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© 2015 Liu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.Int

Objective: In this study, we investigated if outness is more a situational or a consistent characteristic in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) treated for prostate cancer and how the disclosure of sexual orientation impacts provider discussions of sexual side effects., Methods: Data came from Restore, an online cross-sectional survey of 193 GBM prostate cancer survivors living in North America and were analyzed using various statistical models., Results: Disclosure of sexual orientation and of living with prostate cancer were not significantly correlated. Participants who were out regarding sexual orientation were more likely to report that their surgeons and urologists discussed the sexual side effects of treatment., Conclusion: Outness appears to be a situational phenomenon. GBM prostate cancer survivors who were out regarding sexual orientation received more discussion surrounding sexual side effects of prostate cancer treatment from their providers., Practice Implications: It is important for healthcare providers to inquire about patient's sexual orientation to provide holistic care to these patients to address health disparities within this group., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

This study investigates the experience of communicating sexual orientation by gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men (GBM) to physicians involved in their prostate cancer care. Methodology consisted of qualitative analysis conducted on 30 in-depth interviews of GBM recruited from a national online cancer support site. Results revealed four key strategies around sexual disclosure. These ranged from explicitly outing themselves to selective or non-disclosure. Disclosures had unpredictable multiple outcomes ranging from increased trust in the patient-physician relationship to seeking alternate treatment. We concluded competent care is achieved when physicians know their patient's sexual orientation, and are trained in them., Competing Interests: Disclosure statement No potential competing interest was reported by the author(s).

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM). Few studies have assessed the effects of treatment on GBM's sexual behavior. For an online survey, 193 gay and bisexual men with prostate cancer were recruited from the North American's largest online cancer support group. Sexual functioning was measured using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) and a tailored Gay Sexual Functioning Inventory (GSFI). GBM have worse EPIC urinary and hormonal function and worse hormonal bother, but better sexual function and bother scores than published norms. In the GSFI, two-thirds of participants described their sexual functioning, post-treatment, as fair to poor. Only 22% reported erections sufficient for insertive anal sex. For receptive anal sex, one-third met criteria for anodyspareunia. Over half reported urination problems during sex or at orgasm. Erectile difficulties were common, severe, and a reason cited for not using condoms. Three men HIV seroconverted post-prostate cancer treatment. Differences in function and bother scores were observed by type of treatment, age, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, but not relationship status. Sexual functioning significantly predicted long-term mental and physical health. GBM scored significantly worse on mental health and better on physical health than published norms. Sexual recovery after prostate cancer treatment is problematic for most GBM. Research to develop more effective sexual recovery, tailored to the needs of GBM treated for prostate cancer, is needed. Six implications for clinicians treating GBM with prostate cancer are identified.

Medicaid expansion has been shown to improve access to care, health, and finances in general populations. Until now no studies have considered how Medicaid expansion may affect informal family caregivers who are the backbone of the long term supports and services infrastructure. Family caregivers provide substantial cost savings to Medicare and Medicaid. Yet, they sustain financial, physical, and mental health strain from their caregiving role which Medicaid expansion may offset. This study evaluated the impact of Medicaid expansion on caregivers' mental health using 2015-2018 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. After adjusting for demographics, socioeconomic status, and health behaviors, caregivers in Medicaid expansion states had a significantly fewer number of poor mental health days in the previous month than caregivers in non-expansion states (ß = -0.528, CI -1.019, -0.036, p < .01). Study findings indicate that Medicaid expansion state status was protective for caregiver's mental health.

In two studies, gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men prostate cancer survivors report lower Gleason scores than heterosexual prostate cancer survivors, leading some to speculate that men who have sex with men may have more intensive screening than other men. In the largest study of men who have sex with men prostate cancer survivors to date, 23 of 193 (11.9%) men who have sex with men prostate cancer survivors reported low Gleason scores (2-5). We contacted 14 of them, a 61 percent response rate. At second interview, most men clarified that they reported only a partial score rather than the sum score. We conclude the average lower score is not a result of differences in screening but likely measurement error. A revised Gleason item question is provided to overcome this research artifact.

Objective: Prostate cancer is the most common invasive cancer in gay and bisexual men (GBM). Despite the unique sexual and urinary concerns of this group, studies of prostate cancer rehabilitation have primarily focused on heterosexual men. GBM also have high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which may be associated with lower health-related quality of life (HRQOL). We examined the association between HIV status and HRQOL in a cohort of GBM with prostate cancer., Methods: Data from the Restore study, a cross-sectional online survey of GBM treated for prostate cancer, were used to examine this association. The Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) assessed function, bother, and summary measures in four domains: urinary, sexual, bowel, and hormone. Overall physical and mental HRQOL was assessed using the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12). Multivariate analysis of variance and linear regression were used to evaluate the association between HIV status and HRQOL scores after adjustment for demographic and sexual characteristics., Results: Of 192 participants, 24 (12.4%) reported an HIV diagnosis. After adjustment for covariates, HIV-positive status was associated with lower scores on the EPIC urinary (mean difference [MD]: -13.0, 95% CI, -21.4 to -4.6), sexual (MD: -12.5, 95% CI, -21.9 to -3.2), and bowel (MD: -5.9, 95% CI, -11.7 to -0.2) domains. No significant associations were observed between HIV status and other outcomes., Conclusions: HIV status may be associated with poorer urinary, sexual, and bowel HRQOL in GBM prostate cancer survivors., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Purpose of Review: a)Prostate cancer in sexual and gender minorities is an emerging medical and public health concern. The purpose of this review is to summarize the state of the science on prostate cancer in gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) and transgender women (TGW). We undertook a literature review of all publications on this topic through February 2017. With 88 unique papers (83) on prostate cancer in GBM and 5 case reports of prostate cancer in TGW), a small but robust literature has emerged., Recent Findings: b)The first half of this review critiques the literature to date, identifying gaps in approaches to study. The second half summarizes the key findings in eleven areas. In light of this admittedly limited literature, GBM appear to be screened for prostate cancer less than other men, but they are diagnosed with prostate cancer at about the same rate., Summary: c)Compared to other men, GBM have poorer urinary, bowel, and overall quality-of-life outcomes but better sexual outcomes after treatment; all these findings need more research. Prostate cancer in TGW remains rare and under researched, as the literature is limited to single-case clinical reports., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest

