Cancer and SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges

In late December 2019, a new infectious viral disease appeared. A new betacoronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2), has been recognized as the pathogen responsible for this infection. Patients affected by tumors are more vulnerable to infection owing to poor health status, concomitant chronic diseases, and immunosuppressive conditions provoked by both the cancer and antitumor therapies. In this review, we have analyzed some lesser known aspects of the relationship between neoplasms and SARS-CoV-2 infection, starting from the different expression of the ACE2 receptor of the virus in the various neoplastic pathologies, and the roles that different cytokine patterns could have in vulnerability to infection and the appearance of complications. This review also reports the rationale for a possible use of drugs commonly employed in neoplastic therapy, such as bevacizumab, ibrutinib, selinexor, thalidomide, carfilzomib, and PD-1 inhibitors, for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Finally, we have highlighted some diagnostic challenges in the recognition of SARS-CoV-2 infection in cancer-infected patients. The combination of these two health problems—tumors and a pandemic virus—could become a catastrophe if not correctly handled. Careful and judicious management of cancer patients with SARS-Cov-2 could support a better outcome for these patients during the current pandemic.

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Health Problems of Slum Dwelling Women: An Empirical Analysis

Shanlax International Journal of Economics ◽

10.34293/economics.v8i3.2440 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 25-37

Author(s):

M Kulasekhar ◽

K Dasaratharamaih

Keyword(s):

Health Status ◽

Infectious Diseases ◽

Health Problems ◽

Poor Health ◽

High Rate ◽

Poor Health Status ◽

Slum Dwellers ◽

Urban India ◽

Precautionary Measures ◽

Slum Population

The slum dwellers are generally suffering from various diseases with a high rate comparatively non-slum population in urban India. The women living in slum areas are mainly suffering from seasonal viral fevers, cough and cold, asthma, and other infectious diseases. The study shows that 39 % of slum women have poor health status. The reasons for poor health among slum women are malnutrition, unhygienic condition, lack of precautionary measures, and bad habits among them. About 37% of SC women, 30% each of ST and BC slum women, and 20% of OC women are frequently falling sick with various diseases. It is observed that 31% of the slum-dwelling women are getting treatment from RMP doctors, followed by 30% of slum women from private allopathy doctors, and only 18% of slum women are visiting Govt. hospital for their medical treatment. Only 29% of slum women are regularly visiting hospitals for their medical checkups. A majority of 62% of slum women have a habit of consuming alcohol and tobacco-related products, and out of them, 79% of women are facing health problems due to a habit of consuming alcohol and tobacco.

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Factors Associated with Health Status and Health Care Utilization among Korean Older Adults

Medical Science & Healthcare Practice ◽

10.22158/mshp.v1n1p10 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 10

Author(s):

Ju Moon Park

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Health Care ◽

Health Status ◽

Health Care Utilization ◽

Chronic Diseases ◽

Predictive Power ◽

Individual Characteristics ◽

Poor Health ◽

Care Utilization ◽

Poor Health Status

This study described the individual characteristics of physician and inpatient service users that affected health status and health care utilization and examined the factors that are associated with health status and health services utilization among Korean older adults. Based on the 2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey which was conducted by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, descriptive and logistic regression analysis was performed. The sample for this study was 1,478 individuals who indicated older than 65 years and older. Self-rated health status was ranked lower among lower-income families, married persons, and those with chronic diseases. The presence of chronic diseases was significant in predicting the likelihood of poor health status, with socio-economic and health-related need factors having predictive power of the use of inpatient hospital services. The study findings show that elderly Koreans who were in poor health status were married, poorer, and had chronic diseases. The implications of these results are discussed in terms of more effectively targeting interventions to older Koreans in poor health and the factors having predictive power of physician and inpatient utilization.

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Sexual Violence as a Key Predictor of Depressive Symptoms in Women: Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families

Violence Against Women ◽

10.1177/10778012211068061 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 107780122110680

Author(s):

Young-taek Kim ◽

Chiyoung Cha ◽

Mi-ran Lee

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Health Status ◽

Panel Data ◽

Sexual Violence ◽

Longitudinal Survey ◽

Poor Health ◽

Newly Diagnosed ◽

Poor Health Status

The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of violence on depressive symptoms in women. We analyzed panel data from the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families ( n = 6,632). Exposure to sexual violence was a significant predictor of the onset of depressive symptoms. After adjusting for all covariates, other predictors included the perception of a poor or very poor health status than normal and participants in their 40s and 50s versus participants younger than 40 years. Assessing exposure to sexual violence might be beneficial for evaluating depressive symptoms in women who are newly diagnosed with depression.

