scholarly journals 1153Marital dissolution in later life: Change in health behaviours and outcomes following divorce and widowhood

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melody Ding ◽  
Jo-Anne Gale ◽  
Adrian Bauman ◽  
Philayrath Phongsavan ◽  
Binh Nguyen

Abstract Background Marital dissolution, such as divorce and widowhood, are common life events with potentially important implications on health. Previous research has found that those who have divorced or widowed tended to have a higher risk of mortality, however, the mechanisms for the observed associations are not well understood. We aimed to examine the association of divorce and widowhood with subsequent changes in health-related lifestyles, psychological outcomes, and overall health and wellbeing within both immediate and longer terms. Methods We used data from the 45 and Up study collected at baseline (T1, 2006-09), first (T2, 2010) and second follow-up (T3, 2012-16). Martial status and health-related outcomes were self-reported at all three time-points using validated questionnaires. Nine outcomes were examined, including lifestyles (smoking, drinking, diet and physical activity), psychological outcomes (distress, anxiety and depression) and overall health/well-being (self-rated health and quality of life). Logistic regression and generalised estimating equations were conducted adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics. Results Of the 33184 participants who were married/co-habiting at T1, after 3.4 years, 2.9% became divorced and 2.4% widowed. Those who divorced had much higher odds of smoking, having poor quality of life, high psychological distress, anxiety and depression at T2. Similar but weaker associations were observed for those who became widowed. After another 5 years of follow-up, however, the associations were much attenuated towards the null. Conclusions We found strong adverse short-term effects of marital dissolution on health outcomes, particularly within the psychological health domain. The effects, however, seemed to attenuate in the longer terms.

Author(s):  
Jocelito TONDOLO JUNIOR ◽  
Jessica Klöckner KNORST ◽  
Gabriele Rissotto MENEGAZZO ◽  
Bruno EMMANUELLI ◽  
Thiago Machado ARDENGHI

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the influence of early childhood malocclusion on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Methods: 7-year cohort study involving 639 preschoolers (1 to 5 years) who had been evaluated initially with a survey conduced in 2010. Children completed the Brazilian version of the Child Perception Questionnaire (CPQ8-10) to assess OHRQoL during the follow-up period. Exploratory variables were collected at baseline, including the presence and severity of malocclusion (overjet and lip coverage). Socioeconomic characteristics, oral health behavior, and patterns of dental attendance were also investigated. A multilevel Poisson regression model was used to fit the association between malocclusion and OHRQoL. With this approach, incidence rate ratio (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated. Results: A total of 449 children were re-evaluated (follow-up rate, 70.3%). The prevalence of accentuated overjet and inadequate lip coverage was 13.5% and 11.9%, respectively. The mean (±SD) CPQ8-10 score was 10.57±10.32. The presence of inadequate lip coverage was associated with higher overall mean CPQ8-10 scores (IRR 1.51; 95% CI 1.29-1.77), and social well-being, emotional well-being, and functional limitation domains. Children with accentuated overjet (>3mm) also demonstrated higher overall scores on the CPQ8-10 than their normal counterparts. The presence of this condition also influenced the oral symptom (IRR 1.29; 95% CI 1.08-1.53) and emotional well-being (IRR 1.30; 95% CI 1.02-1.66) domains. Conclusion: Results of the present study suggest that early childhood malocclusion is a risk factor for low OHRQoL in future.


1996 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 763-773 ◽  
Author(s):  
K M Beusterien ◽  
A R Nissenson ◽  
F K Port ◽  
M Kelly ◽  
B Steinwald ◽  
...  

