The aim of this study is to demonstrate the utility of chest circumference measurements as a proxy for the socioeconomic characteristics of past populations. Our analysis is based on over 80,000 military medical examinat...The aim of this study is to demonstrate the utility of chest circumference measurements as a proxy for the socioeconomic characteristics of past populations. Our analysis is based on over 80,000 military medical examinations relating to Friuli (north-eastern Italy), recorded from 1881 to 1909. Chest circumference can be used to describe changes in standard of living, but also seasonal variations in food intakes and physical activities. The findings show the way in which these measurements are highly sensitive not only to long-term economic changes but, above all, to short-term variations in some economic and social elements, like corn prices and occupations.
The present study investigated a comprehensive model that integrates contributions of early socioeconomic adversity (ESA) and multiple polygenic scores (PGSs) through different mechanisms leading to diabetic risk in earl...The present study investigated a comprehensive model that integrates contributions of early socioeconomic adversity (ESA) and multiple polygenic scores (PGSs) through different mechanisms leading to diabetic risk in early adulthood. The study used prospective, longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Adult Health (Add Health) with a sample of 5,728 youth of European ancestry. The results showed that both ESA and PGSs were involved in different mechanisms. ESA contributed additively to educational failures, BMI, depressive symptoms, and diabetes risk over the life course (an additive process). Also, ESA launched a cascading process that connected these outcomes in a successively contingent manner. In addition to ESA, youths' multiple PGSs directly contributed to educational, psychological, and BMI outcomes. Multiple PGSs for education, BMI, and type 2 diabetes influenced not only youth outcomes that they were supposed to predict directly but also additional youth outcomes showing biological pleiotropy. The findings highlight the value of incorporating molecular genetic information into longitudinal developmental life course research and provide insight into malleable characteristics and appropriate timing for interventions addressing youth developmental and health outcomes.
Klopack ET, Thyagarajan B, Faul JD
… +4 more, Meier HCS, Ramasubramanian R, Kim JK, Crimmins EM
Biodemography Soc Biol
· 2022 · PMID 36472376
·
Full text
Socioeconomic and demographic factors including educational attainment, race and ethnicity, and childhood socioeconomic status (SES) are powerful predictors of inequalities in aging, morbidity, and mortality. Immune agin...Socioeconomic and demographic factors including educational attainment, race and ethnicity, and childhood socioeconomic status (SES) are powerful predictors of inequalities in aging, morbidity, and mortality. Immune aging, including accumulation of late-differentiated, senescent-like lymphocytes and lower levels of naïve lymphocytes, may play a role in the development of the age-related health inequalities. This study used nationally representative data from more than 9,000 US adults from the Health and Retirement Study to investigate associations between educational attainment, race and ethnicity, and childhood SES and lymphocyte percentages. Respondents with lower educational attainment, Hispanic adults, and those who had a parent with less than a high school education had lymphocyte percentages consistent with more immune aging compared to those with greater educational attainment, non-Hispanic White adults, and respondents who had parents with a high school education, respectively. Associations between education, Hispanic ethnicity, and parents' education and late differentiated senescent-like T lymphocytes (TemRA) and B cells were largely driven by cytomegalovirus (CMV), suggesting it is a factor in observed SES inequalities in immunosenescence. Naïve T lymphocytes may be particularly affected by socioeconomic position and may therefore be of particular interest to research interested in inequalities in health and aging.
Brazil experienced a critical increase in COVID-19 cases during the first weeks of 2022 due to community transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. Furthermore, there has been a significant increase in the country's...Brazil experienced a critical increase in COVID-19 cases during the first weeks of 2022 due to community transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. Furthermore, there has been a significant increase in the country's demand for hospital beds, especially among those unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. Despite this scenario, the number of deaths was considerably lower than in previous COVID-19 waves. However, evidence is limited regarding the disease burden at this stage of the pandemic in more vulnerable regions. In this ecological study, we investigated the impacts of the third wave of COVID-19 caused by the Omicron on cases and deaths in a region of Northeast Brazil, and their relationship with the living conditions of the population in a neighborhood-level analysis. We found that neighborhoods with worse living conditions had a lower COVID-19 incidence (median 193.4 cases per 10 000) than those with better living conditions (median 335.1 cases per 10 000) (p < .001), but no differences were found regarding mortality. Despite advances in vaccination coverage against the disease in Brazil and the significant reduction in the number of deaths during the third wave, our findings may suggest differences in access to diagnostic resources for COVID-19 in the poorest communities.
