Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Successful aging in Greeks living in Greece and abroad: the epidemiological Mediterranean Islands Study (MEDIS)

Background: Whether older immigrant populations from the Mediterranean region, continue to follow the MD long after they immigrated is not known. Aim: Compare adherence to the MD and successful aging levels between Greeks living in Greece (GG) and Greeks living abroad (GA). Methods: Anthropometrical, clinical, psychological, sociodemographic, dietary and lifestyle parameters were assessed in a cross-sectional manner in a sample of 252 GG and 252 GA. Mediterranean Diet Score (MedDietScore range 0-55) was used to assess adherence to the MD. Successful aging was evaluated with the validated successful aging index (SAI range 0-10). Results: GA presented higher adherence to MD (p < 0.001); they were consuming significantly more cereals, legumes, vegetables, and fruits compared to GG. GG consumed significantly more dairy (3.8 ± 2.9 vs. 1.9 ± 2.2, p < 0.001) and potatoes (2.4 ± 1.6 vs. 1.9 ± 1.5, p < 0.001) compared to GA. Meat (p = 0.27), poultry (p = 0.72), fish (p = 0.68), olive oil (p = 0.16) and alcohol consumption (p = 0.05) were comparable between the two groups (all p's > 0.05). MedDietScore was positively associated with SAI among both groups after adjusting for possible confounders (0.041 ± 0.014, p = 0.003 GG and 0.153 ± 0.035, p < 0.001 GA). Also, legumes, cereals, fruits and vegetables were found to be beneficial for successful aging. Conclusion: Adherence to the MD is associated with higher levels of successful aging among people of the same genetic background living in different environments. However, traditional dietary habits are gradually abandoned in their native countries, when, at the same time, are considered cultural heritage and preserved accordingly among immigrants.

Cancer and Potential Prevention with Lifestyle among Career Firefighters: A Narrative Review

Career firefighters are at considerable risk for chronic diseases, including an increased risk of various cancers, compared to the general population. Over the last two decades, several systematic reviews and large cohort studies have demonstrated that firefighters have statistically significant increases in overall and site-specific cancer incidence and site-specific cancer mortality compared to the general population. Exposure assessment and other studies have documented exposures to a variety of carcinogens in fire smoke and within the fire station. Other occupational factors such as shift work, sedentary behavior, and the fire service food culture may also contribute to this working population's increased cancer risk. Furthermore, obesity and other lifestyle behaviors such as tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet, inadequate physical activity, and short sleep duration have also been associated with an increased risk of certain firefighting-associated cancers. Putative prevention strategies are proposed based on suspected occupational and lifestyle risk factors.

Healthy lifestyle interventions across diverse workplaces: a summary of the current evidence

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Workplaces provide a unique opportunity to deliver health promotion interventions to their workers. This review summarizes evidence from the most recent studies (September 2019 to April 2021) of workplace healthy lifestyle interventions and identifies gaps in the literature and key aspects for successful future workplace lifestyle interventions.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent intervention studies have focused on four health domains: (1) multicomponent wellness programs, (2) healthy diet interventions, (3) physical activity interventions, and (4) mental health/sleep interventions. Within each group of studies, there was significant heterogeneity in study length, intervention components, and worker populations. Nonetheless, most studies across all categories showed positive associations between healthy lifestyle interventions and improved worker health.

SUMMARY

Although recent literature has shown an overall positive trend between healthy lifestyle interventions implemented at the workplace and improvements in markers of health and wellbeing, further research should include longer follow-up periods, more objective measures of wellbeing, evaluation of worker performance, and analogous interventions between studies to identify the most effective interventions to improve worker health and wellness.

Continued effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination among urban healthcare workers during delta variant predominance

Background

Data on COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) among healthcare workers (HCWs) during periods of delta variant predominance are limited.

Methods

We followed a population of urban Massachusetts HCWs (45% non-White) subject to epidemiologic surveillance. We accounted for covariates such as demographics and community background infection incidence, as well as information bias regarding COVID-19 diagnosis and vaccination status.

Results

During the study period (December 16, 2020 to September 30, 2021), 4615 HCWs contributed to a total of 1,152,486 person-days at risk (excluding 309 HCWs with prior infection) and had a COVID-19 incidence rate of 5.2/10,000 (114 infections out of 219,842 person-days) for unvaccinated person-days and 0.6/10,000 (49 infections out of 830,084 person-days) for fully vaccinated person-days, resulting in an adjusted VE of 82.3% (95% CI 75.1–87.4%). For the secondary analysis limited to the period of delta variant predominance in Massachusetts (i.e., July 1 to September 30, 2021), we observed an adjusted VE of 76.5% (95% CI 40.9–90.6%). Independently, we found no re-infection among those with prior COVID-19, contributing to 74,557 re-infection-free person-days, adding to the evidence base for the robustness of naturally acquired immunity.

Conclusions

We found a VE of 76.5% against the delta variant. Our work also provides further evidence of naturally acquired immunity.

Successful aging and lifestyle comparison of Greeks living in Greece and abroad: the epidemiological Mediterranean Islands Study (MEDIS)

OBJECTIVES

Comparing lifestyle and successful aging between Greeks living in Greece (GG) and Greeks living abroad (GA) using a multidimensional model of successful aging including both biomedical and non-medical components.

METHODS

Anthropometric, clinical, psychological, socio-demographic, dietary and lifestyle parameters were assessed in a random sample of 252 GG and 252 GA. Successful aging was evaluated using the validated successful aging index (SAI range 0-10).

RESULTS

GA had better financial and educational status and scored higher in all social activity parameters (p's < 0.05). GA were more likely to be physically active (p < 0.001), had higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet (p < 0.001) and were less likely to be smoking (p = 0.008). Depression was more evident among GG compared to GA (p < 0.001). GA was aging significantly more successfully than GG (p < 0.001). Men irrespective of location were aging significantly more successfully than women (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Place of residence and personal choices significantly affect the level of healthy aging among people with similar genetic backgrounds.

Evolving SARS-CoV-2 severity among hospital and university affiliates in Spain and Greater Boston

INTRODUCTION

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus greatly affected healthcare workers and healthcare systems. It also challenged schools and universities worldwide negatively affecting in-person education. We conducted this study is to assess the evolution of SARs-CoV-2 virulence over the course of the pandemic.

METHODS

A combined cohort of University students in Spain and HCWs from the two hospitals in Spain, and one healthcare system in the Greater Boston area was followed prospectively from March 8th, 2020, to January 31st, 2022 for diagnosis with COVID-19 by PCR testing and related sequelae. Follow-up time was divided into four periods according to distinct waves of infection during the pandemic. Severity of COVID-19 was measured by case-hospitalization rate. Descriptive statistics and multivariable-adjusted statistics using the Poisson mixed-effects regression model were applied. As a sensitivity analysis, information on SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater and COVID-19 deaths through May 30, 2023 from the Boston area was collected.

RESULTS

For the last two periods of the study (January 1st to December 15th, 2021 and December 16th, 2021 to January 31st, 2022) and relative to the first period (March 8th to May 31st, 2020), the incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of hospitalization were 0.08 (95% CI, 0.03-0.17) and 0.03 (95% CI, 0.01-0.15), respectively. In addition, a relative risk 0.012 CI95% (0.012-0.012) was observed when comparing COVID-19 mortality versus SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies/mL in Boston-area wastewater over the period (16th December 2021 to 30th May 2023) and relative to the first period.

CONCLUSIONS

The severity of COVID-19 and immunity of our populations evolved over time, resulting in a decrease in case severity. We found the case-hospitalization rate decreased more than 90% in our cohort despite an increase in incidence.