Why is health literacy an essential component of health of individuals with chronic kidney disease / Pourquoi la littératie en santé est une composante essentielle de la santé des individus ayant une maladie rénale chronique.

Health literacy (HL) is the ability of individuals to access, understand and use health information to improve their health. It is a multidimensional and contextual concept, whose definition has been enriched over time. Considered both as a health risk factor and a skill to be developed by individuals, HL also depends on the healthcare system in which patients have to navigate, and on healthcare professionals' awareness of this concept. In order to promote shared decision-making and thus individual empowerment in the healthcare, HL should be at the core of the concerns of nephrology care teams.

La littératie en santé (LS) est la capacité d'un individu à accéder à des informations en santé, à les comprendre et à les utiliser pour améliorer son état de santé. Il s'agit d'un concept pluridimensionnel et contextuel dont la définition s'est enrichie au fil du temps. Considérée à la fois comme un facteur de risque pour la santé et une aptitude à développer chez les individus, la LS dépend également du système de santé dans lequel les patients doivent naviguer et de la sensibilisation des professionnels de santé à ce concept. Afin de favoriser la décision partagée et ainsi l'émancipation des individus en matière de santé, la LS devrait être au cœur des préoccupations des équipes de néphrologie.

Changes in the prevalence of perceived discrimination and associations with probable mental health problems in the UK from 2015 to 2020: A repeated cross-sectional analysis of the UK Household Longitudinal Study.

Background: Significant social and political changes occurred in the UK between 2015 and 2020. Few studies have examined population level trends in experiencing discrimination and mental health problems during this period. Aims: To determine prevalence trends in perceived discrimination and probable mental health problems amongst UK adults during 2015-2020. Method: Repeated cross-sectional data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study was used to estimate nationally representative trends in perceived discrimination and probable mental health problems (GHQ-12; 4+ threshold) among adults between 2015/2016-2019/2020 (25,756 observations). Weighted logistic regression models with post-estimation margins commands determined changes between survey waves controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Mediation models explored whether changes in perceived discrimination prevalence trends explained trends in probable mental health problems. Results: From 2015/2016 to 2019/2020 perceived discrimination and probable mental health problems increased significantly by 6·1% (95% CI: 3·4-8·8, p <·001) and 4·5% (95% CI: 1·3-7·7, p = ·006), respectively. These changes did not tend to reliably differ by sociodemographic grouping. Increased prevalence of probable mental health problems from 2015/2016 to 2019/2020 was partially explained (15·2% of association mediated) by the increase in perceived discrimination observed during the same time period. Conclusions: Amongst UK adults, the prevalence of perceived discrimination and probable mental health problems increased between 2015/2016 to 2019/2020. Increases in perceived discrimination partially explained increases in probable mental health problems. National measures designed to reduce both discrimination and mental health problems have potential to make substantial improvements to public health and should be prioritised in the UK.

Forecasting Inequalities in Survival to Retirement Age by Socioeconomic Status in Denmark and Sweden.

In Denmark and Sweden, statutory retirement age is indexed to life expectancy to account for mortality improvements in their populations. However, mortality improvements have not been uniform across different sub-populations. Notably, in both countries, individuals of lower socioeconomic status (SES) have experienced slower mortality improvements. As a result, a uniform rise in the statutory retirement age could disproportionally affect these low-SES groups and may unintentionally lead to a reverse redistribution effect, shifting benefits from short-lived low-SES individuals to long-lived high-SES individuals. The aim of this study is twofold: to quantify and contextualise mortality inequalities by SES in Denmark and Sweden, and to assess how indexing retirement age will affect future survival to retirement age by SES in these countries. We used Danish and Swedish registry data (1988-2019), to aggregate individuals aged 50 + based on their demographic characteristics and SES. We computed period life tables by year, sex, and SES to estimate the difference in survival across different SES groups. We then forecast mortality across SES groups to assess how indexing retirement age will affect survival inequalities to retirement age, using two forecasting models-the Mode model and the Li-Lee model. Mortality inequalities are comparable in Denmark and Sweden, even though the latter generally has higher survival. We also find that indexing retirement age to life expectancy will have two main consequences: it will reduce the probability of reaching retirement for all SES groups, particularly those of low SES, and time spent in retirement will be reduced, particularly for those of high SES.

