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Introduction: Several factors have been associated with excess weight gain in adolescents, including loss of sleep. Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of sleep factors on appetite, dietary intake, and the body weights of adolescent youth. Methods: A prospective correlational study design was used. Male and female adolescents (N = 76) ages 12–18 years completed a 5-night study. Sleep was assessed using Fitbits (88.5% accuracy) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (test-retest reliability =.81); appetite was assessed by a Visual Analog Scale (α = 0.84); dietary intake was assessed by the Block Kids Food Screener (reliability up to.88); sleep hygiene was assessed using the Adolescent Sleep Hygiene Practice Scale (α =.67). Results: Poor sleep quality was reported by 39.5% of participants, and 75% of participants had inadequate sleep time (7.33 h). Participants' age significantly correlated with PSQI scores (r =.28, p <.05) and BMI (r =.37, p <.01). Participants' PSQI scores significantly correlated with sleep hygiene (r =.45, p =.05) and appetite (r =.3 3, p <.01). Sleep latency significantly correlated with sleep hygiene (r =.32, p <.05). Several sleep hygiene factors correlated significantly with the participants' sleep quality, quantity and latency scores and dietary intakes. Conclusion: These findings suggest that changes in sleep hygiene practices may improve adolescent sleep quality and quantity as well as appetite and dietary intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies exist that identify a useful self-report measure of physical activity for pregnant women. The purpose of this study was to compare the self-report exercise diary with the pedometer and determine if self-report measurement provided useful physical activity measures during pregnancy. The pregnant women's sleep, parity, and related demographic factors were further analyzed for relationships to the physical activity measures. Physical activity was assessed in a sample of 94 pregnant midwestern U.S. women ages 18 to 38 years. The women wore a pedometer during all waking hours for 3 consecutive days at 14 and 28 weeks of pregnancy for a total of 6 days. During the same 6 days of monitoring, the women kept a diary account of the minutes they exercised per day. The pedometer and self-report exercise diary results correlated significantly (r = 49, p =. 02). When examining for usefulness in measuring physical activity, a comparison of the women's occupational categories revealed no significant differences in self-reported minutes of exercise or pedometer counts per day. Keywords: physical activity; pedometer; self-report exercise diary; pregnancy

This study examined the effects of pain and opioid intakes on subsyndromal delirium in older adults who had joint replacement surgery. Delirium assessments of 53 older adults were completed on the first, second, and third days following joint replacement surgery using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM). Statistical relationships were analyzed using correlations and multiple regressions. Subsyndromal delirium developed in 68% (n = 36) of participants. Pain was significantly related (p <.05) to increased delirium symptoms after accounting for preoperative risk factors of comorbidity, cognitive status, fall history, and preoperative fasting times, whereas opioid intake was not significantly associated with increased delirium symptoms. Findings suggest older adults with increased pain levels are at higher risk for subsyndromal delirium as well as delirium after joint replacement surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Older adults with subsyndromal delirium have similar risks for adverse outcomes following joint replacement surgery as those who suffer from delirium. PURPOSE: This study examined relationships among subsyndromal delirium and select preoperative risk factors in older adults following major orthopaedic surgery. METHODS: Delirium assessments of a sample of 62 adults 65 years of age or older were completed on postoperative Days 1, 2, and 3 following joint replacement surgery. Data were analyzed for relationships among delirium symptoms and the following preoperative risk factors: increased comorbidity burden, cognitive impairment, fall history, and preoperative fasting time. RESULTS: Postoperative subsyndromal delirium occurred in 68% of study participants. A recent fall history and a longer preoperative fasting time were associated with delirium symptoms (p ≤ .05). CONCLUSIONS: Older adults with a recent history of falls within the past 6 months or a longer duration of preoperative fasting time may be at higher risk for delirium symptoms following joint replacement surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asymptomatic bacteriuria is considered a transient and benign condition in the geriatric population. Before a diagnosis of a urinary tract infection (UTI) can be made, symptoms and significant bacteriuria must be present. One of these symptoms is malodorous urine. Other symptoms of a UTI, typical in the younger population, have been found to be absent or misleading in the older adult population. Though early detection of UTIs improves outcomes, unnecessary laboratory tests are costly and time-consuming, and may encourage inappropriate antibiotic therapy. The purpose of this study was to determine if urine odor is an accurate predictor of a UTI in the older adult incontinent nursing home population. Ninety-seven recently wet incontinence pads of residents in six Midwestern nursing homes were evaluated for odor within 1 hour of voiding. These results were compared to microscopy and culture results of clean-catch urine samples from these individuals. Defining a UTI as either bacteriuria or bacteriuria and pyuria, using urine odor to identify a UTI resulted in error in one third of cases. Results of this study indicate smell of urine in incontinence pads may be an absent or misleading symptom for UTIs in elderly nursing home residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]