Neighborhood Factors, Individual Stressors, and Cardiovascular Health Among Black and White Adults in the US: The Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study.

Importance: Chronic stress has been posited to contribute to racial disparities in cardiovascular health. Investigation of whether neighborhood- and individual-level stressors mediate this disparity is needed. Objective: To examine whether racial differences in ideal cardiovascular health (ICH) are attenuated by experiences with neighborhood- and individual-level stressors within a racially and geographically diverse population sample. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study examined data from 7720 participants in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study who completed the second in-home visit (2013-2016). The REGARDS study is a population-based, longitudinal study of 30 239 non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White adults aged 45 years or older at baseline (2003-2007). Data for the present study were analyzed from June to July 2021 and in March 2022. Exposures: Neighborhood physical environment (eg, excessive noise, violence; scored from 7-28, with higher scores indicating more problems), neighborhood safety (scored as very safe, safe, or not safe), neighborhood social cohesion (eg, shared values; scored from 5-25, with higher scores indicating higher cohesion), perceived stress (eg, coping; scored from 0-16, with higher scores indicating greater perceived stress), and the experience of discrimination (yes or no). Main Outcomes and Measures: Ideal cardiovascular health (ICH), measured as a composite of 4 health behaviors (cigarette smoking, diet, physical activity, body mass index) and 3 health factors (blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels). Results: The sample included 7720 participants (mean [SD] age, 71.9 [8.3] years; 4390 women [56.9%]; 2074 Black participants [26.9%]; and 5646 White participants [73.1%]). Black participants compared with White participants reported higher perceived stress (mean [SD] score, 3.2 [2.8] vs 2.8 [2.7]) and more often reported discrimination (77.0% vs 24.0%). Black participants also reported poorer neighborhood physical environment (mean [SD] score, 11.2 [3.8] vs 9.8 [2.9]) and social cohesion (mean [SD] score, 15.5 [2.0] vs 15.7 [1.9]) and more often reported their neighborhoods were unsafe (54.7% vs 24.3%). The odds of having a high total ICH score (ie, closer to ideal) were lower for Black adults compared with White adults, both overall (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.53; 95% CI, 0.45-0.61) and by gender (men: AOR, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.57-0.93]; women: AOR, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.37-0.54]). In mediation analyses, the racial disparity in total ICH score was attenuated by neighborhood physical environment (5.14%), neighborhood safety (6.27%), neighborhood social cohesion (1.41%), and discrimination (11.01%). In stratified analyses, the factors that most attenuated the racial disparity in total ICH scores were neighborhood safety among men (12.32%) and discrimination among women (14.37%). Perceived stress did not attenuate the racial disparity in total ICH scores. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cross-sectional study of Black and White US adults aged 45 years and older, neighborhood-level factors, including safety and physical and social environments, and individual-level factors, including discrimination, attenuated racial disparities in cardiovascular health. Interventional approaches to improve ICH that separately target neighborhood context and discrimination by gender and race are warranted.

Dissemination and Implementation of a Community Health Worker Intervention for Disparities in Palliative Care (DeCIDE PC): a study protocol for a hybrid type 1 randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: There are persistent racial and ethnic health disparities in end-of-life health outcomes in the United States. African American patients are less likely than White patients to access palliative care, enroll in hospice care, have documented goals of care discussions with their healthcare providers, receive adequate symptom control, or die at home. We developed Community Health Worker Intervention for Disparities in Palliative Care (DeCIDE PC) to address these disparities. DeCIDE PC is an integrated community health worker (CHW) palliative care intervention that uses community health workers (CHWs) as care team members to enhance the receipt of palliative care for African Americans with advanced cancer. The overall objectives of this study are to (1) assess the effectiveness of the DeCIDE PC intervention in improving palliative care outcomes amongst African American patients with advanced solid organ malignancy and their informal caregivers, and (2) develop generalizable knowledge on how contextual factors influence implementation to facilitate dissemination, uptake, and sustainability of the intervention. METHODS: We will conduct a multicenter, randomized, assessor-blind, parallel-group, pragmatic, hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation trial at three cancer centers across the United States. The DeCIDE PC intervention will be delivered over 6 months with CHW support tailored to the individual needs of the patient and caregiver. The primary outcome will be advance care planning. The treatment effect will be modeled using logistic regression. The secondary outcomes are quality of life, quality of communication, hospice care utilization, and patient symptoms. DISCUSSION: We expect the DeCIDE PC intervention to improve integration of palliative care, reduce multilevel barriers to care, enhance clinic and patient linkage to resources, and ultimately improve palliative care outcomes for African American patients with advanced cancer. If found to be effective, the DeCIDE PC intervention may be a transformative model with the potential to guide large-scale adoption of promising strategies to improve palliative care use and decrease disparities in end-of-life care for African American patients with advanced cancer in the United States. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05407844). First posted on June 7, 2022.

