Matteo Riccò, Antonio Baldassarre, Silvia Corrado, Marco Bottazzoli, Federico Marchesi
{"title":"Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 in Homeless People from Urban Shelters: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2023).","authors":"Matteo Riccò, Antonio Baldassarre, Silvia Corrado, Marco Bottazzoli, Federico Marchesi","doi":"10.3390/epidemiologia5010004","DOIUrl":"10.3390/epidemiologia5010004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Homeless people (HP) are disproportionally affected by respiratory disorders, including pneumococcal and mycobacterial infections. On the contrary, more limited evidence has been previously gathered on influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and very little is known about the occurrence of human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common cause of respiratory tract infections among children and the elderly. The present systematic review was designed to collect available evidence about RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections in HP, focusing on those from urban homeless shelters. Three medical databases (PubMed, Embase and Scopus) and the preprint repository medRxiv.org were therefore searched for eligible observational studies published up to 30 December 2023, and the collected cases were pooled in a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I<sup>2</sup> statistics. Reporting bias was assessed by funnel plots and a regression analysis. Overall, 31 studies were retrieved, and of them, 17 reported on the point prevalence of respiratory pathogens, with pooled estimates of 4.91 cases per 1000 HP (95%CI: 2.46 to 9.80) for RSV, 3.47 per 1000 HP for influenza and 40.21 cases per 1000 HP (95%CI: 14.66 to 105.55) for SARS-CoV-2. Incidence estimates were calculated from 12 studies, and SARS-CoV-2 was characterized by the highest occurrence (9.58 diagnoses per 1000 persons-months, 95%CI: 3.00 to 16.16), followed by influenza (6.07, 95%CI: 0.00 to 15.06) and RSV (1.71, 95%CI: 0.00 to 4.13). Only four studies reported on the outcome of viral infections in HP: the assessed pathogens were associated with a high likelihood of hospitalization, while high rates of recurrence and eventual deaths were reported in cases of RSV infections. In summary, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections were documented in HP from urban shelters, and their potential outcomes stress the importance of specifically tailored preventive strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":72944,"journal":{"name":"Epidemiolgia (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"5 1","pages":"41-79"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10885116/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139934568","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Myopia, Sodium Chloride, and Vitreous Fluid Imbalance: A Nutritional Epidemiology Perspective.","authors":"Ronald B Brown","doi":"10.3390/epidemiologia5010003","DOIUrl":"10.3390/epidemiologia5010003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Theories of myopia etiology based on near work and lack of outdoor exposure have had inconsistent support and have not prevented the rising prevalence of global myopia. New scientific theories in the cause and prevention of myopia are needed. Myopia prevalence is low in native people consuming traditional diets lacking in sodium chloride, and nutritional epidemiological evidence supports the association of rising myopia prevalence with dietary sodium intake. East Asian populations have among the highest rates of myopia associated with high dietary sodium. Similar associations of sodium and rising myopia prevalence were observed in the United States in the late 20th century. The present perspective synthesizes nutritional epidemiology evidence with pathophysiological concepts and proposes that axial myopia occurs from increased fluid retention in the vitreous of the eye, induced by dietary sodium chloride intake. Salt disturbs ionic permeability of retinal membranes, increases the osmotic gradient flow of fluid into the vitreous, and stretches ocular tissue during axial elongation. Based on the present nutritional epidemiology evidence, experimental research should investigate the effect of sodium chloride as the cause of myopia, and clinical research should test a very low-salt diet in myopia correction and prevention.</p>","PeriodicalId":72944,"journal":{"name":"Epidemiolgia (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"5 1","pages":"29-40"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10885086/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139934567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Eleni Pavlidou, Sousana K Papadopoulou, Olga Alexatou, Gavriela Voulgaridou, Maria Mentzelou, Fani Biskanaki, Evmorfia Psara, Gerasimos Tsourouflis, Nikos Lefantzis, Sophia Dimoliani, Thomas Apostolou, Anastasia Sampani, Ioanna P Chatziprodromidou, Exakousti-Petroula Angelakou, Constantinos Giaginis
