The Neurobiology of Life Course Socioeconomic Conditions and Associated Cognitive Performance in Middle to Late Adulthood.

Despite major advances, our understanding of the neurobiology of life course socioeconomic conditions is still scarce. This study aimed to provide insight into the pathways linking socioeconomic exposures-household income, last known occupational position, and life course socioeconomic trajectories-with brain microstructure and cognitive performance in middle to late adulthood. We assessed socioeconomic conditions alongside quantitative relaxometry and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging indicators of brain tissue microstructure and cognitive performance in a sample of community-dwelling men and women (N = 751, aged 50-91 years). We adjusted the applied regression analyses and structural equation models for the linear and nonlinear effects of age, sex, education, cardiovascular risk factors, and the presence of depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Individuals from lower-income households showed signs of advanced brain white matter (WM) aging with greater mean diffusivity (MD), lower neurite density, lower myelination, and lower iron content. The association between household income and MD was mediated by neurite density (B = 0.084, p = 0.003) and myelination (B = 0.019, p = 0.009); MD partially mediated the association between household income and cognitive performance (B = 0.017, p < 0.05). Household income moderated the relation between WM microstructure and cognitive performance, such that greater MD, lower myelination, or lower neurite density was only associated with poorer cognitive performance among individuals from lower-income households. Individuals from higher-income households showed preserved cognitive performance even with greater MD, lower myelination, or lower neurite density. These findings provide novel mechanistic insights into the associations between socioeconomic conditions, brain anatomy, and cognitive performance in middle to late adulthood.

Association of immigrant status with self-rated health in Spain: 2014-2020.

OBJECTIVE: To examine inequalities in self-rated health between immigrant and native populations in 2014 and 2020, and whether these inequalities vary by sex/gender and social support. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used information from adults aged ≥18 years who participated in the European Health Interview Survey in Spain in 2014 and 2020. Self-rated health was specified as good or bad/poor. Immigration status and length of stay were considered to specify the exposure. Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) in each survey. Interaction terms between immigration status and survey; and immigration status, survey, and sex/gender or social support were tested. RESULTS: The adjusted analyses showed that when compared with Spanish native adults, immigrants with 6-15 years residing in Spain had a 1.34 (95%CI:1.18, 1.53) greater probability of rating their health as bad/poor in 2014. This probability was 1.48 (95%CI:1.28, 1.75) in 2020. No heterogeneity was observed for the associations of immigrant status/length of stay with self-rated health for sex/gender or social support in either survey (p-interactions for sex/gender: 0.41 and social support: 0.71). CONCLUSION: Given the growth of the immigrant population in Spain and the importance of immigration as a social determinant of health, these findings call attention to a deeper examination of inequalities, with the aim of identifying potential factors leading to bad/poor rating of health over time.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with food addiction in Brazilian women living in poverty.

Food addiction (FA) has been widely investigated. For the first time, two studies reported its association with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) in the general population and populations with mental disorders and undergoing bariatric surgery. However, the relationship between FA and DM2 needs to be better explored in different social contexts and population groups. Given this, the present study aims to evaluate whether DM2 diagnosis is associated with FA diagnosis in women living in poverty. This is a cross-sectional, population-based study conducted in a Brazilian capital city. FA was assessed by the modified Yale Food Addiction Scale (mYFAS) 2.0, and DM2 diagnosis was assessed by self-reporting of previous medical diagnosis. The association was assessed by multivariable Poisson regression with robust variance estimation adjusted for age, poverty situation, race/skin colour, physical activity and BMI. A total of 1878 women were included, of whom 15·1 % had FA and 3·2 % had a medical diagnosis of DM2. In the multivariable analysis, the medical diagnosis of DM2 was associated with FA (prevalence ratio, PR: 2·18; 95 % CI (1·26, 3·76)). The DM2 diagnosis was also identified to be associated with role interference (PR: 1·93; 95 % CI (1·01, 3·67)) symptom of FA. In conclusion, a positive association between FA and DM2 in women living in poverty was observed, information that adds to the current evidence already available in the literature, pointing to a new line of research and integrated care.

