Medical comorbidities and other factors associated with migraine among individuals with diabetes mellitus in Hungary: a cross-sectional study using European Health Interview Surveys 2009-2019.

Introduction: Migraine, a debilitating neurological disorder characterized by recurrent headaches, affects over 1.1 billion individuals globally. Diabetes mellitus (DM), a chronic metabolic condition marked by high blood sugar levels, affects 463 million individuals according to the International Diabetes Federation. Our study aimed to evaluate the association between migraine and DM and to identify several demographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors, as well as medical and psychiatric comorbidities, associated with migraine among individuals with DM. Methods: This cross-sectional study is based on data from the European Health Interview Surveys conducted in 2009, 2014, and 2019 in Hungary. Pearson's chi-squared tests and multiple logistic regression models were used to assess associations. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: In multiple regression analyses, we found no significant association between DM and migraine after adjusting for socioeconomic status, various health conditions, and lifestyle factors (OR=0.84, 95% CI: 0.66-1.06). However, adults with DM who had comorbid conditions including stroke (OR=2.08, 95% CI: 1.06-4.08), low back pain (OR=3.52, 95% CI: 2.13-5.84), and depression (OR=4.91, 95% CI: 2.84-8.47) were significantly more likely to suffer from migraine. Discussion: Our study found no significant difference in the prevalence of migraine among adults with and without diabetes mellitus. However, several comorbidities were found to be significantly associated with migraine occurrence in those with DM. Thus, the study's results highlight the need for proper management of diabetes, especially in terms of comorbidities, to mitigate migraine risk factors and improve patient outcomes.

Self-medication among general population in the European Union: prevalence and associated factors.

Self-medication (SM) forms an important part of public health strategy. Nonetheless, little research has been performed to understand the current state of self-medication in the European Union (EU). Utilizing data from the third wave of the European Health Interview Surveys, this study finds an estimated SM prevalence of 34.3% in the EU (95%CI = 34.1-34.5%; n = 255,758). SM prevalence, as well as SM prevalence inequality between men and women, varies substantially between EU member countries. Via multivariable analysis, we also identify a number of variables associated with SM, most notably the substantial impact of health systems on SM behavior (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 4.00; 95% Confidence Interval [95%CI] = 3.81-4.21). Several demographics are also associated with greater SM prevalence, including those aged 25-44 (versus ages 75+: AOR = 1.21; 95%CI = 1.12-1.31), women (AOR = 1.74; 95%CI = 1.68-1.81), immigrants born in other EU states (AOR = 1.16; 95%CI = 1.04-1.30), those with higher education (AOR = 1.83; 95%CI = 1.60-2.09), and urban dwellers (AOR = 1.14; 95%CI = 1.04-1.30). Additionally, long-standing health problems (AOR = 1.39; 95%CI = 1.33-1.45), visits to doctors (both general practitioners and specialists) (AOR = 1.21, 95%CIs = 1.15-1.26, 1.17-1.26), and unmet needs for health care due to waiting lists (AOR = 1.38; 95%CI = 1.23-1.55) or inability to afford medical examinations/treatment (AOR = 1.27; 95%CI = 1.12-1.42) serve as conditioners for SM. We also find that smoking (AOR = 1.05; 95%CI = 1.01-1.10), vaping (AOR = 1.19; 95%CI = 1.06-1.32), drinking alcohol (AOR = 1.23; 95%CI = 1.19-1.28), and higher levels of physical activity (AOR = 1.27; 95%CI = 1.22-1.32) are factors associated with SM. Analysis of these variables reveals that though women self-medicate more than men, the patterns that govern their consumption are similar.

National trends and disparities in herpes zoster vaccination among US older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 2008 to 2022.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a risk factor for herpes zoster. Vaccination can prevent or attenuate herpes zoster and its related complications. However, evidence regarding vaccine uptake among patients with COPD is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate trends in herpes zoster vaccination and characteristics associated with vaccination among US older adults with COPD. METHODS: Data from the 2008 to 2022 National Health Interview Survey were used. Participants aged ≥50 years were included. Joinpoint regression analysis was performed to analyze trends in herpes zoster vaccination. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with vaccination. RESULTS: From 2008 to 2022, an increasing trend in herpes zoster vaccination was observed (average annual percent change = 15.10, P < .01). This increasing trend was also observed when stratified by age groups. Disparities in vaccination were found across several factors, including age, sex, race or ethnicity, region, educational level, health insurance, income, smoking status, perceived health status, and flu and pneumococcal vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: There has been an upward trend in herpes zoster vaccination over the past 15 years among older adults with COPD. Disparities across several characteristics existed, underscoring the necessity for targeted policies and interventions to promote equity in vaccination.

