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"Ballard, Rachel"
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A systematic review of physical activity and quality of life and well-being
by
Vásquez, Priscilla M
,
Sheppard, Bonny Bloodgood
,
Petruzzello, Steven J
in
Dementia
,
Exercise
,
Physical Activity/Bodyweight/Nutrition and Energy Balance
2020
Participation in regular physical activity improves quality of life and well-being in many, including older adults and adults.
Abstract
Maintaining or improving quality of life (QoL) and well-being is a universal goal across the lifespan. Being physically active has been suggested as one way to enhance QoL and well-being. In this systematic review, conducted in part for the 2018 U.S. Health and Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Scientific Advisory Committee Report, we examined the relationship between physical activity (PA) and QoL and well-being experienced by the general population across the lifespan and by persons with psychiatric and neurologic conditions. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and pooled analyses from 2006 to 2018 were used for the evidence base. Strong evidence (predominantly from randomized controlled trials [RCTs]) demonstrated that, for adults aged 18–65 years and older adults (primarily 65 years and older), PA improves QoL and well-being when compared with minimal or no-treatment controls. Moderate evidence indicated that PA improves QoL and well-being in individuals with schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease, and limited evidence indicated that PA improves QoL and well-being for youth and for adults with major clinical depression or bipolar disorder. Insufficient evidence existed for individuals with dementia because of a small number of studies with mixed results. Future high-quality research designs should include RCTs involving longer interventions testing different modes and intensities of PA in diverse populations of healthy people and individuals with cognitive (e.g., dementia) and mental health conditions (e.g., schizophrenia) to precisely characterize the effects of different forms of PA on aspects of QoL and well-being.
Journal Article
Self-reported symptoms of arm lymphedema and health-related quality of life among female breast cancer survivors
by
Baumgartner, Richard
,
Baumgartner, Kathy B.
,
McTiernan, Anne
in
692/1807/1447
,
692/308/174
,
692/308/409
2021
We examined cross-sectional associations between arm lymphedema symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in the Health, Eating, Activity and Lifestyle (HEAL) Study. 499 women diagnosed with localized or regional breast cancer at ages 35–64 years completed a survey, on average 40 months after diagnosis, querying presence of lymphedema, nine lymphedema-related symptoms, e.g., tension, burning pain, mobility loss, and warmth/redness, and HRQoL. Analysis of covariance models were used to assess HRQoL scores in relation to presence of lymphedema and lymphedema-related symptoms. Lymphedema was self-reported by 137 women, of whom 98 were experiencing lymphedema at the time of the assessment. The most common symptoms were heaviness (52%), numbness (47%), and tightness (45%). Perceived physical health was worse for women reporting past or current lymphedema than those reporting no lymphedema (
P
-value < 0.0001). No difference was observed for perceived mental health (
P
-value = 0.31). Perceived physical health, stress, and lymphedema-specific HRQoL scores worsened as number of symptoms increased (
P
-values ≤ 0.01). Women reporting tension in the arm had lower physical health (
P
-value = 0.01), and those experiencing burning pain, tension, heaviness, or warmth/redness in the arm had lower lymphedema-specific HRQoL (
P
-values < 0.05). Treatment targeting specific lymphedema-related symptoms in addition to size/volume reduction may improve some aspects of HRQoL among affected women.
Journal Article
Identification of Effective Programs to Improve Access to and Use of Trails among Youth from Under-Resourced Communities: A Review
by
Ballard, Rachel M.
