Karl Peltzer

Asia University

Objectives To examine the association between perception of one’s social environment (in terms of residential attachment and neighborhood trust) and loneliness among the oldest old and whether these associations differ by living arrangement. Methods We used data from the nationally representative “Old Age in Germany (D80+)” study that included ind...

Background Understanding gender disparities in adolescent health behaviors is crucial for developing targeted health promotion strategies. This study uses data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) across 17 MENA countries to analyze gender differences in adolescent health behaviors, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview fo...

Background Social isolation (SI) and food insecurity (FI) are important social determinants of health that can negatively impact well‐being in old age. While research on the association between FI and SI is limited in LMICs, the mediators of this association are largely unknown. This cross‐sectional study examined whether FI is associated with SI a...

Objectives: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the prevalence and antecedents/consequences of chronic loneliness and social isolation (i.e. enduring or persistent experience that extends over a certain period of time) among older adults. Moreover, we conducted a meta-regression to explore sources of heterogeneity. Metho...

Background The aim of the study is to estimate the prevalence and associated factors of insomnia among older adults in the Philippines. Methods In all, 5206 cross-sectional nationally representative data from older adults (≥ 60 years) of the 2018 Longitudinal Study on Ageing and Health in the Philippines (LSAHP) was analysed. Napping frequency and...

Objective: Food insecurity (FI) is a critical social determinant of poor psychosocial health. While data on the specific roles of sex and age in the FI-loneliness link among older adults are limited, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. This study examines the age-sex-specific associations of FI with loneliness among older adults in Ghana...

This study sought to determine whether there was any correlation between the dietary diversity score and symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in Nepali women who were of reproductive age. In a national cross-sectional population-based survey of women (15–49 years) (N = 7442) in Nepal, MDD was assessed w...

Background There are no trend studies on various health risk behaviours among adolescents in Uruguay. Therefore, this study looked at trends in a number of health‐risky behaviours among adolescents in Uruguay from three separate surveys. Methods Data from 9272 adolescents (age range: 11–16 years), who took part in three cross‐sectional national in...

Objectives To examine the association between pet ownership and psychosocial outcomes among the oldest old in Germany during the Covid‐19 pandemic. Methods/Design Data from the “Old Age in Germany (D80+)” study were used, a large, nationwide representative study covering both individuals living at home and individuals in nursing homes aged 80 year...

Introduction: Insomnia symptoms may impact on various health outcomes. It is unclear how insomnia symptoms impact on health in Thailand. In a longitudinal study of ageing adults in Thailand, the goal of the research was to evaluate the relationships between insomnia symptoms and 20 health indicators. Methods: Prospective cohort data from the Health...

Objectives: With the help of a national community-based survey, the analysis aimed to estimate the number of adults in Bangladesh who used dental services (DSU). Methods: The 8185 participants (18-69 years old) in the Bangladesh cross-sectional STEPS survey in 2018 provided national data for analysis. Predisposing, enabling, and need factors for...

Aim Our first aim was to present norm values for the Preference for Solitude Scale by sex, age, and other sociodemographic groups. Our second aim was to evaluate the correlates of preference for solitude. Methods Data were collected in August/September 2023 from a sample of individuals (N = 5000) living in Germany aged 18 to 74 years (ensuring rep...

Objectives: Longitudinal studies on chronic loneliness and before and during the COVID-19 pandemic are lacking in Africa. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence and associated factors of loneliness and chronic loneliness using cross-sectional and longitudinal data from middle-aged and older adults from rural South Africa. Method: The analysi...

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of major depressive disorder symptoms (MDDs) and generalized anxiety disorder symptoms (GADs) among female adolescents in Nepal. In a national cross-sectional population-based survey of female adolescents (N = 1379; 15–19 years) in Nepal, MDDs was assessed with the PHQ-9 and...

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and correlates of major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) among adults in a national population-based survey in Nepal in 2022. MDD was assessed with the PHQ-9 and GAD with the GAD-7. Among women, the prevalence of mild and moderate or severe MDD was 16.2% and 5.9%, re...

Background: This study looked at trends in a number of health-risky behaviours among teenagers in Thailand from three separate surveys. Methods: Data from 12,183 teenagers (mean age: 13.9 years, SD=1.2; age range: 11–16 years) who took part in three cross-sectional national school surveys in Thailand in 2008, 2015, and 2021 were analyzed. A self-ad...