Prevalence and 20-year trends in meditation, yoga, guided imagery and progressive relaxation use among US adults from 2002 to 2022.

Meditation, yoga, guided imagery, and progressive relaxation are promoted as complementary approaches for health and wellbeing in the United States, but their uptake by different sociodemographic groups is unclear. This study assessed the prevalence and 20 year trends in the use of these practices in US adults between 2002-2022. We examined practice use and associations with sociodemographic and health factors in a population-weighted analysis of n = 134,959 participants across 5 cycles of the National Health Interview Survey. The overall use of meditation (18.3%, 60.53 million), yoga (16.8%, 55.78 million) and guided imagery/progressive relaxation (6.7%, 22.22 million) increased significantly from 2002 to 2022. Growth was consistent across most sociodemographic and health strata, however users of 'Other' race (comprising 54% Indigenous Americans, Odds Ratios; ORs = 1.28-1.70) and users with moderate (ORs = 1.19-1.29) psychological distress were overrepresented across all practices, and those with severe psychological distress were overrepresented in meditation (OR = 1.33) and guided imagery/progressive relaxation (OR = 1.42). Meditation use has accelerated over time for 65 + year olds (OR = 4.22), people not accessing mental health care (OR = 1.39), and less educated (OR = 4.02) groups, potentially reflecting unmet health needs. Health professionals should consider the extensive use of complementary practices in service and treatment planning and consider their risks and benefits.

Health Information Technology Use among Foreign-Born Adults of Middle Eastern and North African Descent in the United States.

Health information technology (HIT) use among foreign-born adults of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) descent is understudied. MENA Americans are currently categorized as "White" in the United States (US) on federal forms. Our purpose was to uncover the prevalence of HIT use among MENA immigrants compared to US- and foreign-born White adults before and after adjusting for covariates. The 2011-2018 National Health Interview Survey data (n = 161,613; ages 18 + years) were analyzed. HIT uses evaluated were searching for health information, filling prescriptions, scheduling appointments, and communicating with healthcare providers via email (last 12 months). Crude and multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds of each HIT use (searching for health information, filling prescriptions, scheduling appointments, and/or communicating with healthcare providers via email), and overall use of any HIT before and after adjustment. The most common HIT use was looking up health information (46.4% foreign-born MENA, 47.8% foreign-born White, 51.2% US-born White; p = .0079). Foreign-born adults of MENA descent had lower odds (OR = 0.64; 95% CI = 0.56-0.74) of reporting any HIT use, but no difference in reporting all HIT uses compared to US-born White adults. This is the first study to explore HIT use among MENA Americans. Results contribute to growing body of literature showing the health of MENA Americans differs from White Americans. A separate racial/ethnic identifier is needed to better capture HIT uses among populations of MENA descent.

Physical and Psychosocial Challenges as Predictors of Vision Difficulty in Children: A Nationally Representative Survey Analysis.

PURPOSE: To elicit associations between vision difficulties and physical or psychosocial challenges in children in the United States. METHODS: Children aged 2-17 years old from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey with data pertaining to vision difficulty were included in our retrospective, population-based analysis. Our primary aim was investigating physical and psychosocial challenges as predictors of vision difficulty. Logistic regression models were performed on Stata version 17.0 (StataCorp LLC, College Station, Texas). Analyses were accompanied by an odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: A total of 7,373 children had data pertaining to their level of vision difficulty and were included in our sample. In our multivariable analysis, children with a good/fair (OR = 1.84, 95% CI = [1.31, 2.60], p < 0.01), or poor (OR = 5.08, 95% CI = [1.61, 16.04], p < 0.01) general health status had higher odds of vision difficulty relative to children with an excellent/very good health status. Furthermore, children with difficulties hearing (OR = 8.67, 95% CI = [5.25, 14.31], p < 0.01), communicating (OR = 1.96, 95% CI = [1.18, 3.25], p < 0.01), learning (OR = 1.93, 95% CI = [1.27, 2.93], p < 0.01), and making friends (OR = 1.94, 95% CI = [1.12, 3.36], p = 0.02) had higher odds of vision difficulty. Nonetheless, the following factors were only predictors of vision difficulty in our univariable analysis: requiring equipment for mobility (p < 0.01), experiencing anxiety (p < 0.01), and experiencing depression (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Several factors pertaining to physical and psychosocial challenges in children are associated with vision difficulty. Future research should further explore potential causal links between vision difficulty and physical or psychosocial factors to aid in coordinating public health efforts dedicated to vision health equity.

Application of a comprehensive disability measure: Disability prevalence among US Veterans and non-veterans from the National Health Interview Survey Data from 2015 to 2018.

