Racial Disparities in Nocturia Persist Regardless of BMI Among American Women.

IMPORTANCE: It is crucial to understand the racial and ethnic disparities that exist in nocturia prevalence to appropriately manage nocturia. OBJECTIVES: Nocturia is associated with increased body mass index (BMI) and is most prevalent in Black and Hispanic women, who also have the highest and second highest prevalence of obesity, respectively. We sought to better understand the association of nocturia with BMI category by race and ethnicity in U.S. women. STUDY DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study using publicly available data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2005 to 2018. We estimated the prevalence of moderate to severe nocturia (defined as 2 or more episodes of nighttime urination) by BMI category within each racial and ethnic (Black, White, Hispanic, and other) group of adult women. Logistic regression was performed to determine the odds ratio of nocturia by race. RESULTS: The odds of nocturia was 2.25 (2.04-2.49) for Black women, 1.27 (1.15-1.4) for Hispanic women and 0.96 (0.82-1.13) for other women compared to White women. After accounting for BMI, socioeconomic status and comorbidities, the adjusted odds ratio was 1.76 (1.42-2.16) for Black women, 1.1 (.0.88-1.38) for Hispanic women, and 0.81 (0.5-1.29) for other women compared to White women. CONCLUSIONS: Black women were nearly twice as likely to have nocturia than White women. The increased odds of nocturia, while not sustained for Hispanic women, persisted for Black women regardless of socioeconomic status, BMI, and comorbidities. Our study suggests that there are factors other than weight driving the prevalence of nocturia in Black women that require further investigation.

Difference in All-Cause Mortality between Unemployed and Employed Black Men: Analysis Using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III.

The Black-White racial employment disparity and its link to mortality have demonstrated the health benefits obtained from employment. Further, racial/ethnic mortality disparities existing among men with different employment statuses have been previously documented. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between employment status and all-cause mortality among Black men. Data for the study was obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III 1988-1994 linked to the NHANES III Linked Mortality File. Cox proportional hazard models were specified to examine the association between health behaviors and mortality in Black men by employment status. Among those who were assumed alive (n = 1354), 41.9% were unemployed. In the fully adjusted model, unemployed Black men had an increased risk of all-cause mortality (Hazard Ratio [HR] 1.60, 95% confidence interval or CI [1.33, 1.92]) compared to Black men who were employed. These results highlight the impact of employment on all-cause mortality among unemployed Black men and underscore the need to address employment inequalities to reduce the mortality disparities among Black men.

The Association between Adult Sport, Fitness, and Recreational Physical Activity and Number and Age of Children Present in the Household: A Secondary Analysis Using NHANES.

Only one in three adults in the United States meets the weekly recommendation for physical activity (PA). The presence of children in the home may restrict adult PA. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between adult moderate and vigorous sport, fitness, and recreational physical activities and the number and age (0-5 and 6-17) of children in their household. Secondary data were drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2007-2016. Adults with complete survey data for self-reported moderate (MPA) and vigorous physical activities (VPA), number of children in the home, and other sociodemographic variables were included. The final sample included 2034 adults from 22-65 years of age. Analyses included ANOVAs and separate multivariable regression analyses to determine if the number of children in the household aged 0-5 and 6-17 were significant predictors of weekly moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) after controlling for covariates. For MPA, no differences were found between adult PA regardless of the number and age of children in the home. For VPA, adults with two or more children aged 0-5 reported 80 fewer minutes of weekly VPA (p < 0.05) compared to those with no children or just one child in this age group after controlling for all covariates. Finally, adults with three or more children in the household aged 6-17 reported fifty fewer minutes of weekly VPA (p < 0.05) compared to those with no children, one, or just two in the household. These findings highlight a need to support the vigorous PA behaviors of this population, as the majority of the family-based PA intervention studies to date have primarily focused on family dyads.

Allostatic load burden and racial disparities in mortality.

BACKGROUND: Black-white disparities in mortality persist after adjustment for socioeconomic status and health behaviors. We examined whether allostatic load, the physiological profile influenced by repeated or chronic life stressors, is associated with black-white mortality disparities independent of traditional sociobehavioral risk factors. METHODS: We studied 4515 blacks and whites aged 35 to 64 years from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994), using the linked mortality file, to ascertain participant deaths through 2006. We estimated unadjusted sex-specific black-white disparities in cardiovascular/diabetes-related mortality and noninjury mortality. We constructed baseline allostatic load scores based on 10 biomarkers and examined attenuation of mortality disparities in 4 sets of sex-stratified multivariate models, sequentially adding risk factors: (1) age/clinical conditions, (2) socioeconomic status (SES) variables, (3) health behaviors, and (4) allostatic load. RESULTS: Blacks had higher allostatic load scores than whites; for men, 2.5 vs 2.1, p < .01; and women, 2.6 vs 1.9, p < .01. For cardiovascular/diabetes-related mortality among women, the magnitude of the disparity after adjustment for other risk factors (hazard ratio [HR], 1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.96-2.75) decreased after adjustment for allostatic load (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.70-1.88). For noninjury mortality among women, the magnitude of the disparity after adjustment for other risk factors (HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.00-2.04) also decreased after adjustment for allostatic load (HR, 1.26; 95% CI, 0.90-1.78). For men, disparities were attenuated but persisted after adjustment for allostatic load. CONCLUSIONS: Allostatic load burden partially explains higher mortality among blacks, independent of SES and health behaviors. These findings underscore the importance of chronic physiologic stressors as a negative influence on the health and lifespan of blacks in the United States.

Roles of Protein Disulfide Isomerase in Breast Cancer.

Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) is the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)'s most abundant and essential enzyme and serves as the primary catalyst for protein folding. Due to its apparent role in supporting the rapid proliferation of cancer cells, the selective blockade of PDI results in apoptosis through sustained activation of UPR pathways. The functions of PDI, especially in cancers, have been extensively studied over a decade, and recent research has explored the use of PDI inhibitors in the treatment of cancers but with focus areas of other cancers, such as brain or ovarian cancer. In this review, we discuss the roles of PDI members in breast cancer and PDI inhibitors used in breast cancer research. Additionally, a few PDI members may be suggested as potential molecular targets for highly metastatic breast cancers, such as TNBC, that require more attention in future research.

Religious service attendance and mortality among older Black men.

Religious institutions have been responsive to the needs of Black men and other marginalized populations. Religious service attendance is a common practice that has been associated with stress management and extended longevity. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between religious service attendance and all-cause mortality among Black men 50 years of age and older. Data for this study were from NHANES III (1988-1994). The analytic sample (n = 839) was restricted to participants at least 50 years of age at the time of interview who self-identified as Black and male. Mortality was the primary outcome for this study and the NHANES III Linked Mortality File was used to estimate race-specific, non-injury-related death rates using a probabilistic matching algorithm, linked to the National Death Index through December 31, 2015, providing up to 27 years follow-up. The primary independent variable was religious service attendance, a categorical variable indicating that participants attended religious services at least weekly, three or fewer times per month, or not at all. The mean age of participants was 63.6±0.3 years and 36.4% of sample members reported that they attended religious services one or more times per week, exceeding those attending three or fewer times per month (31.7%), or not at all (31.9%). Cox proportional hazard logistic regression models were estimated to determine the association between religious service attendance and mortality. Participants with the most frequent religious service attendance had a 47% reduction of all-cause mortality risk compared their peer who did not attend religious services at all (HR 0.53, CI 0.35-0.79) in the fully adjusted model including socioeconomic status, non-cardiovascular medical conditions, health behaviors, social support and allostatic load. Our findings underscore the potential salience of religiosity and spirituality for health in Black men, an understudied group where elevated risk factors are often present.