Diabetes distress and stigma have been associated with worse patient outcomes in developed countries. However, diabetes stigma has not been studied in low and middle-income countries where clinical practices differ, diabetes awareness is lower, and families face different challenges for supporting children with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). This study assessed the relationship between parental depression and diabetes stigma with a child's glycemic control in a clinic-based survey in Nagpur, India. The association between self-reported T1D stigma, depressive symptoms, and child's measured glycemic control (HbA1C) was assessed with data from 165 of the parents of school-aged (aged 5+) children receiving clinical T1D care at an urban nonprofit organization that provides free clinical care to children with Type-1 Diabetes (T1D) in India. Parents with moderate/severe depressive symptoms who experience stigma associated with their child's diabetes had children with significantly worse glycemic control than parents with no/mild depressive symptoms who experience the same amount of stigma. Higher reports of stigma were associated with an average of 0.65 points higher HbA1C (β = 0.65, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.18, 1.13) for parents with moderate/severe than parents with mild/no depressive symptoms. Indian parents with depressive symptoms who face social stigma associated with their child's diabetes have children with worse T1D outcomes.

Purpose: We estimated illicit opioid use prevalence among LGB and heterosexual adults. Methods: Cross-sectional National Survey on Drug Use and Health data (2015-2017) were used to estimate illicit opioid use prevalence by sexual identity, age, and gender. Results: An estimated 1.1 million LGB adults used illicit opioids in the preceding 12 months (LGB adults: 9.8%; heterosexual adults: 4.24%). Prevalence of illicit opioid use was significantly higher among LGB women aged <50 and gay/bisexual men (18-25 and 50 +) compared with their heterosexual counterparts. Conclusions: Interventions targeting LGB illicit opioid use should account for possible differential minority stress associated with age and gender.

Objective: No studies have estimated the difference in suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts for lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) adults aged 50+ compared with heterosexuals using nationally representative data., Methods: We used 2015-2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health data to estimate the prevalence of self-reported suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts for LGB adults 50+ compared with heterosexuals in the preceding 12 months., Results: Over 185,000 LGB adults aged 50+ in the United States were estimated to have had suicidal ideation in the preceding year. After adjusting for sex and race/ethnicity, LGB individuals aged 50+ had a 4.5 percentage point higher prevalence of suicidal ideation compared with heterosexuals (prevalence difference [PD]: 0.045; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.022, 0.067). Of those with suicidal ideation, LGB individuals aged 50+ had a 17.2 percentage point higher prevalence of suicide plans compared with heterosexuals (PD: 0.172; 95% CI: 0.011, 0.332)., Conclusion: LGB adults in middle and older age have higher suicidal ideation and plans than heterosexual peers., (Copyright © 2018 American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Perceived income adequacy is positively associated with self-rated health (SRH) and quality of life (QOL) among adults in higher-income countries. Additionally, older individuals often report higher levels of income adequacy. However, it is unclear if these associations, documented primarily in high-income countries, are also evident across economically and culturally distinctive low- and middle-income countries., Methods: Data were drawn from the World Health Organization's Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE), a study of adults aged 50 years or older in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, the Russian Federation, and South Africa. Smaller samples of younger adults (18-49 years) were included for comparison purposes. Participants reported income adequacy, SRH, and QOL. Associations between age and income adequacy and between income adequacy and SRH/QOL were examined using country-specific logistic regression analysis., Results: Older adults in China and Russia were more likely to report better income adequacy than their 18- to 49-year-old counterparts; however, the opposite was observed in Ghana and India. SRH and QOL improved as income adequacy increased in all countries., Discussion: As expected, income adequacy was correlated with SRH and QOL. However, the relationship between age and income adequacy varied cross-culturally, potentially due to differences in familial and governmental financial support., (© The Author(s) 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Depression is a common mental condition in U.S. older adults. To improve rates of underdiagnosis and undertreatment for depression and other mental health conditions in primary care settings, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) updates and disseminates its depression screening guideline regularly., Objective: To examine the effects of the 2009 USPSTF depression screening recommendation on the 3 following outcomes: diagnoses of mental health conditions, antidepressant prescriptions (overall and potentially inappropriate), and provision of nonpharmacological psychiatric services in office-based outpatient primary care visits made by adults aged 65 or older., Methods: Data from the 2006-2012 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS), a nationally representative sample of office-based outpatient primary care visits among older adults (n = 15,596 unweighted), were used. NAMCS represents physician practicing patterns of ambulatory medical care services utilization at the national level. Using a series of multivariate difference-in-differences analyses, we estimated effects of the USPSTF depression screening recommendation on the previously mentioned outcomes by comparing pre- (2006-2009) and post- (2010-2012) periods to describe primary care physician practice patterns., Results: Differences in any mental health diagnosis by the depression screening status were -34.7% in the pre-2009 period and -20.2% in the post-2009 period, resulting in a differential effect of -14.4% (95% CI = -28.2, -0.6; P = 0.040). No differential effect was found in other outcomes., Conclusions: While there are mixed findings about efficacy and effectiveness of depression screening in the existing literature, more population-based observational research is needed to strengthen and support current USPSTF depression screening recommendation statements in the United States., Disclosures: Funding for this study was provided by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health (#T32AG019134). The authors declare that they do not have any conflicts of interest. Publicly available data were obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Analyses, interpretation, and conclusions are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Division of Health Interview Statistics or NCHS of the CDC.