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DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH STATUS RISK FACTORS IN CHILDBEARING AMONG INDIAN WOMEN. EVIDENCE FROM HOSPITAL DATA FOR THE LATER STAGES OF FERTILITY DECLINE

Journal of Biosocial Science ◽

10.1017/s0021932000001917 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

pp. 191-206 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

KIRSTY MCNAY

Keyword(s):

Health Status ◽

Maternal Mortality ◽

Fertility Decline ◽

Poor Health ◽

Low Fertility ◽

Hospital Data ◽

Poor Health Status ◽

Maternal Deaths ◽

Pregnancy And Childbirth ◽

Increase In Risk

Indirect estimates of maternal mortality in India indicate that fertility decline has reduced maternal deaths by reducing the frequency of pregnancy and childbirth. The earlier stages of fertility decline are also likely to have lowered maternal mortality by reducing the risk of pregnancy and childbirth as the proportion of births among risky multiparous, older women declines. However, further fertility decline may well be associated with some increase in risk. Risk will also remain high if the health status of Indian girls and women remains poor. This study uses a sample of maternal deaths and deliveries among patients who survived which occurred in Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat during 1982–1993 to investigate these issues further. The women in the sample have relatively low fertility and represent a fairly late stage of fertility decline. They also have persistently poor health status. Logit regression analysis reveals that although fertility decline is associated with some increase in risk, poor health status is the more important maternal mortality risk factor. Without attention to female health, even childbearing among expectant mothers with low fertility continues to be hazardous.

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Health Behaviors and Health Status among Middle-Aged and Older Adults with Chronic Diseases in Taiwan

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17197196 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (19) ◽

pp. 7196

Author(s):

Wei-Hua Tian ◽

Joseph J. Tien

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Health Status ◽

Health Behavior ◽

Health Behaviors ◽

Chronic Diseases ◽

Latent Class ◽

Healthy Diet ◽

Lifestyle Behaviors ◽

Middle Aged ◽

The Relationship

Changes in lifestyle behaviors may effectively maintain or improve the health status of individuals with chronic diseases. However, such health behaviors adopted by individuals are unlikely to demonstrate similar patterns. This study analyzed the relationship between the heterogeneous latent classes of health behavior and health statuses among middle-aged and older adults with hypertension, diabetes, or hyperlipidemia in Taiwan. After selecting 2103 individuals from the 2005 and 2009 Taiwan National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), we first identified heterogeneous groups of health behaviors through latent class analysis (LCA). We further explored the relationship between each latent class of health behavior and health status through ordered logit regression. We identified the following five distinct health behavior classes: the all-controlled, exercise and relaxation, healthy diet and reduced smoking or drinking, healthy diet, and least-controlled classes. Regression results indicated that individuals in classes other than the all-controlled class all reported poor health statuses. We also found great magnitude of the coefficient estimates for individuals who reported their health status to be poor or very poor for the least-controlled class. Therefore, health authorities and medical providers may develop targeted policies and interventions that address multiple modifiable health behaviors in each distinct latent class of health behavior.

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Poor health status, inappropriate glucose-lowering therapy and high one-year mortality in geriatric patients with type 2 diabetes

BMC Geriatrics ◽

10.1186/s12877-020-01780-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Antoine Christiaens ◽

Benoit Boland ◽

Marie Germanidis ◽

Olivia Dalleur ◽

Séverine Henrard

Keyword(s):

Health Status ◽

Mortality Rate ◽

Geriatric Patients ◽

Poor Health ◽

Poor Health Status ◽

Glucose Lowering ◽

Lowering Therapy ◽

One Year ◽

Glucose Lowering Therapy

Abstract Background Glucose-lowering therapy (GLT) should be individualized in older patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) according to their health status and their life expectancy. This study aimed at assessing the inappropriateness of GLT prescribing and the one-year mortality rate in geriatric patients with T2D. Methods Retrospective cohort study of consecutive inpatients with T2D admitted to a geriatric ward of a Belgian university hospital. Inclusion criteria were age ≥ 75 years, T2D with GLT before admission, and HbA1c measurement during the hospital stay. Comorbidities and geriatric syndromes were collected. GLT agents were classified into hypoglycaemic and non-hypoglycaemic ones, and their dosages were expressed in daily defined dose (DDD). Health status (intermediate or poor) and GLT appropriateness (appropriate, overtreatment, undertreatment) were assessed according to the 2019 Endocrine Society guideline on diabetes treatment in older adults, in which GLT overtreatment requires the presence of hypoglycaemic therapy. One-year mortality was determined using the National Registry of vital status, and its associated factors were analysed using multivariable Cox’ regression. Results The 318 geriatric patients with T2D (median age 84 years; 46% female) were in intermediate (33%) or poor health (67%). These two groups reached similar low HbA1c values (median 6.9%) with similar GLT regimens. GLT overtreatment was frequent (57%) irrespectively of the geriatric features. One-year mortality rate was high (38.5%) and associated in multivariate analysis with poor health status (HR: 1.59, p = 0.033), malnutrition (HR: 1.67, p = 0.006) and GLT overtreatment (HR: 1.73, p = 0.023). Patients with GLT overtreatment had a higher mortality rate (44.5%). Conclusions GLT overtreatment was present in more than half of these geriatric patients. Many of them were in poor health status and died within one-year. Special attention should be paid to individualisation of the HbA1c goals in the geriatric patients with diabetes, and to GLT de-intensification in those being over-treated.

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