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1.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev ; 33(5): 646-653, 2024 May 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38451180

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently issued an updated draft recommendation statement to initiate breast cancer screening at age 40, reflecting well-documented disparities in breast cancer-related mortality that disproportionately impact younger Black women. This study applied a novel approach to identify hotspots of breast cancer diagnosed before age 50 and/or at an advanced stage to improve breast cancer detection within these communities. METHODS: Cancer registry data for 3,497 women with invasive breast cancer diagnosed or treated between 2012 and 2020 at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center and Research Institute (HFGCCRI) and who resided in the HFGCCRI catchment area, defined as New Castle County, Delaware, were geocoded and analyzed with spatial intensity. Standardized incidence ratios stratified by age and race were calculated for each hotspot. RESULTS: Four hotspots were identified, two for breast cancer diagnosed before age 50, one for advanced breast cancer, and one for advanced breast cancer diagnosed before age 50. Younger Black women were overrepresented in these hotspots relative to the full-catchment area. CONCLUSIONS: The novel use of spatial methods to analyze a community cancer center catchment area identified geographic areas with higher rates of breast cancer with poor prognostic factors and evidence that these areas made an outsized contribution to racial disparities in breast cancer. IMPACT: Identifying and prioritizing hotspot breast cancer communities for community outreach and engagement activities designed to improve breast cancer detection have the potential to reduce the overall burden of breast cancer and narrow racial disparities in breast cancer.


Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms , Humans , Female , Breast Neoplasms/epidemiology , Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis , Middle Aged , Adult , Aged , Registries/statistics & numerical data , Catchment Area, Health/statistics & numerical data , Age Factors , Early Detection of Cancer/statistics & numerical data , Early Detection of Cancer/methods , Cancer Care Facilities/statistics & numerical data , Incidence , Neoplasm Staging , Delaware/epidemiology , Black or African American/statistics & numerical data
2.
Am J Trop Med Hyg ; 110(5): 925-929, 2024 May 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38531096

ABSTRACT

In July and October 2023, two live triatomine bugs were found inside a home in New Castle County, Delaware. The bugs were identified as Triatoma sanguisuga, the most widespread triatomine bug species in the United States. Triatoma sanguisuga is a competent vector of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. The two specimens were tested via real-time PCR (qPCR) for infection with T. cruzi, and one of the specimens was positive. Despite T. sanguisuga being endemic to the area, attainment of accurate species identification and T. cruzi testing of the bugs required multiple calls to federal, state, private, and academic institutions over several months. This constitutes the first report of T. sanguisuga infected with T. cruzi in Delaware. In addition, this is the first published report of T. sanguisuga in New Castle County, the northernmost and most densely populated county in Delaware. New Castle County still conforms to the described geographic range of T. sanguisuga, which spans from Texas to the East Coast of the United States. The T. cruzi infection prevalence of the species has not been studied in the northeastern United States, but collections in southern states have found prevalences as high as 60%. The Delaware homeowner's lengthy pursuit of accurate information about the vector highlights the need for more research on this important disease vector in Delaware.


Subject(s)
Chagas Disease , Insect Vectors , Triatoma , Trypanosoma cruzi , Animals , Triatoma/parasitology , Chagas Disease/epidemiology , Chagas Disease/transmission , Delaware/epidemiology , Trypanosoma cruzi/isolation & purification , Trypanosoma cruzi/genetics , Insect Vectors/parasitology , Humans
3.
J Public Health Manag Pract ; 30(3): E112-E123, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38320288

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Addressing health equity requires attention to upstream determinants of health, including environmental and social factors that act in tandem to increase communities' exposure to and vulnerability to toxicants. Cumulative risk assessment, which evaluates combined risks from environmental and social factors, is a useful approach for estimating potential drivers of health disparities. We developed a cumulative risk score of multiple indices of environmental and social conditions and assessed block group-level differences in New Castle County, Delaware. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used choropleth maps to visualize the distribution of environmental, social, and cumulative risks and Moran's I statistics to assess spatial clustering of cumulative risk across the county and among individual block groups. RESULTS: Findings indicate that environmental risk rarely occurs without social risk and that environmental and social risks co-occur in distinct areas, resulting in large-scale clustering of cumulative risk. Areas of higher cumulative risk had more Black residents and people of lower socioeconomic status. CONCLUSIONS: Replicable measures of cumulative risk can show how environmental and social risks are inequitably distributed by race and socioeconomic status, as seen here in New Castle County. Such measures can support upstream approaches to reduce health disparities resulting from histories of environmental racism.


