Gender differences in the use of anti-infective medications before and after 
widowhood: a register-based study

Santacroce, Adriana; Wastesson, Jonas W.; Höhn, Andreas; Christensen, Kaare; Oksuzyan, Anna

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Gender differences in the use of anti-infective medications before and after widowhood: a register-based study

Santacroce, A., Wastesson, J. W., Höhn, A., Christensen, K., & Oksuzyan, A. (2018). Gender differences in the use of anti-infective medications before and after widowhood: a register-based study. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 72(6), 526-531.

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Item Permalink: https://hdl.handle.net/21.11116/0000-0004-7C39-2 Version Permalink: https://hdl.handle.net/21.11116/0000-0004-7C3A-1

Genre: Journal Article

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Creators:
Santacroce, Adriana¹, Author
Wastesson, Jonas W., Author
Höhn, Andreas¹, Author
Christensen, Kaare, Author
Oksuzyan, Anna¹, Author

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1Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Max Planck Society, ou_3148316

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Abstract: <p>Background: Recent findings suggest that bereavement due to spousal loss is associated with a decline in general immune functions, and thus to increased susceptibility to infections among widowed individuals. The present study aims to investigate whether spousal loss weakens immune refences more among men than among women using a 5% random sample of the total Danish population, and anti-infective medication use as a proxy for immune response.
Methods: We followed 6076 Danish individuals (67% women) aged ≥50 from 5 years before and up to 5 years after widowhood to examine changes in prescriptions of anti-infectives for systemic use.
Results: Women used more anti-infective drugs both before and after spousal loss (women: OR= 1.31; 95% CI 1.21 to 1.42). The age-related changes in the use of anti-infective medications in the period before widowhood were similar to that in the period after widowhood among both men and women. Also, age-related changes in the use of anti-infective medications were similar in both genders.
Conclusions: The present study shows that individuals are more likely to use anti-infective medication after being widowed than before being widowed, but this change is likely to be related to increasing age and it is similar in both genders.</p>

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Dates: Modified: 2018Date issued: 2018-06

Publication Status: Issued

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Identifiers: eDoc: 747659
Other: 5996

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Title: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health

Alternative Title : J. Epidemiol. Comm. Health

Source Genre: Journal

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Pages: - Volume / Issue: 72 (6) Sequence Number: - Start / End Page: 526 - 531 Identifier: -