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

ABSTRACT:

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 defences 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 chan

SUBMITTER: Santacroce A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5948149 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature