Showing papers by "Lina S. Balluz published in 2004"

Associations between physical activity dose and health-related quality of life.

Abstract: BROWN, D. W., D. R. BROWN, G. W. HEATH, L. BALLUZ, W. H. GILES, E. S. FORD, and A. H. MOKDAD. Associations between Physical Activity Dose and Health-Related Quality of Life. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 36, No. 5, pp. 890–896, 2004.Purpose:Although the beneficial effects of participation in

Depression, Anxiety, and Physical Impairments and Quality of Life in the U.S. Noninstitutionalized Population

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine health-related quality of life and health behaviors among persons reporting a primary mental health impairment compared with those reporting a primary physical health impairment and those reporting no impairment. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, an ongoing state-based, random-digit telephone survey of the noninstitutionalized U.S. population aged 18 years or older. In 2001-2002, health-related quality-of-life measures were administered in 23 states and the District of Columbia. RESULTS: An estimated 5.1 percent of U.S. adults reporting a primary health impairment indicated that a mental health problem was the primary cause. Those with a primary mental health impairment were more likely than those with a primary physical health impairment to report infrequent vitality (less than 14 days in the previous 30 days) and frequent occurrences of mental distress, depressive symptoms, and anxiety (at least 14 days ...

Surveillance for certain health behaviors among selected local areas--United States, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2002.

Abstract: Problem Monitoring risk behaviors for chronic diseases and participation in preventive practices are important for developing effective health education and intervention programs to prevent morbidity and mortality. Therefore, continual monitoring of these behaviors and practices at the state, city, and county levels can assist public health programs in evaluating and monitoring progress toward improving their community's health. Reporting period covered Data collected in 2002 are presented for states, selected metropolitan, and micropolitan statistical areas (MMSA), and their counties. Description of the system The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is an on-going, state-based, telephone survey of the civilian, noninstitutionalized population aged >18 years. All 50 states, the District of Columbia (DC), Guam, the Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico participated in BRFSS during 2002. Metropolitan and MMSA and their counties with >500 respondents or a minimum sample size of 19 per weighting class were included in the analyses for a total of 98 MMSA and 146 counties. Results Prevalence of high-risk behaviors for chronic diseases, awareness of certain medical conditions, and use of preventive health-care services varied substantially by state, county, and MMSA. Obesity ranged from 27.6% in West Virginia, 29.4% in Charleston, West Virginia, and 32.0% in Florence County, South Carolina, to 16.5% in Colorado, 12.8% in Bethesda-Frederick-Gaithersburg, Maryland, and 11.8% in Washington County, Rhode Island. No leisuretime physical activity ranged from 33.6% in Tennessee, 36.8% in Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, Florida, and 36.8% in Miami-Dade County, Florida to 15.0% in Washington, 13.8% in Seattle-Bellevue-Everett Washington, and 11.4% in King County, Washington. Cigarette smoking ranged from 32.6% in Kentucky, 32.8% in Youngstown-Warren- Boardman, Ohio-Pennsylvania, and 31.1% in Jefferson County, Kentucky to 16.4% in California, 13.8% in Ogden- Clearfield, Utah, and 10.9% in Davis County, Utah. Binge drinking ranged from 24.9% in Wisconsin, 26.1% in Fargo, North Dakota-Minnesota, and 25.1% Cass County, North Dakota, to 7.9% in Kentucky, 8.2% in Greensboro- High Point, North Carolina, and 6.6% in Henderson County, North Carolina. At risk for heavy drinking ranged from 8.7% in Arizona, 9.5% in Lebanon, New Hampshire-Vermont, and 11.3% in Richland County, South Carolina, to 2.8% in Utah, 1.9% in Ogden-Clearfield, Utah, and 1.7% in King County, New York. Adults who were told they had diabetes ranged from 10.2% in West Virginia, 11.1% in Charleston, West Virginia, and 11.1% in Richland, South Carolina, to 3.5% in Alaska, 2.7% in Anchorage, Alaska, and 2.4% in Weber County, Utah. Percentage of adults aged>50 years who were ever screened for colorectal cancer ranged from 64.8% in Minnesota, 67.9% in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington Minnesota-Wisconsin, and 73.6% in Ramsey County, Minnesota, to 39.2% in Hawaii, 30.7% in Kahului-Wailuku, Hawaii, and 30.7% in Maui County, Hawaii. Persons aged >65 years who had received pneumococcal vaccine ranged from 72.5% in North Dakota, 74.8% in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minnesota-Wisconsin, and 73.1% in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, to 47.9% in DC, 47.5% in New York-Wayne-White Plains, New York, New Jersey, and 47.9% in DC County, DC. Older adults who had received influenza vaccine ranged from 76.6% in Minnesota, 80.0% in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minnesota-Wisconsin, and 76.3% in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, to 57.0% in Florida, 55.8% in Houston-Baytown-Sugar Land, Texas, and 56.2% in Cook County, Illinois. Interpretation BRFSS data indicate substantial variation in high-risk behaviors, participation in preventive healthcare services, and screening among U.S. adults at states and selected local areas, indicating a need for continued efforts to evaluate public health programs or policies designed to reduce morbidity and mortality. Public health actions Data from BRFSS are useful in developing and guiding public health programs and policies. Therefore, states, selected MMSA, and their counties can use BRFSS data as a tool to prevent premature morbidity and mortality among adult population and to assess progress toward national health objectives. The data indicate a continued need to develop and implement health promotion programs for targeting specific behaviors and practices and serve as a baseline for future surveillance at the local level in the United States.