Objectives: To describe social support patterns of gay and bisexual men with prostate cancer (GBMPCa) and how social support is associated with prostate cancer outcomes., Sample & Setting: A cross-sectional online survey with 186 GBMPCa recruited from a national cancer support group network., Methods & Variables: Descriptive statistics of social support and linear regression of social support on general and prostate cancer-specific quality of life (QOL). Social support and health-related QOL were assessed generally and specific to prostate cancer., Results: Participants primarily relied on partners or husbands, gay and bisexual friends, chosen family, and men from support groups for support. The most common types of support received were informational and emotional social support. Low general social support was significantly associated with worse prostate cancer symptom bother and general mental QOL. Wanting more social support was significantly associated with worse prostate cancer-specific and general QOL., Implications for Nursing: Clinicians should be aware of the different social support networks and needs of GBMPCa and refer them to relevant support groups to improve QOL.

Introduction: While erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence are well-documented effects of prostate cancer treatment, the impact of sexual concerns on the lives of gay and bisexual men treated for prostate cancer has not been well researched. Specifically there are no known studies investigating what gay and bisexual men want in sexual recovery treatment., Methods: To conduct this needs assessment, we recruited 193 gay and bisexual men with prostate cancer from the largest online cancer support group in North America. As part of a wider study of sexual functioning, participants completed a 32-item needs assessment and a qualitative question assessing their needs., Results: There was high interest in a sexual recovery program across race/ethnicity and by treatment type. The most preferred formats were a self-directed online curriculum and participation in a support group specific to gay and bisexual men with prostate cancer. A variety of formats, language and contents were deemed appropriate and important by most participants. Frank explicit language and content were preferred. Three themes emerged in the qualitative analysis., Conclusions: Gay and bisexual men treated for prostate cancer want a recovery curriculum that explicitly addresses the sexual challenges they face before, during and after treatment. While differences were identified across race and treatment type, they were relatively few and minor in magnitude, suggesting that a single online curriculum could advance rehabilitation for this population.

Aims: Parental care influences outcomes for children's type 1 diabetes (T1D). There is little evidence about the impact of parental caregiving in developing countries, where fixed dose human insulin (conventional) therapy and limited self-monitoring of blood glucose are common. This article investigates whether performance of key T1D management tasks by children or their caregivers impacts hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)., Methods: We surveyed the caregivers of 179 children with T1D routinely treated in a specialized diabetes clinic in Maharashtra, India to determine who performs key diabetes care tasks: child or parent. We used linear regression to estimate the relationship between parental caregiving and HbA1c, and how this association varies by child age and time since diagnosis., Results: Caregivers of older children were less involved in care tasks, though caregivers of 11- to 18-year olds performed more care for children diagnosed for a longer duration. Parental involvement in key insulin delivery tasks was associated with lower HbA1c levels for all children. These reductions were greatest among children 11 to 14 years old and diagnosed for less than 2 years: mean HbA1c levels were 8.5% (69 mmol/mol) if the caregiver, and 14.4% (134 mmol/mol) if the child, performed the tasks (P < .05)., Conclusion: Parents of children diagnosed with T1D early in life remain involved in care throughout the child's adolescence. Parents of children diagnosed in late childhood and early adolescence are significantly less involved in care, and this is associated with worse glycemic control. Clinics must know who performs care tasks and tailor diabetes education appropriately., (© 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Introduction: This is the first known study to investigate what gay and bisexual men are offered and what they try as rehabilitation to address the sexual and urinary effects of prostate cancer treatment., Methods: A total of 193 gay and bisexual men with prostate cancer were recruited from a large male cancer survivor support and advocacy website. Online participants completed survey questions asking what rehabilitation treatments were offered, what they tried and what their satisfaction was with outcomes., Results: Most participants (68.4%) reported being out as gay/bisexual to at least 1 cancer specialist. Only 8.8% reported that a sexual history was taken. The most common problems reported were loss of ejaculate (93.8%), erectile difficulties (89.6%), change in sense of orgasm (87.0%), loss of sexual confidence (76.7%), changes to the penis (65.8%), increased pain in receptive anal sex (64.8%), urinary incontinence not related to sex (64.2%) and urinary incontinence during sex (49.2%). Of these factors only loss of ejaculate, erectile difficulties and nonsexual urinary problems were commonly discussed by clinicians during prostate cancer treatment. Satisfaction with specific rehabilitation options varied widely., Conclusions: Treatment for prostate cancer lacks adequate history taking and consensus around rehabilitation practices, resulting in idiosyncratic approaches to rehabilitation. Four clinical questions may improve outcomes. Prostate cancer specialists need education to become culturally competent in addressing the unique needs of gay and bisexual patients.

Using data from 2002 to 2012 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, we estimated that the prevalence of overall antidepressant prescriptions increased almost twofold from 5.2% in 2002 to 10.1% in 2012 in office-based outpatient visits made by older adults. In addition, older adults were exposed to the risk of potentially avoidable adverse drug events in approximately one in ten antidepressant-related visits, or 2.2 million visits annually. Amitriptyline and doxepin were the two most frequent disease-independent potentially inappropriate antidepressants. Racial/ethnic minorities, and Medicaid beneficiaries had higher odds of potentially inappropriate antidepressant prescriptions (P < 0.05). Efforts to minimize potentially inappropriate antidepressant prescriptions are needed.