Role of dietary intake and physical activity in reducing weight social inequalities among adolescents: an application of G-formula to PRALIMAP-INÈS trial.

Interventions aiming to reduce social inequalities of weight status in adolescents usually focus on lifestyle behaviours, but their effectiveness is limited. This study analysed the effect of achieving levels of dietary intake (DI) and/or physical activity (PA) guidelines on reducing social inequalities in weight status among adolescents. We included adolescents from the PRomotion de l'ALIMentation et de l'Activité Physique - INÉgalité de Santé (PRALIMAP-INÈS) trial with weight status data available at baseline and 1-year follow-up (n 1130). PA and DI were measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and a validated FFQ, respectively. We estimated the likelihood of a 1-year reduction in BMI z-score (BMIz) and population risk difference (PRD) under hypothetical DI and PA levels and socio-economic status using the parametric G-formula. When advantaged and less advantaged adolescents maintained their baseline DI and PA, we found social inequalities in weight status, with a PRD of a 1-year reduction in BMIz of -1·6 % (-3·0 %, -0·5 %). These inequalities were not observed when less advantaged adolescents increased their proportion of achieving DI guidelines by 30 % (PRD = 2·2 % (-0·5 %, 5·0 %)) unlike the same increase in PA (PRD = -3·9 % (-6·8 %, -1·3 %)). Finally, social inequalities of weight status were not observed when levels of achievement of both PA and DI guidelines increased by 30 % (PRD = 2·2 % (-0·5 %, 4·0 %)). Enhancing DI rather than PA could be effective in reducing social inequalities in weight status among adolescents. Future interventions aiming to reduce these inequalities should mostly target DI to be effective.

The impact of COVID-19 on life expectancy across socioeconomic groups in Denmark.

BACKGROUND: Denmark was one of the few countries that experienced an increase in life expectancy in 2020, and one of the few to see a decrease in 2021. Because COVID-19 mortality is associated with socioeconomic status (SES), we hypothesize that certain subgroups of the Danish population experienced changes in life expectancy in 2020 and 2021 that differed from the country overall. We aim to quantify life expectancy in Denmark in 2020 and 2021 by SES and compare this to recent trends in life expectancy (2014-2019). METHODS: We used Danish registry data from 2014 to 2021 for all individuals aged 30+. We classified the study population into SES groups using income quartiles and calculated life expectancy at age 30 by year, sex, and SES, and the differences in life expectancy from 2019 to 2020 and 2020 to 2021. We compared these changes to the average 1-year changes from 2014 to 2019 with 95% confidence intervals. Lastly, we decomposed these changes by age and cause of death distinguishing seven causes, including COVID-19, and a residual category. RESULTS: We observed a mortality gradient in life expectancy changes across SES groups in both pandemic years. Among women, those of higher SES experienced a larger increase in life expectancy in 2020 and a smaller decrease in 2021 compared to those of lower SES. Among men, those of higher SES experienced an increase in life expectancy in both 2020 and 2021, while those of lower SES experienced a decrease in 2021. The impact of COVID-19 mortality on changes in life expectancy in 2020 was counterbalanced by improvements in non-COVID-19 mortality, especially driven by cancer and cardiovascular mortality. However, in 2021, non-COVID-19 mortality contributed negatively even for causes as cardiovascular mortality that has generally a positive impact on life expectancy changes, resulting in declines for most SES groups. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 mortality disproportionally affected those of lower SES and exacerbated existing social inequalities in Denmark. We conclude that in health emergencies, particular attention should be paid to those who are least socially advantaged to avoid widening the already existing mortality gap with those of higher SES. This research contributes to the discussion on social inequalities in mortality in high-income countries.

