scholarly journals Association between anxiety and obesity: A study of a young.adult Nigerian population

2013 ◽  
Vol 04 (S 01) ◽  
pp. S13-S18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chukwunonso ECC Ejike

ABSTRACT Background: The relationship between anxiety and obesity is still debatable and seems to vary between cultures. The subject has been scarcely investigated in Nigeria, hence this study. Materials and Methods: A total of 1584 young‑adult Nigerians (56.4% males) of mean age 21.8 ± 2.2 years were studied. Anxiety was assessed using the Beck’s Anxiety Index (BAI), while obesity was determined using the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and body mass index (BMI) methods. Standard protocols were followed for all assessments and measurements. Appropriate descriptive statistics were carried out, while regression and correlation analyses (for continuous variables) and the Chi square tests (for categorical variables) were used to assess the relationship between anxiety and obesity. Results: The degree of adiposity of the subjects (males and females alike) classified by %BF standards did not significantly (P > 0.05) affect the proportion of the population with any degree of anxiety. The proportion of population with high anxiety (for both sexes) was similar (P > 0.05) irrespective of their BMI status. All the obese (BMI‑wise only) males had low anxiety, while the proportion of thin females (in the low anxiety group) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of their normal weight counterparts. There was neither a significant correlation nor a significant association (P > 0.05) between the BAI scores and the studied measures of adiposity in both male and female subjects. Conclusion: The low prevalence of both anxiety and obesity in the studied population may explain the observed lack of association between the studied variables. These findings do not support the “jolly fat” hypothesis.

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aysha Chaudhary ◽  
Jessica Paters ◽  
Mindy Flanagan ◽  
Rachel Pfafman ◽  
Jeanne Carroll ◽  
...  

Objective: This retrospective study examined the relationship between post-COVID (PC) fatigue and the presence of chronic illnesses. Materials and Methods: Electronic health records of 122 Parkview PC Clinic patients were reviewed for demographics (age, gender, race), chronic illnesses (diabetes, hypothyroidism, hypertension, congestive heart failure, anemia, cancer, orthostatic hypotension), obesity (weight, BMI), complaint of fatigue, and activities affected by fatigue. Data was analyzed using Chi-square tests for categorical variables (or Fisher’s exact test for small cell sizes) and t-tests for continuous variables. Open thematic coding of activities most affected by PC fatigue was performed. Results: 95 out of 122 patients (77.9%) were found to have PC fatigue. Except for measures related to obesity, none of the chronic illnesses assessed were correlated with the presence of fatigue. The weight of PC fatigue patients was significantly higher than those without fatigue (p=0.04). Examination of BMI and obesity status also indicated significantly higher BMI (p=0.01) and levels of obesity (p= 0.004) in PC fatigue groups compared to the PC non-fatigue groups. No significant differences were observed between the groups in either PT test. Examination of patient described activities effected by PC fatigue found work (30.4%), daily stamina (28.6%) and ability to exercise (16.7%) most impacted by PC fatigue.  Other activities affected by PC fatigue included housework (5.6%), hobbies (3.7%), shopping (1.9%) and driving (1.9%). Conclusion: 77.9% of our PC patients showed symptoms of fatigue. This is comparable with existing literature. None of the demographic variables and PT tests, or most of the chronic health conditions investigated, were correlated with the presence of fatigue in PC patients. In contrast, measures associated with obesity, including high BMI and weight, were significantly associated with increased PC fatigue presentation. Open thematic coding of qualitative variables indicated work, daily stamina, and exercise were most affected in PC patients. 


Author(s):  
Muhammed SALMAN ◽  
Adem YILMAZ

With the pandemic, conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 began to spread rapidly in the virtual environment. It is not difficult for these conspiracy theories to replace scientific knowledge, particularly those with low scientific literacy. This study aimed to examine whether there is a relationship between university students' attitudes towards socioscientific issues (viz. their views on conspiracy theories) and their views on the COVID-19 process and vaccination. 1275 university students from different universities studying at various departments participated in the study. “The Attitude Scale towards Socioscientific Issues" developed by Topcu (2010) and the "COVID-19 process and Vaccination Questionnaire" developed by the researchers consisting of 20 questions were used as data collection tools in the study. In analysing the data obtained from the application, the continuous variables with two categories were analysed using the independent groups' t-test since the research data showed normal distribution and provided the preconditions. A one-way ANOVA test was used in the analysis of continuous variables with more than two categories. The chi-square test was used in the analysis of categorical variables, and a multinominal logistic regression was performed when examining the relationship between main variables and categorical variables. As a result of the analysis, it was observed that students with a high attitude towards socioscientific issues were more scientifically oriented to conspiracy theories, the existence of the COVID-19 and its origin, and their ideas about vaccination were more positive. In the post-pandemic period, a restructuring of science education in which socioscientific issues are concentrated upon to increase health literacy and scientific literacy arguably appears urgent.


