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Gyasi RM, Aikins E, Hajek A, Opoku-Ware J, Osei BA, Kwabena-Adade J, Jacob L, Rahmati M, Dakurah G, Peltzer K. Cross-sectional association of food insecurity with loneliness in older adults: The role of sex, age, and psychosomatic factors. J Nutr Health Aging 2024; 28:100328. [PMID: 39096770 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnha.2024.100328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Food insecurity (FI) is a critical social determinant of poor psychosocial health. While data on the specific roles of sex and age in the FI-loneliness link among older adults are limited, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. This study examines the age-sex-specific associations of FI with loneliness among older adults in Ghana and quantifies the extent to which psychosomatic factors mediate the association. METHODS We analyzed cross-sectional data from the Aging, Health, Psychological, and Health-seeking Behavior Study in Ghana. The past 30-day FI was assessed using items on hunger and breakfast skipping frequency due to a lack of resources. We assessed loneliness severity with the University of California, Los Angeles 3-item Loneliness Scale. Multivariable OLS regressions and bootstrapping mediation analysis using the Hayes PROCESS macro plug-in were used to evaluate the associations. RESULTS We included 1,201 individuals aged ≥50 years (mean = 62.9 [SD = 11.9]; women = 63.3%). The prevalence of loneliness was 17.7%. The prevalence of moderate and severe FI was 44.0% and 8.5%, respectively. In the adjusted model, greater FI was significantly associated with loneliness severity (B = .22, SE = .029, p < .001). We found significant interactive effects of FI × age (B = -.17, SE = .023, p < .01) and FI × sex (B = -.28, SE = .036, p < .001) on loneliness. Thus, the FI-loneliness link was respectively more marked among women (B = .25, SE = .035, p < .001) and ≥65 age groups (B = .34, SE = .041, p < .001) than men (B = .16, SE = .051, p < .01) and those aged 50-64 (B = .22; SE = .040, p < .001). Finally, comorbid depression/anxiety (41.07%), hopelessness (48.6%), worthlessness (42.1%), functional limitations (8.2%), and pain severity (6.4%) mediated the FI-loneliness association. CONCLUSIONS Age- and sex-specific associations between FI and loneliness exist among older Ghanaians. Addressing FI in concert with psychosomatic problems in older adults may contribute meaningfully to reducing loneliness in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razak M Gyasi
- African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya; National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine, Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia.
| | - Emelia Aikins
- Department of Geography and Rural Development, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - André Hajek
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jones Opoku-Ware
- Department of Sociology and Social Work, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Benjamin Appiah Osei
- Department of Hospitality and Tourism Studies, School of Business, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Joana Kwabena-Adade
- Department of General and Liberal Studies, School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana
| | - Louis Jacob
- Research and Development Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, CIBERSAM, ISCIII, Dr. Antoni Pujadas, 42, 08830 Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain; AP-HP, Université Paris Cité, Lariboisière-Fernand Widal Hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 75010 Paris, France; Université Paris Cité, Inserm U1153, Epidemiology of Ageing and Neurodegenerative Diseases (EpiAgeing), 75010 Paris, France
| | - Masoud Rahmati
- CEReSS-Health Service Research and Quality of Life Center, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France; Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, Lorestan University, Khoramabad, Iran; Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Vali-E-Asr University of Rafsanjan, Rafsanjan, Iran
| | - George Dakurah
- Department of Geography and Rural Development, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Karl Peltzer
- Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Department of Psychology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; Department of Psychology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
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Thanaj M, Basty N, Whitcher B, Sorokin EP, Liu Y, Srinivasan R, Cule M, Thomas EL, Bell JD. Precision MRI phenotyping of muscle volume and quality at a population scale. Front Physiol 2024; 15:1288657. [PMID: 38370011 PMCID: PMC10869600 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1288657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enables direct measurements of muscle volume and quality, allowing for an in-depth understanding of their associations with anthropometric traits, and health conditions. However, it is unclear which muscle volume measurements: total muscle volume, regional measurements, measurements of muscle quality: intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) or proton density fat fraction (PDFF), are most informative and associate with relevant health conditions such as dynapenia and