Severe maternal morbidity in deaf or hard of hearing women in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: Prior studies on severe maternal morbidity (SMM) have often excluded women who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), even though they are at increased risk of pregnancy complications and adverse birth outcomes. This study compared rates of SMM during delivery and postpartum among DHH and non-DHH women. METHODS: This nationally representative retrospective cohort study used hospital discharge data from the 2004-2020 Health Care and Cost Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample. The risk of SMM with and without blood transfusion during delivery and postpartum among DHH and non-DHH women were compared using modified Poisson regression analysis. The study was conducted in the United States in 2022-2023. RESULTS: The cohort included 9351 births to DHH women for the study period, and 13,574,382 age-matched and delivery year-matched births to non-DHH women in a 1:3 case-control ratio. The main outcomes were SMM and non-transfusion SMM during delivery and postpartum. Relative risks were sequentially adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, hospital-level characteristics, and clinical characteristics. In unadjusted analyses, DHH women were at 80% higher risk for SMM (RR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.63-2.02, p < 0.001) during delivery and postpartum compared to non-DHH women. Adjustment for socio-demographic and hospital characteristics attenuated risk for SMM (RR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.38-1.72, p < 0.001). Adjustment for the Elixhauser comorbidity score further attenuated the risk of SMM among DHH women (RR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.01-1.26, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study demonstrate a critical need for inclusive preconception, prenatal, and postpartum care that address conditions that increase the risk for SMM among DHH people.

Pregnancy, Fetal, and Neonatal Outcomes Among Women With Traumatic Brain Injury.

OBJECTIVE: There have been no systematic studies of pregnancy outcomes among women with traumatic brain injury (TBI), potentially limiting informed clinical care for women with such injuries. The purpose of this exploratory study was to evaluate pregnancy and fetal/neonatal outcomes among women with a TBI diagnosis recorded during their delivery hospitalization compared with women without TBI. SETTING: In this cross-sectional study, we identified women with delivery hospitalizations using 2004-2014 data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample of the Health Care and Cost Utilization Project. PARTICIPANTS: We identified deliveries to women with a TBI diagnosis on hospital discharge records, which included all diagnoses recorded during the delivery, and compared them with deliveries of women without a TBI diagnosis. MAIN MEASURES: Pregnancy outcomes included gestational diabetes; preeclampsia/eclampsia; placental abruption; cesarean delivery; and others. Fetal/neonatal outcomes included preterm birth; stillbirth; and small or large gestational age. DESIGN: We modeled risk for each outcome among deliveries to women with TBI compared with women without TBI, using multivariate Poisson regression. Models included sociodemographic and hospital characteristics; secondary models added clinical characteristics (eg, psychiatric disorders) that may be influenced by TBI. RESULTS: We identified 3 597 deliveries to women with a TBI diagnosis and 9 106 312 deliveries to women without TBI. Women with TBI were at an increased risk for placental abruption (relative risk [RR] = 2.73; 95% CI, 2.26-3.30) and associated sequelae (ie, antepartum hemorrhage, cesarean delivery). Women with TBI were at an increased risk for stillbirth (RR = 2.55; 95% CI, 1.97-3.29) and having a baby large for gestational age (RR = 1.30; 95% CI, 1.09-1.56). Findings persisted after controlling for clinical characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, including placental abruption and stillbirth, were increased among women with TBI. Future research is needed to examine the association between TBI and pregnancy outcomes using longitudinal and prospective data and to investigate potential mechanisms that may heighten risk for adverse outcomes.

Antenatal Hospital Use among Deaf and Hard of Hearing Women.