Background The aim of this study was to determine the rural-urban health differences among aging adults in India. Methods The national cross-sectional data of 67,489 individuals (≥45 years) in 2017–2018 from 35 states and union territories of India (excluding Sikkim) in 2017–2018 were analysed. Various sociodemographic data, well-being indicators,...

Premature deaths from NCDs disproportionately affect people in low-and middle-income countries. Since alcohol use is one of the most common causes of reversible hypertension, interventions targeting alcohol use may be a feasible and effective low-cost approach to synergistically reduce the prevalence of harmful drinking and high blood pressure. Thi...

Introduction: Sensory loss and depressive symptoms (DS) may be an increasing concern in ageing adults. Some previous studies in China found bidirectional associations between sensory loss and DS, but we lack information on this relationship in Southeast Asia. The purpose of this study was to assess the bidirectional association between sensory loss...

Objectives The aim of this study is to report on the frequency of serious physical injuries (SPI) among adolescents in Central America during the previous decade, 2009–2018. Methods In total, 15,807 school adolescents (14.4 years mean age; SD=1.4) from six Central American countries participated in cross-sectional Global School-based Student Healt...

Background: The primary objective of this study is to investigate the prevalence of Major Depressive Disorders (MDD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorders (GAD) among Nepalese women, and explore the associations with sociodemographic factors and health behaviors. We used the nationally representative data from the Nepal DHS which is a cross-sectional s...

Aims The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence and correlates of psychological distress (PD) in three small Pacific Island countries. Method National cross-sectional data (pooled sample N = 3,088, 18–69 years) of participants from the STEPS surveys in Nauru (2015/16; N = 1382), Tukelau (2014; N = 554) and Tuvalu (2015; N = 1152) were ana...

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the longitudinal association between loneliness, mental and physical ill-health indicators, lifestyle factors and mortality among middle-aged and older adults in Thailand. Methods We analyzed prospective cohort data of participants 45 years and older from three consecutive waves in 2015 (n = 5616), 20...

Objective The prevalence of depressive symptoms and healthcare utilisation among the ageing population in Thailand is unclear. The study assessed the predictors of and healthcare utilisation of depressive symptoms among an ageing population in Thailand. Design Cross-sectional, population-based study. Setting National sample of people aged 45 year...

Objective The study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and correlates of sedentary behavior and combination of sedentary behavior and low physical activity among adults in Afghanistan in 2018. Methods This was a national representative cross-sectional study. The study utilized the data from Afghanistan STEPS survey 2018, where 3,956 adults (ages bet...

Background: The aim of the investigation was to evaluate past 12-month suicidal behaviour (PSB) among adults in Cabo Verde. Methods: Data from 4,563 adults (mean age 41.4 years) that participated in the 2020 Cabo Verde STEPS survey were analysed. Results: Results indicate that the proportion of PSB (attempt 0.6%, plan 1.5% and ideation 3.3%) w...

Background Understanding national trends in risk factors of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) may have health policy implications. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and social and demographic factors associated with risk factors of NCDs in adults from 2008 to 2019 in Sao Tome and Principe. Methods In repeat cross-sectional national S...

Background The aim of study was to evaluate survival outcome and limb function in cancer patients with proximal limbs metastasis. Associated factors on survival outcome and limb function were identified. The comparative analysis between intramedullary nailing and prosthesis surgery in cancer patients with proximal limb metastasis was performed. Me...

Objective The aim of the study is to estimate trends in the prevalence and associated factors of non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors in adults from 2007 to 2020 in Cabo Verde. Design Population-based cross-sectional study. Setting Nationally representative samples of adult population in Cabo Verde from the 2007 and 2020 STEPwise approach...

The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between psychosocial factors, protective factors, and its associated triggers with psychological distress among Bolivian adolescents. This cross-sectional study was conducted by investigating the 2018 Bolivia global school-based student health survey (GSHS). The total number of students wh...

Background The study aimed to evaluate trends in the prevalence and correlates of risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs; low physical activity, insufficient fruit/vegetable intake, current tobacco use, problem alcohol use, diabetes, hypertension, increased total cholesterol, and obesity) in Bhutan. Methods Three repeat cross-sectional B...

Objectives: The study aimed to assess the impact of grandparenting on incident depressive symptoms and incident poor sleep quality among aging women and men in rural South Africa. Methods: This longitudinal community study enrolled 3,237 adults (≥40 years) from the "Health and Ageing in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in Sou...

