Predicting injury in football using pitch quality, player’s function, player’s age and match intensity: A case study of the 2017 African Cup of Nations

Applied project submitted to the Department of Computer Science, Ashesi University College, in partial fulfillment of Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems, April 2017Football is the most popular sport in the world, and many individuals have taken advantage of it to earn a living and improve upon their standards of living. Injuries are also unfortunate incidents that occur in daily life and in sports, which affect an individual’s ability to make good use of his sporting talent to earn a living for himself and his family. In this project, modifiable risk factors that affect a player’s likelihood of getting an injury are identified, and their individual contributions to injury of a player is assessed. A predictive model for determining important risk factors for determining injuries in football is generated using the identified risk factors: pitch quality, match intensity, player function and player age.Ashesi University Colleg

Cardiovascular Disease Risk and the Association with Acculturation in West African Immigrants in the United States

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States (US). Despite substantial reduction in CVD events of Americans, many ethnic minorities experience striking CVD disparities, with insufficient research to explain these disparities. Limited research conducted in West African Immigrants (WAI), specifically Ghanaian and Nigerian immigrants residing in other high-income countries has revealed a high prevalence of CVD risk factors. However, no epidemiological studies have explored CVD risk and the association with behavioral, social, economic and cultural factors in African immigrants in the US. Design and Methods: : Cross-sectional study epidemiological of West African immigrants (Ghanaian and Nigerian-born ) aged 35–74 years residing in the Baltimore, Washington-D.C metropolitan area. A full fasting lipid-profile, glucose concentrations, blood pressure and anthropometric measured were obtained and a modified World Health Organization questionnaire with items assessing social support, CVD knowledge and acculturation was administered to participants. Findings: The mean age of the 253 participants was 49.5±9.2 years and 58% were female. Males were more likely to be employed than females (90% vs. 72%; p=0.001). Only 52% of participants had health insurance. The majority (54%) had ≥3 CVD risk factors and 28% had PARS10 ≥7.5%. Smoking was the least prevalent (<1%) and overweight/obesity the most prevalent (88%) risk factor. Although females (64%) were more likely to be treated for hypertension than males (36%), there was no difference in hypertension control by sex. Diabetes was identified in 16% of the participants. Mean total cholesterol (TC) was 180.9±33.9mg/dL and 32% had TC level ≥200mg/dL. Also, 44% were found to be physically inactive. In females, employment [0.18 AOR, 95%CI: 0.075-0.44)] and health insurance [0.35 AOR, 95%CI 0.14-0.87)] were associated with a PARS10 ≥7.5%. In males, higher social support was associated with a 0.92 (95%CI: 0.84-0.98) odds of having ≥3 CVD risk factors. Conclusions: The healthy immigrant effect may not hold for this current generation of African immigrants. Larger studies are need to confirm the relationships between predisposing, reinforcing and enabling factors and CVD risk as well as the association between acculturation and CVD risk identified in this study

Association between Non-Cigarette/Smokeless Tobacco and Hypertension in the National Health Interview Survey: A Pseudo-Panel Analysis

This study sought to examine assumption between having ever used non-cigarette tobacco or smokeless tobacco, and a diagnosis of hypertension among a sample of 13, 086 United States adults participating in the National Health Interview Series from 2012-2014. A pseudo-panel analysis of data extracted from the Integrated Health Interview Series Survey was conducted. The generalized linear mixed model was used to quantify the effect of a history of non-cigarette tobacco, smokeless tobacco, and socio-demographic predictor variables on the response variable, a diagnosis of hypertension. The transformed data, based on the pseudo-panel technique, resulted in fifty-seven (57) birth cohorts and followed in 2012, 2013, and 2014. The mean age was 51.6 years (±12.4). The findings of this study revealed that the odds of hypertension diagnosis for non-cigarette tobacco users was 0.8846 times lower (95% CI: 0.7907, 0.9896) than non-users after adjusting for possible confounders such as age, language, education, income and years of smoking. Our study suggested that the association between the use of non-cigarette tobacco and the diagnosis of hypertension among the sample population is consistent enough to assume a less plausible association between the two variables

