The impact of a cardiovascular health awareness program (CHAP) on reducing blood pressure: a prospective cohort study

SummaryWhat is already known about this topicAge at period cessation is associated with cardiovascular disease. Whether age at period cessation adversely affects change in conventional cardiovascular intermediates from mid to later life is not well understood.What this study addsWomen and clinicians concerned about the impact of type and timing of period cessation on conventional cardiovascular intermediates from midlife should be reassured that the impacts over the long term are small.AbstractObjectiveTo examine the association between age at period cessation (by type of period cessation) and trajectories of anthropometry, blood pressure, lipids and HBA1c from midlife.DesignProspective cohort study of women recruited to the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD).SettingPopulation based prospective cohort study.ParticipantsWomen participating in NSHD with a known date of period cessation and at least one measure of each intermediate cardiovascular risk factor.ExposuresAge at period cessation and type of period cessation (hysterectomy compared with natural menopause).OutcomesRepeated measures of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) from 36 to 69 years and repeated measures of triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and glycated haemoglobin (HBA1c) from 53 to 69 years.ResultsWe found no evidence that age at period cessation was associated with trajectories of log triglyceride, LDL-c and HDL-c from 53 to 69 years and trajectories of blood pressure from 36 to 69 years, regardless of whether period cessation occurred naturally or due to hysterectomy. While we found some evidence of associations of age at period cessation with log BMI, log WC and log HBA1C, patterns were not consistent and differences were small at age 69 years, with confidence intervals that spanned the null. For instance, the difference in log WC at age 69 per year increase in age at natural menopause was 0.003 (95% confidence interval, −0.0002, 0.01) while the difference per year increase in age at hysterectomy was −0.002 (95% CI, −0.005, 0.001).ConclusionHow and when women experience period cessation is unlikely to adversely affect conventional cardiovascular risk factors across mid and later life. Women and clinicians concerned about the impact of type and timing of period cessation on conventional cardiovascular intermediates from midlife should be reassured that the impacts over the long term are small.

Download Full-text

The impact of postpartum depressive symptoms on self-reported infant health and analgesic consumption at the age of 12 months: A prospective cohort study

Journal of Psychiatric Research ◽

10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.02.036 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 136 ◽

pp. 388-397

Author(s):

Aleksi Ruohomäki ◽

Elena Toffol ◽

Ville Airaksinen ◽

Katri Backman ◽

Raimo Voutilainen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Prospective Cohort Study ◽

Prospective Cohort ◽

Infant Health ◽

Postpartum Depressive Symptoms ◽

Analgesic Consumption ◽

The Impact

Download Full-text

Adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with moderate elevations in blood pressure or blood glucose in Ugandan women; a prospective cohort study

AJOG Global Reports ◽

10.1016/j.xagr.2021.100007 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 100007

Author(s):

Jack Milln ◽

Betty Nakabuye ◽

Barnabas Natamba ◽

Isaac Sekitoleko ◽

Michael Mubiru ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Blood Glucose ◽

Prospective Cohort Study ◽

Pregnancy Outcomes ◽

Prospective Cohort ◽

Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes ◽

Adverse Pregnancy

Download Full-text

Health literacy, health status and health behaviors of German students– study protocol for the “Healthy Habits” cohort study

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-11542-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Martin Lange ◽

Alexandra Löwe ◽

Gerrit Stassen ◽

Andrea Schaller

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Health Status ◽

Health Literacy ◽

Health Behavior ◽

Health Behaviors ◽

Prospective Cohort Study ◽

Prospective Cohort ◽

The State ◽

The Impact ◽

Study Format

Abstract Background The emerging adulthood is traditionally viewed as a time of optimal health, but also as a critical life span, characterized by changing life circumstances and the establishment of an individual lifestyle. Especially university life seems to hold several challenges impeding the manifestation of a health supporting manner, as many students tend to show a poorer health behavior and a higher amount of health-related problems than comparable age groups. This, along with a steady growth of the higher education sector, brings increased attention to the university setting in the context of prevention. To date, there are few empirical longitudinal and coherent cross-sectional data on the status of students’ health literacy, health status, and health behaviors, and on the impact of the study format on students’ health. The aim of this prospective cohort study is to reduce this research gap. Methods Starting during winter semester 2020/21, the prospective cohort study collects data on health literacy, health status and health behavior on a semester-by-semester basis. All enrolled students of the IST University of Applied Sciences, regardless of study format and discipline, can participate in the study at the beginning of their first semester. The data are collected digitally via a specifically programmed app. A total of 103 items assess the subjectively perceived health status, life and study satisfaction, sleep quality, perceived stress, physical activity, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, drug addiction and health literacy. Statistical analysis uses (1) multivariate methods to look at changes within the three health dimensions over time and (2) the association between the three health dimensions using multiple regression methods and correlations. Discussion This cohort study collects comprehensive health data from students on the course of study. It is assumed that gathered data will provide information on how the state of health develops over the study period. Also, different degrees of correlations of health behavior and health literacy will reveal different impacts on the state of students’ health. Furthermore, this study will contribute to empirically justified development of target group-specific interventions. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register: DRKS00023397 (registered on October 26, 2020).

Download Full-text