As a component of the open-label, multicenter National Cooperative Recombinant Human Erythropoietin (Epo) Study, the health-related quality-of-life effects of Epo therapy were assessed in 484 dialysis patients who had not previously been treated with Epo therapy (New-to-Epo) and 520 dialysis patients who were already receiving Epo therapy at the time of study enrollment (Old-to-Epo). Using scales from the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), health-related quality of life was assessed on study enrollment (baseline) and at an average of 99 days follow-up. At baseline, SF-36 scores for Old- and New-to-Epo patients were well below those observed in the general population, reflecting substantial impairments in functional status and well-being among patients with chronic renal failure. Significant improvements from baseline to follow-up were observed among New-to-Epo patients in vitality, physical functioning, social functioning, mental health, looking after the home, social life, hobbies, and satisfaction with sexual activity (P < 0.05 for each). The mean improvements in hematocrit values among New-to-Epo and Old-to Epo patients were 4.6 and 0.3, respectively. At the time of follow-up, SF-36 scores for New-to-Epo patients were comparable with those observed among Old-to-Epo patients, whose scores did not change significantly from baseline to follow-up. Analysis of the relationship between Epo therapy, hematocrit values, and health-related quality of life suggest that some of the beneficial quality-of-life effects of Epo are mediated through a change in hematocrit level.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e000649
Author(s):  
Georgios Vakros ◽  
Paolo Scollo ◽  
James Hodson ◽  
Philip I Murray ◽  
Saaeha Rauz

ObjectiveTo evaluate whether topical therapy is linked to scores related to anxiety, depression and quality of life (QoL) in inflammatory eye disease (IED).Methods and analysisPatients with ocular surface disease (OSD, N=100) and Uveitis (N=100) completed self-administered validated questions on ocular symptoms and well-being, with supplemental questions on eye drop frequency.ResultsForty (20%) patients had scores consistent with depression and 33 (17%) anxiety. Anxiety, depression, QoL and OSD index (OSDI) scores did not differ significantly between OSD and Uveitis groups. In those with anxiety or depression, QoL was significantly reduced in all WHO Quality Of Life-BREF domains (all p<0.001). Multivariable analysis considering demographic and disease-related factors found daily topical drop frequency to be independently associated with anxiety (p=0.009) but not depression (p=0.300).ConclusionA high proportion of patients with IED demonstrated scores indicative of anxiety and depression. Preliminary evidence suggests that the frequency of topical eye drops potentially plays a significant role in the psychological health status of patients with IED .


2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 223-223
Author(s):  
Mok-Chung Jennifer Cheng ◽  
B. Douglas Smith ◽  
Christopher Simon Hourigan ◽  
Ivana Gojo ◽  
Keith William Pratz ◽  
...  

223 Background: To better understand adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) survivorship and health related quality of life, we piloted a survey exploring patient reported outcomes for patients in first complete remission (CR) to determine if patients feel the survey is relevant to their overall well-being. Methods: A cross-sectional survey measuring: quality of life, physical, role, emotional, cognitive, social functioning (EORTC QLQ-C30 v 3.0); physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being (Quality of Life-Cancer Survivor (QOL- CS) scale); fatigue (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Fatigue Scale (FACIT-Fatigue)); anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)); sociodemographic and 5 open-ended questions. Results: 18 participants completed the survey; mean age was 57.2 years. Nine patients were in CR for <2 years, and 9 were in CR for ≥2 years. Participants scored well on the EORTC QLQ-C30 and reported symptoms ranging from 11% (constipation) to 83% (fatigue). The FACIT-Fatigue (worst 0-best 52) mean score was 28.7 and median score was 33.5 (normal ≥30). On the HADS anxiety scale, 2 participants scored in the abnormal range. One scored in the abnormal range on the depression scale. On the QOL-CS, participants scored above 6 out of 10 in all domains, with exceptions of the psychological subscales of distress and fear (Table 1). Most participants felt the survey was completely or mostly relevant (88.8%) in understanding their quality of life. Most felt the length was optimal (77.8%). Conclusions: Most survivors scored well on quality of life and well-being, but with ongoing fatigue, distress, and fear of future tests and recurrence. Few consistently scored worse on the scales. There may be a population coping less well and it would be informative for survivorship programs to prospectively characterize their medical and psychosocial-spiritual needs. [Table: see text]