{"title":"Childhood Mediterranean Diet Adherence Is Associated with Lower Prevalence of Childhood Obesity, Specific Sociodemographic, and Lifestyle Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study in Pre-School Children.","authors":"Eleni Pavlidou, Sousana K Papadopoulou, Olga Alexatou, Gavriela Voulgaridou, Maria Mentzelou, Fani Biskanaki, Evmorfia Psara, Gerasimos Tsourouflis, Nikos Lefantzis, Sophia Dimoliani, Thomas Apostolou, Anastasia Sampani, Ioanna P Chatziprodromidou, Exakousti-Petroula Angelakou, Constantinos Giaginis","doi":"10.3390/epidemiologia5010002","DOIUrl":"10.3390/epidemiologia5010002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Mediterranean diet (MD) has been related with a decreased probability of overweight/obesity as well as central obesity at all stages of the human life, decreasing the risk of diverse disease states and improving quality of life. Over the last few years, the prevalence of childhood overweight/obesity and especially abdominal obesity has highly increased worldwide, being associated with a higher likelihood of overweight/obesity as well as central obesity at the next stages of the life during adulthood. The purpose of the present study was to explore the relationship of MD compliance with sociodemographic, anthropometry and lifestyle features in pre-school children aged 2-5 years old.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a cross-sectional study, which includes 5188 pre-school children from diverse regions of Greece. Relevant questionnaires were applied to evaluate the sociodemographic features of the enrolled children. Anthropometric parameters were measured by relevant techniques. Qualified questionnaires were utilized for assessing several lifestyle factors such as physical activity, quality of life, breastfeeding practices, MD adherence, as well as the prevalence of childhood asthma and diabetes mellitus type I.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the enrolled children, 41.7% showed low MD compliance and 36.4% of them indicated moderated compliance, while only 21.9% of them showed a high MD adherence. Overweight/obesity was noted in 24.2% of the assigned children, while abdominal obesity was noticed in 18.2% of them. Higher MD compliance was related with an elevated prevalence of sex (boys, <i>p</i> = 0.0005), Greek nationality (<i>p</i> = 0.0088), rural type of residence (<i>p</i> = 0.0099), childhood overweight/obesity (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) and abdominal obesity (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), lower childbirth weight (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), increased physical activity (<i>p</i> = 0.0041), improved quality of life (<i>p</i> = 0.0008), exclusive breastfeeding (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), childhood asthma (<i>p</i> = 0.0001) and diabetes mellitus type 1 (<i>p</i> = 0.0002).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A higher MD adherence is associated with specific sociodemographic, better anthropometric, and beneficial lifestyle factors in pre-school children. However, MD compliance remains low or moderate in the vast majority of children aged 2-5 years old. Thus, future public strategies and policies should be performed to inform parents of the potential beneficial effects of MD against obesity and related chronic diseases at the next stage of their children's lives.</p>","PeriodicalId":72944,"journal":{"name":"Epidemiolgia (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"5 1","pages":"11-28"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10801514/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139514418","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Emiliano Sordi, Prisco Piscitelli, Carla Albanese, Anna Melcarne, Anna Tardio, Fabrizio Quarta, Enrico Greco, Alessandro Miani, Andrea Falco, Elisabetta De Matteis, Maurizio Congedo, Adele Civino
{"title":"Incidence of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers in Salento (Southern Italy): A 15-Year Retrospective Analysis from the Cancer Registry of Lecce.","authors":"Emiliano Sordi, Prisco Piscitelli, Carla Albanese, Anna Melcarne, Anna Tardio, Fabrizio Quarta, Enrico Greco, Alessandro Miani, Andrea Falco, Elisabetta De Matteis, Maurizio Congedo, Adele Civino","doi":"10.3390/epidemiologia5010001","DOIUrl":"10.3390/epidemiologia5010001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) include basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC), as well as a wide range of rare skin tumors. NMSCs is the most frequently diagnosed type of tumor among Caucasians. We aimed at estimating the incidence and mortality of NMSCs in the Salento area (Lecce province, Southern Italy), whose population is assumed to experience heavy and frequent sun exposure due to climatic/environmental factors, both for working and leisure activities.