A framework for setting enrollment goals to ensure participant diversity in sponsored clinical trials in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Diversity in clinical trials (CTs) has the potential to improve health equity and close health disparities. Underrepresentation of historically underserved groups compromises the generalizability of trial findings to the target population, hinders innovation, and contributes to low accrual. The aim of this study was to establish a transparent and reproducible process for setting trial diversity enrollment goals informed by the disease epidemiology. METHOD: An advisory board of epidemiologists with expertise in health disparities, equity, diversity, and social determinants of health was convened to evaluate and strengthen the initial goal-setting framework. Data sources used were the epidemiologic literature, US Census, and real-world data (RWD); limitations were considered and addressed where appropriate. A framework was designed to safeguard against the underrepresentation of historically medically underserved groups. A stepwise approach was created with Y/N decisions based on empirical data. RESULTS: We compared race and ethnicity distributions in the RWD of six diseases from Pfizer's portfolio chosen to represent different therapeutic areas (multiple myeloma, fungal infections, Crohn's disease, Gaucher disease, COVID-19, and Lyme disease) to the distributions in the US Census and established trial enrollment goals. Enrollment goals for potential CTs were based on RWD for multiple myeloma, Gaucher disease, and COVID-19; enrollment goals were based on the Census for fungal infections, Crohn's disease, and Lyme disease. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a transparent and reproducible framework for setting CT diversity enrollment goals. We note how limitations due to data sources can be mitigated and consider several ethical decisions in setting equitable enrollment goals.

"Living like an empty gas tank with a leak": Mixed methods study on post-acute sequelae of COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The burden and presentation of post-acute sequela of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) are a developing major public health concern. OBJECTIVES: To characterize the burden of PASC in community-dwelling individuals and understand the experiences of people living with PASC. METHODS: This mixed-methods study of COVID-19 positive community-dwelling persons involved surveys and in-depth interviews. Main outcome was self-report of possible PASC symptoms 3 weeks or longer after positive COVID-19 test. In-depth interviews were guided by a semi-structured interview guide with open-ended questions and probes based on emerging literature on PASC and the impact of COVID-19. RESULTS: With a survey response rate of 70%, 442 participants were included in this analysis, mean (SD) age 45.4 (16.2) years, 71% female, 12% Black/African American. Compared to those with no PASC symptoms, persons who reported PASC symptoms were more likely to be older (mean age: 46.5 vs. 42; p = 0.013), female (74.3% vs. 61.2%; p = 0.010), to have pre-existing conditions (49.6% vs. 34%; p = 0.005), and to have been hospitalized for COVID-19 (14.2% vs. 2.9%; p = 0.002). About 30% of the participants experienced severe fatigue; the proportion of persons reporting severe fatigue was 7-fold greater in those with PASC symptoms (Adjusted Prevalence Ratio [aPR] 6.73, 95%CI: 2.80-16.18). Persons with PASC symptoms were more likely to report poor quality of life (16% vs. 5%, p<0.001) and worse mental health functioning (Mean difference: -1.87 95%CI: -2.38, -1.37, p<0.001). Themes from in-depth interviews revealed PASC was experienced as debilitating. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the prevalence of PASC among community-dwelling adults was substantial. Participants reported considerable coping difficulties, restrictions in everyday activities, invisibility of symptoms and experiences, and impediments to getting and receiving PASC care.

Religiosity/Spirituality and Cardiovascular Health: The American Heart Association Life's Simple 7 in African Americans of the Jackson Heart Study.

