Modeling Poverty and Health for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander and Asian Ethnic Populations.

This study examined differences in poverty and health among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPI) and 6 disaggregated Asian ethnic subgroups and an aggregated Other Asian category. Participants were followed longitudinally for 2 years using data from 2009 to 2019 from the Current Population Survey, a monthly survey conducted by the Census Bureau. Having 2 years of data enabled the study to assess both prevalence of poverty and fair/poor health in only 1 of the 2 years and in both years. For NHPI, 13.5% were in poverty 1of the 2 years and 7.1% in both years. Asian ethnicities showed high variability ranging from a low of 6.4% for 1 year and 1.9% for 2 years among Asian Indians to 16.0% for 1 year and 6.3% for 2 years among Vietnamese. Fair/poor health also showed ethnic variability, made most apparent after age-sex adjustment in regression models. For poverty, after adjustment, Asian Indians, Filipinos and Japanese had significantly lower odds of being in poverty at least 1 year than NHPI. For having fair/poor health, Asian Indians and Japanese experienced lower odds than NHPI for both 1 and 2 years and Filipinos for 1 year, after age/sex adjustment. The results emphasize the diversity of Asian and Pacific Islander populations, the variability of poverty over time, and the importance of using disaggregated data to understand ethnic differences in poverty and health. These findings can be used to inform future modeling of social determinants on poverty and health among NHPI and Asian subgroups.

Inventory of Survey Databases for Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Filipino Health Disparities Research.

The aim of this scoping review was to assist researchers who want to use survey data, either in academic or community settings, to identify and comprehend health disparities affecting Native Hawaiian (NH), Pacific Islander (PI), and/or Filipino populations, as these are groups with known and numerous health disparities. The scoping review methodology was used to identify survey datasets that disaggregate data for NH, PI, or Filipinos. Healthdata.gov was searched, as there is not an official index of databases. The website was established by the United States (US) Department and Health and Human Services to increase accessibility of health data for entrepreneurs, researchers, and policy makers, with the ultimate goal of improving health outcomes. Using the search term 'survey,' 332 datasets were retrieved, many of which were duplicates from different years. Datasets were included that met the following criteria: (1) related to health; (2) disaggregated NH, PI, and/or Filipino subgroups; (3) administered in the US; (4) publicly available; (5) individual-level data; (6) self-reported information; and (7) contained data from 2010 or later. Fifteen survey datasets met the inclusion criteria. Two additional survey datasets were identified by colleagues. For each dataset, the dataset name, data source, years of the data availability, availability of disaggregated NH, PI, and/or Filipino data, data on health outcomes and social determinants of health, and website information were documented. This inventory of datasets should be of use to researchers who want to advance understanding of health disparities experienced by NH, PI, and Filipino populations in the US.

Socialization, Relaxation, and Leisure across the Day by Social Determinants of Health: Results from the American Time Use Survey, 2014-2016.

This study used the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) to examine socialization, relaxation, and leisure activities throughout the day as related to social determinants of health (SDOH). The study population was adults aged 25 years and older who participated in the ATUS in 2014-2016, the most recent years for collecting SDOH. Descriptive analyses provide characteristics of the study population. Graphical analyses display socialization by SDOH across the hours of the day based on adjusted regression models. Quasi-binomial models analyzed the association between the numbers of minutes of various activities and SDOH. Associations between SDOH and sleeplessness (yes or no) were explored using logistic regression. For much of the day, being female, having less education, living in poverty, and having food insecurity were associated with more time socializing and relaxing. The major activities under socializing and relaxation are watching television and movies. Having a college degree was strongly associated with increased minutes of sports activity, whereas living in poverty and food insecurity were associated with fewer minutes. Less education, living in poverty, and having food insecurity were associated with sleeplessness. A possible mechanism of the effects of SODH on health is by its altering of the patterns of daily life.

Assessment of Perioperative Sleep Characteristics Using Subjective and Objective Methods: A Secondary Analysis of Prospective Cohort Study.

