The sex difference in self-rated health among older Turkish and Moroccan migrants in the Netherlands: an exploratory study of contributing determinants.

BACKGROUND: Although being a woman and having a migration background are strong predictors of poor self-rated health among (older) adults, research on the sex difference in self-rated health among (older) migrants remains limited. This study therefore aims to investigate this topic and explore the contributing role of determinants of self-rated health. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from 360 Turkish-Dutch and Moroccan-Dutch adults aged 55-65 as part of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) were used. Self-rated health (good versus poor) was measured by a single item question. Univariate age-adjusted logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the sex difference in self-rated health and the contribution of sex differences in sensitivity (strength of the association) and/or exposure (prevalence) to socio-demographic, social, lifestyle or health-related determinants of self-rated health. RESULTS: Women had a 0.53 times lower odds (95%CI:0.40-0.82, p = 0.004) on good self-rated health compared to men. Women more often having a lower education level, living alone and having a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms, chronic diseases and especially functional limitations contributed to the lower self-rated health among women. In contrast, men were more sensitive to the impact of memory complaints, depressive symptoms, visual difficulties and functional limitations. CONCLUSIONS: Older Turkish-Dutch and Moroccan-Dutch women have a significant lower self-rated health compared to men. Women having a higher exposure to both socio-demographic and health-related determinants of self-rated health, which contributed to the sex difference. Future research should take these differences in self-rated health and determinants between women and men into account when investigating health among older migrants.

The development and evaluation of an intervention to promote the uptake of preventive tasks by occupational physicians targeting work-related mental health problems: protocol for the IM-PROmPt-study.

OBJECTIVE: Work-related mental health problems are a major and growing public and occupational health issue. Although prevention of work-related disease is a central task in the work of occupational physicians, implementation of preventive tasks can still improve. The aim of this paper is to present the development of an intervention to support occupational physicians in the execution of preventive tasks and a protocol for its evaluation. METHODS: An intervention to support occupational physicians has been developed making use of the implementation mapping protocol. The intervention was based on barriers and facilitators for the execution of preventive tasks, input from stakeholders, and evidence-based strategies from literature. RESULTS: The intervention consists of three peer group supervision meetings directed to preventive tasks. During these meetings, occupational physicians will receive materials and will use goal-setting to formulate their own action plans. The IM-PROmPt-study (Implementation of PReventive tasks by Occupational Physicians) is a two-armed cluster randomized controlled trial, comparing peer group supervision directed to the implementation of preventive tasks for occupational physicians with usual peer group supervision. The evaluation will include an effect and process evaluation to examine if the intervention is successful in supporting OPs to implement preventive activities, specifically aimed to prevent work-related mental health problems. DISCUSSION: The intervention is expected to lead to more knowledge and awareness of the value of prevention among OPs, anticipated to lead to both organizational and individual gains. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN registry; ISRCTN15394765. Registered on 27 June 2023.

Perspectives of older women in the Netherlands: identifying motivators and barriers for healthy lifestyles and determinants of healthy aging.

