Reasons mothers of young children delayed or skipped preventive health care during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Preventive health care provides opportunity for preventive screenings and health promotion. Mothers of young children may disproportionately experience barriers to preventive care during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We examined delaying and skipping preventive health care during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic among mothers and described reasons for delaying or skipping care. Mothers of children aged 0-12 years from the United States completed an online survey in February/March 2021 and reported receipt of preventive care during the COVID-19 pandemic, reasons for delaying or skipping care, demographics, and experiences with COVID-19. RESULTS: Participants (N = 306) were on average 35.9 (SD: 6.2) years old, racially/ethnically diverse, and 74.8% had at least a Bachelor's degree. From March 2020 to March 2021, 16.0% delayed and 20.6% skipped their physical examination, and 20.9% had not planned on receiving a physical examination. The most common reasons for delaying and skipping care were COVID-19 infection concerns, perception that delaying care would not negatively impact health, provider rescheduling, time, and childcare. CONCLUSIONS: Primary care teams may need to re-engage mothers who skipped preventive care during the pandemic, including addressing concerns about COVID-19 infection.

Mothers of young children may experience barriers to receiving preventive health care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Continued delay or skipping of these services may negatively impact mothers' health and decreases opportunity for intervention. We conducted an online survey of mothers of children 0­12 years old who live in the United States. We asked mothers whether they had delayed or skipped their routine physical examination during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and if so, reasons they delayed or skipped care. From March 2020 to March 2021, 16% of mothers delayed their physical examination, 21% skipped their physical examination appointment, and 21% had not planned on receiving a physical examination. The most common reasons for delaying and skipping care were COVID-19 infection concerns, perception that delaying care would not negatively impact health, provider rescheduling, time, and childcare. Primary care teams may need to re-engage mothers who skipped preventive care during the pandemic, including addressing concerns about COVID-19 infection.

Factors associated with mothers' hesitancy to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

Vaccine hesitancy can impact maternal and child vaccination rates. We examined factors associated with mothers' hesitancy to receive a COVID-19 vaccine using data from an online survey conducted from mid-February to mid-March 2021. Among unvaccinated participants (N = 203), 28% reported that they would probably not or definitely not get a COVID-19 vaccine. Mothers with high school/GED/trade/technical education (38% hesitant, aOR = 4.0, 95% CI: 1.2-13.2), Associate's degree (43%, aOR = 6.8, 95% CI: 2.4-19.5), and Bachelor's degree (30%, aOR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.1-8.4) were more likely to report vaccine hesitancy compared to mothers with a graduate degree (19%). Non-Hispanic Black mothers (40% hesitant, aOR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.0-7.6) were more likely to be vaccine hesitant compared to non-Hispanic white mothers (19%). Mothers with low pandemic-related anxiety were more likely to report vaccine hesitancy than mothers with high pandemic-related anxiety (56% vs 23% hesitant; aOR = 4.8, 95% CI: 1.7-14.1). Research is needed to understand informational, emotional, and attitudinal factors contributing to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among mothers to develop and test effective public health messaging to increase vaccination rates.

Social Media Use Among Parents and Women of Childbearing Age in the US.

Many parents and pregnant women in the US use social media to access health-related information. Estimates of current use of different platforms among these populations are needed. We used data from a 2021 Pew Research Center survey to describe use of commercial social media platforms by US parents and US women aged 18 to 39 years. Most US parents and women of childbearing age use YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, with most engaging daily. Understanding social media use patterns can help public health professionals, health care systems, and researchers reach selected populations with evidence-based health information and health promotion programs.

Do Depressive Symptoms Predict Blood Pressure Control in US Veterans?

