The REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study is a national, population-based, longitudinal study of 30,000 African-American and white adults aged ≧45 years. The objective is to determine the causes for the excess stroke mortality in the Southeastern US and among African-Americans. Participants are randomly sampled with recruitment by mail then telephone, where data on stroke risk factors, sociodemographic, lifestyle, and psychosocial characteristics are collected. Written informed consent, physical and physiological measures, and fasting samples are collected during a subsequent in-home visit. Participants are followed via telephone at 6-month intervals for identification of stroke events. The novel aspects of the REGARDS study allow for the creation of a national cohort to address geographic and ethnic differences in stroke.

Arm complaints are common, with nearly half of the subjects reporting pain. The factors associated with elbow and shoulder pain were different, suggesting differing etiologies. Developmental factors may be important in both. To lower the risk of pain at both locations, young pitchers probably should not throw more than 75 pitches in a game. Other recommendations are to remove pitchers from a game if they demonstrate arm fatigue and limit pitching in nonleague games.

Older drivers have elevated crash rates and are more likely to be injured or die if they have a crash. Medical conditions and medications have been hypothesized as determinants of crash involvement. This population-based case-control study sought to identify medical conditions and medications associated with risk of at-fault crashes among older drivers. A total of 901 drivers aged 65 years and older were selected in 1996 from Alabama Department of Public Safety driving records: 244 at-fault drivers involved in crashes; 182 not at-fault drivers involved in crashes; and 475 drivers not involved in crashes were enrolled. Information on demographic factors, chronic medical conditions, medications, driving habits, visual function, and cognitive status was collected. Older drivers with heart disease (odds ratio (OR) = 1.5, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.0, 2.2) or stroke (OR = 1.9, 95% CI: 0.9, 3.9) were more likely to be involved in at-fault automobile crashes. Arthritis was also associated with an increased risk among females (OR =1.8, 95% CI: 1.1, 2.9). Use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (OR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.0, 2.6), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (OR = 1.6, 95 CI: 1.0, 2.7), and anticoagulants (OR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.0, 73) was associated with an increased risk of at-fault involvement in crashes. Benzodiazepine use (OR = 5.2, 95% CI: 0.9, 30.0) was also associated with an increased risk. Calcium channel blockers (OR = 0.5, 95% CI: 0.2, 0.9) and vasodilators (OR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.1, 1.0) were associated with a reduced risk of crash involvement. The identification of medical conditions and medications associated with risk of crashes is important for enhancing the safety and mobility of older drivers.

Mistiming is not a unitary construct. Its extent is associated with maternal characteristics and behaviors. Future research on pregnancy intention should examine the extent of mistiming and consider alternatives to traditional definitions of intendedness.

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Sixty-one African American women (ages 20-50 years) from a rural community in Alabama participated in six focus groups. Barriers to and enablers of physical activity were identified and grouped into personal, environmental (social and physical), policy, and cultural themes for qualitative analyses. Personal factors included motivation, perceived health, feeling tired, and lack of time; social environmental factors included support from friends, family, and issues related to child care; physical environmental factors included weather, access to facilities, availability of sidewalks or other places to walk; policy factors included personal safety concerns (loose dogs, traffic, etc.) and inflexible work environments. Some, but not all, women perceived cultural differences as a factor affecting physical activity levels. Differences in socioeconomic levels and time demands among women of different cultures were identified as factors that may influence physical activity. Participants provided suggestions for community-based physical activity interventions using an environmental approach.

Social networks appear to be an important determinant of cancer-screening behavior among low-income, older Mexican-American women.

Background/Objectives Few reports describe the incidence of cardiovascular risk factors, or race-related disparities in incidence, across the age spectrum in adults. Design Longitudinal cohort. Setting National sample. Participants Community-dwelling black and white population, recruited between 2003 and 2007. Measurements Incident hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and atrial fibrillation over 10 years of follow-up in 10,801 adults, stratified by age as 45–54, 55–64, 65–74 or 75+ years. Results There was no evidence (p ≥ 0.68) of an age-related difference in the incidence of hypertension for white men (average incidence of 38%), black men (48%), and black women (54%); however for white women incidence increased with age (27% for ages 45–54, to 40% ages 75+). Incidence of diabetes was lower at older ages for white men (15% for ages 45–54, to 8% for 75+), black men (29% age 45–54, to 13% for 75+), and white females (11% for 45–54, to 4% for 75+); however, there was no evidence (p = 0.11) of age-related changes for black women (average incidence 21%). For dyslipidemia, incidence for all race-sex groups was approximately 20% for ages 45–54, but was approximately 30% for ages 54–64 and 65–74, and approximately 22% for ages 75+. Incidence of atrial fibrillation was low at ages 45–54 (<5%), but by age 75+ was approximately 20% for whites and 11% for blacks. The incidence of hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia was higher in blacks across the age spectrum, but lower for atrial fibrillation. Conclusion Incidence of risk factors remains high in older adults. Blacks have a higher incidence of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia after age 45, underscoring the ongoing importance of prevention of all three conditions in mid- to later-life.