1 vs. 30.9±10.9 Kg) compared to those with optimal PIFR. There were no significant differences between the two PIFR groups by gender, race, history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, hypertension or functional scores. Each kilogram increase in HGS was associated with 0.50 (95%CI 0.18-0.89, p = 0.003) L/min increase in PIFR. We did not observe an association between PIFR and 30 or 90-day readmission rates. CONCLUSION We found a significant association between HGS and PIFR in hospitalized patients with acute exacerbations of COPD. Whether interventions aimed at increasing skeletal muscle strength also result in improvement in PIFR remains unclear and need further study.Patients diagnosed with coronary heart disease should follow lifestyle recommendations that can reduce their cardiovascular risk (e.g., avoid smoking). However, some patients fail to follow these recommendations and engage in unhealthy behavior. With the aim to identify psychosocial factors that characterize patients at high risk of repeated cardiovascular events, we investigated the relationship between social support, mental health (coping, self-esteem, and perceived stress), and unhealthy behavior. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 419 patients recently diagnosed with coronary heart disease (myocardial infarction or angina) who participated in the National Health Survey in Spain (2018). Unhealthy behaviors were defined according to the European Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention. Only 1% of patients reported no unhealthy behaviors, with 11% reporting one, 40% two, 35% three, and 13% four or more unhealthy behaviors. In multiple regression controlling for demographic and traditional risk factors, mental health was the only significant psychosocial factor, doubling the odds of accumulated unhealthy behaviors, OR(high vs. low) = 2.03, 95% CI [1.14, 3.64]. Mental health was especially strongly related to unhealthy behavior among patients with obesity, OR(high vs. low) = 3.50, 95% CI [1.49, 8.45]. The relationship between mental health and unhealthy behaviors suggests that a large proportion of patients may not adhere to lifestyle recommendations not because they purposefully choose to do so, but because they lack coping skills to maintain the recommended healthy behaviors. Low mental well-being may be especially detrimental for behavior change of patients with obesity.Financial barriers are a major obstacle to accessing maternal health care services in low-resource settings. In Madagascar, less than half of live births are attended by skilled health staff. Although mobile money-based savings and payment systems are often used to pay for a variety of services, including health care, data on the implications of a dedicated mobile money wallet restricted to health-related spending during pregnancy-a mobile health wallet (MHW)-are not well understood. selleck chemical In cooperation with the Madagascan Ministry of Health, this study aims to elicit the perceptions, experiences, and recommendations of key stakeholders in relation to a MHW amid a pilot study in 31 state-funded health care facilities. We conducted a two-stage qualitative study using semi-structured in-depth interviews with stakeholders (N = 21) representing the following groups community representatives, health care providers, health officials and representatives from phone provider companies. Interviews were conducted in Atsimondrano and Renivohitra districts, between November and December of 2017. Data was coded thematically using inductive and deductive approaches, and found to align with a social ecological model. Key facilitators for successful implementation of the MHW, include (i) close collaboration with existing communal structures and (ii) creation of an incentive scheme to reward pregnant women to save. Key barriers to the application of the MHW in the study zone include (i) disruption of informal benefits for health care providers related to the current cash-based payment system, (ii) low mobile phone ownership, (iii) illiteracy among the target population, and (iv) failure of the MHW to overcome essential access barriers towards institutional health care services such as fear of unpredictable expenses. The MHW was perceived as a potential solution to reduce disparities in access to maternal health care. To ensure success of the MHW, direct demand-side and provider-side financial incentives merit consideration.PURPOSE The purpose was to explore the exercise behavior of the Taiwanese population during leisure time and to examine the gender differences in related influential factors. METHODS The Leisure Time and Sport Questionnaire (LTSQ) conducted by the Academia Sinica in 2007 was used for analysis. Participants were drawn from the Taiwanese population aged over 18 years old. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to test the association between the frequency of exercise and related factors in all the participants, male, and female participants, respectively. RESULTS In the total 2,147 participants, 47.8% reported they regularly exercised, 34.1% irregularly exercised, and 18.1% never exercised. There were no significant gender differences in the frequency of exercise, but a significant gender difference was found in the types of exercise most often practiced. Participants in one of following conditions, over 65 and under 40 years old, living in the city, having higher education levels, having a spouse or partner, enjoying exercise, feeling worthwhile to spend money on exercise, and not having to take care of others, were more likely to be engaged in regular exercise in the total population. The “enjoyment” in exercise was a significant influential factor for both sexes. Women were more likely to exercise regularly if they were aged 40-64 years old compared with those over 65 years old, have lower self-rated health scores, felt it was more worthwhile to spend money on exercise and did not have to care for another, whereas men who have higher education level and did not feel a lack of time were more likely to exercise regularly. CONCLUSIONS There are gender differences in regular exercise behavior during leisure time and related influential factors among Taiwanese adults. The findings of the present study can be used when designing gender-specific health promotion programs.