Miriam Mutambudzi - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Miriam Mutambudzi

Cancer, Nov 17, 2016

BACKGROUND: The current study was conducted to examine the prevalence and correlates of mental di... more BACKGROUND: The current study was conducted to examine the prevalence and correlates of mental distress among survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer and a comparison group. METHODS: A total of 875 AYA cancer survivors who were diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 39 years and who were at least 5 years from their initial diagnosis were identified from the 2013 and 2014 National Health Interview Surveys. A comparison group was created. The Kessler nonspecific mental/psychological distress scale was used to examine none/low, moderate, and severe distress. The issues of whether individuals talked to mental health professionals within the previous year and if they could afford mental health care also were examined. Variables (ie, demographics, behavioral [eg, smoking status], comorbidity, and mental health visits) associated with distress among the 2 groups were identified using multinomial logistic regressions. RESULTS: Survivors reported mental distress more often than the comparison group (moderate: 23.2% vs 16.9%; and severe: 8.4% vs 3.0% [P<.001]). Survivors cited not being able to afford mental health care more often (6.4% vs 2.3%; P 5.002). Moreover, 74.7% and 52.2% of survivors, respectively, with moderate and severe distress had not talked to a mental health professional. Contrary to the comparison group, survivors who were current smokers reported severe distress more often compared with nonsmokers (relative risk, 3.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.46-8.84 [P 5.01]). Having public and no insurance versus private insurance and report of sleep-related trouble within the previous week were found to be associated with greater distress among survivors. CONCLUSIONS: AYA cancer survivors are more likely to demonstrate mental distress than individuals without cancer. Nevertheless, few survivors may be receiving professional mental health services. Survivors need greater access to mental health screening and counseling to address the current gaps in care delivery.

Innovation in Aging

Objective To better understand life course influences affecting cognitive function and decline in... more Objective To better understand life course influences affecting cognitive function and decline in later life, we explored sex and race/ethnicity differentials in the relationship between a history of psychiatric, emotional, or nervous problems and cognitive functioning in later life, while accounting for early life disadvantage and relevant covariates. Methods Multi-level growth curve models examined associations between psychiatric history and cognitive functioning, and differences by sex and race/ethnicity (SRE), in 20,155 Health and Retirement Study (1995-2014) participants aged 65 or older, by estimating cognition scores and plotting trajectories of change with age by SRE. Results A history of psychiatric, emotional, or nervous problems was significantly related to cognition scores and rates of decline. Hispanic and Black participants had significantly lower cognition scores at age 75 and steeper rates of decline than White females, and Black race and the Hispanic race-sex inter...

Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 2022

Released in August of 2008, the national population projections are of the resident population, a... more Released in August of 2008, the national population projections are of the resident population, as well as demographic components of change (births, deaths, and net international migration), by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin. The projections are based on Census 2000 and were produced using a cohort-component method. The components of change were projected into the future based on past trends. The projections cover the period 2000-2050. Between 2010 and 2050, the U.S. population is projected to grow from 310 million to 439 million, an increase of 42 percent. The nation will also become more racially and ethnically diverse, with the aggregate minority population projected to become the majority in 2042.* The population is also expected to become much older, with nearly one in five U.S. residents aged 65 and older in 2030. The 2008 National Population Projections, including summary tables, downloadable files, methodology and assumptions, and the press release, can be found at <www.census.gov/population/www /projections/2008projections.html>. * In this report, the minority population is considered to be everyone other than the non-Hispanic White alone population.