Aims: Although more than half of the world's children with T1D live in developing countries, still little is known about how caregiving for children with T1D affects the parent/caregivers' health in low- and middle-income country settings., Methods: Caregivers of 178 children with T1D from a specialized diabetes clinic in Maharashtra, India were surveyed. Ordered and standard logistic regression models adjusted for caregiver, household and child characteristics, were fit to estimate the association of caregiving burden (objective caregiving burden and subjective caregiving burden (Zarit Burden Inventory - tertiles)) with caregiver depression (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9]) and well-being (CDC Unhealthy Days) outcomes., Results: Caregivers with high subjective caregiving burden had a 41% probability of most severe depression category (probability: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.25, 0.57) and an 39% probability of low well-being (probability: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.51), compared to caregivers with low subjective burden. Caregivers with high subjective caregiving burden and high objective direct caregiving burden had an adjusted 30% probability of elevated depressive symptoms (PHQ≥10)., Conclusions: Among Indian T1D caregivers, high subjective caregiving burden and objective direct caregiving burden were associated with a high risk for caregiver depression and poorer well-being., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Almost 80% of the global burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) occurs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, LMICs do not have well-established, low-technology ways to quantify and communicate CVD risk at population or individual levels. We examined predicted heart/vascular age (PHA) in six LMICs and the United States. Data were from CVD-free adults in World Health Organization Study on Global Aging and Adult Health (n = 29094) and US National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (n = 6726). PHA was calculated using the non-laboratory Framingham CVD risk equation. High excess PHA (HEPHA) was defined as the differences between PHA and chronological age >5 years. Logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with HEPHA. Age-standardized prevalence of HEPHA was higher in Russia 52%; China 56%; Mexico 59%; and South Africa 65% compared to the US 45%, Ghana 36%; and India 38%. In LMICs, higher income, being divorced/widowed, alcohol intake and abdominal obesity had higher odds of HEPHA; higher education, fruit intake and physical activity had lower odds of HEPHA. The use of PHA may offer a useful avenue to communicate CVD risk. Interventions tailored at socioeconomic and cultural factors that influence CVD risk factors may be necessary to prevent CVD in LMICs.

Existing literature shows mixed findings regarding the efficacy and effectiveness of depression screening, and relatively little is known about the effectiveness of depression screening among older adults in primary care visits in the U.S. This study examines the effects of depression screening on the three following outcomes: mood disorder diagnoses, overall antidepressant prescriptions, and potentially inappropriate antidepressant prescriptions among older adults ages 65 or older in office-based outpatient primary care settings. We used data from 2010-2012 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS), a nationally representative sample of office-based primary care outpatient visits among older adults (n=9,313 unweighted). We employed an instrumental variable approach to control for selection bias in our repeated cross-sectional population-based study. Injury prevention and stress management were selected as instrumental variables, as they were considered completely exogenous to outcomes of interests using conceptual and statistical criteria. We conducted multivariate bivariate probit (biprobit) regression analyses to investigate the effect of depression screening on each outcome, when controlled for other covariates. We found that depression screening was negatively associated with potentially inappropriate antidepressant prescriptions (β=-2.17; 95% CI -2.80 to -1.53; p<0.001). However, no significant effect of depression screening on diagnosis of mood disorders and overall antidepressant prescriptions was found. Overall, depression screening had a negative effect on potentially inappropriate antidepressant prescriptions. Primary care physicians and other healthcare providers should actively utilize depression screening to minimize potentially inappropriate antidepressant prescriptions in older adult patients., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To determine whether physical activity and body mass index (BMI) predict instrumental or basic activities of daily living (I/ADL) trajectories before or after stroke compared to individuals who remained stroke-free., Methods: Using a prospective cohort, the Health and Retirement Study, we followed adults without a history of stroke in 1998 (n = 18,117) for up to 14 years. We estimated linear regression models of I/ADL trajectories comparing individuals who remained stroke-free throughout follow-up (n = 16,264), those who survived stroke (n = 1,374), and those who died after stroke and before the next interview wave (n = 479). We evaluated whether I/ADL trajectories differed by physical activity or BMI at baseline (before stroke), adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic covariates., Results: Compared to those who were physically active, stroke survivors who were physically inactive at baseline had a lower probability of independence in ADLs and IADLs 3 years after stroke (risk difference = -0.18 and -0.16 for ADLs and IADLs, respectively). However, a similar difference in the probability of independence was also present 3 years before stroke, and we observed no evidence that physical activity slowed the rate of decline in independence before or after stroke. Unlike the results for physical activity, we did not observe a consistent pattern for the probability of independence in ADLs or IADLs comparing obese stroke survivors to normal-weight or to overweight stroke survivors 3 years before stroke or 3 years after stroke., Conclusions: Physical inactivity predicts a higher risk of being dependent both before and after stroke., (© 2017 American Academy of Neurology.)

