Menopausal stages and overactive bladder symptoms in middle-aged women: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence of overactive bladder (OAB) according to menopausal stages in middle-aged women. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Total Healthcare Center in South Korea. POPULATION: Middle-aged Korean women (n=3469, mean age, 49.5 ± 2.9 years). METHODS: Menopausal stages were defined according to the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop +10 criteria, and menopausal symptoms were assessed using the Korean version of Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL). Logistic regression models were used to estimate prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals for OAB according to menopausal stage and to assess the associations with menopausal symptoms. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: OAB symptoms were evaluated using the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS). RESULTS: The prevalence of OAB increased with menopausal stage; however, the multivariable-adjusted prevalence ratios for women in menopausal transition and postmenopausal stage were insignificant (ptrend = 0.160) compared to those for premenopausal women. Among individual OAB symptoms, the multivariable-adjusted prevalence ratios for nocturia increased with menopausal stage in a dose-response manner (ptrend = 0.005 for 1 time/day; ptrend < 0.001 for ≥2 times/day). The association between menopausal stages and nocturia occurring ≥2 times/day was evident in women without OAB and with relatively high MENQOL scores, vasomotor symptoms and difficulty sleeping. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of OAB, particularly nocturia, increased with menopausal stage, and the association was obvious in women with other menopausal symptoms. This finding underscores the importance of addressing nocturia as a potential menopausal symptom in middle-aged women. Further studies are required to understand the mechanisms linking OAB with menopausal symptoms in middle-aged women.

The Associations Between Physical Activity and Mental Health Problems in Middle-aged Indonesians.

Objectives: Mental health issues have become a growing concern worldwide. Research has shown that regular physical activity can positively affect mental health. This study investigated the associations between physical activity and mental health problems in middle-aged Indonesians. Methods: The study utilized data from the 2018 Indonesian Basic Health Research Survey and used a cross-sectional approach. The participants included individuals aged 40-60 years who completed the 20-question Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). A logistic regression was performed to analyze a sample of 263,930 data points. Results: Nearly 10.4% of the participants suffered from mental health issues. Notably, among those who did not engage in moderate and vigorous physical activity, a sign of mental health problems was found in 12.5% of participants. Those who met World Health Organization standards for physical activity were less likely to experience mental health problems (10.1%). This study found a significant association between physical activity and mental health. After adjusting for smoking, alcohol consumption, non-communicable diseases, and sociodemographic variables like age, sex, education, occupation, marital status, and residence, the connection between physical activity and mental health became even stronger (adjusted odds ratio, 0.81; 95% confidence interval, 0.78 to 0.85; p<0.001). Conclusions: Regular physical activity has been shown to affect mental health positively. Therefore, it is important to improve health education and efforts to raise awareness among middle-aged Indonesians about the importance of physical activity in maintaining good mental health.

Association between low handgrip strength and incontinence among Chinese middle-aged and older people: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: Incontinence seriously affects the lives of middle-aged and older people. Pelvic floor muscle assessment is very important for incontinence, and handgrip strength can be used as an auxiliary diagnostic tool. Our study aims to find new cutoff points of handgrip strength as early indicators of incontinence and analyze the association between low handgrip strength and incontinence among Chinese middle-aged and older people. Methods: Participants were recruited from the 2015 China Health and Retirement Longevity Study. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to find the handgrip strength cutoff point. Logistic regression analysis was performed to explore other incontinence-related risk factors. Results: The study included 10,229 middle-aged and older people. Compared with normal handgrip strength participants, medium strength participants had 1.510 [men, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.017-2.243] and 1.792 (women, 95% CI = 1.294-2.480) times greater risk of incontinence, and low strength participants had 2.420 (men, 95% CI = 1.787-3.277) and 1.516 (women, 95% CI = 1.130-2.032) times greater risk of incontinence. Trend test results showed that the risk of incontinence increased with decreasing handgrip strength in middle-aged and older people. Conclusions: Our study suggests that handgrip strength < 31 kg in men and < 20.5 kg in women is significantly associated with higher risk of incontinence in Chinese middle-aged and older people. The risk of incontinence increases with decreasing handgrip strength. Handgrip strength should be measured in routine physical examinations in middle-aged and older people for timely assessment and intervention in incontinence.