Disability, arthritis, and body weight among adults 45 years and older.

Abstract: Objectives: To examine the association between body weight and disability among persons with and without self-reported arthritis. Research Methods and Procedures: Data were analyzed for noninstitutionalized adults, 45 years or older, in states that participated in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Self-reported BMI (kilograms per meter squared) was used to categorize participants into six BMI-defined groups: underweight (<18.5), normal weight (18.5 to <25), overweight (25 to <30), obese, class 1 (30 to <35), obese, class 2 (35 to <40), and obese, class 3 (≥40). Results: Class 3 obesity (BMI ≥ 40) was significantly associated with disability among participants both with and without self-reported arthritis. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for disability in participants with class 3 obesity was 2.75 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.22 to 3.40] among those with self-reported arthritis and 1.77 (95% CI = 1.20 to 2.62) among those without self-reported arthritis compared with those of normal weight (BMI 18.5 to <25). Persons with self-reported arthritis who were obese, class 2 (BMI 35 to <40) and obese, class 1 (BMI 30 to <35) and women with self-reported arthritis who were overweight (BMI 25 to <30) also had higher odds of disability compared with those of normal weight [AOR = 1.72 (95% CI = 1.47 to 2.00), AOR = 1.30 (95% CI = 1.17 to 1.44), and AOR = 1.18 (95% CI = 1.06 to 1.32), respectively]. Discussion: Our findings reveal that obesity is associated with disability. Preventing and controlling obesity may improve the quality of life for persons with and without self-reported arthritis.

Frequent mental distress status among adults with arthritis age 45 years and older, 2001.

Abstract: Objective To identify characteristics and behaviors among persons with arthritis through evaluation of self-perceived mental health status. Methods Data were analyzed for adults with arthritis age 45 years or older from the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, an ongoing, state-based, random-digit-dialed telephone survey of noninstitutionalized adults living in the United States. Results The prevalence of frequent mental distress (FMD; ≥14 self-reported mentally unhealthy days in the past 30 days) among persons with arthritis was 13.4%. Among persons with arthritis, those with FMD as compared with those without FMD were more likely to be underweight and obese than normal weight; they also were more likely to be insufficiently active or inactive than following recommended physical activity guidelines. In addition, those with arthritis and FMD were more likely to report disability and impaired physical and general health than were those with arthritis but without FMD. Conclusion Physicians should encourage their patients with arthritis and mental distress to participate in educational and behavioral interventions shown to have both physical and psychological benefits.

Prevalence of CVD risk factors among adults with diabetes by mental distress status.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE To determine whether mental distress among diabetic persons is associated with various CVD risk factors. METHODS Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System, an ongoing, statebased, random-digit-dialed telephone survey of the noninstitutionalized US adult population. RESULTS Diabetic persons with mental distress were more likely than those without mental distress to smoke to have hypercholesterolemia and hypertension and not to engage in leisure-time physical activity. CONCLUSIONS Mental health professionals need to be involved in the care of diabetic persons so they can recognize and treat symptoms of mental distress and participate in research to identify interventions that can reduce mental distress and reinforce healthy behaviors.