,
Berrigan, David
,
Hill, Michael
in
Access to Information
,
Adults
,
Behavior
2020
The primary purpose of this paper is to identify and review studies evaluating the effectiveness of programs to increase access to trails and trails use (physical activity) among youth from under-resourced communities. Three additional goals include identifying: (1) Correlates of physical activity/trail use and features of transportation systems and/or built environment and land use destinations, that may inform and support the planning and implementation of programs to promote trail use among youth, (2) benefits associated with trail use, and (3) barriers to trail use. Under-resourced communities are defined as those lacking sufficient resources (i.e., under-funded). METHODS: A review of the literature was conducted to identify, abstract, and evaluate studies related to programs to promote trail use among youth and youth from under-resourced communities. In anticipation of very few studies being published about this topic, studies were also reviewed to identify correlates of transportation systems and built environment and land use destinations related to increases in physical activity, and benefits of, and barriers to trail use. PUBMED, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Sportdiscus, Annual Reviews, American Trails, and Google Scholar databases were searched using terms including trails, built environment, physical activity, exercise, walking, children, adolescents, and youth to identify studies that potentially related to the purposes for conducting this review. Review methods identified, 5278 studies based on our search terms. A review of study titles, abstracts, and select full article screens determined that 5049 studies did not meet the study inclusion criteria, leaving 221 studies included in this review. RESULTS: No studies were located that evaluated programs designed to promote and increase trail use among youth, including youth from under-resourced communities. Eight studies used longitudinal or quasi-experimental designs to evaluate physical activity and neighborhood characteristics prospectively among adolescent girls (n = 1), the effects of the path or trail development on physical activity behaviors of children, youth, and adults (n = 4), marketing or media campaigns (n = 2), and wayfinding and incremental distance signage (n = 1) to promote increased trail use. Correlates of transportation systems (e.g., trail access, road traffic congestion related to safe active travel, lack of sidewalks, closer proximity to trails, access to transportation), destinations (e.g., park availability and access, park improvements, greenspaces), or both routes and destinations (e.g., perceptions of safety, lighting), were identified. These correlates may support the planning and implementation of programs to increase trail use among youth, or may facilitate the connection of trails or routes to destinations in communities. Barriers to trail use included costs, crime, lack of transportation, lack of role models using trails, and institutional discrimination. Conclusions: Scientific evidence in support of addressing the underrepresentation of trail use by youth from under-resourced communities is lacking. However, there is a related body of evidence that may inform how to develop programs that support trail use by youth from under-resourced areas. Dedicated, deliberate, and systematic efforts will be required to address research and knowledge gaps, and to evaluate programs and practice related to trail use among youth from low income, often racially or ethnically diverse under-resourced neighborhoods or communities.
Journal Article
The Case for Managing Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Pediatric Primary Care
2025
Treatment guidelines published by the American Academy of Pediatrics emphasize that ADHD can be managed in pediatric primary care and outline evidence-based strategies for diagnosis and treatment.1 Many pediatric clinicians manage ADHD, but many do not, leaving their patients with ADHD to seek specialty care in a mental health care system that is increasingly overburdened. Dr. Kim Alleyne, Dr. Jason Fogler, Dr. Kevin M. Simon, Dr. Adiaha Spinks-Franklin, and Dr. Andrea E. Spencer in their article, “Promoting Equitable Engagement in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Care,” address the health care experiences of parents of color in seeking care for their children with inattention or hyperactivity symptoms and provide critical insight into the lenses through which families of color may understand ADHD diagnoses and treatment options. Effective treatment mitigates many of the adverse health, social, and economic outcomes associated with ADHD.5 In our article, “Anticipatory Guidance for Children and Adolescents With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder,” Dr. Julie Sadhu and I describe ways in which pediatricians are ideally suited to accompany children with ADHD and their families through life stages and the unique challenges and opportunities for growth that ADHD treatment presents.
Journal Article
Differences in cancer survival among white and black cancer patients by presence of diabetes mellitus: Estimations based on SEER‐Medicare‐linked data resource
2018
Diabetes prevalence and racial health disparities in the diabetic population are increasing in the US. Population‐based cancer‐specific survival estimates for cancer patients with diabetes have not been assessed. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)‐Medicare linkage provided data on cancer‐specific deaths and diabetes prevalence among 14 separate cohorts representing 1 068 098 cancer patients ages 66 + years diagnosed between 2000 and 2011 in 17 SEER areas. Cancer‐specific survival estimates were calculated by diabetes status adjusted by age, stage, comorbidities, and cancer treatment, and stratified by cancer site and sex with whites without diabetes as the reference group. Black patients had the highest diabetes prevalence particularly among women. Risks of cancer deaths were increased across most cancer sites for patients with diabetes regardless of race. Among men the largest effect of having diabetes on cancer‐specific deaths were observed for black men diagnosed with Non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) (HR = 1.53, 95%CI = 1.33‐1.76) and prostate cancer (HR = 1.37, 95%CI = 1.32‐1.42). Diabetes prevalence was higher for black females compared to white females across all 14 cancer sites and higher for most sites when compared to white and black males. Among women the largest effect of having diabetes on cancer‐specific deaths were observed for black women diagnosed with corpus/uterus cancer (HR = 1.66, 95%CI = 1.54‐1.79), Hodgkin lymphoma (HR = 1.62, 95%CI = 1.02‐2.56) and breast ER+ (HR = 1.39, 95%CI = 1.32‐1.47). The co‐occurrence of diabetes and cancer significantly increases the risk of cancer death. Our study suggests that these risks may vary by cancer site, and indicates the need for future research to address racial and sex disparities and enhance understanding how prevalent diabetes may affect cancer deaths. The co‐occurrence of diabetes and cancer significantly increases the risk of cancer death. Our study suggests that these risks may vary by cancer site, and indicates the need for future research to address racial and sex disparities and enhance understanding how prevalent diabetes may affect cancer deaths.
