Biological research for nursing最新文献

{"title":"Latent Profiles of Allostatic Load and Their Association With Post-stroke Cognitive Impairment in Elderly Patients: A Nursing Risk Stratification Study.","authors":"Chunbo Xue, Sisi Lin, Tianxiang Liu","doi":"10.1177/10998004261478508","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10998004261478508","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is common, but the reproducibility and clinical meaning of allostatic load (AL)-based latent profiles remain uncertain. We examined empirical AL profiles and their associations with PSCI in older stroke survivors. This retrospective cross-sectional study included 356 adults aged 60 years or older with stroke. Latent profile analysis used 13 continuous biomarkers. One- through five-class diagonal Gaussian mixture models were fitted with 100 random starts; Bayesian information criterion guided selection among models meeting prespecified convergence, likelihood-replication, and minimum-class-size criteria. PSCI was defined as Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) < 27. Adjusted logistic regression, a continuous AL-score model, and biomarker-transformation and MMSE-cutoff sensitivity analyses were performed. The eligible four-profile solution had the lowest BIC (12,033.77; entropy = .908), with 25 (7.0%), 93 (26.1%), 160 (44.9%), and 78 (21.9%) participants. PSCI prevalence increased across profiles (20.0%, 23.7%, 45.6%, and 73.1%; <i>p < .</i>001). After full adjustment, Profiles 3 (OR = 3.51, 95% CI [1.19, 10.34], <i>p</i> = .023) and 4 (OR = 11.54, 95% CI [3.24, 41.04], <i>p < .</i>001), but not Profile 2, had higher PSCI odds than Profile 1. The continuous AL score was also associated with PSCI (OR = 1.21 per point, 95% CI [1.11, 1.32], <i>p < .</i>001). Log transformation of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and triglycerides selected three rather than four classes (adjusted Rand index = .788), meeting the prespecified instability criterion. Higher multisystem burden was associated with PSCI, but the number of latent profiles was transformation-sensitive. These profiles are exploratory empirical descriptions rather than validated clinical risk categories and require prospective external validation.</p>","PeriodicalId":93901,"journal":{"name":"Biological research for nursing","volume":" ","pages":"10998004261478508"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148803101","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}

{"title":"Depression, Systemic Inflammation, and Prevalent Diabetes: A Counterfactual Mediation Analysis.","authors":"Samuel Akyirem, Joshua Okyere, Jonathan Bayuo, Livingstone Aduse-Poku, Emmanuel Ekpor, Precious Adade Duodu","doi":"10.1177/10998004261476233","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10998004261476233","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Depression and diabetes frequently co-occur, and chronic low-grade systemic inflammation has been proposed as one of many potential factors that may account for the association between these two conditions. This study aimed to empirically examine systemic inflammation as a potential mediator of the association between depression and prevalent diabetes. This study analyzed 2015-2018 NHANES data (<i>N</i> = 7,583) using a counterfactual causal mediation approach. Depression was assessed via the Patient Health Questionnaire, systemic inflammation via high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, neutrophils-to-lymphocytes ratio, and platelet-to-lymphocytes ratio, and diabetes via HbA1c or self-report. Mediation effects were decomposed into natural direct effect (NDE), natural indirect effect (NIE), and total effect. Percentile bootstrapping with 1000 resampling was used to generate confidence intervals (CI). Depression was associated with 62% greater odds of prevalent diabetes (total effect: OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.20 - 2.24). There was a significant positive natural direct effect regarding the association between depression and prevalent diabetes (NDE: OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.18 - 2.19), and a positive but small natural indirect effect through systemic inflammation (NIE: OR = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01 - 1.04). Similar findings were observed in the multiple imputed datasets. Depression is associated with greater odds of prevalent diabetes, with systemic inflammation contributing to a small but significant proportion of the observed association. Further research should assess other potential physiological or behavioral mediators that may account for the association between depression and prevalent diabetes.</p>","PeriodicalId":93901,"journal":{"name":"Biological research for nursing","volume":" ","pages":"10998004261476233"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148708732","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}

