Intersectionality of demographic characteristics in self-reported anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and probable eating disorders among college students.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate associations between identity intersectionality, with a primary focus on minority identity, and probable eating disorders (EDs) within the US college student population. METHOD: Data consisting of n = 414,299 college students' responses to the American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment between fall 2015 and spring 2019 were utilized for this study. Overall and stratified adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were used to assess the association between different facets of identity (i.e., race/ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation) and probable EDs. RESULTS: Among all, in our analytic sample, 7.15% reported a probable ED. Interactions between all three identity variables were significant, and thus stratified odds ratios were evaluated. Transgender men were significantly more likely to report probable ED than cisgender male peers within the following racial/ethnic groups: non-Hispanic White (aOR: 3.33; 95% CI: 2.79, 3.96; p < .0001), non-Hispanic Black (aOR: 3.29; 95% CI: 1.72, 6.28; p = .0003), Hispanic (aOR: 2.31; 95% CI: 1.55, 3.43; p < .0001), Asian or Pacific Islander (aOR: 2.19; 95% CI: 1.45, 3.30; p = .0002), Biracial or Multicultural (aOR: 3.36; 95% CI: 2.17, 5.22; p < .0001), and other (aOR: 4.19; 95% CI: 2.25, 7.79; p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the importance of increasing our understanding of interactions between marginalized identities and the ways in which minority identity informs ED risk. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: The impact of multiple marginalized identities on ED outcomes is not well understood. Our study expands on previous ACHA-NCHA studies by addressing identity intersectionality, looking at more than one identity at a time (i.e., specifically race/ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation). Our results contribute unique risk profiles for students who identify with multiple marginalized groups. Further, they indicate that that these associations vary based on the compounded effect of the demographic factors considered.

Using the Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) to Predict Gambling Disorder Among U.S. College Students.

The Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) screening tool has not previously been used to evaluate risk for gambling disorder (GD). We aimed to assess the level at which each specific substance involvement score (SSIS), measured by ASSIST, most optimally predicted GD among U.S. college students. Data were analyzed for 141,769 students from the National College Health Assessment (fall 2019-spring 2021) utilizing multivariable logistic regression models. Sensitivities and specificities were utilized to find optimal cutoffs that best identified those with GD, overall and by biological sex and age group. Lower threshold of substance risk related to prescription opioids, cocaine, and hallucinogens (all with SSIS cutoffs of 4) predicts gambling disorder compared to sedatives (SSIS cutoff of 19). Younger students had lower thresholds of substance risk predicting GD than older students for heroin, but for all other substance classifications students 25 years and older had lower thresholds of SSIS predicting GD than students 18-24 years old. This study aids in the understanding that substance use behavior may put students at risk for other addictive behaviors such as GD. This study is the first to utilize the ASSIST tool to predict GD among U.S. college students, extending its application beyond substance use disorders. The identification of optimal cutoffs for each SSIS provides a novel approach to concurrently screen for GD and substance use disorders. This unique contribution could enhance early detection and intervention strategies for GD in the college student population.

Adverse childhood experiences and psychotropic medication prescription among cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed at identifying and characterizing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in a sample of cancer patients and subsequently evaluating the relationship between ACEs and prescription of psychotropic medication among them. Individuals with ACEs have a higher risk of mental health conditions and are more likely to be prescribed psychotropic medications. METHODS: A sample of 178 adult patients receiving Supportive Oncology & Survivorship (SOS) services at Huntsman Cancer Hospital in Utah was obtained. ACEs and Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS) questionnaires were administered confidentially. A multivariable mixed effect model, adjusting for sex, age, and insurance type while controlling for zip-codes clustering were employed. RESULTS: Compared to the prevalence of ACEs in the general population, from the CDC-Kaiser Permanente ACEs Study, we found no significant difference in the prevalence of people who had experienced an adverse childhood event (ACEs score > = 1) between our study of cancer patients and the CDC-Kaiser study (67.4% vs. 63.6%, p = 0.29372), but found a significant difference in the prevalence of people who had experienced severe adverse childhood experiences (ACES score > =4) (25.3% vs. 12.1%, p < 0.00001). Furthermore, this study reveals a significant association between an increase of one unit in the total ACEs score and the odds of psychotropic medication prescription in the past 12 months (OR: 1.233; 95% CI: 1.025, 1.483). Those with a total ACEs score of three or more were found to have 280% higher odds of being prescribed psychotropic medication compared to those with ACEs ≤ 2 (OR: 3.822; 95% CI: 1.404,10.407). CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of cancer patients have a history of ACEs, and thus trauma-informed care approach is essential during their treatment.