OBJECTIVE: Hearing loss is increasingly prevalent among younger adults, impacting health and health care use. Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) women have a higher risk of chronic diseases, pregnancy complications, and adverse birth outcomes compared with hearing women. Health care utilization patterns during the perinatal period remain not well understood. The objective of this study was to examine differences in antenatal emergency department and inpatient utilization among DHH and non-DHH women. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective cohort study design to analyze 2002 to 2013 Massachusetts Pregnancy to Early Life Longitudinal data to compare antenatal inpatient and emergency department use between DHH (N = 925) and hearing (N = 2,895) women with singleton deliveries. Matching was done based on delivery year, age at delivery, and birth parity in 1:3 case-control ratio. Demographic, socioeconomic, clinical, and hospital characteristics were first compared for DHH mothers and the matched control group using chi-squared tests and t-tests. Multivariable models were adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Among DHH women (N = 925), 49% had at least one emergency department visit, 19% had an observational stay, and 14% had a nondelivery hospital stay compared with 26, 14, and 6%, respectively, among hearing women (N = 28,95) during the antenatal period (all ps < 0.001). The risk of nondelivery emergency department visits (risk ratio [RR] 1.58; p < 0.001) and inpatient stays (RR = 1.89; p < 0.001) remained higher among DHH women compared with hearing women even after adjustment. Having four or more antenatal emergency department visits (7 vs. 2%) and two or more nondelivery hospital stays (4 vs. 0.4%) were more common among pregnant DHH women compared with their controls (all p-values < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate that DHH women use emergency departments and inpatient services at a significantly higher rate than their hearing controls during the antenatal period. A systematic investigation of the mechanisms for these findings are needed. KEY POINTS: · Antenatal emergency department use is significantly higher among deaf and hard of hearing women.. · Antenatal hospitalizations are significantly higher among deaf and hard of hearing women.. · Hearing loss screening may identify those at risk for adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes..

Utilization of HIV testing and counselling services by women with disabilities during antenatal care in Uganda: analysis of 2016 demographic and health survey.

BACKGROUND: HIV testing and counselling during antenatal care (ANC) is critical for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV. We investigated disparity in utilization of HIV testing and counselling services (HTC) between women with and without disabilities in Uganda. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study using the nationally representative 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey. The study sampled 10,073 women between age 15-49 who had a live birth in the last 5 years. We estimated unadjusted and adjusted odds ratio for receiving pre-test HIV counselling, obtaining an HIV test result, and post-test HIV counselling by disability status using logistic regressions. RESULTS: We found that women with disabilities were less likely to receive pre-test HIV counselling (59.6 vs 52.4), obtain an HIV test result (68.2 vs 61.4), receive post-test HIV counselling (55.5 vs 51.6), and all HTC services (49.2 vs 43.5). From the regression analysis, women with disabilities were less likely to receive pre-test counselling [AOR = 0.83; CI = 0.74, 0.93] and obtain an HIV test result [AOR = 0.88; CI = 0.78, 0.99]. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings revealed that women with disabilities are less likely to receive HTC service during ANC and highlighted the need for disability-inclusive HIV and reproductive health services. Government, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders should consider funding inclusive campaigns and identifying other mechanisms for disseminating health information and behavioral interventions to women with disabilities.

The Compounding Effect of Race/Ethnicity and Disability Status on Children's Health and Health Care by Geography in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the potential compounding effect of race/ethnicity, and disability status on children's health and health care, stratified by selected geographies. METHODS: We used the 2011/2012 NSCH and the 2012 Boston Survey of Children's Health for our compounded disparity analysis. We used VanderWheel and Knol method to first predict combined risk ratios of race/ethnicity and disability and then compared them with the observed combined risk ratios. RESULTS: We demonstrated that racial/ethnic minority children with disabilities experience additional disparities in health care access outcomes that are greater than the sum of the effects from either characteristic alone. Further, we demonstrate that disparities persist across all selected geographies irrespective of whether children lived in states or metropolitan cities with the best health care systems in the United States. CONCLUSIONS: Despite reform efforts, our study demonstrates that racial/ethnic minority children with disabilities experience a double burden. Given the deleterious compounded disparities, public health and social service programs at all geographical levels should prioritize identifying participants that face this and tailor programs to meet their needs.

Impact of Medical Home on Health Care of Children With and Without Special Health Care Needs: Update from the 2016 National Survey of Children's Health.

