Stroke Risk After COVID-19 Bivalent Vaccination Among US Older Adults.

Importance: In January 2023, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Food and Drug Administration noted a safety concern for ischemic stroke among adults aged 65 years or older who received the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2; WT/OMI BA.4/BA.5 COVID-19 bivalent vaccine. Objective: To evaluate stroke risk after administration of (1) either brand of the COVID-19 bivalent vaccine, (2) either brand of the COVID-19 bivalent plus a high-dose or adjuvanted influenza vaccine on the same day (concomitant administration), and (3) a high-dose or adjuvanted influenza vaccine. Design, Setting, and Participants: Self-controlled case series including 11 001 Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years or older who experienced stroke after receiving either brand of the COVID-19 bivalent vaccine (among 5 397 278 vaccinated individuals). The study period was August 31, 2022, through February 4, 2023. Exposures: Receipt of (1) either brand of the COVID-19 bivalent vaccine (primary) or (2) a high-dose or adjuvanted influenza vaccine (secondary). Main Outcomes and Measures: Stroke risk (nonhemorrhagic stroke, transient ischemic attack, combined outcome of nonhemorrhagic stroke or transient ischemic attack, or hemorrhagic stroke) during the 1- to 21-day or 22- to 42-day risk window after vaccination vs the 43- to 90-day control window. Results: There were 5 397 278 Medicare beneficiaries who received either brand of the COVID-19 bivalent vaccine (median age, 74 years [IQR, 70-80 years]; 56% were women). Among the 11 001 beneficiaries who experienced stroke after receiving either brand of the COVID-19 bivalent vaccine, there were no statistically significant associations between either brand of the COVID-19 bivalent vaccine and the outcomes of nonhemorrhagic stroke, transient ischemic attack, nonhemorrhagic stroke or transient ischemic attack, or hemorrhagic stroke during the 1- to 21-day or 22- to 42-day risk window vs the 43- to 90-day control window (incidence rate ratio [IRR] range, 0.72-1.12). Among the 4596 beneficiaries who experienced stroke after concomitant administration of either brand of the COVID-19 bivalent vaccine plus a high-dose or adjuvanted influenza vaccine, there was a statistically significant association between vaccination and nonhemorrhagic stroke during the 22- to 42-day risk window for the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2; WT/OMI BA.4/BA.5 COVID-19 bivalent vaccine (IRR, 1.20 [95% CI, 1.01-1.42]; risk difference/100 000 doses, 3.13 [95% CI, 0.05-6.22]) and a statistically significant association between vaccination and transient ischemic attack during the 1- to 21-day risk window for the Moderna mRNA-1273.222 COVID-19 bivalent vaccine (IRR, 1.35 [95% CI, 1.06-1.74]; risk difference/100 000 doses, 3.33 [95% CI, 0.46-6.20]). Among the 21 345 beneficiaries who experienced stroke after administration of a high-dose or adjuvanted influenza vaccine, there was a statistically significant association between vaccination and nonhemorrhagic stroke during the 22- to 42-day risk window (IRR, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.02-1.17]; risk difference/100 000 doses, 1.65 [95% CI, 0.43-2.87]). Conclusions and Relevance: Among Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years or older who experienced stroke after receiving either brand of the COVID-19 bivalent vaccine, there was no evidence of a significantly elevated risk for stroke during the days immediately after vaccination.

US drug overdose mortality rose faster among hispanics than non-hispanics from 2010 to 2021.

BACKGROUND: Historically, overdose mortality rates among Hispanics have been lower than non-Hispanics. The purpose of this analysis was to characterize the U.S. overdose crisis among Hispanics compared to non-Hispanics. METHODS: We used the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiological Research (WONDER) platform to obtain drug overdose mortality rates per 100,000 population between 2010 and 2021 for Hispanics and non-Hispanics. We examined the relative percent change and specific drug involvement (2010-2021) and state-level disparities (2010-2020) among Hispanics versus non-Hispanics. We calculated rate ratios by state and annual percent change in total and for each specific drug. Statistical analyses were performed using R software version 4.0.3 (R Project for Statistical Computing). RESULTS: Nationally, from 2010 to 2021, Hispanic overdose rates rose from 5.6 to 21.7 per 100,000, an increase of 287.5 % compared to 13.5-35.1 per 100,000, an increase of 160 % among non-Hispanics. The average annual percent change was 12 % for Hispanics and 9 % for non-Hispanics. The three most common drug classes involved in overdose deaths among both groups included: Fentanyls and synthetic opioids; cocaine; and prescription opioids. Hispanic overdose rates were higher than non-Hispanic rates in New Mexico, Colorado, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania in 2020, versus only Michigan in 2010. CONCLUSIONS: We observed disparities in overdose mortality growth among Hispanics compared to non-Hispanics from 2010 to 2021. These disparities highlight the urgency to develop community-centered solutions that take into consideration the social and structural inequalities that exacerbate the effects of the opioid overdose crisis on Hispanic communities.