Prevalence and predictors of obesity-related cancers among racial/ethnic groups with metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Obesity-related cancer (ORC) is associated with higher amounts of body fat, which could increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). A significant factor associated with CVD is metabolic syndrome (MetS), and MetS prevalence differs by race/ethnicity. The purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence and predictors of ORCs by race/ethnicity among adults (>18) with MetS. METHODS: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study using data from the 1999-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). A chi-square test was performed to determine differences in ORC prevalence between non-Hispanic White (NHW), non-Hispanic Black (NHB), and Hispanic participants with MetS. A multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate predictors (race, sex, income, insurance, education, marital status, and smoking status) of ORC among adults with MetS. RESULTS: Of the 1,554 adults, the prevalence of ORC was 30.6% among NHWs, 51.3% in NHBs, and 54.1% in Hispanics (p = <0.001). Females were 6.27 times more likely to have an ORC compared to males (95% CI = 4.95-14.11). Compared to NHWs, NHBs were 2.1 times more likely to have an ORC (95% CI = 1.40-3.38); and Hispanics were 2.5 times more likely (95% CI = 1.39-4.77). For every 1-year unit increase in age, the odds of ORC increased by 3% (95% CI = 1.00-1.05). CONCLUSIONS: Among NHANES participants with MetS, the prevalence of ORCs was significantly higher in NHBs and Hispanics, females, and older adults with MetS. Future studies, by race/ethnicity, are warranted on mortality risk of persons with MetS and ORC.

Sex-Specific Differences in the Association Between Race/Ethnicity and NAFLD Among US Population.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is spreading worldwide, with a racial/ethnic disparity. We examined the gender role in the racial/ethnic difference in NAFLD in the US population. We analyzed data for 3,292 individuals ≥18 years old from NHANES 2017-2018, a representative sample of the non-institutionalized adult population in the US. Exclusions were subjects with elevated transferrin level, chronic hepatitis B or C, excessive alcohol use, or prescription medications that might cause hepatic steatosis. NAFLD was diagnosed by FibroScan® using controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) values: S0 <238, S1 = 238-259, S2 = 260-290, S3 >290. Data were analyzed using Chi square and multinomial regression. The overall prevalence of NAFLD was 47.9% [S2 = 16.1%, and S3 = 31.8%]. The prevalence of S3 was highest among Mexican Americans (46%), lowest among Blacks (22.7%), 29.9% in other Hispanics and 32.1% in Whites (p < 0.05). It was higher among Mexican American males (54.1%) compared to Mexican American females (37.7%) (p < 0.05). In the adjusted model, Mexican Americans were two times more likely than Whites to have S2 and S3 (p < 0.05). Only male Mexican Americans had higher odds of S2 and S3 relative to male White (p < 0.05). Males had higher odds of S3 relative to non-menopausal females (p < 0.05). There was no difference in the odds of S2 or S3 NAFLD among the menopausal females with or without hormone therapy relative to non-menopausal females (p > 0.05). While Mexican Americans had the highest prevalence of severe NAFLD relative to the other racial/ethnic groups, only male Mexican Americans, but not females, had higher likelihood of both moderate and severe NAFLD relative to Whites. Interventions that specifically target Mexican American males are needed to increase awareness about NAFLD and its prevention.

Reassessment of the Hispanic Disparity: Hepatic Steatosis Is More Prevalent in Mexican Americans Than Other Hispanics.