Supplemental Material, sj-pdf-1-jah-10.1177_08982643211046427 for Effects of Prevalent and Newly ... more Supplemental Material, sj-pdf-1-jah-10.1177_08982643211046427 for Effects of Prevalent and Newly Diagnosed Arthritis on Changes in Perceived Physical Demands and Work Stress Among Older Workers: Results of a 3 Year Panel Study by Miriam Mutambudzi and Kene Henkens in Journal of Aging and Health

Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, 2013

Background: The high prevalence of hypertension in the US adult population represents a serious p... more Background: The high prevalence of hypertension in the US adult population represents a serious public health challenge. High hypertension rates result in substantial cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and in elevated health care expenditures. A better understanding of risk factors for development of hypertension in adults may contribute to hypertension prevention efforts. Currently, it is unclear whether veteran status is associated with hypertension risk in women. The goal of this project was to assess the association between veteran status and risk of developing hypertension in women. Methods: The Integrated Health Interview Series (IHIS) is a harmonized dataset for the U.S. National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Using the IHIS 1997-2010 dataset, population-based prevalence of hypertension among female veterans was compared to non-veterans. For the purpose of analysis, only Whites and African Americans were included in the sample dataset. Veterans were participants who answ...

Innovation in Aging, 2020

Previous research indicates that a history of psychiatric, emotional or nervous problems can affe... more Previous research indicates that a history of psychiatric, emotional or nervous problems can affect cognitive function at age 65 and cognitive trajectories over time. To explore the potential impact of this relationship on nursing home use, we applied latent class growth curve models to five waves (1998-2008) of Health and Retirement Study data to identify four classes of cognition trajectories, defined by baseline cognitive function scores (low, medium, high) and rate of change (stable or declining). We then ran survival analyses using HRS years 2008 to 2016 to determine risk of nursing home residence based on psychiatric history and cognition trajectory class. We hypothesized that self-reported history of psychiatric, emotional or nervous problems will be associated with greater risk of nursing home residence, and that self-reported history of psychiatric, emotional and nervous problems will interact with cognition trajectories to predict level of risk of nursing home residence. R...

The Gerontologist, 2021

Background and Objectives Sleep problems are a public health burden and have adverse health conse... more Background and Objectives Sleep problems are a public health burden and have adverse health consequences in older adults. Despite sleep being a shared biological process between couples, to date, there have not been any studies that have assessed the association between retirement and sleep in older couples. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of retirement on diagnosed sleep problems in older Dutch couples. Research Design and Methods This study used data from 2 waves of the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute Pension Panel Study for older Dutch adults living with a partner (n = 3,726). Logistic regression models examined the strength of association between retirement and sleep problems, while accounting for the moderating role of relationship characteristics. Results Retirement was associated with decreased odds of sleep problems at Wave 2 (odds ratio [OR] = 0.60, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.46–0.78). Lower relationship quality was associ...

Oral Presentations, 2021

and 4) whether there is a remaining association not mediated by these factors. Methods We used cr... more and 4) whether there is a remaining association not mediated by these factors. Methods We used cross-sectional data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (N= 17,938), focusing on working, non-retired adults aged 45-64 years. Data were collected via telephone and in-person interview over the 2011-2015 period. Functional, psychosocial, organizational and life-stage factors were measured using existing variables to create composite index scores. Path models examined the relationship between age and retirement expectations, and the proportion of the relationship explained via each factor. Results Age was associated with functional, psychosocial, organizational and life-stage scores in expected directions. Older age also was associated with earlier retirement expectations. Path models found that 25-30% of the total relationship between older age and retirement expectations was mediated through life-stage and organizational factors. Conclusion Our study demonstrates the feasibility of measuring functional, psychosocial, organizational and life-stage concepts via existing data to better understand age-related inequalities in retirement expectations. Future research should focus on measuring additional items for psychosocial and organizational factors, followed by validation of the extent to which each item explains age differences in other work outcomes.

Journal of Aging and Health, 2021

Objectives Examine the effects of prevalent and newly diagnosed arthritis on changes in perceived... more Objectives Examine the effects of prevalent and newly diagnosed arthritis on changes in perceived physical demands and general work stress. Methods Conditional change logistic regression models examined the strength of association between arthritis and perceived (1) work stress and (2) physical demands, using data from the NIDI Pension Panel Study ( n = 2099). Results Prevalent and newly diagnosed arthritis were associated with increased odds of perceived work stress and high physical demands. Manual workers with newly diagnosed arthritis exhibited a 6.73-fold (95% CI = 2.87–15.77) increased odds of physical demands. Arthritis in three body extremities was differentially associated with increased odds of work stress and physical demands in manual and non-manual workers. Discussion Prevalent and incident arthritis were associated with changes in work stress and physical demands in older workers. Policies and workplace interventions to reduce stress and physical demands and improve wo...

