Women's knowledge about heart disease: Differences among ethnic and cultural groups in the Israeli Women's Health in Midlife Study.

The current investigation aimed to assess levels of knowledge about risk factors for heart disease among midlife Israeli women, and to evaluate the relationship of knowledge to personal risk factors and vulnerability to heart disease. Face-to-face interviews with women aged 45-64 years were conducted during 2004-2006 within three population groups: long-term Jewish residents (LTR), immigrants from the former Soviet Union, and Arab women. The survey instrument included six knowledge statements relating to: the risk after menopause, family history, elevated cholesterol level, diabetes, obesity, and warning signs of a heart attack. The findings showed wide disparities in knowledge by educational level and between immigrants and LTR, after taking into account personal risk factors and education. Personal risk factors were not significantly related to the knowledge items, except for personal history of cardiovascular disease, which was associated with knowledge about "warning signs of a heart attack" and "family history." Women who perceived themselves as more vulnerable to heart disease were more likely to identify several risk factors correctly. These findings stress the need to increase knowledge about heart disease, especially among less educated and minority women, and to emphasize the risk of patients' personal status by health providers.

Health, cultural and socioeconomic factors related to self-rated health of long-term Jewish residents, immigrants, and Arab women in midlife in Israel.

Self-rated health (SRH) has been found to predict future health, yet its importance is unique in the information it captures, beyond more objective measures. This information can include psychosocial and cultural factors that can be important in understanding women's health. Our goal was to test whether long-term Jewish residents (LTJR), immigrant, and Arab women differed in their SRH, whether these differences were maintained after controlling for indicators of health status, and, if so, whether the differences among the three groups reflected psychosocial or socioeconomic factors. A nationally representative sample of 814 women in Israel aged 45-64 years was interviewed (between June 2004 and March 2006) regarding socio-demographics, physical health, health behaviors, and psychosocial aspects. Both immigrant and Arab women reported poorer SRH, physical and mental health, and socioeconomic status. Differences between Arab women and LTJR were mostly explained by differences in health measures (e.g., medications and symptoms) and psychosocial measures (e.g., caregiving load and depressive symptoms) and were eliminated when socioeconomic measures were added to the multiple regression models. Differences in SRH between immigrants and LTJR remained after multiple adjustments, suggesting that they reflected unmeasured cultural factors. Even with universal healthcare coverage in a small country (i.e., with minimal financial and geographical barriers to healthcare) minority groups' health suffers in relation to their socioeconomic and life circumstances.

Are infertility treatments a potential risk factor for cancer development? Perspective of 30 years of follow-up.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible risk for cancer development in infertile women with over 30 years of follow-up. Cancer development was assessed through linkage with the National Cancer Registry updated to 31 December 2005 in a cohort of 2431 women who were treated for infertility at the Sheba Medical Center in Israel during the period 1964-1974 and contributed more than 84,000 women years of follow-up. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) were calculated between the observed cancer cases and the expected cancer rates in the general population. The mean age at the end of follow-up was 62.7 years. Eighteen cases of ovarian cancer were observed as compared to 18.1 expected (SIR = 1.0; 95% CI = 0.59-1.57). For breast cancer, 153 cases were observed as compared to 131.9 expected (SIR = 1.16; 95% CI = 0.98-1.36), and for endometrial cancer, 30 cases were observed as compared to 17.8 expected cases (SIR = 1.69; 95% CI = 1.14-2.41). No excess risk associated with exposure to gonadotropins was observed. Infertility was found to be associated with significant increased risk for endometrial cancer and borderline increased risk for breast cancer. Ovarian cancer risk was not found to be elevated. No significant excess risk was associated with treatment with ovulation induction.

Prevalence and correlates of psychotropic medication use among older adults in Israel: cross-sectional and longitudinal findings from two cohorts a decade apart.