Hepatic steatosis (HS) is a growing problem in adults worldwide, with racial/ethnic disparity in the prevalence of the disease. The purpose of this study was to characterize the racial/ethnic prevalence of the stages (normal/mild [S0/S1], moderate [S2], and severe [S3]) of HS in Mexican Americans and other Hispanics compared to other racial/ethnic groups. We analyzed data for 5,492 individuals 12 years and older from the newly released National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2018, which is a representative sample of the US adult population. HS was diagnosed by FibroScan using controlled attenuation parameter values: S0, <238; S1, 238-259; S2, 260-290; S3, >290. We analyzed the data using the bivariate chi-squared test and multinomial regression. The prevalence of HS overall was 46.9% (S2,16.6%; S3, 30.3%). The prevalence of S3 was highest among Mexican Americans (42.8%), lowest among Blacks (21.6%), 27.6% in other Hispanics, and 30.6% in Whites (P < 0.05). Mexican Americans were about 2 times more likely than Whites to have S2 and S3, while other Hispanics showed no difference from Whites. In an adjusted model, the common risk factors of S2 and S3 were male sex, older ages, high waist-to-hip ratio, body mass index ≥25, and high triglycerides (P < 0.05). Other risk factors for S3 were hemoglobin A1c ≥5.7 and highly sensitive C-reactive protein ≥10 mg/dL (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our study challenges the paradigm that HS is higher in Hispanics overall; rather, our data show that HS is higher in Mexican Americans and not non-Mexican American Hispanics.

Religious Service Attendance and Mortality among Adults in the United States with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Religion and related institutions have resources to help individuals cope with chronic conditions, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD). The purpose of this investigation is to examine the association between religious service attendance and mortality for adults with CKD. Data were drawn from NHANES III linked to the 2015 public use Mortality File to analyze a sample of adults (n = 3558) who had CKD as defined by a single value of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation and/or albumin-to-creatinine ratio ≥17 mg/g for males or ≥25 for females. All-cause mortality was the primary outcome and religious service attendance was the primary independent variable. Cox proportional hazards models were estimated to determine the association between religious service attendance and mortality. The mortality risks for participants who attended a service at least once per week were 21% lower than their peers with CKD who did not attend a religious service at all (HR 0.79; CI 0.64-0.98). The association between religious service attendance and mortality in adults with CKD suggest that prospective studies are needed to examine the influence of faith-related behaviors on clinical outcomes in patients with CKD.

Prevalence and Predictors of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Using Multiple Non-Invasive Methods: Data from NHANES III.

Objective: Patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are at risk for developing cirrhosis and hepatic cancer. Currently, the definitive gold-standard method of diagnosing NASH is a liver biopsy, an invasive and costly method. Our objective was to compare three non-invasive methods of identifying NASH by using data on 10,007 subjects from NHANES III (1988-1994) to determine the prevalence and variables associated with NASH, as defined by each non-invasive method. Methods: We used ultrasound data to identify subjects with moderate-to-severe hepatic steatosis, of whom we identified the NASH population using either the HAIR score, the NASH liver fat score, or the Gholam score, each of which had been validated with liver biopsy. We performed multinomial logistic regression to compare each NASH population to the normal population (those with no-to-mild hepatic steatosis). Results: We identified 1136 (9.5%) subjects as having NASH by at least one method and 219 (1.8%) were identified by all 3 methods. Independent of the non-invasive method used, Mexican-Americans (MA) had the highest prevalence of NASH. All three methods identified significant risk factors for NASH (p<0.05), including: elevated waist-to-hip ratio, elevated levels of C-peptide, total cholesterol, or C-reactive protein (CRP). Conclusion: We conclude that the combined non-invasive methods can help identify candidates with a high likelihood of being diagnosed with NASH. Health care providers can screen people with the combined non-invasive methods for the risk factors and identify candidates for interventions, including exercise and/or referral to biopsy.

Chronic kidney disease, hypovitaminosis D, and mortality in the United States.

