scholarly journals Changes in Household Size and Depression: A Temporal Analysis

Author(s):  
Joshua Kirabo Sempungu ◽  
Minjae Choi ◽  
Eun Hae Lee ◽  
Yo Han Lee

Abstract This study examines the relationship between changes in household size and depression through a temporal analysis using the Korean Welfare Panel Study. The number of household members at both t-1 and t year was measured and a generalized estimating equation was used. Households that increased in size after a year showed a lower prevalence of depression than the corresponding reference groups. On the contrary, when individuals from multi-person households inhabited single-person households after a year, their probability of experiencing depression increased by more than 70% in comparison to those who remained in single-person households throughout.

Rheumatology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 628-635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel W P Tsang-A-Sjoe ◽  
Irene E M Bultink ◽  
Maaike Heslinga ◽  
Lilian H van Tuyl ◽  
Ronald F van Vollenhoven ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective To investigate the relationship between remission and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with SLE in a longitudinal observational cohort. Methods HRQoL was measured at cohort visits using the physical and mental component score (PCS and MCS, respectively) of the Short Form 36 questionnaire. Definitions of Remission in SLE remission categories (no remission/remission on therapy/remission off therapy) were applied. Determinants of PCS and MCS were identified with simple linear regression analyses. Association between remission and HRQoL was assessed using generalized estimating equation models. Results Data from 154 patients with 2 years of follow-up were analysed. At baseline 60/154 (39.0%) patients were in either form of remission. Patients in remission had higher Short Form 36 scores in all subdomains compared with patients not in remission. PCS was positively associated with remission and employment, and negatively associated with SLICC damage index, ESR, medication, patient global assessment and BMI. MCS was positively associated with Caucasian ethnicity and negatively associated with patient global assessment. In generalized estimating equation analysis, a gradual and significant increase of PCS was observed from patients not in remission (mean PCS 36.0) to remission on therapy (41.8) to remission off therapy (44.8). No significant difference in MCS was found between remission states. Conclusion we show a strong and persistent association between remission and PCS, but not MCS. These results support the relevance (construct validity) of the Definition of Remission in SLE remission definitions and the further development of a treat-to-target approach in SLE.


Healthcare ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gelareh Gabayan ◽  
Brian Doyle ◽  
Li-Jung Liang ◽  
Kwame Donkor ◽  
David Huang ◽  
...  

Background: With the recent increase use of observation care, it is important to understand the characteristics of patients that utilize this care and either have a prolonged observation care stay or require admission. Methods: We a conducted a retrospective cohort study utilizing 5% sample data from Medicare patients age ≥65 years that was nationally representative in the year 2013. We performed a generalized estimating equation (GEE) logistic regression analysis to evaluate the relationship between an unsuccessful observation stay (defined as either requiring an inpatient admission from observation or having a prolonged observation stay) compared to having successful observation care. Observation cut offs of “successful” vs. “unsuccessful” were based on the CMS 2 midnight rule. Results: Of 154,756 observation stays in 2013, 19 percent (n = 29,604) were admitted to the inpatient service and 34,275 (22.2%) had a prolonged observation stay. The two diagnoses most likely to have an unsuccessful observation stay were intestinal infections (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.32–1.83) and pneumonia (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.13–1.41). Conclusion: We found patients placed in observation care with intestinal infections and pneumonia to have the highest odds of either being admitted from observation or having a prolonged observation stay.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gelareh Z. Gabayan ◽  
Li-Jung Liang ◽  
Brian Doyle ◽  
David Yu-Chuang Huang ◽  
Catherine A. Sarkisian