Biodemography Soc Biol
· 2022 · PMID 35892204
·
Full text
Intergenerational relationships are one of the most frequently studied topics in the social sciences. Within the area of family, researchers find intergenerational similarity in family behaviors such as marriage, divorce...Intergenerational relationships are one of the most frequently studied topics in the social sciences. Within the area of family, researchers find intergenerational similarity in family behaviors such as marriage, divorce, and fertility. Yet less research has examined the intergenerational aspects of a key proximate determinant of fertility: sexual frequency. We use the National Survey of Families and Households to examine the relationship between sexual frequency of parents and the sexual frequency of children when adults. We link parental sexual frequency in 1987/1988, when children were ages 5-18, to the sexual frequency of the children in 2001-2003 when these grown children were ages 18-34. We find a modest, yet significant association, between parental and adult children sexual frequency. A mechanism behind this association appears to be the higher likelihood of being in a union among children of parents with high sexual frequency.
The COVID-19 pandemic has already had many consequences for social life. This paper focused on the early impact of COVID-19 pandemic on pandemic-period childbearing plan that was made before the onset of the pandemic. Da...The COVID-19 pandemic has already had many consequences for social life. This paper focused on the early impact of COVID-19 pandemic on pandemic-period childbearing plan that was made before the onset of the pandemic. Data were collected by posting survey questionnaire on social networks in Bangladesh. A total of 384 Bangladeshi men and women of reproductive age were analyzed using descriptive and multivariate logistic regression analyses after adjusting the data by applying sampling weights. One out of every five respondents was found to cancel their pandemic-period pregnancy plan by considering potential crises related to COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings showed that in canceling pandemic-period pregnancy, factors related to the potential crises of the pandemic emerged as more important than some persistent determinants of fertility, fertility intention and non-realization of fertility intention. Infection of COVID-19 to the acquaintance, being teenager, complete stopping and decline in income, and acquaintance's suggestion not to get pregnant during the pandemic played key role in canceling the pandemic-period pregnancy plan. Although it is uncertain if the impact of COVID-19 will substantially be reflected in the future fertility estimates of Bangladesh, the pandemic showed negative impact on pandemic-period childbearing plan during the early months.
This study was performed to estimate the corpse age using histological examinations of the fourth and sixth ribs by a morphometric method. One hundred samples of referred bodies of the Legal Medicine Organization of Lore...This study was performed to estimate the corpse age using histological examinations of the fourth and sixth ribs by a morphometric method. One hundred samples of referred bodies of the Legal Medicine Organization of Lorestan province, Iran, were examined. The sampling was performed from the fourth and sixth ribs. The transverse sections of the samples were prepared, in which various variables such as the diameter of the haversian system (DHC), haversian system perimeter (PHS), haversian system area (AHS), and the thickness of the haversian lamellae (TH) were measured using a Motic microscope video system and the Motic Image Plus 2 software. To predict age from sex and the morphometric parameters a stepwise multiple linear regression was used. Accordingly, AHS in rib 4, DHC with lens 10 in rib 4, DHC with lens 10 in rib 6 and TH in rib 6 remained in the model at significance level 0.05 (R square = 0.1654). Although age was associated with some of the studied parameters, the obtained equation was not fit enough to predict the exact age. Further parameters should be studied for prediction of age in corpse.
This study is conducted to decompose inequality in four important micronutrient intakes, i.e. calcium, iodine, iron, and zinc due to socioeconomic factors during 2006-2016. For this purpose, data were taken from national...This study is conducted to decompose inequality in four important micronutrient intakes, i.e. calcium, iodine, iron, and zinc due to socioeconomic factors during 2006-2016. For this purpose, data were taken from national-level surveys, i.e. HIES-2006 and HIICS-2016. We applied a recently proposed decomposition method based on copula function to decompose between year changes in the consumption of micronutrients into structure and composition effect. The results show that average calcium and iron intakes increased by 518.54 (mg) and 0.962 (mg), respectively, while average iodine and zinc intakes decreased by 2.009 (mg) and 3.411 (mg), respectively, during the decade. Estimates of structure effect show that calcium, iodine, and iron consumption increased on average, i.e. 525.316 (mg), 14.615 (mg), and 2.15 (mg), respectively, while zinc intake decreased by 2.735 (mg). The composition effect is negative for all the four micronutrients, implying that consumption of calcium, iodine, iron, and zinc decreased as 6.7766 (mg), 16.624 (mg), 1.189 (mg), and 0.677 (mg), respectively. The main factors of this change are household income, urbanization, provinces, and household size. The policymakers need to know the importance of socioeconomic factors to improve hidden hunger in terms of micronutrient intakes.
The use of contraceptive methods and their correlates continues to be a subject of scientific interest in developing countries, including India, for its contribution to reducing fertility and improving maternal and child...The use of contraceptive methods and their correlates continues to be a subject of scientific interest in developing countries, including India, for its contribution to reducing fertility and improving maternal and child health. This study explores the family type and contraceptive use by analyzing the National Family Health Survey-4 data (2015-16). Multinomial logistic regression was used to check the adjusted effects of the predictor variables on contraceptive use. STATA (version 13) was used for the analysis with a significance level of 5 per cent. Adjusting the effects of socio-demographic and economic characteristics, women from nuclear family had 6 per cent lower odds of using modern limiting method (OR = 0.94, 95 per cent CI = 0.92-0.96) and 5 per cent lower odds of using any traditional method of contraception (OR = 0.95, 95 per cent CI = 0.91-0.99) than their counterparts from non-nuclear family with mother-in-law (MIL). Family type, especially the presence of MIL, was associated with daughter-in-law's (DIL) contraceptive behavior. The results based on a nationally representative recent survey contribute to the existing scanty evidence on the association between the MIL and DIL's contraceptive behavior in the Indian context. Results suggest more awareness about the benefits of modern spacing methods among the mothers-in-law, leading to their enhanced use.
Biodemography Soc Biol
· 2022 · PMID 35466846
·
Full text
We investigated disparities in diabetes between the US-born and foreign-born populations using three diabetes measures: diagnosed diabetes, undiagnosed diabetes, and total diabetes, either diagnosed or undiagnosed diabet...We investigated disparities in diabetes between the US-born and foreign-born populations using three diabetes measures: diagnosed diabetes, undiagnosed diabetes, and total diabetes, either diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes. We analyzed adults aged 30-84 years drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2018 (n = 21,390). Of cohorts in 2009-2018, foreign-born adults had significantly higher age-standardized prevalence of diagnosed (12.6% vs. 10.6%) and undiagnosed diabetes (4.5% vs. 2.6%), and total diabetes (17.1% vs. 13.2%) than US-born adults. Results from logistic and multinomial regressions adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, limited access to healthcare and BMI showed that the foreign-born had significantly higher odds of total diabetes (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.04-1.50) and undiagnosed diabetes (OR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.44-2.32) compared to the US-born. There was no significant difference in diagnosed diabetes by nativity (OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 0.96-1.53). Our results show that foreign-born adults were at higher risk of diabetes than US-born adults, and the difference by nativity was largely attributable to BMI and racial/ethnic composition. In addition, we demonstrated the importance of choosing measures of diabetes in studying diabetes mainly due to the foreign-born group's high prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes, which biases the prevalence of diabetes downward when diagnosed diabetes is used.
This study investigates (1) conjoint latent classes of adolescent co-occurring developmental problems (obesity, depressive symptoms, and low educational attainment), (2) socioeconomic and genetic influences on these clas...This study investigates (1) conjoint latent classes of adolescent co-occurring developmental problems (obesity, depressive symptoms, and low educational attainment), (2) socioeconomic and genetic influences on these classes of adolescents' problem trajectories, and (3) physical health consequences of those latent classes. Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health; = 9,107; mean age = 15.5 years; Female = 52.9 per cent) were used to identify classes of early socioeconomic adversity and conjoint trajectory groups of co-occurring developmental problems. Profiles of social antecedents, genetic endowments (polygenic scores), and physical health outcomes in young adulthood were compared across identified four conjoint trajectory risk groups (overall high-risk, overall low-risk, BMI-risk or obesity, low education-risk). The results showed that youth with overall high-risk and BMI/education-specific risk trajectory groups were more likely to be Black or Hispanic, reported more adverse socioeconomic characteristics and genetic endowment, and averaged significantly poorer physical health in young adulthood compared with youth in the overall low-risk problem trajectory group. Less pronounced differences emerged between the high-risk and problem-specific-risk groups. The findings highlight heterogeneity in adolescent co-occurring developmental problems. Adolescent heterogeneous problem co-development is associated with background socioeconomic and genetic characteristics and physical health in young adulthood.