Association between Non-Cigarette/Smokeless Tobacco and Hypertension in the National Health Interview Survey: A Pseudo-Panel Analysis

This study sought to examine assumption between having ever used non-cigarette tobacco or smokeless tobacco, and a diagnosis of hypertension among a sample of 13, 086 United States adults participating in the National Health Interview Series from 2012-2014. A pseudo-panel analysis of data extracted from the Integrated Health Interview Series Survey was conducted. The generalized linear mixed model was used to quantify the effect of a history of non-cigarette tobacco, smokeless tobacco, and socio-demographic predictor variables on the response variable, a diagnosis of hypertension. The transformed data, based on the pseudo-panel technique, resulted in fifty-seven (57) birth cohorts and followed in 2012, 2013, and 2014. The mean age was 51.6 years (±12.4). The findings of this study revealed that the odds of hypertension diagnosis for non-cigarette tobacco users was 0.8846 times lower (95% CI: 0.7907, 0.9896) than non-users after adjusting for possible confounders such as age, language, education, income and years of smoking. Our study suggested that the association between the use of non-cigarette tobacco and the diagnosis of hypertension among the sample population is consistent enough to assume a less plausible association between the two variables

Expanding the Role of Nurses to Improve Hypertension Care and Control Globally

The role of the nurse in improving hypertension control has expanded over the past 50 years, complementing and supplementing that of the physician. Nurses' involvement began with measuring and monitoring blood pressure (BP) and patient education and has expanded to become one of the most effective strategies to improve BP control. Today the roles of nurses and nurse practitioners (NPs) in hypertension management involve all aspects of care, including (1) detection, referral, and follow up; (2) diagnostics and medication management; (3) patient education, counseling, and skill building; (4) coordination of care; (5) clinic or office management; (6) population health management; and (7) performance measurement and quality improvement. The patient-centered, multidisciplinary team is a key feature of effective care models that have been found to improve care processes and control rates. In addition to their clinical roles, nurses lead clinic and community-based research to improve the hypertension quality gap and ethnic disparities by holistically examining social, cultural, economic, and behavioral determinants of hypertension outcomes and designing culturally sensitive interventions to address these determinants

Medication Adherence Interventions for Cardiovascular Disease in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: The burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is high in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Medications are integral to the management and control of CVD; however, suboptimal adherence impacts health outcomes. This systematic review aims to critically examine interventions targeted at improving medication adherence among persons with CVD in LMICs. Methods: In this systematic review, we searched online databases PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL for studies that evaluated a medication adherence intervention for CVD, reported adherence as an outcome measure, were conducted in LMICs and reported the strategy or tool used to measure adherence. We included articles published in English, available in full text, peer-reviewed, and published between 2010 and 2020. Results: We included 45 articles in this review. The majority of the studies implemented counseling and educational interventions led by nurses, pharmacists, or community health workers. Many of the studies delivered medication-taking reminders in the form of phone calls, text messages, short message services (SMS), and in-phone calendars. Multi-component interventions were more effective than unifocal interventions. Interventions involving technology, such as mobile phone calls, electronic pillboxes, and interactive phone SMS reminders, were more effective than generic reminders. The outcomes reported in the studies varied based on the complexity and combination of strategies. When interventions were implemented at both the patient level, such as reminders, and at the provider level, such as team-based care, the effect on medication adherence was larger. Conclusion: In LMICs, medication adherence interventions among persons with CVD included a combination of patient education, reminders, fixed-dose combination therapy and team-based care approach were generally more effective than singular interventions. Among patients who had CVD, the medication adherence interventions were found to be moderately effective. Future studies focusing on improving medication adherence in LMICs should consider non-physician-led interventions and appropriately adapt the interventions to the local context

Life's Simple 7 at Midlife and Risk of Recurrent Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality after Stroke: The ARIC study

