When assessing depressive symptoms across ethnic populations it is important to ensure that items from a questionnaire are valued and interpreted similarly across groups. We aimed to examine ...measurement (in)variance of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) among people of Dutch, Moroccan and Turkish origin in the Netherlands and to compare the level of depressive symptoms across these three groups. Data were used from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, including 269 people from Turkish, 209 from Moroccan and 618 from Dutch origin (aged 55–65 years). A multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) was performed to test measurement invariance of the four-factor CES-D across the three cohorts. To compare scores across ethnic groups, we performed ANCOVA. The four subscales of the CES-D (depressed affect, positive affect, somatic symptoms, and interpersonal problems) appeared measurement invariant in people of Dutch, Moroccan and Turkish origin. Turkish and Moroccan participants reported more depressive symptoms on all four domains. The four subscales of the CES-D measure the same constructs in people of Dutch, Moroccan and Turkish origin. Higher levels of depressive symptoms in the migrants groups are therefore not due to measurement invariance, but point to increased mental health problems in these groups.
Aim
Studies have shown better predictive value of self‐rated health (SRH) for mortality when prospective change in SRH is considered. However, retrospective change is more feasible and might have ...better sensitivity to objective health changes. This study compares the predictive value for mortality of retrospectively measured change in SRH (based on a “then‐test”) with current SRH and prospectively measured change in SRH.
Methods
Data from two waves of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (2001–2003 and 2005–2006 T0, n = 1894) were used. Retrospective change was defined as the difference between SRH at T0 (“current SRH”) and SRH measured with a then‐test at T0, asking for a renewed judgement of one's health at the previous wave. Prospective change was defined as change in SRH between the two waves. We applied Cox proportional hazards analysis to predict 5‐year mortality.
Results
Having poorer current SRH significantly predicted mortality (HR poor vs very good SRH = 4.42). Declined SRH was associated with higher mortality risk, but only when measured prospectively (one point decline vs no change HR = 1.33; two points decline HR = 1.95). After adjusting for current SRH, neither change measure predicted mortality. Results were similar in subgroups that did and did not experience incident diseases or limitations between the two waves.
Conclusions
Neither retrospective, nor prospective changes in SRH improved the prediction of mortality in older adults over current SRH. These results imply that using a standard single indicator for self‐rated health in research or clinical practice might suffice to identify those with a high risk of future negative health outcomes. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2013; 13: 678–686.
Abstract Introduction Shift-work is a riskfactor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). We studied the association between irregular working hours and CVD in a multi-ethnic population in the Netherlands, ...and compared this association between various ethnicities. Methods Logistic regression was used to study the cross-sectional association between (a history of) irregular working hours and prevalent CVD (self-reported myocardial infarction, dotter/bypass operation or stroke) in 18.746 participants (18–71 years) of Dutch, South-Asian Surinamese, African Surinamese, Ghanaian, Turkish, or Moroccan origin from the Healthy Life in an Urban Setting (HELIUS)-Study. We adjusted for sex, age, occupational level, smoking, alcohol use, physical inactivity, obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia. To study ethnic differences, we tested for interaction between irregular working hours and ethnicity with Dutch as the reference-population, and stratified the analysis by ethnicity. Results The prevalence CVD was 17.8% (740 out of 4.159) and 13.9% (2.026 out of 14.587) in the population with and without irregular working hours, respectively. Working irregular hours was associated with CVD (adjusted odds-ratio(OR) 1.18, (95%-confidence interval(CI): 1.07-1.30). Stratified by ethnicity, strongest associations with CVD were found for South-Asian Surinamese (OR 1.39, 95%-CI: 1.11-1.74) and Moroccans (OR 1.38, 95%-CI: 1.07, 1.79). The OR for CVD between individuals with versus without irregular working hours among the South-Asian Surinamese was significantly different from the Dutch (p=0.04). Discussion and conclusion The present study demonstrates that working irregular hours is an independent risk factor for CVD in a multi-ethnic population. In particular, individuals from South-Asian Surinamese and Moroccans origin working irregular hours are at increased risk to have developed CVD.
Since plasma metabolites can modulate blood pressure (BP) and vary between men and women, we examined sex differences in plasma metabolite profiles associated with BP and sympathicovagal balance. Our ...secondary aim was to investigate associations between gut microbiota composition and plasma metabolites predictive of BP and heart rate variability (HRV).
From the HELIUS cohort, we included 196 women and 173 men. Office systolic BP and diastolic BP were recorded, and heart rate variability (HRV) and baroreceptor sensitivity (BRS) were calculated using finger photoplethysmography. Plasma metabolomics was measured using untargeted LC-MS/MS. Gut microbiota composition was determined using 16S sequencing. We used machine learning models to predict BP and HRV from metabolite profiles, and to predict metabolite levels from gut microbiota composition.
In women, best predicting metabolites for systolic BP included dihomo-lineoylcarnitine, 4-hydroxyphenylacetateglutamine and vanillactate. In men, top predictors included sphingomyelins, N-formylmethionine and conjugated bile acids. Best predictors for HRV in men included phenylacetate and gentisate, which were associated with lower HRV in men but not in women. Several of these metabolites were associated with gut microbiota composition, including phenylacetate, multiple sphingomyelins and gentisate.
Plasma metabolite profiles are associated with BP in a sex-specific manner. Catecholamine derivatives were more important predictors for BP in women, while sphingomyelins were more important in men. Several metabolites were associated with gut microbiota composition, providing potential targets for intervention.
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•Sphingomyelins (men) and catecholamine metabolites (women) showed sex-specific associations with blood pressure (BP).•Several metabolites were associated with gut microbiota composition, providing potential targets for intervention.•Plasma metabolites could have sex-dependent effects on BP and are often only associated with BP in either men or women.
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