Establishing a Baseline: Evidence-Supported State Laws to Advance Stroke Care.

OBJECTIVE: Approximately 800 000 strokes occur annually in the United States. Stroke systems of care policies addressing prehospital and in-hospital care have been proposed to improve access to time-sensitive, lifesaving treatments for stroke. Policy surveillance of stroke systems of care laws supported by best available evidence could reveal potential strengths and weaknesses in how stroke care delivery is regulated across the nation. DESIGN: This study linked the results of an early evidence assessment of 15 stroke systems of care policy interventions supported by best available evidence to a legal data set of the body of law in effect on January 1, 2018, for the 50 states and Washington, District of Columbia. RESULTS: As of January 1, 2018, 39 states addressed 1 or more aspects of prehospital or in-hospital stroke care in law; 36 recognized at least 1 type of stroke center. Thirty states recognizing stroke centers also had evidence-supported prehospital policy interventions authorized in law. Four states authorized 10 or more of 15 evidence-supported policy interventions. Some combinations of prehospital and in-hospital policy interventions were more prevalent than other combinations. CONCLUSION: The analysis revealed that many states had a stroke regulatory infrastructure for in-hospital care that is supported by best available evidence. However, there are gaps in how state law integrates evidence-supported prehospital and in-hospital care that warrant further study. This study provides a baseline for ongoing policy surveillance and serves as a basis for subsequent stroke systems of care policy implementation and policy impact studies.

Mapping and Analysis of US State and Urban Local Sodium Reduction Laws.

CONTEXT: Excessive sodium consumption contributes to high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. OBJECTIVES: To (1) identify state and urban local laws addressing adult or general population sodium consumption in foods and beverages and (2) align findings to a previously published evidence classification review, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Sodium Quality and Impact of Component (QuIC) evidence assessment. DESIGN: Systematic collection of sodium reduction laws from all 50 states, the 20 most populous counties in the United States, and the 20 most populous cities in the United States, including Washington, District of Columbia, effective on January 1, 2019. Relevant laws were assigned to 1 or more of 6 interventions: (1) provision of sodium information in restaurants or at point of purchase; (2) consumer incentives to purchase lower sodium foods; and provision of lower sodium offerings in (3) workplaces, (4) vending machines, (5) institutional meal services, and (6) grocery, corner, and convenience stores. The researchers used Westlaw, local policy databases or city Web sites, and general nutrition policy databases to identify relevant laws. RESULTS: Thirty-nine sodium reduction laws and 10 state laws preempting localities from enacting sodium reduction laws were identified. Sodium reduction laws were more common in local jurisdictions and in the Western United States. Sodium reduction laws addressing meal services (n = 17), workplaces (n = 12), labeling (n = 13), and vending machines (n = 11) were more common, while those addressing grocery stores (n = 2) or consumer incentives (n = 6) were less common. Laws with high QuIC evidence classifications were generally more common than laws with low QuIC evidence classifications. CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of sodium laws in the US differed by region, QuIC classification, and jurisdiction type, indicating influence from public health and nonpublic health factors. Ongoing research is warranted to determine how the strength of public health evidence evolves over time and how those changes correlate with uptake of sodium reduction law.

Drug Poisoning Deaths according to Ethnicity in Utah.

This study characterizes drug-related deaths according to ethnicity in Utah during 2005-2010, based on data from the Utah Violent Death Reporting System (UTVDRS). Hispanics made up 12.1% (12.5% male and 11.7% female) of deaths. The most frequently identified drugs among decedents were opiates, then illicit drugs, benzodiazepines, over-the-counter medication, and antidepressants. Death rates for each drug were significantly greater in non-Hispanics than Hispanics. Most decedents used a combination of drugs. For each combination, rates were significantly greater for non-Hispanics than Hispanics, with an exception for opiates and illicit drugs combined, where there was no significant difference. Approximately 79% of non-Hispanics and 65% of Hispanics had one or more of the selected problems (e.g., mental, physical, or crisis related). Rates for each combination of problems were significantly greater in non-Hispanics, with the exception of crisis. Hispanics were less affected by the rise in prescription drug abuse. Hispanic decedents had a greater proportion of illegal drugs, consistent with it being more difficult to obtain prescription drugs. Hispanic decedents were less likely to have physical and mental health problems, which may be related to a smaller chance of diagnosis of such problems through the healthcare system.