The original scores of traditional Chinese medicine constitutions are risk and diagnostic factors in middle-aged and older adults with sarcopenia.

Objective: Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome that occurs with age and is characterized by a gradual decline in muscle mass, power, and functionality. It serves as a prominent contributor to frailty, disability, and mortality among older individuals. Currently, no standardized global guidelines exist for the diagnosis of sarcopenia. This study aimed to establish the correlation between sarcopenia and the constitutions of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), considering the connection between physical functioning and sarcopenia. Methods: A total of 1441 participants in this study were diagnosed with sarcopenia. The Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) proposed a sarcopenia definition algorithm. To determine the constitution of each participant, classification and determination standards were used in traditional Chinese medicine. This study evaluated the demographics, lifestyles, and self-reported medical history of individuals diagnosed with sarcopenia through a self-administered questionnaire. The constitution of the participants was determined using TCM classification and determination standards. Subsequently, we analyzed the results of univariate analysis and multivariate regression and constructed a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: Participants who were diagnosed with sarcopenia had substantially lower original Neutral constitution scores (P < 0.050). In comparison to those without sarcopenia, individuals with sarcopenia exhibited notably elevated original Qi-deficiency, Yang-deficiency, Yin-deficiency, Blood-stagnation, and Qi-stagnation scores in contrast to those in the healthy group (P < 0.050). The identified risk factors associated with sarcopenia included the following: Neutral (OR = 0.903), Qi-deficiency (in males, OR = 1.126), Yang-deficiency (OR = 1.062), Phlegm-dampness (in males, OR = 0.833), and Blood-stagnation (in females, OR = 1.089). The highest area under the curve (AUC) was observed for the original neutral constitution score, followed by the Yang-deficiency and blood-stagnation scores (0.644, 0.613, and 0.611, respectively). Additionally, the AUC for the combined original scores of all nine constitutions among males reached 0.778. Conclusions: In this cross-sectional study of older people with higher original Qi-deficiency, Yin deficiency, Yang-deficiency, Blood-stagnation, and Qi-stagnation were associated with sarcopenia. Notably, various TCM constitutions are significantly linked to sarcopenia. There was a significant occurrence of various body constitution types among individuals diagnosed with sarcopenia. The mixture of the nine original constitution scores exhibited good diagnostic performance for sarcopenia in males.

An application of the Bayesian network model based on the EN-ESL-GA algorithm: Exploring the predictors of heart disease in middle-aged and elderly people in China.

BACKGROUND: The morbidity and mortality of heart disease are increasing in middle-aged and elderly people in China. It is necessary to explore relationships and interactive associations between heart disease and its risk factors in order to prevent heart disease. OBJECTIVE: To establish a Bayesian network model of heart disease and its influencing factors in middle-aged and elderly people in China, and explore the applicability of the elite-based structure learner using genetic algorithm based on ensemble learning (EN-ESL-GA) algorithm in etiology analysis and disease prediction. METHODS: Based on the 2013 national tracking survey data from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) database, EN-ESL-GA algorithm was used to learn the Bayesian network structure. Then we input the data and the learned network structure into the Netica software for parameter learning and inference analysis. RESULTS: The Bayesian network model based on the EN-ESL-GAalgorithm can effectively excavate the complex network relationships and interactive associations between heart disease and its risk factors in middle-aged and elderly people in China. CONCLUSIONS: The Bayesian network model based on the EN-ESL-GA algorithm has good applicability and application prospect in the prediction of diseases prevalence risk.

Leisure-Time Physical Activity Participation in Middle-Aged and Older Adults With a Spinal Cord Injury in Australia.

