Faculty Bibliography

The current study investigated the mediating effects of body mass index (BMI), physical activity, and emotional distress on the association between short sleep duration (<7 hours per 24-hour period) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and risk factors.We used data from the National Health Interview Survey, an ongoing nationally representative cross-sectional study of noninstitutionalized US adults (≥18 years) from 2004 to 2013 (N = 206,049). Participants provided information about anthropometric features (height and weight), sociodemographic factors, health behaviors (smoking and physical activity), emotional distress, and physician-diagnosed health conditions, including hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes, heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and cancer. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the mediating effects of physical activity, BMI, and emotional distress on the relationship between short sleep and CVDs and risk factors (coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, heart attack, and stroke).Of the sample, 54.7% were female, 60.1% identified as white, 17.7% as Hispanic, and 15.4% as black. The mean age of the respondents was 46.75 years (SE = 0.12), with a mean BMI of 27.11 kg/m (SE = 0.02) and approximately 32.5% reported short sleep duration. The main relationship between short sleep and CVD and risk factors was significant (β = 0.08, P < .001), as was the mediated effect via BMI (indirect effect = 0.047, P < .001), emotional distress (indirect effect = 0.022, P < .001), and physical activity (indirect effect = -0.022, P = .035), as well as after adjustment for covariates, including age, race, sex, marital status, and income: short sleep and CVD (B = 0.15; SE = 0.01; P < .001), BMI (B = 0.05; SE = 0.00; P < .001), emotional distress (B = 0.02; SE = 0.00; P < .001), and physical activity (B = 0.01; SE = 0.00; P < .001).Our findings indicate that short sleep is a risk factor for CVD and that the relationship between short sleep and CVD and risk factors may be mediated by emotional distress and obesity, and negatively mediated by physical activity.

Introduction: Physical activity (PA) and sleep are associated with cerebrovascular disease and events like stroke. Though the interrelationships between PA, sleep, and other stroke risk factors have been studied, we are unclear about the associations of different types, frequency and duration of PA, sleep behavioral patterns (short, average and long sleep durations), within the context of stroke-related clinical, behavioral, and socio-demographic risk factors. The current study utilized Bayesian Belief Network analysis (BBN), a type of machine learning analysis, to develop profiles of physical activity (duration, intensity, and frequency) and sleep duration associated with or no history of stroke, given the influence of multiple stroke predictors and correlates. Such a model allowed us to develop a predictive classification model of stroke which can be used in post-stroke risk stratification and developing targeted stroke rehabilitation care based on an individual's profile. Method: Analysis was based on the 2004-2013 National Health Interview Survey (n = 288,888). Bayesian BBN was used to model the omnidirectional relationships of sleep duration and physical activity to history of stroke. Demographic, behavioral, health/medical, and psychosocial factors were considered as well as sleep duration [defined as short < 7 h. and long ≥ 9 h, referenced to healthy sleep (7-8 h)], and intensity (moderate and vigorous) and frequency (times/week) of physical activity. Results: Of the sample, 48.1% were ≤ 45 years; 55.7% female; 77.4% were White; 15.9%, Black/African American; and 45.3% reported an annual income < $35 K. Overall, the model had a precision index of 95.84%. We found that adults who reported 31-60 min of vigorous physical activity six times for the week and average sleep duration (7-8 h) had the lowest stroke prevalence. Of the 36 sleep (short, average, and long sleep) and physical activity profiles we tested, 30 profiles had a self-reported stroke prevalence lower than the US national average of approximately 3.07%. Women, compared to men with the same sleep and physical activity profile, appeared to have higher self-reported stroke prevalence. We also report age differences across three groups 18-45, 46-65, and 66+. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that several profiles of sleep duration and physical activity are associated with low prevalence of self-reported stroke and that there may be sex differences. Overall, our findings indicate that more than 10 min of moderate or vigorous physical activity, about 5-6 times per week and 7-8 h of sleep is associated with lower self-reported stroke prevalence. Results from the current study could lead to more tailored and personalized behavioral secondary stroke prevention strategies.

Introduction/UNASSIGNED:Sleep disturbance is a major public health issue and is comorbid with the cluster of conditions associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Our study explored the presence of sleep disturbance, including daytime sleepiness, the risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and insomnia symptoms, in a cohort of adult Black men and women with MetS. Methods/UNASSIGNED:Patients (n=1,013) from the Metabolic Syndrome Outcome Study (MetSO), 2009-2012, met criteria for MetS based on guidelines from the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel and provided sociodemographic data and the Apnea Risk Evaluation System (ARES) questionnaire to assess OSA risk, sleep characteristics, and physician-reported diagnosis of a sleep disorder. Results/UNASSIGNED:Prevalence of the components of MetS included: diabetes (60%); obesity (67%); hypertension (94%); and dyslipidemia (74%). Based on the ARES, 49% were at risk for OSA. Of all study patients, slightly more than half (53%) reported feeling sleepy during the day, and 10% reported an insomnia diagnosis. The most common sleep disturbance reported by 46% of the patients was early morning awakenings (EMA). This was closely followed by 42% who reported difficulty staying asleep (DSA) and 38% reporting difficulty falling asleep (DFA). Seventy percent reported short sleep (≤ 6 hours), whereas a minority (19%) reported long sleep (≥ 9 hours). Only 12% used sleep aids. Women, compared with men, reported greater daytime sleepiness, greater DFA, and greater DSA (57% vs 45%; 41% vs 32.4%; 45% vs 37%), respectively. Conclusion/UNASSIGNED:Blacks with MetS reported insomnia symptoms and insomnia disorder, use of sleep aids, feeling sleepy during the day, and inadequate sleep durations. The presence of these sleep characteristics suggests that patients with MetS should be referred for further sleep assessment.

