The aim of this study was to examine the factors associated with COVID-19-related fear in older adults from Kazakhstan, and to explore its associations with sociodemographic characteristics, health status and multiple domains of quality of life in a regional context. A total of 445 individuals aged 60 and above from both urban and rural locations in Kazakhstan participated in this cross-sectional study. To assess the quality of life among older people we used the OPQoL (Older People’s Quality of Life) Scale. Further variables were evaluated: sociodemographic (age, gender, education level, marital status, and place of residence); health-related (self-reported overall health, hypertension, diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, cardiovascular disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); and COVID-19-related fear variable. Female gender (OR = 2.344; p = 0.001), present hypertension (OR = 2.106; p = 0.008), the specialized secondary educational level (OR = 2.321; p = 0.012) and at the border of significance university educational level (OR = 1.832; p = 0.051) were variables significantly associated with the COVID-19-related fear in older adults. For individuals with reported COVID-19-related fear, advanced age was significantly negatively associated with leisure and activities domain (B = −0.747; p = 0.020) of OPQoL; better self-reported overall health was significantly positively associated with life overall domain (B = 0.691; p < 0.001), health domain (B = 1.320; p < 0.001), psychological and emotional well-being domain (B = 0.395; p = 0.001), home and neighborhood domain (B = 0.249; p = 0.036), independence, control over life and freedom domain (B = 1.082; p < 0.001), financial circumstances domain (B = 1.132; p < 0.001), and leisure and activities domain (B = 0.556; p = 0.026) of OPQoL; present hypertension was significantly negatively associated with health domain (B = −0.888; p = 0.004) of OPQoL; present cardiovascular disease was significantly negatively associated with life overall domain (B = −0.588; p = 0.027), health domain (B = −0.967; p = 0.009), and independence, control over life and freedom domain (B = −0.542; p = 0.039) of OPQoL; being single was significantly negatively associated with life overall domain (B = −0.481; p = 0.033), social relations domain (B = −0.671; p = 0.014) and financial circumstances domain (B = −0.694; p = 0.036) of OPQoL; and urban place of residency was significantly positively associated with health domain (B = 0.735; p = 0.011) and psychological and emotional well-being domain (B = 0.483; p = 0.010) of OPQoL. Our findings pointed that numerous variables were associated with the COVID-19-related fear and quality of life domains regarding COVID-19-related fear in older adults from Kazakhstan during pandemics.

Background/Objectives: Intestinal diseases constitute a significant global public health issue and encompass a broad spectrum of inflammatory, functional, and infectious disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) and irritable bowel syndrome. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to sex-related differences in epidemiology, clinical course, diagnosis, and treatment outcomes. Methods: A structured narrative review was conducted using the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases to identify publications addressing sex-related differences in the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of intestinal diseases. The aim of the study was to examine sex-based differences in the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of intestinal diseases. Results: The development of intestinal diseases is determined by the interaction of genetic, immunological, hormonal, microbial, and environmental factors. Sex-related differences were identified in disease prevalence, clinical course, and progression and are associated with hormonal regulation, immune response characteristics, and gut microbiota composition. Diagnosis of intestinal diseases is based on a combination of laboratory biomarkers, endoscopic, and imaging techniques, and diagnostic accuracy may vary according to biological sex. Video capsule endoscopy, balloon-assisted enteroscopy, and advanced imaging methods, including computed tomography colonography, improve the evaluation of small bowel diseases, whereas chromoendoscopy, colonoscopy, and cross-sectional imaging play important roles in the assessment of colonic disorders. Treatment includes pharmacological, dietary, microbiota-based, endoscopic, and surgical approaches. Current evidence suggests that biological sex may influence treatment response, adverse event profiles, and clinical outcomes; however, the available evidence remains limited or inconsistent for several therapeutic strategies, highlighting the need for further sex-specific clinical research. Conclusions: Sex-related differences should be considered to improve diagnostic accuracy, optimize treatment strategies, and support individualized clinical management. Although evidence remains limited in several areas, current findings support the integration of biological sex into clinical decision-making. Further research is needed to establish sex-specific diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.