Men and health help-seeking behaviour: literature review

The Impact of Undermining Coparenting on the Mental and Physical Health Outcomes of Black Fathers: The Role of Depression and Restrictive Emotionality

The parenting literature has established the coparenting relationship as central to the parenting behaviors and outcomes of men. The construct of coparenting encompasses supportive efforts among individuals that facilitate the rearing of children and unsupportive actions that can undermine parenting efforts (Merrifield & Gamble, 2013). Few studies have examined undermining coparenting as an experience that shapes Black men's health outcomes. In this study, we apply the social determinants of health framework to examine the impact of Black fathers' perceptions of undermining coparenting on their self-reported ratings of mental and physical health. Using a nationally representative sample of Black men (n = 255), correlational analyses revealed perceptions of undermining coparenting to be a significant predictor of higher levels of anger and poorer perceptions of physical health. These relationships were found to be mediated by depressive symptoms and moderated by restrictive emotionality. It is recommended that the negative impact of undermining coparenting on health be considered as a potential comorbidity contributing to negative health outcomes for Black men. This study adds to the literature on coparenting, Black men's health, and Black fatherhood more generally and urges policymakers and practitioners to consider undermining as an often overlooked, but significant, social determinant of health impacting the well-being of Black men. We also offer recommendations for promoting Black men's health by educating families on the effects of undermining and offering the supports necessary for achieving positive coparenting dynamics.

Disparities in esophageal cancer care: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

Vulnerable populations potentially have a worse prognosis for cancer. The present study aimed to identify individual and municipal characteristics of access to health, including education, use of health insurance, gross domestic product per capita (GDPpc), and urban aspects, which could impact the prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer.

METHODS

Data on urban concentration, administrative hierarchy, GDPpc, individual patient characteristics, and access to healthcare were collected from national and state public databases spanning between 2013 and 2022. The study included cities in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Independent variables such as GDPpc, urban concentration, municipal administrative hierarchy, health insurance status, education level, and individual cancer and patient characteristics were evaluated against the outcomes of overall survival (OS), likelihood of undergoing surgical treatment, and time-to-treatment initiation.

RESULTS

A total of 9280 patients with esophageal cancer (85% squamous cell carcinoma and 15% adenocarcinoma) treated in 42 cities were included in the study. In univariate analysis, higher education (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.6; P < .001), female gender (HR = 0.85; P < .001), and having private health insurance (HR = 0.65; P < .001) were identified as protective factors for OS in esophageal cancer. After adjusting for other variables in multivariate analysis, higher education (HR = 0.77; P = .009), female gender (HR = 0.82; P < .001), and private insurance (HR = 0.65; P < .001) remained protective factors. GDPpc was not associated with OS. Urban concentration and hierarchy influenced the likelihood of receiving surgical treatment. Patients from high urban concentrations had shorter time-to-treatment initiation intervals.

CONCLUSION

Populations at risk, particularly those with limited access to education and healthcare, face a worse prognosis for esophageal cancer.

Leading by Example: Identity Leadership and Mental Health in Men's Sheds Members

The impact of leadership on members' mental health outcomes in community-based mutual-aid organizations such as Men's Shed is unknown. We analyzed (a) whether identity leadership is associated with Shed members' mental health, and (b) whether these links are mediated by psychological safety, social network quality, and social identity. Path analysis on data collected from 162 Australian Men's Shed members revealed statistically significant associations between identity leadership and each mechanism, and our model accounted for significant variance in mental health outcomes (14%-24%, ps < .001). Only social network quality and psychological safety were associated with unique variance in mental health outcomes. All indirect effects via social network quality and psychological safety were significant. These findings suggest the proposed mechanisms explain the relationship between identity leadership mental health outcomes in mutual-aid organizations such as Men's Sheds.

Gender differences in cost-related unmet healthcare needs: a national study in Turkiye

BACKGROUND

Unmet healthcare needs are a complex and multifaceted issue, influenced by individual, socioeconomic, and healthcare system factors. This study aimed to investigate the determinants influencing cost-related unmet healthcare needs within the Turkish population, emphasizing a comprehensive analysis of gender disparities in accessing healthcare services.

METHODS

This secondary analysis scrutinizes the 2019 Turkiye Health Survey data of 16,976 individuals aged 15 and older. The dependent variables included cost-related unmet medical, dental, and prescribed medication, and mental services. The independent variables were considered under a three-domain approach for the determination of health service utilization, developed by Andersen. Logistic regression models with predisposing, enabling, and need factors were run for any self-perceived cost-related unmet need for each sex and overall population. Another six regression models for both sexes were run for each subgroup of indivuals with unmet healthcare needs.

RESULTS

The study revealed that 15.4% of individuals cannot access healthcare due to financial constraints, with 16.8% for women and 13.5% for men. The highest level of unmet needs is associated with accessing dental care services for both sexes. According to multivariate analyses, the unmet need for both sexes decreases with older age and higher education level, and it is greater for those who have difficulties communicating in Turkish. By adding enabling and needs factors, the odds ratios of education decreased for men, while education became nonsignificant for women. Having chronic disease impacts unmet needs for both sexes. However, the inability to perform daily activities due to health problems was not a significant factor for men. Poorer household income increases overall unmet needs. Education is a determinant of both medical and mental care needs.

CONCLUSIONS

This pioneering study illuminates the multifaceted gender disparities in cost-related unmet healthcare needs across Turkiye, reflecting the intertwined issues of access influenced by a complex interplay of factors. Our findings underscore the significance of adopting an intersectional approach to address health inequalities.

Investigating the PHQ-9 With Mokken Scale Analysis and Cognitive Interviews

Scores on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) are frequently used to assess depression both in research and in clinical practice. The aim was to examine the validity of the PHQ-9 sum score by using Mokken scale analysis (Study I) and cognitive interviews (Study II) on the Icelandic version of PHQ-9. A primary care sample of 618 individuals was used in Study I. The results indicate that the PHQ-9 items are not close enough to perfectly unidimensional for their sum score to accurately order people on the depression severity dimension. In Study II, the sample consisted of 53 individuals, with 28 having a history of depression and 25 not. The findings reveal a number of issues concerning respondents' use of the PHQ-9. No systematic differences were found in the results of the two groups. The PHQ-9 sum score should thus be interpreted and used with great care. We provide scale revision recommendations to improve the quality of PHQ-9.

Rural-urban residence and life expectancies with and without pain

This paper analyzes rural-urban disparities in life expectancy with and without pain among upper-middle age and older adults. Data are from the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study, 2000-2018, N = 18,160, age 53+. Interpolated Markov Chain software, based on the multistate life tables, is used to calculate absolute and relative pain expectancies by age, sex, rural-suburban-urban residence and U.S. regions. Results show significant rural disadvantages versus those in urban and often suburban areas. Example: males at 55 in rural areas can expect to live 15.1 years, or 65.2 percent pain-free life, while those in suburban areas expect to live 1.7 more years, or 2.6 percentage points more, pain-free life and urban residents expect to live 2.4 more year, or 4.7 percentage points more. The rural disadvantage persists for females, with differences being a little less prominent. At very old age (85+), rural-urban differences diminish or reverse. Rural-urban pain disparities are most pronounced in the Northeast and South regions, and least in the Midwest and West. The findings highlight that rural-urban is an important dimension shaping the geography of pain. More research is needed to disentangle the mechanisms through which residential environments impact people's pain experiences.

Skin care habits of patients with eczema at Kiambu Level 5 Hospital, Kiambu county, Kenya: A retrospective cross-sectional study

Background

There is a dearth of data on eczema from the African continent despite the purported increasing burden.

Objectives

To describe the prevalence of eczema at Kiambu Level 5 Hospital and patient skincare.

Methods

A descriptive retrospective cross-sectional research design was performed describing the period between 2016 and 2020. Data analysis was done using STATA Version 13. Geospatial mapping of patient residence was also conducted.

Results

Eczema was the most common skin condition diagnosed with a prevalence of 25.5%. Majority of the patients favored the use of non-conventional products such as bar soap and milking jelly as routine skincare products. Geospatial mapping demonstrated a higher prevalence of eczema in the urban areas and also revealed access to a specialist as a contributor to health-seeking behavior.

Limitations

Subtypes of eczema were not described and this data only reflects 1 facility serving an entire county.

Conclusion

The prevalence of eczema in Kiambu Level 5 Hospital mirrors the increasing global burden of eczema. Urban environments have a higher density of eczema in Kiambu. More research is needed to decipher the impact of the preferred non-conventional skin care products on eczema.

Testing rurality as a moderator of associations between masculinity constructs, help-seeking, and firearm storage practices

INTRODUCTION

Self-reliance, emotional control, and honor ideology may prevent help-seeking when suicidal ideation emerges. Furthermore, these factors are associated with an increased likelihood of firearm ownership and unsecure storage, which could facilitate suicide attempts. The rurality of residence may impact these associations, as rural regions report increased independence, honor culture, and firearm prevalence. Therefore, this study examined how emotional control, self-reliance, and honor ideology relate to firearm storage and help-seeking for suicidal ideation, with rurality moderating these associations.