2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1142-1142
Author(s):  
Taylor Gilliland ◽  
Erin Reynolds ◽  
Kayla Covert ◽  
Monica Bennett ◽  
Simon Driver

Abstract Objective Athletes with ADHD may experience longer and/or more complicated recoveries following SRC; however, previous research has focused on neurocognitive outcomes. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between a history of ADHD among adolescent athletes and vestibular impairments following SRC. Method Participants included 166 athletes aged 15.9 +/− 1.5 who sustained an SRC, including 25 with a documented history of ADHD. Appropriate summary statistics were used to describe the data. ADHD and non-ADHD groups were compared using t-tests and Mann–Whitney U tests for continuous variables and Chi-square tests for categorical variables. A linear regression model analyzed the relationship between a history of ADHD and vestibular outcomes including horizontal and vertical vestibulo-ocular reflex (hVOR; vVOR), visual motion sensitivity (VMS), and Dizziness Handicap Index (DHI), while referral to vestibular therapy (VT) was analyzed using logistic regression. Results Athletes with ADHD experienced significantly higher rates of on-field dizziness, (p = 0.039) and dizziness following vVOR testing on the Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS; p = 0.041). Athletes with ADHD were more likely to be referred to vestibular therapy (VT) (p = 0.033) and displayed abnormal vVOR test during the initial VT visit (p = 0.040). Conclusions Adolescent athletes with a history of ADHD are more likely to report on-field dizziness following SRC and increased dizziness with vVOR testing on VOMS, thus resulting in more frequent referrals to VT, where they also display abnormal vVOR results. Additional research is needed to improve treatment strategies and recovery outcomes in athletes after SRC.


Author(s):  
Hung-Chih Chen ◽  
Hung-Yu Lin ◽  
Michael Chia-Yen Chou ◽  
Yu-Hsun Wang ◽  
Pui-Ying Leong ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) via the national health insurance research database (NHIRD) of Taiwan. All patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (n = 47,353) in the NHIRD (2000–2012) were enrolled in the study. The case group consists of participants with diabetic ophthalmic complications; 1:1 matching by age (±1 year old), sex, and diagnosis year of diabetes was used to provide an index date for the control group that corresponded to the case group (n = 5550). Chi-square test for categorical variables and Student’s t-test for continuous variables were used. Conditional logistic regression was performed to estimate the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of DR. The total number of HCQ user was 99 patients (1.8%) in the case group and 93 patients (1.7%) in the control group. Patients with hypertension (aOR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.11–1.31) and hyperlipidemia (aOR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.52–1.79) significantly increased the risk of diabetic ophthalmic complications (p < 0.001). Conversely, the use of HCQ and the presence of rheumatoid diseases did not show any significance in increased risk of DR. HCQ prescription can improve systemic glycemic profile, but it does not decrease the risk of diabetic ophthalmic complications.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S244-S244
Author(s):  
Bharath Pendyala ◽  
Prasanth Lingamaneni ◽  
Patricia DeMarais ◽  
Lakshmi Warrior ◽  
Gregory Huhn