Background: Understanding national trends in noncommunicable disease (NCD) risk factors may have health policy implications. We aimed to evaluate trends in the prevalence and correlates of eight risk factors for NCD from 2005 to 2019 in Mongolia. Methods: Cross-sectional data were analyzed from 9,356 individuals (15-64/69 yr, mean age=37.3 yr) w...

Background The aim of this study was to assess the self-reported physical health (SRPH) and self-reported mental health (SRMH) of older adults 80 years and older in Thailand. Methods We analyze national cross-sectional data from the Health, Aging and Retirement in Thailand (HART) in 2015. Physical and mental health status was assessed by self-repo...

Objective: The study aimed to assess the relationship between lifestyle factors and incident functional disability in South Africa. Methods: Longitudinal data (N = 4113) from two consecutive waves in 2014/2015 and 2018/2019 in Agincourt, South Africa, were analysed. Results: Moderate sedentary behaviour (AOR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.31-2.58) and being...

Background: There are no longitudinal studies investigating determinants of incident and persistent depressive symptoms in Southeast Asia. Aims: To estimate the proportion and correlates of incident and persistent depressive symptoms in a prospective cohort study among middle-aged and older adults (≥45 years) in Thailand. Method: We analysed l...

This study aimed to examine the psychosocial factors associated with physical injury among adults in Eswatini. The investigation included 3 281 individuals (15 to 69 years) from the 2014 Eswatini cross-sectional STEPwise approach to non-communicable disease risk factor surveillance (STEPS) survey. Results indicated that 8.5% of participants had phy...

The study aimed to assess associations between chronic diseases and incident and persistent depressive symptoms (DSs) in a cohort study of ageing adults in South Africa. Participants in the baseline survey (in 2014/2015) were 5,059 persons (≥40 years) and at follow-up 4,176 (in 2018/2019). DSs were measured with the Center for Epidemiological Studi...

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and correlates of cardiovascular health (CVH) status among adults in Afghanistan. Methods: In a national cross-sectional household survey 3,447 adults completed CVH measurements in Afghanistan. Criteria for ideal CVH (ICVH) were physical activity, healthy diet, non-smoking, fasting bl...

Background Breast cancer has become the most common malignant tumour worldwide. Distant metastasis is one of the leading causes of breast cancer-related death. To verify the performance of clinicomics-guided distant metastasis risk prediction for breast cancer via artificial intelligence and to investigate the accuracy of the created prediction mod...

Background The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of incident and persistent loneliness in a prospective cohort study among middle-aged and older adults (≥ 45 years) in Thailand. Methods Longitudinal data from the Health, Aging, and Retirement in Thailand (HART) study in 2015 and 2017 were analysed. Loneliness was...

Objective: The present study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of pain among ageing adults in Thailand. Methods: Cross-sectional and longitudinal data were analysed from two consecutive national waves of the Health, Aging, and Retirement in Thailand (HART) study in 2015 and 2017. The dependent variable pain was defined as moderate...

Background: Understanding the proportion and correlates of self-rated oral health (SROH) can assist in prioritising interventions. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of poor SROH and associated factors in a national community survey amongst adults in Algeria. Methods: This World Health Organisation (WHO) STEPS cross-sectional sur...

Purpose: Depression is a major issue in the aging population, which may be related to fear of falling (FOF) and falls contributing to increased morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study was to assess the tridirectional associations between probable depression (PD), FOF and falls in a longitudinal study in Thailand. Methods: Longitudinal data...

Background The study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of cross-sectional and incident arthritis or rheumatism among a national community sample of middle-aged and older adults in Thailand. Methods We analyzed cross-sectional and longitudinal data from two consecutive waves (2015 and 2017) of the Health, Aging, and Retirement i...

The study assessed associations between food insecurity and mental, physical, and behavioural health outcomes in India. The study analysed national cross-sectional population-based data (N = 72,262; ≥ 45 years) from in India in 2017–2018. The overall prevalence of food insecurity was 9.7%. Food insecurity was significantly positively associated wit...

Introduction: Tobacco use may be associated with incident insomnia. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between tobacco use and incident sleep parameters in a longitudinal study in South Africa. Methods: Longitudinal data from two consecutive waves of middle-aged and older adults in 2014-2015 (n=5059) and 2018-2019 (n=4176) i...

Background: The aim of study was to evaluate survival outcome and limb function in cancer patients with proximal limbs metastasis. Associated factors on survival outcome and limb function were identified. The comparative analysis between intramedullary nailing and prosthesis surgery in cancer patients with proximal limb metastasis was performed. Me...