{"title":"Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Adults with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Cohort Study Using the TriNetX Database.","authors":"Vivi Leona Amelia, Septi Melisa, Jason C Hsu, Min-Huey Chung","doi":"10.1177/10998004261476337","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10998004261476337","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is the standard treatment; however, its long-term cardiovascular benefits remain uncertain. <b>Aim</b>: To evaluate 5-year associations between CPAP therapy and the risks of cardiovascular diseases in patients with OSA. <b>Methods</b>: This retrospective cohort study used the TriNetX global database, including adults diagnosed with OSA between 2014 and 2025. Patients with prior cardiovascular disease were excluded. After 1:1 propensity score matching, 54,635 CPAP users were compared to matched nonusers. Participants were followed from 1 day to 5 years after the index date. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for incident cardiovascular outcomes. Sensitivity analyses were performed at 1- and 3-month follow-up thresholds. <b>Results:</b> CPAP therapy was associated with significantly lower risks of stroke (HR 0.861), transient ischemic attack (HR 0.699), atrial fibrillation/flutter (HR 0.781), bradycardia (HR 0.899), ventricular arrhythmias (HR 0.875), pericarditis (HR 0.768), angina (HR 0.619), major adverse cardiovascular events (HR 0.936), and cardiac conduction and functional disorders (HR 0.861). No significant risk reduction was observed for pulmonary embolisms, deep vein thromboses, myocardial infarction, or structural cardiac abnormalities. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of most findings. <b>Conclusions</b>: In patients with OSA, CPAP therapy was associated with reduced risks of several cardiovascular outcomes over 5 years, although benefits were not observed across all conditions. These findings highlight the potential but selective cardiovascular benefits of CPAP therapy, warranting further prospective and randomized studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":93901,"journal":{"name":"Biological research for nursing","volume":" ","pages":"10998004261476337"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148708704","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}

{"title":"Neurodevelopmental Impact of Copy Number Variants in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia.","authors":"Wenxin Bian, Rose Mary Xavier, Tyler E Dietterich, Xun Zhou, Matthew K Harner, Lisa Bruno, Maya Lichtenstein, Martilias Farrell, Jin P Szatkiewicz, Rita A Shaughnessy, Patrick F Sullivan, Richard C Josiassen","doi":"10.1177/10998004261471531","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10998004261471531","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Copy number variations (CNVs) are a major contributor to the etiology and phenotypic variability in schizophrenia. CNVs are also independently associated with certain neurological, cognitive, and behavioral conditions, yet their role in early neurodevelopment in the context of treatment-resistant schizophrenia remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the contribution of neurodevelopmental CNVs to early development among individuals with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). We conducted a structured, systematic, retrospective record review within a case-control analytic framework. Our cases were the group of neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) CNV carriers (N = 25) identified in the Pennsylvania State Hospital (PASH) cohort of individuals with treatment resistant psychotic symptoms; non-CNV controls were demographically matched individuals with treatment resistant psychotic symptoms (N = 24) from the PASH cohort. We examined the differences in early NDD phenotypes between cases and controls. CNV carriers had a higher total NDD burden score compared to non-CNV controls (<i>z</i> = 2.20, unadjusted <i>p</i> = 0.03, adjusted <i>p</i> = 0.08). Learning disabilities were significantly more prevalent among CNV carriers compared to non-CNV controls (χ² = 13.437, df = 1, unadjusted <i>p</i> = 0.0002, adjusted <i>p</i> = 0.0015), with 88% of CNV carriers having a history of learning disabilities relative to 38% of non-CNV controls. CNVs carriers with TRS had a higher prevalence of early NDDs compared to non-CNV controls, particularly in learning disabilities. Prospective studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms linking CNVs, neurodevelopmental phenotypes, and disease progression in treatment resistant schizophrenia.</p>","PeriodicalId":93901,"journal":{"name":"Biological research for nursing","volume":" ","pages":"10998004261471531"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148586191","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}