In this paper, we examine patterns of self-reported diagnosis of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and prevalences of algorithm/measured test-based, undiagnosed, and untreated NCDs in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, Russia, and South Africa. Nationally representative samples of older adults aged ≥50 years were analyzed from wave 1 of the World Health Organization's Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (2007-2010; n = 34,149). Analyses focused on 6 conditions: angina, arthritis, asthma, chronic lung disease, depression, and hypertension. Outcomes for these NCDs were: 1) self-reported disease, 2) algorithm/measured test-based disease, 3) undiagnosed disease, and 4) untreated disease. Algorithm/measured test-based prevalence of NCDs was much higher than self-reported prevalence in all 6 countries, indicating underestimation of NCD prevalence in low- and middle-income countries. Undiagnosed prevalence of NCDs was highest for hypertension, ranging from 19.7% (95% confidence interval (CI): 18.1, 21.3) in India to 49.6% (95% CI: 46.2, 53.0) in South Africa. The proportion untreated among all diseases was highest for depression, ranging from 69.5% (95% CI: 57.1, 81.9) in South Africa to 93.2% (95% CI: 90.1, 95.7) in India. Higher levels of education and wealth significantly reduced the odds of an undiagnosed condition and untreated morbidity. A high prevalence of undiagnosed NCDs and an even higher proportion of untreated NCDs highlights the inadequacies in diagnosis and management of NCDs in local health-care systems., (© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Factors that may contribute to the development of frailty in late life have not been widely investigated. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study cohort presents an opportunity to examine relationships of midlife risk factors with frailty in late life. However, we first present findings on the validation of an established frailty phenotype in this predominantly biracial population of older adults., Methods: Among 6,080 participants, we defined frailty based upon the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) criteria incorporating measures of weight loss, exhaustion, slow walking speed, low physical activity, and low grip strength. Criterion and predictive validity of the frailty phenotype were estimated from associations between frailty status and participants' physical and mental health status, physiologic markers, and incident clinical outcomes., Results: A total of 393 (6.5%) participants were classified as frail and 50.4% pre-frail, similar to CHS (6.9% frail, 46.6% pre-frail). In age-adjusted analyses, frailty was concurrently associated with depressive symptoms, low self-rated health, low medication adherence, and clinical biomarker levels (ie, cholesterol, hemoglobin A1c, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, and hemoglobin). During 1-year follow-up, frailty was associated with falls, low physical ability, fatigue, and mortality., Conclusions: These findings support the validity of the CHS frailty phenotype in the ARIC Study cohort. Future studies in ARIC may elucidate early-life exposures that contribute to late-life frailty., (© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective: Prostate cancer, the second most common cancer among men, typically onsets in middle or older age. Gay/bisexual men have different social networks and unique social support needs, particularly as it pertains to health care access and prostate side effects. Few studies have investigated the availability and provision of social support for gay and bisexual men with prostate cancer (GBMPCa)., Methods: This study used qualitative data from in-depth, semistructured, one-on-one telephone interviews with 30 GBMPCa recruited from a national cancer support group network, Malecare. Inductive and deductive codes were used to identify themes about social support provided to GBMPCa during diagnosis and treatment., Results: GBMPCa reported help from friends, family (parents and siblings), ex-partners, and paid caregivers. Men in relationships reported varying levels of reliance on their partners for support, in part due to relationship dynamics and living arrangements. Single men showed a theme of independence ("I turned down all help," "My friends don't want to be bothered"). After diagnosis, many men reported seeking informational and emotional support from prostate cancer support groups; most expressed wanting more support groups specifically for GBMPCa. During or after treatment, men reported receiving a range of instrumental support, largely a function of relationship status and treatment type., Conclusions: GBMPCa received variable, but generally low, social support during diagnosis and treatment and from a diverse social network, including a prominence of friends and family. Clinicians should be aware of GBMPCa's distinct patterns of social support needs and providers., (Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Introduction: Legally mandated segregation policies dictated significant differences in the educational experiences of black and white Americans through the first half of the 20th century, with markedly lower quality in schools attended by black children. We determined whether school term length, a common marker of school quality, was associated with blood pressure and hypertension among a cohort of older Americans who attended school during the de jure segregation era., Methods: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I and II data were linked to state level historical information on school term length. We used race and gender-stratified linear regression models adjusted for age, state and year of birth to estimate effects of term length on systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) and hypertension for US-born adults. We also tested whether correcting years of schooling for term length differences attenuated estimated racial disparities., Results: Among black women, 10% longer school term was associated with lower SBP, DBP and hypertension prevalence (2.1 mmHg, 1.0 mmHg, and 5.0 percentage points respectively). Associations for whites and for black men were not statistically significant. Adjustment for education incorporating corrections for differences in school term length slightly attenuated estimated racial disparities., Conclusions: Longer school term length predicted better BP outcomes among black women, but not black men or whites.

Background: Although research has demonstrated that depressive symptoms predict stroke incidence, depressive symptoms are dynamic. It is unclear whether stroke risk persists if depressive symptoms remit., Methods and Results: Health and Retirement Study participants (n=16 178, stroke free and noninstitutionalized at baseline) were interviewed biennially from 1998 to 2010. Stroke and depressive symptoms were assessed through self-report of doctors' diagnoses and a modified Center for Epidemiologic Studies - Depression scale (high was ≥3 symptoms), respectively. We examined whether depressive symptom patterns, characterized across 2 successive interviews (stable low/no, onset, remitted, or stable high depressive symptoms) predicted incident stroke (1192 events) during the subsequent 2 years. We used marginal structural Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for demographics, health behaviors, chronic conditions, and attrition. We also estimated effects stratified by age (≥65 years), race or ethnicity (non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, Hispanic), and sex. Stroke hazard was elevated among participants with stable high (adjusted hazard ratio 2.14, 95% CI 1.69 to 2.71) or remitted (adjusted hazard ratio 1.66, 95% CI 1.22 to 2.26) depressive symptoms compared with participants with stable low/no depressive symptoms. Stable high depressive symptom predicted stroke among all subgroups. Remitted depressive symptoms predicted increased stroke hazard among women (adjusted hazard ratio 1.86, 95% CI 1.30 to 2.66) and non-Hispanic white participants (adjusted hazard ratio 1.66, 95% CI 1.18 to 2.33) and was marginally associated among Hispanics (adjusted hazard ratio 2.36, 95% CI 0.98 to 5.67)., Conclusions: In this cohort, persistently high depressive symptoms were associated with increased stroke risk. Risk remained elevated even if depressive symptoms remitted over a 2-year period, suggesting cumulative etiologic mechanisms linking depression and stroke., (© 2015 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley Blackwell.)