Background: Over the past decade, a growing number of older Medicare beneficiaries visit the emergency department (ED) and have been placed in observation care. We investigated and compared the prevalence and factors associated with patients age ≥ 65 years with Medicare insurance who are placed in the hospital, observation care, or discharged following an ED visit.Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from a nationally representative 5% sample of Medicare patients age ≥ 65 years during the year 2013. We performed multiple generalized estimating equation (GEE) logistic regression analyses to assess the relationship between placement in a hospital vs. discharge, observation care vs. discharge, and observation care vs. admission.Results: Of 537,455 Medicare beneficiaries age ≥ 65 years who visited an ED in 2013, 48.0% (N = 258,083) were discharged, 10.5% (N = 56,184) placed in observation care, and 41.5% (N = 223,188) were admitted to the inpatient service following the ED visit. The top 2 diagnoses associated with placement in the hospital vs. discharge were ischemic heart disease and renal disease. Patients with symptomatic diagnoses such as chest pain and dizziness were more likely to be placed in observation care following an ED visit as compared to admission to the hospital.Conclusions: Compared to prior studies, we found a greater number of older Medicare ED patients placed in observation care and a lower number admitted to the hospital. Most common diagnoses of placement in observation care were symptom-based as compared to being admitted to the hospital which were disease-based.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad R. Hussein ◽  
Thamer AlSulaiman ◽  
Mohamed Habib ◽  
Engy A. Awad ◽  
Islam Morsi ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundThe COVID-19 toll of cases and deaths followed an uneven pattern across the world. The literature has partly explained the observed discrepancy between the different countries by country-specific and systemic patterns worldwide. In this study, we propose an additional explanation that the magnitude of COVID-19 toll reported to the WHO could be influenced by the level of free speech and Democracy in the reporting countries.MethodsWe constructed a longitudinal dataset including the daily COVID-19 count of cases and deaths worldwide and each country’s respective score on the Freedom in the World index. We applied two Generalized Estimating Equation models to investigate if a country’s reported toll count of COVID-19 cases and deaths is related to that country’s freedom level. We controlled for factors identified in the current literature to affect the pandemic’s spread.ResultsA country’s score on the Freedom In the World Index was associated with its reported COVID-19 cases count (57028.43, 95% CI 985.3619 - 113071.5, P= 0.0461) and deaths count (3473.273, 95% CI1217.12-5729.42, P=.002). Also, despite having almost equal shares of the world’s population, countries at the bottom category of the Freedom index reported 21% and 11% of the COVID-19 toll cases and death counts reported by countries of highest scores on the index, respectively.ConclusionsThe known magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic’s morbidity and mortality appears to be as transparent as the reporting countries uphold free speech and Democracy. This pattern could potentially misguide international aid and global vaccine distribution plans.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 1053-1053
Author(s):  
DaJung Chang

Abstract An older adult with negative self-perceptions of aging (SPA) can lead to lower self-rated health and a higher risk of mortality. To stay a positive SPA, keep a healthier status is very important. However, evidence also proved that health conditions, like a physical limitation, could predict the level of SPA. Older adults usually have a higher prevalence rate of chronic diseases than the younger population, which can adversely impact them. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between the severity of comorbidities and the change of SPA during a time. I examined data in 7,034 people from the 2012 wave Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and followed the respondents who have answer the SPA scale in the leave-behind questionnaire in 2016. The generalized estimating equation was used to analyze the relationship between the severity of comorbidities and SPA in different waves. To measure the severity of comorbidities, a reduced index of the comorbidities severity scale (CmSS) was created to collect the health condition from HRS. Results statistical model shows that an individual with more severity of comorbidities may have a more negative SPA. However, the relationship does not follow through with the times. These findings enhance the previous study that there are relationships between severity of comorbidities and SPA. The benefit of this study is to use a different measurement to identify the severity of comorbidities and extend to more in-depth research.