Perioperative sleep disturbances may impact healing and negatively affect the patient's perception of well-being. Therefore, accurately assessing postoperative sleep characteristics is necessary to treat sleep disturbances. This study is a secondary data analysis of research investigating the association between sleep and cognition in a perioperative setting. This study compares sleep characteristics between the St. Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire and WatchPAT, a portable sleep apnea testing device. The goal of this study is to compare an objective measurement of sleep quality (WatchPAT) with a traditional questionnaire. One hundred and one patients who underwent elective, noncardiac surgical procedures wore a WatchPAT and completed the St. Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire for three nights: two preoperative and one postoperative night. In the preoperative period, a Bland-Altman analysis showed an agreement Watch PAT and the St Mary's hospital sleep questionnaire except for sleep fragmentation. A good to fair correlation during the preoperative period was observed with both sleep latency and total sleep time. In the postoperative period, no correlation was observed between the St. Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire data and WatchPAT data. Our study indicates that some potential factors affecting sleep and cognition such as admission type, depression, anesthesia type, and sleep apnea may limit patients' ability to report their sleep characteristics after surgery. Therefore, relying solely on one sleep assessment method is not advisable.

Evaluation of Access to Care Barriers and Their Effect on General Health Status Among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Adults.

There is a paucity of information on access to care barriers faced by Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) community. This study utilized the 2014 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander National Health Interview Survey (NHPI NHIS) data to evaluate access to care barriers among NHPI population and their effect on general health status. Access to care barriers were categorized as financial barrier (affordability) and non-financial barriers (availability, accommodation, acceptability, and accessibility). Overall, 13.7% reported of the fair/poor general health and over 30% reported at least one access to care barrier. Logistic regression model was used to evaluate how financial and non-financial barriers affect general health status, adjusting for socio-demographic variables such as age, poverty threshold, and marital status and health-related variables such as smoking status and chronic health conditions. Those who reported financial barrier (21.2%) were more likely to be in fair/poor general health (odds ratio 2.25, 95% confidence interval 1.43-3.56). Non-financial barrier, reported by 20.0% of the study population, was found to be not associated with general health status after adjusting for socio-demographic and health-related variables. Improving access to care among NHPI community could be achieved by identifying and addressing the barriers, which in turn could lead to improvement in the general health status among NHPI community.

Factors Related to Pediatric Readmissions of Four Major Diagnostic Categories in Hawai`i.

Readmissions are a key quality measure for health care decision making and understanding variables associated with readmissions has become a crucial research area. This study identified patient-level factors that might be associated with pediatric readmissions using a database that included inpatient data from 2008 to 2017 from Hawai`i. Four major diagnostic categories with the most pediatric readmissions in the state were identified: respiratory, digestive, mental, and nervous system diseases and disorders. The associations between readmission and patient-level variables, such as age, sex, race/ethnicity, insurance status, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), were determined for each diagnosis and for overall readmissions. CCI and insurance were the strongest predictors when all diagnoses were combined. However, for some diagnoses, there was weak or no association between CCI, insurance, and readmission. This suggests that diagnosis-specific analysis of predictors of readmission may be more useful than looking at predictors of readmission for all diagnoses combined. While this study focused on patient variables, future studies should also incorporate how hospital variables may also be related to diagnosis.