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among adults in the U.S. Ideal levels of the Life's Simple 7 (LS7) are associated with lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality. However, the association of LS7 with CVD, recurrent stroke, and all-cause mortality after incident stroke is unknown. Methods: We used data from the ARIC study, a cohort of 13,508 adults from four US communities, 45–64 years old at baseline (1987–1989). Cardiovascular hospitalizations and mortality were ascertained in follow-up through December 31st, 2017. We defined cardiovascular health (CVH) based on AHA definitions for LS7 (range 0-14) and categorized CVH into four levels: LS7 0-3, 4-6, 7-9, and ≥10 (ideal LS7), according to prior studies. Outcomes included incident stroke, CVD, recurrent stroke, all-cause mortality, and a composite outcome including all the above. Adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) were estimated with Cox proportional hazards regression models. Results: Median (25%-75%) follow-up for incident stroke was 28 (18.6-29.2) years. Participants with incident stroke were 55.7 (SD 5.6) years-old at baseline, 53% were women and 35% Black. Individuals with LS7 score ≥10 had 65% lower risk (HR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.29-0.41) of incident stroke than those with LS7 4-6 (reference group). Of 1,218 participants with incident stroke, 41.2% (n=502) had composite CVD and 68.3% (n=832) died during a median (25%-75%) follow-up of 4.0 (0.76-9.95) years. Adjusted HR (95% CI) for stroke survivors with LS7≥10 at baseline were 0.74 (0.58-0.94) for the composite outcome, 0.38(0.17-0.85) for myocardial infarction, 0.60 (0.40-0.90) for heart failure, 0.63 (0.48-0.84) for all-cause mortality, and 0.65 (0.39-1.08) for recurrent stroke. Conclusions: Good and excellent midlife cardiovascular health are associated with lower risks of incident stroke and CVD after stroke. Clinicians should stress the importance of a healthy lifestyle for primary and secondary CVD prevention

Controlling High Blood Pressure: An Evidence-Based Blueprint for Change

High Blood Pressure (HBP) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and related mortality, with recent estimates that show that 46% (or 116 million) of US adults have HBP. Despite strong guideline-based recommendations for the accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of HBP, existing quality measures for BP control have not changed over the past several years, and now may be worsening during the COVID-19 pandemic. Internationally recognized experts will discuss urgent imperatives for a new, cross-cutting “Blueprint for Change”, calling on leaders of health systems, payers, public health and technology companies to work collaboratively to measurably improve Guideline-based through a new system of care delivery for the many Americans with HBP. Co-sponsored with: AJMQ and ACMQ Presentation: 1:00:3

What have our patients learnt after being hospitalised for an acute myocardial infarction?

Background: Education for hospitalised patients is an important aspect of care for people who have an acute cardiovascular event. Objective: To investigate the cardiovascular risk factor behaviours of patients together with their acute coronary syndrome (ACS) knowledge, attitudes and beliefs following admission to hospital for an acute myocardial infarction. Methods: Patients diagnosed with an acute myocardial infarction participated in an observational study. Patients completed a questionnaire consisting of cardiovascular risk factor behaviour questions and the ACS Response Index prior to discharge and at follow-up 10 weeks later. Results: Of the 135 participants enrolled, 114 (84%) completed follow-up, 70% were males; mean age was 63 (±11.6) years. The median length of hospital stay was 3 days (IQR 1) and the time to follow-up after discharge was 10 weeks. Self-reported risk factor behaviours improved significantly for diet (p < 0.001) and smoking cessation (p = 0.023) following discharge. At discharge 39% of patients had inadequate knowledge of ACS symptoms. The ACS Response Index improved significantly after discharge for attitudes (p = 0.004) and beliefs (p = 0.008). Despite 85% of patients indicating they would attend cardiac rehabilitation only 30% had commenced a programme at follow-up. Conclusion: Patients reported implementing a number of healthy lifestyle changes following discharge including smoking cessation and healthy eating. Attitudes and beliefs regarding ACS showed a significant improvement following discharge. More than one third of patients had inadequate knowledge at discharge, suggesting current education practices may not be meeting the needs of patients with a myocardial infarction