RESUMO
Several studies have shown that involvement in religious activity appears to benefit health. To estimate the association between church attendance and fear of falling, we used a sample of 1341 non-institutionalized Mexican-Americans aged 70 and over from the third wave (1998-1999) of the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly, followed until 2000-2001. Baseline potential predictors of fear of falling were church attendance, socio-demographics, history of falls, summary measure of lower body performance (tandem balance, eight-foot walk, and repeated chair stands), functional status, depressive symptoms, cognitive status, and medical conditions. Fear of falling at the two-year follow-up was measured as no fear, somewhat afraid, fairly afraid, and very afraid. Chi-square statistic and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to estimate associations between the outcome and the potential predictors. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that frequent church attendance was an independent predictor of lower fear of falling (odds ratio = 0.73, 95% confidence interval 0.58-0.92, P = 0.008) two years later. Other independent predictors of fear of falling were female gender, poorer objective lower body performance, history of falls, arthritis, hypertension, and urinary incontinence. Frequent church attendance is associated with decreased fear of falling in older Mexican-Americans.
Assuntos
Acidentes por Quedas , Medo/psicologia , Religião , Idoso , Estudos Epidemiológicos , Feminino , Hispânico ou Latino , Humanos , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Sudoeste dos Estados UnidosRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect on male sexual function of initiating any one of the cardiovascular medications most frequently prescribed at our institution. DESIGN: Men were surveyed via telephone when they received a new prescription for hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, lisinopril, verapamil, nifedipine, or diltiazem, and after 30 days of daily medication ingestion. To assess Hawthorne effect, men who had no change to their medication regimen also were surveyed at the time of medication refill for maintenance therapy and 30 days later. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling male veterans who received a single new prescription between January 1 and April 1, 1992 (n = 134). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Responses to questions about sexual interest, erectile function, orgasmic ability, and sexual satisfaction. RESULTS: Men who had no change to their medication regimen showed no change in sexual interest, erectile function, orgasmic ability, or satisfaction. Hydrochlorothiazide was associated with decreased orgasmic ability (p = 0.008). Although none of the other changes were statistically significant (p < 0.05), both nifedipine and diltiazem showed a trend toward improved sexual function. CONCLUSIONS: Hydrochlorothiazide may be associated with anorgasmia. More study is needed to determine if nifedipine and diltiazem improve erectile function. Furosemide, lisinopril, and verapamil likely have no effect on sexual function.