Background Religiosity/spirituality is a major coping mechanism for African Americans, but no prior studies have analyzed its association with the American Heart Association Life's Simple 7 (LS7) indicators in this group. Methods and Results This cross-sectional study using Jackson Heart Study (JHS) data examined relationships between religiosity (religious attendance, private prayer, religious coping) and spirituality (theistic, nontheistic, total) with LS7 individual components (eg, physical activity, diet, smoking, blood pressure) and composite score among African Americans. Multivariable logistic regression assessed the odds of achieving intermediate/ideal (versus poor) LS7 levels adjusted for sociodemographic, behavioral, and biomedical factors. Among the 2967 participants (mean [SD] age=54.0 [12.3] years; 65.7% women), higher religious attendance was associated with increased likelihood (reported as odds ratio [95% CI]) of achieving intermediate/ideal levels of physical activity (1.16 [1.06-1.26]), diet (1.10 [1.01-1.20]), smoking (1.50 [1.34-1.68]), blood pressure (1.12 [1.01-1.24]), and LS7 composite score (1.15 [1.06-1.26]). Private prayer was associated with increased odds of achieving intermediate/ideal levels for diet (1.12 [1.03-1.22]) and smoking (1.24 [1.12-1.39]). Religious coping was associated with increased odds of achieving intermediate/ideal levels of physical activity (1.18 [1.08-1.28]), diet (1.10 [1.01-1.20]), smoking (1.32 [1.18-1.48]), and LS7 composite score (1.14 [1.04-1.24]). Total spirituality was associated with increased odds of achieving intermediate/ideal levels of physical activity (1.11 [1.02-1.21]) and smoking (1.36 [1.21-1.53]). Conclusions Higher levels of religiosity/spirituality were associated with intermediate/ideal cardiovascular health across multiple LS7 indicators. Reinforcement of religiosity/spirituality in lifestyle interventions may decrease overall cardiovascular disease risk among African Americans.

Disparities in cardiometabolic risk profiles and gestational diabetes mellitus by nativity and acculturation: findings from 2016-2017 National Health Interview Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common complication of pregnancy with implications for cardiovascular health. Among reproductive-aged women, less is known about nativity-related disparities in cardiometabolic risk profiles and GDM history. We examined how cardiometabolic risk profiles and GDM history differed by nativity and explored associations between acculturation, cardiometabolic risk profiles and GDM history. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional data from the 2016-2017 National Health Interview Survey among reproductive-aged women (18-49 years) who both reported ever being pregnant and answered the question on GDM history. Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined the percentage with GDM history and compared cardiometabolic profiles by nativity status and acculturation (duration of US residence). RESULTS: Of 9525 women, 22.5% were foreign-born. Also, 11.7% of foreign-born women had a GDM history vs 9.6% of US-born women. Foreign-born women with ≥10 years US residence had the highest age-standardized percentage with GDM history (11.0%) compared with US-born women (9.2%) and foreign-born women with <10 years US residence (6.7%). US-born women had a higher prevalence of hypertension, current smoking, and alcohol use than foreign-born women. Among foreign-born women, those with ≥10 years US residence had a higher prevalence of hypertension, current smoking, and alcohol use than those with <10 years US residence. In the fully adjusted model, foreign-born women with ≥10 years US residence had higher odds of GDM history than US-born women (OR 1.43; 95% CI 1.17 to 1.76) while foreign-born women with <10 years US residence and US-born women has similar odds of GDM history. CONCLUSIONS: Greater duration of US residence may be associated with nativity-related disparities in GDM. Acculturation, including changing health-related behaviors may explain the disparities among foreign-born women and should be further investigated to appropriately target interventions to prevent GDM and future cardiometabolic diseases.

Association of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors With Sociodemographic Characteristics and Health Beliefs Among a Community-Based Sample of African American Adults in Minnesota.

OBJECTIVE: To assess cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD risk factors and their association with sociodemographic characteristics and health beliefs among African American (AA) adults in Minnesota. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted of a community-based sample of AA adults enrolled in the Minnesota Heart Health Program Ask About Aspirin study from May 2019 to September 2019. Sociodemographic characteristics, health beliefs, and self-reported CVD and CVD risk factors were collected. Prevalence ratio (PR) estimates were calculated using Poisson regression modeling to assess the association between participants' characteristics and age- and sex-adjusted CVD risk factors. RESULTS: The sample included 644 individuals (64% [412] women) with a mean age of 61 years. Risk factors for CVD were common: hypertension (67% [434]), hyperlipidemia (47% [301]), diabetes (34% [219]), and current cigarette smoking (25% [163]); 19% (119) had CVD. Those with greater perceived CVD risk had a higher likelihood of prevalent hyperlipidemia (PR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.57), diabetes (PR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.30 to 1.98), and CVD (PR 1.61; 95% CI, 1.16 to 2.23) compared with those with lower perceived risk. Trust in health care provider was high (83% [535]) but was not associated with CVD or CVD risk factors. CONCLUSION: In this community sample of AAs in Minnesota, CVD risk factors were high, as was trust in health care providers. Those with greater CVD risk perceptions had higher CVD prevalence. Consideration of sociodemographic and psychosocial influences on CVD and CVD risk factors could inform development of effective cardiovascular health promotion interventions in the AA Minnesota community.