Subject(s)
Environmental Exposure , Health Equity , Humans , Delaware/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Risk Factors
4.
Am J Hypertens ; 37(2): 143-149, 2024 Jan 16.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37815306

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Higher neighborhood deprivation is associated with hypertension diagnosis in youth. In this study, we assess if there is an association between neighborhood deprivation and antihypertensive therapy prescription among insured youth with a primary hypertension diagnosis. METHODS: Using a retrospective cross-sectional design, we assessed the proportion of youth with a diagnosis of primary hypertension prescribed antihypertensive therapy. We evaluated the proportion of youth prescribed antihypertensive therapy and compared prescribing patterns by area deprivation index (ADI), age, sex, obesity diagnosis, race, ethnicity, and duration of Medicaid coverage. RESULTS: Of the 65,452 non-pregnant Delaware Medicaid recipients, 8-18 years of age, 1,145 (1.7%) had an International classification of diseases (ICD)-9/ICD-10 diagnosis of primary hypertension; 165 of the 1,145 (14%) were prescribed antihypertensive therapy. Factors associated with a greater odds of prescription by multivariable logistic regression were age, obesity diagnosis, and duration of Medicaid full benefit coverage. Odds of antihypertensive therapy prescription did not vary by race, ethnicity, or ADI. CONCLUSIONS: Antihypertensive therapy prescription rates are poor despite national guideline recommendations. Among youth receiving Delaware Medicaid between 2014 and 2019, prescription proportions were highest among youth of older age, with an obesity diagnosis, and among youth with longer duration of Medicaid benefit coverage. Although high area deprivation has been shown to be associated with the diagnosis of hypertension, high vs. low area deprivation was not associated with greater antihypertensive therapy prescription among youth with primary hypertension. Our finding of a mismatch between hypertension diagnosis and antihypertensive therapy prescription highlights a potential disparity in antihypertensive therapy prescription in youth.


Subject(s)
Antihypertensive Agents , Hypertension , United States/epidemiology , Adolescent , Humans , Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use , Medicaid , Retrospective Studies , Cross-Sectional Studies , Delaware/epidemiology , Hypertension/diagnosis , Hypertension/drug therapy , Hypertension/epidemiology , Prescriptions , Obesity/drug therapy , Essential Hypertension/drug therapy
5.
JAMA Netw Open ; 6(3): e233012, 2023 03 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36920393

ABSTRACT

Importance: The association between degree of neighborhood deprivation and primary hypertension diagnosis in youth remains understudied. Objective: To assess the association between neighborhood measures of deprivation and primary hypertension diagnosis in youth. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study included 65 452 Delaware Medicaid-insured youths aged 8 to 18 years between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2019. Residence was geocoded by national area deprivation index (ADI). Exposures: Higher area deprivation. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was primary hypertension diagnosis based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision and Tenth Revision codes. Data were analyzed between September 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022. Results: A total of 65 452 youths were included in the analysis, including 64 307 (98.3%) without a hypertension diagnosis (30 491 [47%] female and 33 813 [53%] male; mean [SD] age, 12.5 (3.1) years; 12 500 [19%] Hispanic, 25 473 [40%] non-Hispanic Black, 24 565 [38%] non-Hispanic White, and 1769 [3%] other race or ethnicity; 13 029 [20%] with obesity; and 31 548 [49%] with an ADI ≥50) and 1145 (1.7%) with a diagnosis of primary hypertension (mean [SD] age, 13.3 [2.8] years; 464 [41%] female and 681 [59%] male; 271 [24%] Hispanic, 460 [40%] non-Hispanic Black, 396 [35%] non-Hispanic White, and 18 [2%] of other race or ethnicity; 705 [62%] with obesity; and 614 [54%] with an ADI ≥50). The mean (SD) duration of full Medicaid benefit coverage was 61 (16) months for those with a diagnosis of primary hypertension and 46.0 (24.3) months for those without. By multivariable logistic regression, residence within communities with ADI greater than or equal to 50 was associated with 60% greater odds of a hypertension diagnosis (odds ratio [OR], 1.61; 95% CI 1.04-2.51). Older age (OR per year, 1.16; 95%, CI, 1.14-1.18), an obesity diagnosis (OR, 5.16; 95% CI, 4.54-5.85), and longer duration of full Medicaid benefit coverage (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.03-1.04) were associated with greater odds of primary hypertension diagnosis, whereas female sex was associated with lower odds (OR, 0.68; 95%, 0.61-0.77). Model fit including a Medicaid-by-ADI interaction term was significant for the interaction and revealed slightly greater odds of hypertension diagnosis for youths with ADI less than 50 (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.03-1.04) vs ADI ≥50 (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.02-1.03). Race and ethnicity were not associated with primary hypertension diagnosis. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cross-sectional study, higher childhood neighborhood ADI, obesity, age, sex, and duration of Medicaid benefit coverage were associated with a primary hypertension diagnosis in youth. Screening algorithms and national guidelines may consider the importance of ADI when assessing for the presence and prevalence of primary hypertension in youth.