Investigating the association between asthma and opioid use disorder with interactions of anxiety and depression among a national sample of the US population.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have not examined the association between asthma and opioid use disorder (OUD) in a comprehensive national sample of the U.S. population. This study aims to investigate such an association. METHODS: This is a matched retrospective cohort study, with a follow-up period of two years, utilizing longitudinal electronic medical records of a comprehensive national healthcare database in the U.S.-Cerner-Real World DataTM. Patients selected for analysis were ≥12 years old with a hospital encounter between January 2000 and June 2020. Adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) of incident OUD for those with asthma compared to those without asthma were calculated using a modified Poisson regressions with robust standard errors via the Huber-White sandwich estimator, and results were stratified by comorbid mental illnesses. RESULTS: Individuals with asthma had a greater risk of OUD compared to those without asthma (aRR = 2.12; 95% CI 2.03-2.23). When stratified by anxiety and depression status, individuals with asthma and no anxiety or depression had a greater risk of incident OUD compared to individuals with asthma and either anxiety, depression, or both. Additionally, individuals with asthma medication had 1.29 (95% CI: 1.24, 1.35) greater overall risk for incident OUD compared to those without medication. Independent of comorbid mental illnesses, individuals with asthma medication had greater risk for incident OUD compared to those without medication among individuals without severe/obstructive asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with asthma face a higher OUD risk compared to those without asthma. Comorbid mental illnesses modulate this risk. Caution is advised in opioid prescribing for asthma patients.

Eating disorders and substance use: Examining associations among US college students.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate associations between reported eating disorder (ED) diagnosis and substance use disorder (SUD) diagnosis, substance misuse, and illicit drug use among US college students. METHOD: Data consisting of n = 414,299 students' responses to the National College Health Assessment survey conducted by the American College Health Association between fall 2015 and spring 2019 were utilized for this study. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios were used to determine the association of reported ED diagnosis with reported SUD diagnosis, misuse of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine/methamphetamine, sedatives, hallucinogens, opiates, inhalants, MDMA, and other club drugs, as well as illicit use of prescription pain killers, prescription sedatives, and prescription stimulants. A sensitivity analysis investigating associations between reported anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and each substance use outcome was also conducted. RESULTS: Among all in our analytic cohort, 7.15% reported receiving an ED diagnosis or being treated for an ED in the last 12 months. Students with ED indications were significantly more likely to report each of the substance use outcomes investigated in this study, including SUD diagnosis (aOR: 7.43; 95% CI: 6.98, 7.92; p < .0001), opiate misuse (aOR: 8.35; 95% CI: 7.38, 9.45; p < .0001), and misuse of other club drugs (aOR: 10.37; 95% CI: 9.10, 11.81; p < .0001) than peers without reported EDs. Both AN and BN were associated with an increased likelihood of SUD diagnosis. DISCUSSION: These findings demonstrate strong associations between EDs and the most extensive list of substance use outcomes explored in the context of college setting ED research to date.

Measuring provider well-being: initial validation of a brief engagement survey.