Determining the most appropriate socioeconomic status indicator for describing inequalities in dental visits by Japanese older people.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the association between various socioeconomic status (SES) indicators and dental visits among older Japanese. BACKGROUND: When examining health inequalities, an adequate indicator of SES should be applied. In older adults, wealth and pensions are considered more appropriate indicators of SES than education and income, but few studies have examined. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from 12 391 individuals aged 65 years or older from the 2016 Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES). The Slope Index of Inequality (SII) and the Relative Index of Inequality (RII) were applied to examine the association of education, income, wealth and pensions with dental visits for treatment and check-up adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 74.0 ± 6.2 years. In the previous year, 56.3% of participants had visited a dentist for a check-up, and 65.9% had visited for treatment. Inequalities in dental treatment visits were observed for wealth, pensions and income rather than education. Income was not significantly associated with check-up visits. Wealth showed the largest association with dental visits for treatment [(SII 0.09, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.13), (RII 1.14, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.21)] and check-up [(SII 0.08, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.12), (RII 1.16, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.23)]. CONCLUSION: When measuring inequalities in access to dental care among the older population, wealth and pensions could be important indicators of SES.

Longitudinal study of changes in greenness exposure, physical activity and sedentary behavior in the ORISCAV-LUX cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Greenness exposure has been associated with many health benefits, for example through the pathway of providing opportunities for physical activity (PA). Beside the limited body of longitudinal research, most studies overlook to what extent different types of greenness exposures may be associated with varying levels of PA and sedentary behavior (SB). In this study, we investigated associations of greenness characterized by density, diversity and vegetation type with self-reported PA and SB over a 9-year period, using data from the ORISCAV-LUX study (2007-2017, n = 628). METHODS: The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form was used to collect PA and SB outcomes. PA was expressed as MET-minutes/week and log-transformed, and SB was expressed as sitting time in minutes/day. Geographic Information Systems (ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap) were used to collect the following exposure variables: Tree Cover Density (TCD), Soil-adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), and Green Land Use Mix (GLUM). The exposure variables were derived from publicly available sources using remote sensing and cartographic resources. Greenness exposure was calculated within 1000m street network buffers around participants' exact residential address. RESULTS: Using Random Effects Within-Between (REWB) models, we found evidence of negative within-individual associations of TCD with PA (ß = - 2.60, 95% CI - 4.75; - 0.44), and negative between-individual associations of GLUM and PA (ß = - 2.02, 95% CI - 3.73; - 0.32). There was no evidence for significant associations between greenness exposure and SB. Significant interaction effects by sex were present for the associations between TCD and both PA and SB. Neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) did not modify the effect of greenness exposure on PA and SB in the 1000 m buffer. DISCUSSION: Our results showed that the relationship between greenness exposure and PA depended on the type of greenness measure used, which stresses the need for the use of more diverse and complementary greenness measures in future research. Tree vegetation and greenness diversity, and changes therein, appeared to relate to PA, with distinct effects among men and women. Replication studies are needed to confirm the relevance of using different greenness measures to understand its' different associations with PA and SB.

Role of dietary intake and physical activity in reducing weight social inequalities among adolescents: an application of G-formula to PRALIMAP-INÈS trial.

Interventions aiming to reduce social inequalities of weight status in adolescents usually focus on lifestyle behaviours, but their effectiveness is limited. This study analysed the effect of achieving levels of dietary intake (DI) and/or physical activity (PA) guidelines on reducing social inequalities in weight status among adolescents. We included adolescents from the PRomotion de l'ALIMentation et de l'Activité Physique - INÉgalité de Santé (PRALIMAP-INÈS) trial with weight status data available at baseline and 1-year follow-up (n=1130). PA and DI were measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and a validated food frequency questionnaire, respectively. We estimated the likelihood of a 1-year reduction in body mass index z-score (BMIz) and population risk difference (PRD) under hypothetical DI and PA levels and socioeconomic status using the parametric G-formula. When advantaged and less advantaged adolescents maintained their baseline DI and PA, we found social inequalities in weight status, with a PRD of a 1-year reduction in BMIz of -1.6% (-3.0%; -0.5%). These inequalities were not observed when less advantaged adolescents increased their proportion of achieving DI guidelines by 30% (PRD=2.2% [-0.5%; 5.0%]) unlike the same increase in PA (PRD= -3.9% [-6.8%; -1.3%]). Finally, social inequalities of weight status were not observed when levels of achievement of both PA and DI guidelines increased by 30% (PRD= 2.2% [-0.5%; 4.0%]). Enhancing DI rather than PA could be effective in reducing social inequalities in weight status among adolescents. Future interventions aiming to reduce these inequalities should mostly target DI to be effective.