Subject(s)
Hypertension , Medicaid , United States/epidemiology , Humans , Male , Adolescent , Female , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , Delaware/epidemiology , Obesity , Hypertension/diagnosis , Hypertension/epidemiology , Essential Hypertension
6.
Nutrients ; 15(3)2023 Jan 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36771226

ABSTRACT

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participants faced unprecedented challenges during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic including financial concerns, a national infant formula shortage, and rising food costs. To mitigate these challenges, the United States Department of Agriculture implemented WIC program waivers and flexibilities aiming to simplify program operations (e.g., remote appointments and food package substitutions). However, little is known about WIC participants' perceptions of these changes and their impact on in-store benefit redemption. As such, this study aimed to characterize how pandemic-related events impacted Delaware WIC participants' shopping experiences and program perceptions. The authors conducted semi-structured interviews with 51 WIC participants in Wilmington, Delaware. Survey measures included demographic questions, the Hunger Vital Sign, and open-ended questions regarding WIC program participation experiences during the pandemic. Data were analyzed using a hybrid inductive and deductive coding approach. The results demonstrate that WIC participants benefitted from the pandemic program's flexibilities. However, they continued to experience burdensome shopping trips as well as concerns about their ability to feed their families due to infant formula shortages and inflation. These findings indicate the importance of extending existing WIC flexibilities and providing continued support for both participants and WIC-authorized retailors.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Food Assistance , Infant , Child , United States , Humans , Female , Delaware/epidemiology , Pandemics , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/prevention & control , Infant Formula
7.
PLoS One ; 17(1): e0262573, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35045124

ABSTRACT

The use of next generation sequencing is critical for the surveillance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2, transmission, as single base mutations have been identified with differences in infectivity. A total of 1,459 high quality samples were collected, sequenced, and analyzed in the state of Delaware, a location that offers a unique perspective on transmission given its proximity to large international airports on the east coast. Pangolin and Nextclade were used to classify these sequences into 16 unique clades and 88 lineages. A total of 411 samples belonging to the Alpha 20I/501Y.V1 (B.1.1.7) strain of concern were identified, as well as one sample belonging to Beta 20H/501.V2 (B.1.351), thirteen belonging to Epsilon 20C/S:452R (B.1.427/B.1.429), two belonging to Delta 20A/S:478K (B.1.617.2), and 15 belonging to Gamma 20J/501Y.V3 (p.1). A total of 2217 unique coding mutations were observed with an average of 17.7 coding mutations per genome. These data paired with continued sample collection and sequencing will give a deeper understanding of the spread of SARS-CoV-2 strains within Delaware and its surrounding areas.


