scholarly journals Investigating Some Risk Factors Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Middle-aged and Elderly

Salmand ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-111
Author(s):  
Ali Dadgari ◽  
◽  
Seyed Mohammad Mirrezaei ◽  
Seyedeh Solmaz Talebi ◽  
Yasaman Alaghemand Gheshlaghi ◽  
...  

Objectives: The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has influenced all age groups; however, the risk of mortality increases with age. Several factors impact the development of this disease. This study aimed to determine the relationship between some risk factors in the development of COVID-19 among community dwellers of ≥50 years of age.This cross-sectional study was performed at Shahroud University of Medical Sciences from April 1, 2019, to June 20, 2020. Methods & Materials: This cross-sectional study was conducted on individuals aged ≥50 years, including middle-aged and aging suspected of COVID-19 referring to registration centers in Shahroud University of Medical Sciences from Feb. 20th to Jun. 20th, 2020. The basis for diagnosing COVID-19 in suspected cases was a positive Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test based on a nasopharyngeal swab or Computed Tomography (CT) scan. The data used included demographic information, a history of smoking, and comorbidities. Data analysis was performed in SPSS by descriptive statistics, Chi-squared test, Independent Samples t-test, and logistic regression model. Results: In the first 4 months of the COVID-19 outbreak, 3945 suspicious cases were referred to Shahroud healthcare centers. After removing the missing cases, of the 3119 registered cases, 1348 participants were aged ≥50 years. Of all eligible participants, 602 cases were diagnosed with COVID-19, and 303 were males. The obtained data suggested that the Mean±SD age of the study subjects was 66.62±11.33 years. Diabetes (P=0.014) and other comorbidities, such as asthma, acute respiratory, hepatic and kidney diseases, and cancer in borderline significantly increased the incidence of COVID-19 by 38% and 32%, respectively. An increase of one unit in Body Mass Index (BMI) (P=0.002) enhanced the odds of infection by 4%. Conclusion: Based on the multivariate logistic regression results, high BMI and diabetes were significant risk factors in the development of COVID-19 among aged subjects. This conclusion emphasizes the importance of BMI and diabetes in the assessment of patients in middle-aged and aging groups.

Author(s):  
Amina Ehsan ◽  
Farwa Iqbal ◽  
Muhammad Azeem Rao

Abstract Objectives: The objectives of the study were to find out the prevalence of internet addiction and to determine the risk factors associated with internet addiction in medical students. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi from July 2018 to August 2019. Our study population included medical students from all the years of MBBS aged 18-25 years, who have been using the internet for the past two years or more. A Stratified random sampling technique was used. Seventy-six self-administered questionnaires were distributed in each year. Data was entered and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 25). Results: Out of the total sample of 380, the prevalence came out to be 90% (n=342). Two hundred and twenty-two 222 (58.4%) had mild, 115 (30.3%) had moderate, six (1.6%) had severe and 37 (9.7%) had no addiction. Out of the risk factors online friendships (p= 0.007), online relationships (P=0.035), online chatting (p= 0.009), online shopping (p= 0.009), online games (p=0.023) and online series/movies (p< 0.000) were statistically significant. Conclusion: The prevalence of internet addiction is high among medical students, which is mostly of a mild type. Internet addiction is more common in males and non-hostel residents. Other significant risk factors are online relationships, online gaming, and online series/movies. Keywords: Prevalence, internet, medical students, risk factors. Continuous...


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Huiwu Han ◽  
Fan Zheng ◽  
Weiwei Dai ◽  
Hua Peng ◽  
Shi Zhou ◽  
...  

Objectives. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is now becoming a serious public health threat. Some behaviors risk factors were considered to be associated with MetS and interacted to adversely affect MetS. However, the clustering effects of behavior risk factors of MetS among Chinese population remain unclear. The aim of this study is to observe the behavior risk factors and their clustering effects of MetS in China. Methods. A cross-sectional study design was used. Subjects were recruited in the departments of Cardiology Clinic, Endocrine Clinic, and Health Management from March to December 2019. A demographic sheet was designed to collect the demographic and clinical characteristics of the subjects. International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short was applied to evaluate the level of PA in this study. Other behavior risk factors were observed by the questionnaire. The stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the determinants of MetS. The multiple logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the clustering effects of behavior risk factors in MetS. Results. There are a total of 532 eligible subjects (56.6% females; mean age was 48.4±15.3 years), and approximately 33.3% were diagnosed as MetS. The subjects with a smoking habit (heavy and long-time history) had a 1.833-fold higher risk for MetS than their counterparts (none and light smoking), and the subjects that preferred salty taste had a 1.626-fold higher risk for MetS than the comparison cohort. Smoking and alcohol drinking had the highest clustering effect on MetS among the behavior risk factors. Conclusions. The main finding of this study was that smoking and salty taste preference were the independent determinants of MetS. Smoking and alcohol consumption had the highest clustering effect on southern Chinese MetS.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (03) ◽  
pp. 233-239
Author(s):  
Hamish Mohammed ◽  
Mary H Hayden ◽  
Elise Lee ◽  
Luis M Santiago ◽  
Rosina C Krecek ◽  
...  