METHODS

Participants were 733 adults (63.6% female, 33.5% male, and 2.9% transgender/other) who reported past-month suicidal ideation. Analyses tested associations between emotional control, self-reliance, and honor ideology with help-seeking for suicidal ideation and firearm storage, with rurality moderating these associations.

RESULTS

The association of self-reliance and decreased help-seeking willingness for suicidal ideation was significant for those in non-urban areas. The association of emotional control and decreased help-seeking willingness for suicidal ideation was significant for those in urban areas. No variables predicted firearm storage.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-reliance and emotional control could be barriers for help-seeking regardless of gender identity that depend on rurality. Clinicians may target emotional control/self-reliance via strengths-based approaches with an emphasis on when these constructs could be maladaptive, as this could promote help-seeking.

Men of Mexican ethnicity, alcohol use, and help-seeking: "I can quit on my own."

INTRODUCTION

Hispanics report higher rates of problematic alcohol use compared to non-Hispanic Whites while also reporting lower rates of alcohol treatment utilization compared to non-Hispanics. The study employs Anderson's Behavioral Model of Healthcare Utilization Model to guide the exploration of alcohol use, help-seeking and healthcare utilization.

METHODS

The present qualitative study explored help-seeking and alcohol treatment utilization for Hispanic men of Mexican ethnicity. A total of 27 participants (Mage = 35.7, SD = 10.82) completed a semi-structured interview that explored the treatment experiences and underlying psychological mechanisms that shaped their help-seeking.

RESULTS

Through a thematic content analysis, the following themes emerged: 1) perceiving need with subthemes of familismo, role as protector and provider, and positive face; 2) predisposing beliefs on help-seeking; and 3) treatment experiences and elements of patient satisfaction with subthemes of monetized treatment, respect, and perceiving professional stigma.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings in this article may assist in improving strategies for increasing alcohol treatment utilization among men of Mexican ethnicity. By exploring beliefs, values, and experiences health researchers can develop culturally informed intervention strategies.

The impact of the California state lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic on management of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The SARS-COVID-19 pandemic significantly limited healthcare access. We sought to evaluate whether California's lockdown in March 2020 affected staging and time to treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We hypothesized that patients diagnosed after the lockdown would have longer time to treatment and higher stage at presentation.

METHODS

We retrospectively identified and categorized 1294 patients presenting to five University of California healthcare systems with a new diagnosis of PDAC into "pre-lockdown" and "post-lockdown" groups based on timing of pathologic diagnosis.

RESULTS

In the 12 months pre-lockdown, 835 patients were diagnosed with PDAC, and 459 patients in the 6 months post-lockdown. Demographics, staging, and treatment type were similar between eras. There was a decreased male:female ratio post- versus pre-lockdown (0.97 vs. 1.25; p = 0.03). Time from symptom onset to first treatment was significantly increased among females post-lockdown (p = 0.001). However, overall time from diagnosis to first treatment was shorter in the post-lockdown era (median 23 vs. 26 days, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The COVID-19 lockdown did not significantly delay initial presentation, diagnosis, or treatment of newly diagnosed PDAC patients. Time from diagnosis to first treatment was shorter post-lockdown. Reduced healthcare utilization for minor complaints and increased telehealth utilization may have contributed.

Influence of gender on clinical presentation, management practices and outcomes of ocular syphilis

Ocular syphilis is a re-emerging inflammatory eye disease with a clear gender imbalance, disproportionately affecting men. We investigated the impact of gender on the presentation, management practices and clinical outcomes of this condition. Data generated from a study of patients consecutively diagnosed with ocular syphilis who attended a subspecialist uveitis service at one of four hospitals in Brazil over a 30-month period were disaggregated for analysis by gender. Two-hundred and fourteen eyes (161 men and 53 women) of 127 patients (96 men and 31 women) were included. Posterior uveitis was the most common presentation in both men and women (80.1% vs. 66.7%, p > 0.05), but men were significantly more likely to have vitritis as a feature of their disease (49.4% versus 28.8%, p = 0.019). Three eyes of women had nodular anterior scleritis (p = 0.015). Men were more likely to undergo a lumbar puncture to assess for neurosyphilis (71.9% vs. 51.6%, p = 0.048), but men and women undergoing a lumbar puncture were equally likely to have a cerebrospinal fluid abnormality (36.2% vs. 25.0%, p = 0.393). All patients were treated with aqueous penicillin G or ceftriaxone, and there was a trend towards more men receiving adjunctive systemic corticosteroid treatment as part of their management (65.2% vs. 46.7%, p = 0.071). There were no significant differences in the age of presentation, bilaterality of disease, anatomical classification of uveitis, initial or final visual acuity, and rates of ocular complications between men and women. Our findings indicate that ocular syphilis has comparable outcomes in men and women, but that there are differences in the type of ocular inflammation and management practices between the genders.

Skin cancer risk after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has improved outcomes for severe hematologic, malignant, and immune disorders, yet poses an increased risk of subsequent malignancies. This study aimed to examine the risk of skin cancer following HSCT and identify potential risk factors. The search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases until December 2023. Cohort studies reporting standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for post-HSCT skin cancer or investigating risk factors were included. SIRs, or hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence interval (CI), were calculated using random-effects inverse-variance models. Outcome endpoints were SIRs of skin cancer post-HSCT and risk factors, including gender, chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD), voriconazole exposure, and total body irradiation (TBI). Twenty-six studies involving 164,944 HSCT recipients (allogeneic HSCT, n = 68,637; autologous HSCT, n = 95,435; mean age: 38.5 ± 13.8 years; 71,354 females [43.3%]) were analyzed. Overall, SIR for skin cancer post-HSCT was 7.21 (95% CI 3.98-13.08), with SIRs of 2.25 (95% CI: 1.37-3.68) for autologous HSCT, and 10.18 (95% CI 5.07-20.43) for allogeneic HSCT. Risk factors for skin cancer risk included cGVHD (HR = 2.86 [95% CI: 2.01-4.07]), specifically for basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (HR = 1.80 [95% CI: 1.31-2.46] and HR = 3.68 [95% CI: 2.39-5.68], respectively), male gender (HR = 1.56 [95% CI: 1.15-2.13]), especially for SCC (HR = 1.70 [95% CI: 1.03-2.80]), and voriconazole exposure (HR = 2.01 [95% CI: 1.12-3.61]). TBI showed no statistically significant association with subsequent skin cancer (HR = 1.12 [95% CI: 0.73-1.71]). These findings highlight the importance of rigorous skin cancer surveillance and preventive strategies in HSCT recipients, particularly in male individuals undergoing allogeneic transplants and those with identifiable risk factors, to enable early detection and intervention.

Sex differences in risk of incident microvascular and macrovascular complications: a population-based data-linkage study among 25 713 people with diabetes

BACKGROUND

The global prevalence of diabetes is similar in men and women; however, there is conflicting evidence regarding sex differences in diabetes-related complications. The aim of this study was to investigate sex differences in incident microvascular and macrovascular complications among adults with diabetes.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study linked data from the 45 and Up Study, Australia, to administrative health records. The study sample included 25 713 individuals (57% men), aged ≥45 years, with diabetes at baseline. Incident cardiovascular disease (CVD), eye, lower limb, and kidney complications were determined using hospitalisation data and claims for medical services. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association between sex and incident complications.

RESULTS

Age-adjusted incidence rates per 1000 person years for CVD, eye, lower limb, and kidney complications were 37, 52, 21, and 32, respectively. Men had a greater risk of CVD (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.51, 95% CI 1.43 to 1.59), lower limb (aHR 1.47, 95% CI 1.38 to 1.57), and kidney complications (aHR 1.55, 95% CI 1.47 to 1.64) than women, and a greater risk of diabetic retinopathy (aHR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.26). Over 10 years, 44%, 57%, 25%, and 35% of men experienced a CVD, eye, lower limb, or kidney complication, respectively, compared with 31%, 61%, 18%, and 25% of women. Diabetes duration (<10 years vs ≥10 years) had no substantial effect on sex differences in complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Men with diabetes are at greater risk of complications, irrespective of diabetes duration. High rates of complications in both sexes highlight the importance of targeted complication screening and prevention strategies from diagnosis.

Healthcare use of young finnish adults with mental disorders - profiles and profile membership determinants

BACKGROUND

Comprehensive, timely, and integrated primary care services have been proposed as a response to the increased demand for mental health and substance use services especially among young people. However, little is known about the care utilization patterns of young people with mental and substance use disorders. Our aim was to characterize profiles of care use in young Finnish adults with mental or substance use disorders, and the potential factors associated with the service use profiles.

METHODS

Primary and specialized care visits of young adults (16-29 years) diagnosed with a psychiatric or a substance use disorder (n = 7714) were retrieved from the national health care register from years 2020 and 2021. K-Means clustering was used to detect different profiles based on the utilization of care services. Multinomial logistic regression was used to analyze the factors associated with different profiles of care use.

RESULTS

Five different profiles were identified: low care use (75%), and use of principally primary health care (11%), student health services (9%), psychiatric services (5%), or substance use services (1%). Female gender was associated with membership in the primary health care focused profiles (OR 2.58 and OR 1.99), and patients in the primary health care and student health services profiles were associated with a better continuity of care (OR 1.04 and OR 1.05). Substance use disorders were associated with psychiatric service use (OR: 2.51) and substance use services (OR: 58.91). Living in smaller municipalities was associated with lower service use when comparing to the largest city.

