The association of hearing problems with social network strength and depressive symptoms: the cardiovascular health study.

BACKGROUND: research on the association between hearing impairment and psychosocial outcomes is not only limited but also yielded mixed results. METHODS: we investigated associations between annual self-reports of hearing problems, depressive symptoms and social network strength among 5,888 adults from the Cardiovascular Health Study over a period of 9 years. Social network strength and depressive symptoms were defined using the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS), and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). RESULTS: hearing problems were associated with weaker social networks and more depressive symptoms. These association differed for prevalent versus incident hearing problems. Participants with prevalent hearing problems scored an adjusted 0.47 points lower (95% CI: -2.20, -0.71) on the LSNS and 0.71 points higher (95% CI: 0.23, 1.19) on the CES-D than those without hearing problems. Participants with incident hearing problems had a greater decline of 0.12 points (95% CI: -0.12, -0.03) per year in social network score than individuals with no hearing problems after adjusting for confounders. Females appeared to be more vulnerable to changes in social network strength than males (P-value for interaction = 0.02), but not for changes in depressive score. Accounting for social network score did not appear to attenuate the association between hearing problems and depressive score. CONCLUSION: findings suggest that older adults with prevalent hearing problems may be more at risk for depression, but individuals with incident hearing problems may be at greater risk for a winnowing of their social network.

Improving Health-Related Quality of Life of Patients With an Ostomy Using a Novel Digital Wearable Device: Protocol for a Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Ostomy surgeries involving the placement of an ostomy bag (eg, colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy, etc) have been shown to have a negative impact on health-related quality of life. To date, no studies have been conducted examining what impact, if any, wearable biosensors have on the health-related quality of life of ostomy patients. OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we plan to assess the quality of life of ostomy patients using the Ostom-i alert sensor, a portable, wearable, Bluetooth-linked biosensor that facilitates easier ostomy bag output measurements. We hypothesize that using the Ostom-i alert sensor will result in an improved, ostomy-specific, health-related quality of life as compared to baseline measurement before the use of the sensor. METHODS: A total of 20 ostomy patients will be screened and recruited to participate in this prospective, observational, cross-over pilot study using an Ostom-i alert sensor for one month. The primary outcome of this study will compare ostomy-specific, health-related quality of life at baseline (prior to Ostom-i alert sensor use) to ostomy-specific, health-related quality of life after 2 and 4 weeks of Ostom-i use by utilizing the City of Hope Quality of Life Questionnaire for Patients with an Ostomy. Secondary outcomes of general health-related quality of life and adjustment to ostomy will be evaluated using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short form health survey and the Olbrisch Ostomy Adjustment Scale Short Form 2. RESULTS: The project was funded by the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine. Enrollment is currently underway and data analysis is expected to be completed in 2018. CONCLUSIONS: Proposed benefits of mobile, internet-linked personal health monitors, such as the Ostom-i, include a reduction in the cost of care by reducing resource utilization and infection rates, improving patient-provider communication, reducing time spent as an inpatient as well as improved quality of life. Prior studies have demonstrated decreased health-related quality of life in patients with an ostomy bag. We aim to examine the extent to which the Ostom-i alert sensor affects the health-related quality of life of its users. The Ostom-i alert sensor has the potential to improve quality of life of users by giving them the freedom and confidence to partake in daily activities with the knowledge that they can check how full their ostomy bag is in a private, discrete manner. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02319434; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02319434 (Archived at WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6xhFDThmq).