Improvements in Diet and Physical Activity-Related Psychosocial Factors Among African Americans Using a Mobile Health Lifestyle Intervention to Promote Cardiovascular Health: The FAITH! (Fostering African American Improvement in Total Health) App Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: African Americans continue to have suboptimal cardiovascular health (CVH) related to diet and physical activity (PA) behaviors compared with White people. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions are innovative platforms to improve diet and PA and have the potential to mitigate these disparities. However, these are understudied among African Americans. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine whether an mHealth lifestyle intervention is associated with improved diet and PA-related psychosocial factors in African Americans and whether these changes correlate with diet and PA behavioral change. METHODS: This study is a retrospective analysis evaluating changes in diet and PA-related self-regulation, social support, perceived barriers, and CVH behaviors (daily fruit and vegetable intake and moderate-intensity PA [MPA] per week) in 45 African American adults (mean age 48.7 years, SD 12.9 years; 33/45, 73% women) enrolled in the FAITH! (Fostering African American Improvement in Total Health) app pilot study. The intervention is a 10-week, behavioral theory-informed, community-based mHealth lifestyle intervention delivered through a mobile app platform. Participants engaged with 3 core FAITH! app features: multimedia education modules focused on CVH with self-assessments of CVH knowledge, self-monitoring of daily fruit and vegetable intake and PA, and a sharing board for social networking. Changes in self-reported diet and PA-related self-regulation, social support, perceived barriers, and CVH behaviors were assessed by electronic surveys collected at baseline and 28 weeks postintervention. Changes in diet and PA-related psychosocial factors from pre- to postintervention were assessed using paired 2-tailed t tests. The association of changes in diet and PA-related psychosocial variables with daily fruit and vegetable intake and MPA per week was assessed using Spearman correlation. Associations between baseline and 28-week postintervention changes in diet and PA-related psychosocial measures and CVH behaviors with covariates were assessed by multivariable linear regression. RESULTS: Participants reported improvements in 2 subscales of diet self-regulation (decrease fat and calorie intake, P=.01 and nutrition tracking, P<.001), one subscale of social support for healthy diet (friend discouragement, P=.001), perceived barriers to healthy diet (P<.001), and daily fruit and vegetable intake (P<.001). Improvements in diet self-regulation (increase fruit, vegetable, and grain intake, and nutrition tracking) and social support for healthy diet (friend encouragement) had moderate positive correlations with daily fruit and vegetable intake (r=0.46, r=0.34, and r=0.43, respectively). A moderate negative correlation was observed between perceived barriers to healthy diet and daily fruit and vegetable intake (r=-0.25). Participants reported increases in PA self-regulation (P<.001). Increase in social support subscales for PA (family and friend participation) had a moderate positive correlation with MPA per week (r=0.51 and r=0.61, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight key diet and PA-related psychosocial factors to target in future mHealth lifestyle interventions aimed at promoting CVH in African Americans.

Can Community Health Workers Increase Palliative Care Use for African American Patients? A Pilot Study.

PURPOSE: African American patients with cancer underutilize advance care planning (ACP) and palliative care (PC). This feasibility study investigated whether community health workers (CHWs) could improve ACP and PC utilization for African American patients with advanced cancer. METHODS: African American patients diagnosed with an advanced solid organ cancer (stage IV or stage III disease with a palliative performance score < 60%) were enrolled. Patients completed baseline surveys that assessed symptom burden and distress at baseline and 3 months post-CHW intervention. The CHW intervention consisted of a comprehensive assessment of multiple PC domains and social determinants of health. CHWs provided tailored support and education on the basis of iterative assessment of patient needs. Intervention feasibility was determined by patient and caregiver retention rate above 50% at 3 months. RESULTS: Over a 12-month period, 24 patients were screened, of which 21 were deemed eligible. Twelve patients participated in the study. Patient retention was high at 3 months (75%) and 6 months (66%). Following the CHW intervention, symptom assessment as measured by Edmonton Symptom Assessment System improved from 33.8 at baseline to 18.8 (P = .03). Psychological distress improved from 5.5 to 4.7 (P = .36), and depressive symptoms from 42.2 to 33.6 (P = .09), although this was not significant. ACP documentation improved from 25% at baseline to 75% at study completion. Sixty-seven percentage of patients were referred to PC, with 100% of three decedents using hospice. CONCLUSION: Utilization of CHWs to address PC domains and social determinants of health is feasible. Although study enrollment was identified as a potential barrier, most recruited patients were retained on study.