BACKGROUND: High blood pressure is the most common chronic condition among US veterans. Blood pressure control is essential to preventing and managing cardiovascular diseases. While depressive symptoms are a known risk factor for uncontrolled blood pressure and veterans experience high rates of depressive symptoms, no research has examined the relationship between depressive symptoms and blood pressure control among US veterans. OBJECTIVE: We examined whether moderately severe-to-severe depressive symptoms, compared to none-to-minimal, are associated with higher risk of uncontrolled blood pressure among US veterans. DESIGN: We analyzed a population-based sample of veterans from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2016). Logistic regression models were adjusted for marital status, age, and body mass index. All analyses were weighted; results are generalizable to US veterans. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 864 veterans was analyzed, representing approximately 18.8 million US veterans. MAIN MEASURES: Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Uncontrolled blood pressure was defined as average systolic blood pressure ≥ 130 and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 80. KEY RESULTS: For depressive symptoms, 78.2% (SE = 1.6) of US veterans had none-to-minimal, 18.2% (SE = 1.2) had mild-to-moderate, and 3.5% (SE = 0.8) had moderately severe-to-severe. Forty-three percent (SE = 3.0) of US veterans had uncontrolled blood pressure. Moderately severe-to-severe depressive symptoms, compared to none-to-minimal, were associated with lower risk for uncontrolled blood pressure (aOR = .28, 95% CI [.09, .85]). Mild-to-moderate depressive symptoms were not associated with blood pressure control (aOR = .98, 95% CI [.59, 1.65]). CONCLUSIONS: US veterans with moderately severe-to-severe depressive symptoms were less likely to have uncontrolled blood pressure than veterans with none-to-minimal symptoms. Future research should examine factors unique to veterans that may explain findings opposite of the hypothesized relationship between depressive symptoms and blood pressure control.

Proof-of-Concept Feasibility Trial of a Dissonance-Based Sun Safety Intervention for Young Adult Tanners.

BACKGROUND: Melanoma is the second most common cancer in young adults. Social media may be a means to conduct interventions to increase sun safety in young adults. PURPOSE: We conducted a randomized proof-of-concept pilot trial to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a dissonance-based social media intervention designed to promote sun safety in young adult tanners. METHODS: Young adult tanners (N = 66) were randomized into two 4-week interventions in which participants were incentivized to create content for a social media campaign on healthy skin or healthy lifestyle. Feasibility outcomes included retention, participation, acceptability, and contamination. We also examined the impact of participation on motivation to engage in the target health behaviors and outdoor tanning intentions. RESULTS: Retention was 100%. Most Healthy Skin (88%) and Healthy Lifestyle participants (91%) created ≥1 post. Acceptability was high with 94% and 97% of participants in Healthy Skin and Healthy Lifestyle conditions, respectively, agreeing they would recommend the campaign to a friend. At 4 weeks, Healthy Skin participants reported greater declines in motivation to tan indoors (p = .0017) and outdoors (p = .0003), and greater increases in motivation to wear sunscreen (p = .0009) and protective clothing (p = .0342). Healthy Skin participants reported greater declines in intentions to tan outdoors in the next year (p = .0286). CONCLUSIONS: A dissonance-based, social media sun safety intervention was feasible and acceptable. Future research should examine the efficacy and longer-term effects of this intervention in young adults at elevated risk for skin cancer. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03834974 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03834974.

Interest in Digital Dietary Support Among Adults With Kidney Failure Receiving Hemodialysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed interest in digital dietary support among adults with kidney failure receiving hemodialysis. METHODS: We recruited English-speaking adults with kidney failure receiving hemodialysis 2+ times per week online and in dialysis clinics to complete a brief survey. Participants were asked if they were interested in participating in an online patient community with access to a registered dietitian (RD) (not at all, slightly, somewhat, very, or extremely interested). Participants who reported owning a smartphone or tablet computer were asked about their interest in communicating with an RD about their kidney diet using a secure app (not at all, slightly, somewhat, very, or extremely interested). RESULTS: Participants (N = 100) were on average 53.5 (standard deviation: 16.0) years old, 48% were female, and 69% non-Hispanic white. The majority (83%) went online daily in the past 4 weeks, 80% reported having a Facebook account, and 70% looked online for information about kidney failure in the past 4 weeks. Forty-six percent were very/extremely interested in participating in an online patient community with access to an RD (18%-66% across subgroups). Of the 83% of patients who owned a tablet and/or smartphone, 39% were very/extremely interested in using an app to communicate with an RD about their kidney diet (21%-58% across subgroups). CONCLUSIONS: In this relatively young and tech-connected sample of patients with kidney failure, many were interested in digital dietary support from an RD. Future research is needed to examine what patients desire in an online patient community and how digital support can complement and enhance support provided by RDs. RDs working with patients receiving hemodialysis may want to refer patients to evidence-based online resources and explore connecting with patients via social media or mobile app.