BACKGROUND: Women have a higher life expectancy than men but experience more years with physical disabilities in daily life at older ages, especially women with a migration background. This pinpoints older women as an important target group for strategies that stimulate healthy lifestyle, which benefits healthy aging. Our study investigates motivators and barriers for healthy lifestyles and perspectives on determinants of healthy aging of older women. This provides essential information for developing targeted strategies. METHODS: Data was collected by semi-structured digital interviews from February till June 2021. Women aged 55 years and older living in the Netherlands (n = 34) with a native Dutch (n = 24), Turkish (n = 6) or Moroccan (n = 4) migration background were included. Two main subjects were investigated: (1) motivators and barriers on their current lifestyles regarding smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, diet and sleep and (2) perspectives on determinants of healthy aging. Interviews were analyzed using Krueger's framework. RESULTS: Personal health was the most common motivator for a healthy lifestyle. In addition, peer pressure and being outdoors were specific motivators for physical activity. Bad weather conditions and personal dislike to be active were specific barriers. The social environment, personal preferences and personal belief to compensate with other healthy lifestyle behaviors were barriers for low alcohol consumption. Personal preferences (liking unhealthy food and not making time) were the main barriers for a healthy diet. Sleep was not perceived as a form of lifestyle behavior, but rather as a personal trait. Since there were no smokers, specific barriers were not mentioned. For Turkish-Dutch and Moroccan-Dutch women, additional barriers and motivators were culture and religion. These were strong motivators to abstain from alcohol consumption and smoking, but a barrier for a healthy diet. With regard to perspectives on determinants of healthy aging, positive views on aging and being physically active were perceived as most important. Women often wanted to increase their physical activity or healthy diet to stimulate healthy aging. Among Turkish-Dutch and Moroccan-Dutch women, healthy aging was also perceived as something in the hands of God. CONCLUSIONS: Although motivators and barriers for a healthy lifestyle and perspectives on healthy aging vary for distinct lifestyles, personal health is a common motivator across all lifestyles. Having a migration background added culture and religion as distinct barriers and motivations. Strategies to improve lifestyle among older women should therefore have a tailored, culture sensitive approach (if applicable) for distinct lifestyle factors.

Do overweight/obesity and low levels of leisure-time vigorous physical activity moderate the effect of occupational physical activity on self-rated health of construction workers?

PURPOSE: To investigate the combined effects of occupational physical activity (OPA) and either overweight/obesity or low levels of leisure-time vigorous physical activity (LTVPA) on self-rated health. METHODS: A longitudinal study was performed among 29,987 construction workers with complete data on 2 Workers' Health Surveillance Programs during 2010-2018. Self-reported OPA involved strenuous work postures and manual material handling. Low level of LTVPA was defined as self-reported vigorous activity for less than three times per week lasting at least 20 min per session. Overweight and obesity were based on Body Mass Index (BMI) (25.0 ≤ BMI < 30.0 kg/m2 and BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2, respectively) using measured body height and weight. Self-rated health was measured using a single item question. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the associations between the separate risk factors at baseline and self-rated health at follow-up. The combined effects of demanding OPA and either overweight/obesity or low level of LTVPA on self-rated health were analyzed using the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI). RESULTS: Mean follow-up duration was 31.7 (SD = 14.9) months. Construction workers with strenuous work postures (OR 1.35 95% CI 1.25-1.46), manual material handling (OR 1.29 95% CI 1.19-1.40), obesity (OR 1.31 95% CI 1.17-1.47) and low LTVPA (OR 1.13 95% CI 1.01-1.25) were more likely to report poor self-rated health at follow-up. No statistically significant interaction effects were found for OPA and obesity or low LTVPA. CONCLUSIONS: OPA, obesity and low level of LTVPA were separate risk factors for poor self-rated health, but did not appear to have a synergistic effect.

The mediating role of unhealthy behaviors and body mass index in the relationship between high job strain and self-rated poor health among lower educated workers.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to examine the mediating role of unhealthy behaviors and body mass index (BMI) in the relationship between high job strain and self-rated poor health in workers with a low education. METHODS: A total of 8369 low educated workers, who participated in the Lifelines cohort study during the period 2012-2017, were included. Self-reported job strain, health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, and fruit and vegetable consumption), and BMI were assessed at baseline, and self-rated health after 2 years. To assess mediation by the health behaviors and BMI, structural equation modeling with logistic and multinomial regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Workers with high job strain had a higher odds of poor health (OR 1.34; 95% CI 1.13-1.60) compared to those with low job strain. Workers with high job strain were more likely to have a lack of physical activity (OR 1.14; 95% CI 1.01-1.28), but were not more likely to smoke, to be overweight or obese, or to have a low fruit or vegetable consumption. Workers who smoke, have a lack of physical activity or are overweight or obese are more likely to report poor health (OR 1.37; 95% CI 1.16-1.60, OR 1.25; 95% CI 1.08-1.43, OR 1.37; 95% CI 1.16-1.61, OR 2.25; 95% CI 1.86-2.72). Indirect (mediating) effects of unhealthy behaviors and BMI in the relationship between high job strain and poor health were small and not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: No mediating effects of unhealthy behaviors or BMI were found in the relationship between high job strain and self-rated poor health among workers with a low educational level.

