1.Elevated Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio in Older Adults with Cocaine Use Disorder as a Marker of Chronic Inflammation
Heather E. SODER ; Amber M. BERUMEN ; Kira E. GOMEZ ; Charles E. GREEN ; Robert SUCHTING ; Margaret C. WARDLE ; Jessica VINCENT ; Antonio L. TEIXEIRA ; Joy M. SCHMITZ ; Scott D. LANE
Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience 2020;18(1):32-40
Objective:
The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a non-specific, easy-to-obtain marker of inflammation associated with morbidity and mortality in systemic, psychiatric, and age-related inflammatory conditions. Given the growing trend of substance use disorder (SUD) in older adults, and the relationship between inflammation and SUD elevated NLR may serve as a useful inflammatory biomarker of the combined burden of aging and SUD. The present study focused on cocaine use disorder (CUD) to examine if cocaine adds further inflammatory burden among older adults, by comparing NLR values between older adults with CUD and a non-cocaine using, aged-matched, nationally representative sample.
Methods:
The dataset included 107 (86% male) participants (aged 50−65 years) with cocaine use disorder. NLR was derived from complete blood count tests by dividing the absolute value of peripheral neutrophil concentration by lymphocyte concentration. For comparison, we extracted data from age-matched adults without CUD using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Individuals with immunocompromising conditions were excluded (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis and sexually transmitted infections such as HIV). A doubly-robust inverse probability-weighted regression adjustment (IPWRA) propensity score method was used to estimate group differences on NLR while controlling for potential confounding variables (age, gender, race, income, nicotine, marijuana and alcohol use).
Results:
The IPWRA model revealed that the CUD sample had significantly elevated NLR in comparison to non-cocaine users, with a moderate effect size ( weight = 0.67).
Conclusion
Although non-specific, NLR represents a readily obtainable inflammatory marker for SUD research. CUD may add further inflammatory burden to aging cocaine users.
2.The effect of the Elderly Development Program on the quality of life of elderly individuals
Joeric Emil P. Crescini ; Jessica Mara G. Cruz ; John Paul M. Cruz ; Kathleen Rose P. Cruz ; Isabel G. Cupino ; Darwyn Paul Y. Daguman ; Lea Monica A. Dalde ; Allan Vincent F. Datingaling ; Manuel John A. Dayao ; Kelsey C. Dayrit ; Victor L. de Castro III ; Remigio Jay-Ar Z. Butacan IV
Health Sciences Journal 2017;6(2):50-54
Introduction :
The increasing aging population of the Philippines impacts on the socioeconomic
development of the country, prompting a deeper look into their quality of life. This study sought to
determine the effect of the Elderly Development Program on the quality of life of the elderly population
of Los Baños.
Methods :
A 4-month prospective cohort study of the elderly population in Los Baños, Laguna compared
the quality of life scores of a group enrolled in the Elderly Development Program and an unexposed
control, using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Abbreviated Version for Filipino Older
Persons questionnaire.
Results :
Quality of life scores where higher for the EDP group during the four months of observation.
In Month 2, significant differences were found in all domains except for the psychological domain.
Only the physical health domain score was significant in the EDP group for Month 3 (p = 0.003) and
Month 4 (p = 0.029). Both the EDP and control groups had higher overall and domain scores in Month
4 compared with baseline.
Conclusion
The Elderly Development Program may improve the overall quality of life of elderly
persons, specifically in the physical health domain. These improvements are likely due to the focus
of the program on the physical aspect of the elderly.
Aged
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Quality of Life