Background: Individual-level modifiers can delay onset of limitations in basic activities of daily living (ADLs) among cognitively impaired individuals. We assessed whether these modifiers also delayed onset of limitations in instrumental ADLs (IADLs) among individuals at elevated dementia risk., Objectives: To determine whether modifiable individual-level factors delay incident IADL limitations among adults stratified by dementia risk., Methods: Health and Retirement Study participants aged 65+ without activity limitations in 1998 or 2000 (n = 5,219) were interviewed biennially through 2010. Dementia probability, categorized in quartiles, was used to predict incident IADL limitations with Poisson regression. We estimated relative (risk ratio) and absolute (number of limitations) effects from models including dementia, individual-level modifiers (physical inactivity, smoking, no alcohol consumption, and depression) and interaction terms between dementia and individual-level modifiers., Results: Dementia probability quartile predicted incident IADL limitations (relative risk for highest versus lowest quartile = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.28-0.70). Most modifiers did not significantly increase risk of IADL limitations among the cognitively impaired. Physical inactivity (RR = 1.60; 95% CI: 1.16, 2.19) increased the risk of IADL limitations among the cognitively impaired. The interaction between physical inactivity and low dementia probability was statistically significant (p = 0.009) indicating that physical inactivity had significantly larger effects on incident IADLs among cognitively normal than among those with high dementia probability., Conclusion: Physical activity may protect against IADL limitations while not smoking, alcohol consumption, and not being depressed do not afford substantial protection among the cognitively impaired. RESULTS highlight the need for extra support for IADLs among individuals with cognitive losses.

Objectives: To assess the association of current and long-term spousal caregiving with risk of depression in a nationally (U.S.) representative sample of older adults., Methods: We studied married and depression-free Health and Retirement Study respondents aged 50 years and older (n = 9,420) at baseline from 2000 to 2010. Current (≥14 hours per week of help with instrumental/activities of daily living for a spouse in the most recent biennial survey) and long-term caregiving (care at two consecutive surveys) were used to predict onset of elevated depressive symptoms (≥3 on a modified Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale) with discrete-time hazards models and time-updated exposure and covariate information., Results: Current caregiving was associated with significant elevations in risk of depression onset (hazard ratio: 1.64; Wald χ(2), 1 df: 28.34; p <0.0001). Effect estimates for long-term caregiving were similar (hazard ratio: 1.52, Wald χ(2), 1 df: 3.63; p = 0.06)., Conclusions: Current spousal caregiving significantly predicted onset of depression; the association was not exacerbated by longer duration of caregiving., (Copyright © 2014 American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Few longitudinal studies compare changes in instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) among stroke-free adults to prospectively document IADL changes among adults who experience stroke. We contrast annual declines in IADL independence for older individuals who remain stroke free to those for individuals who experienced stroke. We also assess whether these patterns differ by sex, race, or Southern birthplace., Methods: Health and Retirement Study participants who were stroke free in 1998 (n = 17,741) were followed through 2010 (average follow-up = 8.9 years) for self- or proxy-reported stroke. We used logistic regressions to compare annual changes in odds of self-reported independence in six IADLs among those who remained stroke free throughout follow-up (n = 15,888), those who survived a stroke (n = 1,412), and those who had a stroke and did not survive to participate in another interview (n = 442). We present models adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic covariates and also stratified on sex, race, and Southern birthplace., Results: Compared with similar cohort members who remained stroke free, participants who developed stroke had faster declines in IADL independence and lower probability of IADL independence prior to stroke. After stroke, independence declined at an annual rate similar to those who did not have stroke. The black-white disparity in IADL independence narrowed poststroke., Conclusion: Racial differences in IADL independence are apparent long before stroke onset. Poststroke differences in IADL independence largely reflect prestroke disparities., (© The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective: To identify modifying factors that preserve functional independence among individuals at high dementia risk., Methods: Health and Retirement Study participants aged 65 years or older without baseline activities of daily living (ADL) limitations (n = 4,922) were interviewed biennially for up to 12 years. Dementia probability, estimated from direct and proxy cognitive assessments, was categorized as low (i.e., normal cognitive function), mild, moderate, or high risk (i.e., very impaired) and used to predict incident ADL limitations (censoring after limitation onset). We assessed multiplicative and additive interactions of dementia category with modifiers (previously self-reported physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, depression, and income) in predicting incident limitations., Results: Smoking, not drinking, and income predicted incident ADL limitations and had larger absolute effects on ADL onset among individuals with high dementia probability than among cognitively normal individuals. Smoking increased the 2-year risk of ADL limitations onset from 9.9% to 14.9% among the lowest dementia probability category and from 32.6% to 42.7% among the highest dementia probability category. Not drinking increased the 2-year risk of ADL limitations onset by 2.1 percentage points among the lowest dementia probability category and 13.2 percentage points among the highest dementia probability category. Low income increased the 2-year risk of ADL limitations onset by 0.4% among the lowest dementia probability category and 12.9% among the highest dementia probability category., Conclusions: Smoking, not drinking, and low income predict incident dependence even in the context of cognitive impairment. Regardless of cognitive status, reducing these risk factors may improve functional outcomes and delay institutionalization.