The impact of diabetes and osteoarthritis on the occurrence of stroke, acute myocardial infarction, and heart failure among older adults with non-valvular atrial fibrillation in Hawaii: a retrospective observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: To date, little is known about cardiovascular disease risks among older adults with non-valvular atrial fibrillation by their association with diabetes and osteoarthritis status, based on longitudinal data with substantial amounts of non-white individuals. The objective of this study was to examine the risks for three cardiovascular diseases: stroke, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and heart failure (HF), by diabetes and osteoarthritis status among older adults with non-valvular atrial fibrillation in Hawaii. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational cohort study for older adults (65 years and older) with non-valvular atrial fibrillation using the Hawaii Medicare data 2009-2017. Their risks for the three cardiovascular diseases by diabetes and osteoarthritis status (diabetes, osteoarthritis, diabetes and osteoarthritis, and without diabetes and osteoarthritis) were examined by multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models. RESULTS: The analysis included 19,588 beneficiaries followed up for a maximum of 3288 days (diabetes: n = 4659, osteoarthritis: n = 1978, diabetes and osteoarthritis: n = 1230, without diabetes and osteoarthritis: n = 11,721).  Among them, those diagnosed with the cardiovascular diseases were identified (stroke: diabetes n = 837, osteoarthritis n = 315, diabetes and osteoarthritis n = 184, without diabetes and osteoarthritis n = 1630)(AMI: diabetes n = 438, osteoarthritis n = 128, diabetes and osteoarthritis n = 118, without diabetes and osteoarthritis n = 603)(HF: diabetes n = 2254, osteoarthritis n = 764, diabetes and osteoarthritis n = 581, without diabetes and osteoarthritis n = 4272). After adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and other potential confounders, those with diabetes and osteoarthritis had higher risks for HF (hazard ratio: 1.21 95% confidence interval: 1.10-1.33) than those without diabetes and osteoarthritis. They also had higher risks than those with osteoarthritis for HF. Those with diabetes had higher risks for all three cardiovascular diseases than the other three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Variation in cardiovascular disease risks for older adults with non-valvular atrial fibrillation in Hawaii exists with diabetes and osteoarthritis status.

The Association of Race/Ethnicity, Dietary Intake, and Physical Activity with Depression.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the association of race/ethnicity, dietary intake, and physical activity with depression and potential other barriers associated with the use of mental health services among depressed people. METHODS: We used the nationally representative data, 2011-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Depression status was defined using a Patient Health Questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regressions were conducted on depression status and the use of mental health specialists among depressed adults, accounting for the complex sampling design. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression was 8.3% with substantial racial/ethnic differences (8.0% for white, 3.1% for Asian, 9.2% for black, 7.6% for Mexican Hispanics, 13.0% for other Hispanics). Good/acceptable diet and a high level of physical activity were negatively associated with depression. Among depressed people, no significant racial/ethnic differences were observed in using mental health specialists. CONCLUSION: Prevalence for depression was lower among people who have good or acceptable diet and moderate physical activity. These modifiable factors as well as race/ethnicity should be incorporated into psychotherapeutic interventions to improve depression.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Dietary Sodium in College Students.

OBJECTIVE: Test a dietary sodium survey in a US adult population of college students using a survey previously validated in a non-US adult population. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of college students from a Midwest (n = 168) and Pacific Island (n = 152) university. Main outcome measures were knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding dietary sodium (38 items). Sum scores and percentages for constructs were calculated. A score <75% was considered unfavorable; t test or ANOVA were used to examine group differences. RESULTS: Midwest students were primarily non-Hispanic White individuals (81%) and 65% female. Pacific Island students were predominantly Asian (51%) and 66% female. Mean ± SD construct scores (percentage) for knowledge, attitudes, and practices were 58.69 ± 10.62, 63.96 ± 16.18, 66.00 ± 12.34 (Midwest) and 57.54 ± 10.93, 64.84 ± 14.96, 64.94 ± 13.18 (Pacific Island), respectively; there were no significant differences between schools or race. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: College students scored low in knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding sodium. Results from this formative study may inform assessment strategies in future dietary sodium interventions.

Racial/ethnic differences in health-related quality of life among Hawaii adult population.