CONCLUSIONS

Young adults diagnosed with a psychiatric or a substance use disorder had remarkably different and heterogeneous care patterns. Most of the participants had low care utilization, indicating potential gaps in service use and care needs. Measures should be taken to ensure equal access to and availability of mental health services. The profiles that utilized the most services highlights the importance of integrated services and patient-oriented improvement of treatment.

Greater within- and between-day instability is associated with worse anxiety and depression symptoms

BACKGROUND

Depression and anxiety affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide, and their prevalence increased during the COVID-19 pandemic as social schedules were disrupted. This study explores the associations between anxiety and depression and within- and between-day instability of affective, somatic, and cognitive symptoms during the early pandemic stages.

METHODS

Participants (n = 153, ages 18-77, 72 % female) reported daily levels of affective (anxiety/sadness), somatic (appetite/sleepiness), and cognitive (concentration/energy) symptoms for 14-44 days at five timepoints: 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 h after awakening. At the end of the study, participants completed validated scales for anxiety (GAD-7) and depression (PHQ-9). Symptom instability was assessed using the Absolute Real Variability (ARV) index. Regression models examined within-day instability (WD-I) and between-day instability (BD-I) with GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores as outcomes.

RESULTS

Greater instability (both WD-I and BD-I) of affective symptoms correlated with elevated GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores. For somatic and cognitive symptoms, greater BD-I was associated with higher scores.

LIMITATIONS

The study used retrospective daily data, which could benefit from real-time assessments for improved accuracy.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides empirical evidence of a connection between greater anxiety and depression severity and increased instability in daily mood and physiological symptoms. The findings underscore the importance of consistent symptom monitoring to understand overall mental health trajectories. Additionally, it highlights the role of daily routines in stabilizing the circadian system, potentially regulating physiological and psychological processes and reducing symptom instability.

Integrating depression and acute coronary syndrome care in low resource hospitals in China: the I-CARE randomised clinical trial

Background

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) often co-occurs with depression, which adversely affects prognosis and increases medical costs, but effective treatment models are lacking, particularly in low-resource settings. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of an ACS and depression integrative care (IC) model compared to usual care (UC) in improving depression symptoms and other health outcomes among patients discharged for ACS in Chinese rural hospitals.

Methods

A multicentre, randomised controlled trial was conducted in sixteen rural county hospitals in China, from October 2014 to March 2017, to recruit consecutively all ACS patients aged 21 years and older after the disease stablised and before discharge. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either the IC or UC, stratified by hospital and depression severity. Patients allocated to IC received an ACS secondary prevention program and depression care including case screening, group counselling, and individual problem-solving therapy. Patients allocated to UC received usual care. The primary outcome was change in Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) from baseline to 6 and 12 months. Main secondary outcomes included major adverse events (MAEs) composed of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction and stroke, and all-cause re-hospitalisation. Participants were followed up till March 2018. All data were collected in person by trained assessors blinded to treatment group and MAEs were adjudicated centrally. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02195193.

Findings

Among 4041 eligible patients (IC: 2051; UC: 1990), the mean age was 61 ± 10 years and 63% were men. The mean PHQ-9 score lowered at both 6 and 12 months in both groups but was not lower in IC compared to UC at 6 months (mean difference (MD): -0.04, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.20, 0.11) or 12 months (MD: -0.06, 95% CI: -0.21, 0.09). There were no treatment group differences for MAEs or other secondary outcomes except for secondary prevention medications at 12 months (45.2% in IC vs 40.8% in UC; relative risk: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.05-1.40). Pre-specified subgroup analyses showed that IC, compared to UC, may be more effective in lowering PHQ-9 scores in women, older patients, and patients with low social support, but less effective in moderately and severely depressed patients (all p for interaction <0.05).

Interpretation

The study found that the cardiology nurse-led ACS- and depression-integrated care, compared to usual care, did not improve depression symptoms in all patients discharged with ACS. Greater benefits in certain subgroups warrants further studies.

Funding

R01MH100332 National Institute of Mental Health.

The iceberg model of suicidal ideation and behaviour in Danish adolescents: integration of national registry and self-reported data within a national birth cohort

Hospital records are used to identify suicide attempts in many countries but not all individuals present to hospital after a suicide attempt i.e., suggesting a 'hidden number'. Our aim was to present the prevalence of suicide ideation, plans, attempts, and suicides among Danish adolescents, including attempts not resulting in hospital contact. The study population consisted of participants in the Danish National Birth Cohort participating in an 18-year follow-up, with individual-level linkage to national register data. Prevalence was estimated with a variable with mutually exclusive categories ranging from no suicidality to self-reported suicide ideation, -plans, -attempt and hospital-recorded suicide attempt and stratified on sex and parental income. The 'hidden number' was estimated as the ratio between suicide attempts with and without hospital contact. Among 47 858 participants, all aged 18-years, 36% girls and 28% boys reported suicide ideation at least once in their life. In addition, 6% girls and 3% boys had either reported or been recorded with a suicide attempt. For every attempt recorded in the hospital setting, two girls (ratio, 1:2) and six boys (ratio, 1:6) reported having attempted suicide without hospital contact. The prevalence of any suicide attempt was 8% and 3% in the lowest and highest income group, respectively. Before age 18, 0·011% girls and 0·016% boys had died by suicide. In conclusion, suicidal ideation and behaviour are common in adolescents and there is a substantial 'hidden number' of adolescents with suicide attempt. These results emphasize the need for early age suicide preventive interventions in community-settings e.g., school environments.

Factors affecting the duration of initial medical care seeking among older rural patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Early diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are essential to prevent progressive joint destruction and improve the quality of life (QOL) of patients. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with the duration from symptom onset to seeking initial medical care among older rural patients diagnosed with RA.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study was conducted in Unnan City, Japan, using electronic patient records. Data from patients aged > 65 years, who were admitted to the Unnan City Hospital between April 2016 and March 2021, were analyzed. The primary outcome was the duration from symptom onset to the initial visit to the medical institution. Demographic factors, laboratory data, and data on symptoms were collected and analyzed using statistical tests and regression models.

RESULTS

In total, 221 participants were included in this study. The longer duration from symptom onset to medical care usage was significantly associated with age (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.15), isolated conditions (adjusted OR: 4.45, 95% CI: 1.85-10.70), and wrist symptoms (adjusted OR: 3.22, 95% CI: 1.44-7.17). Higher education level and alcohol consumption were also associated with the duration from symptom onset to medical care usage.

CONCLUSIONS

Older age, isolated conditions, and specific joint symptoms were significant factors influencing delays in seeking medical care among older rural patients with RA. Interventions to improve health literacy, increase social support, and raise awareness of RA symptoms are essential for expediting diagnosis and improving patient QOL. Further research is needed to explore additional psychosocial factors and beliefs that affect health-seeking behaviors in patients with RA.

The effect of illness perception on psychosocial adjustment of patients with breast cancer and their spouses: actor-partner independence model

OBJECTIVE

With the increase in the prevalence rate and improvements in the survival of breast cancer patients, there is a growing interest in understanding the level of psychosocial adjustment in these patients. The study aimed to describe the illness perception and psychosocial adjustment levels of both breast cancer patients and their spouses, to use the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) to clarify the actor-partner relationships between spouses, and to explore the impact of illness perception on psychosocial adjustment to the disease within the joint actions of both spouses.

METHODS

A total of 216 female patients with breast cancer and their spouses participated in the study. They were selected from two tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province, China from October 2022 to May 2023 using a convenience sampling method. The participants were assessed using the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire and the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale to examine the relationship between illness perception and psychosocial adjustment. AMOS24.0 was used to test and analyze the actor-partner interdependence model.

RESULTS

The illness perception score (57.75 ± 10.91) was slightly higher than that of the spouse (57.10 ± 11.00), and the psychosocial adjustment score (64.67 ± 6.33) was slightly lower than that of the spouse (64.76 ± 7.49). The results of the actor-partner interdependence model indicated that there was a couple partner between breast cancer patients and their spouses: the spouse's illness perception significantly affected the patient's psychosocial adjustment (β = 0.095, p = 0.015); the patient's illness perception also significantly affected the spouse's psychosocial adjustment (β = 0.106, p = 0.033). Among them, the patient's psychosocial adjustment was found to be related to the patient's illness comprehensibility or coherence of illness (β = 0.433, p = 0.009), the spouse's emotional illness representation (β = 0.218, p = 0.037), and the spouse's illness comprehensibility or coherence of illness (β = 0.416, p = 0.007), while the spouse's psychosocial adjustment was only related to the spouse's illness comprehensibility or coherence of illness (β = 0.528, p = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

The psychosocial adjustment of breast cancer patients is affected by both their own and spouse's illness perception. Therefore, in the future, the healthcare staff can implement early psychological interventions for patients diagnosed with breast cancer and their spouses as a unit to promote the psychosocial adjustment of them.