BACKGROUND: Measurement is one of the critical ingredients to addressing the well-being of health care professionals. However, administering an organization-wide well-being survey can be challenging due to constraints like survey fatigue, financial limitations, and other system priorities. One way to address these issues is to embed well-being items into already existing assessment tools that are administered on a regular basis, such as an employee engagement survey. The objective of this study was to assess the utility of a brief engagement survey, that included a small subset of well-being items, among health care providers working in an academic medical center. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, health care providers, including physicians and advanced clinical practitioners, employed at an academic medical center completed a brief, digital engagement survey consisting of 11 quantitative items and 1 qualitative item administered by Dialogue™. The emphasis of this study was on the quantitative responses. Item responses were compared by sex and degree, domains were identified via exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and internal consistency of item responses was assessed via McDonald's omega. Sample burnout was compared against national burnout. RESULTS: Of the 791 respondents, 158 (20.0%) were Advanced Practice Clinicians (APCs), and 633 (80.0%) were Medical Doctors (MDs). The engagement survey, with 11 items, had a high internal consistency with an omega ranging from 0.80-0.93 and was shown, via EFA, to have three domains including communication, well-being, and engagement. Significant differences for some of the 11 items, by sex and degree, in the odds of their agreement responses were found. In this study, 31.5% reported experiencing burnout, which was significantly lower than the national average of 38.2%. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate initial reliability, validity, and utility of a brief, digital engagement survey among health care professionals. This may be particularly useful for medical groups or health care organizations who are unable to administer their own discrete well-being survey to employees.

Risk of Feeding Problems Among Infants With Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The rate of infants born with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) increased by more than 500% between 2004 and 2016. Although feeding problems among infants diagnosed with NAS have been documented, the risk of feeding problems among infants diagnosed with NAS has not been estimated. PURPOSE: This study evaluates the extent to which feeding problems among infants diagnosed with NAS differ from thise in infants without an NAS diagnosis. METHODS/SEARCH STRATEGY: A matched retrospective cohort study (2008-2017) of infants diagnosed with NAS in the United States was conducted using hospital admission data from the Cerner Health Facts Database. Multivariable logistic regressions controlling for confounders were used to assess whether an NAS diagnosis is associated with hospital admission due to feeding problems. FINDINGS/RESULTS: Infants with NAS were nearly 3 times as likely (OR = 2.81; 95% CI, 2.68-2.95) to have feeding problems compared with infants without NAS after adjusting for infant and hospital characteristics. Lower birth weight, higher infant age, Hispanic ethnicity, and hospital location in the Midwest region were also associated with higher odds of feeding problems. Infants diagnosed with NAS who had feeding problems had slightly lower odds of being offered lactation services than infants without NAS who had feeding problems. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: These findings suggest the need for targeted feeding interventions. IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH: Future research on infants with NAS may build on these findings by assessing the role of maternal factors such as nutrition and substance use to understand how parental characteristics also influence the risk for hospitalization.

A Biomechanical Analysis of the H-Taping Method Used by Rock Climbers as Prophylactic or Stabilizing Fixation of Partial A2 Pulley Tears.

PURPOSE: Rock climbing can lead to upper-extremity injuries, such as A2 pulley ruptures, leading to the bowstringing of the flexor tendons. Climbing finger positions are specific and can put undue stress on the pulley systems. This causes severe hand dysfunction and is a difficult problem to treat, and prevention is important. Using a cadaveric, experimental model, we evaluated the effectiveness of the H-taping method, commonly used by rock climbers, to prevent and treat A2 pulley tears. METHODS: Using fourteen matched pairs of fresh-frozen cadaveric hands with forearms, four experiments were conducted with 56 paired comparisons evaluating the failure force, fingertip force, and mode of failure (112 total tests). Comparisons were as follows: index fingers- intact versus 50% distal A2 pulley tears without H-taping (control); ring fingers- intact versus H-taping as a prophylactic for A2 pulley tears; little fingers- 50% distal A2 pulley tears with H-tape versus without tape; and middle fingers- H-taping as a prophylactic versus H-taping as a stabilizing treatment of torn pulleys. RESULTS: The mean index finger failure force was significantly higher in intact vs torn A2 pulleys (control). Failure force for intact H-taped fingers was significantly higher than torn H-taped fingers, but no other finger comparisons for failure force were significant. There were no significant findings in comparison of mean fingertip force values in any of the experiments. CONCLUSIONS: We found that H-taping is not effective as prophylaxis against A2 pulley ruptures or as a stabilizing treatment method for partially ruptured pulleys. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: While H-taping has not been recommended as prophylaxis for preventing A2 pulley ruptures, the climbing community has embraced this technique as a preventative measure. The present study provides biomechanical evidence against H-taping for this purpose. Furthermore, it does not appear to aid in increasing fingertip force after injury.