{"title":"Hematologic Vulnerability in Gestational Hypertension: Platelet-Defined Severity Phenotypes and Maternal Outcomes.","authors":"Sherri S Lytle, Lara Slesnick, Michelande Ridore, Joanne Ruggiero, Sharmane Andrews, Charles A Downs","doi":"10.1177/10998004261469851","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10998004261469851","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Gestational hypertension (GH) is commonly managed using blood pressure thresholds that may not fully reflect underlying biologic severity. Thrombocytopenia may identify higher-risk phenotypes within GH prior to overt clinical deterioration. To examine whether platelet-defined severity phenotypes are associated with adverse maternal outcomes among individuals with GH. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using electronic health record data from a large urban academic medical center between 2020 and 2024. The sample included pregnant individuals (<i>n</i> = 300) aged 18-49 years diagnosed with GH (ICD-10 O13.x), excluding chronic hypertension, preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, multiple gestation, or fetal anomalies. Participants were stratified by platelet count as thrombocytopenia (<150 × 10⁹/L) or normal (≥150 × 10⁹/L). The primary outcome was maternal intensive care unit (ICU) admission during delivery hospitalization or the postpartum period. Secondary outcomes included magnesium sulfate administration, cesarean delivery, and preterm birth. Multivariable logistic regression evaluated predictors of ICU admission. Sensitivity analyses modeled platelet count as a continuous variable. Thrombocytopenia was present in 10.3% of the cohort. Blood pressure measures and unadjusted rates of ICU admission and secondary maternal outcomes did not differ significantly between platelet groups. However, thrombocytopenia independently predicted ICU admission after adjustment for demographic and clinical factors (aOR 3.89, 95% CI 1.19-12.70; <i>p</i> = .024). Platelet count demonstrated a dose-response relationship, with each 25 × 10⁹/L increase associated with a 17% reduction in ICU admission odds (aOR 0.83, 95% CI 0.73-0.94; <i>p</i> = .005). Platelet-defined phenotypes identify a biologically vulnerable subgroup within GH independent of blood pressure.</p>","PeriodicalId":93901,"journal":{"name":"Biological research for nursing","volume":" ","pages":"10998004261469851"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148581579","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}

{"title":"Continuous Glucose Monitoring for Adult ICU Patients: A Meta-Analysis on Its Clinical Effectiveness.","authors":"Tingkui Fu, Lianhua Ma, Xiuqin Wu","doi":"10.1177/10998004261470782","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10998004261470782","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Critically ill patients often suffer from disrupted glucose metabolism, and well-managed blood glucose is a key determinant of clinical outcomes. While continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is regarded as a viable alternative, its overall effectiveness in adult ICU patients remains controversial. This study aims to conduct a systematic evaluation on the effects of CGM versus conventional intermittent blood glucose monitoring on glycemic management among adult critically ill patients in ICUs. Literature searches were carried out across seven electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang Data and VIP, from database inception up to May 18, 2026. Included studies were RCTs that compared CGM with conventional intermittent glucose monitoring in adult ICU patients. A total of 22 eligible RCTs with 1,396 enrolled patients were incorporated into the meta-analysis. The pooled estimates showed that CGM was associated with a significant reduction in hypoglycemic events (RR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.31-0.54, I² = 24.9%) and average blood glucose levels (MD = -0.34 mmol/L, 95% CI: -0.55 to -0.13, I² = 68.3%). The intervention also prolonged time in glycemic target range (MD = 10.12%, 95% CI: 6.03%-14.21%, I² = 67.5%), cut down daily insulin use (MD = -22.17 U/day, 95% CI: -26.82 to -17.52, I² = 37.7%), and reduced total mortality (RR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.34-0.65, I² = 0.0%). Our results suggest integrating CGM into routine ICU glycemic control strategies, particularly for patients with severe glycemic variability and high hypoglycemia risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":93901,"journal":{"name":"Biological research for nursing","volume":" ","pages":"10998004261470782"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148564242","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}