Equity in the recovery of elective and oncological surgery volumes after the COVID-19 lockdown: a multicentre cohort study in Italy.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has had, and still has, a profound impact on national health systems, altering trajectories of care and exacerbating existing inequalities in health. Postponement of surgeries and cancellation of elective surgical procedures have been reported worldwide. In Italy, the lock-down measures following the COVID-19 pandemic caused cancellations of surgical procedures and important backlogs; little is known about potential social inequalities in the recovery process that occurred during the post-lockdown period. This study aims at evaluating whether all population social strata benefited equally from the surgical volumes' recovery in four large Italian regions. METHODS: This multicentre cohort study covers a population of approximately 11 million people. To assess if social inequalities exist in the recovery of eight indicators of elective and oncological surgery, we estimated Risk Ratios (RR) through Poisson models, comparing the incidence proportions of events recorded during COVID-19 (2020-21) with those in pre-pandemic years (2018-19) for each pandemic period and educational level. RESULTS: Compared to 2018-19, volumes of elective surgery showed a U-shape with the most significant drops during the second wave or the vaccination phase. The recovery was socially unequal. At the end of 2021, incidence proportions among highly educated people generally exceeded the expected ones; RRs were 1.31 (95%CI 1.21-1.42), 1.24 (95%CI 1.17-1.23), 1.17 (95%CI 1.08-1.26) for knee and hip replacement and prostatic surgery, respectively. Among low educated patients, RR remained always < 1. Oncological surgery indicators showed a similar social gradient. Whereas volumes were preserved among the highly educated, the low educated were still lagging behind at the end of 2021. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical procedures generally returned to pre-pandemic levels but the low educated experienced the slowest recovery. An equity-oriented appraisal of trends in healthcare provision should be included in pandemic preparedness plans, to ensure that social inequalities are promptly recognised and tackled.

Perceived discrimination in health care in Germany- results of a population survey.

BACKGROUND: It has consistently been shown that perceived discrimination is associated with adverse health outcomes. Despite this uncontested relevance, there is a lack of research on the experiences of discrimination in health care. Therefore, the following research questions were addressed: (1) How often do people in Germany report having been discriminated in health care due to different reasons? (2) Which socio-demographic groups are most afflicted by perceived discrimination in health care? METHODS: Analyses are based on a cross-sectional online survey conducted in Germany. An adult population sample was randomly drawn from a panel which was recruited offline (N = 2,201). Respondents were asked whether they have ever been discriminated in health care due to the following reasons: age, sex/gender, racism (i.e. migration history, religion, language problems, colour of skin), health issues or disability (i.e. overweight, mental illness/addiction, disability), socio-economic status (SES, i.e. income, education, occupation). RESULTS: 26.6% of the respondents reported discrimination experiences. Perceived discrimination due to health issues or disability was most frequent (15%), followed by age (9%) and SES (8.9%). Discrimination due to racism and sex/gender was less frequently reported (4.1% and 2.5%). Younger age groups, women, and 2nd generation migrants as well as respondents with low income and low education were more likely to report any kind of discrimination in health care. Two groups were found to be at special risk for reporting discrimination in health care across different reasons: women and younger age groups. Discrimination due to racism was more prevalent among respondents who have immigrated themselves than those who were born in Germany but whose parents have immigrated. Discrimination due to SES was significantly associated with (low) income but not with education. CONCLUSIONS: More than a quarter of the adult population in Germany reported experiences of discrimination in health care. Such experiences were more frequent among lower SES groups, migrants, women, and younger people. Results underline the necessity of interventions to reduce the magnitude and consequences of discrimination in health care. Future studies should apply an intersectional approach to consider interactions between social inequality indicators regarding discrimination and to identify risk groups that are potentially afflicted by multiple discrimination.