Sex Differences in Odds of Brain Metastasis and Outcomes by Brain Metastasis Status after Advanced Melanoma Diagnosis

Sex differences in cancer are well-established. However, less is known about sex differences in diagnosis of brain metastasis and outcomes among patients with advanced melanoma. Using a United States nationwide electronic health record-derived de-identified database, we evaluated patients diagnosed with advanced melanoma from 1 January 2011-30 July 2022 who received an oncologist-defined rule-based first line of therapy (n = 7969, 33% female according to EHR, 35% w/documentation of brain metastases). The odds of documented brain metastasis diagnosis were calculated using multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age, practice type, diagnosis period (pre/post-2017), ECOG performance status, anatomic site of melanoma, group stage, documentation of non-brain metastases prior to first-line of treatment, and BRAF positive status. Real-world overall survival (rwOS) and progression-free survival (rwPFS) starting from first-line initiation were assessed by sex, accounting for brain metastasis diagnosis as a time-varying covariate using the Cox proportional hazards model, with the same adjustments as the logistic model, excluding group stage, while also adjusting for race, socioeconomic status, and insurance status. Adjusted analysis revealed males with advanced melanoma were 22% more likely to receive a brain metastasis diagnosis compared to females (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09, 1.36). Males with brain metastases had worse rwOS (aHR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.28) but not worse rwPFS (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.04, 95% CI: 0.95, 1.14) following first-line treatment initiation. Among patients with advanced melanoma who were not diagnosed with brain metastases, survival was not different by sex (rwOS aHR: 1.06 [95% CI: 0.97, 1.16], rwPFS aHR: 1.02 [95% CI: 0.94, 1.1]). This study showed that males had greater odds of brain metastasis and, among those with brain metastasis, poorer rwOS compared to females, while there were no sex differences in clinical outcomes for those with advanced melanoma without brain metastasis.

A multilevel analysis of the determinants of HIV testing among men in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Demographic and Health Surveys across 10 African countries

Sub-Saharan Africa, the epicenter of the HIV epidemic, has seen significant reductions in new infections over the last decade. Although most new infections have been reported among women, particularly adolescent girls, men are still disadvantaged in accessing HIV testing, care, and treatment services. Globally, men have relatively poorer HIV testing, care, and treatment indices when compared with women. Gender norms and the associated concept of masculinity, strength, and stereotypes have been highlighted as hindering men's acceptance of HIV counseling and testing. Therefore, men's suboptimal uptake of HIV testing services will continue limiting efforts to achieve HIV epidemic control. Thus, this study aimed to identify individual, neighborhood, and country-level determinants of sub-optimal HIV testing among men in Sub-Saharan African countries. We analyzed demographic and health datasets from surveys conducted between 2016 and 2020 in Sub-Saharan African Countries. We conducted multivariable multilevel regression analysis on 52,641 men aged 15-49 years resident in 4,587 clusters across 10 countries. The primary outcome variable was ever tested for HIV. HIV testing services uptake among men in these ten Sub-Saharan African countries was 35.1%, with a high of 65.5% in Rwanda to a low of 10.2% in Guinea. HIV testing services uptake was more likely in men with increasing age, some form of formal education, in employment, ever married, and residents in relatively wealthier households. We also found that men who possessed health insurance, had some form of weekly media exposure, and had accessed the internet were more likely to have ever received an HIV test. Unlike those noted to be less likely to have ever received an HIV test if they had discriminatory attitudes towards HIV, comprehensive HIV knowledge, recent sexual activity, and risky sexual behavior were positive predictors of HIV testing services uptake among men. Furthermore, men in communities with high rurality and illiteracy were less likely to receive an HIV test. Individual and community-level factors influence the uptake of HIV testing among Sub-Saharan African men. There was evidence of geographical clustering in HIV testing uptake among men at the community level, with about two-thirds of the variability attributable to community-level factors. Therefore, HIV testing programs will need to design interventions that ensure equal access to HIV testing services informed by neighborhood socioeconomic conditions, peculiarities, and contexts.

Sex Differences in the Immunogenicity and Efficacy of Seasonal Influenza Vaccines: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background

Sex impacts individuals' response to vaccination. However, most vaccine studies do not report these differences disaggregated by sex. The aim of this study was to assess sex differences in the immunogenicity and efficacy of influenza vaccine.

Methods

We performed a meta-analysis using phase 3 randomized controlled trial data conducted between 2010 and 2018. Using hemagglutination inhibition antibody titers for each strain, differences in geometric mean ratios (GMRs) were calculated by sex. Risk ratios (RRs) comparing seroconversion proportions were pooled for females and males using random-effects models. Vaccine efficacy (VE) was assessed. Data were analyzed by age group (18-64 vs ≥65 years).

Results

A total of 33 092 healthy adults from 19 studies were included for immunogenicity analysis, and 6740 from 1 study for VE. Whereas no sex differences in immunogenicity were found in adults <65 years old, older females had a significantly greater chance to seroconvert compared to older males for all strains: RRH1N1 = 1.17 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.12-1.23]; RRH3N2 = 1.09 [95% CI, 1.05-1.14]; RRVictoria = 1.23 [95% CI, 1.14-1.31]; RRYamagata = 1.22 [95% CI, 1.14-1.30]. GMRs were also higher in older females for all strains compared to older males. VE in preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza was higher in older females compared to older males with VEs of 27.32% (95% CI, 1.15%-46.56%) and 6.06% (95% CI, -37.68% to 35.90%), respectively.

Conclusions

Our results suggest a higher immunogenicity and VE in females compared to males in older adults. These differences in immunogenicity and VE support the disaggregation of vaccine data by sex in clinical trials and observational studies.

Clinical Trials Registration

CRD42018112260.

Prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension and contributing factors in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Uncontrolled hypertension (HTN) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. The prevalence of HTN in the Ethiopian adult population is almost 20%.This study aimed to determine the prevalence of uncontrolled HTN and its contributing factors among patients with HTN in Ethiopia undergoing treatment.

Methods

Electronic bibliographic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Hinari (Research4Life), Embase, and Scopus were searched for original records in the English language that assessed HTN control in Ethiopia and were available before 29 June 2023. The data were extracted using a format prepared in Microsoft Excel and exported to the software STATA 17.0 for analysis. The study protocol was registered at PROSPERO with the reference number CRD42023440121.

Results

A total of 26 studies with 9,046 patients with HTN were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis, of which 11 studies were used to assess factors contributing to uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) in patients in Ethiopia. The estimated prevalence of uncontrolled HTN in the population of Ethiopia is 51% [95% confidence interval (CI), 42%-60%]. The subgroup analysis, based on the assessment tools, region, and follow-up period, revealed that the prevalence of uncontrolled BP was highest following the guidelines of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) (89%; 95% CI: 87%-91%) and in Addis Ababa (58%; 95% CI: 40%-76%), and the lowest proportion of uncontrolled BP was in the 3-month follow-up period (34%; 95% CI: 29%-39%). The presence of diabetes mellitus showed the highest impact (pooled odds ratio: 5.19; CI: 1.41-19.11) for uncontrolled HTN. The univariate meta-regression method confirmed that the sample size, year of publication, and subgroups were not sources of heterogeneity in the pooled estimates. Egger's regression test did not indicate the presence of publication bias.

Conclusion

More than half of the hypertensive patients in Ethiopia have uncontrolled BP. Diabetes mellitus, advanced age, male sex, and the presence of comorbidities are among the factors contributing to uncontrolled HTN in Ethiopia. The concerned bodies working in this area should implement interventional strategies and recommendations that might be helpful in achieving optimal BP in hypertensive patients.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023440121, PROSPERO (CRD42023440121).

Risk factors associated with severe COVID-19 outcomes in Jamaica: a cross-sectional study of national surveillance data

Objectives

To describe the characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 cases in Jamaica and to explore the risk factors associated with severe COVID-19 from 9 March to 31 December 2020.

Methods

A cross-sectional analysis of national surveillance data was conducted using confirmed COVID-19 cases in Jamaica. Definitions of a confirmed case, disease severity, and death were based on World Health Organization guidelines. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used to determine association with outcomes. Logistic regression models were used to determine predictors of severe COVID-19.

Results

This analysis included 12 169 cases of COVID-19 (median age, 36 years; 6 744 females [ 55.4%]) of which 512 cases (4.2%) presented with severe disease, and of those, 318 patients (62.1%) died (median age at death, 71.5 years). Severe disease was associated with being male (OR 1.4; 95% CI, 1.2-1.7) and 40 years or older (OR, 6.5; 95% CI, 5.1-8.2). COVID-19 death was also associated with being male (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.7), age 40 years or older (OR, 17.9; 95% CI, 11.6-27.7), and in the Western versus South East Health Region (OR 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2-2.3).

Conclusions

The findings of this cross-sectional analysis indicate that confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Jamaica were more likely to be female and younger individuals, whereas COVID-19 deaths occurred more frequently in males and older individuals. There is increased risk of poor COVID-19 outcomes beginning at age 40, with males disproportionately affected. COVID-19 death also varied by geographic region. This evidence could be useful to other countries with similar settings and to policymakers charged with managing outbreaks and health.