Discrimination Is Associated with Elevated Cardiovascular Disease Risk among African Immigrants in the African Immigrant Health Study.

Background: African Americans and other persons of African descent in the United States are disproportionately affected by cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Discrimination is associated with higher CVD risk among US adults; however, this relationship is unknown among African immigrants. Methods: The African Immigrant Health Study was a cross-sectional study of African immigrants in Baltimore-Washington, DC, with recruitment and data collection taking place between June 2017 and April 2019. The main outcome was elevated CVD risk, the presence of ≥3 CVD risk factors including hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, overweight/obesity, tobacco use, and poor diet. The secondary outcomes were these six individual CVD risk factors. The exposure was discrimination measured with the Everyday Discrimination Scale; summed scores ≥2 on each item indicated frequent experiences of discrimination. Resilience was assessed with the 10-item Connor-Davidson resilience scale. Logistic regression was used to examine the odds of elevated CVD risk, adjusting for relevant covariates. Results: We included 342 participants; 61% were females. The mean (±SD) age was 47(±11) years, 61% had at least a bachelor's degree, 18% had an income <$40,000, and 49% had lived in the US ≥15 years. Persons with frequent experiences of discrimination were 1.82 times (95%CI: 1.04-3.21) more likely to have elevated CVD risk than those with fewer experiences. Resilience did not moderate the relationship between CVD risk and discrimination. Conclusion: African immigrants with frequent experiences of discrimination were more likely to have elevated CVD risk. Targeted and culturally appropriate interventions are needed to reduce the high burden of CVD risk in this population. Health care providers should be aware of discrimination as a meaningful social determinant of CVD risk. At the societal level, policies and laws are needed to reduce the occurrence of discrimination among African immigrants and racial/ethnic minorities.

Theory-Based Development of an Implementation Intervention Using Community Health Workers to Increase Palliative Care Use.

CONTEXT: Opportunities for the use of palliative care services are missed in African American (AA) communities, despite Level I evidence demonstrating their benefits. OBJECTIVES: Single-institution and stakeholder-engaged study to design an intervention to increase palliative care use in AA communities. METHODS: Two-phased qualitative research design guided by the Behavior Change Wheel and Theoretical Domains Framework models. In Phase 1, focus group sessions were conducted to identify barriers and facilitators of palliative care use and the viability of community health workers (CHWs) as a solution. After applying the Behavior Change Wheel and Theoretical Domains Framework to data gathered from Phase 1, Phase 2 consisted of a stakeholder meeting to select intervention content and prioritize modes of delivery. RESULTS: A total of 15 stakeholders participated in our study. Target behaviors identified were for patients to gain knowledge about benefits of palliative care, physicians to begin palliative care discussions earlier in treatment, and to improve patient-physician interpersonal communication. The intervention was designed to improve patient capability, physician capability, patient motivation, physician motivation, and increase patient opportunities to use palliative care services. Strategies to change patient and physician behaviors were all facilitated by CHWs and included creation and dissemination of brochures about palliative care to patients, empowerment and activation of patients to initiate goals-of-care discussions, outreach to community churches, and expanding patient social support. CONCLUSION: Use of a theory-based approach to facilitate the implementation of a multi-component strategy provided a comprehensive means of identifying relevant barriers and enablers of CHWs as an agent to increase palliative care use in AA communities.

Comparison of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Among African Immigrants and African Americans: An Analysis of the 2010 to 2016 National Health Interview Surveys.

Background Racial/ethnic minorities, especially non-Hispanic blacks, in the United States are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. However, less is known about the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors among ethnic sub-populations of blacks such as African immigrants residing in the United States. This study's objective was to compare the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors among African immigrants and African Americans in the United States. Methods and Results We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the 2010 to 2016 National Health Interview Surveys and included adults who were black and African-born (African immigrants) and black and US-born (African Americans). We compared the age-standardized prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, overweight/obesity, hypercholesterolemia, physical inactivity, and current smoking by sex between African immigrants and African Americans using the 2010 census data as the standard. We included 29 094 participants (1345 African immigrants and 27 749 African Americans). In comparison with African Americans, African immigrants were more likely to be younger, educated, and employed but were less likely to be insured (P<0.05). African immigrants, regardless of sex, had lower age-standardized hypertension (22% versus 32%), diabetes mellitus (7% versus 10%), overweight/obesity (61% versus 70%), high cholesterol (4% versus 5%), and current smoking (4% versus 19%) prevalence than African Americans. Conclusions The age-standardized prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors was generally lower in African immigrants than African Americans, although both populations are highly heterogeneous. Data on blacks in the United States. should be disaggregated by ethnicity and country of origin to inform public health strategies to reduce health disparities.