One generation apart: Individual income and life expectancy in two Swedish cohorts born before and after the expansion of the welfare state.

AIMS: Social inequalities in mortality persist or even increase in high-income countries. Most evidence is based on a period approach to measuring mortality - that is, data from individuals born decades apart. A cohort approach, however, provides complementary insights using data from individuals who grow up and age under similar social and institutional arrangements. This study compares income inequalities in cohort life expectancy in two Swedish cohorts, one born before and one born after the expansion of the welfare state. METHODS: Data on individuals born in Sweden in 1922-1926 and 1951-1955 were obtained from total population registries. These data were linked to individual disposable income from 1970 and 1999 and mortality between 50 and 61 years of age in 1972-1987 and 2001-2016, respectively. We calculated cohort temporary life expectancies in the two cohorts by income and gender. RESULTS: Life expectancy, income, and income inequalities in life expectancy increased between the two cohorts, for both men and women. Women born in 1922-1926 had modest income differences in life expectancy, but pronounced differences emerged in the cohort born in 1951-1955. Men with low incomes born in 1951-1955 had roughly similar life expectancy as those with low incomes born in 1922-1926. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with a period approach to life expectancy trends, the cohort approach highlights the stagnation of mortality at the lowest income groups for men and the rapid emergence of a mortality gradient for women. Future research on health inequalities in welfare states should consider underlying factors both from a cohort and period perspective.

Social Inequalities in Child Development: Analysis of Low-Birth-Weight Trends in Brazil, 2010-2020.

INTRODUCTION: Low birth weight (LBW) is a global issue prevalent in low-income countries. Economic assessments of interventions to reduce this burden are crucial to guide health policies. However, there is a relative scarcity of research that illustrates the magnitude of LBW by country and region to support the design of public policies. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the temporal trend of fetal growth in newborns in Brazil between 2010 and 2020. METHODS: A time series study was conducted using data from the Live Births Information System (SINASC), which is managed by the Department of Information and Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS) of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. The Prais-Winsten linear model was applied to analyze the annual proportions of LBW. The annual percentage changes (APC) and their respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated. Prevalence rate averages of LBW were calculated and displayed on thematic maps to visualize the evolution dynamics in each Federation Unit (FU). RESULTS: A total of 31,887,329 women from all Federative Units of Brazil were included in the study from 2010 to 2020. The Southeast region had the largest proportion of participants, with records from 2015 accounting for 9.5% of the total. Among the women in the study, 49.6% were between the ages of 20 and 29, and the majority (75.5%) had between 8 and 12 years of schooling. The newborns of these women were predominantly male (58.8%) and non-white (59.5%). The study found that there was a trend towards stabilization of increasing proportions of LBW in the North, Northeast, and Centre-West regions between 2010 and 2020. In Brazil and other regions, these tendencies remained stable. CONCLUSION: To improve living conditions and reduce social inequalities and health inequities, public policies and actions are necessary. Strengthening the Unified Health System (SUS), income transfer programs, quota policies for vulnerable groups, and gender equality measures such as improving access to education for women and the labor sector are among the suggested approaches.

Adolescents' views on oral health care and promotion in Norway: everyday practices, recommendations, and future visions.