Low serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD) predicts a higher cardiovascular risk in the general population. Because patients with chronic kidney disease are more likely to have low serum 25OHD, we determined the relationship between hypovitaminosis D and death in this group. Analysis was done using a cohort composed of 3011 patients from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey who had chronic kidney disease but were not on dialysis and who had a mean follow-up of 9 years. In analyses adjusted for demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, serum phosphorus, albumin, hemoglobin, stage of chronic kidney disease, albuminuria, and socioeconomic status, individuals with serum 25OHD levels less than 15 ng/ml had an increased risk for all-cause mortality when compared to those with levels over 30 ng/ml. This significantly higher risk for death with low serum 25OHD was evident in 15 of the 23 subgroups. The higher risk for cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality became statistically nonsignificant on multivariable adjustment. The trend for higher mortality in patients with 25OHD levels 15-30 ng/ml was not statistically significant. Our results indicate there is a graded relationship between serum 25OHD and the risk for death among subjects with chronic kidney disease who are not undergoing dialysis. Randomized, controlled trials are needed to conclusively determine whether vitamin D supplementation reduces mortality.

High prevalence of stage 3 chronic kidney disease in older adults despite normal serum creatinine.

BACKGROUND: Serum creatinine is commonly used to diagnose chronic kidney disease (CKD), but may underestimate CKD in older adults when compared with using glomerular filtration rates (eGFR). The magnitude of this underestimation is not clearly defined. OBJECTIVE: Using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation, to describe both the prevalence and the magnitude of underestimation of stage 3 CKD (GFR 30-59 ml/min/1.73 m(2)), as well as ideal serum creatinine cutoff values to diagnose stage 3 CKD among Americans > or =65 years of age. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 3,406 participants > or =65 years of age from the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). MEASUREMENTS: Serum creatinine levels were used to determine eGFR from the MDRD equation. Information on clinical conditions was self-reported. RESULTS: Overall, 36.1% of older adults in the US have stage 3 or greater CKD as defined by eGFR values. Among older adults with stage 3 CKD, 80.6% had creatinine values < or =1.5 mg/dl, and 38.6% had creatinine values < or =1.2 mg/dl. Optimal cutoff values for serum creatinine in the diagnosis of stage 3 CKD in older adults were > or =1.3 mg/dl for men and > or =1.0 mg/dl for women, regardless of the presence or absence of hypertension, diabetes, or congestive heart failure. CONCLUSION: Use of serum creatinine underestimates the presence of advanced (stage 3 or greater) CKD among older adults in the US. Automated eGFR reporting may improve the accuracy of risk stratification for older adults with CKD.

Racial differences in mortality among those with CKD.

Compared with white individuals, black individuals have a significantly higher risk for death in the general population but seem to have a survival advantage in the ESRD population. Data on the relationship of race to survival in early stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are inconsistent. This study evaluated racial differences in mortality among the adult participants of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a population-based survey of community-dwelling individuals. CKD was defined either by an estimated GFR < 60 ml/min per 1.73 m2 or by the presence of albuminuria, and this status was determined for 14,611 individuals, 2892 of whom were found to have CKD. Adjusting for age,gender, and race, risk for all-cause mortality among individuals with CKD was more than double that of individuals with normal renal function. In the subgroup with CKD, adjusting for age and gender,black individuals had a significantly higher risk for death, and this risk was modified by age;specifically, black individuals who were younger than 65 yr were 78% more likely to die than white individuals, whereas no significant differences in mortality were observed among individuals who were > or = 65 yr of age. Further adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors and CKD stage did not materially change the results, but the hazard ratios were significantly attenuated after adjustment for socioeconomic factors. In conclusion, these data demonstrate racial/ethnic disparities in mortality among individuals with CKD. This higher risk for death in early stages of CKD may explain the apparent survival advantage observed among black individuals who live long enough to reach stage 5 CKD.