Objectives: Adults with spinal cord injury (SCI) are often sedentary, increasing their risk of cardiometabolic diseases. Leisure-time Physical Activity (LTPA) is physical activity completed during recreation time for enjoyment. We aimed to quantify LTPA in people ≥45 years with SCI and to explore its relationship with participants' characteristics. Methods: This is a secondary analysis on a subset of the Australian International SCI Survey in participants ≥45 years, at least 12 months post-injury. We described levels of LTPA and used multivariable regressions to estimate the associations between participant characteristics and LTPA. Results: Of 1,281 participants (mean age: 62.7 years, mean time since injury: 18.7 years; 74% males) 44% reported no participation in LTPA. The average LTPA participation was 197 (SD 352) minutes per week (median: 50). Females (ß = -62.3, 95% CI [-112.9, -11.7]), and participants with non-traumatic injuries (ß = -105.2, 95% CI [-165.9, -44.6]) performed less LTPA. Time since injury was not associated with moderate-to-heavy LTPA (LR: Probability > F = 0.785). Conclusion: LTPA promotion in the SCI population ≥45 years focusing on females and non-traumatic injuries is warranted.

Investigating the relationships between motor skills, cognitive status, and area deprivation index in Arizona: a pilot study.

Introduction: Previous studies highlight the negative impact of adverse socioeconomic conditions throughout life on motor skills and cognitive health. Factors such as cognitive activity, physical activity, lifestyle, and socioeconomic position significantly affect general health status and brain health. This pilot study investigates the relationships among the Area Deprivation Index (ADI)-a measure of neighborhood-level socioeconomic deprivation, brain structure (cortical volume and thickness), and cognitive status in adults in Arizona. Identifying measures sensitive to ADI could elucidate mechanisms driving cognitive decline. Methods: The study included 22 adults(mean age = 56.2 ± 15.2) in Arizona, residing in the area for over 10 years(mean = 42.7 ± 15.8). We assessed specific cognitive domains using the NeuroTrax™ cognitive screening test, which evaluates memory, executive function, visual-spatial processing, attention, information processing speed, and motor function. We also measured cortical thickness and volume in 10 cortical regions using FreeSurfer 7.2. Linear regression tests were conducted to examine the relationships between ADI metrics, cognitive status, and brain health measures. Results: Results indicated a significant inverse relationship between ADI metrics and memory scores, explaining 25% of the variance. Both national and state ADI metrics negatively correlated with motor skills and global cognition (r's < -0.40, p's < 0.05). In contrast, ADI metrics generally positively correlated with motor-related volumetric and cortical thickness measures (r's > 0.40, p's < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings suggest that neighborhood-level social deprivation might influence memory and motor status, primarily through its impact on motor brain health.

Ischemic Colitis in a Middle-Aged Man With COVID-19: Case Report and Review of Literature.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was a pandemic that began in 2019 and continues to have morbid and deadly consequences throughout the world. During the beginning of the pandemic, many considered older adults and immunocompromised younger adults to be the only populations at risk for the severe consequences of COVID-19. Throughout the pandemic, this was proven wrong with several case reports and studies showing that relatively younger adults can also suffer serious consequences from this perplexing virus. Case Presentation: We report a rare case of ischemic colitis in a 42-year-old obese man who presented to the emergency department with quintessential COVID-19 symptoms. During his hospital course, he developed not only respiratory failure but also ischemic colitis, although he had no past medical history of any coagulopathy and was never on any pressors. Conclusion: As more case reports are being published, it has become evident that COVID-19 has the ability to cause serious extrapulmonary consequences due to an imposed state of hypercoagulability, and younger adults are at risk of facing these consequences, especially if they are obese. Thus, it is imperative that younger adults seek out the COVID-19 vaccine when available to them not only to protect those most vulnerable around them but also to protect themselves from these complications.