Introduction The purpose of this study was to assess the bidirectional association between multimorbidity (MM) and probable depression in a longitudinal study in Thailand. Methods We analyzed longitudinal data of participants 45 years and older from two consecutive waves (in 2015 and 2017) of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Thailand (HART). Proba...

The study aimed to assess factors associated with multiple suicide attempts (MSA) in adolescents with a history of suicide attempts in Morocco. National cross-sectional data from the Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) in Morocco in 2016 were analysed. Students who reported to have a history of past 12-month suicide attempts were inclu...

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of four alcohol use indicators among male and female school adolescents in Bolivia. In total, 7931 participants (M = 15.5 years, SD = 1.6) responded to a questionnaire in a cross-sectional nationally representative school survey in Bolivia in 2018. The proportion...

The aim of this study was to assess the physical and mental health status of middle-aged and older adults in relation to socioeconomic status in Thailand, both in a cross-sectional and longitudinal study. We analyze national cross-sectional and longitudinal data from the Health, Aging, and Retirement in Thailand (HART) study in 2015 and 2017. Healt...

Background: Breast cancer has become the most common malignant tumour worldwide. Distant metastasis is one of the leading causes of breast cancer-related death. To verify the performance of clinicomics-guided distant metastasis risk prediction for breast cancer via artificial intelligence and to investigate the accuracy of the created prediction mo...

Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess the bidirectional association between multimorbidity (MM) and functional disability among middle-aged and older adults in a longitudinal study in Thailand. Methods We analyzed longitudinal data of participants aged 45 years and older from two consecutive waves (in 2015 and 2017) of the Health, Agi...

The aim of the study was to assess tobacco use associations with multi-dimensional adverse health outcomes among adolescents in four Caribbean countries. Cross-sectional national adolescent school survey data (N = 9,143, median age 15 years) from Suriname, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Dominican Republic in 2016–2017 were analysed. Results...

Objective The purpose of the study was to assess the prevalence and correlates of undiagnosed type 2 diabetes (UT2D) among adults (aged 18 years and older) in Iraq. Design Cross-sectional, population-based study. Setting Nationally representative sample of general community-dwelling adult population in Iraq from the 2015 Iraq STEPS survey. Parti...

Face-to-face bullying victimization (FBV) and cyber bullying victimization (CBV) are of global concern, including in Latin America. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between combined FBV and CBV relative to single victimization (FBV or CBV) and no victimization with a wide range of adverse health outcomes among school-aged adol...

The study aimed to estimate the prevalence and associated factors of undiagnosed hypertension (HTN) among adults in the Central African Republic (CAR). In the cross-sectional 2017 CAR (Bangui and Ombella M'Poko) STEPS survey, 3265 persons aged 25 to 64 years (non-pregnant and with complete blood pressure measurement), responded to an interview, bio...

Objectives Face mask wearing is a standard preventive measure, in addition to handwashing and physical distancing. Individuals may find that wearing a face mask protects their physical health and prevents viral transmission. However, none of the studies in Thailand identified factors associated with face mask-wearing behaviors among Thai people. Th...

Background Fruit and vegetable intake may influence mental well-being. The aim of this study was to assess longitudinal associations between fruit and vegetable intake and depressive symptoms among rural South Africans. Methods This longitudinal community study enrolled 3,891 adults (≥ 40 years) from the “Health and Ageing in Africa: A Longitudina...

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the association between mental symptoms and incident functional disability among middle-age and older adults in South Africa. Methods: Longitudinal data from two consecutive population surveys (2014/2015-2018/2019) in Agincourt, South Africa, were analysed. Results: In total, 298 of 3813 part...

This study aims to study the relationship between soft drink consumption (SDC) and health risk behaviors among =11 years to =18 years old Bolivian students. The secondary analysis of the cross-sectional 2018 Bolivia Global School-Based Student Health Survey was used. The sample included 7,931 adolescents (50.3% males, and 49.7% females), mean age 1...

The study aims to investigate the risk factors and gender differences for suicide attempts among adolescents in Bolivia. This research involved a secondary analysis of the 2018 Bolivia cross-sectional Global School-Based Student Health Survey. The sample included 7,931 school adolescents (49.7% females and 50.3% males), and the mean age was 15.5 ye...

The study aimed to evaluate trends in the prevalence and correlates of current tobacco use only (= CT), current heavy drinking only (= CHD), and current tobacco use and current heavy drinking (= CTHD) in people 15 years and older from 2009 to 2019 in Mongolia. Cross-sectional data were analyzed from 5,438 individuals (15–64 years) of the Mongolia S...

