scholarly journals Healthy longevity from incidence-based models: More kinds of health than stars in the sky

Author(s):  
Hal Caswell ◽  
Silke F. van Daalen

Background. Healthy longevity (HL) is an important measure of the prospects for quality of life in ageing societies. Incidence-based (cf. prevalence-based) models describe transitions among age classes and health stages. Despite the probabilistic nature of those transitions, analyses of healthy longevity have focused persistently on means ("health expectancy"), neglecting variances and higher moments. Objectives. Our goal is a comprehensive methodology to analyse HL in terms of any combination of health stages and age classes, or of transitions among health stages, or of values (e.g., quality of life) associated with health stages or transitions. Methods. We construct multistate Markov chains for individuals classified by age and health stage and use Markov chains with rewards to compute all moments of HL. Results. We present a new and straightforward algorithm to create the multistate reward matrices for occupancy, transitions, or values associated with occupancy or transitions. As an example, we analyse a published model for colorectal cancer. The possible definitions of HL in this simple model outnumber the stars in the visible universe. Our method can analyse any of them; we show four examples: longevity without abnormal cells, cancer-free longevity, and longevity with cancer before or after a critical age. Contribution. Our methods make it possible to analyse any incidence-based model, with any number of health stages, any pattern of transitions, and any kind of values assigned to stages. It is easily computable, requires no simulations, provides all the moments of healthy longevity, and solves the inhomogeneity problem.

Author(s):  
Lin Zhang ◽  
Xinjie Wei ◽  
Xueyao Ma ◽  
Zhihong Ren

Population aging has become a crucial problem in China. Recently, the Chinese government has adopted many strategies and policies to solve this problem and improve the quality of life of older individuals. The present study aimed to examine the effect of physical health on quality of life among older individuals in the context of Chinese culture and explore the potential mediating roles of positive cognition and negative emotions in the association between physical health and quality of life. Data were from the wave of 2017–2018 of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Data on physical health, quality of life, positive cognition, and negative emotions of 15,874 older people were included in the present study. Pathway analysis was conducted by using IBM SPSS AMOS 21.0, and double verified using PROCESS Macro for SPSS 3.5.3. Results showed that physical health was positively associated with quality of life among older individuals in the context of Chinese culture. The effect size was small to moderate. Positive cognition and negative emotions independently and serially mediated the linkage of physical health and quality of life. These findings provided empirical evidence for the activating event-belief-consequence theory of emotion and hierarchy of needs theory and indicated that Chinese older people focused more on physical health rather than mental health. Practitioners could teach older individuals strategies of emotion regulation and cognitive appraisal to improve the quality of life of older individuals.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nur Fakhriyah Razali ◽  
Nur Adibah Solihin Sulaiman

Leukemia is cancer that begins to develop in blood cells, producing abnormal cells. Depression is the most common symptom encountered by leukemia patients. Depression experienced by leukemia patients is not the same as that experienced by normal people daily, and it affects different aspects of quality of life (QOL). Aim: This study is designed to determine the level of depression and quality of life among leukemia patients at a teaching university in Kelantan, Malaysia. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional design was conducted among leukemia patients at a teaching hospital in Kelantan, Malaysia, using self-administered questionnaires. A total of 40 patients was selected using a random sampling technique. Results: Most of the participants in this study had a higher level of depression (87.5%). However, the overalls level of quality of life in this study was good with the highest mean of domain scales. Conclusion and Recommendations: The study results can be used as baseline information to determine the level of depression and level of quality of life among leukemia patients in Malaysia health care settings. Nurses play an essential role in helping leukemia patients manage their depression not to affect their quality of life.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xitong Huang ◽  
Minqiang Zhang ◽  
Junyan Fang ◽  
Qing Zeng ◽  
Jinqing Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background To promote healthy aging, the information about the development of quality of life (QoL) is of great importance for health researchers and policymakers. Up to now, the longitudinal explorations of the heterogeneity in the change of QoL under the Chinese context were largely limited. The current study aimed to identify potential different development patterns of QoL and the influential factors using a large, longitudinal, and nationally representative sample of the Chinese elderly. Methods We adopted a five-wave longitudinal dataset from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), and a total of 1,645 elderly aged 65 and over were obtained. QoL was measured using a self-report item during the longitudinal process. We utilized the conditional growth mixture model (GMM) with time-invariant covariates to explore various development patterns and associated factors. Results Three subgroups with distinct trajectories of self-reported QoL were identified: the High-level Steady Group (17.08%), the Mid-level Steady Group (63.10%), and the Low-level Growth Group (19.82%). Results also indicated that several factors predicted distinct trajectories of self-reported QoL. Those elderly who received enough financial resources, had adequate nutrition, did not exhibit any disability, engaged in leisure activities, and did less physical labor or housework at the baseline were more likely to report a higher level of QoL over time. Conclusions There existed three development patterns of self-reported QoL among the Chinese elderly, and these subgroups differed in several baseline factors. These findings provided valuable implications for the maintenance and improvement of QoL among the Chinese elderly.


