The Influence of Smoking Status on the Health Profiles of Older Chinese American Men

Effects of Health-Related Behaviors and Changes on Successful Aging among Indonesian Older People

Whether changes in health behaviors can improve successful aging has not been well explored. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of health-related behaviors and changes on successful aging in Indonesian older adults. Data were from the fourth and fifth waves of the Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS), the participants were aged 60 years and older and who completed both waves (n = 1289). Successful aging indicators were defined as no chronic diseases, no physical function difficulties, no depressive symptoms, intact cognitive function, with social support, and with social participation. Health-related behaviors focused on smoking, physical activities, and protein intake. A logistic regression analysis was conducted. The overall successful aging rate in 2007 was 23.6%, and it had decreased to 5.6% by 2014. There were gender differences in smoking, physical activities, and behavioral changes, including promoting increased physical activity, no smoking/smoking cessation, and adequate protein intake by older adults. Quitting smoking, performing medium physical activity, and increasing protein intake were protective factors for successful aging, but the effects of behavioral changes differed by gender. Health-related behaviors and changes may impact successful aging among older adults. A healthy lifestyle is suggested to be adopted as early as possible in one's life course.

Association between dietary protein intake and changes in health-related quality of life in older adults: findings from the AusDiab 12-year prospective study

Background

Adequate dietary protein intake is recommended for older adults to optimise muscle health and function, and support recovery from illness, however, its effect on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the association between total protein intake and different sources of dietary protein and HRQoL in Australians aged 60 years and older over a 12-year period.

Methods

This study used data from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle study (AusDiab), a 12-year population-based prospective study. The sample included 752 (386 females) adults aged 60 years and older. Protein intake was estimated at baseline (1999/2000) from a 74-item Food Frequency Questionnaire, and HRQoL using the 36-item Short-form Health Survey assessed at baseline (1999/2000) and after 12 years (2011/12). The association between protein intake and change in HRQoL was evaluated using multivariate regression analysis adjusted for relevant confounders. The difference in change in HRQoL between participants with total protein intakes of < 1.0 g/kg/day, intakes of between 1.0–1.2 g/kg/day and intakes of > 1.2 g/kg/day were assessed using one-way ANCOVA.

Results

Total protein intake at baseline was not associated with 12-year changes in physical component summary (PCS) or mental component summary (MCS) scores of HRQoL. Higher animal, red meat and processed animal protein intakes were associated with deteriorations in PCS scores after adjusting for relevant confounders (β = − 0.04; 95% CI: − 0.07, −0.01 ; p = 0.009; β = − 0.05; 95% CI: − 0.08, − 0.01; p = 0.018; β = − 0.17; 95% CI: − 0.31, − 0.02; p = 0.027 respectively). Higher red meat protein intake was associated with deteriorations in MCS scores after adjusting for relevant confounders (β = − 0.04; 95% CI: − 0.08, − 0.01; p = 0.011). There was no difference in 12-year changes in PCS or MCS between participants consuming total protein of < 1.0 g/kg/day, 1.0–1.2 g/kg/day and intakes of > 1.2 g/kg/day.

Conclusion

There was no relationship between total dietary protein intake and HRQoL, but higher protein intakes from animal, red meat and processed animal sources were associated with a deterioration in HRQoL scores over 12 years. Due to the number of associations examined and high drop out of older less healthy participants, further research is required to confirm the associations detected in healthy and less healthy participants, with a view to making protein intake recommendations for older adults.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-022-02894-y.

Fear of COVID-19 and religious coping mediate the associations between religiosity and distress among older adults

Background: A mediation model was proposed to explain how religiosity, religious coping, and fear of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) explained anxiety and depression among older adults.

Methods: With the use of a cross-sectional design, the Integrated Health System was used to randomly invite 1000 older adults residing in Qazvin to participate in an online survey. Within the period of November 2020 to January 2021, 696 older Iranian adults (mean age=69.56years; 57.9% women) agreed to participate in the study and reported demographic information as well as measures of religiosity, fear of COVID-19, religious coping, anxiety, and depression.

Results: Religiosity had direct effects on depression (B [SE]=-0.087 [0.037]; P=0.023) but not anxiety (B [SE]=-0.063 [0.036]; P=0.072). Moreover, both fear of COVID-19 and religious coping significantly mediated the association between religiosity and anxiety (B [SE]=-0.360[0.035]; p=0.002) and that between religiosity and depression (B [SE]=-0.365 [0.034];P=0.002).

Conclusion: During the tough time of COVID-19 pandemic, religiosity and religious coping were protectors for older adults in developing good mental. Therefore, future research is needed to examine education programs that are effective for older adults to obtain correct knowledge concerning COVID-19, including the protective COVID-19 infection behaviors. Therefore, older adults may reduce their fear via their enhanced correct knowledge concerning COVID-19.