Author(s):  
Surbhi Gupta ◽  
Riya Gupta ◽  
Rajiv K Gupta

Background: Loss of vision invariably leads to loss of quality of life (QOL), which represents the general well-being of individuals and societies. Researchers have tended to indicate that visual acuity (VA) alone is an inadequate measure of visual impairment. Studies on QOL after cataract surgery are scarce in this part of India and there our present study holds potential to be really useful.Methods: This study was a prospective study consisting of 300 patients aged 50 years and above, who were operated for cataract in the Department of ophthalmology, GMC Jammu from May 2017-February 2018, a period of 10 months. Visual acuity was measured by logMaR method and generic health related quality of life (HRQoL) was measured using EuroQol (EQ-5D).Results: Only 182 turned up for the follow up after six months, mainly belonging to the age group: 60 to 70. 66.48% of the people studied upon belong to the lower strata of the society. Substantial improvement in visual acuity was observed with only 3.84% of patients showing less than 6/60 visual acuity during follow up after 6 months. All domains related to the generic health related QOL showed improvement. There was clear and marked improvement for performance of usual activities by the patients after surgery.Conclusions: In conclusion this study has provided valuable information about the change in vision related quality of life after cataract surgery there is statistically significant improvement in QOL of all patients enrolled in our study after the cataract surgery.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 154-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly Jones ◽  
Alice Theadom ◽  
Philip Prah ◽  
Nicola Starkey ◽  
Suzanne Barker-Collo ◽  
...  

AbstractObjective:The impact of traumatic brain injury (TBI) extends beyond the person who was injured. Family caregivers of adults with moderate to severe TBI frequently report increased burden, stress and depression. Few studies have examined the well-being of family members in the mild TBI population despite the latter representing up to 95% of all TBIs.Methods:Five areas of well-being were examined in 99 family members (including parents, partners, siblings, other relatives, adult children, friends or neighbours) of adults (aged ≥16 years) with mild TBI. At 6- and 12-month post-injury, family members completed the Bakas Caregiver Outcomes Scale, Short Form-36 Health Survey, EQ-5D-3L, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Outcomes and change over time and associated factors were examined.Results:At 6 months, group mean scores for health-related quality of life for mental and physical components and overall health status were similar to the New Zealand (NZ) population. Mean scores for sleep, anxiety and depression were below clinically significant thresholds. From 6 to 12 months, there were significant improvements in Bakas Caregiver Outcomes Scale scores by 2.61 (95% confidence interval: 0.72–4.49), health-related quality of life (mental component) and EQ-5D-3L overall health (P = 0.01). Minimally clinically important differences were observed in overall health, anxiety, health-related quality of life and depression at 12 months. Female family members reported significant improvements in physical health over time, and more positive life changes were reported by those caring for males with TBI.Conclusions:The findings suggest diminished burden over time for family members of adults with mild TBI.


2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 582-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malin Ander ◽  
Helena Grönqvist ◽  
Martin Cernvall ◽  
Gunn Engvall ◽  
Mariann Hedström ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S694-S695
Author(s):  
F. Daniel ◽  
A. Ferreira ◽  
H. Espírito-Santo ◽  
R. Monteiro ◽  
I. Massano-Cardoso ◽  
...  

IntroductionAging is a very heterogeneous and dissimilar process, full of asymmetries. There is evidence that socio-economic differences determine disadvantages and inequalities in old ages. Older people face particular inequalities in healthiness especially with more complex and vulnerable long-term conditions, being more likely to need support from social care services.AimTo evaluate the quality of life (well-being) related to the health of the elderly according to socio-economic indicators.MethodCross-sectional quantitative study was performed. A total of 316 elderly people (M = 74.78; SD = 9.78 years of age) was interviewed with the Portuguese version of the EQ-5D-3L scale for health-related quality of life.ResultsThe interaction between income and the type of residential follow-up (alone vs. accompanied) was not statistically significant [F (2.310) = .910, P < .407; Ƞp2 = .006]. Differences in health status index were statistically significant for income [F (2.310) = 5.518, P < .004; Ƞp2 = .034]. Post-hoc comparisons indicated that the mean score for those with insufficient income for their expenses (M = .39, SD = .27) was significantly different from those with income reaching their expenses (M = .50, SD = .25) as well as those with income covering their expenses sufficiently (M = .60, SD = .21). The main effect for the type of follow-up (alone vs. accompanied) did not reach statistical significance [F (2.310) = .224, P < .636, Ƞp2 = .672].ConclusionsIncome has an impact on health-related quality of life. Health in aging as a social phenomenon is not neutral to economic differences and is exposed to these structural disadvantages.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


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