Objective The medical home has been promoted as an optimal model of health care delivery for children. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between having access to a medical home and the health care experiences of children with and without special health care needs (SHCN) in the United States. Methods We analyzed data from the 2016 National Survey of Children's Health. We modeled logistic regressions to assess associations of having access to a medical home with health care experiences for 11,392 CSHCN and 38,820 non-CSHCN. Results We found that not having access to a medical home was negatively associated with preventive medical and dental care visits, greater unmet medical and dental needs, and hospital emergency room visits. Additionally, not having access to a medical home was negatively associated with the physical and oral health among CSHCN and oral health among non-CSHCN. However, we found no significant association between improved physical health status and having access to a medical home among non-CSHCN. Conclusions Results from our analysis suggest that having access to a medical home remains key determinant of improved health care experiences by CSHCN and non-CSHCN in the United States. Our findings underscore the need to develop policies and implement a more concerted program to increase access to health care delivered under the medical home model for CSHCN and non-CSHCN. Policymakers, health care administrators and physician groups can use these findings to inform future policy decisions and service delivery reforms.

Postpartum Hospital Utilization among Massachusetts Women with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objectives This study examined the risk of postpartum hospital admissions and emergency department (ED) visits among US women with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Methods We used the 2002-2012 Pregnancy to Early Life Longitudinal Data System and identified deliveries to women with and without IDD. Women with IDD (n = 1104) or case subjects were identified from the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 9th Revision (ICD-9 CM) codes. The study primary outcome measures were any postpartum hospital admission and any ED visit during three critical postpartum periods (1-42, 43-90, and 1-365 days). We conducted unadjusted and adjusted survival analysis using Cox proportional hazard models to compare the occurrence of first hospital admission or ED visits between women with and without IDD. Results We found that women with IDD had markedly higher rates of postpartum hospital admissions and ED visits during the critical postpartum periods (within 1-42, 43-90, and 91-365 days) after a childbirth. Conclusion for Practice Given the heightened risk of pregnancy complications and adverse birth outcomes and the findings of this study, there is an urgent need for clinical guidelines related to the frequency and timing of postpartum care among new mothers with IDD. Further, this study provides evidence of the need for evidence-based interventions for new mothers with IDD to provide preventive care and routine assessments that would identify and manage complications for both the mother and the infant outside of the traditional postpartum health care framework.

The Health and Economic Well-Being of US Mothers with Intellectual Impairments.

BACKGROUND: While the United States has seen increased attention by policymakers on the rights of parents with disabilities, there is limited understanding of the health and economic well-being of parents with intellectual impairments. This study compares the health and economic well-being of mothers with and without intellectual impairments. METHODS: This descriptive, exploratory study is a secondary analysis of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. This study includes a subsample of mothers of three-year-old children (n = 1561), including mothers with intellectual impairments (n = 263) and without intellectual impairments (n = 1298). RESULTS: US Mothers with intellectual impairments are more likely to report serious health conditions, have less instrumental support, live in poverty, receive public benefits and experience certain material hardships. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study indicate the need for policies and programmes to support parents with intellectual impairments by addressing their health and economic needs.

Multiple Chronic Condition Emergency Department Visits Among U.S. Adults: Disparities at the Intersection of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Status and Race or Ethnicity.

Background: The study aims to examine the risk of multiple chronic condition (MCC)-related emergency department (ED) visits, MCC-related hospitalization following the ED visit, and mortality after MCC-related ED visits among adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), adults compared with nondisabled adults by race and ethnicity, using the 2020 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Emergency Department Sample. Methods: We identified IDD adults using ICD-10-CM codes, extracting 296,394 nondisabled adults and 99,538 IDD adults, of which 67,771 are white, 19,164 are black, 10,667 are Latinx, and 1936 are other race or multiple race. The control group of nondisabled adults was age-matched and sex-matched in a 1:3 case-control ratio. We conducted multilevel Poisson regression models for the binary-dependent variables and adjusted for covariates, including sociodemographic and hospital characteristics. Results: The results show that across all racial/ethnic groups, individuals with IDD have significantly higher rates of MCC-related ED visits, hospitalizations, and deaths compared with nondisabled. Moreover, the disparities are more pronounced for individuals from racial/ethnic minority groups. Black and Latinx individuals with IDD have significantly higher rates of MCC-related ED visits and poor outcomes than their white counterparts with and without IDD. Conclusions: The findings from this study highlight significant racial and ethnic disparities in the risk of MCC-related ED visits, hospitalization following the ED visit, and mortality through the ED among IDD adults. This underscores the importance of adopting a multifaceted approach that addresses the social determinants of health, enhances access to health care, improves quality of care, and enhances care coordination.

