Preventive medicine
-
Preventive medicine · Apr 2021
Review Meta AnalysiseHealth interventions for reducing cardiovascular disease risk in men: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Men remain at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) than women and behavioral risk factor modification is an important preventive measure. However, engaging men in behavior change interventions is challenging. Although men often indicate a preference for gender-specific information and support, this rarely occurs. eHealth interventions have the potential to address this gap, though their effectiveness for reducing CVD risk in men is unclear. ⋯ However, we were unable to determine the association between intervention characteristics and outcomes. Also, overall, participant adherence to the intervention was poor. Both of these issues should be considered in future studies.
-
Preventive medicine · Apr 2021
ReviewImpact of postal correspondence letters on participation in cancer screening: a rapid review.
The purpose of this rapid review was to identify and synthesize evidence on the impact of postal correspondence letters on participation in cancer screening and to determine whether impact varied by cancer site or inclusion of the participant's physician's name within the letter (i.e., physician-linked). PubMed and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched for English-language systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up until October 2019. One reviewer completed citation screening and data extraction with 30% verification by a second reviewer. ⋯ Studies comparing physician-linked letters to no letters or usual practice reported similar effect estimates as those examining letters in general. Limited and inconsistent evidence was identified on the impact of physician-linked letters as compared to non-physician-linked letters on screening participation. Evidence identified in this rapid review, and other contextual and implementation considerations, may be useful for jurisdictions considering how to promote cancer screening participation.
-
Preventive medicine · Apr 2021
Behavioural change, weight loss and risk of dementia: A longitudinal study.
Recent meta-analysis reported higher dementia risks associated with lower body mass index (BMI) and decreasing BMI. We examined to what extent these associations were attenuated by changes in behaviours and local environment. Multilevel discrete time-to-event models examined associations between baseline and change in BMI with dementia detected through prescription medications (source: Department of Human Services), hospitalisations and death certificates among 144,456 participants in the Sax Institute's 45 and Up Study. ⋯ Adherence to physical activity and sleep duration guidelines were associated with reduced dementia risk, but neither these, nor adjustment for other behaviours and local factors, explained the BMI-dementia association. In conclusion, we replicated the BMI-dementia findings from a recent meta-analysis and provide further support to preventive strategies focussed on increasing physical activity and improving sleep duration. Other potential environmental risk factors outside of socioeconomic and urban/rural circumstances warrant investigation.
-
Preventive medicine · Apr 2021
ReviewBurden of disease from second-hand tobacco smoke exposure at home among adults from European Union countries in 2017: an analysis using a review of recent meta-analyses.
Smoke-free legislation reduced second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure in public places, and indirectly promoted private smoke-free settings. Nevertheless, a large proportion of adults is still exposed to SHS at home. The aim of this paper is to quantify the burden of disease due to home SHS exposure among adults in the 28-European Union (EU) countries for year 2017. ⋯ South-Eastern EU countries showed the highest burden, with proportion of DALYs/deaths attributable to SHS exposure on total higher than 0.50%/0.70%, whereas northern EU-countries showed the lowest burden, with proportions of DALYs/deaths lower than 0.25%/0.34%. The burden from SHS exposure is still significant in EU countries. More could be done to raise awareness of the health risks associated with SHS exposure at home.
-
Preventive medicine · Apr 2021
ReviewA narrative review of HPV vaccination interventions in rural U.S. communities.
Uptake of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in the United States (U. S.) is far below the Healthy People 2020 goal of 80% coverage among adolescents. In rural communities, HPV vaccination coverage is low, yet incidence and mortality rates of HPV-associated cancer are high. ⋯ Across the studies, there was an absence of the description of rural context. As compared to the broader HPV vaccination intervention literature, interventions in rural settings were limited. More interventional research is needed in rural communities given the elevated rates of HPV-related cancer and low rates of HPV vaccine uptake.