Cancer Distribution Among Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Subgroups - United States, 2015-2019.

Non-Hispanic Asian (Asian) and non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) persons represent growing segments of the U.S. population (1). Epidemiologic cancer studies often aggregate Asian and NHPI persons (2,3); however, because Asian and NHPI persons are culturally, geographically, and linguistically diverse (2,4), subgroup analyses might provide insights into the distribution of health outcomes. To examine the frequency and percentage of new cancer cases among 25 Asian and NHPI subgroups, CDC analyzed the most current 2015-2019 U.S. Cancer Statistics data.* The distribution of new cancer cases among Asian and NHPI subgroups differed by sex, age, cancer type, and stage at diagnosis (for screening-detected cancers). The percentage of cases diagnosed among females ranged from 47.1% to 68.2% and among persons aged <40 years, ranged from 3.1% to 20.2%. Among the 25 subgroups, the most common cancer type varied. For example, although breast cancer was the most common in 18 subgroups, lung cancer was the most common cancer among Chamoru, Micronesian race not otherwise specified (NOS), and Vietnamese persons; colorectal cancer was the most common cancer among Cambodian, Hmong, Laotian, and Papua New Guinean persons. The frequency of late-stage cancer diagnoses among all subgroups ranged from 25.7% to 40.3% (breast), 38.1% to 61.1% (cervical), 52.4% to 64.7% (colorectal), and 70.0% to 78.5% (lung). Subgroup data illustrate health disparities among Asian and NHPI persons, which might be reduced through the design and implementation of culturally and linguistically responsive cancer prevention and control programs, including programs that address social determinants of health.

Trends in prostate cancer mortality in the United States of America, by state and race, from 1999 to 2019: estimates from the centers for disease control WONDER database.

BACKGROUND: In the United States of America (USA), prostate cancer (PC) is the most common cancer in men and the second cause of cancer mortality. Black men (BM) have a higher incidence and worse mortality when compared to white men (WM). We compared trends in PC mortality in the USA by race and state from 1999 to 2019. METHODS: We extracted PC mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) WONDER database using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 10 code C61. Age-Standardized Mortality Rates (ASMR) were divided into racial groups and reported by year and state. Due to the lack of available data in many states, analyses were conducted only for WM and BM using Joinpoint regression for trend comparisons. RESULTS: Between 1999-2019, ASMR decreased at the national level in Black (-44.6%), Asian (-44.8%), White (-31.8%), and American Indian or Alaskan native men (-19.0%). ASMR decreased in all states for both races. The greatest drop in ASMR was in Kentucky (-47.0%) for WM and Delaware (-57.8%) for BM. In 2019, ASMRs in BM (13.4/100 000) were significantly higher than WM (7.3/100 000), American Indian or Alaskan Native (3.2/100 000), and Asian men (3.2/100 000) (p < 0.001). The highest ASMRs were in Nebraska (33.5/100 000) for BM and Alaska (11/100 000) for WM. CONCLUSIONS: During the last 20 years, the PC mortality rate dropped in all states for all races, suggesting an advancement in management strategies. Although a higher decrease in ASMR was observed in BM, ASMR remain higher among BM. ASMRs were also found to be increasing in many states post USPSTF guideline change (2012), indicating a need for more education around optimized prostate cancer screening.

Diagnostic Utility of CDC DPDx for an Atypical Presentation of Infectious Crystalline Keratopathy-Like Infiltrate Secondary to Microsporidia.