Preconception health risks by presence and type of disability among U.S. women.

BACKGROUND: Poor preconception health may contribute to adverse perinatal outcomes among women with disabilities. While prior research has found higher prevalence of preconception health risks among women with versus without disabilities, existing U.S. studies have not assessed how preconception health risks may differ by disability type. Understanding such differences is relevant for informing and targeting efforts to improve health opportunities and optimize pregnancy outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study examined preconception health in relation to disability type among reproductive-age women in the United States. METHODS: We analyzed 2016-2019 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to estimate the prevalence of 19 preconception health risk among non-pregnant women 18-44 years of age. We used modified Poisson regression to compare women with different types of disability to non-disabled women. Disability categories included: 1) hearing difficulty only; 2) vision difficulty only; 3) physical/mobility difficulty only; 4) cognitive difficulty only; 5) multiple or complex disabilities (including limitations in self-care or independent living activities). Multivariable analyses adjusted for other sociodemographic characteristics such as age and marital status. RESULTS: Women with each disability type experienced a higher prevalence of indicators associated with poor preconception health compared to women with no disabilities. The number and extent of health risks varied substantially by disability type. Women with cognitive disabilities and women with multiple or complex disabilities experienced the greatest risk. CONCLUSIONS: Addressing the specific preconception health risks experienced by women with different types of disabilities may help reduce adverse perinatal outcomes for disabled women and their infants.

Pre-Pregnancy Health Risks by Presence and Extent of Disability, 2019-2020.

INTRODUCTION: Prior studies have shown that, compared to non-disabled women, women with disabilities have a higher burden of preconception mental and physical health risks that are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. This cross-sectional study assesses how the extent of disability relates to pre-pregnancy health risks. METHODS: This study used 2019-2020 PRAMS data from 22 sites that included the Washington Group Short Set of Questions on Disability (n=37,006). In 2023, associations between extent of disability (none [reference group], some difficulty, or a lot of difficulty) and preconception health risks were examined using multivariable Poisson regression with robust standard errors to calculate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% CIs while controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Preconception health risks included smoking, heavy drinking, high blood pressure, diabetes, no multivitamin use, and experiencing physical abuse, depression, or obesity. Individual risks were analyzed, as well as the total number of risks experienced. RESULTS: Of respondents, 33.6% had some difficulty and 6.3% had a lot of difficulty. The likelihood of experiencing preconception health risks increased with extent of disability. Compared to respondents with no difficulty, those with some or a lot of difficulty had a higher prevalence of experiencing 1-2 health risks (aPR=1.13, 95% CI 1.09, 1.18; aPR=1.20; 95% CI 1.53, 2.25) and 3+ health risks (aPR=1.86, 95% CI 1.53, 2.25; aPR=2.42, 95% CI 1.98, 2.97), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Disabled women, especially those with more difficulty, are vulnerable to preconception health risks that could potentially be mitigated before conception. These findings highlight the need for enhanced efforts to support preconception health of disabled women.