Esophageal Eosinophilia Is Common Among Relatives of Eosinophilic Esophagitis Patients.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Familial clustering of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) has been described, and we report on the biopsy-assessed prevalence of esophageal eosinophilia (EE) in first-degree family members. The aim was to determine the prevalence of EE in first-degree adult relatives (FDRs) of EoE patients. METHODS: Index EoE patients diagnosed by EE (>15 eosinophils per high-power field) and proton pump inhibitor nonresponsiveness were identified and family trees were constructed. Adult FDRs were invited to undergo upper endoscopy with esophageal biopsies and to complete reflux, dysphagia, and allergy/atopy questionnaires. Questionnaire information was gathered only for those who responded as per institutional review board purview. Records from other children and adult FDRs with prior EoE diagnoses also were obtained when permission was obtained. Simple and multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the unadjusted and odds ratios of EoE for demographic and clinical variables. RESULTS: A total of 239 FDRs from 37 index EoE patients were identified. Seventy-one of 239 adult (age, >18 y) FDRs completed endoscopy and questionnaires and 18 of 71 FDRs had EE. An additional 17 FDRs were confirmed to have EE after external medical record retrieval, resulting in a total of 35 of 239 (14.6%) FDRs with EE. Significantly more male FDRs had EE compared with female FDRs (P = .027). Proton pump inhibitors, dysphagia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, asthma, and reflux symptoms predicted EE in FDRs. FDRs who had EE reported hay fever, allergic eye symptoms, and food allergy more frequently than those without EE (P = .03, P = .001, and P = .02, respectively). Specifically, younger age, higher serum eosinophils, being male, and having food allergies all were associated with higher odds of EoE (P = .0211, P = .0031, P = .0362, and P = .0089, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of esophageal eosinophilia is extremely high and male-predominant in first-degree relatives of EoE patients. Symptoms of hay fever, allergic eye symptoms, and food allergy were predictors of EE in FDRs. Dysphagia did not predict esophageal eosinophilia. Family members of EoE patients are at risk for EE, particularly those who have atopic symptoms.

Environmental uranium exposures and cytokine profiles among mother-newborn baby pairs from the Navajo Βirth Cohort Study.

The Navajo Nation was heavily mined for uranium (U) during the cold-war leading to a legacy of >1100 abandoned U mining, milling and associated waste sites. The Navajo Birth Cohort Study was initiated to assess the effect of non-occupational legacy exposure to U during pregnancy on birth outcomes and child development. We report that 92% of babies with detectable urine U at birth were born from mothers who had urine U concentrations greater than national norms during pregnancy, indicative of prenatal exposure to U. To assess immune alterations associated with U exposure on both mothers and babies, we investigated associations between cytokine profiles and maternal U and associations of these measures with cytokine profiles in babies. Effect sizes for the differences in cytokine profiles were more evident among babies than mothers. Overall, there were seven cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, GM-CSF, and TNF-α), for which the effect size for babies with higher than the national U concentrations was medium to large (ORs of 2.21 (1.08-4.52) through 1.71(0.76-3.83). In contrast, only three cytokines (IL-8, IL-12p70, and TNF-α) had effect sizes which almost reached medium strength (ORs of 1.64 (0.74-4.05) through 1.36 (0.65-2.87) in mothers with U above national norms. The effects of prenatal exposures to uranium and associated alterations in systemic immune responses resulting from U exposure could impact both maternal health as well as healthy child development through induction of inflammation, autoimmunity or other chronic diseases related to immune dysfunction that may affect long-term health.

The mediation and moderation effect of social support on the relationship between opioid misuse and suicide attempts among native American youth in New Mexico: 2009-2019 Youth Risk Resiliency Survey (NM-YRRS).