An updated systematic review and Meta-analysis of the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Iran, 1996-2023

Background

Diabetes mellitus (DM) poses a significant threat to public health, and the anticipated surge of over 100% in the age-standardized prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Iran between 2021 and 2050 underscores the pressing need for focused attention. The rationale for estimating the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Iran becomes even more compelling when considering the potential cascading effects on the healthcare system, quality of life, and economic burden. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and trends of DM from 1996 to 2023 in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Methods

Up to July 2023, without deadlines, the search for appropriate articles in Persian and English. Iranian sources including SID, Magiran, and Element were included in the databases, along with foreign ones like PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Science Direct, Embase, Scopus, ProQuest, and Google Scholar. Using the JBI quality checklist, the study's level of quality was evaluated. Version 14 of STATA was used to carry out the statistical analysis. The Dersimonian and Liard random-effects models were used because of heterogeneity. To investigate the causes of heterogeneity, subgroup analysis and univariate meta-regression were utilized. Sensitivity analysis was then carried out to see how each study's findings affected the final findings. The prevalence pattern over time was also followed using cumulative meta-analysis.

Results

There were 53 studies in all, with a combined sample size of 1,244,896 people. Men were predicted to have a type 2 diabetes prevalence of 10.80% (95% CI: 9.1-12.4), while women were assessed to have a prevalence of 13.4% (95% CI: 11.6-15.3). Additionally, the prevalence of diabetes was much higher in the 55-64 age group, coming in at 21.7% (95% CI: 17.5-25.0). The anticipated prevalence of diabetes was 7.08% for 1988 to 2002, 9.05% for 2003 to 2007, 9.14% for 2008 to 2012, 15.0% for 2013 to 2017, and 13.40% for 2018 to 2023, among other time periods. Geographically, type 2 diabetes was most prevalent in Khuzestan (15.3%), followed by Razavi Khorasan (14.4%), Qazvin (14.3%), and Yazd (12.6%).

Conclusion

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes was estimated at 10.8%, highlighting variations across gender, age groups, and geographic regions that underscore the necessity for specific interventions. These findings advocate for proactive measures, including tailored screening and lifestyle modification programs. The notable temporal increase from 2013 to 2017 signals the need for policymakers and healthcare practitioners to develop effective strategies, anticipating and addressing the potential future burden on the healthcare system.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023437506, identifier: CRD42023437506.

The socio-ecological determinants of help-seeking practices and healthcare access among young men: a systematic review

Delayed engagement with health services is a key contributor to poorer health outcomes experienced by men. Patterns of health service usage which reduce the opportunity for disease prevention and health promotion appear to be especially prominent amongst young men. To identify the multiple and intersecting determinants of young men's help-seeking practices and health services usage, this review uses the social ecological model (SEM) to guide a critical synthesis of the literature on barriers and facilitators experienced by young men in accessing health services. A systematic review was conducted across five databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsychINFO, CINAHL and Scopus). Included studies presented primary data regarding young men's (12-24 years) barriers and/or facilitators to seeking and accessing health care. Thirty-one studies (24 qualitative and 7 quantitative) underwent data extraction, quality appraisal and thematic analysis under the guiding framework of the SEM. Seven key themes were constructed, encapsulating the perceived barriers and facilitators to help-seeking and accessing health care experienced by young men, including masculine attitudes, health literacy, social pressure, service accessibility, economic factors, service characteristics and cultural attitudes. These findings highlight the complex interplay between the individual, interpersonal, organizational and societal factors impacting young men's healthcare engagement. They also illuminate avenues for multifaceted, context-specific interventions to enhance healthcare accessibility for this group, including addressing health literacy gaps, providing culturally sensitive care and reducing cost barriers.

Sex Differences in Healthcare Utilization in Persons Living with Dementia Between 2000 and 2017: A Population-Based Study in Quebec, Canada

Objectives: Describe sex differences in healthcare utilization and mortality in persons with new dementia in Quebec, Canada. Methods: We conducted a repeated cohort study from 2000 to 2017 using health administrative databases. Community-dwelling persons aged 65+ with a new diagnosis of dementia were included. We measured 23 indicators of healthcare use across five care settings: ambulatory care, pharmacological care, acute hospital care, long-term care, and mortality. Clinically meaningful sex differences in age-standardized rates were determined graphically through expert consultations. Results: Women with dementia had higher rates of ambulatory care and pharmacological care, while men with dementia had higher acute hospital care, admission to long-term care, and mortality. There was no meaningful difference in visits to cognition specialists, antipsychotic prescriptions, and hospital death. Discussion: Men and women with dementia demonstrate differences in healthcare utilization and mortality. Addressing these differences will inform decision-makers, care providers and researchers and guide more equitable policy and interventions in dementia care.

District-Wise Heterogeneity in Blood Pressure Measurements, Prehypertension, Raised Blood Pressure, and Their Determinants Among Indians: National Family Health Survey-5

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and determinants of ever-measured blood pressure, prehypertension, and raised blood pressure at national, state and district levels in India. Methods: We analysed data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), on 743,067 adults aged 18-54 years. The sample consisted of 87.6% females and 12.4% males. We estimated prevalence rates and determined adjusted odds ratios for various dependent variables related to blood pressure. Geographical variations were visualized on the map of India, and multivariate logistic regression was employed at state and district levels, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of ever-measured blood pressure varied widely, from 30.3% to 98.5% across districts, with southern and northern regions showing higher rates. Prehypertension affected 33.7% of the population, with varying prevalence across districts. Raised blood pressure was there in 15.9%, with notably higher rates in southern region (16.8%). Determinants included age, gender, education, wealth, lifestyle, obesity, and blood glucose levels. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the subnational variations in blood pressure, can guide evidence-based interventions at the state and district level, towards reducing the burden of raised blood pressure and enhancing overall population health.

Multistate survival modelling of multimorbidity and transitions across health needs states and death in an ageing population

BACKGROUND

Unmet health needs have the potential to capture health inequality. Nevertheless, the course of healthcare needs fulfilment, and the role of multimorbidity in this process remains unclear. This study assessed the bidirectional transitions between met and unmet health needs and the transition to death and examined the effect of multimorbidity on transitions.

METHODS

This study was based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, a nationally representative survey in 2011-2015 among 18 075 participants aged 45 and above (average age 61.1; SD 9.9). We applied a multistate survival model to estimate the probabilities and the instantaneous risk of state transitions, and Gompertz hazard models were fitted to estimate the total, marginal and state-specific life expectancies (LEs).

RESULTS

Living with physical multimorbidity (HR=1.85, 95% CI 1.58 to 2.15) or physical-mental multimorbidity (HR=1.45, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.82) was associated with an increased risk of transitioning into unmet healthcare needs compared with no multimorbidity. Conversely, multimorbidity groups had a decreased risk of transitioning out of unmet needs. Multimorbidity was also associated with shortened total life expectancy (TLEs), and the proportion of marginal LE for having unmet needs was more than two times higher than no multimorbidity.

CONCLUSION

Multimorbidity aggravates the risk of transitioning into having unmet healthcare needs in the middle and later life, leading to a notable reduction in TLEs, with longer times spent with unmet needs. Policy inputs on developing integrated person-centred services and specifically scaling up to target the complex health needs of ageing populations need to be in place.

Approaches to Engaging Men During Primary Healthcare Encounters: A scoping review

Gender-responsive healthcare is critical to advancing men's health given that masculinities intersect with other social determinants to impact help-seeking, engagement with primary healthcare, and patient outcomes. A scoping review was undertaken with the aim to synthesize gender-responsive approaches used by healthcare providers (HCPs) to engage men with primary healthcare. MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases were searched for articles published between 2000 and February 2024. Titles and abstracts for 15,659 citations were reviewed, and 97 articles met the inclusion criteria. Data were extracted and analyzed thematically. Thirty-three approaches were synthesized from across counseling/psychology, general practice, social work, nursing, psychiatry, pharmacy, and unspecified primary healthcare settings. These were organized into three interrelated themes: (a) tailoring communication to reach men; (b) purposefully structuring treatment to meet men's health needs, and (c) centering the therapeutic alliance to retain men in care. Strength-based and asset-building approaches focused on reading and responding to a diversity of masculinities was reinforced across the three findings. While these approaches are recommended for the judicious integration into health practitioner education and practice, this review highlighted that the evidence remains underdeveloped, particularly for men who experience health inequities. Critical priorities for further research include intersectional considerations and operationalizing gender-responsive healthcare approaches for men and its outcomes, particularly at first point-of-contact encounters.

Prevalence and clinical characteristics of uveitic glaucoma: multicentric study in Bogotá, Colombia

OBJECTIVES

To describe the clinical features of patients diagnosed with uveitic glaucoma (UG) and ocular hypertension secondary to uveitis (OHT-SU).

METHODS

A multicentric cross-sectional study using medical records of patients with uveitis between 2013 and 2021. Uveitis and glaucoma specialists examined all patients. Variables were analyzed using the chi-square or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables. Additionally, t test, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis variance analysis were used for continuous variables. Finally, a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis for UG and OHT-SU development over time was done.