Longitudinal study of changes in greenness exposure, physical activity and sedentary behavior in the ORISCAV-LUX cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Greenness exposure has been associated with many health benefits, for example through the pathway of providing opportunities for physical activity (PA). Beside the limited body of longitudinal research, most studies overlook to what extent different types of greenness exposures may be associated with varying levels of PA and sedentary behavior (SB). In this study, we investigated associations of greenness characterized by density, diversity and vegetation type with self-reported PA and SB over a 9-year period, using data from the ORISCAV-LUX study (2007-2017, n = 628). METHODS: The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form was used to collect PA and SB outcomes. PA was expressed as MET-minutes/week and log-transformed, and SB was expressed as sitting time in minutes/day. Geographic Information Systems (ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap) were used to collect the following exposure variables: Tree Cover Density (TCD), Soil-adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), and Green Land Use Mix (GLUM). The exposure variables were derived from publicly available sources using remote sensing and cartographic resources. Greenness exposure was calculated within 1000m street network buffers around participants' exact residential address. RESULTS: Using Random Effects Within-Between (REWB) models, we found evidence of negative within-individual associations of TCD with PA (ß = - 2.60, 95% CI - 4.75; - 0.44), and negative between-individual associations of GLUM and PA (ß = - 2.02, 95% CI - 3.73; - 0.32). There was no evidence for significant associations between greenness exposure and SB. Significant interaction effects by sex were present for the associations between TCD and both PA and SB. Neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) did not modify the effect of greenness exposure on PA and SB in the 1000 m buffer. DISCUSSION: Our results showed that the relationship between greenness exposure and PA depended on the type of greenness measure used, which stresses the need for the use of more diverse and complementary greenness measures in future research. Tree vegetation and greenness diversity, and changes therein, appeared to relate to PA, with distinct effects among men and women. Replication studies are needed to confirm the relevance of using different greenness measures to understand its' different associations with PA and SB.

Medical students' motivations for participating in an elective focused on social inequalities and health disparities.

In this study, we examine students' reasons for pursuing elective training focused on medical racism and systemic health inequities at a midwestern medical school. Data collection included semi-structured interviews with students who participated in an optional course focused on these topics. We analyzed their motivations, goals, and interests using reflexive thematic analysis and created three themes based on students' responses. Theme (1) "pre-existing conditions" focuses on students' knowledge, beliefs, worldviews and experience prior to the class. Theme (2) "enacting change" examines their desires to become effective physicians and improve medicine overall. Theme (3) "creating community" considers their preferences for a supportive and connected learning and social environment. We discuss the findings within the context of adult learning theory and Self-Determination Theory. The research provides insight about the overt and underlying factors that drive medical students' participation in training focused on social inequality. We also share recommendations for curriculum development and future research based on the patterns we found in students' discussions of their needs and expectations.

One generation apart: Individual income and life expectancy in two Swedish cohorts born before and after the expansion of the welfare state.

AIMS: Social inequalities in mortality persist or even increase in high-income countries. Most evidence is based on a period approach to measuring mortality - that is, data from individuals born decades apart. A cohort approach, however, provides complementary insights using data from individuals who grow up and age under similar social and institutional arrangements. This study compares income inequalities in cohort life expectancy in two Swedish cohorts, one born before and one born after the expansion of the welfare state. METHODS: Data on individuals born in Sweden in 1922-1926 and 1951-1955 were obtained from total population registries. These data were linked to individual disposable income from 1970 and 1999 and mortality between 50 and 61 years of age in 1972-1987 and 2001-2016, respectively. We calculated cohort temporary life expectancies in the two cohorts by income and gender. RESULTS: Life expectancy, income, and income inequalities in life expectancy increased between the two cohorts, for both men and women. Women born in 1922-1926 had modest income differences in life expectancy, but pronounced differences emerged in the cohort born in 1951-1955. Men with low incomes born in 1951-1955 had roughly similar life expectancy as those with low incomes born in 1922-1926. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with a period approach to life expectancy trends, the cohort approach highlights the stagnation of mortality at the lowest income groups for men and the rapid emergence of a mortality gradient for women. Future research on health inequalities in welfare states should consider underlying factors both from a cohort and period perspective.