Partner Violence Hospitalizations Among Adults With Intellectual Disabilities.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study is to determine the RR of intimate partner violence‒related hospitalization among men and women with and without intellectual disabilities. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study using Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, National Inpatient Sample, 2013-2019. Adults with intellectual disabilities were identified using diagnosis codes. A control group without intellectual disabilities was matched in a 1:5 ratio. A total of 1,179,282 hospitalization records were analyzed, with identified cases of 112,565 men and 83,982 women with intellectual disabilities. Analyses were conducted in 2021 and 2022. RESULTS: Men with intellectual disabilities (RR=6.00; 95% CI=4.43, 8.13; p<0.001) were at higher risk for intimate partner violence‒related hospitalizations than men without intellectual disabilities, as were women without intellectual disabilities (RR=3.36; 95% CI=2.57, 4.39; p<0.001). Women with intellectual disabilities experienced the highest risk of intimate partner violence‒related hospitalizations (RR=16.44; 95% CI=12.60, 21.45; p<0.001). Risks remained robust after adjusting for sociodemographic and hospital characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Intellectual disability and female sex compound to elevate the risk of intimate partner violence‒related hospitalizations. This study underscores the need for improved and specialized service provision across healthcare, legal, criminal, and other systems to promote safety and healing for people with disabilities (especially for those with intellectual disabilities) who are survivors of intimate partner violence.

Postpartum Hospital Readmissions Among Massachusetts Women Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

Objectives: Deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) women are at a higher risk of adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes compared with other women. However, little is known about postpartum outcomes among DHH women. The objective was to compare the risk of postpartum hospitalizations for DHH compared with non-DHH women and the leading indications for postpartum admissions. Materials and Methods: We analyzed data from the 1998-2017 Massachusetts Pregnancy to Early Life Longitudinal Data System and identified 3,546 singleton deliveries to DHH women and 1,381,439 singleton deliveries to non-DHH women. We used Cox proportional hazard models to compare the first hospital admission and ≥2 hospital admissions between DHH and non-DHH women within 1-42, 43-90, and 91-365 days after delivery. Results: DHH women had a higher risk for any hospital admissions across all periods (hazard ratios [HR] = 1.84; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.46-2.34 within 1-42 days; HR = 2.76; 95%CI 1.99-3.83 within 43-90 days; and HR = 3.10; 95%CI 2.66-3.60 91-365 days) after childbirth compared with non-DHH women. They had an almost seven times higher risk for repeated hospital admissions within 43-90 days (HR = 6.84; 95%CI 1.66-28.21) and nearly four times higher the risk within 91-365 days (HR = 3.63; 95%CI 2.00-6.59) after delivery compared with non-DHH women. The leading indications for readmission among DHH women included: conditions complicating the puerperium/hemorrhage and soft tissues disorders. Conclusion: Compared with other women, DHH women had significantly higher readmissions across all postpartum periods and for repeated admissions >42 days. Leading postpartum indications were distinct from those of non-DHH women.

The relationship between unmet need for home and community-based services and health and community living outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined user-reported perspectives about the quality and sufficiency of home and community-based services (HCBS) and their relationship to key health and community living outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between unmet need for HCBS and health and community living outcomes in a multi-state, multi-program sample of Medicaid HCBS users. METHODS: We used data from the 2017-2018 National Core Indicators-Aging and Disability (NCI-AD) survey, collected among older adults and adults with physical disabilities who were receiving Medicaid HCBS across 13 states (N = 10,263). We conducted descriptive analysis on the demographic, functional, and health characteristics of the sample, and examined the prevalence of unmet need for HCBS across five domains: 1) assistance with daily activities, 2) assistive technology, 3) home modifications, 4) transportation, and 5) sufficiency of services for meeting user needs and goals. We used logistic regressions to estimate adjusted odds ratios for the association between unmet need for HCBS and health care utilization (ED visits, hospital/rehab stays, preventative care) and community living outcomes (active in the community, interacting with family/friends, satisfaction, control). RESULTS: Across the five domains, prevalence of unmet need ranged from 21% (unmet need for assistance with self-care or other daily activities) to 54% (unmet need for assistive technology). Individuals who experienced unmet need had consistently worse health and community living outcomes than those who reported no unmet need, after adjusting for key user demographic, functional, and social characteristics (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Unmet need for HCBS is consistently and significantly associated with poor health and community living outcomes among Medicaid users.