Overcoming Barriers to Sustaining Health Equity Interventions: Insights from the National Institutes of Health Centers for Population Health and Health Disparities.

We conducted qualitative semi-structured telephone interviews with the directors of the 10 National Institutes of Health Centers for Population Health and Health Disparities (NIH/CPHHD) to identify factors that were associated with the sustainability of 19 interventions developed to address cancer disparities and 17 interventions developed to address cardiovascular disease disparities in the United States. Interview transcripts were analyzed using the constant comparative method of analysis to identify key themes and synthesize findings. Directors at NIH/CPHHD reported that barriers to sustainability included uncertainty about future funding and insufficient resources to build and maintain diverse stakeholder partnerships. Strategies that helped to overcome these barriers included developing and engaging community partnerships with health care systems; early pursuit of multiple funding sources; and investments in infrastructure to address the social determinants of health. Sustainability planning should be incorporated during the early stages of intervention development to facilitate maintenance of successful programs that address health disparities.

Sociodemographic and Kidney Disease Correlates of Nutrient Intakes Among Urban African Americans With Uncontrolled Hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the association between sociodemographic factors and intakes of 4 nutrients and associations between intakes and markers of kidney disease to identify opportunities to improve outcomes among clinically high-risk African Americans. DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of baseline data from the Achieving Blood Pressure Control Together study, a randomized controlled trial of 159 African Americans (117 females) with uncontrolled hypertension in Baltimore MD. To determine the association between sociodemographic factors and nutrient intakes, we constructed linear and logistic regression models. Using logistic regression, we determined the association between below-median nutrient intakes and kidney disease. Our outcomes of interest were daily intakes of vitamin C, magnesium, dietary fiber, and potassium as estimated by the Block Fruit-Vegetable-Fiber Screener and kidney disease defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 or urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >=30 mg/g. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: Baseline data from the Achieving Blood Pressure Control Together study, a randomized controlled trial of 159 African Americans (117 females) with uncontrolled hypertension, were obtained. METHODS: To determine the association between sociodemographic factors and nutrient intakes, we constructed linear and logistic regression models. Using logistic regression, we determined the association between below-median nutrient intakes and kidney disease. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Our outcomes of interest were daily intakes of vitamin C, magnesium, dietary fiber, and potassium as estimated by the Block Fruit-Vegetable-Fiber Screener and kidney disease defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 or urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio ≥30 mg/g. RESULTS: Overall, compared to Institute of Medicine recommendations, participants had lower intakes of magnesium, fiber, and potassium but higher vitamin C intakes. For females, sociodemographic factors that significantly associated with lower intake of the 4 nutrients were older age, obesity, lower health numeracy, and lesser educational attainment. For males, none of the sociodemographic factors were significantly associated with nutrient intakes. Below-median intake was significantly associated with albumin-to-creatinine ratio ≥30 (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 3.4 [1.5, 7.8] for vitamin C; 3.6 [1.6, 8.4] for magnesium; 2.9 [1.3, 6.5] for fiber; 3.6 [1.6, 8.4] for potassium), but not with estimated glomerular filtration rate <60. CONCLUSION: African Americans with uncontrolled hypertension may have low intakes of important nutrients, which could increase their risk of chronic kidney disease. Tailored dietary interventions for African Americans at high risk for chronic kidney disease may be warranted.

Stakeholder Perspectives on the Use of Community Health Workers To Improve Palliative Care Use by African Americans with Cancer.