frailty. Methods: We have measured image-derived phenotypes (IDPs) including total and regional muscle volumes and measures of muscle quality, derived from the neck-to-knee Dixon images in 44,520 UK Biobank participants. We further segmented paraspinal muscle from 2D quantitative MRI to quantify muscle PDFF and iron concentration. We defined dynapenia based on grip strength below sex-specific cut-off points and frailty based on five criteria (weight loss, exhaustion, grip strength, low physical activity and slow walking pace). We used logistic regression to investigate the association between muscle volume and quality measurements and dynapenia and frailty. Results: Muscle volumes were significantly higher in male compared with female participants, even after correcting for height while, IMAT (corrected for muscle volume) and paraspinal muscle PDFF were significantly higher in female compared with male participants. From the overall cohort, 7.6% (N = 3,261) were identified with dynapenia, and 1.1% (N = 455) with frailty. Dynapenia and frailty were positively associated with age and negatively associated with physical activity levels. Additionally, reduced muscle volume and quality measurements were associated with both dynapenia and frailty. In dynapenia, muscle volume IDPs were most informative, particularly total muscle exhibiting odds ratios (OR) of 0.392, while for frailty, muscle quality was found to be most informative, in particular thigh IMAT volume indexed to height squared (OR = 1.396), both with p-values below the Bonferroni-corrected threshold (p < 8.8 × 10 - 5 ). Conclusion: Our fully automated method enables the quantification of muscle volumes and quality suitable for large population-based studies. For dynapenia, muscle volumes particularly those including greater body coverage such as total muscle are the most informative, whilst, for frailty, markers of muscle quality were the most informative IDPs. These results suggest that different measurements may have varying diagnostic values for different health conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjola Thanaj
- Research Centre for Optimal Health, School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicolas Basty
- Research Centre for Optimal Health, School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - Brandon Whitcher
- Research Centre for Optimal Health, School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elena P. Sorokin
- Calico Life Sciences LLC, South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Yi Liu
- Calico Life Sciences LLC, South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | | | - Madeleine Cule
- Calico Life Sciences LLC, South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - E. Louise Thomas
- Research Centre for Optimal Health, School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jimmy D. Bell
- Research Centre for Optimal Health, School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
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Akbas F, Usta Atmaca H, Yazici D. Dynapenic Abdominal Obesity and Metabolic Health in Non-Geriatric Patients with Obesity. Metab Syndr Relat Disord 2024; 22:77-83. [PMID: 37878298 DOI: 10.1089/met.2023.0153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Dynapenic abdominal obesity (DAO) is the combination of low muscle strength and high central adiposity, which can lead to functional and cardiometabolic impairments. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between DAO and metabolic parameters in non-geriatric patients with obesity. Methods: All patients seen in the obesity outpatient clinic during a random month, along with 30 healthy individuals, were included in the study. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), serum fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), insulin, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were measured. Muscle function tests were conducted. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus diagnoses were recorded. DAO was determined using handgrip strength and WC. Metabolic syndrome was defined based on International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Results: A total of 106 individuals participated in the study, including 76 individuals with obesity as the case group and 30 healthy individuals as the control group. In the case group, BMI, WC, HC, and chair stand test results were higher compared to the control group. There was no significant difference between the case and control groups in terms of gait speed or handgrip test results. In the case group, 30 people (39.5%) had dynapenic obesity (DO), and in the control group, 8 people (26.7%) had DO. There was no significant difference in DO rates between the case and control groups. In the case group, the HbA1c level was higher in DO (+) group than DO (-) group. In the control group, DO (+) group had higher LDL and HbA1c level than DO (-) group. No significant difference was observed in other search parameters between the DO (+) and DO (-) groups in both the case and control groups. Conclusion: DAO is common among people with obesity and contributes to a poor prognosis, increased morbidity, and mortality. Therefore, including its treatment in the management of obesity is crucial for individuals of all age ranges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feray Akbas