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to understand adolescents' perspectives on oral health care and promotion. Our research was conducted in the context of Norway's oral health care system, where societal factors like income and education influence health disparities. Despite free public dental care for all residents younger than 19 years, challenges persist in promoting oral health among adolescents, a group whose oral health behavior and literacy remain largely unexplored. Materials and methods: A thematic analysis of an anonymized dataset from 80 adolescents aged 12-20 years was conducted. Results: Five central themes were recognized: (1) Feeling fresh vs. feeling indifferent: A broad spectrum of attitudes; (2) Bridging gaps, building habits: Collaborative efforts in oral care; (3) "Create good experiences at the dentist so people come back again"; (4) Requested qualities in oral health promoting solutions; (5) Reminder tools for everyday use. Taken together, these themes highlight adolescents' oral health practices and resources, recommendations for dental clinics, and visions for future oral health promotion. Discussion: Based on the results, the discussion highlights a need for tailored oral health promotion and ideas to reach adolescents in meaningful and effective ways. Reflections on the theme of social inequalities are provided.

Social Inequities in the Survival of Liver Cancer: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Korea, 2007-2017.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the effects of socioeconomic status (type of insurance and income level) and cancer stage on the survival of patients with liver cancer in Korea. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was constructed using data from the Healthcare Big Data Platform project in Korea between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2017. A total of 143,511 patients in Korea diagnosed with liver cancer (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision [ICD-10] codes C22, C220, and C221) were followed for an average of 11 years. Of these, 110,443 died. The patient's insurance type and income level were used as indicators of socioeconomic status. Unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a Cox proportional hazards regression model to analyze the relationship between the effects of sex, age, and cancer stage at first diagnosis (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and the End Results; SEER), type of insurance, and income level on the survival of patients with liver cancer. The interactive effects of the type of insurance, income level, and cancer stage on liver cancer death were also analyzed. RESULTS: The lowest income group (medical aid) showed a higher risk for mortality (HR (95% CI); 1.37 (1.27-1.47) for all patients, 1.44 (1.32-1.57) for men, and 1.16 (1.01-1.34) for women) compared to the highest income group (1-6) among liver cancer (ICD-10 code C22) patients. The risk of liver cancer death was also higher in the lowest income group with a distant cancer stage (SEER = 7) diagnosis than for any other group. CONCLUSION: Liver cancer patients with lower socioeconomic status and more severe cancer stages were at greater risk of death. Reducing social inequalities is needed to improve mortality rates among patients in lower social class groups who present with advanced cancer.

Why is health literacy an essential component of health of individuals with chronic kidney disease / Pourquoi la littératie en santé est une composante essentielle de la santé des individus ayant une maladie rénale chronique.

Health literacy (HL) is the ability of individuals to access, understand and use health information to improve their health. It is a multidimensional and contextual concept, whose definition has been enriched over time. Considered both as a health risk factor and a skill to be developed by individuals, HL also depends on the healthcare system in which patients have to navigate, and on healthcare professionals' awareness of this concept. In order to promote shared decision-making and thus individual empowerment in the healthcare, HL should be at the core of the concerns of nephrology care teams.

La littératie en santé (LS) est la capacité d'un individu à accéder à des informations en santé, à les comprendre et à les utiliser pour améliorer son état de santé. Il s'agit d'un concept pluridimensionnel et contextuel dont la définition s'est enrichie au fil du temps. Considérée à la fois comme un facteur de risque pour la santé et une aptitude à développer chez les individus, la LS dépend également du système de santé dans lequel les patients doivent naviguer et de la sensibilisation des professionnels de santé à ce concept. Afin de favoriser la décision partagée et ainsi l'émancipation des individus en matière de santé, la LS devrait être au cœur des préoccupations des équipes de néphrologie.

Effectiveness of interventions to reduce social inequalities of weight status in adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Many interventions are implemented in the public health context to overcome social inequalities of weight status in adolescents, but their effectiveness is challenged. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of these interventions with a systematic review and meta-analysis. We systematically searched for reports of randomized control trials and quasi-experimental studies aiming to reduce social inequalities of weight status in adolescents in five electronic databases. The primary outcomes were social inequalities in weight-related outcomes (body mass index [BMI], BMI z score, waist circumference, percent body fat, prevalence of overweight/obesity). Interventions were effective when they reduced social inequalities in at least one weight-related outcome. Meta-analyses involved using random-effects models. The review included 38 publications (33 studies) with interventions mostly targeting disadvantaged adolescents (n = 29 studies), showing effectiveness in half of the studies (n = 19/33, 57.6%). The meta-analysis (27 studies) revealed that targeted interventions significantly reduced BMI z score (ß = -0.04 [95% CI -0.08, -0.01]), BMI (ß = -0.32 [-0.47, -0.18]), and waist circumference (ß = -0.84 [-1.48, -0.21]) but not percent body fat (ß = -0.27 [-0.71, 0.17]) or prevalence of overweight/obesity (odds ratio = 1.06 [0.85, 1.31]). This review shows moderate effectiveness of interventions targeting disadvantaged adolescents to reduce social inequalities of weight status. High-quality research with better implementation to reach their full potential is required to strengthen their effectiveness.