Subject(s)
COVID-19/pathology , Genome, Viral , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/virology , Delaware/epidemiology , Genetic Linkage , High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing , Humans , Phylogeny , RNA, Viral/chemistry , RNA, Viral/metabolism , SARS-CoV-2/classification , SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purification
8.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev ; 31(1): 108-116, 2022 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34737210

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The NCI requires designated cancer centers to conduct catchment area assessments to guide cancer control and prevention efforts designed to reduce the local cancer burden. We extended and adapted this approach to a community cancer center catchment area with elevated rates of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). METHODS: Cancer registry data for 462 TNBC and 2,987 "Not-TNBC" cases diagnosed between 2012 and 2020 at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute (HFGCCRI), located in New Castle County, Delaware, were geocoded to detect areas of elevated risk (hot spots) and decreased risk (cold spots). Next, electronic health record (EHR) data on obesity and alcohol use disorder (AUD) and catchment area measures of fast-food and alcohol retailers were used to assess for spatial relationships between TNBC hot spots and potentially modifiable risk factors. RESULTS: Two hot and two cold spots were identified for TNBC within the catchment area. The hot spots accounted for 11% of the catchment area but nearly a third of all TNBC cases. Higher rates of unhealthy alcohol use and obesity were observed within the hot spots. CONCLUSIONS: The use of spatial methods to analyze cancer registry and other secondary data sources can inform cancer control and prevention efforts within community cancer center catchment areas, where limited resources can preclude the collection of new primary data. IMPACT: Targeting community outreach and engagement activities to TNBC hot spots offers the potential to reduce the population-level burden of cancer efficiently and equitably.


Subject(s)
Alcohol Drinking/epidemiology , Catchment Area, Health , Obesity/epidemiology , Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms/epidemiology , Aged , Delaware/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Population Health , Registries , Risk Factors
9.
JAMA Netw Open ; 4(12): e2137189, 2021 12 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34902039

ABSTRACT

Importance: COVID-19 posed an unprecedented threat to residential colleges in the fall of 2020. While there were mathematical models of COVID-19 transmission, there were no established or tested protocols of COVID-19 testing or mitigation for school administrators to follow. Objective: To investigate the association of a multifaceted COVID-19 mitigation strategy using social, behavioral, and educational interventions and a program of frequent testing with prevalence of disease spread. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study was conducted as a retrospective review of COVID-19 positivity from August 16, 2020, to April 30, 2021, at Delaware State University, a publicly funded historically Black university. Participants included all students, faculty, and staff members with a campus presence. Positivity rates after use of mitigation strategies and testing on campus were compared with those of the surrounding community. Data were analyzed from July through September 2021. Exposures: Mitigation strategies included education and outreach about social distancing, masking, and handwashing, and a COVID-19 testing plan consisted of twice-weekly polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening using anterior nasal samples (fall and early spring semester) and then saliva-based samples (middle to late spring semester). Main Outcomes and Measures: Cumulative tests, infections, daily quarantine, and isolation residence hall occupancy were measured, and comparisons were made with statewide COVID-19 positivity rates. Results: The campus cohort included 2320 individuals (1575 resident students, 415 nonresident students, and 330 faculty or staff members). There were 1488 (64.1%) women and 832 (35.9%) men; mean (SD) age was 27.5 (12.9) years. During the fall semester, 36 500 COVID-19 PCR tests were performed. Weekly positivity rates ranged from 0 of 372 tests to 16 of 869 tests (1.8%) (mean [SD] positivity rate, 0.5% [0.5%]; 168 positive results and 36 312 negative results). During the same period, statewide positivity ranged from 589 of 25 120 tests (2.3%) to 5405 of 54 596 tests (9.9%) (mean [SD] positivity rate, 4.8% [2.6%]). In the spring semester, 39 045 PCR tests were performed. Weekly positivity rates ranged from 4 of 2028 tests (0.2%) to 36 of 900 tests (4.0%) (mean [SD] positivity rate, 0.8% [0.9%]; 267 positive results and 38 767 negative results). During the same period, statewide positivity ranged from 1336 of 37 254 tests (3.6%) to 3630 of 42 458 tests (8.5%) (mean [SD] positivity rate, 5.1% [1.3%]). Compared with statewide rates, campus positivity rates were mean (SD) 4.4 (2.6) percentage points lower during the fall semester (P < .001) and mean (SD) 5.6 (1.6) percentage points lower during the spring semester (P < .001). Total daily quarantine and isolation residence hall occupancy ranged from 0 to 43 students in the fall and 1 to 47 students during the spring. Conclusions and Relevance: This study found that the combination of campuswide mitigation policies and twice-weekly COVID-19 PCR screening was associated with a significant decrease in COVID-19 positivity at a residential historically Black university campus compared with the surrounding community. Given the socioeconomic demographics of many students at historically Black colleges and universities, keeping these resident campuses open is critical not only to ensure access to educational resources, but also to provide housing and food security.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 Testing , COVID-19/prevention & control , Communicable Disease Control/methods , Health Education , Mass Screening/methods , Students , Universities , Adolescent , Adult , Black People , COVID-19/diagnosis , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/transmission , Delaware/epidemiology , Female , Housing , Humans , Male , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Prevalence , Residence Characteristics , Retrospective Studies , SARS-CoV-2 , Young Adult
13.
J Public Health Policy ; 42(1): 167-175, 2021 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32989234