Introduction: After a large outbreak of dengue virus (DENV) serotype-3 in Saint Kitts and Nevis (SKN) in 2008, we performed a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of anti-DENV immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in expatriate and local persons affiliated with an American veterinary school there. Methodology: This campus community comprised mostly expatriate students and faculty and Kittitian administrative staff. In 2009, a stratified random sample of students, faculty and staff was invited to complete an electronic survey to assess risk factors for DENV and provide blood for testing for anti-DENV IgG antibodies by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. IgG-positive specimens were also tested by a 90% plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT90) to determine immunoreactivity to DENV (1-4) serotypes and West Nile virus. Risk factors for anti-DENV IgG seropositivity were determined using simple and adjusted logistic regression. Results: Of the 118 participants, the overall prevalence of DENV IgG antibodies was 44.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 35.1-53.0%), ranging from 30.1% in students, 100.0% in staff and 57.9% in faculty (p < 0.001). Duration of residence in St. Kitts was the only variable significantly associated with seropositivity on multiple logistic regression (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI]: 1.21 [1.07-1.37]). The serotype of DENV was determined in 11 persons: DENV-1 (n = 4), DENV-2 (n = 3), and DENV-3 (n = 4). Conclusions: Expatriate students and faculty moving to St. Kitts from non-endemic areas were at high risk of DENV infection. There is a need for increased emphasis on pre-travel mosquito-borne virus prevention education for persons moving to St. Kitts to study and work.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
LiRong Wang ◽  
Rui Zhang ◽  
Ye Yang ◽  
XiaoYan Sun ◽  
BaoLi Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective To investigate the severity and risk factors of menopausal symptoms in the middle-aged women in Gansu Province of China. Methods In this cross-sectional study, a total of 7319 women (aged 40–55 years) attended the health survey in Gansu Province in China were enrolled. Information on demographics, menopausal status, reproductive history, and history of chronic diseases was collected via a structured questionnaire. Severity of menopausal symptom was evaluated by the Modified Kupperman Menopausal Index. Ordinal logistic regression model was applied to explore its risk factors. Results A total of 7319 participants were included in present study, among them, 3606 (49.27%) had moderate or severe menopausal symptom. Compared with premenopausal women, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women have a higher mKMI score. We observed that older age, higher BMI, non-married status, longer duration of menstruation (≥ 7 days), number of pregnancy (> 3 times), longer duration of breastfeeding (> 12 months), peri- or post-menopausal status, and menopause hormone therapy was positively associated with menopausal symptom score, while higher level of family income, educational and physical activity, and history of gynecological, breast or chronic disease were negatively associated with the score. Conclusions Numerous factors were associated with the severity of menopausal symptom among the Chinese women. Because it was gradually increased with aging, more attention is warranted to manage the menopausal symptom.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Michael Beraki Mengistu ◽  
◽  
Yonatan Mehari Andemeske ◽  
AriamTsegay Emhatsion ◽  
HabtomTareke Wrieta ◽  
...  