Inequalities in access to information: The case of cancer patients treated at the prefecture of Meknes-Morocco "Qualitative Research in Sociology".

BACKGROUND: If in the past the relationship between caregiver and patient was paternalistic based on the principle of protection, the advent of health democracy has made this relationship evolve to build it on the principles of equality and autonomy for the patient. However, this practice leaves something to be desired, given the forms of inequality in access to information that mark the relationship between caregiver and cancer patient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The objective of this qualitative study is to present a sociological view of the process of shaping inequalities in access to information and its determinants. The study took place in the medical prefecture of Meknes, with a target population consisting of cancer patients treated in public and private health establishments. A qualitative content analysis approach using semi-structured interviews was employed. RESULT: A diversity of attitudes of the cancer patient with regard to the information, depending on whether the patient is strongly or weakly involved by the health professional in his or her illness or in the care he or she receives. In this case: a) active patient better informed; b) passive patient more or less informed; c) patient in denial who refuses to be informed. CONCLUSION: It seems that the issue of inequality of access to information is not a topical one, and yet it is given little consideration in the policies of the Ministry of Health, particularly in the fight against cancer in Morocco.

Equity in the recovery of elective and oncological surgery volumes after the COVID-19 lockdown: a multicentre cohort study in Italy.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has had, and still has, a profound impact on national health systems, altering trajectories of care and exacerbating existing inequalities in health. Postponement of surgeries and cancellation of elective surgical procedures have been reported worldwide. In Italy, the lock-down measures following the COVID-19 pandemic caused cancellations of surgical procedures and important backlogs; little is known about potential social inequalities in the recovery process that occurred during the post-lockdown period. This study aims at evaluating whether all population social strata benefited equally from the surgical volumes' recovery in four large Italian regions. METHODS: This multicentre cohort study covers a population of approximately 11 million people. To assess if social inequalities exist in the recovery of eight indicators of elective and oncological surgery, we estimated Risk Ratios (RR) through Poisson models, comparing the incidence proportions of events recorded during COVID-19 (2020-21) with those in pre-pandemic years (2018-19) for each pandemic period and educational level. RESULTS: Compared to 2018-19, volumes of elective surgery showed a U-shape with the most significant drops during the second wave or the vaccination phase. The recovery was socially unequal. At the end of 2021, incidence proportions among highly educated people generally exceeded the expected ones; RRs were 1.31 (95%CI 1.21-1.42), 1.24 (95%CI 1.17-1.23), 1.17 (95%CI 1.08-1.26) for knee and hip replacement and prostatic surgery, respectively. Among low educated patients, RR remained always < 1. Oncological surgery indicators showed a similar social gradient. Whereas volumes were preserved among the highly educated, the low educated were still lagging behind at the end of 2021. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical procedures generally returned to pre-pandemic levels but the low educated experienced the slowest recovery. An equity-oriented appraisal of trends in healthcare provision should be included in pandemic preparedness plans, to ensure that social inequalities are promptly recognised and tackled.

Healthcare use according to deprivation among French Alzheimer's Disease and Related Diseases subjects: a national cross-sectional descriptive study based on the FRA-DEM cohort.