Dietary Intake, Menopausal Symptoms, and Body Composition Associated with Possible Sarcopenia Among Vietnamese Middle-Aged Women: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of possible sarcopenia and its associated factors among middle-aged Vietnamese women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 205 women aged 40-55 years who were admitted to the Can Tho Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital between February and December 2023. The presence of possible sarcopenia was determined according to the AWGS 2019 criteria. Associated factors were dietary intake (total energy, protein, lipid, and carbohydrate intake), the severity of menopausal symptoms by using the Kupperman index, and body composition by using the bioelectrical impedance analysis device, Inbody S10. Logistic regressions were built to analyze the association between possible sarcopenia and its associated factors. Results: The prevalence of possible sarcopenia was 29.8%, with a mean age of 47.2. Possible sarcopenia was detected in 23% of the participants based on the criterion of low handgrip strength, whereas 83.6% of the participants when considered low performance in the chair stand test. Adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that living in a rural area (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.16, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.22-4.72), energy intake <25 kcal/body weight, (AOR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.75-5.06), protein intake <0.91 g/body weight (AOR: 2.42, 95% CI: 1.51-5.76), skipping breakfast (AOR: 2.03, 95% CI: 0.91-4.54), mild menopausal symptoms (AOR: 2.68, 95% CI: 1.61-5.36), and obesity (AOR: 1.59, 95%CI: 1.29-3.67) were significantly associated with higher risk of possible sarcopenia. Conversely, higher muscle mass and higher upper limb mass were associated with a decreased risk of possible sarcopenia (total muscle mass AOR: 0.20, 95% CI: 0.07-0.59). Conclusions: These findings would provide a basis for enhancing management and prevention strategies to reduce the risk of sarcopenia in Vietnam. In particular, attention to nutrient intake and the management of menopausal symptoms may reduce the risk of sarcopenia.

Exploring the association between sleep duration and cancer risk in middle-aged and older Chinese adults: observations from a representative cohort study (2011-2020).

BACKGROUND: This prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the relationship between sleep duration and cancer incidence among 9996 participants over a median follow-up period of 9 years. METHODS: Participants without cancer at baseline were followed for over 88,790 person-years. The incidence of cancer and sleep duration was self-reported. The relationship between sleep duration and cancer incidence was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for various confounding factors, including age, gender, lifestyle factors, and comorbidities. RESULTS: During the follow-up, 325 participants were diagnosed with incident cancer, resulting in an incidence rate of 20.49 per 1000 person-years. After adjusting for confounders, a total sleep duration of less than 6 h was significantly associated with an increased risk of cancer (HR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.01-1.61). This association was particularly strong for cancers in the digestive and respiratory systems (HR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.03-1.93). Longer sleep durations (> 9 h) showed a potential increase in cancer risk, but results were not consistently significant. Age-stratified analyses revealed a similar significant increase in cancer incidence among individuals aged 60 years or younger with less than 6 h of sleep per day, showing a 35% increase in overall cancer risk and an 83% increase in digestive and respiratory system cancer. No significant association was found between nocturnal sleep durations or daytime naps and cancer incidence. However, a significant interaction was observed between daytime naps longer than 30 min and cancer incidence in women (p = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: We observed that short sleep duration may increase the risk of cancer, particularly cancers in the digestive and respiratory systems. Additionally, while longer sleep durations might also increase cancer risk, this finding requires validation with larger sample sizes.

Chronic Conditions and Multimorbidity Among Middle-Aged and Elderly Peri-Urban Dwellers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Objectives: Chronic conditions and multimorbidity affect care needs and prevention opportunities. Methods: We studied 2,246 men and women aged ≥40 years within the Dar es Salaam Urban Cohort Study from June 2017 to July 2018. Seventeen chronic conditions were assessed based on self-report, body and blood pressure measurement, blood tests, and screening instruments. Results: Hypertension (51.3%), anemia (34.1%), obesity (32.2%), diabetes (31.6%), depressive symptoms (31.5%), low grip strength (21.2%), and ischemic heart disease (11.9%) were widespread. Multimorbidity was common (73.7%). Women had higher odds of obesity, ischemic heart disease, and high cholesterol (adjusted OR: 2.08-4.16) and lower odds of underweight, low grip strength, alcohol problems, and smoking (adjusted OR: 0.04-0.45). Ten years of age were associated with higher odds of low grip strength, cognitive problems, hypertension, kidney disease, chronic cough, diabetes, high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease, and multimorbidity (adjusted OR: 1.21-1.81) and lower odds of HIV infection (adjusted OR: 0.51). Conclusion: We found a higher prevalence of multimorbidity than previously estimated for middle-aged and elderly people in sub-Saharan Africa. The chronic conditions underlying multimorbidity differed by sex.