A robust literature exists that draws on social network approaches to understand connections among individuals, and healthcare and behavior-related implications. This article offers commentary on the scoping review conducted by Dugoff et al. that examines "patient-sharing" networks, their characteristics, and various methodological approaches. The scoping review conducted by Dugoff et al. examines the characteristics and methods employed in patient-sharing network studies. It identified the most common measures used in patient-sharing network research, as well as theories used in patient-sharing network studies. Dugoff et al. also identified many studies that examined healthcare utilization considerations for patient sharing. Understanding the connections between providers and the flow of patients between providers could lend insight into barriers and enablers to efficient healthcare systems.

While gender and racial/ethnic disparities in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors have each been well characterized, few studies have comprehensively examined how patterns of major CVD risk factors vary and intersect across gender and major racial/ethnic groups, considered together. Using data from New York City Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2014-a population-based, cross-sectional survey of NYC residents ages 20 years and older-we measured prevalence of obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, and diabetes across gender and race/ethnicity groups for 1527 individuals. We used logistic regression with predicted marginal to estimate age-adjusted prevalence ratio by gender and race/ethnicity groups and assess for potential additive and multiplicative interaction. Overall, women had lower prevalence of CVD risk factors than men, with less hypertension (p = 0.040), lower triglycerides (p < 0.001), higher HDL (p < 0.001), and a greater likelihood of a heart healthy lifestyle, more likely not to smoke and to follow a healthy diet (p < 0.05). When further stratified by race/ethnicity, however, the female advantage was largely restricted to non-Latino white women. Non-Latino black women had significantly higher risk of being overweight or obese, having hypertension, and having diabetes than non-Latino white men or women, or than non-Latino black men (p < 0.05). Non-Latino black women also had higher total cholesterol compared to non-Latino black men (184.4 vs 170.5 mg/dL, p = 0.010). Despite efforts to improve cardiovascular health and narrow disparities, non-Latino black women continue to have a higher burden of CVD risk factors than other gender and racial/ethnic groups. This study highlights the importance of assessing for intersectionality between gender and race/ethnicity groups when examining CVD risk factors.

STUDY OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:Sleep apnea is associated with hypertension, and treatment may improve outcomes. We examine national burden of sleep apnea, rates of sleep apnea treatment, and whether racial/ethnic disparities exist among patients with hypertension. METHODS:Data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey/National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS/NHAMCS), 2005-2012, were analyzed (N = 417,950). We identified hypertension patient visits where sleep apnea diagnosis or complaint was recorded. Primary outcome measures were sleep study, medication, or behavioral therapy (diet, weight loss, or exercise counseling). We used multivariate logistic regression to examine treatment by demographic/clinical factors. RESULTS:Among patients with hypertension, sleep apnea was identified in 11.2-per-1,000 visits. Overall, patients with hypertension and a sleep disorder were referred for sleep study in 14.4% of visits, prescribed sleep medication in 11.2% of visits, and offered behavioral therapy in 34.8% of visits. Adjusted analyses show behavioral therapy more likely to be provided to obese patients than normal/overweight (OR = 4.96, 95%CI[2.93-8.38]), but less likely to be provided to smokers than nonsmokers (OR = 0.54, 95%CI[0.32-0.93]). Non-Hispanic blacks were less likely to receive medications than non-Hispanic whites (OR = 0.19, 95% CI[0.06-0.65]). CONCLUSIONS:In the U.S., sleep apnea were observed in a small proportion of hypertension visits, a population at high-risk for the disorder. One explanation for the low prevalence of sleep apnea observed in this patient population at high risk for the disorder is under-diagnosis of sleep related breathing disorders. Behavioral therapy was underutilized, and non-Hispanic Blacks were less likely to receive medications than non-Hispanic Whites.

Objective The current study presents the translation and adaptation of the 20-item Taiwan version of the Borderline Personality Inventory (BPI) into Brazilian Portuguese (BPI-P). Methods After translation and back-translation, the Brazilian Portuguese version was administered to three samples: patients with borderline personality disorder, psychiatric patients with comorbid substance use disorder and volunteers with no reported mental disorders. Results Significant differences between groups for borderline scores (analysis of variance [ANOVA], F = 52.923, p = 0.01) were found but there were no significant correlations between scores for borderline personality disorder and alcohol or nicotine dependence. The BPI-P had satisfactory validity for borderline personality disorder, even when anxiety and depression were present, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.931 at a cutoff point of 14. Conclusion This study provides support for the potential utility of the BPI-P as a screening instrument for clinical practice in Portuguese speaking countries, including outpatients with alcohol and nicotine use disorders in early or sustained remission.