Introduction: Pluriprofessional and coordinated healthcare use is recommended for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Diseases (ADRD). Despite a protective health system, France is characterized by persistent and significant social inequalities in health. Although social health inequalities are well documented, less is known about social disparities in healthcare use in ADRD, especially in France. Therefore, this study aimed to describe healthcare use according to socioeconomic deprivation among ADRD subjects and the possible potentiating role of deprivation by age. Methods: We studied subjects identified with incident ADRD in 2017 in the French health insurance database (SNDS). We described a large extent of their healthcare use during the year following their ADRD identification. Deprivation was assessed through French deprivation index (Fdep), measured at the municipality level, and categorized into quintiles. We compared healthcare use according to the Fdep quintiles through chi-square tests. We stratified the description of certain healthcare uses by age groups (40-64 years, 65-74 years, 75-84 years, 85 years, and older), number of comorbidities (0, 1, 2-3, 4 comorbidities and more), or the presence of psychiatric comorbidity. Results: In total, 124,441 subjects were included. The most deprived subjects had less use of physiotherapy (28.56% vs. 38.24%), ambulatory specialists (27.24% vs. 34.07%), ambulatory speech therapy (6.35% vs. 16.64%), preventive consultations (62.34% vs. 69.65%), and were less institutionalized (28.09% vs. 31.33%) than the less deprived ones. Conversely, they were more exposed to antipsychotics (11.16% vs. 8.43%), benzodiazepines (24.34% vs. 19.07%), hospital emergency care (63.84% vs. 57.57%), and potentially avoidable hospitalizations (12.04% vs. 10.95%) than the less deprived ones. Discussion and conclusion: The healthcare use of subjects with ADRD in France differed according to the deprivation index, suggesting potential health renunciation as in other diseases. These social inequalities may be driven by financial barriers and lower education levels, which contribute to health literacy (especially for preventive care). Further studies may explore them.

Have immigrant children been left behind in COVID-19 testing rates? - A quantitative study in the Lisbon metropolitan area between march 2020 and may 2023.

Immigrant children often encounter additional barriers in accessing health care than their peers. However, there is a lack of evidence globally regarding how migrant status may have affected access to COVID-19 testing during the pandemic. This study aimed to analyze migrant status as a determinant of COVID-19 testing rates among children in the Lisbon metropolitan area, Portugal. This cross-sequential study included 722 children aged 2-8 years (47% non-immigrants; 53% immigrants). We collected data from a national surveillance system on laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 tests conducted between March 2020 and May 2023 and assessed whether children were ever tested for COVID-19 and testing frequency. We employed robust and standard Poisson regression models to estimate Adjusted Prevalence Ratios and Relative Risks with 95% confidence intervals. A total of 637 tests were performed. Immigrant children had lower testing rates (53% vs. 48%) and fewer tests per child (median: 2 vs. 3). Moreover, they were 17% less likely to be ever tested (PR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.76-0.89) and performed 26% fewer tests (RR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.67-0.82) compared to non-immigrant children. Caregiver's age, education, employment status, child's birth weight, and perceived health status were associated factors. Our findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has left immigrant children somewhat behind. We conclude that specific interventions targeting vulnerable populations, such as immigrant children, are needed in future health crises.

The Neurobiology of Life Course Socioeconomic Conditions and Associated Cognitive Performance in Middle to Late Adulthood.

Despite major advances, our understanding of the neurobiology of life course socioeconomic conditions is still scarce. This study aimed to provide insight into the pathways linking socioeconomic exposures-household income, last known occupational position, and life course socioeconomic trajectories-with brain microstructure and cognitive performance in middle to late adulthood. We assessed socioeconomic conditions alongside quantitative relaxometry and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging indicators of brain tissue microstructure and cognitive performance in a sample of community-dwelling men and women (N = 751, aged 50-91 years). We adjusted the applied regression analyses and structural equation models for the linear and nonlinear effects of age, sex, education, cardiovascular risk factors, and the presence of depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Individuals from lower-income households showed signs of advanced brain white matter (WM) aging with greater mean diffusivity (MD), lower neurite density, lower myelination, and lower iron content. The association between household income and MD was mediated by neurite density (B = 0.084, p = 0.003) and myelination (B = 0.019, p = 0.009); MD partially mediated the association between household income and cognitive performance (B = 0.017, p < 0.05). Household income moderated the relation between WM microstructure and cognitive performance, such that greater MD, lower myelination, or lower neurite density was only associated with poorer cognitive performance among individuals from lower-income households. Individuals from higher-income households showed preserved cognitive performance even with greater MD, lower myelination, or lower neurite density. These findings provide novel mechanistic insights into the associations between socioeconomic conditions, brain anatomy, and cognitive performance in middle to late adulthood.