Objectives: To assess the correspondence between self-reported and measured indicators of mobility disability in older adults in six low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)., Design: Cross-sectional analysis of Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health (SAGE)., Setting: Household surveys in China, India, Russia, South Africa, Ghana, and Mexico., Participants: Community-dwelling SAGE respondents aged 65 and older (N = 12,215)., Measurements: Objective mobility was assessed according to a 4-m timed walk at normal pace conducted in the respondent's home; slow walking speed was defined according to the Fried frailty criteria (lowest quintile of walking speed, adjusted for age and height). Self-reported mobility difficulty was assessed according to a question about ability to walk 1 km; this response was dichotomized into any versus no self-reported difficulty walking 1 km (reference no difficulty). The age- (5-year groups) and sex-specific probability of self-reporting difficulty walking 1 km was estimated in those with a measured slow walk using logistic regression., Results: Between 42% and 76% of people aged 65 and older reported any difficulty walking 1 km. Average walking speed was slowest in Russia (0.61 m/s) and fastest in China (0.88 m/s). The probabilities of reporting any difficulty walking 1 km in women aged 65 to 69, for example, with a slow walk varied (China = 0.35, India = 0.90, Russia = 0.68, South Africa = 0.81, Ghana = 0.91, Mexico = 0.73; test of country differences P < .001). There was significant variation at older ages, albeit smaller in magnitude. Patterns were similar for men., Conclusion: Although correspondence between an objective and self-reported measure of mobility was generally high, correspondence differed significantly between LMICs. International comparisons of self-reported disability measures for clinical, prevention, and policy guidelines in LMICs should consider that self-reported data may not correspond to objective measures uniformly between countries., (© 2014, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2014, The American Geriatrics Society.)

Background: Post-stroke memory impairment is more common among older adults, women and blacks. It is unclear whether post-stroke differences reflect differential effects of stroke per se or differences in prestroke functioning. We compare memory trajectories before and after stroke by age, sex and race., Methods: Health and Retirement Study participants aged ≥50 years (n = 17,341), with no stroke history at baseline, were interviewed biennially up to 10 years for first self- or proxy-reported stroke (n = 1,574). Segmented linear regression models were used to compare annual rates of memory change before and after stroke among 1,169 stroke survivors, 405 stroke decedents and 15,767 stroke-free participants. Effect modification was evaluated with analyses stratified by baseline age (≤70 vs. >70), sex and race (white vs. nonwhite), and using interaction terms between age/sex/race indicators and annual memory change., Results: Older (>70 years) adults experienced a faster memory decline before stroke (-0.19 vs. -0.10 points/year for survivors, -0.24 vs. -0.13 points/year for decedents, p < 0.001 for both interactions), and among stroke survivors, larger memory decrements (-0.64 vs. -0.26 points, p < 0.001) at stroke and faster memory decline (-0.15 vs. -0.07 points/year, p = 0.003) after stroke onset, compared to younger adults. Female stroke survivors experienced a faster prestroke memory decline than male stroke survivors (-0.14 vs. -0.10 points/year, p < 0.001). However, no sex differences were seen for other contrasts. Although whites had higher post-stroke memory scores than nonwhites, race was not associated with rate of memory decline during any period of time; i.e. race did not significantly modify the rate of decline before or after stroke or the immediate effect of stroke on memory., Conclusions: Older age predicted worse memory change before, at and after stroke onset. Sex and race differences in post-stroke memory outcomes might be attributable to prestroke disparities, which may be unrelated to cerebrovascular disease., (© 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Objectives: To compare typical age-related changes in activities of daily living (ADLs) independence in stroke-free adults with long-term ADL trajectories before and after stroke., Design: Prospective, observational study., Setting: Community-dwelling Health and Retirement Study (HRS) cohort., Participants: HRS participants who were stroke free in 1998 and were followed through 2008 (average follow-up 7.9 years) (N = 18,441)., Measurements: Strokes were assessed using self- or proxy-report of a doctor's diagnosis and month and year of event. Logistic regression was used to compare within-person changes in odds of self-reported independence in five ADLs in those who remained stroke free throughout follow-up (n = 16,816), those who survived a stroke (n = 1,208), and those who had a stroke and did not survive to participate in another interview (n = 417). Models were adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic covariates., Results: Even before stroke, those who later developed stroke had significantly lower ADL independence and were experiencing faster independence losses than similar-aged individuals who remained stroke free. Of those who developed a stroke, survivors experienced slower pre-stroke loss of ADL independence than those who died. ADL independence declined at the time of stroke and decline continued afterwards., Conclusion: In adults at risk of stroke, disproportionate ADL limitations emerge well before stroke onset. Excess disability in stroke survivors should not be entirely attributed to effects of acute stroke or quality of acute stroke care. Although there are many possible causal pathways between ADL and stroke, the association may be noncausal. For example, ADL limitations may be a consequence of stroke risk factors (e.g., diabetes mellitus) or early cerebrovascular ischemia., (© 2013, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2013, The American Geriatrics Society.)

Objective: To test whether the association between depressive symptoms and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality is stronger among Blacks than Whites., Design, Setting and Participants: 2,638 Black and 15,132 White participants from a prospective, observational study of community-dwelling Health and Retirement Study participants (a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults aged > or = 50). Average follow-up was 9.2 years., Outcome Measure: Cause of death (per ICD codes) and month of death were identified from National Death Index linkages., Methods: The associations between elevated depressive symptoms and mortality from stroke, ischemic heart disease (IHD), or total CVD were assessed using Cox proportional hazards models to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs). We used interaction terms for race by depressive symptoms to assess effect modification (multiplicative scale)., Results: For both Whites and Blacks, depressive symptoms were associated with a significantly elevated hazard of total CVD mortality (Whites: HR=1.46; 95% CI: 1.33, 1.61; Blacks: HR=1.42, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.83). Adjusting for health and socioeconomic covariates, Whites with elevated depressive symptoms had a 13% excess hazard of CVD mortality (HR=1.13, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.25) compared to Whites without elevated depressive symptoms. The HR in Blacks was similar, although the confidence interval included the null (HR=1.12, 95% CI: .86, 1.46). The hazard associated with elevated depressive symptoms did not differ significantly by race (P>.15 for all comparisons). Patterns were similar in analyses restricted to respondents age > or =65., Conclusion: Clinicians should consider the depressive state of either Black or White patients as a potential CVD mortality risk factor.