General practitioners may improve cervical screening equality in France.

BACKGROUND: Vulnerable social groups have greater difficulty in accessing care and a lower quality of care. Health systems focused on primary care appear to be more effective, efficient and equitable. However, difficulties in accessing primary care are persisting. We focused on primary care screening for cervical cancer through Cervico-Uterine Smear (CUS), which has been shown to be effective in reducing disease incidence and mortality. In this study, we aimed to investigate the characteristics of women who undergo CUS according to the category of health professionals (general practitioners or gynaecologists) performing CUS and to analyse potential differences in access to care in terms of socioeconomic and geographical characteristics. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study based on data from the main health insurance schemes in France, allowing analysis of health care consumption according to socioeconomic levels and proximity to health care services. We included women aged 25 to 64 years in 2012 for whom CUS would be a relevant procedure (695,694). The sociodemographic and territorial indicators were age, geographical area deprivation, and the availability of gynaecological care. The analysis was performed using multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 202,271 (29%) patients underwent CUS; of whom 68% underwent CUS administered by gynaecologists and 28% were administered by general practitioners (GPs). However, inequalities in CUS screening rates were observed, with a decrease in the number of CUSs performed with increased age, a rural location, deprivation, and sparse health care provisions. Deprived people seemed less penalised by GPs. CONCLUSIONS: Involvement of General Practitioners may improve cervical screening equality in France. The organisation of health systems around primary care may allow a better access to care and to account for the specific needs of deprived populations.

Precarious work on the rise.

Precarious employment (PE) is non-standard employment with uncertain and unstable contract duration, low wages, and limited labour protections and rights. Research has associated PE with workers' poor mental health and well-being; however, this association has been studied primarily using quantitative methods. This qualitative study seeks to examine the mechanisms between PE and mental health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada. Specifically, it aims to address: (Benach J, Muntaner C. Precarious employment and health: developing a research agenda. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2007;61(4):276.) How do PE and working conditions impact the mental well-being of workers and members of their close families or households?; and (Kreshpaj B, Orellana C, Burström B, Davis L, Hemmingsson T, Johansson G, et al. What is precarious employment? A systematic review of definitions and operationalizations from quantitative and qualitative studies. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2020;46(3):235-47.) How has the COVID-19 pandemic shaped these relationships? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 40 individuals aged 25-55 engaged in PE during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic or whose employment was terminated due to the pandemic. Results showed that PE amplified mental health symptoms and illnesses for workers and their families. These experiences were described as chronic, where impacts were exerted on precariously employed workers through systemic discrimination and racism, colonialism, workplace hierarchies, and gendered ideologies. PE negatively impacted mental health through emotional stress about employment and income instability, insecurity, and loss; added pressure for households where both partners are engaged in PE; impacted ability to maintain or improve overall health and well-being; and barriers to social connectedness. Overall, this study characterizes multiple dimensions of PE and the consequences they have on the mental health of workers and their families.

Exploring the feasibility of evaluating a community alliance welfare advice programme co-located in primary care in Bradford: an uncontrolled before and after study.

BACKGROUND: Welfare advice services co-located in health settings are known to improve financial security. However, little is known on how to effectively evaluate these services. This study aims to explore the feasibility of evaluating a welfare advice service co-located in a primary care setting in a deprived and ethnically diverse population. It seeks to investigate whether the proposed evaluation tools and processes are acceptable and feasible to implement and whether they are able to detect any evidence of promise for this intervention on the mental health, wellbeing and financial security of participants. METHODS: An uncontrolled before and after study design was utilised. Data on mental health, wellbeing, quality of life and financial outcomes were collected at baseline prior to receiving welfare advice and at three months follow-up. Multiple logistic and linear regression models were used to explore individual differences in self-reported financial security and changes to mental health, wellbeing and quality of life scores before and after the provision of welfare advice. RESULTS: Overall, the majority of key outcome measures were well completed, indicating participant acceptability of the mental health, wellbeing, quality of life and financial outcome measures used in this population. There was evidence suggestive of an improvement in participant financial security and evidence of promise for improvements in measured wellbeing and health-related quality of life for participants accessing services in a highly ethnically diverse population. Overall, the VCS Alliance welfare advice programme generated a total of £21,823.05 for all participants, with participants gaining an average of £389.70 per participant for participants with complete financial outcome data. CONCLUSIONS: This research demonstrates the feasibility of evaluating a welfare advice service co-located in primary care in a deprived and ethnically diverse setting utilising the ascribed mental health, wellbeing and quality of life and financial outcome tools. It provides evidence of promise to support the hypothesis that the implementation of a welfare advice service co-located in a health setting can improve health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities.

