Articles: health.
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Health systems experience difficult trade-offs when paying for new drugs. In England, funding recommendations by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for new drugs might generate health gains, but inevitably result in forgone health as the funds cannot be used for alternative treatments and services. We aimed to evaluate the population-health impact of NICE recommendations for new drugs during 2000-20. ⋯ The Commonwealth Fund.
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Older adults are at increased risk of severe illness and mortality from Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) infection. However, public health strategies aimed at reducing spread of COVID-19 may have resulted in increased mental health symptoms, particularly among older adults. Currently, little is known about whether older Veterans were more likely to experience persistent mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic than non-Veterans. The objectives of the current study were to (1) compare differences in persistent symptoms of anxiety, depression, and loneliness among a sample of Canadian Armed Forces Veterans and non-Veterans ≥55 years of age and (2) to evaluate potential sex-specific differences in persistent mental health symptoms. ⋯ Qualitative, but statistically nonsignificant sex-specific differences in persistent symptoms of anxiety, depression, and loneliness during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic were observed in this study comparing Veterans and non-Veterans. Additional sex-stratified analyses using larger samples or qualitative interviews may be useful in understanding the unique mental health experiences of older men, women, and gender diverse Veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Multimorbidity is associated with lower physical function in older adults. Less is known about multimorbidity and physical activity earlier in the life course. This study examined multimorbidity trajectories across adulthood with physical activity and explores if multimorbidity accelerates age-related activity decline. ⋯ Early onset and faster accumulation of chronic conditions was associated with lower activity in midlife. Lower intensity activity for people with multimorbidity may be a feasible target for healthy aging.