BACKGROUND: African Americans in the United States have worse end-of-life care and cancer outcomes than whites. Palliative care may improve this disparity. Community Health Workers may provide a means to improve palliative care disparities. METHODS: Semistructured in-depth interviews (five) and stakeholder focus groups (four) were conducted with cancer patients, caregivers, health care administrators, oncologists, and community health workers (CHWs). Patients were recruited through snowball sampling. Three raters coded interviews independently. Data were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. RESULTS: Seventy-one individuals were contacted to participate with 24 stakeholders (34%) participating in individual interviews or across 4 stakeholder engagements. Eleven constructs were identified and grouped in three broader themes: "hub of the wheel," understanding palliative care, and patient-provider relationships. Participants felt that the role of a CHW should be central, bridging patients with their providers, information, and resources, including psychosocial support and advance care planning documents. They also placed an emphasis on the background of CHWs, saying individuals selected should be familiar with the history, culture, and norms of the communities from which they operate. Stakeholders reported that a CHW could activate a patient to contact their primary care physician or oncologist who may refer to or provide palliative care. Stakeholders reported that given the barriers to palliative care, a CHW could contribute to patient-centered multidisciplinary care while addressing palliative care domains with patients and families in a culturally sensitive manner. CONCLUSION: Based on feedback from patients, caregivers, and providers, a culturally adapted CHW intervention may improve palliative care use for African American patients with advanced malignancies.

The Association Between Acculturation and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Ghanaian and Nigerian-born African Immigrants in the United States: The Afro-Cardiac Study.

The burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in ethnic minorities in the United States (US) is high. Acculturation may worsen or improve cardiovascular health in immigrants. We sought to examine the association between acculturation and elevated cardiovascular disease risk in African immigrants, a growing immigrant population in the US. We conducted a cross-sectional study of Ghanaian and Nigerian born-African immigrants in the US. To determine whether acculturation was associated with having elevated CVD risk (defined as ≥3 CVD risk factors or Pooled Cohort Equations score ≥7.5%), we performed unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses. For both outcomes, sex-specific models were fitted. Participants (N = 253) were aged 35-74 years and resided in Baltimore-Washington-D.C. The mean age (SD) was 49.5 (9.2) years and 58% were female. Residing in the US for ≥10 years was associated with an almost fourfold (95% CI 1.05-14.35) and eightfold (95% CI 2.09-30.80) greater odds of overweight/obesity and elevated CVD risk respectively in males. Females residing in the US for ≥10 years had 2.60 times (95% CI 1.04-6.551) greater odds of hypertension than newer residents. Participants were classified according to acculturation strategies: Integrationists, 166 (66%); Traditionalists, 80 (32%); Marginalists, 5 (2%); and Assimilationists, 2 (1%). Integrationists had a 0.46 (95% CI 0.24-0.87) lower odds of having ≥3 CVD risk factors and 0.38 (95% CI 0.18-0.78) lower odds of having elevated CVD risk (Pooled Cohort Equations score ≥7.5%) than Traditionalists. Although longer length of stay was associated with CVD risk, Integrationists had lower CVD risk than Traditionalists. Our results suggest that coordinated public health responses to the epidemic of CVD risk factors in the US should target this understudied population. Acculturation should be considered as a meaningful contributor of increased CVD risk and acculturation strategies may be used to tailor interventions in African immigrants. Promoting successful integration may reduce immigrants' CVD risk.

Racial Differences in Palliative Care Use After Stroke in Majority-White, Minority-Serving, and Racially Integrated U.S. Hospitals.

OBJECTIVES: Racial/ethnic differences in palliative care resource use after stroke have been recognized, but it is unclear whether patient or hospital characteristics drive this disparity. We sought to determine whether palliative care use after intracerebral hemorrhage and ischemic stroke differs between hospitals serving varying proportions of minority patients. DESIGN: Population-based cross-sectional study. SETTING: Inpatient hospital admissions from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample between 2007 and 2011. PATIENTS: A total of 46,735 intracerebral hemorrhage and 331,521 ischemic stroke cases. INTERVENTIONS: Palliative care use. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Intracerebral hemorrhage and ischemic stroke admissions were identified from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample between 2007 and 2011. Hospitals were categorized based on the percentage of ethnic minority stroke patients (< 25% minorities ["white hospitals"], 25-50% minorities ["mixed hospitals"], or > 50% minorities ["minority hospitals"]). Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between race/ethnicity and palliative care use within and between the different hospital strata. Stroke patients receiving care in minority hospitals had lower odds of palliative care compared with those treated in white hospitals, regardless of individual patient race/ethnicity (adjusted odds ratio, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.50-0.84 for intracerebral hemorrhage and odds ratio, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.50-0.77 for ischemic stroke). Ethnic minorities had a lower likelihood of receiving palliative care compared with whites in any hospital stratum, but the odds of palliative care for both white and minority intracerebral hemorrhage patients was lower in minority compared with white hospitals (odds ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.50-0.87 for white and odds ratio, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.46-0.88 for minority patients). Similar results were observed in ischemic stroke. CONCLUSIONS: The odds of receiving palliative care for both white and minority stroke patients is lower in minority compared with white hospitals, suggesting system-level factors as a major contributor to explain race disparities in palliative care use after stroke.