ABSTRACT

The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic of 2019-2020 generated an equally unprecedented response from government institutions to control contagion. These legal responses included shelter in place orders, closure of non-essential businesses, limiting public gatherings, and mandatory mask wearing, among others. The State of Delaware in the United States experienced an outbreak later than most states but a particularly intense one that required a rapid and effective public health response. We describe the ways that Delaware responded through the interplay of public health, law, and government action, contrasting the state to others. We discuss how evolution of this state's public heath legal response to the pandemic can inform future disease outbreak policies.


Subject(s)
COVID-19/epidemiology , Communicable Disease Control/legislation & jurisprudence , Emergencies , Public Health/legislation & jurisprudence , State Government , Delaware/epidemiology , Humans , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2
14.
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep ; 69(45): 1691-1694, 2020 Nov 13.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33180757

ABSTRACT

Mitigation measures, including stay-at-home orders and public mask wearing, together with routine public health interventions such as case investigation with contact tracing and immediate self-quarantine after exposure, are recommended to prevent and control the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (1-3). On March 11, the first COVID-19 case in Delaware was reported to the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH). The state responded to ongoing community transmission with investigation of all identified cases (commencing March 11), issuance of statewide stay-at-home orders (March 24-June 1), a statewide public mask mandate (from April 28), and contact tracing (starting May 12). The relationship among implementation of mitigation strategies, case investigations, and contact tracing and COVID-19 incidence and associated hospitalization and mortality was examined during March-June 2020. Incidence declined by 82%, hospitalization by 88%, and mortality by 100% from late April to June 2020, as the mask mandate and contact tracing were added to case investigations and the stay-at-home order. Among 9,762 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases reported during March 11-June 25, 2020, two thirds (6,527; 67%) of patients were interviewed, and 5,823 (60%) reported completing isolation. Among 2,834 contacts reported, 882 (31%) were interviewed and among these contacts, 721 (82%) reported completing quarantine. Implementation of mitigation measures, including mandated mask use coupled with public health interventions, was followed by reductions in COVID-19 incidence and associated hospitalizations and mortality. The combination of state-mandated community mitigation efforts and routine public health interventions can reduce the occurrence of new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.


Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections/prevention & control , Pandemics/prevention & control , Pneumonia, Viral/prevention & control , Public Health/legislation & jurisprudence , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , COVID-19 , Contact Tracing , Coronavirus Infections/mortality , Coronavirus Infections/therapy , Coronavirus Infections/transmission , Delaware/epidemiology , Female , Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Male , Masks/statistics & numerical data , Middle Aged , Pneumonia, Viral/mortality , Pneumonia, Viral/therapy , Pneumonia, Viral/transmission , Quarantine/legislation & jurisprudence , Young Adult
15.
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep ; 69(43): 1571-1575, 2020 Oct 30.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33119560