The Role of Baseline Prostate-specific Antigen Value Prior to Age 60 in Predicting Lethal Prostate Cancer: Analysis of a Contemporary North American Cohort.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Studies evaluating the role of baseline midlife prostate-specific antigen (PSA) as a predictor of development and progression of prostate cancer relied predominately on cohorts from the pre-PSA screening introduction era. The aim of our study was to examine the role of baseline PSA prior to the age of 60 yr as a predictor of developing lethal prostate cancer using a contemporary North American cohort. METHODS: Our cohort included all men aged 40-59 yr who received their first PSA through our health system between the years 1995 and 2019. Patients were divided into four categories based on age: 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, and 55-59 yr. Baseline PSA was the predictor of interest. Lethal disease was defined as death from prostate cancer or development of metastatic disease either at diagnosis or during follow-up. Cancer-specific mortality and overall mortality were obtained by linking our database to the Michigan Vital Records registry. Competing-risk regression was used to evaluate the association between PSA and lethal prostate cancer. KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS: A total of 129067 men met the inclusion criteria during the study period. The median follow-up for patients free from cancer was 7.4 yr. For men aged 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, and 55-59 yr, the estimated rates of lethal prostate cancer at 20 yr were 0.02%, 0.14%, 0.33%, and 0.51% in men with PSA

[Construction of a Predictive Model for Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 in Middle-Aged and Elderly Populations Based on the Medical Checkup Data of National Basic Public Health Service]. / åŸºäºŽå›½å®¶åŸºæœ¬å ¬å ±å«ç”ŸæœåŠ¡ä½“æ£€çš„ä¸­è€å¹´äºº2åž‹ç³–å°¿ç— é£Žé™©é¢„æµ‹æ¨¡åž‹æž„å»º.

Objective: To establish a universally applicable logistic risk prediction model for diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) in the middle-aged and elderly populations based on the results of a Meta-analysis, and to validate and confirm the efficacy of the model using the follow-up data of medical check-ups of National Basic Public Health Service. Methods: Cohort studies evaluating T2DM risks were identified in Chinese and English databases. The logistic model utilized Meta-combined effect values such as the odds ratio (OR) to derive ß, the partial regression coefficient, of the logistic model. The Meta-combined incidence rate of T2DM was used to obtain the parameter α of the logistic model. Validation of the predictive performance of the model was conducted with the follow-up data of medical checkups of National Basic Public Health Service. The follow-up data came from a community health center in Chengdu and were collected between 2017 and 2022 from 7602 individuals who did not have T2DM at their baseline medical checkups done at the community health center. This community health center was located in an urban-rural fringe area with a large population of middle-aged and elderly people. Results: A total of 40 cohort studies were included and 10 items covered in the medical checkups of National Basic Public Health Service were identified in the Meta-analysis as statistically significant risk factors for T2DM, including age, central obesity, smoking, physical inactivity, impaired fasting glucose, a reduced level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), hypertension, body mass index (BMI), triglyceride glucose (TYG) index, and a family history of diabetes, with the OR values and 95% confidence interval (CI) being 1.04 (1.03, 1.05), 1.55 (1.29, 1.88), 1.36 (1.11, 1.66), 1.26 (1.07, 1.49), 3.93 (2.94, 5.24), 1.14 (1.06, 1.23), 1.47 (1.34, 1.61), 1.11 (1.05, 1.18), 2.15 (1.75, 2.62), and 1.66 (1.55, 1.78), respectively, and the combined ß values being 0.039, 0.438, 0.307, 0.231, 1.369, 0.131, 0.385, 0.104, 0.765, and 0.507, respectively. A total of 37 studies reported the incidence rate, with the combined incidence being 0.08 (0.07, 0.09) and the parameter α being -2.442 for the logistic model. The logistic risk prediction model constructed based on Meta-analysis was externally validated with the data of 7602 individuals who had medical checkups and were followed up for at least once. External validation results showed that the predictive model had an area under curve (AUC) of 0.794 (0.771, 0.816), accuracy of 74.5%, sensitivity of 71.0%, and specificity of 74.7% in the 7602 individuals. Conclusion: The T2DM risk prediction model based on Meta-analysis has good predictive performance and can be used as a practical tool for T2DM risk prediction in middle-aged and elderly populations.

Perceptions and usage of traditional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and waterpipes among young and middle-aged adults in Iraq: A descriptive study.