Background: Delirium is a common but often underdiagnosed set of transient symptoms often seen in elderly patients following surgeries under spinal anesthesia. With early recognition and diagnosis based on the established standard criteria delirium can be improved. Early identification of the possible contributingfactors and the magnitude of the burden will help in the management of the fragile elderly patients. The aim of this study is to determine the incidence of postoperative delirium and associated risk factors in elderly patients who have done surgery under spinal anesthesia. Method: This cross sectional study was conducted in the National Referral Hospitals and Sembel PrivateHospital, in Asmara, Eritrea from February to May, 2019. The study participants were elderly patients (age ≥65 years) having no known history of dementia or delirium or no mental disorder, no history of acute cerebrovascular disease. Basic background and clinical characteristics of the patients was collected. To assess the status of cognitive impairment level, the Mini Mental State Examination and Confusion Assessment Method tools were used. Data was collected through an interview method. After the data was entered into SPSS version 22 software, data was analyzed with frequency, percentage, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis method as appropriate. P value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the participants was 74 ±6.62 and 102 (79.1%) of the participants were males. POD occurred in 14 (10.9%) of the patients. Adjusting all the potential factors, age was identified as arisk factor for developing POD. Conclusion: Age was determined to be a significant risk factor of delirium. Elderly patients require more attention and care and the findings might help to develop preventive strategies to the occurrence of POD


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaohua Yang ◽  
Huijuan Chen ◽  
Wanling Yang ◽  
Bin Deng ◽  
Jialing Zheng ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) is a major complication after stroke, oral microorganisms are important contributors to SAP. Here, we aimed to investigate whether the oral hygiene was associated with SAP and related risk factors of them in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study that recruited 331 patients with acute ischemic stroke from two medical centers. A series of assessments were performed to evaluate the neurological status and habits of oral hygiene. According to whether the oral hygiene was abnormal and SAP occurred, univariate analyses were performed in cohort 1 (normal / abnormal oral hygiene groups) and cohort 2 (SAP / non-SAP groups). Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to confirm risk factors of oral cleanliness and SAP in stroke patients. Results: A total of 12 and 8 independent variables were included in the model 1 and 2 analysis. After adjusting for confounders, multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that oral cleanliness was not only closely related to SAP (OR=2.219, P=0.026), dental caries (OR=1.292, P=0.005) and age (OR=1.030, P=0.006) in model 1, but also an independent risk factor for predicting SAP (OR=1.678, P=0.001) in model 2. Barthel index was a protective factor for oral cleanliness (OR=0.986, P=0.019) and SAP (OR=0.977, P=0.002) in ischemic stroke patients. Conclusions: Mutually primary risk roles of abnormal oral cleanliness and SAP exist in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Dental caries and aging are important risk factors for oral health disorders. Improving the activities of daily living would have protective effects on both oral hygiene and SAP prevention in stroke patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamal Chaulagain

Introduction: Adolescent’s overweight is rising in both developing and developed countries. Overweight and obese adolescents are more likely to become obese adults which stimulate the risk of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and so on. Adolescence is the critical period for development of unhealthy lifestyles and food choices which increases the risk of NCDs. The loss of productivity, premature deaths and disability has been associated with NCDs at younger ages. This study focuses on identifying the prevalence and associated risk factors with adolescents’ overweight. Methods: A school based cross-sectional study was conducted between August-October 2020 in Gokarneshwor municipality of Nepal. A random sample of 558 students aged 10-19 years from nine schools was included in the study. A self-administered questionnaire was filled out by the study participants. Anthropometric indices were measured and categorized using BMI for age Z-score. Descriptive statistics were carried out. Variables were considered for multivariable logistic regression if a Wald test p-value was ≤0.25 during bivariate logistic regression. The odds ratio with a 95% CI was calculated and a p-value of ≤0.05 was considered to declare the statistical significance of variables after fitting into the multivariable logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of overweight among school adolescents was 17.9% (95% CI 14.7 to 21.1). The female adolescents were more likely to get overweight as compared to male adolescents (AOR 1.53, 95% CI 0.97 to 2.39). Similarly, the adolescents staying with more than four family members were less likely to get overweight as compared to their counterparts (AOR 0.57, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.95). There was no statistical significant association between adolescent overweight and age group, family type, school type, mothers’ occupation or fruits consumption. Conclusion: The study findings highlighted the accelerated increase in the prevalence of overweight among school adolescents in Nepal. Therefore, appropriate nutritional intervention focusing on tackling overweight should be formulated and implemented so that the prevalence of overweight-associated non-communicable diseases can be minimized.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshihiko Yanase ◽  
Ikumi Yanagita ◽  
Yuya Fujihara ◽  
Chikayo Iwaya ◽  
Yuichi Kitajima ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Frailty is broadly characterized by vulnerability and decline in physical, mental and social activities and is more common in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Frailty is closely associated with nutrition, muscle strength, inflammation, and hormones etc. In hormones, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) and cortisol are suggested to be such candidates affecting frailty. Little investigation has been performed using a wider range of measures of frailty to clarify risk factors for frailty including the above two hormones. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study to investigate the risk factors for frailty in elderly T2DM patients (n=148; ≥65 years), using a broad assessment, the clinical frailty scale. We compared parameters between the non-frail and frail groups using the unpaired t and Mann-Whitney U tests. The Jonckheere-Therpstra test was used to identify relationships with the severity of frailty and risk factors were identified using binary regression analysis.Results: Simple regression analysis identified a number of significant risk factors for frailty, including DHEAS <70 µg/dL and cortisol/DHEA-S ratio ≥0.2. Multiple regression analysis showed that low albumin (<4.0 g/dl) (odds ratio [OR]=5.79, p<0.001), low aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity (<25 IU/L) (OR=4.34, p=0.009), and low body mass (BM) (<53 kg) (OR=3.85, p=0.012) were independent risk factors for frailty. A significant decrease in DHEA-S and a significant increase in the cortisol/DHEA-S ratio occurred alongside increases in the severity of frailty. DHEA-S concentration positively correlated with both serum albumin and BM.Conclusions: Hypoalbuminemia, low AST, and low BM are independent risk factors for frailty in elderly T2DM patients, strongly implying relative malnutrition in these frail patients. DHEA-S may be important for the maintenance of liver function and BM. A decrease in DHEA-S and an increase in the cortisol/DHEAS ratio may be involved in the mechanism of the effect of malnutrition in elderly T2DM patients. trial registration number: UMIN (number 000031357)