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>We computed the incidence of NMSCs in the Province of Lecce by examining the comprehensive real-world data collected by the local cancer registry, which covers all the 830,000 inhabitants, over a period of fifteen years (from 2003 to 2017), with a focus on the latest 5 years (2013-2017) for the analysis of the different histologic morphologies of these tumors. The incidence of NMSCs has been described in terms of absolute frequencies, crude rates and age-adjusted direct standardized rates (DSR). Joinpoint analysis was used to examine temporal trends in the incidence of NMSCs and estimate annual percent changes (APCs).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>During the period of 2003-2017, the incidence of NMSCs reached a direct standardized rate (DSR) of 162.62 per 100,000 in men (mortality 1.57 per 100,000) and 89.36 per 100,000 in women (mortality 0.52 per 100,000), respectively. The incidence significantly increased among both men and women across the entire period. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC), with its different morphologies, represented about 67.6% of the NMSCs in men (<i>n</i> = 2139 out of a total of 3161 tumors observed between 2013 and 2017) and about 75.8% of the NMSCs in women (<i>n</i> = 1718 out of a total of 2264 tumors from 2013 to 2017), thus accounting for the vast majority of NMSCs. The results are consistent with the literature data carried out both at national and international level.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Proper monitoring of this phenomenon through timely reporting and recording of all new NMSC cases is necessary to develop new preventive strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":72944,"journal":{"name":"Epidemiolgia (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"5 1","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10968721/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140295480","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Tuberculosis and Risk of Emphysema among US Adults in the NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-Up Study Cohort, 1971-1992.","authors":"Anita Joshi, L Joseph Su, Mohammed S Orloff","doi":"10.3390/epidemiologia4040044","DOIUrl":"10.3390/epidemiologia4040044","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>(1) Background: History of TB is a known risk factor for long-term respiratory impairment affecting lung functions in both restrictive and obstructive lung disease. (2) Methods: We analyzed data from the NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study (NHEFS), a longitudinal study conducted on a noninstitutionalized adult US population aged 25-74 years. Approximately 93 percent of the original NHANES I cohort was successfully traced by the end of the survey period and was available for analysis. The final adjusted model included age groups, gender, family income, lifetime smoking, body mass index (BMI), and frequency of alcohol consumption as potential confounders. (3) Results: The estimated hazards ratio of developing emphysema during follow-up for individuals with a past diagnosis of TB was 54% lower (95% CI = 0.35, 0.61) that that in individuals with no past TB, after controlling for potential confounders and using proportional hazards regression appropriate to the complex sample design. The association, however, was not statistically significant (HR = 0.86, <i>p</i>-value = 0.38) when only a self-reported history of TB was considered as the exposure in an unadjusted model. (4) Conclusions: Tuberculosis (self-reported or LTBI) was strongly (but inversely) associated with emphysema incidence. The association was not statistically significant with only a self-reported history of TB as exposure.</p>","PeriodicalId":72944,"journal":{"name":"Epidemiolgia (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"4 4","pages":"525-537"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10871094/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138833345","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rajat Das Gupta, Hanna A Frank, Maxwell Akonde, Ananna Mazumder, Nazeeba Siddika, Ehsanul Hoque Apu, Promit Ananyo Chakraborty
{"title":"Rural-Urban Differences in Prevalence and Associated Factors of Underweight and Overweight/Obesity among Bangladeshi Adults: Evidence from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2017-2018.","authors":"Rajat Das Gupta, Hanna A Frank, Maxwell Akonde, Ananna Mazumder, Nazeeba Siddika, Ehsanul Hoque Apu, Promit Ananyo Chakraborty","doi":"10.3390/epidemiologia4040042","DOIUrl":"10.3390/epidemiologia4040042","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The aim of this study was to identify the differences in prevalence and associated factors of underweight and overweight/obesity among Bangladeshi adults (≥18 years) by analyzing the cross-sectional Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2017-2018 data. Multilevel multivariable logistic regression was applied