Tobacco use poses significant public health concerns, linked to various mental and physical health outcomes. Iraq has a high prevalence of smoking, predominantly with traditional cigarettes, but there is also growing popularity of electronic cigarettes and waterpipes among younger and middle-aged adults. This study aims to explore the perceptions and usage of traditional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and waterpipes among this population in Iraq. A descriptive study was conducted among 402 young and middle-aged adults (50.25% females), aged between 18 and 45 years, with a mean age of 25.88 (SD = 7.27). For the data collection, an online questionnaire was developed utilizing distribution channels on common social networking platforms. The results showed that 41.79% of respondents have used traditional cigarettes, while 31.1% of participants reported that they use electronic cigarettes. Ninety-four per cent of respondents acknowledged that they use waterpipes. The results also indicated that a significant proportion believe that using electronic cigarettes is either much more harmful or more harmful than traditional cigarettes. Participants commonly perceived all three types of tobacco products as highly harmful, including secondhand smoke, addictive qualities, and popularity among peers. Additionally, significant differences in perceptions emerged between smokers and nonsmokers regarding electronic cigarettes and traditional cigarettes, although no such differences were observed for waterpipes. These findings contribute to understanding the attitudes toward different forms of tobacco use among respondents, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to address the perceived harm associated with tobacco products.

Lung Cancer Biomarkers Associated with Increased Peripheral Arterial Stiffness in Middle-aged Chinese Adults.

AIMS: Previous evidence suggests that serum lung cancer biomarkers are associated with inflammatory conditions; however, their relationship with peripheral arterial stiffness remains unclear. Therefore, the present study investigated the relationship between serum lung cancer biomarkers and peripheral arterial stiffness in middle-aged Chinese adults. METHODS: In total, 3878 middle-aged Chinese adults were enrolled in this study. Increased peripheral arterial stiffness was assessed using the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and ankle-brachial index. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine the independent effects of serum lung cancer biomarkers on the risk of increased peripheral arterial stiffness. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to assess the diagnostic ability of serum lung cancer biomarkers in distinguishing increased peripheral arterial stiffness. RESULTS: Serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), cytokeratin-19 fragment 21-1, and pro-gastrin-releasing peptide were higher in subjects with increased peripheral arterial stiffness than in those without (P＜0.05). After adjusting for other risk factors, serum CEA and NSE levels were found to be independently associated with increased peripheral arterial stiffness. The corresponding adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for increased peripheral arterial stiffness in CEA level quartiles were 1.00, 1.57, 2.15, and 6.13. The ORs for increased peripheral arterial stiffness in the quartiles of NSE levels were 1.00, 4.92, 6.65, and 8.01. CONCLUSIONS: Increased serum CEA and NSE levels are closely linked to increased peripheral arterial stiffness, and high serum CEA and NSE levels are potential risk markers for peripheral arterial stiffness in middle-aged Chinese adults.

Validity and reliability of the Yonsei lifestyle profile-active, balance, connection, diversity.

INTRODUCTION: Lifestyle, defined as a way of living resulting from an individual's deliberate choices, is a crucial factor in improving and maintaining health. Consequently, the measurement and analysis of lifestyle are of significant importance. This study aims to validate the validity and reliability of the Yonsei Lifestyle Profile-Active, Balance, Connection, Diversity (YLP-ABCD) in measuring health-related lifestyles. METHODS: Data were collected from 300 participants aged 55 and older using the YLP-ABCD. To analyse the validity and reliability of the YLP-ABCD, analysed using frequency, descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis, and Rasch model analysis. RESULTS: The results indicate that the YLP-ABCD, which consists of 35 items, demonstrates unidimensionality and local independence. The Rasch model confirmed the suitability of the 5-point Likert scale for the factors, excluding subfactors Balanced and Unbalanced. The item fit criteria (0.5 < MNSQ < 1.5) were met for all items. The distribution of the respondents' abilities suggests the need for additional items to measure their ability levels. Both the item and respondent separation indices and their reliabilities were satisfactory. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the utility of the YLP-ABCD as a valuable tool for measuring and understanding the multifaceted diversity of lifestyles. Therefore, by utilising YLP-ABCD to quantitatively measure health lifestyles, we anticipate contributing to improvements in human health and quality of life.

Biopsychosocial factors of quality of life among middle-aged adults living alone in South Korea: a secondary data analysis using the 2017 Korea Community Health Survey.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate quality of life (QoL) in middle-aged adults living alone and identify comprehensive biological, psychological, interpersonal, and contextual factors related to QoL using the dynamic biopsychosocial model. As a secondary analysis, this study used data from the 2017 Korea Community Health Survey conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. METHODS: Among the total 228,381 respondents, 10,639 middle-aged individuals aged 40-64 years from single-person households (5,036 men and 5,603 women) were included in the analysis. QoL was measured using the EuroQoL-5 Dimension (EQ-5D). The EQ-5D descriptive statistics were provided according to biological, psychological, interpersonal, and contextual factors. Considering the data structure of the multistage stratified cluster sampling method, a complex samples general linear model statistic was used to identify the predictors of QoL. RESULTS: QoL was lower in those who had undesirable psychological status (e.g., more depressive symptoms, poor subjective health, and higher perceived stress), less engagement in social networking (less frequent contact with friends and less frequent participation in social activities such as religious activities, friendship gathering, and leisure), and lower physical, behavioral, and socioeconomic factors. CONCLUSIONS: This study's findings indicate that psychological and interpersonal factors should be addressed and prioritized to improve the QoL of middle-aged adults living alone. By providing many opportunities for easily accessible social activities that meet the needs and interests of this demographic, their QoL can be improved through strengthening social support.

Time Changes of Survival and Cardiovascular Determinants in a Cohort of Middle-Aged Men Followed Up for 61 Years until Extinction.

OBJECTIVE: To study possible determinants of longevity in a cohort of middle-aged men followed for 61 years until extinction using measurements taken at baseline and at years 31 or 61 of follow-up. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 1960, two rural cohorts including a total of 1712 men aged 40-59 years were enrolled within the Italian section of the Seven Countries Study of Cardiovascular Diseases, and measurements related to mainly cardiovascular risk factors, lifestyle behaviors, and chronic diseases were taken at year 0 and year 31 of follow-up (when only 390 could be examined). Multiple linear regression models were computed to relate personal characteristics with the length of survival in both dead men and survivors. RESULTS: Baseline cardiovascular risk factors, smoking and dietary habits, and chronic diseases (taken at year 0 with men aged 40-59 years) were significant predictors of the length of survival both from year 0 to year 31 and from year 0 to year 61, but only chronic diseases were independent predictors for the period of 31 to 61 years. Significant predictors of survival using measurements taken at year 31 (age range 71 to 90 years) were only smoking and dietary habits and chronic diseases. CONCLUSIONS: During a lifetime of follow-up, the personal characteristics with continuous predictive power of survival were only lifestyle behaviors and major chronic diseases.

Vitamin D levels and bone mineral density of middle-aged premenopausal female football and volleyball players in Japan: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The number of football teams in senior categories has increased. As outdoor sports entail players being exposed to sunlight, playing football may contribute to maintaining vitamin D stores and body mineral density while preventing osteoporosis. This study aimed to determine the bone mineral density and vitamin D levels in middle-aged premenopausal female football players. METHODS: Participants were premenopausal females in their 40s. We evaluated bone mineral density of the second to the fourth lumbar vertebrae and femoral neck, serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OHD) levels, which is an indicator of vitamin D stores, and body composition. In addition, we administered a questionnaire survey on exercise habits and lifestyle. Ninety-two participants were categorised into three groups: the football group (n = 27), volleyball group (n = 40), and non-exercise group (n = 25). RESULTS: Bone mineral density was higher in the football and volleyball groups than in the non-exercise group (P < 0.01). The volleyball group had a significantly higher bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and femoral neck than the non-exercise group (P < 0.01). The football group had a significantly higher bone mineral density of the femoral neck than the non-exercise group (P < 0.01). Although the football group had played fewer years than the volleyball group (P < 0.01), serum 25-OHD levels were the highest in the football group and were significantly higher than those in the volleyball and non-exercise groups (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Middle-aged premenopausal football players had higher body vitamin D levels and bone mineral densities than non-active females. These results suggest that playing football may contribute to the prevention of osteoporosis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry UMIN000054235. 2024/04/23. Retrospectively registered.