2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 471-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin George

Based on a country panel from 1995 to 2013, this study examines the relationship between state failure and transnational terrorism with respect to perpetrator’s proximity to the target and logistical complexity of attacks. Using concentration curves and generalized estimating equation negative binomial models, the study shows that failed states experience significantly more transnational terrorism when the perpetrators are from the home country. But these states do not produce terrorists who cross borders and carry out attacks in other countries, neither do they attract foreign perpetrators. The latter suggests that conditions in failed states present major operational challenges to foreign terrorists. State failure also causes more logistically complex attacks due to lack of effective counterterrorism measures by failed states. The main results hold true for both relative and dichotomous measures of state failure.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 915-923 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toby G. Pavey ◽  
Nicola W. Burton ◽  
Wendy J Brown

Background:There is growing evidence that regular physical activity (PA) reduces the risk of poor mental health. Less research has focused on the relationship between PA and positive wellbeing. The study aims were to assess the prospective associations between PA and optimism, in both young and mid-aged women.Methods:9688 young women (born 1973–1978) completed self-report surveys in 2000 (age 22 to 27), 2003, 2006, and 2009; and 11,226 mid-aged women (born 1946–1951) completed surveys in 2001 (age 50–55) 2004, 2007, and 2010, as part of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. Generalized estimating equation models (with 3-year time lag) were used to examine the relationship between PA and optimism in both cohorts.Results:In both cohorts, women reporting higher levels of PA had greater odds of reporting higher optimism over the 9-year period, (young, OR = 5.04, 95% CI: 3.85–6.59; mid-age, OR = 5.77, 95% CI: 4.76–7.00) than women who reported no PA. Odds were attenuated in adjusted models, with depression accounting for a large amount of this attenuation (young, OR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.57–2.55; mid-age, OR = 1.64 95% CI: 1.38–1.94).Conclusions:Physical activity can promote optimism in young and mid-aged women over time, even after accounting for the negative effects of other psychosocial indicators such as depression.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuxiao Li ◽  
Minhui Liu ◽  
Christina E. Miyawaki ◽  
Xiaocao Sun ◽  
Tianxue Hou ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Subjective age refers to how young or old individuals experience themselves to be and is associated with health status, behavioral, cognitive, and biological processes that influence frailty. However, little research has examined the relationship between subjective age and frailty among older adults. This study examined the bidirectional association between subjective age and frailty among community-dwelling older adults. Methods We used data from the 2011 to 2015 waves of the National Health and Aging Trends Study. Our sample consists of 2,592 community-dwelling older adults with complete data on main outcome variables. Subjective age was measured by asking participants, “What age do you feel most of the time?” Based on the five phenotypic criteria: exhaustion, unintentional weight loss, low physical activity, slow gait, and weak grip strength, frailty was categorized into robust = 0, pre-frailty = 1 or 2; frailty = 3 or more criteria met. Generalized estimating equation models were used to examine the concurrent and lagged association between subjective age and frailty. Results Participants were, on average, 75.2 ± 6.8 years old, non-Hispanic whites (76 %), female (58 %). 77 % of the participants felt younger, 18 % felt the same, and 5 % felt older than their chronological age. About 45 %, 46 %, and 9 % of the participants were robust, pre-frailty and frailty in the first wave, respectively. Generalized estimating equations revealed that an “older” subjective age predicted a higher likelihood of pre-frailty and frailty (OR, 95 % CI = 1.93, 1.45–2.56). Conclusions These findings suggest that people with older subjective age are more likely to be pre-frail/frail. Subjective age could be used as a quick and economical screening for those who are potentially frailty or at risk for frailty.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 299-309
Author(s):  
Danielle Xiaodan Morales

In light of the ongoing educational shift from favoring men to favoring women, this study contributes to the literature on fertility by investigating the relationship between educational pairings and fertility intentions. To test two competing hypotheses, nationally representative data from the latest wave (2015–2017) of the National Survey of Family Growth were used, and four generalized estimating equation models were estimated. Results indicate that women’s intentions for additional children were influenced by educational pairings. Specifically, when highly educated women had a highly educated partner, their fertility intentions were higher than lower-educated women, but this difference disappeared if those women were in hypogamous relationships; when lower-educated women had lower- or medium-educated partners, their intentions for additional children were significantly lower than highly educated women, but the difference disappeared when she had a highly educated partner. Findings from this study provide new insights into fertility intentions by taking into account both partners’ education.


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