Articles: health.
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Multimorbidity is associated with lower physical function in older adults. Less is known about multimorbidity and physical activity earlier in the life course. This study examined multimorbidity trajectories across adulthood with physical activity and explores if multimorbidity accelerates age-related activity decline. ⋯ Early onset and faster accumulation of chronic conditions was associated with lower activity in midlife. Lower intensity activity for people with multimorbidity may be a feasible target for healthy aging.
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Patients who reside in areas of high neighborhood disadvantage have poorer health outcomes; the mechanisms for this disparity are complex. We sought to determine if there was an association between neighborhood disadvantage and diagnostic error among a cohort of adult inpatients who experienced either an ICU transfer or in-hospital death. ⋯ In contrast to previous studies that found differences in hospital care based on socioeconomic status, we found no difference in diagnostic error rate between patients based on neighborhood disadvantage. Once a patient reaches the hospital, their risk of diagnostic error is not related to the neighborhood in which they live.
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Older adults are at increased risk of severe illness and mortality from Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) infection. However, public health strategies aimed at reducing spread of COVID-19 may have resulted in increased mental health symptoms, particularly among older adults. Currently, little is known about whether older Veterans were more likely to experience persistent mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic than non-Veterans. The objectives of the current study were to (1) compare differences in persistent symptoms of anxiety, depression, and loneliness among a sample of Canadian Armed Forces Veterans and non-Veterans ≥55 years of age and (2) to evaluate potential sex-specific differences in persistent mental health symptoms. ⋯ Qualitative, but statistically nonsignificant sex-specific differences in persistent symptoms of anxiety, depression, and loneliness during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic were observed in this study comparing Veterans and non-Veterans. Additional sex-stratified analyses using larger samples or qualitative interviews may be useful in understanding the unique mental health experiences of older men, women, and gender diverse Veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Musculoskeletal (MSK) injury can negatively affect service members by compromising job performance and readiness. These injuries can impact the service member's physical health, functional abilities, and quality of life (QoL). Rehabilitation therapies for MSK injuries can reduce these impacts. One approach is home use rehabilitative therapy, usable during deployment and at home stations. The purpose of this updated systematic review with meta-analysis was to broaden our scope of pain/symptoms, disability, and QoL as outcome measures for nonpharmaceutical MSK therapies in a military population versus controls. ⋯ This analysis demonstrated modest improvement in pain and physical well-being with therapy, with low certainty across diverse military cohorts. The impact on overall health-related disability and QoL was limited, with little change in mental well-being. The substantial heterogeneity and low certainty across diverse military cohorts limit generalizability, suggesting that further research in homogeneous environments is important for guiding clinical decisions. The study's findings suggest that nonpharmacological home use interventions may offer modest improvements in pain relief, particularly early in treatment, and in strength and function, according to our previous report. These interventions could complement standard care, providing options that may benefit service members during deployment and at home.