Online Health Information-Seeking Among Older Women With Chronic Illness: Analysis of the Women's Health Initiative.

BACKGROUND: Understanding how older patients with chronic illnesses use the internet to obtain health information is relevant for the design of digital interventions aimed at improving the health and well-being of adults aged 65 years and older; this cohort represents the sickest, most expensive, and fastest-growing segment of the US population. OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to describe online health information-seeking behavior among older patients with chronic illnesses and to compare the characteristics of patients who report using the internet to obtain health information with those who do not. METHODS: The study population included 72,806 women aged 65 years and older enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), a national cohort study, who completed a 2014 supplemental questionnaire assessing everyday technology use and internet use for researching health conditions. Comparisons were made between participants with and without a history of chronic illness and between users and nonusers of online sources for health information. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs. RESULTS: Of the total, 59% (42,887/72,806) of older women used the internet for health information. Compared with women who did not use the internet to obtain health information, those who used the internet were younger (median age: 76 vs 81 years), more likely to be non-Hispanic white (90% [38,481/42,887] vs 87% [26,017/29,919]), earned a higher income (over $US 50,000: 55% [23,410/42,887] vs 33% [9991/29,919]), achieved a higher educational level (more than high school: 87% [37,493/42,887] vs 75% [22,377/29,919]), and were more likely to live with a partner (52% [22,457/42,887] vs 36% [10,759/29,919]) (all P<.001). Women with Alzheimer disease were least likely to report online health information-seeking compared to those without the disease (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.38-0.43). In contrast, women with a recent diagnosis of cancer, within the previous 2 years (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.11-1.36) or 2-5 years ago (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.00-1.19), were most likely to use the internet for health information. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly 6 in 10 older women participating in the WHI reported using the internet to obtain health information. Patients recently diagnosed with cancer are more likely to be looking for health information online, even after adjustment for age, suggesting that these patients may have a greater need for digital health resources.

Physical, cognitive, and psychosocial conditions in relation to anticoagulation satisfaction among elderly adults with atrial fibrillation: The SAGE-AF study.

BACKGROUND: Successful anticoagulation is critical for stroke prevention in adults with atrial fibrillation (AF). Anticoagulation satisfaction is a key indicator of treatment success. While physical, cognitive, and psychosocial limitations are common in elderly AF patients, their associations with anticoagulation satisfaction are unknown. OBJECTIVE: Examine whether anticoagulation satisfaction differs among AF patients with and without physical, cognitive, and psychosocial conditions. METHODS: The study comprised AF patients greater than or equal to 65 years old who were prescribed an oral anticoagulant (warfarin 57%; direct oral anticoagulant [DOAC] 43%). Frailty, cognitive function, social support, depressive symptoms, vision, hearing, and anxiety were assessed using validated measures. Anticoagulation satisfaction was measured using the anticlot treatment scale. RESULTS: Participants (n = 1037, 50% female) were on average 76 years old. The following conditions were prevalent: frailty (14%), cognitive impairment (42%), social isolation (13%), vision impairment (35%), hearing impairment (36%), depression (29%), and anxiety (24%). Average anticlot treatment burden scale was 55 out of 60 (lower burden scales indicating higher perceived burden). Patients with high perceived burden were older, more likely to be female, and receive warfarin. After adjusting for confounders, visual impairment (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.7 [1.2-2.4]), depressive symptoms (2.4 [1.6-3.7]), and anxiety (1.8 [1.2-2.7]) were significantly associated with high perceived burden. Different conditions were associated with high perceived burden in warfarin vs DOAC users. CONCLUSION: Physical, cognitive, and psychosocial limitations are prevalent and associated with high perceived anticoagulation burden among elderly AF adults. These conditions merit consideration in anticoagulation prescribing.