OBJECTIVES: To assess: (1) changes in use of psychotropic medications across two cohorts, 10 years apart, of community-dwelling elderly and the socio-demographic, physical and mental health correlates of their use; and (2) changes in psychotropic medication use over 3.5 years follow-up. METHODS: Data were taken from two national surveys of the Israeli Jewish population aged 75­94, which, respectively, sampled two cohorts in 1989 (n=1200) and again in 1999 (n=421). Psychotropic medications were assessed from the list of all medications recorded during a face-to-face interview. The current analysis focused on two medication groups: anxiolytics and sedatives/hypnotics and antidepressants. RESULTS: Sedatives/hypnotics and anxiolytics use increased from 22.2% in 1989 to 25.4% in 1999 and antidepressants from 3.8% to 4.8% (both nonsignificantly) corresponding to a decline in the health profile of community-dwelling older adults. Similar patterns of associations were observed for socio-demographics, physical, and mental health status indicators with the use of psychotropic medications across the two cohorts. The pooled multivariate analysis showed significantly higher use of sedative/hypnotics and anxiolytics among women and lower use among religious elderly. Additional risk factors were sleeping problems, number of other medications, depressive symptoms, and traumatic life events. Antidepressants use was related to a higher education, ADL disability, and depressive symptoms. Longitudinally, use of psychotropic medications was not significantly different among participants who were followed again after 3.5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Sedative/hypnotics and anxiolytics use was relatively high while antidepressants use was low even among depressed elderly suggesting that some depressed elderly were treated inappropriately with benzodiazepines.

Cultural and educational disparities in the use of primary and preventive health care services among midlife women in Israel.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess rates of primary and preventive healthcare use among women in midlife from different cultural origins and to identify sociodemographic and health characteristics that could explain cultural differences in health care utilization. METHODS: Data were collected for the Women's Health in Midlife National Study in Israel, in which women aged 45-64 were randomly selected according to age and ethnic/origin group strata: Long-term Jewish residents (n = 540), immigrants from the former Soviet Union (n = 151), and Arab women (n = 123). Interviews included measures of primary and preventive visits, clinical screening services (mammogram, Pap smear, bone density), health and lifestyle, and sociodemographics. MAIN FINDINGS: Long-term residents reported more preventive visits and screening tests and lower use of primary care, compared with immigrants and Arab women. In multivariate analyses, cultural group, education, self-rated health, and health motivation were significantly associated with utilization of primary and preventive care. Ethnic/origin group differences were mostly related to cultural differences and not to financial barriers or medical factors. For example, among the more traditional group, namely, Arab women, low use of preventive gynecologic care seemed to be related to the lack of physicians of the same culture and gender. CONCLUSIONS: The findings underscore the importance of the primary care physician, especially in minority groups, as a provider who can identify at-risk groups and serve as a gateway to health promotion. The findings also suggest that the lack of female providers may be one explanation for the low utilization of gynecologic services among women from traditional cultures.

Serum albumin levels predict cognitive impairment in elderly hip fracture patients.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible interrelation of serum albumin levels and cognitive function of elderly hip fracture patients. The study involved 331 elderly patients with hip fractures, admitted for rehabilitation. Cognition was assessed by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). MMSE scores less than 24 points were considered suggestive of cognitive impairment. Age, serum albumin levels, and previous stroke emerged as the only statistically significant parameters differing between those with MMSE score less than 24 or higher. After adjusting for confounding variables, the middle and lowest tertiles of serum albumin levels were associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment (odds ratio 1.97, 95% confidence interval 1.15-3.38, P < .01 vs 3.06 and 1.79-5.23, P < .001, respectively). This study shows that lower serum albumin levels are independently associated with lower MMSE scores in hip fractured elderly patients, supporting the possible role of chronic low-grade inflammation in age-related cognitive decline.

Knowledge of risk factors and prevention of osteoporosis: the Israeli women's health at midlife study.