BACKGROUND: This study examined racial/ethnic differences in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among adults and identified variables associated with HRQOL by race/ethnicity. METHODS: This study was conducted under a cross-sectional design. We used the 2011-2016 Hawaii Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data. HRQOL were assessed by four measures: self-rated general health, physically unhealthy days, mentally unhealthy days, and days with activity limitation. Distress was defined as fair/poor for general health and 14 days or more for each of the other three HRQOL measures. We conducted multivariable logistic regressions with variables guided by Anderson's behavioral model on each distress measure by race/ethnicity. RESULTS: Among Hawaii adults, 30.4% were White, 20.9% Japanese, 16.8% Filipino, 14.6% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI), 5.9% Chinese, 5.2% Hispanics, and 6.2% Other. We found significant racial/ethnic differences in the HRQOL measures. Compared to Whites, Filipinos, Japanese, NHPIs, and Hispanics showed higher distress rates in general health, while Filipinos and Japanese showed lower distress rates in the other HRQOL measures. Although no variables were consistently associated with all four HRQOL measures across all racial/ethnic groups, history of diabetes were significantly associated with general health across all racial/ethnic groups and history of depression was associated with at least three of the HRQOL measure across all racial/ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to the literature on disparities in HRQOL and its association with other variables among diverse racial/ethnic subgroups. Knowing the common factors for HRQOL across different racial/ethnic groups and factors specific to different racial/ethnic groups will provide valuable information for identifying future public health priorities to improve quality of life and reduce health disparities.

Relation of the Networks Formed by Diabetic Patients Sharing Physicians With Emergency Department Visits and Hospitalizations.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate if the networks of diabetic patients sharing physicians are associated with emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study. METHODS: We used administrative data from a large insurer in Hawaii in 2010. Three types of networks were defined based on patient visits: (1) the total number of links from one patient to other patients sharing a physician; (2) the number of other patients connected by sharing the physician seen the most often; and (3) the number of other patients connected by seeing all the same physicians during the year. The networks were characterized into thirds based on their complexity and analyzed using zero-inflated negative binomial regression models on ED visits and hospitalizations. RESULTS: The study included 38,767 diabetes patients with a mean age of 64 years. Patients sharing the most physicians had double the risks of ED visits and hospitalizations. Patients linked by belonging to the largest primary care practices had a 28% reduced odds of ED visits. Patients linked by seeing all of the same physicians during the year had the fewest primary care providers and specialists visits and 25%-50% reductions in ED visits and hospitalizations. CONCLUSIONS: Networks of diabetic patients sharing all the same physicians were associated with decreased ED visits and hospitalizations. Encouraging diabetic patients to find a provider they like and trust and to stay in the provider's care may help reduce the risks of adverse events. Physicians building loyalty among their patients may reduce their patients' risks.

Benefits of Oral Health Education at Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) Clinic Visits: Assessments of Parent's Oral Health Beliefs, Behaviors and Dental Access in O'ahu, Hawai'i.

Improving oral health outcomes in Hawai'i for children and families remains a high priority. Children in the state are leading the nation with the highest caries rates, while women before, during, and after pregnancy are failing to receive regular and necessary dental care resulting in poor health outcomes. To answer for this need, an educational intervention was conducted among families enrolled in the Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women and Children's Women, Infant, and Children program (WIC) in O'ahu. The project included the following activities: (1) identification the oral health beliefs and behaviors of families, (2) providing oral health education to families, and (3) reassessing beliefs and behaviors in 3-6 months to document the impact of theeducation session. Participants consisted of 81 families resulting in the data on 176 children and 4 pregnant women. Of the 81 families, 40 representing84 children completed the follow-up oral health questionnaire. Results of the assessment and education demonstrated a positive impact on the family's oral health behaviors. Parents were 6.61 times as likely to report using fluoride toothpaste in the follow-up visit compared to their initial visit (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.12-14.00). Additionally, statistically significant changes were noted in the frequency of children's daily tooth brushing (odds ratio [OR] = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.33-3.46), as well as in the incidence of children receiving fluoride varnish application over time (OR = 2.66, 95% CI = 1.50-4.73). These results provide further evidence that initiating a simple educational intervention can have a positive impact on oral health behaviors in groups that are at highest risk for developing dental disease in Hawai'i.

Racial-ethnic disparities in self-reported health status among US adults adjusted for sociodemographics and multimorbidities, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2014.