European Journal Of Public Health, 2021

Background The relationship between job insecurity, chronic health conditions (CHCs) and retireme... more Background The relationship between job insecurity, chronic health conditions (CHCs) and retirement among older workers are likely to differ between countries that have different labor markets and health and social safety nets. To date, there are no epidemiological studies that have prospectively assessed the role of job insecurity in retirement incidence, while accounting for CHC trajectories in two countries with different welfare systems. We investigated the strength of the association between baseline job insecurity and retirement incidence over an 11-year period while accounting for CHC trajectories, among workers 50–55 years of age at baseline in the UK and USA. Methods We performed Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, using 2006–2016 data from the Health and Retirement Study (US cohort, n = 570) and English Longitudinal Study on Aging (UK cohort n = 1052). Results Job insecurity was associated with retirement after adjusting for CHC trajectories (HR = 0.69, 95% CI = ...

ObjectivesTo investigate severe COVID-19 risk by occupational group.MethodsBaseline UK Biobank da... more ObjectivesTo investigate severe COVID-19 risk by occupational group.MethodsBaseline UK Biobank data (2006-10) for England were linked to SARS-CoV-2 test results from Public Health England (16 March to 26 July 2020). Included participants were employed or self-employed at baseline, alive and aged less than 65 years in 2020. Poisson regression models adjusted sequentially for baseline demographic, socioeconomic, work-related, health, and lifestyle-related risk factors to assess risk ratios (RRs) for testing positive in hospital or death due to COVID-19 by three occupational classification schemes (including Standard Occupation Classification 2000).ResultsOf 120,075 participants, 271 had severe COVID-19. Relative to non-essential workers, healthcare workers (RR 7.43, 95% CI:5.52,10.00), social and education workers (RR 1.84, 95% CI:1.21,2.82) and other essential workers (RR=1.60, 95% CI:1.05,2.45) had higher risk of severe COVID-19. Using more detailed groupings, medical support staff ...

European Journal of Ageing, 2020

The proportion of workers with chronic health conditions (CHCs) will increase over the years as p... more The proportion of workers with chronic health conditions (CHCs) will increase over the years as pension reform is increasing the age of retirement in many European countries. This will increase the percentage of older adults with CHCs performing highly demanding work. This study sought to examine the association between common CHCs [cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, arthritis, respiratory and sleep disorders] and three domains of work stress in older Dutch workers. This study used data from the first wave of the NIDI Pension Panel Study for working adults aged 60–65 years (n = 6793). Logistic regression models examined the strength of association between CHCs and (1) general work stress, (2) emotional, and (3) physical demands. All five CHC were independently associated with one or more domains of stress. After including all CHCs in the model, CVD, sleep disorders, and arthritis were significantly associated with general stress. Respiratory disorders, sleep disorders, and arth...

The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, 2019

Background This study assessed whether baseline (i) HbA1c (low [<5.7%], intermediate [5.7%–6.4... more Background This study assessed whether baseline (i) HbA1c (low [<5.7%], intermediate [5.7%–6.4%], and high [≥6.5%]) and (ii) glycemic control (7% HbA1c cutoff) in participants with self-reported diabetes were associated with differential 8-year functional disability trajectories. Methods We used data from the 2006–2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study for adults aged 50 years and older. Latent class mixture modeling was used to identify distinct functional disability trajectory classes. Multinomial logistic regression analysis examined the association between the newly constructed trajectories and baseline HbA1c levels, and glycemic control, respectively. Results All participants (N = 5,966) were classified into four functional disability trajectory classes (no disability, low disability, low-increasing, and high-increasing). Participants with elevated HbA1c were at greater risk of being classified into the high-increasing (relative risk ratios = 1.63, 95% confidence inte...

Journal of Aging and Health, 2019

Objectives: To examine the effects of diabetes and disease duration on work status over a 9-year ... more Objectives: To examine the effects of diabetes and disease duration on work status over a 9-year period. Method: Multinomial logistic regression models examined the probability of retirement and disability impeding work, using data from the Health and Retirement Study ( n = 5,576). Results: Among participants who had retired in 2012, almost 14% had incident diabetes (4.91 mean years with diabetes, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [4.67, 5.15]). Approximately 22% of participants who reported a disability impeded labor force participation had prevalent diabetes (17.1 mean years with diabetes, 95%CI = [16.41, 17.71]). Only prevalent diabetes that indicated longer disease duration was associated with disability (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 1.83, 95% CI = [1.30, 2.57]). There was evidence of effect modification among Hispanics only ( p = .02). Discussion: Diabetes increased risk of exiting the workforce due to disability, and mean disease duration was associated with changes. Disease manag...

The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences, Jan 9, 2018

We sought to identify distinct trajectory classes of physical performance in Mexican Americans ag... more We sought to identify distinct trajectory classes of physical performance in Mexican Americans aged 75 years and older, and to examine whether these trajectories predict mortality. We used 4 waves of Hispanic Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (H-EPESE) data for adults 75 years and older from 2004-5 to 2013. Latent growth curve analysis was used to identify distinct trajectory classes. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between baseline characteristics and the newly constructed trajectories. Cox proportional hazards regression models examined the hazard of mortality as a function of Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) trajectories. The study follow-up period was approximately 9.5-years. 1411 adults were successfully classified into 3 (low-declining, high-declining, and high-stable) physical performance trajectory classes. Depressive symptoms (RRR=1.94, 95%CI= 1.17-3.22), diabetes (RRR=2.44, 95%CI=1.63-3.65...

Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2016

Introduction Several studies have reported an association between various psychosocial work facto... more Introduction Several studies have reported an association between various psychosocial work factors and sickness absence. Much of the research has been conducted in Europe, leaving a significant knowledge gap about psychosocial exposures and outcomes in the US labour force. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of co-occurring low job control and high workplace discrimination on sickness absence in Black, Hispanic and White older adults aged 50 years and older participating in the US labour force. Methods Using Health and Retirement Study data from 2010, regression models were used to examine the association between co-occurring low job control and high workplace discrimination, and health related work absence in the past year. Results Mean number of missed days of work were similar for those with high job control, experiencing low workplace discrimination (ref), and those with low job control experiencing high workplace discrimination (11 days). Participants with high job control experiencing high discrimination, reported missing an average of 15.3 days. In unadjusted regression analysis low job control and high workplace discrimination was significantly associated with sickness absence in Hispanic (OR = 3.66) and Black (OR = 2.52) participants, while no association was evident in Whites. High control and high discrimination was associated with sickness absence in Blacks only in the unadjusted model (OR = 2.06, 95 CI = 1.11–3.811). Full adjustment for behavioural, sociodemographic, health, and work factors resulted in significant associations for Blacks with high job control experiencing high discrimination, who showed a 6.3-fold increased risk (95% CI = 1.26–31.511) of sickness absence. No associations were evident for Hispanic and White participants after adjustment for covariates. Conclusions Workplace discrimination in Blacks working in high control jobs is strongly associated with sickness absence, and may further exacerbate well document health disparities. More research assessing effects of workplace discrimination and work environment on work and health outcomes is warranted.

Cancer, Mar 17, 2016

The current study was conducted to examine the prevalence and correlates of mental distress among... more The current study was conducted to examine the prevalence and correlates of mental distress among survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer and a comparison group. A total of 875 AYA cancer survivors who were diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 39 years and who were at least 5 years from their initial diagnosis were identified from the 2013 and 2014 National Health Interview Surveys. A comparison group was created. The Kessler nonspecific mental/psychological distress scale was used to examine none/low, moderate, and severe distress. The issues of whether individuals talked to mental health professionals within the previous year and if they could afford mental health care also were examined. Variables (ie, demographics, behavioral [eg, smoking status], comorbidity, and mental health visits) associated with distress among the 2 groups were identified using multinomial logistic regressions. Survivors reported mental distress more often than the comparison group (moderate: ...