BACKGROUND: Suicide attempt and opioid misuse continue to be major behavioral health challenges among American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). The aim of the study is to evaluate the mediating and moderating role that social support (SS) plays in their association among AI/AN high-school students in New Mexico (NM). METHODS: An aggregated NM Youth Resiliency and Risk Survey (NM-YRRS, 2009-2019: odd years) dataset was used. Multivariable logistic regression modeling and mediation analysis were conducted while adjusting for confounding variables. RESULTS: Overall, 12.0 and 14.0% of AI/AN students reported opioid misuse and suicide attempt, respectively. The adjusted odds ratio of suicide attempt in students with high SS relative to low SS who misused opioids was 0.43 (p-value = 0.007). The effect of high SS relative to low SS among males who misused opioids was more pronounced (AOR = 0.24, p-value < 0.0001) compared to females (AOR = 0.43, p-value = 0.007). Relative to low SS, high SS was protective for suicide attempt among AI/AN students who misused opioids and attended school in off-reservation (AOR = 0.42, p-value = 0.012) communities, rural communities (AOR = 0.44, p = 0.040), and in communities that are both rural and off-reservation (AOR = 0.39, p = 0.035). Overall, 23.64, and 41.05% of the association between opioid misuse, and suicide attempt was mediated and moderated by SS, respectively. The mediation effect of SS was lowest for rural, on-reservation schools. CONCLUSION: More resources need to be allocated to rural on-reservation schools to enhance social support. The study highlights key insights into the significant role SS plays in promoting health and mitigating the association between opioid misuse and suicide attempt.

A trend analysis of the prevalence of opioid misuse, social support, and suicide attempt among American Indian/Alaska native high school students in New Mexico: 2009-2019 Youth Risk Resiliency Survey (YRRS).

BACKGROUND: American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth face stark inequities in opioid misuse, social support, and suicide attempt. This study examined trends in these behavioral measures among AI/AN students in New Mexico (NM). METHODS: Using the NM oversampled Youth Resiliency and Risk Survey (NM-YRRS, 2009 - 2019: odd years), prevalence estimates of opioid misuse, social support (SS), and suicide attempt for AI/AN high school students were generated. Trends over time were assessed via linear regression of weighted proportions according to Peter Armitage. Stratified trends by demographics were also employed. RESULTS: While the prevalence of suicide attempt did not change significantly over time, it was consistently higher among females (2011-2019), those who misused opioids, received low social support, had a mother with less than high school education, had a C, D, or F for academic performance, and non-straight students relative to their counterparts. In particular, the prevalence of suicide attempt among AI/AN students who reported opioid misuse in 2009 was significantly higher by 25.4% than their counterparts who did not report opioid misuse (35.8% vs. 10.4%.) A significant decreasing trend over time (2009-2017) was observed for opioid misuse (16.1%↓8.8%, p-value = 0.0033), including when stratifying by sex (males: 15.9%↓9%, p-value = 0.002; females: 16.2%↓8.6%, p-value = 0.012). Youth with high maternal education exhibited significant decline in opioid misuse (13.5%↓6.7%, p-value = 0.019; 2011-2017.) Opioid misuse increased significantly from 2017 to 2019 (8.8%↑12.9%, p-value < 0.0001.) For instance, in 2019 among AI/AN students who reported low social support, opioid misuse was roughly doubled (18.9% vs. 8.5%, p < 0.0001), and suicide attempt was tripled (21.3% vs. 7.0%, p < 0.0001) compared to students with high social support. CONCLUSION: No significant trend was observed for suicide attempt. We observed a significant decreasing trend in opioid misuse between 2009 through 2017 but a significant increase from 2017 to 2019. A higher level of maternal education (college or above), and an A or B school grade performance were protective against both opioid misuse and suicide attempt.

We Need You Here! Predictors of Job Placement and Practice among New Mexico Family Medicine Residents.

OBJECTIVES: Primary health care (PHC) is essential for a well-functioning health system. Although PHC has been shown to have adverse effects on health outcomes, many barriers prevent adequate access, including a shortage of primary care physicians. In New Mexico, 32 of 33 counties are designed as primary care health professional shortage areas, and the state has a lower-than-average primary care provider density compared with other states. This study explored the predictors of job placement among New Mexican Family Medicine residents. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study design was used, which included a subset of data from The University of New Mexico (UNM) Family Medicine Residency Alumni Database and hard copy personnel files. The study's population consisted of the 260 graduates from the UNM Family Medicine Residency Program between 1998 and 2019. Analysis included simple and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Results indicated that, consistently, approximately two-thirds of first practices are in New Mexico, whereas the percentage with a current practice in New Mexico decreases over time. Those born in New Mexico or who attended the UNM School of Medicine were more likely to have their first and current practice in New Mexico. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study provide further evidence that the relationship between place of birth and place of medical training are determining factors for both place of first and current practice. These results can inform practice, policy, and future research to address the pressing need for PHC in underserved and rural communities.