Roth AR, Peng S, Coleman ME
… +2 more, Apostolova LG, Perry BL
Biodemography Soc Biol
· 2022 · PMID 35313773
·
Full text
A large literature highlights the link between cognitive function and social networks in later life. Yet there remains uncertainty about the factors driving this relationship. In the present study, we use measures of sub...A large literature highlights the link between cognitive function and social networks in later life. Yet there remains uncertainty about the factors driving this relationship. In the present study, we use measures of subjective cognitive decline and clinical cognitive assessments on a sample of older adults to investigate whether the relationship between cognitive function and social networks is driven by psychosocial factors. We found a consistent link between clinical cognitive assessments and social network type, but no association between subjective concerns of cognitive decline and networks. Participants who exhibited signs of clinical cognitive impairment were more likely to have restricted networks (i.e., smaller networks consisting of fewer contacts, more interconnectivity, and less social diversity) compared to their cognitively normal counterparts, regardless of subjective measures of cognitive decline - both from the participant's perspective and study partner's perspective. These findings suggest that neither cognitively impaired older adults nor their network members appear to consciously dissolve social ties on the basis of perceived cognitive decline. However, it remains unclear whether the association between clinical cognitive impairment and social network type indicates the protective nature of social networks against cognitive decline or a subconscious process leading to social contraction.
Previous studies have found that the positive relationship between personal income and fertility for men in the United States is primarily due to childlessness among low-income men. Yet because of the opposite effects of...Previous studies have found that the positive relationship between personal income and fertility for men in the United States is primarily due to childlessness among low-income men. Yet because of the opposite effects of income on fertility for men and women, it is important to examine the effects of income net of spouse's income. An analysis of income from all sources and biological fertility data for husbands and wives from the Survey of Income and Program Participation (2014) shows that for men their own income is positively associated with the number of their biological children, while their spouse's income is negatively associated with total children ever fathered. The reverse is true for women. These results are not because of childlessness among low-income men and high-income women, but also hold true among all those with children. For men and women aged 45-65, who likely have completed fertility, these results hold regardless of whether or not education is controlled. These findings suggest that if status is measured as personal income for men and husband's income for women, the positive relationship between status and fertility persists in a postdemographic transition society.
Finkel D, Zavala C, Franz CE
… +13 more, Pahlen S, Gatz M, Pedersen NL, Finch BK, Dahl Aslan A, Catts VS, Ericsson M, Krueger RF, Martin NG, Mohan A, Mosing MA, Prescott CA, Whitfield KE
Biodemography Soc Biol
· 2022 · PMID 35156881
·
Full text
Data from the Interplay of Genes and Environment across Multiple Studies (IGEMS) consortium were used to examine predictions of different models of gene-by-environment interaction to understand how genetic variance in se...Data from the Interplay of Genes and Environment across Multiple Studies (IGEMS) consortium were used to examine predictions of different models of gene-by-environment interaction to understand how genetic variance in self-rated health (SRH) varies at different levels of financial strain. A total of 11,359 individuals from 10 twin studies in Australia, Sweden, and the United States contributed relevant data, including 2,074 monozygotic and 2,623 dizygotic twin pairs. Age ranged from 22 to 98 years, with a mean age of 61.05 (SD = 13.24). A factor model was used to create a harmonized measure of financial strain across studies and items. Twin analyses of genetic and environmental variance for SRH incorporating age, age, sex, and financial strain moderators indicated significant financial strain moderation of genetic influences on self-rated health. Moderation results did not differ across sex or country. Genetic variance for SRH increased as financial strain increased, matching the predictions of the diathesis-stress and social comparison models for components of variance. Under these models, environmental improvements would be expected to reduce genetically based health disparities.