Wide disparities in knowledge of risk factors and prevention of osteoporosis were demonstrated among midlife Israeli minority women (Arabs and immigrants from the former USSR) compared to Jewish long-time residents. Women who believed osteoporosis to be a serious disease and those who felt susceptible to it reported better knowledge. PURPOSE: The main goals of this study were to assess knowledge of risk factors and preventive measures for osteoporosis in middle-aged women and to evaluate the relationship of knowledge to personal risk factors and personal perceptions about osteoporosis. METHODS: Face-to-face interviews with women aged 45-64 years were conducted during 2004-2006 within three population groups: long-term Jewish residents (LTJRs), immigrants from the former Soviet Union, and Arab women. The survey instrument included five knowledge statements related to the risk after menopause, the risk of smoking, family history of fractures, decreased risk by physical activity, and by use of medications. RESULTS: The findings indicated wide disparities in knowledge about risk factors and preventive behavior of osteoporosis between the two minority groups (immigrants from the former Soviet Union and Arab women) and the majority group of midlife Israeli women. Knowledge of osteoporosis was related to perceived severity of the disease and partly to perceived susceptibility to osteoporosis. Past diagnosis of osteoporosis, current or past smoking status, and BMI were unrelated to knowledge in multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to improve knowledge of osteoporosis especially among less educated and minority women. Subjective perception of risk was more strongly related to knowledge than actual risk factors and should be targeted in public campaigns. The efforts should be aimed at strengthening women's perception of their own susceptibility to osteoporosis and of the severity of this disease.

Cultural Disparities in the Use of Prescription and Nonprescription Medications Among Midlife Women in Israel.

The study aimed to examine differences in medication use among midlife women from different cultural origins and to identify socio-demographic, health, and lifestyle characteristics associated with prescribed and non-prescribed medication use. Face-to-face interviews with women aged 45-64 years were conducted during 2004-2006 within three population groups: long-term Jewish residents (LTJR), immigrants from the former Soviet Union after 1989, and Arab women. The survey instrument included current use of medications and way of purchasing (with/without prescription). The level of prescribed and non-prescribed medication use was categorized as taking none, taking 1-2, and taking 3 or more medications. The rates of medication use were 59.5% for prescribed medication and 47% for non-prescribed medications. Differences between the minority groups and LTJR were observed mainly for cardiovascular, vitamins, supplements, and hormonal medications. The analyses showed significantly lower use of prescribed medications among immigrants and of non-prescribed medications among Arab women after taking into account health and socioeconomic indicators. Increased use of prescribed and non-prescribed medications was associated with worse health status and older age. Education was associated with increased use of non-prescribed medications. The disparities in pharmaceutical care may be linked to barriers in access to health care and to cultural preferences among minorities.

Overweight and obese midlife women in Israel: cultural differences in perceived weight status.

OBJECTIVES: To examine cultural differences in Weight status misperception (WSMP) and identify associations between weight perception and weight control efforts among overweight/obese midlife women in Israel. METHODS: Data from the nationally representative Women's-Health-in-Midlife-National-Study were used. Participants included overweight (25 ≤ BMI < 30) and obese (BMI ≥ 30) midlife women (45-64 years) from three cultural groups: Long-Term Jewish Residents (LTJR), Immigrants from the former USSR, and Arabs. Interviews included measures of BMI, weight perception, lifestyle, and socio-demographics. RESULTS: Most overweight/obese women (88 %) perceived their weight status correctly. No significant differences were found in overall WSMP rates across cultural groups. Overweight women of Arab origin were significantly more likely (p < 0.001) to perceive their weight as "about right" relative to LTJR and Immigrants. WSMP was associated with several unhealthy eating patterns [eating red meat (OR = 2.1, 95 % CI = 1.13-3.97), white bread (OR = 2.4, 95 % CI = 1.26-4.58)] and with more perceived barriers to exercising (OR = 1.8, 95 % CI = 1.00-3.42). CONCLUSIONS: Health care providers are encouraged to pay attention to overweight/obese women who misperceive their weight status. These women are more likely to consume unhealthy foods and to be at higher risks of suffering from medical complications associated with obesity.

A gender-based dynamic multidimensional longitudinal analysis of resilience and mortality in the old-old in Israel: the cross-sectional and longitudinal aging study (CALAS).