to identify the factors associated with underweight and overweight/obesity in urban and rural areas. The prevalence of underweight was 12.24% and 19.34% in urban and rural areas, respectively. The prevalence of overweight/obesity was 50.23% and 35.96%, respectively, in urban and rural areas. In the final multivariable analysis in both urban and rural areas, 30-49 years of age, female sex, being educated up to college or higher level, living in the wealthiest household, and being currently married or being separated/divorced/widowed had higher odds of being overweight/obese compared to other categories. Residence in the Mymensingh and Sylhet region was associated with decreased odds of overweight/obesity in urban and rural areas. On the other hand, being educated up to college or higher level, living in the wealthiest household, and being married were associated with reduced odds of being underweight in both areas. These high-risk groups should be brought under targeted health promotion programs to curb malnutrition.</p>","PeriodicalId":72944,"journal":{"name":"Epidemiolgia (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"4 4","pages":"505-520"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10742748/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138833344","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Prisco Piscitelli, Stela Karaj, Alessandro Miani, Tassos C Kyriakides, Enrico Greco, Elena Colicino, Antonio Bray, Fernando Simón, Vasilis Vasiliou, Andrea A Baccarelli
{"title":"How Healthcare Systems Negatively Impact Environmental Health? The Need for Institutional Commitment to Reduce the Ecological Footprint of Medical Services.","authors":"Prisco Piscitelli, Stela Karaj, Alessandro Miani, Tassos C Kyriakides, Enrico Greco, Elena Colicino, Antonio Bray, Fernando Simón, Vasilis Vasiliou, Andrea A Baccarelli","doi":"10.3390/epidemiologia4040043","DOIUrl":"10.3390/epidemiologia4040043","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The global healthcare industry plays a crucial role in preserving human health and well-being [...].</p>","PeriodicalId":72944,"journal":{"name":"Epidemiolgia (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"4 4","pages":"521-524"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10871105/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138833343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comprehensive Knowledge about HIV/AIDS among Women of Reproductive Age in India.","authors":"Aritro Bhattacharyya, Ritankar Chakraborty, Tapasya Raj, Bijaya Kumar Padhi, Jagdish Khubchandani, Prakasini Satapathy, Sarvesh Rustagi, Vijay Kumar Chattu","doi":"10.3390/epidemiologia4040041","DOIUrl":"10.3390/epidemiologia4040041","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>HIV/AIDS has been a major threat to global public health, with India ranking third when it comes to the global burden of people living with HIV, especially women. It is imperative to assess the level of knowledge women have about transmission and prevention of this infection. This study sought to delineate the determinants of the comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS among women in the reproductive age groups in India. Data from the fifth round of the National Family Health Survey conducted in India were analyzed. The sample included 95,541 women aged 15-49 years. Multilevel logistic regression was fitted with individual characteristics, household characteristics, and community characteristics to identify determinants of comprehensive knowledge on HIV/AIDS. Nearly a fourth (24.8%) of the women aged 15-49 in India who had ever heard of HIV had comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Multilevel logistic regression showed that the likelihood of comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS was higher among women aged 40-44 (AOR = 1.57) and 30-34 (AOR = 1.56). The likelihood of having comprehensive knowledge increased with the increase in the level of education. Women with secondary and higher levels of education were 1.9 times and 3.38 times more likely to have comprehensive knowledge, respectively, than those with no education. Household wealth, access to mass media, and having ever tested for HIV were also significant determinants of comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS among women. The odds of having comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS were higher for women with higher community wealth (AOR = 1.31), higher community education (AOR = 1.09), and higher community employment (AOR = 1.12). Factors at both the individual and community levels were shown to be indicators of comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Policymakers and public health practitioners in India should come up with plans to close the information gaps about HIV/AIDS that exist among women and their demographic subgroups.</p>","PeriodicalId":72944,"journal":{"name":"Epidemiolgia (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"4 4","pages":"492-504"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10660847/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138178100","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Halli Heimbuch, Yeong Rhee, Marty Douglas, Kirsten Juhl, Kelly Knoll, Sherri Stastny, Ryan McGrath