Psychosocial factors associated with treatment outcomes in women with obesity and major depressive disorder who received behavioral activation for depression.

Behavioral activation is an empirically supported treatment for depression, but much is unknown about factors associated with treatment response. The present study aimed to determine whether baseline levels and subsequent changes in psychosocial factors were associated with improvement in depression in women with comorbid obesity who received behavioral activation treatment for depression and a lifestyle intervention. Multilevel modeling was used to estimate the associations between psychosocial factors and change in depression scores during the first 10 weeks of treatment and associations between changes in psychosocial factors from baseline to 6-month follow-up and change in depression over the same time period. No baseline psychosocial factors were associated with depression improvement during treatment (p = 0.110-0.613). However, greater improvement in hedonic capacity (p = 0.001), environmental reward (p = 0.004), and social impairment (p = 0.012) were associated with greater reductions in depression over 6 months. Findings highlight the differential relationship specific psychosocial factors have with depression treatment outcomes.

A Call for a Public Health Agenda for Social Media Research.

Research has revealed both the benefits and harms of social media use, but the public has very little guidance on how best to use social media to maximize the benefits to their health and well-being while minimizing the potential harms. Given that social media is intricately embedded in our lives, and we now have an entire generation of social media natives, the time has come for a public health research agenda to guide not only the public's use of social media but also the design of social media platforms in ways that improve health and well-being. In this viewpoint we propose such a public health agenda for social media research that is framed around three broad questions: (1) How much social media use is unhealthy and what individual and contextual factors shape that relationship; (2) What are ways social media can be used to improve physical and mental well-being; and (3) How does health (mis)information spread, how does it shape attitudes, beliefs and behavior, and what policies or public health strategies are effective in disseminating legitimate health information while curbing the spread of health misinformation? We also discuss four key challenges that impede progress on this research agenda: negative sentiment about social media among the public and scientific community, a poorly regulated research landscape, poor access to social media data, and the lack of a cohesive academic field. Social media has revolutionized modern communication in ways that bring us closer to a global society, but we currently stand at an inflection point. A public health agenda for social media research will serve as a compass to guide us toward social media becoming a powerful tool for the public good.

Home Matters: Adolescents Drink More Sugar-Sweetened Beverages When Available at Home.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between sugar-sweetened beverage availability at home and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, and to evaluate whether this association was consistent across school and school neighborhood sugar-sweetened beverage availability. STUDY DESIGN: Secondary data analyses were performed from the 2014 cross-sectional, Internet-based Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) study of 1494 adolescents (age 12-17 years). Ordinal logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between sugar-sweetened beverage availability in the home and adolescents' frequency of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption (nondaily, <1; daily, 1-<2; daily, ≥2), adjusting for adolescent age, sex, race, and body mass index and parent marital status and housing insecurity. Stratified ordinal logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations by school and school neighborhood sugar-sweetened beverage availability. RESULTS: One-third (32.6%) of adolescents were nondaily consumers of sugar-sweetened beverages, 33.9% consumed 1-<2 sugar-sweetened beverages daily, and 33.5% consumed ≥2 sugar-sweetened beverages daily. Almost one-half (44.4%) reported that sugar-sweetened beverages were often or always available in the home. Frequency of sugar-sweetened beverage availability at home was associated with greater sugar-sweetened beverage consumption (OR, 2.88; 95% CI, 2.86-2.89 for rarely/sometimes available at home; OR. 5.62; 95% CI, 5.60-5.64 for often/always available at home). Similar associations were found regardless of the availability of sugar-sweetened beverages in the adolescent's school or school neighborhood. CONCLUSIONS: Sugar-sweetened beverage availability in the home was associated with adolescent sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, regardless of sugar-sweetened beverage availability in other settings, and may be a key target for obesity prevention efforts.