RESULTS

Of the 660 clinical records reviewed of patients with uveitis, 191 (28.9%) had OHT-SU in at least one visit, and 108 (16.4%) of them developed UG. In all ages, females were more affected than males. Anterior uveitis was the main anatomic localisation, and non-granulomatous, recurrent, and inactive uveitis were the most frequent clinical features. The mean final visual acuity was 0.3 (0.0-1.0) LogMAR. Also, 95.8% of the patients had additional sequelae related to uveitis regardless of UG and OHT-SU. Interestingly, males had earlier affection, with statistical significance in OHT for adults (P = 0.036) and UG for children (P = 0.04). Of all patients, 81.1% received topical hypotensive treatment and 29.8% required a surgical procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

UG and OHT-SU are common complications of uveitis in the Colombian population. These sight-threatening conditions were more common and appeared sooner in men at any age. Our results suggest that earlier and more aggressive treatment with topical hypotensive agents could positively influence the visual outcomes and the requirement of surgical procedures.

Global, Regional, and National Quality of Care Index (QCI) of Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2017

BACKGROUND

Gastric Cancer (GC)is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. We aimed to compare the quality of care of GC at global, regional, and national levels from 1990 to 2017 in different age, sex, and socio-demographic groups using the quality-of-care index.

MATERIAL

METHOD: We used Mortality to Incidence Ratio, DALY to Prevalence Ratio, YLL to YLD Ratio, and Prevalence to Incidence Ratio, that all indicate the quality of care. Then, using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), these values are combined. A new index called QCI (Quality of Care Index), which indicates quality, is introduced to compare the quality of care in different countries in 1990 and 2017. Scores were calculated and scaled 0-100, with higher scores indicating better status.

RESULTS

The global QCI of GC in 1990 and 2017 was 35.7 and 66.7, respectively. The QCI index is 89.6 and 16.4 in high and low SDI countries, respectively. In 2017, Japan had the highest QCI with a 100 score. Japan was followed by South Korea, Singapore, Australia, and the United States with 99.5, 98.4, 98.3, and 90.0. On the other hand, the Central African Republic, Eritrea, Papua New Guinea, Lesotho, and Afghanistan with 11.6, 13.0, 13.1, 13.5, and 13.7 had the worst QCI, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The quality of care of GC has increased worldwide from 1990 to 2017. Also, higher SDI was associated with more quality of care. We recommend conducting more screening and therapeutic programs for early detection and to improve gastric cancer treatment in developing countries.

Changing society, changing research: integrating gender to better understand physical and psychological treatments use in chronic pain management

ABSTRACT

Treatment of chronic pain should be multimodal and include pharmacological, physical, and psychological treatments. However, because various barriers to physical and psychological treatments (PPTs) exist, a better understanding of biopsychosocial factors leading to their use is relevant. This study aimed to explore the association between gender identity, gender-stereotyped personality traits, and the use of PPTs in chronic pain management. The ChrOnic Pain trEatment cohort, a self-reported data infrastructure resulting from a web-based recruitment of 1935 people living with chronic pain (Quebec, Canada) was analyzed. Gender identity was operationalized as women, men, and nonbinary. Gender-stereotyped personality traits were measured using the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (feminine, masculine, androgynous, undifferentiated). A checklist of 31 types of PPTs that can be used for chronic pain management was presented to participants (yes/no). From the 1433 participants, 85.5% reported using at least one PPT. Hot-cold therapies (43.4%), exercise (41.9%), and meditation (35.2%) were the most frequently used PPTs, but most popular PPTs were not the same among women and men. Women reported a significantly higher use of PPTs in general (87.2% vs 77.2%; P < 0.001). Multivariable and interaction analyses showed that identifying as a man decreased the odds of reporting the use of PPTs (odds ratio: 0.32, 95% confidence interval: 0.11-0.92) but only among participants who scored high on both masculine and feminine personality traits (those classified as androgynous). The high prevalence of PPTs use found in our study is positive. Our results are relevant for a more personalized promotion of PPTs for chronic pain management.

We need to talk: a qualitative inquiry into pathways to care for young men at ultra-high risk for psychosis

Introduction

It is known from the literature that men are slower to seek help and staying engaged in mental health care compared to women. Seeing that in psychosis, men more often than women have insidious onsets but also a more malign illness course, it is important to find ways to improve timely help-seeking. The aim of this study was to explore barriers and facilitators for help-seeking in young male persons struggling with early signs of psychosis.

Methods

Qualitative interviews with nine young men who suffer from a first episode of psychosis or psychosis risk symptoms.

Results

Male stereotypical ideals, significant others, and knowledge of symptoms and where to get help as well characteristics of symptom trajectories appeared to be important determinants of help-seeking behavior.

Discussion

Interviews indicated that help-seeking in the participants was delayed first, because of reluctancy to disclose distress and second, because significant others were unable to accurately recognize symptoms. Information, awareness, and easy access to care remain important in early detection and intervention in psychosis and psychosis risk. However, more emphasis should be placed on de-stigmatizing mental health problems in men and aiming information specifically at them.

Factors Impacting Follow-Up Care in Allergic Fungal Rhinosinusitis

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to analyze barriers to medical care and follow-up in patients with allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS).

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional questionnaire-based study with retrospective chart review.

SETTING

Tertiary Medical Center.

METHODS

Subjects with AFRS and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) were prospectively recruited for completion of the Barriers to Care Questionnaire (BCQ) and formal chart review.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine AFRS and 51 CRSwNP patients participated. AFRS patients were more likely to be lost to follow-up within 6 months of surgery (35.6% vs 17.7%, P = 0.04) and no-show at least 1 appointment (20.3% vs 5.9%, P = 0.03) compared to CRSwNP patients. Men with AFRS were more likely to have only a single follow-up visit (37.0% vs 3.1%, P < 0.001) and be lost to follow-up (66.7% vs 9.4%, P < 0.001) than women. There were no significant differences in the BCQ between groups; however, rate of questionnaire completion was lower in the AFRS group than the CRS group (62.7% vs 80.4%, P = 0.042). AFRS patients who did not complete the BCQ were more likely to be male (63.6% vs 35.1%, P = 0.034), lost to follow-up (77.3% vs 10.8%, P < 0.0001), and have a single follow-up visit (40.9% vs 5.4%, P < 0.0001). Younger age was associated with increased likelihood of having a single follow-up visit (odds ratio 1.143, 95% CI 1.022-1.276).

CONCLUSION

Young, male AFRS patients are more frequently lost to follow-up after surgery and less likely to complete questionnaires assessing barriers to care. Further investigation is needed to assess barriers to follow-up in these at-risk groups.

Facilitators of, barriers to, and preferences for e-mental health interventions for depression and anxiety in men: Metasynthesis and recommendations

BACKGROUND

Little is known about men's use of online mental health (eMH) interventions and factors that promote their engagement or attrition. We aimed to synthesise the qualitative literature on men's preferences for, attitudes towards, and experiences of using eMH interventions for depression and anxiety, and develop recommendations from the findings.

METHOD

Systematic searches were conducted (Jan 2000-Oct 2020) in six databases; study quality was assessed using Qualsyst with a minimum total of 0.55 required for inclusion. Extracted data were synthesised using meta-aggregation.

RESULTS

Eight studies met inclusion criteria and three synthesised findings were generated. (1) Facilitators of men's eMH use: finding apps and technology motivating and convenient, support and encouragement from important others, and interventions allowing men to take action, gain control over their mental health, and resulting in positive outcomes; (2) Barriers to men's eMH use: lack of free time, predicted or experienced lack of benefit from use, and technical difficulties; (3) What men want in eMH: personalised, tailored, relevant interventions that are bright and easy to use, with information presented in multiple formats, psychoeducation, exercises, self-monitoring, information on further resources, and the option of clinician involvement, without any repetitive questioning, boring tools, or negative feedback.

LIMITATIONS

All included studies were conducted in high income, 'Western' countries; most data related to experiences of using an existing eMH intervention within a trial, rather than in 'real world' settings where eMH acceptability is generally lower and experiences may differ.

CONCLUSIONS

Practice, research, and policy recommendations are presented.

Predictors of Control Status of Hypertension in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Predictors of hypertension (HTN) control status have not been well understood in India. This information is crucial for policymakers and program managers to devise newer HTN control strategies and implement relevant policies and programs. Therefore, we undertook this meta-analysis to estimate the effect of various factors on the control status of HTN in India. We systematically searched PubMed and Embase for observational studies and community-based trials published between April 2013 and March 2021 conducted among people (≥ 15 years) with hypertension in India. Quality of studies was assessed using Newcastle Ottawa (NO) scale. Meta-analysis was performed using random effects model. We reported the effect of various factors on the prevalence of controlled HTN using pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Of the 842 studies screened, we analyzed nine studies that included 2,441 individuals. Based on the NO scale, majority (90%) of studies had a low risk of bias. The odds of having controlled HTN were significantly higher among women (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.62-1.95), those aged > 45 years (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.44-1.97), and those residing in urban parts of India (OR 1.74; 95% CI 1.48-2.03). These measures varied considerably across different regions of the country. Very few studies reported data on the relationship between behavioural risk factors of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and HTN control status. We did not find any statistically significant differences between behavioural risk factors of NCDs and HTN control status. To improve HTN control in India, the ongoing/newer HTN control programs need to target men, those aged 15-45, and rural residents. Future studies on HTN control determinants should report disaggregated data and use standardized definitions for behavioral risk factors to enhance reliability and comprehensiveness of findings on the determinants of HTN control in future reviews.

The first epidemiology of urolithiasis in Northern Vietnam: Urinary stone composition, age, gender, season, and clinical features study

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to analyze the compositions of urinary stones and investigate their distributions in different ages, genders, seasons, and clinical features of Northern Vietnamese patients.

