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Objectives: Current evidence describing physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (ST) in people with and without heart failure (HF) is limited. This study examines PA participation and ST in a nationally representative sample of US adults with and without self-reported HF. Methods: The study sample (N = 21,633) included US adult (40 years old and older) participants from the 2007-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. PA participation, ST, and HF status were assessed via a questionnaire. Results: Compared with participants without HF (68%), 84%of participants with HF reported not meeting PA recommendations (P < 0.05). Compared with participants without HF (63%), 75% of participants with HF reported >4.5 hours/day of ST (P < 0.05). Unadjusted analysis suggests that participants with HF had 60% (P < 0.05) lower odds of reporting meeting PA recommendations when compared with those without HF. In a fully adjusted model, these odds were attenuated (odds ratio 0.74, P < 0.05). Similarly, unadjusted analysis illustrated those individuals with HF had 42% (P < 0.05) lower odds of reporting ≤4.5 hours/day of ST. In a fully adjusted model, these odds also were attenuated (odds ratio 0.66, P < 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that US adults with HF report significantly less PA and greater amounts of ST than those without HF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An Occasional Paper of the Bureau of Epidemiology, Florida Department of Health

Public safety telecommunication officers (PSTCOs), aka "dispatchers," are exposed to workplace traumatic stress. Dispatchers are at risk for mental health disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. When compared to controls, emergency dispatchers on duty had significantly higher cortisol levels. Physical health is another area of concern for emergency dispatchers. Indirect effects on health included emotional dysregulation and psychological inflexibility. Coping and wellness strategies, such as peer support, reduce stress and improve physical health. This paper aims to describe the results of a study examining the patterns of exposure to job-related traumatic events and the relationship between workplace traumatic stress and mental health screening scores among a sample of PSTCOs and describe approaches to mitigating these concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental illness is one of the most common health conditions in the United States (US) and impacts over one-in-five adults in the US. Evidence suggests that lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals face a disproportionate burden of poor mental health compared to people who do not identify as members of this population. This study examines mental distress health disparities at and above the frequent mental distress (FMD) threshold among Florida adults who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Data from the 2017-2019 Florida Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were used for the analyses. The primary dependent variables used for the analysis were frequent mental distress (FMD) and persistent mental distress (PMD). This study defines PMD as reporting 21 or more days of poor mental health. The independent variable of interest was sexual orientation. Overall, 5.5% of the population identified as LGB, 13.2% reported FMD, and 8% reported PMD. The study reveals a strong association between identifying as lesbian, gay, or bisexual and mental distress, both frequent and persistent. The findings also displayed Florida adults identifying as LBG also have greater odds of reporting persistent mental distress, controlling for other demographic variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. We examined prevalence rates of water pipe tobacco smoking among young people as a first step in assessing the health implications of this form of tobacco use. Methods. We examined water pipe use with data from the 2007 Florida Youth Tobacco Survey, which assessed tobacco-related beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors among the state's middle and high school students. Results. Four percent of middle school students and 11% of high school students reported ever having used a water pipe. Adolescent boys were significantly more likely than adolescent girls to use water pipes, and African American adolescents were significantly less likely than adolescents from other racial/ ethnic backgrounds to do so. Those who indicated ever having tried cigarettes and those who reported positive attitudes toward the social nature of cigarette use were more likely to have tried water pipes. Conclusions. Water pipe use appears to be widespread among middle and high school students. Further research is needed to assess the health risks associated with water pipe tobacco smoking as well as young people's attitudes toward this form of tobacco use. (Am J Public Health. 2009;99:2014-2019. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2008.151225)

Background: Few studies have examined the gender differences between C-reactive protein (CRP) and muscle strengthening activity (MSA). Methods: The sample (n = 7533) included U.S. adult (≥20 years of age).participants in the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Created categories of MSA participation included no MSA (referent group), some MSA (≥1 to <2 days/week), and meeting the 2008 Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recommendation (>2 days/week). The dependent variable was elevated CRP (>3 to 10 mg/L). Results: Analysis revealed significantly lower odds of having elevated CRP for women reporting some MSA (OR 0.64; 95% Cl 0.44-0.93, P = .0191). Significantly lower odds of men having elevated CRP was observed in those reporting MSA volumes meeting the DHHS recommendation (OR 0.72; 95% Cl 0.59-0.88, P = .0019). Following adjustment for waist circumference (WC) these odds remained significant in men but not women. Conclusions: These results suggest that WC may mediate the associations between MSA and CRP and this relationship may be stronger in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This preliminary study assesses the relationship between active transportation, the built environment, and population perceived health in two comparable cities in the Southeastern United States at different stages of improving infrastructure for active commuting. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey data from 2006 to 2012 were analyzed for Charlotte, NC, and Jacksonville, FL. The annual difference between the percentage of Charlotte respondents rating physical health as good compared to Jacksonville’s increased at a rate of 13% based on an exponential growth regression model (p = 0.02). Supportive urban and transportation policies aimed at facilitating healthy behaviors are associated with healthier communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interrupted time-series analysis (ITSA) can be used to identify, quantify, and evaluate the magnitude and direction of an event on the basis of time-series data. This study evaluates the impact of the bioterrorist anthrax attacks ("Amerithrax") on hospital inpatient discharges in the metropolitan statistical area of Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties in the fourth quarter of 2001. Three statistical methods--standardized incidence ratio (SIR), segmented regression, and an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA)--were used to determine whether Amerithrax influenced inpatient utilization. The SIR found a non-statistically significant 2 percent decrease in hospital discharges. Although the segmented regression test found a slight increase in the discharge rate during the fourth quarter, it was also not statistically significant; therefore, it could not be attributed to Amerithrax. Segmented regression diagnostics preparing for ARIMA indicated that the quarterly data time frame was not serially correlated and violated one of the assumptions for the use of the ARIMA method and therefore could not properly evaluate the impact on the time-series data. Lack of data granularity of the time frames hindered the successful evaluation of the impact by the three analytic methods. This study demonstrates that the granularity of the data points is as important as the number of data points in a time series. ITSA is important for the ability to evaluate the impact that any hazard may have on inpatient utilization. Knowledge of hospital utilization patterns during disasters offer healthcare and civic professionals valuable information to plan, respond, mitigate, and evaluate any outcomes stemming from biothreats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]