Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Dec 2013
Glycemic control and urinary incontinence in women with diabetes mellitus.
Although many studies have shown that diabetes increases the risk for urinary incontinence, it is unclear whether poor glycemic control in women with diabetes is associated with incontinence. This study aims to determine the relationship between the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level and urinary incontinence in a large, diverse cohort of older women. ⋯ In this cross-sectional analysis, HbA1c level is not associated with the presence or absence of incontinence. However, for women with incontinence, poor glycemic control (HbA1c ≥9%) is associated with more limitations in daily activities due to incontinence. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether improving glycemic control to HbA1c <9% leads to fewer limitations in daily activities due to incontinence.
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Journal of women's health · Dec 2013
Endogenous estradiol is not associated with poor physical health in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors.
Among postmenopausal breast cancer survivors, poor physical health has been associated with higher risks of breast cancer events. Obesity and physical inactivity are known risk factors for poor physical health, while circulating estrogen is an additional potential risk factor. We tested the hypothesis that the relationship between poor physical health and worse breast cancer outcomes is mediated by higher estrogen concentrations associated with body size and physical inactivity. ⋯ These findings indicate that estradiol is related to poor physical health, but is not an independent risk factor from body size or inactivity. While obesity and physical activity in survivorship are potential targets for improving physical health, other biological processes that impact physical health, e.g. inflammation, remain to be identified.
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Journal of women's health · Dec 2013
Prevalence of sleep deficiency in early gestation and its associations with stress and depressive symptoms.
Sleep deficiency is an emerging concept denoting a deficit in the quantity or quality of sleep. This may be particularly salient for pregnant women since they report considerable sleep complaints. Sleep deficiency is linked with morbidity, including degradations in psychosocial functioning, (e.g., depression and stress), which are recognized risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes. We sought to describe the frequency of sleep deficiency across early gestation (10-20 weeks) and whether sleep deficiency is associated with reports of more depressive symptoms and stress. ⋯ Sleep deficiency is a useful concept to describe sleep recognized to be disturbed in pregnancy. Women with persistent sleep deficiency appear to be at greater risk for impairments in psychosocial functioning during early gestation. These associations are important since psychosocial functioning is a recognized correlate of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Sleep deficiency may be another important risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes.
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Journal of women's health · Dec 2013
Observational StudyPhysical activity and musculoskeletal injuries in women: the Women's Injury Study.
Increased injury rates have been associated with physical activity (PA). The differences in musculoskeletal injury (MSI) characteristics resulting from PA, versus those unrelated to PA, are unknown. We describe the pattern of PA and non-PA MSI incurred by community-dwelling women. ⋯ There are some differences in mechanisms of injury, the distribution of injuries by anatomical location, and the treatment of injuries depending on aerobic activity participation, although absolute rates of MSI were comparable.
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Journal of women's health · Dec 2013
Low Papanicolaou smear screening rate of women with HIV infection: a nationwide population-based study in Taiwan, 2000-2010.
Women infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have a higher risk of contracting cervical cancer. Recent guidelines recommend that all HIV-positive women should receive two Pap smears in the first year after their HIV diagnosis. ⋯ A great need exists to develop strategies for promoting receipt of Pap smear screening services that specifically target severely disadvantaged women with HIV, particularly younger, lower income women and those in an asymptomatic phase.