2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Ismail Tareque ◽  
Yasuhiko Saito

In Bangladesh, although some research on health expectancy exists, life expectancies with and without hypertension (HTN) have never been computed. We examined gender differences in the prevalence of hypertension and Hypertension-Free Life Expectancy (HFLE) in Bangladesh. We used data from a nationally representative survey of 7,864 people aged 35 and older. We classified an individual as having HTN if s/he had blood pressure levels ≥140 mmHg systolic blood pressure or ≥90 mmHg diastolic blood pressure, or s/he was at the time on antihypertensive medication. The Sullivan method was employed to compute HFLE. We found that women have HTN in significantly higher percentages (32% of women vs. 19% of men), and the prevalence of HTN increases as age increases for both men and women. Among individuals with HTN, individuals unaware of HTN make up the largest group, followed by those with uncontrolled HTN, controlled HTN, and those who are aware of HTN but not in treatment. Compared with men, women could expect shorter HFLE at all ages, in terms of both number and proportion of years. To increase HFLE as well as quality of life and to prevent and control HTN in general and unawareness of HTN and uncontrolled HTN in particular, special care and attention should be given to women and older adults. The findings shed important light on the role of HTN in lowering the quality of life in Bangladesh. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 2097-2108
Author(s):  
Robyn L. Croft ◽  
Courtney T. Byrd

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify levels of self-compassion in adults who do and do not stutter and to determine whether self-compassion predicts the impact of stuttering on quality of life in adults who stutter. Method Participants included 140 adults who do and do not stutter matched for age and gender. All participants completed the Self-Compassion Scale. Adults who stutter also completed the Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering. Data were analyzed for self-compassion differences between and within adults who do and do not stutter and to predict self-compassion on quality of life in adults who stutter. Results Adults who do and do not stutter exhibited no significant differences in total self-compassion, regardless of participant gender. A simple linear regression of the total self-compassion score and total Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering score showed a significant, negative linear relationship of self-compassion predicting the impact of stuttering on quality of life. Conclusions Data suggest that higher levels of self-kindness, mindfulness, and social connectedness (i.e., self-compassion) are related to reduced negative reactions to stuttering, an increased participation in daily communication situations, and an improved overall quality of life. Future research should replicate current findings and identify moderators of the self-compassion–quality of life relationship.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 685-690
Author(s):  
C. S. Vanaja ◽  
Miriam Soni Abigail

Purpose Misophonia is a sound tolerance disorder condition in certain sounds that trigger intense emotional or physiological responses. While some persons may experience misophonia, a few patients suffer from misophonia. However, there is a dearth of literature on audiological assessment and management of persons with misophonia. The purpose of this report is to discuss the assessment of misophonia and highlight the management option that helped a patient with misophonia. Method A case study of a 26-year-old woman with the complaint of decreased tolerance to specific sounds affecting quality of life is reported. Audiological assessment differentiated misophonia from hyperacusis. Management included retraining counseling as well as desensitization and habituation therapy based on the principles described by P. J. Jastreboff and Jastreboff (2014). A misophonia questionnaire was administered at regular intervals to monitor the effectiveness of therapy. Results A detailed case history and audiological evaluations including pure-tone audiogram and Johnson Hyperacusis Index revealed the presence of misophonia. The patient benefitted from intervention, and the scores of the misophonia questionnaire indicated a decrease in the severity of the problem. Conclusions It is important to differentially diagnose misophonia and hyperacusis in persons with sound tolerance disorders. Retraining counseling as well as desensitization and habituation therapy can help patients who suffer from misophonia.


ASHA Leader ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (15) ◽  
pp. 5-6
Author(s):  
Anne Skalicky ◽  
Brenda Schick ◽  
Donald Patrick
Keyword(s):  

Author(s):  
Nina Simmons-Mackie

Abstract Purpose: This article addresses several intervention approaches that aim to improve life for individuals with severe aphasia. Because severe aphasia significantly compromises language, often for the long term, recommended approaches focus on additional domains that affect quality of life. Treatments are discussed that involve increasing participation in personally relevant life situations, enhancing environmental support for communication and participation, and improving communicative confidence. Methods: Interventions that have been suggested in the aphasia literature as particularly appropriate for people with severe aphasia include training in total communication, training of communication partners, and activity specific training. Conclusion: Several intervention approaches can be implemented to enhance life with severe aphasia.


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