Objective: To investigate racial-ethnic disparities in self-reported health status adjusting for sociodemographic factors and multimorbidities.Design: A total of 9499 adult participants aged 20 years and older from the United States (US); reported by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a cross-sectional survey - for years 2011-2014. The main outcome measure was self-reported health status categorized as excellent/very good, good (moderate), and fair/poor.Results: Of the NHANES participants, 40.7% reported excellent/very good health, 37.2% moderate health and 22.1% fair/poor health. There were 42.8% who were non-Hispanic whites, 20.2% were Hispanic, 23.8% were non-Hispanic blacks, and 13.2% were non-Hispanic Asians. Compared to non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics [Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.91, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 2.28-3.71] and non-Hispanic blacks [OR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.26-1.83] were more likely to report fair/poor health, whereas, non-Hispanic Asians [OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.14-1.76] were more likely to report moderate health than excellent/very good health. Compared to those with no chronic conditions, participants with two or three chronic conditions [OR = 9.35, 95% CI = 7.26-12.00] and with four or more chronic conditions [OR = 38.10, 95% CI = 26.50-54.90] were more likely to report fair/poor health than excellent/very good health status.Conclusion: The racial-ethnic differences in self-reported health persisted even after adjusting for sociodemographics and number of multimorbidities. The findings highlight the potential importance of self-reported health status and the need to increase health awareness through health assessment and health-promotional programs among the vulnerable minority US adults.

Development of ICT-Based Comprehensive Health and Social-Needs Assessment System to Enhance Person-Centered Community Care.

We developed a comprehensive health and social-need assessment system to evaluate the diverse needs of elders with chronic illnesses in the community and to enhance the connection of their needs to health and social services. A comprehensive needs-assessment tool and profiles were integrated into the ICT system. We found that care managers could assess elders' needs comprehensively and connect those needs to suitable health and social services systematically.

Healthcare network analysis of patients with diabetes and their physicians.

OBJECTIVES: To illustrate methods using administrative data on patients with diabetes that can offer a foundation for using network analyses in managed care. STUDY DESIGN: The study used an administrative claims database to analyze patients with diabetes in a large health plan in Hawaii in 2010. METHODS: The networks were explored graphically and analyzed at several levels of complexity. Levels ranged from major components comprising the majority in the networks to smaller, highly connected cliques to communities of patients and physicians grouped by a network algorithm. The attributes of patients linked by seeing the same primary physicians were evaluated using an exponential random graph model that predicted links in the network. RESULTS: The study included 41,941 patients with diabetes of Native Hawaiian (16.3%), Filipino (14.2%), Japanese (46.7%), white (11.2%), and other (11.6%) ethnicity. About half were 65 years or older. When examined by Hawaiian island of residence, at least 95% of patients and at least 78% of physicians belonged to loosely connected major components within a network. Smaller communities of patients, identified by being closely linked together, averaged 150 to 177 patients; communities of physicians averaged 3 to 8 physicians. The average numbers of patients sharing physicians and physicians sharing patients were greater on the island of Oahu than on the rural neighboring islands. Patients of the same ethnicity were significantly more likely to share the same primary physician. CONCLUSIONS: Network analyses reveal structures and links that health plans could leverage to strengthen quality improvement and disease management programs.

Effect of Sociodemographics, Health-Related Problems, and Family Structure on Chronic Absenteeism Among Children.

BACKGROUND: From 5 to 7.5 million schoolchildren are chronically absent, defined as missing ≥15 days of school within a year. Students miss schools due to various reasons such as health, socioeconomic status, and environmental factors. We examined child's health and behavior, family structure, and sociodemographics to understand chronic absenteeism. METHODS: The population included children ages 6 to 17 years from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey years 2008-2013. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify the risk factors of chronic absenteeism, adjusting for the complex sampling design. RESULTS: Among sociodemographic variables, age ≥14 years, race/ethnicity, lower-income family, public health insurance, US born, and speaking English at home were associated with absenteeism. Asians, Mexican Hispanics, and blacks have lower absenteeism than whites. Among health-related variables, children using an inhaler for asthma, having behavioral problems, and less healthy than other children were more likely to be chronically absent. Among family variables, a smaller family size was a risk factor for absenteeism. CONCLUSIONS: Asthma and behavioral problems were highly associated with chronic absenteeism. The identification of children at risk for chronic absenteeism will help the educational professionals identify the barriers to academic achievements and develop integrated educational interventions and policies to support disadvantaged children.

