Influence of race and age in sleep duration and mortality relationship among adults in the United States: results from the 2004 NHIS-NDI record linkage study.

Limited information exists on age and racial disparities in sleep duration and mortality in the United States (US) population. This study compared the association between mortality and sleep duration within distinct races and age groups in the US. This study used data on 26,915 US citizens (≥ 18 years) from the 2004 wave of the National Health Interview Survey, linked to the National Death Index prospective mortality through 2019. Cox proportional hazard models were used to obtain hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for mortality by sleep duration, race (Whites, Black/African Americans, and Others (AIAN, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander)), and age (< 40, 40-60, and ≥ 60 years), while controlling for covariates such as sex, education, smoking status, disease history, and other vital factors. Race and age significantly modified the sleep duration-mortality relationship. Compared to other races, White participants exhibited higher mortality risks at all hours except at 5-6 h [HR: 0.993, 95% CI: 0.923-1.069]. Likewise, sleep duration associated mortality risks varied by age. Those at greater risk included < 40 years sleeping for 1-4 h [HR: 2.461, 95% CI: 1.446-4.187], 40-< 60 years sleeping for less than 7 h and more than 8 h, and ≥ 60 years sleeping for 9 h [HR: 1.309, 95% CI: 1.162-1.475] and ≥ 10 h [HR: 1.662, 95% CI: 1.486-1.858]. Age and race were significant effect modifiers in the sleep duration-mortality relationship. Thus, it is important to consider these factors when evaluating mortality risks associated with sleep patterns. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41105-024-00536-x.

Telemedicine for obesity management among United States adults: A systematic and meta-analysis of intervention studies.

Obesity is projected to affect 86% of United States adults by 2030. Recent data show a surge to 41.9%, with the highest proportion in the 40-59 age group (44.3%). Obesity is linked to various health issues and preventable deaths. Telemedicine has emerged as a promising avenue for addressing obesity. This systematic review and meta-analysis examine the effectiveness of telemedicine interventions for managing obesity in US adults aged 40 and above. Through a thorough Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis-guided search, 16 studies meeting inclusion criteria were identified. These studies employed diverse telemedicine technologies, including video-based and telephone sessions or a mixture of technologies. The analysis reveals a statistically significant mean difference of 0.93 in favor of telemedicine interventions for weight loss. Subgroup analysis suggests that intervention durations of 6-12 months and telephone-based sessions correlate with more substantial mean differences. This study provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of telemedicine in managing obesity, emphasizing the importance of intervention type and duration. Study limitations include variability and potential biases. Customized telemedicine strategies have the potential to combat the obesity epidemic among older adults in the United States, offering guidance to healthcare professionals aiming to reduce health risks and enhance overall well-being.

Hypokalaemia with Guillain-Barré syndrome: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.

Acute-onset quadriparesis is not only debilitating and a grave concern for the patient but also perturbs the clinician as it demands early diagnosis and prompt management to prevent catastrophic outcome due to respiratory failure. Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and hypokalaemia are notorious causes of acute-onset lower motor neuron (LMN) quadriparesis and warrant a rapid evaluation to necessitate early management. However, coexistence of these two entities is extremely rare and may pose a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge and mandates exclusion of either condition to avoid a poor outcome. We hereby report a case of a young woman who presented with an acute-onset LMN quadriparesis, initially found to have significant hypokalaemia with poor response to supplementation and was further evaluated to have an axonal variant of GBS.

COVID-19-associated acute transverse myelitis: a rare entity.

SARS-CoV-2 has wreaked havoc globally and has claimed innumerable lives all over the world. Apart from the characteristic respiratory illness, this disease has been associated with florid extrapulmonary manifestations and complications. A 59-year-old female healthcare worker presented with features of acute-onset non-compressive myelopathy with a sensory level at T10 segment along with high-grade fever for 4 days. MRI of dorsal spine was suggestive of myelitis at T7 vertebral level. She was initiated on injectable steroids and did show some initial signs of recovery. A day later, she developed an acute-onset respiratory failure but could not be revived despite our best efforts. Her nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab turned out to be positive for SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). We hereby report a case of acute transverse myelitis with COVID-19 as a probable aetiology.