Association of Alcohol and Tobacco Consumption with Depression Severity in the Oldest Old. Results from the Age Different Old Age Cohort Platform

This study aimed to examine the association of alcohol and tobacco use with severity of depression in older age. Analyses were performed on a pooled data set (n = 3724) from two German old-age cohort studies (LEILA 75+, 6 follow-ups and AgeCoDe/AgeQualiDe, 9 follow-ups). Depressive symptoms were assessed via two screening scales for depression (CES-D and GDS-15) which were harmonized for pooled analysis. A mixed-effects linear regression model for the total sample and additional stratified models for men and women were used. Smoking at baseline was significantly associated with a higher level of depression severity (β = 0.142, 95% CI: 0.051–0.233, p = 0.002), whereas drinking was significantly associated with a decreased level of depression (β = −0.069, 95% CI: −0.119–−0.021, p = 0.005). Concurrent substance use at baseline increased longitudinal depression severity (β = 0.193, 95% CI: 0.011–0.375, p = 0.037). Analyses stratified by gender showed a significant inverse association between drinking and depressive symptoms in men (β = −0.138, 95% CI: −0.231–−0.045, p = 0.004), but not in women (β = −0.060, 95% CI: −0.120–0.001, p = 0.052). Given the burden of major depression, it is important that health care providers, especially primary care physicians, assess and monitor lifestyle factors, even at older ages.

Dynamic associations between anxiety, depression, and tobacco use in older adults: Results from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing

Evidence supports moderate-to-large reductions in anxiety, depression, and perceived stress after smoking cessation; however, much of the available evidence has focused on young adults. Therefore, this study quantified associations between smoking and smoking cessation on prevalent and incident generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depression (MDD) in a nationally representative sample of Irish older adults. Participants (n = 6201) were community dwelling adults aged ≥50 years resident in Ireland. Smoking status and self-reported doctor diagnosis of anxiety or depression prior to baseline were assessed at baseline (i.e., Wave 2). At baseline and 2-, 4-, and 6-year follow-up (i.e., Waves 3-5), GAD and MDD were assessed by the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short-Form. Logistic regression quantified cross-sectional and prospective associations (odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs)) between smoking status and mental health. Prevalence and incidence of GAD was 9.1% (n = 566) and 2.8% (n = 148), respectively. Prevalence and incidence of depression was 11.1% (n = 686) and 6.4% (n = 342), respectively. Following full adjustment, current smokers had higher odds of prevalent GAD (OR = 1.729, 1.332-2.449; p < 0.001) and MDD (OR = 1.967, 1.548-2.499; p < 0.001) than non-smokers. Former smokers had higher odds of prevalent GAD than non-smokers (OR = 1.276, 1.008-1.616; p < 0.001). Current smokers did not have higher odds of incident MDD (OR = 1.399, 0.984-1.990; p = 0.065) or GAD than non-smokers (1.039, 0.624-1.730; p = 0.881). Findings may have important implications for interventions designed to curb tobacco abuse, which tend to be less successful among those with anxiety and depression.

The Association Between Health Status and Insomnia, Mental Health, and Preventive Behaviors: The Mediating Role of Fear of COVID-19

Objectives

This study examined the mediation role of fear of COVID-19 in the association between perceived health status of older adults and their insomnia, mental health, and COVID-19 preventive behaviors so as to have better understanding of the factors associated with COVID-19 and its preventive measures.

Methods

A total of 413 older adults with a mean age of 57.72 (SD = 7.31) were recruited for this study. They responded to the measures on fear of COVID-19, insomnia, mental health, and COVID-19 preventive behaviors.

Results

There were small-large significant interrelationships between insomnia, mental health, fear of COVID-19, and preventive behaviors. Fear of COVID-19 significantly mediated the associations between perceived health status and insomnia, mental health, and COVID-19 preventive behaviors. It was also observed that perceived health status directly influenced insomnia and mental health of older adults but not their COVID-19 preventive behaviors.

Conclusion

Fear of COVID-19 has an important role to play in the management of the health and preventive behaviors of older adults. Health experts and communicators may capitalize on these findings to educate people on COVID-19. Future studies are needed to perfectly ascertain the extent of fear needed to stimulate or initiate better preventive behaviors and healthcare practices.

Effects of PM10 on mortality in pure COPD and asthma-COPD overlap: difference in exposure duration, gender, and smoking status

We investigated the effects of particulate matter (PM) on mortality in patients diagnosed with asthma-COPD overlap (ACO) or ‘pure COPD’. Subjects from the National Health Insurance Service–National Sample Cohort of Korea, who were aged 40 years or above and had newly diagnosed COPD since 2009 were selected. Finally, 6,313 patients were enrolled and divided into ‘pure COPD’ and ACO groups. Average PM₁₀ exposure data were obtained using Kriging interpolation from 2001 to 2013. Hazard ratios(HR) were estimated using a time-varying Cox regression model. Exposure to PM₁₀ for 1, 3, and 6 months was associated with an increase in non-accidental mortality in the entire COPD group, especially the ACO group. When a stratified analysis of 3-month exposure was performed by sex, the highest HR was found in women with ACO (HR = 1.153; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.121, 1.185). A stratified analysis according to smoking status showed that ACO patients had the highest HR among never smokers (HR = 1.151; 95% CI; 1.124, 1.178). Average exposure to PM₁₀ was associated with non-accidental mortality in patients with COPD, especially those diagnosed with ACO. In addition, the adverse effects of PM₁₀ exposure are more severe in women and never-smokers.