The objective was to examine gender differences and similarities in health, function, familial and non-familial social networks; longitudinal resilience in those factors; and their association with risk of mortality in Israeli men and women aged 75-94. We used the Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Aging Study (CALAS), a stratified random sample of 960 Israeli Jews aged 75-94, drawn on January 1, 1989 from National Population Registry, stratified by gender, age (75-79, 80-84, 85-89, 90-94), and place of birth (Europe/America, Middle East/North Africa, Israel), interviewed twice (Wave 1, 1989-1992; Wave 2, 1993-1995); Wave 1 values and longitudinal resilience predicted the 1999 mortality risk for those alive at both waves. Gender differences and similarities were found at Wave 1 in longitudinal resilience and in risk factors for mortality, partially supporting a gender paradox. Men were more physically active, had better cognition, gave more help to children, relied less on paid caretakers, and attended synagogue more than women, factors associated with better health and functioning. Women had poorer health and functional status and more help from children. More physical activity, synagogue attendance, and resilience in activities of daily living (ADL) were associated with lower risk of mortality for both genders. Women's risk of mortality was reduced by smoking reduction and higher cognitive vitality, and men's by emotional support and solitary leisure activity. Both men and women were resilient, yet there were differences. Gender-neutral mortality reduction programs would include physical activity, religious services, maintenance and improvement of ADL, and engaging in solitary leisure activities; for women, smoking cessation and cognitively challenging activities; and for men, maintaining or increasing emotional ties.

Effects of tracheostomy on well-being and body-image perceptions.

OBJECTIVE: Quality of life after tracheostomy was addressed by measuring its impact on well being and body image perceptions. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A controlled study in a laryngotracheal clinic of a tertiary referral center. Three groups were studied: 24 cannulated, 19 decannulated, and 20 noncannulated patients. They filled up 3 conventional questionnaires. RESULTS: (1) Satisfaction-with-life scale: reduced scores were detected between cannulated and noncannulated patients. (2) Personality traits: neuroticism and extroversion: no differences were noted. (3) Body cathexis scale: both cannulated and decannulated patients scored less than noncannulated. In tracheostomy-specific issues, decannulated patients scored better than cannulated patients. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced scores after tracheostomy indicate an overall diminished quality of life. These changes correlate with personality traits. Decannulated patients exhibited only slight improvement indicating an incomplete psychosocial recovery. SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first report on tracheostomy related quality of life in noncancer patients conducted with specific psychological questionnaires.

Tracing long-term effects of early trauma: a broad-scope view of Holocaust survivors in late life.

This study addressed long-term effects of extreme trauma among Holocaust survivors (N = 126) in an older (75-94 years) sample of the Israeli Jewish population. Survivors were compared with European-descent groups that had immigrated either before World War II (n = 206) or after (n = 145). Participants in the latter group had had Holocaust-related life histories but did not consider themselves survivors. Controlling for sociodemographics, the results indicated that survivors fared worse than prewar immigrants in certain psychosocial domains, mainly cumulative distress and activity, rather than in health-related ones. Survivors and postwar immigrant comparisons had almost no differences. The study highlights the need for a wide view of functioning facets and comparison groups in delineating late posttraumatic effects.

The Israeli kibbutz as a venue for reduced disability in old age: lessons from the Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Aging Study (CALAS).

