Association Between Hearing Loss and Social Integration Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: This meta-analysis aimed to examine the association between hearing loss and social integration as well as the effectiveness of audiologic rehabilitation interventions.

Method: Academic databases were comprehensively searched up to December 2023 to identify relevant cross-sectional cohort studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with participants aged 45 years and older. Outcome effects were reported as odds ratios (s) for observational studies and standardized mean differences (SMDs) for intervention studies, and pooled analyses were conducted using the random-effects model.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Community-Delivered Hearing Rehabilitation and Health Education Intervention on Social Isolation and Functioning Among Chinese Adults With Hearing Impairment: Protocol for Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Hearing impairment (HI) is a common sensory deficit with considerable impacts on social well-being (SWB) in adults. Evidence on the effectiveness of auditory rehabilitation and hearing health education in the social domain of health for individuals with HI is scarce.

Objective: This study aims to test the feasibility and efficacy of providing free hearing aids or a combined offline and online hearing health education intervention on social isolation and functioning among Chinese adults with HI.

Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome and incidence of dementia among older adults.

Background: Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome (CKM) has profound impacts on cardiovascular events and mortality, yet its association with dementia risk remains poorly understood.

Objectives: To investigate associations between CKM and dementia risk.

Design: The prospective cohort study is within the Health, Aging, and Body Composition study, which enrolled participants from 1997 to 1998, with a 15-year follow-up for incident dementia.

Life's Essential 8 and midlife trajectories in cognition and brain health: The CARDIA study.

Introduction: Poor cardiovascular health (CVH) is linked to Alzheimer's disease and dementia; however, its association with neurocognitive trajectories earlier in life remains underexplored.

Methods: We included 3224 participants with information on CVH at early midlife (mean age 45.0 ± standard deviation 3.

Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and Brain Health in Midlife: The CARDIA Study.

Background: To understand the role of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), including preeclampsia and gestational hypertension (GH), in brain health earlier in life, we investigated the association of HDP with midlife cognition and brain health.

Methods: We studied a prospective cohort of women, baseline age 18 to 30 years, who were assessed at study years 25 and 30 with a cognitive battery and a subset with brain magnetic resonance imaging. A history of HDP was defined based on self-report.

Association of cardiovascular risk factors and blood biomarkers with cognition: The HABS-HD study.

Introduction: To determine if cardiovascular risk factor (CVRF) burden is associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers and whether they synergistically associate with cognition.

Methods: We cross-sectionally studied 1521 non-demented Mexican American (52%) and non-Hispanic White individuals aged ≥50 years. A composite score was calculated by averaging the z-scores of five cognitive tests.

Premature Cardiovascular Disease and Brain Health in Midlife: The CARDIA Study.

Background And Objectives: To understand the role of premature (defined as ≤ 60 years) cardiovascular disease (CVD) in brain health earlier in life, we examined the associations of premature CVD with midlife cognition and white matter health.

Methods: We studied a prospective cohort in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study, who were 18-30 years at baseline (1985-1986) and followed up to 30 years when 5 cognitive tests measuring different domains were administered. A subset (656 participants) had brain MRI measures of white matter hyperintensity (WMH) and white matter integrity.

Rapid prediction of in-hospital mortality among adults with COVID-19 disease.

Background: We developed a simple tool to estimate the probability of dying from acute COVID-19 illness only with readily available assessments at initial admission.

Methods: This retrospective study included 13,190 racially and ethnically diverse adults admitted to one of the New York City Health + Hospitals (NYC H+H) system for COVID-19 illness between March 1 and June 30, 2020. Demographic characteristics, simple vital signs and routine clinical laboratory tests were collected from the electronic medical records.

New Index for Multiple Chronic Conditions Predicts Functional Outcome in Ischemic Stroke.

Objective: To determine whether a new index for multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) predicts poststroke functional outcome (FO), we developed and internally validated the new MCC index in patients with ischemic stroke.

Methods: A prospective cohort of patients with ischemic stroke (2008-2017) was interviewed at baseline and 90 days in the Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi Project. An average of 22 activities of daily living (ADL)/instrumental ADL (IADL) items measured the FO score (range 1-4) at 90 days.

Multiple Chronic Conditions and Functional Outcome after Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Multiple chronic conditions (MCC) contribute to functional disability in the general population although its role in predicting functional outcome (FO) among patients with stroke is not well understood. There is no universal agreement on the approach to measuring MCC in stroke, and findings have been mixed regarding MCC being an independent predictor for poststroke FO.

Objectives: This review aims to summarize the findings of studies that have investigated the relationship between MCC and FO after ischemic stroke using a MCC index.

Sleep apnea screening is uncommon after stroke.

Objective/background: To assess (1) pre and post-stroke screening for sleep apnea (SA) within a population-based study without an academic medical center, and (2) ethnic differences in post-stroke sleep apnea screening among Mexican Americans (MAs) and non-Hispanic whites (NHWs).

Patients/methods: MAs and NHWs with stroke in the Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi project (2011-2015) were interviewed shortly after stroke about the pre-stroke period, and again at approximately 90 days after stroke in reference to the post-stroke period. Questions included whether any clinical provider directly asked about snoring or daytime sleepiness or had offered polysomnography.

The difficulty of studying race-ethnic stroke rehabilitation disparities in a community.

Objective: Minority populations have worse stroke outcomes compared with non-Hispanic whites (NHWs). One possible explanation for this disparity is differential allocation of stroke rehabilitation. We utilized a population-based stroke study to determine the feasibility of studying Mexican American-NHW differences in stroke rehabilitation in a population-based design including identification of community partners, development of standardized data collection instruments, and collection of pilot data.

Mexican Americans Receive Less Intensive Stroke Rehabilitation Than Non-Hispanic Whites.

Background And Purpose: Mexican Americans (MAs) have worse neurological, functional, and cognitive outcomes after stroke. Stroke rehabilitation is important for good outcome. In a population-based study, we sought to determine whether allocation of stroke rehabilitation services differed by ethnicity.

Socioeconomic factors related to surgical treatment for localized, non-small cell lung cancer.

Various socioeconomic factors were reported to be associated with receiving surgical treatment in localized, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in previous studies. We wanted to assess the impact of residential poverty on receiving surgical treatment in a state-wide population of localized NSCLC, adjusting for demographic, clinical, residence and tumor factors. Data on 970 patients with primary localized NSCLC were collected from the Nebraska Cancer Registry (NCR), and linked with the Nebraska Hospital Discharge Data (NHDD) between 2005 and 2009, as well as the 2010 Census data.

Comorbidity and Survival in Lung Cancer Patients.

Background: As the population of the United States ages, there will be increasing numbers of lung cancer patients with comorbidities at diagnosis. Comorbid conditions are important factors in both the choice of the lung cancer treatment and outcomes. However, the impact of individual comorbid conditions on patient survival remains unclear.