BACKGROUND: Current measures of condition-specific disabilities or those capturing only severe limitations may underestimate disability prevalence, including among Veterans. OBJECTIVES: To develop a comprehensive measure to characterize and compare disabilities among US Veterans and non-Veterans. METHODS: Using 2015-2018 pooled cross-sectional National Health Interview Survey data, we compared the frequency and survey-weighted prevalence of non-mutually exclusive sensory, social, and physical disabilities by Veteran status. We developed a measure for and examined the frequency and survey-weighted prevalence of eight mutually exclusive disability categories-sensory only; physical only; social only; sensory and physical; social and sensory; physical and social; and sensory, social, and physical. RESULTS: Among 118,818 NHIS respondents, 11,943 were Veterans. Veterans had a greater prevalence than non-Veterans of non-mutually exclusive physical [52.01% vs. 34.68% (p < 0.001)], sensory [44.47% vs. 21.79% (p < 0.001)], and social [17.20% vs. 11.61% (p < 0.001)] disabilities (after survey-weighting). The most frequently reported mutually exclusive disability categories for both Veterans and non-Veterans were sensory and physical (19.20% and 8.02%, p < 0.001) and physical only (16.24% and 15.69%, p = 0.216) (after survey-weighting). The least frequently reported mutually exclusive disability categories for both Veterans and non-Veterans were social only (0.31% and 0.44%, p = 0.136) and sensory and social (0.32% and 0.20%, respectively, 0.026) (after survey-weighting). CONCLUSIONS: Our disability metric demonstrates that Veterans have a higher disability prevalence than non-Veterans, and a higher prevalence than previously reported. Public policy and future research should consider this broader definition of disability to more fully account for the variable needs of people with disabilities.

Non-use and inadequate use of cervical cancer screening among a representative sample of women in the United States.

Introduction: Women's adherence to the United States (U.S.) Preventive Services Task Force guidelines for cervical cancer screening was determined by examining predisposing, enabling, and needs factors from Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Services Use conceptual framework. Methods: The outcome was operationalized as cervical cancer screening use, non-use, and inadequate-use. Multinomial logistic regression was conducted on data from the 2019 National Health Interview Survey of 7,331 eligible women aged 21-65. Results: Compared with women who used cervical cancer screening services, women aged 30-65 were less likely to be Non-Users than those aged 21-29. Hispanic, Asian, and American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) women were more likely to be Non-Users than White women. More educated women were less likely to be Non-Users. Foreign-born women <10 years in the U.S. were more likely to be Non-Users than U.S.-born women. Women with financial hardship were less likely to be Non-Users. Poorer women and uninsured women were more likely to be Non-Users. Women with children in their household were less likely to be Non-Users than those without children. Women who had a well-visit in the past year were less likely to be Non-Users. Women with a history of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination were less likely to be Non-Users. Compared with women who used cervical cancer screening services, women aged 30-65 were less likely to be Inadequate-Users. AIAN women were more likely to be Inadequate-Users. Women of other races were less likely to be Inadequate-Users. Employed women were less likely to be Inadequate-Users. Uninsured women were more likely to be Inadequate-Users. Women who had a well-visit within a year were less likely to be Inadequate-Users. Women with past HPV vaccination were more likely to be Inadequate-Users. Smokers were less likely to be Inadequate-Users. Discussion: Predisposing, enabling, and needs factors are differently associated with non-use and inadequate use of cervical cancer screening. Understanding factors associated with the use, non-use, and inadequate use of cervical cancer screening is crucial to avoid or curb unnecessary tests, increased costs to both society and individuals, and the ill-allocation of limited resources.

Disparities in Health Insurance Among Middle Eastern and North African American Children in the US.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate and compare the proportion of foreign-born Middle Eastern/North African (MENA) children without health insurance, public, or private insurance to foreign- and US-born White and US-born MENA children. METHODS: Using 2000 to 2018 National Health Interview Survey data (N = 311 961 children) and 2015 to 2019 American Community Survey data (n = 1 892 255 children), we ran multivariable logistic regression to test the association between region of birth among non-Hispanic White children (independent variable) and health insurance coverage types (dependent variables). RESULTS: In the NHIS and ACS, foreign-born MENA children had higher odds of being uninsured (NHIS OR = 1.50, 95%CI = 1.10-2.05; ACS OR = 2.11, 95%CI = 1.88-2.37) compared to US-born White children. In the ACS, foreign-born MENA children had 2.11 times higher odds (95%CI = 1.83-2.45) of being uninsured compared to US-born MENA children. CONCLUSION: Our findings have implications for the health status of foreign-born MENA children, who are currently more likely to be uninsured. Strategies such as interventions to increase health insurance enrollment, updating enrollment forms to capture race, ethnicity, and nativity can aid in identifying and monitoring key disparities among MENA children.