General Medicine
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12503/21655
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Browsing General Medicine by Author "Hartos, Jessica"
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Item Do Mental Health Levels Differ by Activity Limitations and Physical Activity in Arthritic Males Ages 50-79?(2018-03-14) Evans, Ashley; Jones, Camille; Lemke, Henry; Hartos, Jessica; Tran, Mary; Morgan, SamanthaPurpose: Depressive symptoms are a common comorbidity seen with arthritis. Despite previous research showing the effect of activity on depression levels, there has been a lack of research within the older arthritic male population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether activity limitations and physical activity are related to mental health levels in arthritic males ages 50 -79. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis used BRFSS 2015 data for males ages 50-79 from Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between activity limitations and physical activity with mental health, while controlling for general health, health care access, weight status, race, educational level, and income level. Results: Less than one-third participants reported less than good mental health (27-31%), approximately half reported activity limitations (47-53%), and over half of participants reported their activity level as inactive/insufficiently active (52-58%). Adjusted results indicated that activity limitations were significantly related to mental health (moderate effect sizes) in all five states, but physical activity was only significant in one state. In addition, cost precluding seeing a provider was found to be significant. Conclusions: Overall, mental health was found to be significantly related to activity limitations and healthcare access in all five states, but not to physical activity levels. Therefore, male arthritic patient ages 50-79 in a primary care setting should be screened for both mental health issues and activity limitations if they present with symptoms of either. In addition, primary care clinics that are in lower socioeconomic (SES) areas should take into account the effect that cost has on mental health and activity limitations in arthritic patients when developing treatment plans.Item Does Physical Activity Level Differ Between Those With and Without Diagnosed Arthritis in Middle Aged Females?(2018-03-14) Hartos, Jessica; DeBerry, Sara; Welch, Jayton; Carroll, AmandaPurpose: Current clinical guidelines regarding the recommended physical activity levels for middle aged females with arthritis are unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess whether physical activity levels differ between those with and without diagnosed arthritis in middle-aged females. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis used 2015 BRFSS data for females ages 45-64 from Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between physical activity levels and arthritis while controlling for weight status, fruit consumption, vegetable consumption, activity limitations, heart disease, depression, educational level, and ethnicity/race. Results: Approximately half of females 45-65 years-old reported a diagnosis of arthritis (44-49%) and less than half reported being physically inactive (38-45%). Overall, physical activity levels did not significantly differ between those with and without arthritis. However, arthritis was significantly related to activity limitations, heart disease, and depression. Conclusion: Overall, physical activity levels did not differ between those with and without arthritis in females ages 45-64 years old. Across 2 or 3 states, an arthritis diagnosis was significantly related to activity limitations, a diagnosis of angina or coronary heart disease, and a diagnosis of depression. However, no information was available regarding patient medications, compliance, or current management of arthritis. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended that if a patient presents with arthritis, activity limitations, coronary heart disease, or depression, primary care providers should screen for all four conditions, provide education, and treat accordingly.Item Is Obesity a Risk Factor for Depression in Males 55 and Older?(2018-03-14) Border, Rebecca; Jou, Melody; Milson, Christine; Hartos, Jessica; Way, KristenPurpose: Obesity has been associated with many health conditions, including an increased risk of depression. In the U.S., middle aged and older adults are more likely to be obese; however, the relationship between depression and obesity in older adult males is not well understood. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between depression and obesity in elderly men. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis used 2015 BRFSS data for males aged 55 and older from Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between depression and obesity while controlling for: health conditions, activity limitations, age, ethnicity/race, education level, marital status, and metropolitan status. Results: Overall, approximately one-fifth of participants reported ever being diagnosed with depression or dysthymia (15-20%) and about one-third reported being obese (31-38%). After controlling for health and sociodemographic factors, depression was not significantly related to obesity in three out of four states. However, depression was significantly related to activity limitations (large effect size) and having two or more health conditions in all four states (large effect size). Conclusions: Depression was not related to obesity in men aged 55 and older, but was significantly related to activity limitations and having two or more health conditions. Limitations to this study include self-reported BMI which is subject to reporting error. Additionally, depression data was measured as lifetime incidence of depression or dysthymia, whereas BMI reflected current weight status. Clinicians should be informed on both depression and obesity in order to screen and educate elderly male patients. Because the two conditions are not related in this population, it is not indicated that practitioners evaluate for one due to the presence of the other. However, if a patient presents with activity limitations or two or more health conditions, it is recommended the practitioner screens for depression, and vice versa.