ABSTRACT

Elections occurring during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have been affected by notable changes in the methods of voting, the number and type of polling locations, and in-person voting procedures (1). To mitigate transmission of COVID-19 at polling locations, jurisdictions have adopted changes to protocols and procedures, informed by CDC's interim guidance, developed in collaboration with the Election Assistance Commission (2). The driving principle for this guidance is that voting practices with lower infection risk will be those which reduce the number of voters who congregate indoors in polling locations by offering a variety of methods for voting and longer voting periods. The guidance for in-person voting includes considerations for election officials, poll workers, and voters to maintain healthy environments and operations. To assess knowledge and adoption of mitigation strategies, CDC collaborated with the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services and the Delaware State Election Commission on a survey of poll workers who served during the statewide primary election on September 15, 2020. Among 522 eligible poll workers, 93% correctly answered all three survey questions about COVID-19 transmission. Respondents noted that most voters and poll workers wore masks. However, masks were not always worn correctly (i.e., covering both the nose and mouth). Responses suggest that mitigation measures recommended for both poll workers and voters were widely adopted and feasible, but also highlighted gaps in infection prevention control efforts. Strengthening of measures intended to minimize the risk of poll workers acquiring COVID-19 from ill voters, such as additional training and necessary personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as support for alternative voting options for ill voters, are needed. Adherence to mitigation measures is important not only to protect voters but also to protect poll workers, many of whom are older adults, and thus at higher risk for severe COVID-19-associated illness. Enhanced attention to reducing congregation in polling locations, correct mask use, and providing safe voting options for ill voters are critical considerations to minimize risk to voters and poll workers. Evidence from the Delaware election supports the feasibility and acceptability of implementing current CDC guidance for election officials, poll workers, and voters for mitigating COVID-19 transmission at polling locations (2).


Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections/prevention & control , Guideline Adherence/statistics & numerical data , Pandemics/prevention & control , Pneumonia, Viral/prevention & control , Politics , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , COVID-19 , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Coronavirus Infections/transmission , Delaware/epidemiology , Female , Guidelines as Topic , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Pneumonia, Viral/transmission , Surveys and Questionnaires , United States , Young Adult
16.
Milbank Q ; 98(3): 641-663, 2020 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32869916

ABSTRACT

Policy Points Well-being In the Nation (WIN) offers the first parsimonious set of vetted common measures to improve population health and social determinants across sectors at local, state, and national levels and is driven by what communities need to improve health, well-being, and equity. The WIN measures were codesigned with more than 100 communities, federal agencies, and national organizations across sectors, in alignment with the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics, the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act, and Healthy People 2030. WIN offers a process for a collaborative learning measurement system to drive a learning health and well-being system across sectors at the community, state, and national levels. The WIN development process identified critical gaps and opportunities in equitable community-level data infrastructure, interoperability, and protections that could be used to inform the Federal Data Strategy.


Subject(s)
Population Health , Social Determinants of Health , COVID-19 , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Coronavirus Infections/prevention & control , Delaware/epidemiology , Delphi Technique , Health Equity/standards , Health Equity/statistics & numerical data , Health Policy , Health Status , Humans , Intersectoral Collaboration , Libraries , Pandemics/prevention & control , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Pneumonia, Viral/prevention & control , Population Health/statistics & numerical data
18.
J Stud Alcohol Drugs ; 81(1): 68-73, 2020 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32048603

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Drug overdoses among men have historically outnumbered those among women by a large margin. Yet, U.S. research on the first wave of the opioid epidemic involving prescription opioids has found women to be at increased risk. The current study considers if the narrowing gender gap in overdose deaths, as observed during the first wave, has continued into the most recent third wave, dominated by synthetic opioid deaths. This requires consideration of interactions between gender, age, and type of drug implicated. METHOD: Drawing on 2013-2017 Delaware toxicology reports for a total of 890 overdose deaths involving opioids, we distinguished between four gender/age groups--women 15-44, women 45-64, men 15-44, and men 45-64--to calculate crude death rates, male-to-female death rate ratios, and younger-to-older death rate ratios by type of opioid. RESULTS: Opioid overdose death rates during the third wave increased among both men (+102%) and women (+46%), but the larger increase among men resulted in an increase in the male-to-female death rate ratio (from 1.9 to 2.6). This trend was driven by the growing contribution of fentanyl (from 16% to 76%) and heroin overdose deaths (from 27% to 50%) compared with other opioid overdose deaths, which disproportionately affected men and younger individuals. Higher male-to-female death rate ratios were observed among older, compared with younger, individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Overdose deaths seem to have returned to a historically familiar pattern of dominance by younger males. Our findings suggest the gender-age distribution in deaths to specific opioid types must be considered for effective intervention.