Abstract Background Neurocysticercosis is a Neglected Tropical Disease and an important public health issue. Our goal was to collect and analyze data regarding clinically significant gender differences among our Neurocysticercosis patients. Methods A retrospective chart search with ICD 9/ ICD 10 diagnostic code for Neurocysticercosis and neuroimaging suggestive of Neurocysticercosis was performed for clinical encounters in the hospital or affiliated clinics between years 2013–2018. After a careful chart review, patients who were clinically diagnosed with Neurocysticercosis were included in the study. T-test was used to compare means of continuous variables and chi-square test to compare proportions of categorical variables. Results Among 90 total patients included, male (49.4%) and female (50.6%) distribution were nearly identical. The mean age in females was found to be higher than males (52.5 vs 42.0, P &lt; 0.0001). Almost an equal number of males and females presented with either seizures (63.6% vs 57.8%, P= 0.85), headaches (25.0% vs 28.9%, p= 0.85), or other symptoms (11.4% vs 13.3%, p= 0.85). Males had more generalized seizures compared to females (60% vs 38%, P= 0.37), although this result was not statistically significant. Females were more likely to present with &gt; 1 lesion (82.2% vs 56.8%, P= 0.01). Males were more likely to have cystic lesions (64.7% vs 27.9%, P &lt; 0.001) compared to females who had more calcified lesions on presentation (65.1% vs 20.6%, P &lt; 0.001). Male patients were more likely to have contrast enhancement or edema surrounding the lesions (61.4% vs 33.3%, P= 0.01) and were more likely to require treatment with Albendazole/Praziquantel (75.8% vs 31.7%, P &lt; 0.001). Conclusion Although previously reported data is limited, there is a suggestion that there are gender differences in host immune response and that inflammation surrounding parenchymal lesions is more intense in females. This study suggests that men either present early in the disease phase or have different immune responses than women and require anti-parasitic therapy more frequently. More research in this aspect is needed. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoojin Choi ◽  
Mona Loutfy ◽  
Robert S. Remis ◽  
Juan Liu ◽  
Anuradha Rebbapragada ◽  
...  

AbstractMen who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by anal cancer, predominantly caused by high-risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Currently, the nonavalent HPV vaccine provides coverage against nine HPV genotypes, including seven HR-HPV genotypes. Here, we characterize anal HR-HPV genotype distribution and associated risk factors in MSM from Toronto, Canada recruited between September 2010 and June 2012. Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test was used for continuous variables, Chi-square test was performed for categorical variables, and a multivariable model using logistic regression was created to assess for correlates of anal HR-HPV infection. A total of 442 MSM were recruited, with a median age of 45 (IQR 38–50) and an overall HPV prevalence of 82%. The prevalence of any HR-HPV infection was 65.3% and 50.7% in the HIV-positive and HIV-negative MSM, respectively. No participant tested positive for all genotypes covered by the nonavalent vaccine. HIV status (aOR 1.806; 95% CI 1.159–2.816), smoking (aOR 2.176; 95% CI 1.285–3.685) and the number of lifetime sexual partners (aOR 2.466; 95% CI 1.092–5.567) were independent risk factors for anal HR-HPV infection. Our findings will be useful to inform HPV vaccine rollout and HPV prevention strategies in Canadian MSM.


2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Teixeira Andrade ◽  
Márvio Lobão Teixeira de Abreu ◽  
João Batista Lopes ◽  
Agustinho Valente de Figueiredo ◽  
Maria de Nazaré Bona Alencar Araripe ◽  
...  

Body composition analysis is relevant to characterize the nutritional requirements and finishing phase of fish. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between ichthyometric (weight, total and standard length, density and yields), bromatological (fat, protein, ash and water content) and bioelectrical-impedance-analysis (BIA) (resistance, reactance, phase angle and composition indexes) variables in the hybrid tambatinga (Colossoma macropomum × Piaractus brachypomus). In a non-fertilized vivarium, 520 juveniles were housed and fed commercial rations. Then, 136 days after hatching (DAH), 15 fish with an average weight of 37.69 g and average total length of 12.96 cm were randomly chosen, anesthetized (eugenol) and subjected to the first of fourteen fortnightly assessments (BIA and biometry). After euthanasia, the following parts were weighed: whole carcass with the head, fillet, and skin (WC); fillet with skin (FS); and the remainder of the carcass with the head (CH). Together, FS and CH were ground and homogenized for the bromatological analyses. Estimates of the body composition and yields of tambatinga, with models including ichthyometric and BIA variables, showed correlation coefficients ranging from 0.81 (for the FS yield) to 1,00 (for the total ash). Similarly, models that included only BIA variables had correlation coefficients ranging from 0.81 (FS and CH yields) to 0.98 (for the total ash). Therefore, in tambatinga, the BIA technique allows the estimation of the yield of the fillet with skin and the body composition (water content, fat, ash, and protein). The best models combine ichthyometric and BIA variables.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0246705
Author(s):  
Ruiliang Yang ◽  
Zijiang Wu ◽  
Xiaoming Qian