METHODS

A total of 231 patients with urinary stones from Northern Vietnam were collected and analyzed composition from 1/2021-12/2022. For all patients, age, sex, stone location, stone side, urine pH, and hospitalized date (month) were collected.

RESULTS

Kidney stones are more frequently found in men than women with the male: female urinary stones ratio in this study being 1.96:1. The highest stone prevalence appeared between 60 and 69 years old. The most common stone composition was calcium oxalate, followed by calcium phosphate, uric acid, struvite, and cysteine. Mix stones of CaOx and CaP were more prevalent than pure stones. Males submitted more CaOx, CaP, and UA stones, whereas females were susceptible to infectious stones. Stones were more frequently found on the left side of the upper urinary tract (51.9%) than on the right side (27.3%) and lower urinary tract (7.8%). Cultural tendency leads to a smaller number of stones during the Lunar new year (February), and Ghost month (August).

Gender differences in borderline personality disorder: a narrative review

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe and complex mental disorder that traditionally has been found to be more frequent in the female gender in clinical samples. More recently, epidemiological studies have provided conflicting data about the prevalence of borderline disorder in the two genders in community samples. In order to explain this heterogeneity, some authors hypothesized the presence of a bias in the diagnostic criteria thresholds (more prevalent in one gender than another), in the population sampling (community versus clinical), in the instruments of evaluation (clinician versus self-report measures), and in the diagnostic construct of BPD. Beyond the question of the different prevalence of the disorder between genders, the debate remains open as to how personality and clinical characteristics, and attitude toward treatments express themselves in the two genders. This narrative review is aimed to provide an updated overview of the differences among genders in BPD in terms of diagnosis, temperamental and clinical characteristics, comorbidities, findings of neuroimaging, and treatment attitudes. Studies that specifically investigated the gender differences in BPD patients are rather limited. Most of the investigations did not consider gender as a variable or were characterized by a significant imbalance between the two genders (more commonly in favor the female gender). The main results indicated that men were more likely to endorse the criteria "intense and inappropriate anger" and "impulsivity," whereas women endorsed the criteria "chronic feelings of emptiness," "affective instability," and "suicidality/self-harm behaviors." These findings reflect differences in temperament and symptoms of the two genders. Other relevant differences concern pattern of comorbidity, specific neurobiological mechanisms and attitude to treatments. Main limitations were that only one database was searched, time of publications was limited, non-English manuscripts were excluded, and the quality of each paper was not commented.

"Systems seem to get in the way": a qualitative study exploring experiences of accessing and receiving support among informal caregivers of people living with chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

The well-being of informal caregivers of people living with chronic kidney disease is influenced by their experiences with support, however, few studies have focused on exploring these experiences. This study aimed to explore informal caregivers' experiences accessing and receiving support while caring for someone living with chronic kidney disease.

METHODS

Informal caregivers of people living with chronic kidney disease (n = 13) in the United Kingdom were primarily recruited via community organisations and social media adverts to participate in semi-structured interviews. Interviews explored support needs, experiences of receiving support from different groups (e.g. healthcare professionals, family/friends), and barriers and facilitators to accessing support. Support was understood as including emotional, practical, and informational support. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Three themes were generated: (1) "Systems seem to get in the way" - challenges within support systems, illustrating the challenges informal caregivers encountered when navigating complex support systems; (2) Relying on yourself, describing how informal caregivers leveraged their existing skills and networks to access support independently, while recognising the limitations of having to rely on yourself to find support; and (3) Support systems can "take the pressure off", showing how support systems were able to help informal caregivers cope with the challenges they experienced if certain conditions were met.

CONCLUSIONS

In response to the challenges informal caregivers experienced when seeking support, improvements are needed to better consider informal caregiver needs within healthcare systems, and to develop interventions tailored to informal caregiver needs and context. Within the healthcare system, informal caregivers may benefit from system navigation support and better integration within healthcare teams to ensure their informational support needs are met. New interventions developed to support informal caregivers should fit within their existing support systems and incorporate the qualities of support, such as empathy, that were valued. Additionally, use of an equity framework and user-centered design approaches during intervention development could help ensure interventions are accessible and acceptable.

Factors associated with late initiation of antiretroviral therapy in Iran's HIV/AIDS surveillance data

Early initiation of Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) in HIV patients is essential for effectively suppressing the viral load and prognosis. This study utilized National HIV/AIDS Surveillance Data in Iran to identify factors associated factors with the duration to initiate ART. This hybrid cross-sectional historical cohort study was conducted on Iran's National HIV/AIDS Surveillance Data from 2001 to 2019. Sociodemographic characteristics, route of transmission, HIV diagnosis date, and ART initiation date were collected. Multivariable linear and quantile regression models were employed to analyze the duration to initiate ART by considering predictor variables. This study included 17,062 patients (mean age 34.14 ± 10.77 years, 69.49% males). Multivariate quantile regression coefficients varied across different distributions of the dependent variable (i.e., duration to initiate ART) for several independent variables. Generally, male gender, injecting drug use (IDU), and having an HIV-positive spouse were significantly associated with an increased duration to initiate ART (p < 0.05). However, a significant decrease was observed in older patients, those with a university level education, men who had sex with men (MSM), and patients diagnosed after 2016 (p < 0.05). Despite improvements in the duration to initiate ART after implementing the WHO's 2016 program in Iran, various sociodemographic groups were still vulnerable to delayed ART initiation in the region. Therefore, programs including early testing, early ART initiation, active care, educational and cultural interventions, and appropriate incentives are required for these groups.

Meat consumption & positive mental health: A scoping review

The objective of this scoping review was to examine the breadth of the existing literature on the relation between meat consumption or meat abstention and positive psychological functioning. In April 2022, we conducted a systematic search of online databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL Plus, Medline, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) for primary research examining positive psychological functioning in meat consumers and those who abstain from meat. Thirteen studies met the inclusion/exclusion criteria, representing 89,138 participants (54,413 females and 33,863 males) with 78,562 meat consumers and 10,148 meat abstainers (13-102 years) from multiple geographic regions. The primary outcomes were life satisfaction, "positive mental health", self-esteem, and vigor. The secondary outcomes were "meaning in life", optimism, positive emotions, and psychological well-being. Eight of the 13 studies demonstrated no differences between the groups on positive psychological functioning, three studies showed mixed results, and two studies showed that compared to meat abstainers, meat consumers had greater self-esteem, "positive mental health", and "meaning in life". Studies varied substantially in methods and outcomes. Although a small minority of studies showed that meat consumers had more positive psychological functioning, no studies suggested that meat abstainers did. There was mixed evidence for temporal relations, but study designs precluded causal inferences. Our review demonstrates the need for future research given the equivocal nature of the extant literature on the relation between meat consumption and meat abstention and positive psychological functioning.

Direct-to-Consumer Telemedicine Practices in the Health and Fertility of Men: A Systematic Review of the Literature

PURPOSE

Men are increasingly turning toward online direct-to-consumer (DTC) men's health platforms to fulfill their health needs. Research surrounding these platforms is lacking and the motivations and predictors underlying this online health-seeking behavior is largely unknown. This review scopes the existing literature concerning DTC men's health and identifies factors influencing engagement, as well as health outcomes of this platform.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A structured search was performed following PRISMA guidelines. CINAHL via EBSCO, Embase, MEDLINE via Ovid, PsycINFO, PubMed and Web of Science were searched.

RESULTS

Peer-reviewed quantitative and qualitative studies with a focus on demographics and characteristics of those using DTC men's health platforms, as well as studies related to patient outcomes using such platforms, were included. Ten of the 3,003 studies identified met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Four cross-sectional descriptive studies evaluated the motivations behind men's engagement with DTC platforms. Convenience, embarrassment and health motivation were identified as predominant factors associated with DTC platform use. The review identified a lack of qualitative studies, and major limitations were noted in the quantitative studies that impacted the accuracy of findings. Six further quantitative studies explored the quality of care provided by DTC platforms. DTC platforms were found to have a varying level of adherence to established clinical guidelines, but appeared to provide satisfactory patient outcomes with low levels of patient-reported side effects and adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a lack of research within the DTC men's health space given the infancy of the field. Important predictors and motivations underlying men's choices in accessing these platforms have been noted across several studies. However, further studies need to be conducted to investigate the psychosocial underpinnings of this behavior. Studies across a wider variety of male health conditions treated by these platforms will also help to provide insights to guide patient-centered care within the DTC landscape.

Factors associated with poor health literacy in older adults: A systematic review

OBJECTIVES

To identify factors associated with poor health literacy in older adults.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted, employing the descriptors "Aged" and "Health Literacy".

PROSPERO - CRD

42022350140.

RESULTS

Out of 23,500 articles screened, 176 were selected. Several factors associated with poor health literacy in older adults were identified, such as sociodemographic (e.g., advanced age, low educational level, non-white population, and others), social (e.g., poor family/social support, loneliness, social isolation, few social activities, and others), economic (e.g., lower income and/or lower socioeconomic status) and health aspects (e.g., poor health, chronic conditions, mental health challenges, hospitalizations, frailty, physical inactivity, cognitive impairment, and others).