Subject(s)
Analgesics, Opioid/poisoning , Drug Overdose/mortality , Prescription Drug Misuse/mortality , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Delaware/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Sex Factors , Young Adult
19.
J Orthop Res ; 37(2): 397-402, 2019 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30387528

ABSTRACT

Osteoarthritis (OA) progression in the contralateral limb after unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) may be related to altered and asymmetrical movement patterns that overload the contralateral joints. The purpose of this study was to determine if biomechanical factors after unilateral TKA were associated with future contralateral TKA. One hundred and fifty-eight individuals who underwent unilateral TKA completed three dimensional motion analysis 6-24 months after unilateral TKA (baseline). Subjects were re-contacted for follow-up (mean 5.89 years after baseline testing) to determine if they had undergone a contralateral TKA. Biomechanical variables from gait at baseline were compared between those who did and did not undergo contralateral TKA at follow-up using one-way ANOVAs. Odds ratios were calculated for variables found to be significant in the ANOVA models. Individuals who underwent contralateral TKA had less knee flexion excursion (10.5° vs. 12.1°; p = 0.032) and less knee extension excursion (8.2° vs. 9.6°; p = 0.035) at baseline on the operated side during walking. Individuals who underwent contralateral TKA also had less knee flexion excursion on the contralateral limb at baseline (11.9° vs. 14.0°; p = 0.017). For every additional degree of knee flexion excursion on the contralateral knee at baseline, there was a 9.1% reduction in risk of future contralateral TKA. Individuals who walked with stiffer gait patterns were more likely to undergo future contralateral TKA. Clinical Significance: Altered movement patterns after surgery may increase the risk for contralateral TKA. Knee excursion is an important metric to include in outcome studies and may serve as a target of rehabilitation after TKA. © 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 37:397-402, 2019.


Subject(s)
Gait , Osteoarthritis, Knee/epidemiology , Aged , Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee , Biomechanical Phenomena , Cross-Sectional Studies , Delaware/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Male , Osteoarthritis, Knee/surgery , Risk Factors
20.
Am J Obstet Gynecol ; 219(6): 600.e1-600.e7, 2018 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30278178

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Intrauterine devices can offer both contraceptive and noncontraceptive benefits to never sexually active adolescents. There are increasing data on intrauterine device use in adolescents; however, most data on intrauterine devices in adolescents are related to contraceptive use. There is very limited literature on intrauterine device placement in adolescents who have never been sexually active. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to compare intrauterine device insertion success between never sexually active and sexually active cohorts. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients aged 10-20 years with attempted intrauterine device insertion at a children's hospital between October 2015 and September 2017. RESULTS: A total of 210 patients were included, of whom 82 were never sexually active. Never sexually active adolescents were younger at insertion (15.6 vs 16.7 years, P < .001), more likely to have at least 1 medical problem (75.6% vs 54.7%, P = .046), and to have special needs (23.2% vs 4.7%, P < .001). Never sexually active adolescents were less likely to have intrauterine device insertion performed in the office setting (52.4% vs 94.5%, P < .001). There was no significant difference in success of intrauterine device insertion on the first attempt (90.2% vs 96.1%, P = .086). In a subanalysis of office insertions alone, never sexually active adolescents were more likely to have an unsuccessful intrauterine device insertion (16.3% vs 4.3%, P = .015) and less likely to tolerate the procedure well (81.4% vs 94.2%, P = .026). CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study describing intrauterine device insertion in never sexually active patients. Although office success rates were lower, intrauterine device insertion in never sexually active adolescents was very successful overall, and intrauterine devices should be offered to this population.


Subject(s)
Adolescent Behavior , Intrauterine Devices, Medicated , Sexual Behavior , Adolescent , Adolescent Health Services , Child , Cohort Studies , Delaware/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Medical Records , Postoperative Complications/epidemiology , Retrospective Studies , Vagina , Young Adult
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