Journal Article
Association between Class III Obesity (BMI of 40–59 kg/m2) and Mortality: A Pooled Analysis of 20 Prospective Studies
by
Ballard-Barbash, Rachel
,
Brotzman, Michelle
,
Fraser, Gary E.
in
Australia - epidemiology
,
Biology and Life Sciences
,
Body Mass Index
2014
The prevalence of class III obesity (body mass index [BMI]≥40 kg/m2) has increased dramatically in several countries and currently affects 6% of adults in the US, with uncertain impact on the risks of illness and death. Using data from a large pooled study, we evaluated the risk of death, overall and due to a wide range of causes, and years of life expectancy lost associated with class III obesity.
In a pooled analysis of 20 prospective studies from the United States, Sweden, and Australia, we estimated sex- and age-adjusted total and cause-specific mortality rates (deaths per 100,000 persons per year) and multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios for adults, aged 19-83 y at baseline, classified as obese class III (BMI 40.0-59.9 kg/m2) compared with those classified as normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2). Participants reporting ever smoking cigarettes or a history of chronic disease (heart disease, cancer, stroke, or emphysema) on baseline questionnaires were excluded. Among 9,564 class III obesity participants, mortality rates were 856.0 in men and 663.0 in women during the study period (1976-2009). Among 304,011 normal-weight participants, rates were 346.7 and 280.5 in men and women, respectively. Deaths from heart disease contributed largely to the excess rates in the class III obesity group (rate differences = 238.9 and 132.8 in men and women, respectively), followed by deaths from cancer (rate differences = 36.7 and 62.3 in men and women, respectively) and diabetes (rate differences = 51.2 and 29.2 in men and women, respectively). Within the class III obesity range, multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios for total deaths and deaths due to heart disease, cancer, diabetes, nephritis/nephrotic syndrome/nephrosis, chronic lower respiratory disease, and influenza/pneumonia increased with increasing BMI. Compared with normal-weight BMI, a BMI of 40-44.9, 45-49.9, 50-54.9, and 55-59.9 kg/m2 was associated with an estimated 6.5 (95% CI: 5.7-7.3), 8.9 (95% CI: 7.4-10.4), 9.8 (95% CI: 7.4-12.2), and 13.7 (95% CI: 10.5-16.9) y of life lost. A limitation was that BMI was mainly ascertained by self-report.
Class III obesity is associated with substantially elevated rates of total mortality, with most of the excess deaths due to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, and major reductions in life expectancy compared with normal weight. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary.
Journal Article
Electronic health records identify timely trends in childhood mental health conditions
by
Rao, Suchitra
,
Maltenfort, Mitchell
,
Hardan, Antonio Y.
in
Adverse childhood experiences
,
Anxiety
,
Anxiety disorders
2023
Background
Electronic health records (EHRs) data provide an opportunity to collect patient information rapidly, efficiently and at scale. National collaborative research networks, such as PEDSnet, aggregate EHRs data across institutions, enabling rapid identification of pediatric disease cohorts and generating new knowledge for medical conditions. To date, aggregation of EHR data has had limited applications in advancing our understanding of mental health (MH) conditions, in part due to the limited research in clinical informatics, necessary for the translation of EHR data to child mental health research.