Exploring attitudes and variation by sociodemographic factors in consent provided for financial data linkage in an experimental birth cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Improving our understanding of household incomes and what constitutes financial insecurity can help us to better understand how financial insecurity is experienced and how this can change over time within and between individuals and populations. However, financial circumstances are often perceived as sensitive and stigmatising, particularly within some ethnic minority groups. This research aims to explore attitudes and variation by sociodemographic factors in consent provided for financial data linkage in an experimental birth cohort study, in order to obtain validated income and benefits data and to better understand the impact of community interventions on the financial security of its participants and their families. METHODS: This research utilises an observational study design to explore consent rates, attitudes and variation in sociodemographic factors between participants of an experimental birth cohort in a deprived and ethnically diverse setting who consent and do not consent to financial data linkage. RESULTS: Overall, participants were equally likely to consent and decline consent for financial data linkage. Measures of socioeconomic insecurity were associated with being more likely to provide consent for financial data linkage. Participants who were not employed (OR 1.49 95% CI 0.93, 2.40) and were more financially insecure (OR 1.85 95% CI 1.14, 3.93) were more likely to provide consent for financial data linkage. Where the participant's first language was a language other than English, participants were also less likely to provide consent for data linkage (OR 0.65 95% CI 0.39, 0.98). The choice of consent for financial data linkage was not associated with: ethnicity; relationship factors; employment status of the participant's partner; person present at time of recruitment; and measures of health, such as general health, mental health, wellbeing and health-related quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: This research sets out an approach to obtaining validated income and benefits data, as a proxy measure for financial security, within an experimental birth cohort study in a deprived and ethnically diverse setting. It achieves good consent rates and demonstrates greater input from those who report greater potential need for financial support. Further research should be conducted to further understand the interplay of language spoken in this context.

Increasing access to fertility preservation for women with breast cancer: protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial in France.

BACKGROUND: With the increase in the number of long-term survivors, interest is shifting from cancer survival to life and quality of life after cancer. These include consequences of long-term side effects of treatment, such as gonadotoxicity. Fertility preservation is becoming increasingly important in cancer management. International recommendations agree on the need to inform patients prior to treatments about the risk of fertility impairment and refer them to specialized centers to discuss fertility preservation. However, the literature reveals suboptimal access to fertility preservation on an international scale, and particularly in France, making information for patients and oncologists a potential lever for action. Our overall goal is to improve access to fertility preservation consultations for women with breast cancer through the development and evaluation of a combined intervention targeting the access and diffusion of information for these patients and brief training for oncologists. METHODS: Firstly, we will improve existing information tools and create brief training content for oncologists using a qualitative, iterative, user-centred and participatory approach (objective 1). We will then use these tools in a combined intervention to conduct a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial (objective 2) including 750 women aged 18 to 40 newly treated with chemotherapy for breast cancer at one of the 6 participating centers. As the primary outcome of the trial will be the access to fertility preservation counselling before and after using the combined intervention (brochures and brief training for oncologists), we will compare the rate of fertility preservation consultations between the usual care and intervention phases using linear regression models. Finally, we will analyse our approach using a context-sensitive implementation analysis and provide key elements for transferability to other contexts in France (objective 3). DISCUSSION: We expect to observe an increase in access to fertility preservation consultations as a result of the combined intervention. Particular attention will be paid to the effect of this intervention on socially disadvantaged women, who are known to be at greater risk of inappropriate treatment. The user-centred design principles and participatory approaches used to optimize the acceptability, usability and feasibility of the combined intervention will likely enhance its impact, diffusion and sustainability. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05989776. Date of registration: 7th September 2023. URL: https://classic. CLINICALTRIALS: gov/ct2/show/NCT05989776 . PROTOCOL VERSION: Manuscript based on study protocol version 2.0, 21st may 2023.