Barriers to Healthcare Access and Long-Term Survival After an Acute Coronary Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Barriers to healthcare are common in the USA and may result in worse outcomes among hospital survivors of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between barriers to healthcare and 2-year mortality after hospital discharge for an ACS. DESIGN: Longitudinal study. SETTING: Survivors of an ACS hospitalization were recruited from 6 medical centers in central Massachusetts and Georgia in 2011-2013. PATIENTS: Study participants with a confirmed ACS reported whether they had a financial-related healthcare barrier, no usual source of care, or a transportation-related healthcare barrier around the time of hospital admission. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS: Cox regression analyses calculated adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for 2-year all-cause mortality for the three healthcare barriers while controlling for several demographic, clinical, and psychosocial characteristics. RESULTS: The mean age of study participants (n = 2008) was 62 years, 33% were women, and 77% were non-Hispanic white. One third of patients reported a financial barrier, 17% lacked a usual source of care, and 12% had a transportation barrier. Five percent (n = 100) died within 2 years after hospital discharge. Compared to patients without these barriers, those lacking a usual source of care and with barriers to transportation experienced significantly higher mortality (aHRs 1.40, 95% CI 1.30 to 1.51 and 1.46, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.89, respectively). Financial barriers were not associated with all-cause mortality (aHR 0.79, 95% CI 0.60 to 1.06). LIMITATIONS: Observational study with other unmeasured potentially confounding prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Absence of an established usual source of care and inconsistent transportation availability were associated with a higher risk for dying after an ACS. Patients with these barriers to follow-up care may benefit from more intensive follow-up and support.

Social Media and Obesity in Adults: a Review of Recent Research and Future Directions.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Social media is widely used and has potential to connect adults with obesity with information and social support for weight loss and to deliver lifestyle interventions. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent observational and intervention research on social media and obesity. RECENT FINDINGS: Online patient communities for weight loss abound but may include misinformation. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses suggest that social media-delivered lifestyle interventions modestly impact weight, yet how social media was used and participant engagement varies widely. The rapidly changing social media landscape poses challenges for patients, clinicians, and researchers. Research is needed on how patients can establish supportive communities for weight loss and the role of clinicians in these communities. Emerging research on meaningful engagement in, and the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of, social media-delivered lifestyle interventions should provide insights into how to leverage social media to address the obesity epidemic.

Does provider advice to increase physical activity differ by activity level among US adults with cardiovascular disease risk factors?

Background: Regular physical activity (PA) lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but few US adults meet PA guidelines. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends primary care providers offer PA counselling for CVD prevention. We examined the association between adherence to PA guidelines and reported provider advice to increase PA among US adults with overweight/obesity and ≥1 additional CVD risk factor. Methods: Cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011-2014) on PA and provider advice to increase PA were analysed for 4158 adults (≥20 years old) with overweight/obesity who reported ≥1 of hypertension, high cholesterol or impaired fasting glucose. Adherence to federal PA guidelines was determined using self-reported PA data from the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Meeting PA guidelines was defined as ≥150 minutes/week moderate intensity PA, ≥75 minutes/week vigorous intensity, or an equivalent combination. Participants self-reported provider advice to increase PA. Results: In total, 57.7% of US adults with overweight/obesity and ≥1 additional CVD risk factor who did not meet PA guidelines reported provider advice to increase PA compared to 49.7% of adults who met PA guidelines. Adults who did not meet PA guidelines were more likely to report provider PA advice (aOR = 1.21; 95% CI = 1.00-1.47). Conclusions: US adults with CVD risk factors who do not meet PA guidelines are more likely to receive provider advice to increase PA, but only half receive such advice. Strategies to increase provider advice are needed to improve adherence to USPSTF guidelines among US adults with overweight/obesity and additional CVD risk factors.

Survivors of an Acute Coronary Syndrome With Lower Patient Activation Are More Likely to Experience Declines in Health-Related Quality of Life.