CONCLUSIONS

The factors associated with poor health literacy in older adults identified in this review could contribute to future research, support interventions to improve health literacy, and assist professionals in planning educational activities and public policies.

Understanding the Barriers Fathers Face to Seeking Help for Paternal Perinatal Depression: Comparing Fathers to Men Outside the Perinatal Period

Research has shown that men are less likely than women to seek help for depression at any time of life due to barriers, including stereotypical masculine norms and stigma. The evidence suggests that approximately 10% of fathers experience postnatal depression, yet new and expectant fathers are not routinely offered screening or support in the same way as mothers. Therefore, this research explored the barriers fathers face to seeking help for paternal perinatal depression (PPD). Data were collected using an online survey. Initially, fathers with postnatal depression were compared to men experiencing depression at another time of their life in terms of their attitudes to seeking psychological help, conformity to masculine norms, self-stigma, and awareness of services. Secondly, a proposed model of help-seeking amongst fathers with postnatal depression was evaluated. Finally, additional barriers to help-seeking for paternal postnatal depression were explored qualitatively. A total of 125 participants took part in the quantitative comparison, and 50 of the fathers also provided qualitative data. No between-group differences were found, suggesting that the existing literature on barriers to seeking help for male depression is applicable to fathers with postnatal depression. The qualitative results also highlighted the need for better awareness of paternal postnatal depression and better access to services for fathers. Limitations, implications for policy, and directions for future research are discussed.

The association between social support and self-rated health in midlife: are men more affected than women?

Social support from family and friends is recognized as an important social determinant of health, given its protective effects on individuals' physical and mental well-being. While most studies have focused on older adults, investigating midlife health is equally crucial since middle-aged individuals are also susceptible to the harmful health outcomes of inadequate social support from friends and family. This study contributes to the debate by examining whether social support is associated with self-rated health among middle-aged Brazilian adults and how this relationship varies between men and women. Using data from the nationwide Brazilian National Health Survey conducted in 2019, logistic regression models were employed to assess differences in self-rated health, accounting for confounding factors. The sample comprised 31,926 middle-aged adults, of which 52.5% were women. The overall prevalence of poor self-rated health was 40.7%, with a significant difference between men and women. Results from this study suggest that having no friends or family members to rely on, both during good and challenging times, was associated with poorer self-rated health. However, the strength of this association differs by gender, with social support from friends playing a more critical role in women's self-rated health. On the other hand, family support was associated with male self-rated health, particularly for men with three or more family members they can rely on. Future studies should consider cultural and contextual factors to better understand other dimensions of social support and its association with midlife health.

Initial attitudes toward a drug predict medication adherence in first-episode patients with schizophrenia: a 1-year prospective study in China

BACKGROUND

Patients' attitudes toward medication have been shown to be a predictor of nonadherence to antipsychotic treatment. However, most previous studies that explored this relationship used a cross-sectional design. It is important to explore the association of attitudes toward drugs with discontinuation at different time points during antipsychotic treatment. In this study, we investigated the association of attitudes toward drugs (measured by the Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI-10)) with adherence at seven time points (baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 26 weeks, 39 weeks, and 52 weeks) during 1 year of treatment. Factors that were potentially associated with attitudes toward drugs at the time point of interest were also studied.

METHODS

Demographic characteristics, psychopathology, social functioning, and attitudes toward drugs (measured by the DAI-10) were collected at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 26 weeks, 39 weeks and 52 weeks. The association of attitudes toward drugs (measured by DAI-10) with adherence at the seven time points was calculated using the Mann‒Whitney U test. The optimal cutoff point for the DAI-10 was then determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Cox regression analysis was conducted to further investigate the association of DAI-10 scores with discontinuation, controlling for potential confounding variables. We used multiple regression analysis to identify the factors associated with DAI-10 scores.

RESULTS

Among the six time points, only baseline DAI-10 total scores were significantly different between the completed and discontinued groups (p = 0.004). Female sex and a baseline DAI-10 total score greater than - 1 were found to be independent protective factors against discontinuation of antipsychotic drug treatments during the 1-year follow-up. At baseline, the severity of the disease (CGI-s) and insight regarding the disease were shown to be associated with DAI-10 total scores.

CONCLUSION

Attitudes toward antipsychotic drugs at baseline were shown to play a crucial role in predicting treatment discontinuation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The data were collected from a clinical trial and the clinical trials.gov ID of the study is NCT01057849.

A Gender Hypothesis of sex disparities in adverse drug events

Pharmacovigilance databases contain larger numbers of adverse drug events (ADEs) that occurred in women compared to men. The cause of this disparity is frequently attributed to sex-linked biological factors. We offer an alternative Gender Hypothesis, positing that gendered social factors are central to the production of aggregate sex disparities in ADE reports. We describe four pathways through which gender may influence observed sex disparities in pharmacovigilance databases: healthcare utilization; bias and discrimination in the clinic; experience of a drug event as adverse; and pre-existing social and structural determinants of health. We then use data from the U.S. FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) to explore how the Gender Hypothesis might generate novel predictions and explanations of sex disparities in ADEs in existing widely referenced datasets. Analyzing more than 3 million records of ADEs between 2014 and 2022, we find that patient-reported ADEs show a larger female skew than healthcare provider-reported ADEs and that the sex disparity is markedly smaller for outcomes involving death or hospitalization. We also find that the sex disparity varies greatly across types of ADEs, for example, cosmetically salient ADEs are skewed heavily female and sexual dysfunction ADEs are skewed male. Together, we interpret these findings as providing evidence of the promise of the Gender Hypothesis for identifying intervenable mechanisms and pathways contributing to sex disparities in ADEs. Rigorous application of the Gender Hypothesis to additional datasets and in future research studies could yield new insights into the causes of sex disparities in ADEs.

Factors associated with CD4 + cell count recovery among males and females with advanced HIV disease

OBJECTIVE

HIV/AIDS mortality remains significantly high in sub-Saharan Africa, mostly driven by opportunistic infections and advanced HIV disease (AHD). This study aimed to assess CD4 + cell count recovery following ART initiation and factors associated with immune reconstitution.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective cohort study between 2015 and 2016. HIV-infected adults (≥18 years) with AHD (CD4 + cell count ≤100 cells/μl) receiving care at 20 outpatient HIV treatment facilities in Harare, Zimbabwe were enrolled. CD4 + cell count recovery (CD4 + cell count >200 cells/μl) was assessed following 12-month ART initiation and factors associated with immune reconstitution were investigated using logistic regression analysis. All statistical analyses were performed on Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.

RESULTS

1320 participants were enrolled and 56.4% were males. The median (interquartile range, IQR) age was 37 (32-43) years. Tuberculosis was seen in 16.0%. Of the 739 participants that had CD4 + cell count at 12 months, CD4 + cell count recovery above 200 cells/μl was observed in 163 (22.1%) participants. Median (IQR) CD4 + cell count at 12-months increased to 127 (75-190) cells/μl from 31 (14-55) at baseline. Factors associated with CD4 + cell count recovery were younger age at baseline [odds ratio (OR) ≥40/<40  = 0.58, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.40-0.85, P  = 0.005), sex (OR female/male  = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.44-2.99, P  < 0.0001) and baseline CD4 + cell count (OR ≥50/<50  = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.10-2.33, P  = 0.013).

CONCLUSION

A significant proportion (77.9%) of patients seeking care with AHD in a resource limited setting failed to recover a CD4 + cell count >200 cells/μl. Male sex, older age and low CD4 + cell count at ART initiation were factors associated with poor immune reconstitution. Better differentiated care deliveries targeting this vulnerable population are critical for improving clinical outcomes and quality of life of the patients.

Relationship of health-related social needs and hospital readmissions in patients following a hospitalization for atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) has a high economic burden on the healthcare system with rehospitalizations as the most significant contributing factor necessitating an understanding of aspects related to hospitalizations to minimize economic costs and improve patient outcomes. Our study aims to assess whether all-cause 30-day hospital readmission following AF-specific hospitalization is associated with health-related social needs (HRSN) using the Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD). All hospitalization data were abstracted from the 2015-2019 NRD, including hospitalizations for patients at least 18 years of age with a primary discharge diagnosis of AF. For each hospitalization, we identified secondary diagnoses for five HRSN domains including employment, family, housing, psychosocial, and socioeconomic status. Primary outcomes included all-cause 30-day readmission rates. Secondary outcomes included all-cause 90-day readmissions and diagnosis on readmissions. An estimated 1,807,460 index hospitalizations in the United States included a primary discharge diagnosis of AF. Of these, 97.3 % included a diagnosis in only one HRSN domain with the most frequently diagnosed HRSN domain being housing (54.5 %) followed by socioeconomic (29.4 %), family (10.0 %), employment (6.1 %), and psychosocial (2.8 %). Index hospitalizations that included any HRSN diagnosis had 2.2-times greater unadjusted odds of all-cause 30-day readmission (95 % CI: 2.1 to 2.3-times greater, p < .001). Index hospitalizations that included an HRSN diagnosis were associated with higher rates of 90-day readmission due to conduction disorder and COPD. In conclusion, there is a significant association between HRSN and hospital readmissions in patients with AF. Further research is required to explain the true nature of this relationship with a specific emphasis on housing insecurity.