In this study I examine local variation in the timing and magnitude of the excess mortality hump, which is the period in adolescence and in young adulthood when mortality rates spike in young men due to an increase in ri...In this study I examine local variation in the timing and magnitude of the excess mortality hump, which is the period in adolescence and in young adulthood when mortality rates spike in young men due to an increase in risk-taking behaviors believed to result from a surge of testosterone production and subsequent aggressive, impulsive behaviors. Using an ecological framework and data on all-cause mortality in the United States between 2000 and 2018, I test the hypothesis that dimensions of the local population structure will exacerbate testosterone production and intraspecific competition among young men, which in turn leads to behaviors that elevate the risk of death. This hypothesis is supported by the data. I find that the age at the peak of the excess mortality hump is younger in counties where the sex ratio skews toward males and where population density is high. Additionally, I find that the overall magnitude of the peak of the excess mortality hump is greater in counties where the sex ratio skews toward males.
Biodemography Soc Biol
· 2022 · PMID 34984945
·
Full text
We draw upon the life-course perspective and examine whether Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) moderates the age pattern of adult mortality using data from the 2007 and 2012 National Health Interview Survey...We draw upon the life-course perspective and examine whether Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) moderates the age pattern of adult mortality using data from the 2007 and 2012 National Health Interview Survey Sample Adult File linked to National Death Index data through 2015. Overall, 7.0% of respondents died by 2015. Discrete-time hazard analysis indicates that the log odds of mortality were significantly lower among 18 and 19 year old adults ever diagnosed with ADHD and significantly higher among 46 to 64 year old adults ever diagnosed with ADHD, with a crossover occurring at age 33. Results were similar among men and women. It is not known specifically which risks drive changes in the risk of mortality documented among persons with ADHD during the transition to adulthood, the increased risk of mortality in midlife, or whether some risks operate more or less at particular ages. Additional research can lead to targeted, age- and life-course stage-focused interventions for specific risks and contribute to the reduction of ADHD-related mortality.
This study provides evidence on the principal determinants of high-risk fertility - a level of fertility, which is measured through maternal age (less than 20 years and/or more than 34 years), a large number of children...This study provides evidence on the principal determinants of high-risk fertility - a level of fertility, which is measured through maternal age (less than 20 years and/or more than 34 years), a large number of children (more than 3), and short birth interval (less than 18 months) in Bangladesh. More specifically, this study explores the influences of women's autonomy in decision-making, physical mobility and economic matters on high-risk fertility. Also, the socioeconomic attributes of women are used to explain this relationship. To identify the amount of variations in high-risk fertility at different geographic units across the country, a multilevel approach is applied considering individual, community and district levels by using a large nationwide dataset (BDHS 2017-2018). The findings of the present study indicate women's autonomy in decision-making have strong significant effects on high-risk fertility; however, freedom of movement and economic autonomy do not have any significant effects. Furthermore, women's education, religion and place of residence are found to be strong determinants of high-risk fertility, which also partially mediate the relationship between high-risk fertility and decision-making autonomy. High-risk fertility also varies at district level across Bangladesh.
Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) is an autosomal dominant inherited cardiac disorder associated with life-threatening arrhythmias. In northern Sweden, a LQTS founder mutation (p.Y111C, KCNQ1 gene) was verified by genetic haplotyp...Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) is an autosomal dominant inherited cardiac disorder associated with life-threatening arrhythmias. In northern Sweden, a LQTS founder mutation (p.Y111C, KCNQ1 gene) was verified by genetic haplotype analysis and genealogical studies, and a common ancestor couple was identified. Clinical studies of this population revealed an apparent mild phenotype. However, due to early commencement of prophylactic treatment, the natural history of this disorder cannot be properly assessed based only on clinical data. By using the family tree mortality ratio method (FTMR), we assessed the natural history of the untreated LQTS founder population. The principle of FTMR is to compare the age-specific mortality rates in a historic population harboring an inherited disorder with the corresponding mortality rates in an unaffected control population.Initially, we used the general Swedish population during the same period for comparison and observed an apparent increased longevity in the p.Y111C study population. However, when using a control population born in the same area, we observed no differences regarding overall mortality. Moreover, patterns suggesting age- and sex-stratified excess mortality, in accordance with previous LQTS studies, were evident.This study shows the importance of being aware of historical demographic patterns to avoid misinterpreting when comparing historical data.