BACKGROUND: Patient activation comprises the knowledge, skills, and confidence for self-care and may lead to better health outcomes. OBJECTIVES: We examined the relationship between patient activation and changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after hospitalization for an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: We studied patients from 6 medical centers in central Massachusetts and Georgia who had been hospitalized for an ACS between 2011 and 2013. At 1 month after hospital discharge, the patients completed the 6-item Patient Activation Measure and were categorized into 4 levels of activation. Multinomial logistic regression analyses compared activation level with clinically meaningful changes (≥3.0 points, generic; ≥10.0 points, disease-specific) in generic physical (SF-36v2 Physical Component Summary [PCS]), generic mental (SF-36v2 Mental Component Summary [MCS]), and disease-specific (Seattle Angina Questionnaire [SAQ]) HRQOL from 1 to 3 and 1 to 6 months after hospitalization, adjusting for potential sociodemographic and clinical confounders. RESULTS: The patients (N = 1042) were, on average, 62 years old, 34% female, and 87% non-Hispanic white. A total of 10% were in the lowest level of activation. The patients with the lowest activation had 1.95 times (95% confidence interval, 1.05-3.62) and 2.18 times (95% confidence interval, 1.17-4.05) the odds of experiencing clinically significant declines in MCS and SAQ HRQOL, respectively, between 1 and 6 months than the most activated patients. The patient activation level was not associated with meaningful changes in PCS scores. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital survivors of an ACS with lower activation may be more likely to experience declines in mental and disease-specific HRQOL than more-activated patients, identifying a group at risk of poor outcomes.

A Randomized Controlled Trial for Veterans with PTSD and Substance Use Disorder: Creating Change versus Seeking Safety.

BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD) co-occur in military veterans and other populations. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a randomized controlled trial to compare a new past-focused treatment (Creating Change; CC), to a well-established, evidence-based present-focused treatment for PTSD/SUD (Seeking Safety; SS), on symptoms of both disorders. CC guides patients to process the past through exploration of PTSD/SUD life themes and memories whereas SS focuses on coping skills in the present. METHODS: Fifty-two male and female veterans with current PTSD/SUD were randomized (n = 26 per treatment) and assessed at baseline, end-of-treatment and 3-month follow-up. They received 17 individual one-hour sessions. RESULTS: Intent-to-treat analyses indicated that both conditions improved over time, with no difference between conditions, on PTSD, alcohol use, and drug use (our primary outcomes) as well as mental health symptoms, quality of life, self-efficacy, and SUD cognitions. Effect sizes were medium except for alcohol use, which was large. Change over time reflected improvement from baseline to end-of-treatment, with gains sustained at follow-up, although alcohol use showed continued improvement from end-of-treatment to follow-up. Both treatments evidenced a strong safety profile; and attendance, alliance, and treatment satisfaction were also very strong. Conclusions/importance: CC has promise as a PTSD/SUD therapy with strong public health relevance and the potential to fill important gaps in the field. We used minimal exclusionary criteria to obtain a real-world sample, which was severe-predominantly substance-dependent with chronic PTSD and additional psychiatric diagnoses. Future research is warranted, especially on nonveteran samples and treatment mechanisms of action.

Reproductive Risk Factors and Coronary Heart Disease in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Reproductive factors provide an early window into a woman's coronary heart disease (CHD) risk; however, their contribution to CHD risk stratification is uncertain. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study, we constructed Cox proportional hazards models for CHD including age, pregnancy status, number of live births, age at menarche, menstrual irregularity, age at first birth, stillbirths, miscarriages, infertility ≥1 year, infertility cause, and breastfeeding. We next added each candidate reproductive factor to an established CHD risk factor model. A final model was then constructed with significant reproductive factors added to established CHD risk factors. Improvement in C statistic, net reclassification index (or net reclassification index with risk categories of <5%, 5 to <10%, and ≥10% 10-year risk of CHD), and integrated discriminatory index were assessed. Among 72 982 women (CHD events, n=4607; median follow-up,12.0 [interquartile range, 8.3-13.7] years; mean [standard deviation] age, 63.2 [7.2] years), an age-adjusted reproductive risk factor model had a C statistic of 0.675 for CHD. In a model adjusted for established CHD risk factors, younger age at first birth, number of still births, number of miscarriages, and lack of breastfeeding were positively associated with CHD. Reproductive factors modestly improved model discrimination (C statistic increased from 0.726 to 0.730; integrated discriminatory index, 0.0013; P<0.0001). Net reclassification for women with events was not improved (net reclassification index events, 0.007; P=0.18); and, for women without events, net reclassification was marginally improved (net reclassification index nonevents, 0.002; P=0.04) CONCLUSIONS: Key reproductive factors are associated with CHD independently of established CHD risk factors, very modestly improve model discrimination, and do not materially improve net reclassification.