Opioid use disorder-related emergency department visits among deaf or hard of hearing adults in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Despite the devastating consequences of the opioid epidemic, little is known about its impact on the deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) community. OBJECTIVE: To determine risk of OUD-related ED visits, ED visits involving a prescription or non-prescription opioid overdose, and mortality during OUD-related ED visits among DHH adults, compared to non-DHH adults. METHODS: We analyzed the combined 2016-2017 National Emergency Department Sample (NEDS). We identified DHH adults using ICD-10-CM codes, extracting 63,865 case records of ED visits among DHH adults ages 18-64. The control group of non-DHH adult ED visits was age-, sex-, and admission year-matched in a 1:3 case-control ratio. We conducted multi-level logistic regression models for the binary dependent variables. Covariates included sociodemographic, hospital, and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: In our unadjusted models, compared to non-DHH adults, DHH adults had significantly higher risk for OUD-related ED visits (OR = 1.69, 95%CI: 1.59-1.80, p < 0.001), ED visits involving prescription (OR = 1.80, 95%CI: 1.47-2.20, p < 0.001) and non-prescription opioid overdose (OR = 1.31, 95%CI: 1.05-1.63, p < 0.05), and mortality during OUD-related ED visits (OR = 2.22, 95%CI: 1.21-4.08, p < 0.05). However, after adjustment for confounding variables, including comorbid chronic pain and psychiatric conditions, except OUD-related ED visits, the risk for ED visits involving prescription and non-prescription opioid overdose, and OUD-related mortality became non-significant. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to adults without hearing loss, DHH non-elderly adults are at a higher risk of OUD-related ED visits. Future research is needed to understand the interplay between chronic pain, psychiatric conditions, and OUD among DHH adults.

Racial/ethnic health disparities among children with special health care needs in Boston, Massachusetts.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the factors that contribute to racial/ethnic disparities among children with special health care needs (CSHCN). OBJECTIVE: To quantify the contributions of determinants of racial/ethnic disparities in health and health care among CSHCN in Boston, Massachusetts. METHODS: A sample of 326 Black, Latino, and white CSHCN was drawn from the Boston Survey of Children's Health, a city-wide representative sample of children. The study implemented Oaxaca-Blinder-style decomposition techniques to examine the relative contributions of health resources and child-, family-, and neighborhood-level factors to disparities in four outcomes: health status, barriers to medical care, oral health status, and utilization of preventive dental care. RESULTS: White CSHCN had a greater likelihood of having very good/excellent health and oral health and were less likely to experience barriers to care than Black CSHCN. Compositional differences on predictors explained 63%, 98%, and 80% of these gradients, respectively. Group variation in household income, family structure, neighborhood support, and exposure to adverse childhood experiences accounted for significant portions of the Black-white gaps in health and access. White CSHCN were also more likely to have very good/excellent health and oral health compared to Latino CSHCN. Differences on predictors accounted for about 86% and 80% of these gaps, respectively. Household income, adverse childhood experiences, and household language emerged as significant determinants of Latino-white disparities. CONCLUSIONS: Racial/ethnic health disparities among CSHCN are explained by relatively few determinants. Several of the contributing factors that emerged from the analysis and could be targeted by public health and policy interventions.

Delayed Medical Care And Unmet Care Needs Due To The COVID-19 Pandemic Among Adults With Disabilities In The US.

Pandemic-related disruptions in access to medical care services, along with elevated rates of comorbidity, increase the risk for severe illness and death from COVID-19 for people with disabilities. Analyzing data from the 2020 National Health Interview Survey, we examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults' access to medical care services by presence and type of disability. Adults with disabilities, including in each disability category, experienced significant disparities in delayed and unmet need for medical care during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Improving data collection on disabled Americans according to disability status and type of disability, designating people with disabilities as a Special Medically Underserved Population under the Public Health Services Act, and incorporating standardized disability data in electronic health record systems would inform policies, programs, and interventions to achieve equitable access to high-quality medical care services that meet the needs of all people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Infectious Diseases-Related Emergency Department Visits Among Non-Elderly Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in the United States: Results from the National Emergency Department Sample, 2016.