The social value of place-based creative wellbeing: A rapid review and evidence synthesis.

Creative well-being is an increasing field of interest to which biomedical and social sciences have made uneven contributions. The instrumental value of culture and its subsequential public investment is grounded in the interplay of social, cultural and economic capital to attain and preserve wellbeing and health and foster social mobility. The current evidence addresses the effectiveness of arts interventions in improving illnesses. Little attention has been paid to the social value of creative wellbeing for the general population. This paper is a rapid review and evidence synthesis that aims to answer the question, 'What is the social value of place-based arts and culture interventions at individual (wellbeing) and community (social inequalities) levels in the UK and Europe?'. After a systematic search of five databases, search engines, and a call for evidence in August 2022, 14 out of 974 sources met the inclusion criteria. Studies were organised into three themes (Community, Events, Museums), and outcomes were analysed considering the indicators and dimensions of wellbeing (Office for National Statistics). The review evidenced that creative wellbeing leads to improvements in wellbeing outcomes and can contribute to alleviating social determinants of health. However, considering their impact on the underlying causes of structural social inequalities requires caution.

Migrants facing intersectional vulnerability to HIV and AIDS in Switzerland: an exploratory study.

An emerging body of evidence suggests that a significant number of HIV-positive migrants to Europe acquire HIV after arriving in their host country. There is an urgent need to rethink HIV and AIDS prevention for migrant populations and to acknowledge the specific vulnerability to HIV and AIDS that migrants face. This article uses empirical data collected in a qualitative sociological study conducted in Switzerland. We provide evidence for the heuristic value of articulating an intersectional approach within a multilevel (biographical, interactional and contextual) framework to capture the complexity of the vulnerability to HIV and AIDS. We show that migrants' specific vulnerability to HIV and AIDS results from social vulnerabilities related to many social and cultural dimensions, including migration status, socioeconomic conditions, gender and sexual identity, sexual norms, the relational context in which sex occurs, power relations and sociocultural structures of the receiving country. The three case studies presented illustrate how HIV-related processes of intersectional vulnerability are embedded in sexism, cisgenderism, and racism, and how they are closely linked to social inequalities in health. Effective HIV and AIDS prevention for migrants must take greater account of these power relations and sociocultural structures.

Social Inequities in the Survival of Liver Cancer: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Korea, 2007-2017.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the effects of socioeconomic status (type of insurance and income level) and cancer stage on the survival of patients with liver cancer in Korea. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was constructed using data from the Healthcare Big Data Platform project in Korea between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2017. A total of 143,511 patients in Korea diagnosed with liver cancer (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision [ICD-10] codes C22, C220, and C221) were followed for an average of 11 years. Of these, 110,443 died. The patient's insurance type and income level were used as indicators of socioeconomic status. Unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a Cox proportional hazards regression model to analyze the relationship between the effects of sex, age, and cancer stage at first diagnosis (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and the End Results; SEER), type of insurance, and income level on the survival of patients with liver cancer. The interactive effects of the type of insurance, income level, and cancer stage on liver cancer death were also analyzed. RESULTS: The lowest income group (medical aid) showed a higher risk for mortality (HR (95% CI); 1.37 (1.27-1.47) for all patients, 1.44 (1.32-1.57) for men, and 1.16 (1.01-1.34) for women) compared to the highest income group (1-6) among liver cancer (ICD-10 code C22) patients. The risk of liver cancer death was also higher in the lowest income group with a distant cancer stage (SEER = 7) diagnosis than for any other group. CONCLUSION: Liver cancer patients with lower socioeconomic status and more severe cancer stages were at greater risk of death. Reducing social inequalities is needed to improve mortality rates among patients in lower social class groups who present with advanced cancer.