{"title":"Metabolomic Factors Associated With Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Yanyue Li, Yuli Liu, Xiaoxuan Shen, Wenping Xu, Hailian Zhang, Jinzhen Jin, Xiangdan Shen, Chunyu Li","doi":"10.1177/10998004261469819","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10998004261469819","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Purpose</i>. To synthesize metabolomic factors associated with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). <i>Methods</i>. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP were systematically searched from database inception to June 2026, with no language restrictions. Two reviewers independently screened studies and extracted data. Data were analyzed using Stata/MP 17; study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS); and sensitivity analyses, publication-bias assessment, and GRADE certainty assessment were performed when applicable. <i>Results.</i> A total of 17 studies were included, of which 7 studies contributed to at least one meta-analysis, while the remaining studies were summarized descriptively. Meta-analysis showed that higher TMAO levels (pooled HR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.45-2.00) and higher TML levels (pooled HR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.19-3.44) were associated with increased MACE risk. Choline, betaine, and L-carnitine were not significantly associated with MACE in meta-analyses. Descriptive findings suggested that dimethylglycine, phenylacetylglutamine, indoxyl sulfate, deoxycholic acid, acetylcarnitine, butyrylcarnitine, selected ceramide species, homocysteine, and phenylalanine were associated with higher risk of MACE or adverse cardiovascular outcomes, whereas tryptophan and fumarate showed inverse associations in individual studies. <i>Conclusions.</i> Metabolomic findings, particularly TMAO-related findings, are associated with MACE risk in patients with CHD. These findings may help characterize residual cardiovascular risk and support future individualized secondary prevention and nursing follow-up. <b>PROSPERO registration:</b>CRD420251183805.</p>","PeriodicalId":93901,"journal":{"name":"Biological research for nursing","volume":" ","pages":"10998004261469819"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148427201","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}

{"title":"Evaluating Sex Differences in Biomarkers of Chronic Pain Among Active-Duty Personnel: An Exploratory Analysis of a Pragmatic Clinical Trial With a SMART Design.","authors":"Sotaro Shimada, Shannon Ledesma, Diane M Flynn, Nathan Tintle, Jeffrey C Ransom, Honor M McQuinn, Tyler J Snow, Nicholas Ieronimakis, Dahee Wi, Larisa A Burke, Alana D Steffen, Ardith Z Doorenbos","doi":"10.1177/10998004261423210","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10998004261423210","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chronic pain affects approximately one-third of active-duty service members (ADSMs), yet effective treatment remains challenging. Salivary cortisol and urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) are established non-invasive biomarkers of stress and oxidative DNA damage and may provide reliable unbiased indicators of treatment efficacy in chronic pain. However, their associations with pain outcomes and potential sex differences remain unclear. It was hypothesized that interdisciplinary pain treatment would result in decreased levels of stress and oxidative DNA damage biomarkers, as well as decreased pain intensity, and that the magnitude of challenge might vary by sex. Our objective was to compare longitudinal changes in salivary cortisol and urinary 8-OHdG in relation to pain outcomes and sex. A total of 190 ADSMs who referred for chronic pain treatment completed data collection on the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measures and urine and saliva samples at baseline and post-treatment. Multivariable regression models were used to predict changes in PROMIS scores relative to changes in cortisol and 8-OHdG, while adjusting for baseline levels. Interaction terms between participants' sex and changes in biomarkers were added to each model. Given the study's exploratory nature, a significance threshold of <i>p</i> < .10 was used for all analyses. Five statistically significant sex-by-cortisol interactions were identified for pain measures (pain impact, pain interference, physical functioning, sleep impairment, and social functioning), but none for 8-OHdG. Future work is needed to replicate these findings in larger samples. The research protocol was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03297905; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03297905).</p>","PeriodicalId":93901,"journal":{"name":"Biological research for nursing","volume":" ","pages":"384-394"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13535629/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146115225","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":"The Effect of a Race-Based Stress Reduction Intervention on Sleep Quality, Melatonin Onset, and Inflammation in African American Women: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Sueyeon Lee, Linda Janusek, Sirimon Reutrakul, Alana Biggers, Herbert L Mathews, Chang Gi Park, Jacquelyn Y Taylor, Karen L Saban","doi":"10.1177/10998004261433563","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10998004261433563","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>African American women carry a disproportionate burden of cardiometabolic disease (CMD) risk and experience higher rates of sleep disturbances compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Sleep and the sleep-regulating hormone melatonin play key roles in modulating inflammation, a biological pathway central to CMD. Chronic exposure to racism and discrimination may exacerbate stress, disrupt sleep and melatonin rhythms, and elevate inflammatory responses, further heightening CMD risk. The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate the effects of a race-based stress reduction intervention-Resilience, Stress, and Ethnicity (RiSE)-on sleep quality and dim-light melatonin onset (DLMO) as primary outcomes, and to examine inflammation as a secondary outcome among older African American women with CMD risk. Leveraging an ongoing randomized controlled trial (RCT) (R01AG081251), this embedded pilot RCT will randomize 32 women to either the RiSE intervention or an attention control health education program, both delivered via eight weekly online sessions. Sleep quality will be assessed using validated questionnaires and wrist-worn ActiGraph devices for seven nights. DLMO will be determined from seven salivary samples collected around habitual bedtime, and salivary cytokines will be measured for inflammation. All measures will be obtained pre- and post-intervention. This pilot study is the first to examine an integrative, race-based stress reduction intervention targeting sleep and melatonin rhythms in this population. Findings will inform future mechanistic studies and the development of nurse-led strategies to mitigate the adverse physiological consequences of discrimination-related stress on sleep and cardiometabolic health among African American women.</p>","PeriodicalId":93901,"journal":{"name":"Biological research for nursing","volume":" ","pages":"455-463"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147438450","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}