PURPOSE: To report a case of atypical infectious crystalline keratopathy-like stromal infection secondary to microsporidia wherein diagnosis of the causative organism was aided by use of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) DPDx program. METHODS: We report the case of a 73-year-old woman who presented with atypical infectious crystalline keratopathy-like corneal infection without previous surgical history. RESULTS: The patient had previously been treated for recalcitrant corneal infection with topical antibiotics and steroids at an outside provider before referral. Further treatment with topical fortified antibiotics failed to improve the infection. Corneal biopsy was performed and sent to the CDC DPDx for diagnostic confirmation for presumptive microsporidia. The patient underwent therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty without recurrence of ocular infection. CONCLUSIONS: Utilization of the DPDx resource may help guide appropriate and timely diagnosis and management strategies in atypical presentations of infectious keratitis.

Measuring All-Cause Mortality With the Census Numident File.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the quality of population-level US mortality data in the US Census Bureau Numerical Identification file (Numident) and describe the details of the mortality information as well as the novel person-level linkages available when using the Census Numident. METHODS: We compared all-cause mortality in the Census Numident to published vital statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We provide detailed information on the linkage of the Census Numident to other Census Bureau survey, administrative, and economic data. RESULTS: Death counts in the Census Numident are similar to those from published mortality vital statistics. Yearly comparisons show that the Census Numident captures more deaths since 1997, and coverage is slightly lower going back in time. Weekly estimates show similar trends from both data sets. CONCLUSIONS: The Census Numident is a high-quality and timely source of data to study all-cause mortality. The Census Bureau makes available a vast and rich set of restricted-use, individual-level data linked to the Census Numident for researchers to use. PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS: The Census Numident linked to data available from the Census Bureau provides infrastructure for doing evidence-based public health policy research on mortality.

Health Care Worker Violent Deaths in the Workplace: A Summary of Cases From the National Violent Death Reporting System.

BACKGROUND: Violent workplace deaths among health care workers (HCWs) remain understudied in the extant literature despite the potential for serious long-term implications for staff and patient safety. This descriptive study summarized the number and types of HCWs who experienced violent deaths while at work, including the location in which the fatal injury occurred. METHODS: Cases were identified from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Violent Death Reporting System between 2003 and 2016. Coded variables included type of HCW injured, type of facility, and location within the facility and perpetrator type among homicides. Frequencies were calculated using Excel. FINDINGS: Among 61 HCW deaths, 32 (52%) were suicides and 21 (34%) were homicides; eight (13%) were of undetermined intent. The occupations of victims included physicians (28%), followed by nurses (21%), administration/support operations (21%), security and support services (16%), and therapists and technicians (13%). Most deaths occurred in hospitals (46%) and nonresidential treatment services (20%). Within facility, locations included offices/clinics (20%) and wards/units (18%). Among homicide perpetrators, both Type II (perpetrator was client/patient/family member) and Type IV (personal relationship to perpetrator) were equally common (33%). CONCLUSION/ APPLICATIONS TO PRACTICE: Suicide was more common than homicide among HCW fatal injuries. Workplace violence prevention programs may want to consider both types of injuries. Although fatal HCW injuries are rare, planning for all types of violent deaths could help minimize consequences for staff, patients, and visitors.

Estimating Older Adult Mortality From COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to employ simulations to model the probability of mortality from COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus) for older adults in the United States given at best and at worst cases. METHODS: This study first examined current epidemiological reports to better understand the risk of mortality from COVID-19. Past epidemiological studies from severe acute respiratory syndrome were also examined given similar virology. Next, at best and at worst mortality cases were considered with the goal of estimating the probability of mortality. To accomplish this for the general population, microdata from the National Health Interview Survey pooled sample (2016, 2017, and 2018 public-use NHIS with a sample of 34,881 adults at least 60 years of age) were utilized. Primary measures included age and health status (diabetes, body mass index, and hypertension). A logit regression with 100,000 simulations was employed to derive the estimates and probabilities. RESULTS: Age exhibited a positive association for the probability of death with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.22 (p < .05, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.42). A positive association was also found for body mass index (BMI) (OR 1.03, p < .01, 95% CI: 1.02-1.04) and hypertension (OR 1.36, p < .01, 95% CI: 1.09-1.66) for the at best case. Diabetes was significant but only for the at best case. DISCUSSION: This study found mortality increased with age and was notable for the 74-79 age group for the at best case and the 70-79 age group of the at worst case. Obesity was also important and suggested a higher risk for mortality. Hypertension also exhibited greater risk but the increase was minimal. Given the volume of information and misinformation, these findings can be applied by health professionals, gerontologists, social workers, and local policymakers to better inform older adults about mortality risks and, in the process, reestablish public trust.