Modifiable risk factors of inequalities in hypertension: analysis of 100 million health checkups recipients.

Inequalities in health behaviors are thought to contribute to inequalities in hypertension. This study examined the extent to which modifiable mediating factors explain income inequalities in hypertension. This repeated cross-sectional study used data from National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan (NDB) from 2009 to 2015. Those aged between 40 and 74 were enrollees in the Specific Health Checkups. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥90, or the use of antihypertensive medication. The mediating effects of exercise, obesity, smoking, and alcohol drinking on the association between income, as an indicator of SES, and hypertension were determined by the Karlson-Holm-Breen (KHB) method. The mean age of the 68,684,025 men and 59,118,221 women was 54.7 (SD = 9.6) and 56.7 (SD = 10.0) years, respectively. Prevalence of hypertension was higher in the lowest income group (48.6% for men, 40.2% for women) than in the highest income group (33.3% for men, 21.5% for women). Inequalities tended to increase over time. Inequalities were larger among those who did not use antihypertensive medication. Modifiable risks explained 10.6% of the association between income and hypertension for men and 15.1% for women. In men, drinking and obesity explained 8.8% and 5.5% of the inequalities in hypertension, respectively. In women, obesity explained 18.8%. Exercise increased the proportion mediated over time. Smoking explained 5.5% among women taking antihypertensive medication. There were health inequalities in hypertension among Japanese adults, and the modifiable risk factors partially explained the inequalities.

Exploring attitudes and variation by sociodemographic factors in consent provided for financial data linkage in an experimental birth cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Improving our understanding of household incomes and what constitutes financial insecurity can help us to better understand how financial insecurity is experienced and how this can change over time within and between individuals and populations. However, financial circumstances are often perceived as sensitive and stigmatising, particularly within some ethnic minority groups. This research aims to explore attitudes and variation by sociodemographic factors in consent provided for financial data linkage in an experimental birth cohort study, in order to obtain validated income and benefits data and to better understand the impact of community interventions on the financial security of its participants and their families. METHODS: This research utilises an observational study design to explore consent rates, attitudes and variation in sociodemographic factors between participants of an experimental birth cohort in a deprived and ethnically diverse setting who consent and do not consent to financial data linkage. RESULTS: Overall, participants were equally likely to consent and decline consent for financial data linkage. Measures of socioeconomic insecurity were associated with being more likely to provide consent for financial data linkage. Participants who were not employed (OR 1.49 95% CI 0.93, 2.40) and were more financially insecure (OR 1.85 95% CI 1.14, 3.93) were more likely to provide consent for financial data linkage. Where the participant's first language was a language other than English, participants were also less likely to provide consent for data linkage (OR 0.65 95% CI 0.39, 0.98). The choice of consent for financial data linkage was not associated with: ethnicity; relationship factors; employment status of the participant's partner; person present at time of recruitment; and measures of health, such as general health, mental health, wellbeing and health-related quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: This research sets out an approach to obtaining validated income and benefits data, as a proxy measure for financial security, within an experimental birth cohort study in a deprived and ethnically diverse setting. It achieves good consent rates and demonstrates greater input from those who report greater potential need for financial support. Further research should be conducted to further understand the interplay of language spoken in this context.

"Unlinked lives": Elaboration of a concept and its significance for the life course.

This article introduces the concept of "unlinked lives" and illustrates its significance for scholarship on the life course. There are many lessons to be learned about human interdependence by focusing not on relationships that are formed and then maintained, but instead on relationships that are lost or ended by choice or circumstance, such as through changes in institutional affiliations, social status and positions or places. Unlinked lives carry important social meanings, are embedded in complex social processes, and bring consequences for the wellbeing of individuals, families, and societies. To develop this concept, we put forward nine key propositions related to when and how unlinkings happen as processes, as well as some of the consequences of being unlinked as a status or outcome. The coupling of "unlinked lives" with "linked lives" offers a crucial avenue for advancing life course theories and research, integrating scholarship across multiple life periods and transitions, and bridging the two now-distinct traditions of intellectual inquiry on the life course and on social networks.