity intensity (i.e. sedentary; light intensity physical activity; moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity). As occupational activities were not specified in sufficient detail, the intensity of these activities was unknown. We described the time spent in different domains and intensities, and assessed the socio-demographic and health-related correlates of high levels of total (non-occupational), household, leisure, and transport sedentary time using logistic regression analyses.
RESULTS
The final dataset consisted of 1614 adult (18+) participants. On average, participants spent 8.0 h (61.1%) of their daily waking non-occupational time on sedentary activities. More than 87% of leisure time was spent sedentary. Men, participants aged 18-34 and 65+ years, full-time employed participants and obese participants had higher levels of total non-occupational sedentary time. The correlates of household, leisure and transport sedentary time differed by domain.
CONCLUSIONS
This study reports high levels of total non-occupational sitting time of Dutch adults. The large proportion of sedentary leisure activities might indicate the potential of strategies aiming to reduce leisure sedentary time. The difference in correlates across sedentary behaviour domains demonstrates the importance of targeting these domains differently in interventions and policies.
Topics: Actigraphy; Adolescent; Adult; Employment; Exercise; Family Characteristics; Female; Humans; Leisure Activities; Male; Middle Aged; Netherlands; Obesity; Occupations; Prevalence; Sedentary Behavior; Sleep; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Time and Motion Studies; Young Adult
PubMed: 31159760
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-6764-7