Sexuality and Gender Identity Inequities in Substance Use Disorder and Its Treatment among American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian College Students.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate inequities in substance use disorder (SUD) diagnosis, opioid misuse, marijuana misuse, SUD treatment utilization, and utilization of university mental health services among sexual and gender minority (SGM) American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian (AI/AN/NH) college students. METHODS: Data consisting of 8,103 AI/AN/NH students' responses to the American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment survey from fall 2015 through spring 2019 were utilized for this study. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to compare the odds of SUD diagnosis, opioid misuse, and marijuana misuse in SGM AI/AN/NH students to cisgender, heterosexual peers. Unadjusted odds of SUD treatment utilization and utilization of university mental health services were also evaluated. RESULTS: Compared to cisgender females, transgender (aOR = 4.43, 95% CI = 2.67-7.34) and gender diverse (aOR = 2.86, 95% CI = 1.61-5.07) students had significantly higher odds of SUD diagnosis. Similarly, significantly higher odds of SUD diagnosis were observed among sexual minorities, including gay/lesbian (aOR = 2.95, 95% CI = 1.71-5.09) and bisexual (aOR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.30-2.99) students compared to heterosexual peers. Sexual minority students had significantly higher odds of utilizing university mental health services (uOR = 2.43, 95% CI = 1.22-4.84) than heterosexual peers. Odds of opioid misuse and marijuana misuse were also significantly increased among sexual minority students. CONCLUSIONS: AI/AN/NH college students who identify as SGM have higher odds of SUD diagnosis, opioid misuse, and marijuana misuse than their cisgender, heterosexual peers. These findings highlight the need to consider tailored programming for SGM AI/AN/NH students in substance use prevention and intervention efforts in U.S. college settings.

Associations between sexual identity-attraction discordance, and prescription opioid misuse among adults.

Prior research has shown that sexual minorities are disproportionately affected by substance use disorders and prescription opioid misuse. While most studies explore how single dimensions of sexual orientation (i.e., identity, attraction, and behavior) are associated with substance use disorders, we aimed to explore how multiple dimensions of sexual orientation interact with substance use behaviors. Specifically, we examined sexual identity-attraction discordance, the situation when one's sexual identity does not match their socially-expected sexual attractions, with prescription opioid misuse. This study assessed the association between sexual identity-attraction discordance with prescription opioid misuse utilizing data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2015 to 2017 among adults while employing propensity score weighting with multivariable logistic regression. The study included 127,430 adult participants, of whom 1.3%, 4.4%, and 10.6% self-reported prescription opioid misuse in the past month, past year, and lifetime, respectively. Those with discordant sexual identity-attractions had higher odds of prescription opioid misuse in their lifetime (aOR= 1.22, 95% CI 1.07-1.40) when compared to those with concordant sexual identity-attractions. When stratified by sex, we found sexual identity-attraction discordant females had higher odds of prescription opioid misuse in their lifetime (aOR= 1.29, 95% CI 1.13-1.49); there was no association among males. These findings further emphasize the need to consider the dynamic nature of sexual orientation in substance use research.

