Hybrid Immunity and SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies: Results of the HEROES-RECOVER Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data on whether hybrid immunity differs by count and order of immunity-conferring events (infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2] or vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]). From a multi-site cohort of frontline workers, we examined the heterogeneity of the effect of hybrid immunity on SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels. METHODS: Exposures included event count and event order, categorized into 7 permutations. Outcome was level of serum antibodies against receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (total RBD-binding immunoglobulin). Means were examined up to 365 days after each of the first to seventh events. RESULTS: Analysis included 5793 participants measured from 7 August 2020 to 15 April 2023. Hybrid immunity from infection before 1 or 2 vaccine doses elicited modestly superior antibody responses after the second and third events (compared with infections or vaccine doses alone). This superiority was not repeated after additional events. Among adults infected before vaccination, adjusted geometric mean ratios (95% confidence interval [CI]) of anti-RBD early response (versus vaccinated only) were 1.23 (1.14-1.33), 1.09 (1.03-1.14), 0.87 (.81-.94), and 0.99 (.85-1.15) after the second to fifth events, respectively. Post-vaccination infections elicited superior responses; adjusted geometric mean ratios (95% CI) of anti-RBD early response (versus vaccinated only) were 0.93 (.75-1.17), 1.11 (1.06-1.16), 1.17 (1.11-1.24), and 1.20 (1.07-1.34) after the second to fifth events, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence of heterogeneity in antibody levels by permutations of infection and vaccination history could inform COVID-19 vaccination policy.

Local Health Department Activities to Reduce Emergency Department Visits for Substance Use Disorders.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides financial incentives to prevent substance use disorders (SUDs). Local health departments (LHDs) can receive funds to establish care teams that partner with primary care providers and health systems. This study estimates the potential effect of LHDs on emergency visits for SUDs, using linked data sets from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Emergency Department (ED) sample for the State of Maryland-2012, the National Association of County and City Health Officials Profiles Survey 2013, and Area Health Resource File 2013 to estimate potential effect of LHDs' provision of SUD preventive care and SUD-related policy implementation. Local health department involvement in SUD-related policy during the past 2 years and provision of preventive care for behavioral health in the past year significantly reduced the probability of having a SUD-related ED visit by 11% and 6%, respectively, after controlling for individual characteristics (odds ratio [OR] = 0.89, p < .001; OR = 0.93, p < .001). After adjusting for the individual and contextual factors, LHD involvement in policy was still associated with 14% reduction in SUD-related ED visits (OR = 0.86, p < .001). Results offer insights on the extent to which the LHD activities can possibly affect SUD-related ED visits and provide a foundation for future work to identify effective LHD interventions.

Variation of preventive service utilization by state Medicaid coverage, cost-sharing, and Medicaid expansion status.

Preventive services can help reduce costs associated with chronic conditions. Medicaid beneficiaries have high rates of chronic conditions, but state Medicaid coverage and cost-sharing of preventive services varies widely. States that chose to expand Medicaid under the ACA were incentivized to cover recommended preventive services at no cost-sharing. This study evaluates whether state Medicaid policy and Medicaid expansion were associated with overall utilization, and disparities in utilization of preventive services among vulnerable populations. We used Medicaid policy data from Kaiser Family Foundation and MEPS data (2009-2014, n = 15,610), collected and analyzed in 2017. We used multivariable logistic regression, difference-in-differences, and difference-in-difference-in-differences models to examine the association between state Medicaid preventive service policy and Medicaid expansion on overall utilization, and disparities in utilization among race/ethnicity and income groups for blood pressure check, cholesterol screening, and flu shot. Medicaid coverage of flu shot was significantly associated with utilization (p < 0.001). Medicaid expansion significantly increased flu shot utilization among near-poor individuals (p < 0.01), Asians, and Latinos and blood pressure screening among African Americans (p < 0.05). For flu shot, the ACA is reaching its target audience: those in the coverage gap between Medicaid and private insurance. Increasing access to preventive services may not be enough to increase utilization, especially for vulnerable populations and/or the previously uninsured. Focusing on provider adherence to preventive service guidelines and education around who is eligible for what service and when could help increase utilization of preventive services in the future.

Reducing Preventable Hospitalization and Disparity: Association With Local Health Department Mental Health Promotion Activities.

INTRODUCTION: Serving as the center of community-engaged health programs, local health departments can play a critical role in promoting community mental health. The objectives of this study were to explore the association between local health department activities and (1) preventable hospitalizations for individuals with mental disorders, and (2) associated racial disparities in preventable hospitalizations. METHOD: Employing the linked data sets of the 2012-2013 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project state inpatient discharge file of the State of Maryland, the National Association of County and City Health Officials Profiles Survey, the Area Resource File, and U.S. Census data, the authors estimated the association between local health department activities (i.e., provision of mental health preventive care and community mental health promotion) and the reduction of the preventable hospitalizations for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions and coexisting mental disorders. All the data analyses were conducted during September 2016-August 2017. RESULTS: Multilevel regression showed that local health departments' provision of mental health preventive care (OR=0.76, 95% CI=0.63, 0.92) and mental health promotion activities (OR=0.77, 95% CI=0.62, 0.94) were significantly associated with lower rates of preventable hospitalizations for individuals with ambulatory care-sensitive conditions and coexisting mental disorders. Decomposition results suggested that local health departments' direct provision of mental health preventive care could reduce 9% of the racial disparities. CONCLUSIONS: Improving care coordination and integration are essential to meeting the growing demands for healthcare access, while controlling costs and improving quality of service delivery. These results suggest that it will be effective to engage local health departments in the integrated behavioral health system.