The Association between BMI and Different Frailty Domains: A U-Shaped Curve?

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies showed a U-shaped association between BMI and (physical) frailty. We studied the association between BMI and physical, cognitive, psychological, and social frailty. Furthermore, the overlap between and prevalence of these frailty domains was examined. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: The Doetinchem Cohort Study is a longitudinal population-based study starting in 1987-1991 examining men and women aged 20-59 with follow-up examinations every 5 yrs. PARTICIPANTS: For the current analyses, we used data from round 5 (2008-2012) with 4019 participants aged 41-81 yrs. MEASUREMENTS: Physical frailty was defined as having ≥ 2 of 4 frailty criteria from the Frailty Phenotype (unintentional weight loss, exhaustion, physical activity, handgrip strength). Cognitive frailty was defined as the < 10th percentile on global cognitive functioning (based on memory, speed, flexibility). Psychological frailty was defined as having 2 out of 2 criteria (depression, mental health). Social frailty was defined as having ≥ 2 of 3 criteria (loneliness, social support, social participation). BMI was divided into four classes. Analyses were adjusted for sex, age, level of education, and smoking. RESULTS: A U-shaped association was observed between BMI and physical frailty, a small linear association for BMI and cognitive frailty and no association between BMI and psychological and social frailty. The four frailty domains showed only a small proportion of overlap. The prevalence of physical, cognitive and social frailty increased with age, whereas psychological frailty did not. CONCLUSION: We confirm that not only underweight but also obesity is associated with physical frailty. Obesity also seems to be associated with cognitive frailty. Further, frailty prevention should focus on multiple domains and target individuals at a younger age (<65yrs).

[Time trends in prevalence of chronic diseases and multimorbidity not only due to aging: data from general practices and health surveys]. / Toename in chronische ziekten en multimorbiditeit.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic diseases and multimorbidity are common and expected to rise over the coming years. The objective of this study is to examine the time trend in the prevalence of chronic diseases and multimorbidity over the period 2001 till 2011 in the Netherlands, and the extent to which this can be ascribed to the aging of the population. METHODS: Monitoring study, using two data sources: 1) medical records of patients listed in a nationally representative network of general practices over the period 2002-2011, and 2) national health interview surveys over the period 2001-2011. Regression models were used to study trends in the prevalence-rates over time, with and without standardization for age. RESULTS: An increase from 34.9% to 41.8% (p<0.01) in the prevalence of chronic diseases was observed in the general practice registration over the period 2004-2011 and from 41.0% to 46.6% (p<0.01) based on self-reported diseases over the period 2001-2011. Multimorbidity increased from 12.7% to 16.2% (p<0.01) and from 14.3% to 17.5% (p<0.01), respectively. Aging of the population explained part of these trends: about one-fifth based on general practice data, and one-third for chronic diseases and half of the trend for multimorbidity based on health surveys. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of chronic diseases and multimorbidity increased over the period 2001-2011. Aging of the population only explained part of the increase, implying that other factors such as health care and society-related developments are responsible for a substantial part of this rise.

Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular disease and lifestyle changes - the Doetinchem cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To study whether being diagnosed with a cardiovascular disease (CVD) or diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with improvements in lifestyles. METHODS: We used data from the Doetinchem Cohort Study, a prospective study among 6386 Dutch men and women initially aged 20-59years who were examined four times over 15years (1987-2007). Logistic and linear regression models were used to assess the effect of a self-reported diagnosis of CVD (n=403) or DM (n=221) on smoking, alcohol consumption, weight, diet and physical activity. RESULTS: Self-reported diagnosis of CVD increased rates of smoking cessation (OR=2.2, 95%CI 1.6 - 3.1). Adults reporting a diagnosis of DM (relatively) decreased weight (3.2%, 95%CI 2.2 - 4.2), (relatively) decreased energy intake (4.2%, 95%CI 0.7 - 7.7), decreased energy percentage from saturated fat (0.4%, 95%CI 0.0 - 0.9) and increased fish consumption (2.8 g/day, 95%CI 0.4 - 5.1). A self-reported diagnosis of CVD or DM was not associated with changes in physical activity. CONCLUSION: A diagnosis of CVD or DM may act, along with possible effects of medical treatment, as a trigger to adopt a healthier lifestyle in terms of smoking cessation, healthier diet and weight loss.

Maximum acceptable weight of lift reflects peak lumbosacral extension moments in a functional capacity evaluation test using free style, stoop and squat lifting.

It is unclear whether the maximum acceptable weight of lift (MAWL), a common psychophysical method, reflects joint kinetics when different lifting techniques are employed. In a within-participants study (n = 12), participants performed three lifting techniques--free style, stoop and squat lifting from knee to waist level--using the same dynamic functional capacity evaluation lifting test to assess MAWL and to calculate low back and knee kinetics. We assessed which knee and back kinetic parameters increased with the load mass lifted, and whether the magnitudes of the kinetic parameters were consistent across techniques when lifting MAWL. MAWL was significantly different between techniques (p = 0.03). The peak lumbosacral extension moment met both criteria: it had the highest association with the load masses lifted (r > 0.9) and was most consistent between the three techniques when lifting MAWL (ICC = 0.87). In conclusion, MAWL reflects the lumbosacral extension moment across free style, stoop and squat lifting in healthy young males, but the relation between the load mass lifted and lumbosacral extension moment is different between techniques. PRACTITIONER SUMMARY: Tests of maximum acceptable weight of lift (MAWL) from knee to waist height are used to assess work capacity of individuals with low-back disorders. This article shows that the MAWL reflects the lumbosacral extension moment across free style, stoop and squat lifting in healthy young males, but the relation between the load mass lifted and lumbosacral extension moment is different between techniques. This suggests that standardisation of lifting technique used in tests of the MAWL would be indicated if the aim is to assess the capacity of the low back.

Validation study of a distress screener.

OBJECTIVES: A 3-item screening instrument called the Distress Screener was developed for early identification of distress among employees on sick leave. The Distress Screener consists of three items obtained from the distress subscale of the four-dimensional symptom questionnaire (4DSQ). This study assessed an optimal cut-off point and validated the Distress Screener by relating it to the 4DSQ and to medical diagnoses. METHODS: 171 sick-listed employees filled in the Distress Screener and the 4DSQ (containing four subscales: distress, depression, anxiety and somatisation) and medical diagnoses were obtained from occupational physicians (OPs). The optimal cut-off point was assessed by computing sensitivity and specificity values. Validity was assessed by relating the Distress Screener score to the scores on 4DSQ subscales. In addition scores were compared to mental health medical diagnoses and the degree of similarity between two repeated measurements was obtained. RESULTS: Using the 4DSQ distress score >10 as reference standard, the optimal cut-off point of the Distress Screener was > or =4. Regarding validity, a high correlation (0.82) existed between the Distress Screener and the 4DSQ distress subscale and it was significantly different from the correlations with the other 4DSQ subscales. Also a high correlation existed for the test-retest reliability (0.83). Furthermore, a high score on the Distress Screener seemed to be related to the medical diagnosis 'Stress-related complaints'. All low scores seemed to be related to the medical diagnosis 'Other complaints'. Sensitivity (0.85) and specificity (0.78) values, and positive and negative predictive values of the screener were comparable to those of the 4DSQ distress subscale. CONCLUSIONS: The Distress Screener is a valid instrument for use by the OP during consulting time as a quick scan for early identification of distress in employees on sick leave. The cut-off point > or =4 is useful for early identification of distress in employees on sick leave.