{"title":"Sex Differences in Pain Sensitivity Among Cognitively Healthy Older Adults.","authors":"Aaron L McDaniel, Jeffrey T Boon, Todd B Monroe, Asvena Siva, Ashleigh Fletcher, Karen O Moss, Stephen Bruehl, Mary S Dietrich, Ronald L Cowan, Michelle Crum, Michelle D Failla","doi":"10.1177/10998004261422188","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10998004261422188","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Objective:</b> This study examined sex differences in pain intensity and unpleasantness among cognitively healthy older adults. While females generally exhibit heightened pain sensitivity, research on sex differences in older adults remains limited. We aimed to determine whether these differences persist in aging populations without cognitive impairment. <b>Methods:</b> A sample of 58 community-dwelling older adults (≥60 years, 34 females, 24 males) were included in this pain psychophysics study to assess differences by sex. Cognitive status was assessed using the Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE) or Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS). Depression, anxiety, and baseline pain were also assessed. Evoked heat pain stimuli at fixed temperatures (34°C, 39°C, 44°C) were delivered via the Medoc Q-Sense system with pain intensity and unpleasantness rated immediately after each stimulus. <b>Results:</b> Females reported significantly higher pain intensity than males (<i>p =</i> .02; female mean = 4.6 [95% CI: 3.9, 5.3], male mean = 3.5 [95% CI: 2.9, 4.2]). Sex differences in reported pain intensity were consistent across the three stimulus intensity levels (sex by temperature interaction <i>p =</i> .35). Pain unpleasantness did not differ significantly between sexes (<i>p =</i> .14) nor was the sex by temperature interaction significant (<i>p =</i> .35). <b>Conclusion:</b> Findings confirm sex differences in perceived pain intensity among cognitively healthy older adults, with females reporting higher pain levels. In contrast, no significant sex differences were observed in the affective component of pain. These results underscore the importance of incorporating sex-specific considerations in the assessment and management of pain intensity in older adults.</p>","PeriodicalId":93901,"journal":{"name":"Biological research for nursing","volume":" ","pages":"375-383"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146121298","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}