It is important to identify ways to moderate disability in old age. We assessed whether the kibbutz way of life results in reduced disability by examining risk factors for disability in three comparable populations: kibbutz members (lifetime kibbutz exposure); parents of kibbutz members who came to live on the kibbutz in old age due to health and social needs (old age exposure); and comparable Israelis in the general population (no exposure). Kibbutz members were less disabled, defined as needing help with at least one of five activities of daily living, than the other groups. Kibbutz members had 30% lower risk of disability, after controlling for sociodemographics and social networks, health and health behaviors, and life history and background. Introducing length of residence in current home and death of a child to the analysis reduced this finding to non-significance. Overall, risk of disability was significantly higher for older age groups, women, homemakers, people with more comorbid conditions, those with more children, and those with a child that had died, while risk of disability was significantly lower for those with larger social networks, those who had engaged in physical activity at midlife, and those who had lived in their homes longer. Since occupations on the kibbutz (primarily agricultural and blue collar) have equal pay, and kibbutz members have complete economic security, our results suggest that it is not such occupations themselves but their association with low incomes that have contributed to previous associations of blue collar and agricultural occupations with poor health and high disability. Lower disability among kibbutz members may be due to the social, economic, and instrumental support provided on the kibbutz, as well as to an active life style, suggesting features of kibbutz life that can be replicated elsewhere to reduce disability.

Beyond keeping active: concomitants of being a volunteer in old-old age.

This study examines concomitants of volunteering in the context of other lifestyle activities. Investigating formal volunteering in old-old age, the authors analyzed data of 148 volunteers versus 1,195 nonvolunteers in a national sample of the Israeli Jewish population aged 75-94. As hypothesized, being a volunteer related (whether as a cause or effect) to more positive functioning on psychosocial markers and prospectively resulted in reduced mortality risk even when other activity outlets (physical activity, everyday activities, having a hobby) were controlled. These findings suggest that the benefits of volunteering in late life are not reducible to those of other activities.

Gender differences in the self-rated health-mortality association: is it poor self-rated health that predicts mortality or excellent self-rated health that predicts survival?

PURPOSE: This study investigates gender differences in the association between self-rated health (SRH) and mortality. This association has been well-documented, but findings regarding gender differences are inconsistent. The specific objectives were (a) to examine these differences in a short and a long time frame, (b) to examine these differences among old and old-old people, and (c) to address the question of whether this association is based on the accuracy of poor SRH as a predictor of future decline, and/or of better SRH as a predictor of longevity. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study is based on an Israeli nationally representative sample of 622 women and 730 men who were interviewed about their SRH, as well as sociodemographic information and other measures of health, physical functioning, cognitive status, and depression. RESULTS: For both genders, SRH was associated only with shorter term mortality (within the next 4 years) and not with longer-term mortality (9 years of follow-up). This association was strongest among the old (ages 75-84) women, compared with the old men and with the old-old (85-94) women and men. A possible explanation may be related to differences in the accuracy of excellent SRH at very old age. IMPLICATIONS: The SRH-mortality association may differ among age and gender groups. Identifying the conditions under which it is more accurate will enable researchers and practitioners to know when it can be utilized. It is important to assess differences in the accuracy of poor SRH as well as of excellent SRH as predictors of future health outcomes.

The effect of a communal lifestyle on depressive symptoms in late life.

OBJECTIVES: This study compares depression levels among lifetime kibbutz members (n = 525) and old-age kibbutz residents (n = 366) with a comparable national sample (n = 412) and assesses the relationship between depression and individual differences related to lifetime in a kibbutz (e.g., health) and those related to current living conditions (e.g., social network). METHODS: The analysis is based on data from the Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Aging Study conducted in Israel between 1989 and 1992 and the follow-up during 1993 and 1994. RESULTS: The findings indicate significantly lower depressive symptomatology among women, but not among men, residing in kibbutz communities. The women's lower level of depressive symptoms appears to be a result of better physical and mental functioning among kibbutz members and of such favorable lifestyle characteristics as frequent contact with their children among old-age kibbutz residents. DISCUSSION: Both lifetime and current living conditions contribute to better mental health of women in the kibbutz at older ages.

Patterns of drug use among the community-dwelling old-old population in Israel.