Achieving Health Equity: Closing The Gaps In Health Care Disparities, Interventions, And Research.

In the United States, racial/ethnic minority, rural, and low-income populations continue to experience suboptimal access to and quality of health care despite decades of recognition of health disparities and policy mandates to eliminate them. Many health care interventions that were designed to achieve health equity fall short because of gaps in knowledge and translation. We discuss these gaps and highlight innovative interventions that help address them, focusing on cardiovascular disease and cancer. We also provide recommendations for advancing the field of health equity and informing the implementation and evaluation of policies that target health disparities through improved access to care and quality of care.

Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Disease Risk of Ghanaian- and Nigerian-Born West African Immigrants in the United States: The Afro-Cardiac Study.

BACKGROUND: The number of African immigrants in the United States grew 40-fold between 1960 and 2007, from 35 355 to 1.4 million, with a large majority from West Africa. This study sought to examine the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and global CVD risk and to identify independent predictors of increased CVD risk among West African immigrants in the United States. METHODS AND RESULTS: This cross-sectional study assessed West African (Ghanaian and Nigerian) immigrants aged 35-74 years in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. The mean age of participants was 49.5±9.2 years, and 58% were female. The majority (95%) had ≥1 of the 6 CVD risk factors. Smoking was least prevalent, and overweight or obesity was most prevalent, with 88% having a body mass index (in kg/m(2)) ≥25; 16% had a prior diagnosis of diabetes or had fasting blood glucose levels ≥126 mg/dL. In addition, 44% were physically inactive. Among women, employment and health insurance were associated with odds of 0.09 (95% CI 0.033-0.29) and 0.25 (95% CI 0.09-0.67), respectively, of having a Pooled Cohort Equations estimate ≥7.5% in the multivariable logistic regression analysis. Among men, higher social support was associated with 0.90 (95% CI 0.83-0.98) lower odds of having ≥3 CVD risk factors but not with having a Pooled Cohort Equations estimate ≥7.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of CVD risk factors among West African immigrants was particularly high. Being employed and having health insurance were associated with lower CVD risk in women, but only higher social support was associated with lower CVD risk in men.

Analgesic Access for Acute Abdominal Pain in the Emergency Department Among Racial/Ethnic Minority Patients: A Nationwide Examination.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies of acute abdominal pain provide conflicting data regarding the presence of racial/ethnic disparities in the emergency department (ED). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate race/ethnicity-based differences in ED analgesic pain management among a national sample of adult patients with acute abdominal pain based on a uniform definition. RESEARCH DESIGN/SUBJECTS/MEASURES: The 2006-2010 CDC-NHAMCS data were retrospectively queried for patients 18 years and above presenting with a primary diagnosis of nontraumatic acute abdominal pain as defined by the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma. Independent predictors of analgesic/narcotic-specific analgesic receipt were determined. Risk-adjusted multivariable analyses were then performed to determine associations between race/ethnicity and analgesic receipt. Stratified analyses considered risk-adjusted differences by the level of patient-reported pain on presentation. Secondary outcomes included: prolonged ED-LOS (>6 h), ED wait time, number of diagnostic tests, and subsequent inpatient admission. RESULTS: A total of 6710 ED visits were included: 61.2% (n=4106) non-Hispanic white, 20.1% (n=1352) non-Hispanic black, 14.0% (n=939) Hispanic, and 4.7% (n=313) other racial/ethnic group patients. Relative to non-Hispanic white patients, non-Hispanic black patients and patients of other races/ethnicities had 22%-30% lower risk-adjusted odds of analgesic receipt [OR (95% CI)=0.78 (0.67-0.90); 0.70 (0.56-0.88)]. They had 17%-30% lower risk-adjusted odds of narcotic analgesic receipt (P<0.05). Associations persisted for patients with moderate-severe pain but were insignificant for mild pain presentations. When stratified by the proportion of minority patients treated and the proportion of patients reporting severe pain, discrepancies in analgesic receipt were concentrated in hospitals treating the largest percentages of both. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of 5 years of CDC-NHAMCS data corroborates the presence of racial/ethnic disparities in ED management of pain on a national scale. On the basis of a uniform definition, the results establish the need for concerted quality-improvement efforts to ensure that all patients, regardless of race/ethnicity, receive optimal access to pain relief.