Health insurance status and hypertension monitoring and control in the United States.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we examined whether insurance status (private, Medicare, Medicaid, no insurance) was associated with the odds of blood pressure (BP) monitoring and control. METHODS: We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) conducted in 1999 through 2002, defining hypertension as either self-report of elevated BP or an elevated BP value on examination. We conducted multivariate analyses adjusting for age, income, race/ethnicity, body mass index, and medical comorbidities. RESULTS: Among all hypertensive participants, only 58% of the uninsured had a BP check within 6 months, compared to 82% of the privately insured. Overall, uninsured individuals (adjusted odds ratio 0.63, 95% CI 0.44-0.92) were at lower odds of adequate BP control than the privately insured. Among treated participants, the uninsured were at lower odds of adequate control (adjusted OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.23-0.73) than the privately insured. Among participants who self-reported hypertension but were not taking antihypertensive medications, the odds of elevated BP did not differ by insurance status. No differences in BP control were observed for participants with Medicare or Medicaid compared to those with private insurance, in any comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of insurance is associated with lower rates of BP control among treated hypertensives, whereas the odds of elevated BP are similar among untreated hypertensives with different insurance status. Variation in BP control between the uninsured and privately insured with hypertension is likely related to differences in appropriate treatment intensification or adherence, rather than differences in rates of treatment initiation.

Association between secondhand smoke and obesity and glucose abnormalities: data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 1999-2010).

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between cotinine level-confirmed secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and glycemic parameters and obesity. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We examined a cohort of 6472 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 1999-2010. Serum cotinine levels and self-reported data on smoking were used to determine smoking status. The outcome variables were body mass index (BMI) and glycemic status (HbA1c), Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), and fasting plasma glucose (FPG). Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Using cotinine level-confirmed smoking status, 1794 (27.4%) of the sample were current smokers, 1681 (25.0%) were former smokers, 1158 (17.8%) were secondhand smokers, and 1839 (29.8%) were non-smokers. In a generalized linear model after controlling for potential confounding variables, secondhand smokers had higher adjusted levels of HOMA-IR, FPG, and BMI compared with non-smokers (p<0.05). Adjustment for BMI demonstrated that some, but not all, of the detrimental effects of SHS on glycemic parameters are mediated by the increased body weight of secondhand smokers. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that SHS is associated with obesity and worsening glycemic parameters. More studies are needed to show a causal relationship between SHS and glycemic parameters and to understand the mechanisms involved in the association.

Church attendance, allostatic load and mortality in middle aged adults.

IMPORTANCE: Religiosity has been associated with positive health outcomes. Hypothesized pathways for this association include religious practices, such as church attendance, that result in reduced stress. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between religiosity (church attendance), allostatic load (AL) (a physiologic measure of stress) and all-cause mortality in middle-aged adults. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Data for this study are from NHANES III (1988-1994). The analytic sample (n = 5449) was restricted to adult participants, who were between 40-65 years of age at the time of interview, had values for at least 9 out of 10 clinical/biologic markers used to derive AL, and had complete information on church attendance. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcomes were AL and mortality. AL was derived from values for metabolic, cardiovascular, and nutritional/inflammatory clinical/biologic markers. Mortality was derived from a probabilistic algorithm matching the NHANES III Linked Mortality File to the National Death Index through December 31, 2006, providing up to 18 years follow-up. The primary predictor variable was baseline report of church attendance over the past 12 months. Cox proportional hazard logistic regression models contained key covariates including socioeconomic status, self-rated health, co-morbid medical conditions, social support, healthy eating, physical activity, and alcohol intake. RESULTS: Churchgoers (at least once a year) comprised 64.0% of the study cohort (n = 3782). Non-churchgoers had significantly higher overall mean AL scores and higher prevalence of high-risk values for 3 of the 10 markers of AL than did churchgoers. In bivariate analyses non-churchgoers, compared to churchgoers, had higher odds of an AL score 2-3 (OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.01, 1.50) or ≥4 (OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.11, 1.71) compared to AL score of 0-1. More frequent churchgoers (more than once a week) had a 55% reduction of all-cause mortality risk compared with non-churchgoers. (HR 0.45, CI 0.24-0.85) in the fully adjusted model that included AL. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: We found a significant association between church attendance and mortality among middle-aged adults after full adjustments. AL, a measure of stress, only partially explained differences in mortality between church and non-church attendees. These findings suggest a potential independent effect of church attendance on mortality.