{"title":"Prevalence and Trends of Basic Activities of Daily Living Limitations in Middle-Aged and Older Adults in the United States","authors":"Halli Heimbuch, Yeong Rhee, Marty Douglas, Kirsten Juhl, Kelly Knoll, Sherri Stastny, Ryan McGrath","doi":"10.3390/epidemiologia4040040","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/epidemiologia4040040","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Population-level surveillance of the prevalence and trends of basic self-care limitations will help to identify the magnitude of physical disablement in the rapidly growing older American demographic. We sought to evaluate the prevalence and trends of activities of daily living (ADL) limitations in the United States. Methods: The analytic sample included 30,418 Americans aged ≥50 years from the 2006–2018 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. ADLs were self-reported. Weighted prevalence estimates were presented, and trends analyses were performed. Results: Although overall ADL disability prevalence was 16.5% (95% confidence interval: 15.8–17.2) in 2018, there were no changes in limitations during the study period (p = 0.52). Older adults had a greater ADL disability prevalence than middle-aged adults (p < 0.001). While older persons experienced a declining trend of ADL limitations (p < 0.001), middle-aged persons had an increasing trend (p < 0.001). Males had a lower ADL limitation prevalence than females (p < 0.001). Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black had a higher ADL disability prevalence than non-Hispanic White (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This investigation revealed that while the estimated prevalence of ADL limitations in the United States was substantial, changes in such limitations were not observed. Our findings can help guide ADL screening, target sub-populations with an elevated ADL limitation prevalence, and inform interventions.","PeriodicalId":72944,"journal":{"name":"Epidemiolgia (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" 22","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135241773","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Fanny Buckinx, Stéphane Adam, Mylène Aubertin-Leheudre, Marie De Saint Hubert, Alexandre Mouton, Florence Potier, Jean-Yves Reginster, Olivier Bruyere
{"title":"Quality of Life and Health Determinants of Informal Caregivers Aged 65 Years and Over","authors":"Fanny Buckinx, Stéphane Adam, Mylène Aubertin-Leheudre, Marie De Saint Hubert, Alexandre Mouton, Florence Potier, Jean-Yves Reginster, Olivier Bruyere","doi":"10.3390/epidemiologia4040039","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/epidemiologia4040039","url":null,"abstract":"Informal caregivers’ own quality of life, health status, and determinants are poorly understood despite their concern for the health of the individuals they assist. To compare the quality of life and the health determinants of older informal caregivers with those of older adults without caregiving responsibilities. An online survey was designed to investigate the quality of life and the health determinants of people aged 65 years and over, with a focus on informal caregivers. In addition to socio-demographic data, the number of informal caregivers was ascertained and the Zarit scale of caregiver burden was applied. Quality of life (SF-12) and health determinants (access to technology and level of physical activity (IPAQ)) were assessed and compared between informal caregivers and non-caregivers. A total of 111 participants were included in the study (70 ± 3.83 years, 71.2% women). The majority of respondents (91.8%) were Belgian. One-third of the respondents identified themselves as informal caregivers and declared themselves as having a severe burden (61.9 ± 15.2/88). Socio-demographic characteristics and access to technology were similar between informal caregivers and non-caregivers (p > 0.05). However, informal caregivers had a lower SF-12 score in the mental score domain (44.3 ± 10.2 vs. 50.7 ± 7.0; p = 0.004) and a lower level of physical activity (434 ± 312 METS/min/week vs. 1126 ± 815 METS/min/week; p = 0.01) than their peers. Informal caregivers reported a lower quality of life and a lower level of physical activity than their peers. Given the recognized importance of physical activity for overall health, this survey highlights the need to promote physical activity among older informal caregivers.","PeriodicalId":72944,"journal":{"name":"Epidemiolgia (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"5 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135635712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}