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status Predicts Health After Hospitalization for Acute Coronary Syndromes: Findings From TRACE-CORE (Transitions, Risks, and Actions in Coronary Events-Center for Outcomes Research and Education).

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influence of contextual factors on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), which is sometimes used as an indicator of quality of care, we examined the association of neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) and trajectories of HRQoL after hospitalization for acute coronary syndromes (ACS). METHODS: We studied 1481 patients hospitalized with acute coronary syndromes in Massachusetts and Georgia querying HRQoL via the mental and physical components of the 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) (MCS and PCS) and the physical limitations and angina-related HRQoL subscales of the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) during hospitalization and at 1-, 3-, and 6-month postdischarge. We categorized participants by tertiles of the neighborhood deprivation index (a residence-census tract-based measure) to examine the association of NSES with trajectories of HRQoL after adjusting for individual socioeconomic status (SES) and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Participants had mean age 61.3 (SD, 11.4) years; 33% were female; 76%, non-Hispanic white; 11.2% had household income below the federal poverty level. During 6 months postdischarge, living in lower NSES neighborhoods was associated with lower mean PCS scores (1.5 points for intermediate NSES; 1.8 for low) and SAQ scores (2.4 and 4.2 points) versus living in high NSES neighborhoods. NSES was more consequential for patients with lower individual SES. Individuals living below the federal poverty level had lower average MCS and SAQ physical scores (3.7 and 7.7 points, respectively) than those above. CONCLUSIONS: Neighborhood deprivation was associated with worse health status. Using HRQoL to assess quality of care without accounting for individual SES and NSES may unfairly penalize safety-net hospitals.

Maternal Age at Childbirth and Parity as Predictors of Longevity Among Women in the United States: The Women's Health Initiative.

OBJECTIVES: To examine associations of maternal age at childbirth and parity with survival to age 90 years (longevity). METHODS: We performed a prospective study among a multiethnic cohort of postmenopausal US women in the Women's Health Initiative recruited from 1993 to 1998 and followed through August 29, 2014. We adjusted associations with longevity for demographic, lifestyle, reproductive, and health-related characteristics. RESULTS: Among 20 248 women (mean age at baseline, 74.6 years), 10 909 (54%) survived to age 90 years. The odds of longevity were significantly higher in women with later age at first childbirth (adjusted odds ratio = 1.11; 95% confidence interval = 1.02, 1.21 for age 25 years or older vs younger than 25 years; P for trend = .04). Among parous women, the relationship between parity and longevity was significant among White but not Black women. White women with 2 to 4 term pregnancies compared with 1 term pregnancy had higher odds of longevity. CONCLUSIONS: Reproductive events were associated with longevity among women. Future studies are needed to determine whether factors such as socioeconomic status explain associations between reproductive events and longevity.

Exploring the need for interventions to manage weight and stress during interconception.

Interventions to manage weight and stress during the interconception period (i.e., time immediately following childbirth to subsequent pregnancy) are needed to promote optimal maternal and infant health outcomes. To address this gap, we summarize the current state of knowledge, critically evaluate the research focused on weight and stress management during the interconception period, and provide future recommendations for research in this area. Evidence supports the importance of weight and stress management during the reproductive years and the impact of weight on maternal and child health outcomes. However, evidence-based treatment models that address postpartum weight loss and manage maternal stress during the interconception period are lacking. This problem is further compounded by inconsistent definitions and measurements of stress. Recommendations for future research include interventions that address weight and stress tailored for women in the interconception period, interventions that address healthcare providers' understanding of the significance of weight and stress management during interconception, and long-term follow-up studies that focus on the public health implications of weight and stress management during interconception. Addressing obesity and stress during the interconception period via a reproductive lens will be a starting point for women and their families to live long and healthy lives.