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Hanife Usta Atmaca
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Dilek Yazici
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Koc University Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey
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dos Santos L, de Almeida CB, Valença PDF, Silva RR, Santos IC, Casotti CA. Habitual physical activity and sedentary behavior as predictors of dynapenia in older adults: a cross-sectional study. SAO PAULO MED J 2023; 142:e2023070. [PMID: 37646768 PMCID: PMC10452005 DOI: 10.1590/1516-3180.2023.0070.r1.190523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dynapenia is a risk factor of mortality. Therefore, the development of low-cost and easy-to-apply tools is essential to optimize the health surveillance actions of older people. OBJECTIVES To compare the time spent on habitual physical activity (HPA) and sedentary behavior (SB) among dynapenic and non-dynapenic older adults and ascertain the predictive ability of these behaviors on outcome. DESIGN AND SETTING A cross-sectional population epidemiological survey was conducted involving 208 older adults. METHODS HPA and SB were quantified using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and dynapenia was identified by handgrip strength (women: 18.37 kgf; men: 26.75 kgf). RESULTS The prevalence was 24.50%. In both sexes, dynapenic individuals reported a HPA median time of 70.00 minutes/week (min/wk), while non-dynapenic women and men reported HPA median times of 240.00 and 280.00 min/wk, respectively (P < 0.05). For SB among dynapenic individuals, a median of 388.75 min/day was observed in women and 428.57 min/d in men. In contrast, non-dynapenic women and men had 291.42 and 274.28 min/day in SB (P < 0.05), respectively. The best cutoff HPA to discriminate the outcome was 150.00 min/wk in women (sensitivity: 73.30%; specificity: 60.67%) and 140.00 min/wk in men (sensitivity, 71.43%; specificity, 61.54%). The best cutoff SB was 381.43 min/day in women (sensitivity, 53.30%; specificity, 84.80%) and 351.43 min/day in men (sensitivity, 71.43%; specificity, 73.85%). CONCLUSION Older individuals with dynapenia spent less time on HPA and more time in SB. Furthermore, HPA was found to be a better discriminator of dynapenic individuals, and SB better discriminated non-dynapenic individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas dos Santos
- MSc. Professor, Medicine Course, Universidade Estadual do Tocantins (UNITINS), Augustinópolis (TO), Brazil
| | - Cláudio Bispo de Almeida
- PhD. Professor, Physical Education Course, Graduate Program in Teaching, Language and Society, Universidade do Estado da Bahia (UNEB), Guanambi (BA), Brazil
| | - Paulo da Fonseca Valença
- MSc. Technical Consultant, Health Sciences, Department of Monitoring, Evaluation and Dissemination of Strategic Health Information (DEMAS), Secretariat of Information and Digital Health, Ministry of Health (MS), Brasília (DF), Brazil
| | - Rizia Rocha Silva
- MSc. PhD Student, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia (GO), Brazil
| | - Isaac Costa Santos
- BS. Physical Education Professional, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia (UESB), Jequié (BA), Brazil
| | - Cezar Augusto Casotti
- PhD. Professor, Dentistry Course, Graduate Program in Nursing and Health, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia (UESB), Jequié (BA), Brazil
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Santos-Jaén JM, León-Gómez A, Valls Martínez MDC, Gimeno-Arias F. The Effect of Public Healthcare Expenditure on the Reduction in Mortality Rates Caused by Unhealthy Habits among the Population. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:2253. [PMID: 36360592 PMCID: PMC9690828 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10112253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 09/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The health systems of developed countries aim to reduce the mortality rates of their populations. To this end, they must fight against the unhealthy habits of citizens, such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and sedentarism, since these result in a large number of deaths each year. Our research aims to analyze whether an increase in health resources influences the number of deaths caused by the unhealthy habits of the population. To achieve this objective, a sample containing key indicators of the Spanish health system was analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method. The results show how increasing public health spending and, thus, the resources allocated to healthcare can curb the adverse effects of the population's unhealthy habits. These results have important implications for theory and practice, demonstrating the need for adequate investment in the healthcare system to reduce mortality among the population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ana León-Gómez
- Department of Finance and Accounting, University of Malaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - María del Carmen Valls Martínez
- Mediterranean Research Center on Economics and Sustainable Development, 04120 Almería, Spain
- Economics and Business Department, University of Almeria, 04120 Almeria, Spain
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