Mindfulness during romantic conflict moderates the impact of negative partner behaviors on cortisol responses.

This study was designed to test whether romantic partners' mindfulness-present moment, nonjudgmental awareness-during a conflict discussion could buffer the effects of negative partner behaviors on neuroendocrine stress responses. Heterosexual couples (n=88 dyads) provided 5 saliva samples for cortisol assay during a laboratory session involving a conflict discussion task. Conflict behaviors were coded by outside observers using the System for Coding Interactions in Dyads, and partners rated their mindfulness during the task using the Toronto Mindfulness Scale.

Sex-specific effects of mindfulness on romantic partners' cortisol responses to conflict and relations with psychological adjustment.

Mindfulness is known to improve individuals' and couples' subjective stress regulation, but little is known about how it impacts hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis responses to acute psychosocial stress. The current study tested effects of dispositional mindfulness facets on young adult couples' cortisol responses to a conflict discussion stressor, as well as associations with psychological adjustment. One hundred heterosexual couples completed the five facet mindfulness questionnaire one week before engaging in a conflict discussion task.

Prevalence, awareness, and management of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes among United States adults aged 65 and older.

Background: Adults aged 65 and older are disproportionately affected by hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes, which are established risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although risk reduction strategies among older adults, including control of CVD risk factors, can lead to a decline in premature CVD morbidity and mortality, the prevalence of these risk factors has generally increased in the past decade among elders and risk factor control rates have been suboptimal. We assess prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates among U.

Racial and ethnic disparities in the prevalence and management of cardiovascular risk factors in the United States workforce.

Objective: To assess racial or ethnic differences in workers with respect to awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, and to identify factors associated with these disparities.

Methods: Analysis of nationally representative data collected from employed persons participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999 to 2002, with sub-analyses by race and ethnicity.

Results: Mexican-American workers are less likely than non-Hispanic whites to be aware of their hypertension (odds ratio [OR] = 0.

Diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia in Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic whites.

Background: Ethnic disparities in healthcare quality have been documented, but knowledge of differences in cardiovascular risk factor prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control between Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic whites remains incomplete.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis in 2005 of nationally representative data collected from 2256 Mexican-American and 4624 non-Hispanic white adults aged 20 years and over who participated in the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Results: Type 2 diabetes is significantly more prevalent in Mexican Americans (13% age and gender adjusted) than in non-Hispanic whites (8%); however, Mexican Americans are more likely to be both diagnosed (77% vs 65%) and treated (63% vs 47%).

Racial disparities in hypertension prevalence, awareness, and management.

Background: Effectively reducing cardiovascular disease disparities requires identifying and reducing disparities in risk factors. Improved understanding of hypertension disparities is critical.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of nationally representative samples of black and white adults 20 years and older who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2002 (white, n = 4624; black, n = 1837) and NHANES III conducted in 1988-1994 (white, n = 7121; black, n = 4709).

Healthcare spending among community-dwelling adults with schizophrenia.

Background: Although expenditures for schizophrenia have been documented previously, direct medical expenses have not been updated to reflect the most recent national data available.

Objective: To identify current direct medical expenditures for schizophrenia and comorbidities among community-dwelling adults in the United States.

Study Design: Cross-sectional.

Adherence with pharmacotherapy for type 2 diabetes: a retrospective cohort study of adults with employer-sponsored health insurance.

Background: Trials have shown that intensive therapy to control blood glucose levels results in lower rates of microvascular complications and myocardial infarction among patients with type 2 diabetes. They have also demonstrated the economic and quality-of-life benefits of improved glycemic control among this patient population. Glycemic control achievable in controlled settings, however, may differ from that observed in actual practice settings, in part due to the patient's autonomy in determining whether, or to what extent, adherence to the prescribed regimen is acceptable.

The impact of obesity on work limitations and cardiovascular risk factors in the U.S. workforce.

Objective: We document the association among obesity, cardiovascular risk factors, and work limitations in the U.S. workforce.