Breastfeeding Discontinuation Not Associated with Maternal Pregravid BMI But Associated with Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander Race in Hawaii and Puerto Rico WIC Participants.

Objectives This study investigated the association between maternal pregravid body mass index (BMI) and breastfeeding discontinuation at 4-6 months postpartum in Hawaii and Puerto Rico participants from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Methods A secondary data analysis was conducted from a text message-based intervention in WIC participants in Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The analysis included 87 women from the control group who initiated breastfeeding and whose breastfeeding status was known at the end of the study when infants were 4-6 months old. Pregravid BMI and breastfeeding discontinuation were assessed using questionnaires. Results The association between pregravid BMI and breastfeeding discontinuation was not significant in the unadjusted model or in the adjusted model. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (NHOPI) participants showed significantly increased odds of discontinuing breastfeeding (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 7.12; 95% CI 1.34, 37.97; p = .02) compared to all the other racial/ethnic participants, as did older women ages 32-39 years versus women who were 25-31 years old (AOR 4.21; 95% CI 1.13, 15.72; p = .03). Women who took vitamins while breastfeeding had decreased odds of discontinuing breastfeeding (AOR 0.15; 95% CI 0.05, 0.46; p = .0009). Conclusions for Practice Pregravid BMI was not significantly associated with breastfeeding discontinuation at 4-6 months postpartum in women from Hawaii and Puerto Rico WIC, but NHOPIs and women who were older had higher odds of discontinuing breastfeeding. The results of this study may inform strategies for breastfeeding promotion and childhood obesity prevention but should be further investigated in larger studies. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02903186.

Racial and ethnic differences in mental health service utilization among the Hawaii medicaid population.

Background: Racial/ethnic differences have not been adequately addressed in the utilization of mental health services among Medicaid populations. Aim: This study aimed to examine racial/ethnic differences in the utilization of health services for mental disorders in a Medicaid adult population aged between 21 and 64 years. Methods: Racial/ethnic differences in inpatient, outpatient and emergency department services utilization were assessed using 2010 Hawaii Medicaid data. Zero-inflated negative binomial regressions were employed adjusting for age, sex and residential area. Results: Among 73,200 beneficiaries, 29.7% were Whites, 28.5% Asians, 34.7% Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPIs); 60.2% were younger (21-44 years) and 58.6% were females. The patterns of utilization of health services differed across race/ethnicity. Compared to Whites, Asians and NHPIs were less likely to use outpatient services and had lower rates of inpatient visits. NHPIs were also estimated to have lower rates of outpatient and emergency department visits. Conclusion: Variation in the utilization of health services emphasizes the importance of race/ethnicity in mental health management. Various factors, such as language barriers and cultural differences, should be considered in developing clinical interventions or integrative health programs that aim to reduce racial/ethnic disparities among people with mental disorders.

Progression of diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and chronic kidney disease in a three chronic conditions multistate model.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and chronic kidney disease are three major chronic conditions that develop with increasing risks among adults as they get older. The interconnectedness of these three chronic conditions is well known, while each condition acts as a prognostic risk factor for the other two. It is important to understand the progressive relationships of these three conditions over time in terms of transitioning between clinical states and the impact on patients' survival. METHODS: We investigate the survival characteristics of a Medicare population aged 65 years and above in a multistate system that contained clinical states specified by death and diagnosis combinations of three chronic conditions. The study was conducted using Hawaii Medicare claims data from 2009 to 2013. To evaluate the progression of a subject with one of the newly diagnosed chronic conditions, we analyzed quantities such as state occupation probabilities in eight states and hazards of sixteen transition types. We quantified effects and significances of potential covariates such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, comorbidity burden and financial status on these temporal functions. Nonparametric method of estimating state occupation probabilities and pseudo-value based method for estimating covariate effects of a survival system were utilized. RESULTS: We found a range of age, gender, race/ethnicity and financial status based interesting covariate influences on transitions and state occupation probabilities of the system. CONCLUSION: Survival characteristics of the disease system are influenced by subject-specific effects. Subgroup-specific interventions/screenings should be considered for the optimal prevention and care.