Emerging evidence on the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) points to the underlying risk and burden of infectious diseases (IDs) in this population. The objective of this study was to examine the risk of ID-related emergency department (ED) visits, subsequent hospitalizations, and hospital-based mortality during ID-related visits among adults with IDD compared to those without IDD. The authors conducted a retrospective study using data from the 2016 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample. The sample included 94,928 adults with IDD identified using ICD-10-CM codes, and age- and sex-matched 284,763 non-IDD adults in a 1:3 case-control ratio. A Poisson regression model was used to compare the risk of ID-related ED visits, subsequent hospitalizations, and hospital-based mortality during ID-related visits between adults with and without IDD. Covariates included sociodemographic and hospital characteristics. Results showed that adults with IDD are at a higher risk for ID-related ED visits, subsequent hospitalization, and mortality during ID-related ED visits compared to non-IDD adults. Adults with IDD continued to experience higher risks even after accounting for sociodemographic, hospital, and clinical characteristics. Septicemia and respiratory tract infections are the leading causes of ED visits, hospitalization, and mortality. This study found substantial disparities in ID-related ED visits, subsequent hospitalization, and mortality among the burdens for adults with IDD. These observations underscore the importance of integrated strategies to reduce ID-related morbidity among adults with IDD.

Disparities in intimate partner violence among women at the intersection of disability and HIV status in South Africa: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Previous research suggests a significant relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) and HIV infection in women and that the risk of IPV is heightened in women with disabilities. Women with disabilities, particularly those residing in low-income and middle-income countries, may experience additional burdens that increase their vulnerability to IPV. We aimed to examine the association between having disability and HIV infection and the risk of IPV among women in South Africa. DESIGN: Using the 2016 South Africa Demographic and Health Survey, we calculated the prevalence of IPV and conducted modified Poisson regressions to estimate the unadjusted and adjusted risk ratios of experiencing IPV by disability and HIV status. PARTICIPANTS: Our final analytical sample included 1269 ever-partnered women aged 18-49 years, who responded to the IPV module and received HIV testing. RESULTS: The prevalence of IPV was twice as high in women with disabilities with HIV infection compared with women without disabilities without HIV infection (21.2% vs 50.1%). Our unadjusted regression analysis showed that compared with women without disabilities without HIV infection, women with disabilities with HIV infection had almost four times higher odds (OR 3.72, 95% CI 1.27 to 10.9, p<0.05) of experiencing IPV. It appeared that women with disabilities with HIV infection experience compounded disparity. The association was compounded, with the OR for the combination of disability status and HIV status equal to or more than the sum of each of the individual ORs. CONCLUSIONS: Women with disabilities and HIV infection are at exceptionally high risk of IPV in South Africa. Given that HIV infection and disability magnify each other's risks for IPV, targeted interventions to prevent IPV and to address the complex and varied needs of doubly marginalised populations of women with disabilities with HIV infection are critical.

Symptom Sequelae Following Violence Against Youth With Disabilities.

The objective of this study was to examine the physical and mental health impact of violence against youth with and without disabilities. We analyzed data from the National Crime Victimization Survey (2008-2016), a nationally representative survey on crime in the United States. Respondents included 729 adolescents (12-17 years) and 953 young adults (18-24 years) who experienced violence in the previous 6 months. Disability status was determined using a six-item screener. Outcome measures included several physical and mental health symptoms experienced for at least one month following violence. Data were analyzed using multivariable logistic, Poisson, and negative binomial regression models. The results indicated that, for at least one month following a violent incident, adolescents and young adults with disabilities were more likely to experience headaches, sleep difficulty, changes in eating or drinking habits, fatigue, muscle pain, and severe distress compared to peers without disabilities. Young adults with disabilities were also more likely to experience stomach problems, depression, and anxiety. Adolescents and young adults with disabilities experienced a greater number of concurrent physical and mental health symptoms compared to peers without disabilities. The results suggest that the health effects of violence are worse for youth with disabilities compared to their nondisabled peers. These findings emphasize the importance of screening young people with disabilities for violence exposure and ensuring that trauma and health services are universally accessible.