BACKGROUND: Due to multiple chronic illness and disability, the elderly consume a disproportionately large share of medications. OBJECTIVES: To assess the patterns and determinants of drug use among the community dwelling old-old population. METHODS: The study population included 1,369 old-old persons from the baseline data of the Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Aging Study (CALAS), which is based on a national random stratified sample of the Israeli Jewish population aged 75-94 years. RESULTS: The mean number of drugs used by the study population was 3.3, and only 12.5% did not consume any drugs, Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that women used significantly more drugs than men, and that those born in Europe took significantly more drugs than those born in Israel and Asia-Africa. The number of medical conditions was the strongest predictor of drug use. Hospitalizations during the last year and frequent visits to family physician were also significant factors related to drug use. All variables combined explained 40% of the variance in drug use by the old-old. The most commonly used therapeutic groups were cardiovascular drugs (53%), psychotropic drugs (31%), analgesics (30%), and gastrointestinal drugs (28%). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that in addition to the association of drug use with health status and healthcare utilization, the number and type of drugs taken vary with gender and place of birth.

A community study on emotional distress among the elderly in Israel.

BACKGROUND: The elderly constitute a group at risk for elevated emotional distress. The Ministry of Health, the Central Bureau of Statistics and other national agencies jointly conducted a survey to investigate the health status of the elderly, including emotional distress and selective determinants. OBJECTIVE: This paper reports the distribution of the emotional distress mean scores by socio-demographic and health-related variables. METHOD: 5,055 ethnically diverse elderly residing in the community were interviewed with a questionnaire comprising socio-demographic and health promotion behavior items, in addition to the 12 item-GHQ scale. Univariate and multivariate methods of analyses were applied. RESULTS: Several variables that were associated with higher mean scores of emotional distress were identified, among them, female gender, living without a partner, and those with chronic medical conditions and impaired life-styles; 38% of the variance was explained by the study variables. CONCLUSION: Health planners and clinicians, including mental health consultants, may utilize these findings to develop individual and collective programs of intervention aimed at reducing emotional distress, particularly among the more vulnerable elderly.

Gender differences in the prevalence and correlates of psychotropic medication use among older adults in Israel.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluates gender differences in the prevalence of psychotropic medications use among elderly Israelis and the socio-demographic, physical and mental health correlates of their use. METHOD: Data were taken from a national survey that sampled the community-dwelling Jewish population aged 65-94 in Israel. Psychotropic medications were assessed from the list of all medications recorded during a faceto- face interview. The current analysis focused on three medication groups: anxiolytics, sedatives/hypnotics and antidepressants. RESULTS: A significantly higher use of anxiolytics was observed among women compared to men after taking into account their worse physical and mental health. Age, not being married, sleeping problems and depressive symptoms were significant correlates among men while number of non-psychotropic medications, any life trauma and being married correlated with use of anxiolytics and sedatives/hypnotics among women. The use of antidepressants was low in men and women and was related mainly to disability in ADL. CONCLUSIONS: This study points to possibly overprescribing of anxiolytics among women and low detection and treatment of depression among the elderly in general.

The prediction of subjective wellness among the old-old: implications for the "fourth-age" conception.

OBJECTIVES: As the "fourth-age" conception suggests that the adaptability of psychosocial capabilities is disrupted at old-old age due to failures in maintaining balanced functions, this study examines the predictability of subjective wellness outcomes by factual dysfunction markers of health among old-old people across 12 years. METHOD: Participants were self-respondents in a 3-wave survey that sampled the older (age 75-94) Jewish population in Israel. Wave 1 (N = 1,369, mean age = 83.5) preceded Wave 2 (N = 687, mean age = 85.4) by 4 years and Wave 3 (N = 164, mean age = 91.6) by 12 years. RESULTS: The dysfunction markers (comorbidity, medication consumption, doctor's visits, and difficulties in activities of daily living [ADL]) predicted subjective wellness by relating to an increase in depressive symptoms, as well as to a decrease in life evaluation and self-rated health, beyond adjustment for sociodemographics. However, in most cases, an interaction finding indicated that dysfunction markers were weaker predictors of age-related change in subjective wellness among older participants. DISCUSSION: At old-old age, the results point to reduced predictability of subjective wellness by factual dysfunction. This finding supports the fourth-age model. Still, researchers should consider an alternative interpretation, by which increasing independence between factual and subjective indicators is protective, rather than debilitating, among old-old people.