A Prospective Study of Depression and Weight Change After Kidney Transplant.

CONTEXT: Kidney transplant recipients have great risk for gaining significant weight (upward of 10 kg) in the first year posttransplant. Clinical depression can occur in response to life situations and is associated with weight gain. OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between demographic characteristics, weight change, and depression posttransplantation. DESIGN: Secondary data analysis on longitudinal data collected for a larger observational study. Demographic characteristics, weight, and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) data were obtained at baseline (BL) (time of transplantation), 6, and 12 months posttransplant. The CES-D scores were compared among time points using means, standard deviations, correlations, t tests, and chi-square as well as by multiple regression modeling. SETTING: Regional transplant center in the mid-south United States. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-seven kidney transplant recipients (55% female, 57% African American, mean age 52.5 years). Weight change ranged from -18.1 to +24.8 kg. RESULTS: In all, 62% reported baseline CES-D scores indicative of depression, with lower scores indicating less psychological distress at 6 and 12 months (47% and 49%, respectively). We found no significant differences among CES-D scores at any time point. Regression models found age, race, gender, and weight change to be predictive of CES-D scores at 6 months (P = .04, R (2) = .137). Age was the most influential (P = .008), with older individuals more likely to obtain higher CES-D scores. Since the experience of depression is common at transplant and during the first year, it is important that transplant recipients be evaluated for depression early in the recovery period.

Exploring contextual factors and patient activation: evidence from a nationally representative sample of patients with depression.

Patient activation has been considered as a "blockbuster drug of the century." Patients with mental disorders are less activated compared to patients with other chronic diseases. Low activation due to mental disorders can affect the efficiency of treatment of other comorbidities. Contextual factors are significantly associated with mental health care access and utilization. However, evidence of their association with patient activation is still lacking. Using data from the Health Tracking Household Survey 2007 and Area Health Resource File 2008, we examine the association between contextual factors and self-reported activation levels among patients with depression. We investigate two types of contextual factors--(a) site of usual source of care and (b) community characteristics, measured by mental health care resources availability, population demographics, and socioeconomic characteristics at the county level. Results show significant variation in activation levels by contextual factors. The availability of community mental health centers, lower proportion of foreign-born individuals, and higher income in the local community are associated with higher patient activation. Our results also show that depressed patients having a usual source of care at a physician's office have significantly higher patient activation levels than those with a usual source of care in the emergency department or hospital outpatient clinics. Results suggest that primary care setting is critical to having a sustained relationship between patients and physicians in order to enhance patient engagement in mental health care. Interventions in communities with low income and high immigrant populations are necessary.

Food availability as a determinant of weight gain among renal transplant recipients.

Excessive weight gain is common after renal transplantation, but it is unknown whether environmental factors, such as food availability, contribute to this important clinical problem. We evaluated the effects of food availability (fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and grocery stores within 1, 2, and 3 mile buffers of transplant recipients' residences) on body mass index (BMI) change during the first year post-transplant. Participants (n = 299) resided in Memphis, Tennessee. BMI increased by 1.42 units (p < .001) corresponding to an average weight gain of 9.25 lbs (5.43%) during the first year post-transplant. The number of grocery stores within 1 mile of recipient's residence was associated with an increase in BMI (p < .05), but fast food restaurants and convenience stores were not significantly associated with BMI change.

Lessons learned: experiences of gaining weight by kidney transplant recipients.

CONTEXT: Weight gain after kidney transplantation is a widespread phenomenon, but the question of effective strategies to intervene in patterns that lead to weight gain has not been well studied. OBJECTIVE: To obtain (1) insight into recipients' perceptions of weight gain and (2) information on intervention strategies that recipients think could prevent weight gain. DESIGN: Qualitative focus groups and a 13-question, multiple-choice survey were used. SETTING: A regional mid-South transplant center. PARTICIPANTS: Seven kidney transplant recipients (86% African American, 57% female, mean age 55.0 years) who had gained at least 12% of their total body weight during a 12-month larger observational study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Content from the focus group sessions was analyzed for major and minor themes. The survey results were analyzed with descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Identified themes included barriers to healthy eating caused by medications and removal of dietary restrictions. Barriers to physical activity included fear of injuring the new organ and health problems both related and unrelated to transplant. Perceived effects of weight gain included hypertension, diabetes, and embarrassment and concern at the rapid weight gain. Recipients would like an early start to implementation of lifestyle changes. Useful ideas included written materials regarding appropriate physical activities and dietary information, healthy cooking classes, and support groups.