Background The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between sleep duration and incident depressive symptoms (IDS) and persistent depressive symptoms (PDS) using longitudinal data from South Africa. Methods This longitudinal community study enrolled 3891 adults (≥40 years) from the “Health and Ageing in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an...

The study aimed to estimate the prevalence and associated factors of undiagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D) among adults in Morocco. Cross-sectional data were analyzed from 4779 people (≥ 18 years, mean age 41.7 years) who participated in the Morocco STEPS nationally representative survey in 2017 and had completed fasting blood glucose measurement. The...

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the association between somatic disorders, lifestyle factors, incident and persistent depressive symptoms, and low life satisfaction in a longitudinal study in South Africa. Methods: We analyzed longitudinal data from two consecutive waves, 2346 men aged 40 years or older in 2014/2015 in wave 1 and...

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of suicidal behaviour (SB) among adults in Guyana. Secondary data were analysed from the national cross-sectional 2016 Guyana STEPS survey, which sampled 2 662 adults aged 18-69 years (female = 59.9%; East Indian = 42.3%; median age = 37.4 years). Following logistic regression analyses, re...

Background The use of herbal and combined herbal and conventional treatments in people with chronic diseases, such as hypertension, is important. The aim of the present study was to assess national trends in using traditional medicines for the treatment of hypertension among adults in Mongolia from four cross-sectional surveys in 2005, 2009, 2013 a...

Background Fruit and vegetable intake may improve sleep. Aims To assess the relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and sleep quality in a longitudinal study. Method We analysed longitudinal data from two consecutive population surveys of adults in Agincourt, South Africa (2014–2015 and 2018–2019). Results In total, 331 of 2975 participa...

The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of successful ageing (SA) among people 50 years and older in Thailand. We analyzed national cross-sectional data (5092 men and women 50 years or older) from the Health, Aging and Retirement in Thailand (HART) study in 2015. The SA measures included (1) life satisfaction, (2) s...

Objective This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of physical inactivity in middle-aged and older adults in India. Design Population-based cross-sectional study. Setting Nationally representative sample of general community-dwelling middle-aged and older adult population in India. Participants The sample included 72 2...

This study aimed to investigate the association between religiousness (affiliation, nonorganizational, organizational, and intrinsic religiosity) and major depressive disorder (MDD) and depressive symptoms among older adults in a national population survey in India. In total, 72,262 people (≥ 45 years) from the cross-sectional longitudinal aging st...

The aim of this study was to assess the association between five health risk behaviours and persistent and incident depressive symptoms in a longitudinal study in South Africa. The sample included 5059 men and women (⩾40 years) in 2014/2015, and 4176 in 2018/2019 of the ‘Health and Ageing in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in S...

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are on the rise in low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and correlates of multiple NCD risk factors (inadequate fruit and vegetable intake, low physical activity, tobacco use, heavy alcohol use, diabetes, hypertension, raised total cholesterol and overweig...

This study aimed to analyze trends in the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension and associated factors in persons 15 years and older from 2005 to 2019 in Mongolia. National data were analyzed from 21,342 people (≥15 years) who participated in 4 cross-sectional STEPwise Approach to NCD Risk Factor Surveillance surveys in Mong...

Alcohol use is a major risk factor for noncommunicable diseases in Thailand, and one of its pathways is high blood pressure. Given that brief intervention can effectively reduce hazardous alcohol consumption, this study aimed to investigate how hypertensive patients with concomitant alcohol use are identified and treated in Thai primary care settin...

Objective The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence and correlates of cardiovascular disease (ischaemic heart disease and/or stroke (IHDS)) in Mongolia. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting National community-based sample of people aged 15–69 years in Mongolia. Participants 6654 people (15–69 years, mean 41.3) who participated in the...

Background and aim Leucopenia (LP) greatly limits the efficacy of chemotherapy in osteosarcoma patients. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional status of osteosarcoma patients before chemotherapy, assess the risk of LP during the perichemotherapy period, and explore the association between malnutrition and LP. Materials and methods This stud...

Introduction: the rate of hypertension has been increasing in Africa. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence and associated factors of undiagnosed hypertension (HTN) among adults in Sudan. Methods: cross-sectional data were analyzed from 7,226 persons (18-69 years, median 37 years, interquartile range 27-49 years, 4557 were females) who part...