2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. A103.1-A103
Author(s):  
Nisha Naicker ◽  
Tahira Kootbodien ◽  
Vusi Ntlebi ◽  
Kerry Wilson ◽  
Felix Made ◽  
...  

BackgroundWaste recyclers at landfill sites separate, collect and sell recyclable solid waste. They do not receive Occupational Health and Saftey (OHS) training, personal protective equipment (PPE) or health support. There is limited information of the extent of adverse health outcomes experienced by waste recyclers in South Africa. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and possible risk factors for injuries experienced by waste recyclers.MethodsA cross sectional study was conducted among waste recyclers working in two landfill sites. Interviews were conducted with 361 waste recyclers using a structured questionnaire with information on socio-demographic history, exposures and injuries experienced. Logistic regression with OR was used to determine the significant risk factors for having experienced an injury in the last 6 months.ResultsThe average age was 33.7 years, range of 18–81 year. The majority were male (73.4%) and had completed secondary school education (77.8%). The average income earned was $119 per month and 51% lived in informal dwellings. Exposures included rodents (91%), lifting heavy object (87%), dogs (78%), chemicals (66%), needles (43 .%), falling waste (38%) and violence (20%). Although 90% of participants stated they wore some kind of PPE, this was not always suitable for the work conducted. 33% experienced an injury. The commonest injuries were bitten by rats (90%), falls on site (46.7%), muscular pain (29%), dog attacks (21%), violence from other waste pickers (20%) and needle stick injuries (20%). Logistic regression results showed that being male (crude OR 2.94, 95% CI- 1.399–6.195) and age <34 years (crude OR=2.69, 95% CI 4.145–4.988) were significant risk factors for injuries.ConclusionThere is a high prevalence of injuries experienced by waste recyclers at landfill sites. OHS awareness and use of appropriate PPE should be provided to waste recyclers in order to prevent occupationally related injuries.


2003 ◽  
Vol 131 (2) ◽  
pp. 899-906 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. PRADO ◽  
A. STRINA ◽  
M. L. BARRETO ◽  
ANA MARLÚCIA OLIVEIRA-ASSIS ◽  
LÍVIA MARIA PAZ ◽  
...  

A cross-sectional study of 694 children aged 2 to 45 months selected from 30 clusters throughout the city of Salvador, Bahia (pop. 2·3 million) was carried out as part of a longitudinal study of diarrhoea in order to identify risk factors for infection with Giardia duodenalis. Variables studied included three social and demographic factors (such as mother's education and marital status), five relating to the peri-domestic environment (rubbish disposal, open sewers, paving of the street), seven relating to the home itself (house construction, susceptibility to flooding, water supply and sanitation) as well as a score for hygiene behaviour based on structured observation. After multivariate analysis using a hierarchical model, only four significant risk factors were found: (a) number of children in the household under five years (b) rubbish not collected from the house (c) presence of visible sewage nearby, and (d) absence of a toilet. All four were significant at the 1% level.


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