Machine Learning Approaches for Detecting Diabetic Retinopathy from Clinical and Public Health Records.

INTRODUCTION: Annual eye examinations are recommended for diabetic patients in order to detect diabetic retinopathy and other eye conditions that arise from diabetes. Medically underserved urban communities in the US have annual screening rates that are much lower than the national average and could benefit from informatics approaches to identify unscreened patients most at risk of developing retinopathy. METHODS: Using clinical data from urban safety net clinics as well as public health data from the CDC's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we examined different machine learning approaches for predicting retinopathy from clinical or public health data. All datasets utilized exhibited a class imbalance. RESULTS: Classifiers learned on the clinical data were modestly predictive of retinopathy with the best model having an AUC of 0.72, sensitivity of 69.2% and specificity of 55.9%. Classifiers learned on public health data were not predictive of retinopathy. DISCUSSION: Successful approaches to detecting latent retinopathy using machine learning could help safety net and other clinics identify unscreened patients who are most at risk of developing retinopathy and the use of ensemble classifiers on clinical data shows promise for this purpose.

Traumatic brain injury related hospitalization and mortality in California.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to describe the traumatic brain injury (TBI) population and causes and identify factors associated with TBI hospitalizations and mortality in California. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of 61,188 patients with TBI from the California Hospital Discharge Data 2001 to 2009. We used descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses in SAS version 9.3. RESULTS: TBI-related hospitalizations decreased by 14% and mortality increased by 19% from 2001 to 2009. The highest percentages of TBI hospitalizations were due to other causes (38.4%), falls (31.2%), being of age ≥75 years old (37.2%), being a males (58.9%), and being of Medicare patients (44%). TBIs due to falls were found in those age ≤4 years old (53.5%), ≥75 years old (44.0%), and females (37.2%). TBIs due to assaults were more frequent in Blacks (29.0%). TBIs due to motor vehicle accidents were more frequent in 15-19 and 20-24 age groups (48.7% and 48.6%, resp.) and among Hispanics (27.8%). Higher odds of mortality were found among motor vehicle accident category (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.27, 95% CI: 1.14-1.41); males (AOR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.27-1.46); and the ≥75-year-old group (AOR: 6.4, 95% CI: 4.9-8.4). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest a decrease in TBI-related hospitalizations but an increase in TBI-related mortality during the study period. The majority of TBI-related hospitalizations was due to other causes and falls and was more frequent in the older, male, and Medicare populations. The higher likelihood of TBI-related mortalities was found among elderly male ≥75 years old who had motor vehicle accidents. Our data can inform practitioners, prevention planners, educators, service sectors, and policy makers who aim to reduce the burden of TBI in the community. Implications for interventions are discussed.

Relationship between obesity and pulse pressure in children: results of the National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) 1988-1994.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a known cardiometabolic risk factor in children. In adults, pulse pressure (PP) is a known predictor and a risk factor of cardiovascular (CV) diseases. In this study, we examined the association between measures of obesity and PP in children. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 4667 children ages 6-17 years from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (1988-1994) was performed. We defined wide PP as 4th quartile PP and high waist circumference (WC) as >75th percentile based on age and gender. RESULTS: There were 51% boys, 74% whites, 16% blacks, 10% Hispanics, 12% obese, 26% with high WC, 26% with wide PP, and 9% with high blood pressure (BP). Prevalence of wide PP was high among obese children. A significantly higher mean PP was observed in boys, Blacks, obese, those with high WC and high BP. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for wide PP was higher in boys, Blacks, and those with high WC. CONCLUSION: There was a statistically significant independent association observed between wide PP and high WC, but not with obesity based on BMI. Further exploration of wide PP as a CV risk factor in childhood and its relationship to CV outcomes appears warranted.