Background: Prior evidence suggests that caregiving may increase risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) onset. This association has never been examined in a nationally (USA) representative sample, and prior studies could not fully control for socioeconomic confounders. This paper seeks to estimate the association between spousal caregiving and incident CVD in older Americans., Methods: Married, CVD-free Health and Retirement Study respondents aged 50+ years (n=8472) were followed up to 8 years (1669 new stroke or heart disease diagnoses). Current caregiving exposure was defined as assisting a spouse with basic or instrumental activities of daily living ≥14 h/week according to the care recipients' report in the most recent prior biennial survey; we define providing ≥14 h/week of care at two consecutive biennial surveys as 'long-term caregiving'. Inverse probability weighted discrete-time hazard models with time-updated exposure and covariate information (including socioeconomic and cardiovascular risk factors) were used to estimate the effect of caregiving on incident CVD., Results: Caregiving significantly predicted CVD incidence (HR=1.35, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.68) in the population overall. Long-term caregiving was associated with double the risk of CVD onset (HR=1.95, 95% CI 1.19 to 3.18). This association for long-term care givers varied significantly by race (p<0.01): caregiving predicted CVD onset for white (HR=2.37, 95% CI 1.43 to 3.92) but not for non-white (HR=0.28, 95% CI 0.06 to 1.28)., Conclusions: Spousal caregiving independently predicted risk of CVD in a large sample of US adults. There was significant evidence that the effect for long-term care givers differs for non-whites and white.

Self-reported hypertension is frequently used for health surveillance. However, little is known about the validity of self-reported hypertension among older Americans by nativity status. This study compared self-reported and measured hypertension among older black, white, and Hispanic Americans by nativity using the 2006 and 2008 Health and Retirement Study (n = 13,451). Sensitivity and specificity of self-reported hypertension were calculated using the Seventh report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure definition. Sensitivity was high among older blacks (88.9%), whites (82.8%), and Hispanics (84.0%), and both foreign-born (83.2%) and US-born (84.0%). Specificity was above 90% for both US-born and foreign-born, but higher for whites (92.8%) than blacks (86.0%). Despite the potential vulnerability of older foreign-born Americans, self-reported hypertension may be considered a reasonable estimate of hypertension status. Future research should confirm these findings in samples with a larger and more ethnically diverse foreign-born population.

Background: Caring for one's spouse has been associated with poor health, including risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) onset and mortality. However, few studies have assessed the risk of incident hypertension associated with spousal caregiving. This paper investigates this association in a large, nationally representative sample of American older adults., Methods: Married, hypertension-free, Health and Retirement Study (HRS) respondents aged 50+ in 2000, (n = 5,708) were followed up to 8 years (1,708 new self-reported hypertension diagnoses). Current caregiving exposure was defined as assisting a spouse with instrumental or basic activities of daily living (IADLs) 14+ h/week; we define providing ≥14 h/week of care at two consecutive biennial surveys as "long-term caregiving." We used inverse probability weighted discrete-time hazard models with time-updated exposure and covariates to estimate effects of current and long-term caregiving on incident hypertension. We tested for effect modification by race, gender, and recipient memory illness. Sensitivity analyses restricted to respondents whose spouses had care needs., Results: After adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and health factors, (including risk behaviors, comorbid conditions, and self-rated health), current caregiving significantly predicted hypertension incidence (risk ratio (RR) = 1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 1.83). For long-term caregivers, there was significant evidence of risk of hypertension onset associated with caregiving (RR = 2.29, 95% CI: 1.17, 4.49). The risk of hypertension onset associated with both current and long-term caregiving did not vary by race, gender, or recipient memory illness diagnosis. Sensitivity analyses supported the primary findings., Conclusions: Providing IADL care to a spouse significantly predicted hypertension onset in a nationally representative sample of US adults.

Although depressive symptoms have been linked to stroke, most research has been in relatively ethnically homogeneous, predominantly white, samples. Using the United States based Health and Retirement Study, we compared the relationships between elevated depressive symptoms and incident first stroke for Hispanic, black, or white/other participants (N = 18,648) and estimated the corresponding Population Attributable Fractions. The prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms was higher in blacks (27%) and Hispanics (33%) than whites/others (18%). Elevated depressive symptoms prospectively predicted stroke risk in the whites/other group (HR = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.36-1.73) and among blacks (HR = 1.31; 95% CI: 1.05-1.65). The HR was similar but only marginally statistically significant among Hispanics (HR = 1.33; 95% CI: 0.92-1.91). The Population Attributable Fraction, indicating the percent of first strokes that would be prevented if the incident stroke rate in those with elevated depressive symptoms was the same as the rate for those without depressive symptoms, was 8.3% for whites/others, 7.8% for blacks, and 10.3% for Hispanics.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) represent the largest group with HIV in the U.S. (CDC 2005). Interventions for prevention with HIV-infected MSM are urgently needed, and integrating prevention into HIV care represents one opportunity for this advancement. This article describes the development and results of initial pilot testing of a behavioral intervention to reduce HIV sexual risk transmission behavior for HIV-infected MSM that is integrated into HIV care. To illustrate our intervention development process, we describe the setting and population (HIV-infected MSM patients at Fenway Community Health in Boston) for the project, the initial conceptualization of the project including its guiding conceptual model (information, motivation, and behavioral skills model, IMB: Fisher and Fischer 1993), the iterative process of attaining and integrating input from stakeholders, the use of peer interventionists, the open phase pilot and participant input, an overview of the intervention content, and, finally, lessons learned. The result of this process is an example of an intervention developed with strong input from the community and other stakeholders, which is ready for further testing in a randomized controlled trial.