Life preservers often play a vital role in ensuring passenger safety in water-related accidents, while the difficulty of donning life preservers has been repeatedly proved even in a donning test. To evaluate the influencing factors for life preserver donning tests, 109 college students and 42 villagers were chosen as subjects. A total of fourteen variables with seven categorical variables and seven continuous variables were considered as potential influencing factors. T-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA, for three or more categories) were used to judge whether grouping in categorical variables had a significant effect on the donning performance. Then all variables were offered into the stepwise linear regression (SLR) to evaluate the influential factors for life preserver donning tests. Results showed that four of fourteen variables, including gender, instruction condition, age group, and tool test time (representing the subject’s flexibility), had a significant effect on the donning performance. To evaluate the relationship between the donning performance and influencing factors, models of the retrieving time, the opening time, and the donning time were built based on the SLR analysis. The paper also highlights recommendations for modification of the donning test procedure, which helps to improve the validation and reliability of life preserver donning tests.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Luo ◽  
Xuewen Tang ◽  
Lingling Ding ◽  
Zhujun Shao ◽  
Jianxing Yu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Non-prescription antibiotic use at community is a main driver of antimicrobial resistance. Cough is a common condition and prevalent in all communities, including China. This study aims to investigate the non-prescription antibiotic use for cough in China and explore to which extent antibiotic use knowledge was correctly instructed in communities.Methods A probability-proportionate-to-size (PPS) sampling method was adopted to survey from all 14 communities in Yiwu city, China. All participants were investigated by face-to-face interview on Portable Android Devices (PADs). The continuous variables were presented by mean and standard deviation (SD) or medium and inter-quartile range (IQR). The categorical variables were presented using percentage or constituent ratio. Chi-square test for univariate analysis and logistic regression for multivariate analysis were conducted to assess the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), respectively.Results A total of 3034 respondents across the 14 communities and the 50 natural villages/streets completed all key items of the questionnaire. Of 2400 (79.10%) respondents stated that they experienced cough in the past 12 months with the medium age of 36.5 (IQR: 26-49) and 12.21% (293/2400) respondents had the non-prescription antibiotic use behavior. Among those 293 respondents, the proportion of non-prescription antibiotic use for cough peaked at around 16% among people aged 30-39 years old. The major sources of antibiotics were pharmacy (77.70%) and/or family storage (43.92%). As for antibiotic knowledge in 3034 participants, 61.8% participants had minimal knowledge on broad-spectrum antibiotic and 53.76% were not familiar about the effects of joint use.Conclusions Non-prescription antibiotics use for cough is prevalent in the community, especially among people in their thirties. Strengthened drug purchase regulation and well-trained professional pharmacists would be promising alternatives to ameliorate AMR. Moreover, penetrating antibiotics knowledge to common citizens and is an urgent task to alleviate antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, proactive policies and regulations should be made to improve current situations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Víctor O. Costa ◽  
Eveline M. Nicolini ◽  
Bruna M. A. da Costa ◽  
Fabrício M. Teixeira ◽  
Júlia P. Ferreira ◽  
...  

This study aims to assess the risk of severe forms of COVID-19, based on clinical, laboratory, and imaging markers in patients initially admitted to the ward. This is a retrospective observational study, with data from electronic medical records of inpatients, with laboratory confirmation of COVID-19, between March and September 2020, in a hospital from Juiz de Fora-MG, Brazil. Participants (n = 74) were separated into two groups by clinical evolution: those who remained in the ward and those who progressed to the ICU. Mann–Whitney U test was taken for continuous variables and the chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables. Comparing the proposed groups, lower values of lymphocytes ( p  = <0.001) and increases in serum creatinine ( p  = 0.009), LDH ( p  = 0.057), troponin ( p  = 0.018), IL-6 ( p  = 0.053), complement C4 ( p  = 0.040), and CRP ( p  = 0.053) showed significant differences or statistical tendency for clinical deterioration. The average age of the groups was 47.9 ± 16.5 and 66.5 ± 7.3 years ( p  = 0.001). Hypertension ( p  = 0.064), heart disease ( p  = 0.048), and COPD ( p  = 0.039) were more linked to ICU admission, as well as the presence of tachypnea on admission ( p  = 0.051). Ground-glass involvement >25% of the lung parenchyma or pleural effusion on chest CT showed association with evolution to ICU ( p  = 0.027), as well as bilateral opacifications ( p  = 0.030) when compared to unilateral ones. Laboratory, clinical, and imaging markers may have significant relation with worse outcomes and the need for intensive treatment, being helpful as predictive factors.


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