An epidemiologic study of suicide among firefighters: Findings from the National Violent Death Reporting System, 2003 - 2017.

Suicide is a significant concern among fire service due to high rates of suicide behaviors. The aim of this study was to describe suicides among firefighters using national suicide death data. Data from the National Violent Death Reporting System for 722 firefighters and 192,430 non-firefighters were analyzed to compare sociodemographics and risk factors between firefighter and non-firefighter decedents; and among firefighters based on suicide means. A greater proportion of firefighter decedents died by firearm compared to non-firefighters. Firefighter decedents were less likely to have been diagnosed with depression, but more likely to have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder compared to non-firefighters. A greater percentage of firefighter decedents had a relationship or physical health problem prior to death, but a lower percentage had a history of suicide thoughts/attempts. Among firefighter decedents, multivariate analysis showed physical health problems and disclosing suicide intent predicted death by firearm. Greater awareness of risk factors, reduced access to lethal means, and ensuring access to behavioral health services may aide in decreasing suicide mortality in this population. These findings should be interpreted with caution due to limitations concerning report accuracy, generalizability, small female sample size, and inclusion of data only for lethal suicide attempts.

Non-COVID-19 excess deaths by age and gender in the United States during the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: The first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare systems, creating an environment by which deaths have occurred that are not directly due to COVID-19, but have occurred owing to the healthcare and societal environment resulting from COVID-19. The objective of this research is to quantify such excess deaths, partitioned by age group and gender. STUDY DESIGN: This is a data analysis. METHODS: Excess deaths by age and gender are estimated using provisional death data available from the Centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) over the time period from March 1, 2020 through May 30, 2020. Previous year fatality and population data are used as the benchmark. RESULTS: Several of the eighteen age and gender cohorts experienced statistically significant excess deaths. The results also indicate that COVID-19 has been protective for one of the age and gender cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: There have been more excess deaths in several age group and gender cohorts during the first three months of the pandemic, beyond direct deaths directly attributable to COVID-19. These non-COVID-19 excess deaths are most apparent in the 25- to 44-year age group for women and 15- to 54-year age group for men. Further research is needed to assess the cause of such excess deaths and introduce safeguards to reduce such deaths in the future.

Time Trends in Pulmonary Embolism Mortality Rates in the United States, 1999 to 2018.

Background Although historical trends before 1998 demonstrated improvements in mortality caused by pulmonary embolism (PE), contemporary estimates of mortality trends are unknown. Therefore, our objective is to describe trends in death rates caused by PE in the United States, overall and by sex-race, regional, and age subgroups. Methods and Results We used nationwide death certificate data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research to calculate age-adjusted mortality rates for PE as underlying cause of death from 1999 to 2018. We used the Joinpoint regression program to examine statistical trends and average annual percent change. Trends in PE mortality rates reversed after an inflection point in 2008, with an average annual percent change before 2008 of -4.4% (-5.7, -3.0, P<0.001), indicating reduction in age-adjusted mortality rates of 4.4% per year between 1999 and 2008, versus average annual percent change after 2008 of +0.6% (0.2, 0.9, P<0.001). Black men and women had approximately 2-fold higher age-adjusted mortality rates compared with White men and women, respectively, before and after the inflection point. Similar trends were seen in geographical regions. Age-adjusted mortality rates for younger adults (25-64 years) increased during the study period (average annual percent change 2.1% [1.6, 2.6]) and remained stable for older adults (>65 years). Conclusions Our study findings demonstrate that PE mortality has increased over the past decade and racial and geographic disparities persist. Identifying the underlying drivers of these changing mortality trends and persistently observed disparities is necessary to mitigate the burden of PE-related mortality, particularly premature preventable PE deaths among younger adults (<65 years).