Unemployment rate, opioids misuse and other substance abuse: quasi-experimental evidence from treatment admissions data.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between economic conditions and substance abuse is unclear, with few studies reporting drug-specific substance abuse. The present study examined the association between economic conditions and drug-specific substance abuse admissions. METHODS: State annual administrative data were drawn from the 1993-2016 Treatment Episode Data Set. The outcome variable was state-level aggregate number of treatment admissions for six categories of primary substance abuse (alcohol, marijuana/hashish, opiates, cocaine, stimulants, and other drugs). Additionally, we used a broader outcome for the number of treatment admissions, including primary, secondary, and tertiary diagnoses. We used a quasi-experimental approach -difference-in-difference model- to estimate the association between changes in economic conditions and substance abuse treatment admissions, adjusting for state characteristics. In addition, we performed two additional analyses to investigate (1) whether economic conditions have an asymmetric effect on the number of substance use admissions during economic downturns and upturns, and (2) the moderation effects of economic recessions (2001, 2008-09) on the relationship between economic conditions and substance use treatment. RESULTS: The baseline model showed that unemployment rate was significantly associated with substance abuse treatment admissions. A unit increase in state unemployment rate was associated with a 9% increase in treatment admissions for opiates (ß = 0.087, p < .001). Similar results were found for other substance abuse treatment admissions (cocaine (ß = 0.081, p < .001), alcohol (ß = 0.050, p < .001), marijuana (ß = 0.036, p < .01), and other drugs (ß = 0.095, p < .001). Unemployment rate was negatively associated with treatment admissions for stimulants (ß = - 0.081, p < .001). The relationship between unemployment rate and opioids treatment admissions was not statistically significant in models that adjusted for state fixed effects and allowed for a state- unique time trend. We found that the association between state unemployment rates and annual substance abuse admissions has the same direction during economic downturns and upturns. During the economic recession, the negative association between unemployment rate and treatment admissions for stimulants was weakened. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that economic hardship may have increased substance abuse. Treatment for substance use of certain drugs and alcohol should remain a priority even during economic downturns.

The risk of clinical complications and death among pregnant women with COVID-19 in the Cerner COVID-19 cohort: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Pregnant women are potentially a high-risk population during infectious disease outbreaks such as COVID-19, because of physiologic immune suppression in pregnancy. However, data on the morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 among pregnant women, compared to nonpregnant women, are sparse and inconclusive. We sought to assess the impact of pregnancy on COVID-19 associated morbidity and mortality, with particular attention to the impact of pre-existing comorbidity. METHODS: We used retrospective data from January through June 2020 on female patients aged 18-44 years old utilizing the Cerner COVID-19 de-identified cohort. We used mixed-effects logistic and exponential regression models to evaluate the risk of hospitalization, maximum hospital length of stay (LOS), moderate ventilation, invasive ventilation, and death for pregnant women while adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, insurance, Elixhauser AHRQ weighted Comorbidity Index, diabetes history, medication, and accounting for clustering of results in similar zip-code regions. RESULTS: Out of 22,493 female patients with associated COVID-19, 7.2% (n = 1609) were pregnant. Crude results indicate that pregnant women, compared to non-pregnant women, had higher rates of hospitalization (60.5% vs. 17.0%, P < 0.001), higher mean maximum LOS (0.15 day vs. 0.08 day, P < 0.001) among those who stayed < 1 day, lower mean maximum LOS (2.55 days vs. 3.32 days, P < 0.001) among those who stayed ≥1 day, and higher moderate ventilation use (1.7% vs. 0.7%, P < 0.001) but showed no significant differences in rates of invasive ventilation or death. After adjusting for potentially confounding variables, pregnant women, compared to non-pregnant women, saw higher odds in hospitalization (aOR: 12.26; 95% CI (10.69, 14.06)), moderate ventilation (aOR: 2.35; 95% CI (1.48, 3.74)), higher maximum LOS among those who stayed < 1 day, and lower maximum LOS among those who stayed ≥1 day. No significant associations were found with invasive ventilation or death. For moderate ventilation, differences were seen among age and race/ethnicity groups. CONCLUSIONS: Among women with COVID-19 disease, pregnancy confers substantial additional risk of morbidity, but no difference in mortality. Knowing these variabilities in the risk is essential to inform decision-makers and guide clinical recommendations for the management of COVID-19 in pregnant women.

Cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease burden in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

INTRODUCTION: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare genetic disease with prevalence of approximately 1 in 5000-10,000. We evaluated the prevalence and association of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular comorbidities in HHT patients using national database. METHODS: Retrospective observational study was performed using National Inpatient Sampling (NIS) database for the year 2014. HHT patients and comorbidities were identified using ICD-9 codes. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using SAS. RESULTS: Prevalence of HHT was 0.0119% with predominance in White population. Mean age of HHT patients was 59 years. Increased proportion of HHT patients had hypertension (46.8% vs 42%), anemia (28.9% vs 15.1%), chronic pulmonary disease (24.8% vs 16.4%), congestive heart failure (15.7% vs 7.5%), liver disease (7.9% vs 2.8%), migraine (4.5% vs 1.5%), and cerebrovascular malformations (0.8% vs 0.03%), whereas chronic kidney disease (12.7% vs 12.2%), headaches (1.3% vs 1.1%), seizures (0.7% vs 0.9%), transient ischemic attacks (1.06% vs 1.03%), ischemic (1.2% vs 1.0%), and hemorrhagic (0.5% vs 0.3%) strokes were similar to those without HHT. Multivariable model shows increase in cerebrovascular malformations (OR 11.04, CI 2.49-22.26, p < 0.0001), migraine (OR 3.23, CI 2.30-4.52, p < 0.0001), chronic blood loss anemia (OR 6.83, CI 5.36-8.71, p < 0.0001), congestive heart failure (OR 1.55, CI 1.26-1.91, p < 0.0001), chronic pulmonary disease (OR 1.30, CI 1.09-1.56, p = 0.0038), and hepatic disease (OR 2.63, CI 2.01-3.45, p < 0.0001) in HHT patients as compared to non-HHT patients. CONCLUSION: There is a need for a large prospective registry of HHT patients that can corroborate these associations and burden of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases.

Spreading depolarization occurs in repeating, recognizable, patient-specific patterns after human brain injury.

Background and Objective: Electrocorticographic (ECoG) measurement of spreading depolarization (SD) has led to significant advances in understanding of injury progression in neuro ICU patients.  However, SD can be difficult to recognize in ECoG regions with high artifact. Heuristics for ECoG analysis within these regions would be highly valuable.Methods: Patients requiring craniotomy following subarachnoid hemorrhage, malignant hemispheric stroke, or traumatic brain injury were enrolled in this study. ECoG leads were placed intraoperatively and scoring of SDs was completed twice; once using traditional criteria and again with the intention of finding SD patterns. Utilizing covariance structures, graphical overlay and various measures surrounding DC shift, SDs were evaluated for patterns.Results: SD patterns were consistently observed and were unique to each patient and lead placement. No more than five different patterns were noted for any given patient, and statistical analysis utilizing covariance structures revealed high intra-pattern consistency.Conclusion: This validation of internal patient specific patterns offers more insight into ECoG readings of high artifact regions. This, in addition to traditional SD scoring heuristics, offers another scoring tool for the neuro-ICU care of patient experiencing SD. Furthermore, description of neurologic disease by its SD patterns may offer a new direction for precision medicine.

Oronasal Fistula Incidence Associated With Vomer Flap Repair of Cleft Palate: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of oronasal fistulas (ONF) associated with primary repair of the anterior palate using a single-layered, superiorly based, vomer mucoperiosteal flap. DESIGN: A systematic review of MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases using the keywords: "vomer flap" and "cleft palate repair" were carried out. A meta-analysis was performed using random effect modeling with stratified analysis by syndromic diagnosis, number of surgeons, and mean age. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Incidence of ONFs. RESULTS: The meta-analysis included 9 studies with a total of 464 children who met inclusion criteria. The overall ONF rate was 3.0% (95% CI: 1.0-9.0). Fistula rates were not significantly different in studies that included syndromic patients compared to studies that did not, 5.0% (95% CI: 1.0-24.0) versus 3.0% (95% CI: 1.0-6.0), respectively. There was no significant difference between studies in which there was a single surgeon versus multiple surgeons, 3.0% (95% CI: 1.0-13.0) versus 4.0% (95% CI: 1.0-8.0), respectively. Age at the time of cleft repair showed no statistically significant difference in fistula rate when comparing children with a mean age less than 12 months to those greater than 12 months, 3.0% (95% CI: 1.0-5.0) versus 5.0% (95% CI: 1.0-28.0), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The vomer flap technique in cleft palate repair appears to be associated with a low ONF rate unaffected by syndromic diagnosis, number of surgeons, or patient age at time of repair.