Methods
In this cohort study, a comprehensive EHR-based typology was developed by an interdisciplinary team, with expertise in informatics and child and adolescent psychiatry, to query aggregated, standardized EHR data for the full spectrum of MH conditions (disorders/symptoms and exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), across 13 years (2010–2023), from 9 PEDSnet centers. Patients with and without MH disorders/symptoms (without ACEs), were compared by age, gender, race/ethnicity, insurance, and chronic physical conditions. Patients with ACEs alone were compared with those that also had MH disorders/symptoms. Prevalence estimates for patients with 1
+
disorder/symptoms and for specific disorders/symptoms and exposure to ACEs were calculated, as well as risk for developing MH disorder/symptoms.
Results
The EHR study data set included 7,852,081 patients < 21 years of age, of which 52.1% were male. Of this group, 1,552,726 (19.8%), without exposure to ACEs, had a lifetime MH disorders/symptoms, 56.5% being male. Annual prevalence estimates of MH disorders/symptoms (without exposure to ACEs) rose from 10.6% to 2010 to 15.1% in 2023, a 44% relative increase, peaking to 15.4% in 2019, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. MH categories with the largest increases between 2010 and 2023 were exposure to ACEs (1.7, 95% CI 1.6–1.8), anxiety disorders (2.8, 95% CI 2.8–2.9), eating/feeding disorders (2.1, 95% CI 2.1–2.2), gender dysphoria/sexual dysfunction (43.6, 95% CI 35.8–53.0), and intentional self-harm/suicidality (3.3, 95% CI 3.2–3.5). White youths had the highest rates in most categories, except for disruptive behavior disorders, elimination disorders, psychotic disorders, and standalone symptoms which Black youths had higher rates. Median age of detection was 8.1 years (IQR 3.5–13.5) with all standalone symptoms recorded earlier than the corresponding MH disorder categories.
Conclusions
These results support EHRs’ capability in capturing the full spectrum of MH disorders/symptoms and exposure to ACEs, identifying the proportion of patients and groups at risk, and detecting trends throughout a 13-year period that included the Covid-19 pandemic. Standardized EHR data, which capture MH conditions is critical for health systems to examine past and current trends for future surveillance. Our publicly available EHR-mental health typology codes can be used in other studies to further advance research in this area.
Journal Article
Prevalence and prognostic effect of sarcopenia in breast cancer survivors: the HEAL Study
by
Ballard-Barbash, Rachel
,
Baumgartner, Richard
,
Villaseñor, Adriana
in
Adult
,
Aged
,
Aged, 80 and over
2012
Purpose
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia and examine whether sarcopenia was associated with overall and breast-cancer-specific mortality in a cohort of women diagnosed with breast cancer (stages I–IIIA).
Methods
A total of 471 breast cancer patients from western Washington State and New Mexico who participated in the prospective Health, Eating, Activity, and Lifestyle Study were included in this study. Appendicular lean mass was measured using dual X-ray absorptiometry scans at study inception, on average, 12 months after diagnosis. Sarcopenia was defined as two standard deviations below the young healthy adult female mean of appendicular lean mass divided by height squared (<5.45 kg/m
2
). Total and breast-cancer-specific mortality data were obtained from Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results registries. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models assessed the associations between sarcopenia and mortality.
Results
Median follow-up was 9.2 years; 75 women were classified as sarcopenic, and among 92 deaths, 46 were attributed to breast cancer. In multivariable models that included age, race-ethnicity/study site, treatment type, comorbidities, waist circumference, and total body fat percentage, sarcopenia was independently associated with overall mortality (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.86; 95 % CI, 1.67–4.89). Sarcopenic women had increased risk of breast-cancer-specific mortality, although the association was not statistically significant (HR = 1.95, 95 % CI, 0.87–4.35).
Conclusion
Sarcopenia is associated with an increased risk of overall mortality in breast cancer survivors and may be associated with breast-cancer-specific mortality. The development of effective interventions to maintain and/or increase skeletal muscle mass to improve prognosis in breast cancer survivors warrants further study.
Implications for Cancer Survivors
Such interventions may help breast cancer patients live longer.
Journal Article