Ethnicity & health, Jun 16, 2016

Material and psychosocial factors exacerbate racial disparities in health outcomes. This review s... more Material and psychosocial factors exacerbate racial disparities in health outcomes. This review sought to ascertain recent knowledge of the effects of materialist and psychosocial factors on differences in low birthweight (LBW) and preterm delivery (PTD) outcomes between Black and White mothers. Search and review was conducted for studies that examined: (a) neighborhood-level deprivation as an indicator of material conditions, and (b) racial discrimination or occupational stressors as indicators of psychosocial stress. The outcomes of interest were LBW and PTD. Material and psychosocial factors significantly and negatively affected Blacks more than Whites, and were associated with increased adverse outcomes. Of five studies with a homogeneous Black study sample, three reported no effect on outcomes in women exposed to material or psychosocial factors. Through this review we find that in comparison to White women, Black women are at higher risk of adverse outcomes due to both psychos...

The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 2016

Objectives: The current study examined the relationship between the 4 quadrants of the job strain... more Objectives: The current study examined the relationship between the 4 quadrants of the job strain model and incident diabetes in U.S. working adults 50 years and older. Methods: This study used longitudinal data from the 2006-2012 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (n = 1,396). Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to examine whether job strain significantly predicted diabetes incidence. Results: Participants in high strain and passive jobs had significantly higher risk of diabetes relative to those in low strain jobs. In the univariate survival curves, significantly higher risk of diabetes was observed in men working in passive jobs. After adjustment for relevant covariates, participants in high strain (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.09-2.75) and passive (HR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.01-2.73) jobs had a significantly increased risk of diabetes. Among adults 65 years and older, high strain and passive jobs were associated with an approximately fourfold increased risk of incident diabetes. Discussion: High strain and passive occupations which represent low control over work are associated with increased risk of diabetes incidence among older workers. More research is required to better understand how psychosocial work factors impact health in aging workers. Further, research should continue to explore gender differences in effects of job strain on diabetes.

Health disparities are a major public health concern, as are adverse reproductive health outcomes... more Health disparities are a major public health concern, as are adverse reproductive health outcomes. One of the most persistent health disparities between blacks and whites is that of adverse birth outcomes. This research aimed to evaluate whether racial/ethnic differences in occupational substantive complexity (SC) trajectories were a significant contributor to racial/ethnic disparities in low birth weight (LBW) and preterm delivery (PTD). In addition, this research evaluated racial/ethnic disparities in occupational pathways and the effects on pregnancy outcomes of work that does not fully engage prior education. This was a longitudinal study that analyzed secondary data from the National Longitudinal Study of Youth (NLSY79), combined with occupational characteristics data from the Occupational Information Resource Center (O*NET). Data analysis involved descriptive analysis as well as generalized linear models (GLM) and generalized estimated equations (GEE), which were constructed to examine the associations between outcome and predictor variables, and to estimate the risk of LBW and PTD. Additionally, structural equation modeling (SEM) and general growth mixture models (GGMM) were employed to determine the main effects of longitudinal occupational trajectories relative to educational attainment on LBW and PTD, with particular attention to racial differences. The results of LBW analysis supported the study hypothesis. Minority mothers were over represented in low SC trajectories, and black mothers in particular showed an increased risk of giving birth to a LBW infant. Furthermore, foreign-born Hispanic mothers showed favorable outcomes in comparison to their US-born counterparts. The findings also supported the hypothesis of mediation by SC trajectories of the association between education and LBW. PTD results were inconclusive. Black mothers had an increased risk of PTD as hypothesized, however the mediating effects of SC trajectories were greater for Hispanics. This study is of great relevance to the field of Public Health, as it is adding to the body of knowledge on how disparities in birth outcomes may in part be a consequence of occupational characteristics, which in themselves are expressions, and results of deeper disparities. Additionally with more women working during the course of their pregnancy, this study will be beneficial to women\u27s reproductive health.