Income and professional inequalities in chronic diseases: prevalence and incidence in France.

OBJECTIVES: In France, almost nine of 10 deaths are caused by non-communicable diseases, and there is significant social inequality in mortality rates. However, it is not easy to collect robust data on the incidence and prevalence of such diseases according to socio-economic status. Based on data from the link between the primary longitudinal population sample and the national health data system, the aim of our study was to compute the standardised incidence and prevalence of seven major groups of chronic diseases according to socio-economic status. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive retrospective cohort study. METHODS: This was a descriptive retrospective cohort study on a weighted representative sample of the French population, comprising 3.4 million individuals from data collected 2016-2017. Main chronic disease categories include diabetes, cancers, psychiatric disorders, liver and pancreatic diseases, neurological conditions, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, calculated from the 2016-2017 period by combining health care consumption and diagnoses received during hospitalisations and/or associated with specific full healthcare coverage. Socio-economic status was measured by disposable income from the 2013-2014 tax returns and census-derived socioprofessional groups, and findings were standardised for age and sex. RESULTS: For all disease categories except cancers, standardised incidence rates showed a gradient favouring the wealthiest, with a risk ratio between the first and tenth standard of living deciles ranging from 1.4 (cardiovascular diseases) to 2.8 (diabetes). Incidence of all disease categories, except cancers, was higher for all groups compared with executives and higher academic professions (risk ratios between workers and executives ranged from 2.0 to 1.3 in psychiatric and cardiovascular diseases, respectively). Conversely, cancer incidence rate followed a flat curve, reduced in the two poorest standard of living deciles, and there were no significant differences between socioprofessional groups. Standardised prevalence rates followed the same patterns, although risk ratios were highest for psychiatric diseases, varying according to sex and disease. CONCLUSIONS: Deep social inequalities in incidence and prevalence of chronic diseases were observed in a large representative sample of the French population. The reverse social inequalities in cancer incidence and prevalence calls for more detailed research into cancer types and selection mechanisms, the data from which would allow the long-term monitoring of such disparities.

Socioeconomic patterns in indoor environment in Denmark: cross-sectional studies from 2000 and 2021.

OBJECTIVES: To examine changes and socioeconomic patterns in indicators of a poor indoor environment in 2000 and 2021. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional data from the Danish Health and Morbidity Survey in 2000 and 2021. METHODS: The study included 27,068 participants. Indicators of indoor environment (annoyances from mould, temperature, draught, traffic and neighbour noise, and presence of water damage) were obtained from questionnaires (2021) and partly by interview (2000). Socioeconomic status included home ownership, educational level, and household income. The degree of social inequality in the indoor environment was estimated using the concentration index of inequality. RESULTS: The prevalence of annoyances due to draught, temperature, and noise increased significantly from 2000 to 2021 (e.g., temperature 5.9%-25.1%, odds ratio (OR) 6.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.12-7.38), whereas the prevalence of water damage decreased (17.7%-13.8%, OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.76-0.96). No difference was seen in annoyances due to mould (3.1% in 2000 and 2.5% in 2021, OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.69-1.17). Social inequality was present for thermal conditions, annoyances due to noise and presence of water damage when assessed by income but not by educational level. Conditions were more prevalent among individuals with low income in both 2000 and 2021. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of individuals reporting a poor indoor environment due to thermal conditions and noise increased in the period 2000-2021. Social inequality was observed in all indicators of a poor indoor environment for household income, whereas the inequality was less pronounced when assessed by educational level.