Mortality disparities between Black and White Americans mediated by income and health behaviors

Association between social determinants of health and premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and sex differences in US adults: A cross-sectional study

Background

Premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is a major public health issue, leading to productivity losses and higher healthcare costs. This study examines the association between social determinants of health (SDoH) and premature ASCVD, with a focus on sex differences.

Method

Data on self-reported SDoH based on Healthy People 2030 criteria were obtained from U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2003-2018). Weighted logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between SDoH (including eight sub-items and the cumulative number of unfavorable SDoH) and premature ASCVD. Analyses were further stratified by sex.

Result

A total of 40,536 participants aged ≥18 years (19,548 men and 20,888 women) were included in the analysis. The overall prevalence of premature ASCVD was 1756 cases, with a weighted estimate of 7,625,240. Although women had a lower prevalence of premature ASCVD (3.2 % [n = 784] vs. 4.3 % [n = 972]), they exhibited a higher level of unfavorable SDoH compared to men. Logistic regression indicated a 21 % increase in risk for each additional unfavorable SDoH (AOR = 1.21; 95 % CI, 1.16-1.26), and the cumulative number of unfavorable SDoH were positively associated with the odds of developing premature ASCVD (P for trend <0.01). Notably, the impact of unfavorable SDoH was greater in women, revealing significant sex disparities in susceptibility to premature ASCVD.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that unfavorable SDoH significantly increase the risk of developing premature ASCVD. Furthermore, the cumulative effect of unfavorable SDoH pose a higher risk for women.

Individual-Level Exposure to Residential Redlining in 1940 and Mortality Risk

Importance

Historic redlining, the practice by the Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC) of systematically denying credit to borrowers in neighborhoods that were inhabited by primarily African American individuals, has been associated with poor community outcomes, but the association with individual risk of death is not clear.

Objective

To examine if exposure to residential redlining practices by HOLC in 1940 is associated with increased risk of death later in life.

Design, Setting, and Participants

The study linked individuals who resided within HOLC-graded neighborhoods (defined as Census Enumeration Districts) in 1940 with administrative death records data. The study estimated hazard ratios as well as age-specific life expectancy gaps (at age 55, 65, and 75 years) for HOLC grading exposure. This was done using methods that adapted standard parametric survival analysis to data with limited mortality coverage windows and incomplete observations of survivors. The analysis sample consisted of 961 719 individual-level observations across 13 912 enumeration districts within 30 of the largest US cities (based on 1940 population counts) across 23 states. Data were analyzed between December 1, 2023, and September 4, 2024.

Main Outcome and Measures

The exposure was HOLC grade based on historic HOLC maps, with A representing "best" or creditworthy areas; B, "still desirable"; C, "definitely declining"; and D, "hazardous" areas not worthy of credit (ie, redlined), and the main outcome was age at death from the Social Security Numident file.

Results

The 961 719-person individual sample had a mean (SD) age of 19.26 (9.26) years in 1940 and a mean (SD) age at death of 76.83 (9.22) years. In a model adjusted for sex (52.48% female; 47.52% male), race and ethnicity (7.36% African American; 92.64% White), and latent place effects, a 1-unit lower HOLC grade was associated with an 8% (hazard ratio, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.07-1.09]) increased risk of death. At age 65 years, these hazard differentials translated into an estimated life expectancy gap of -0.49 (95% CI, -0.56 to -0.43) years for each 1-unit decrease of the HOLC grade.

Conclusion

This study found that individuals who resided within redlined neighborhoods in 1940 had lower life expectancy later in life than individuals who resided within other HOLC-graded areas.

Health and Community Care Workers&apos; Knowledge and Perceptions of Social Prescribing in Singapore

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to survey knowledge and perceptions of social prescribing (SP) amongst health and community care workers, and is a cross-sectional online survey conducted in November 2023.

METHODS

The survey on basic demographics, awareness, knowledge, and practices of SP was completed by 123 health and community care workers.

RESULTS

The mean age of respondents was 39.0 years. Nearly two-thirds had heard of SP. A lower proportion of acute hospital doctors (55.6%) and nurses (56.8%) had heard of SP compared with primary and subacute care doctors (75.0%). The majority agreed that SP benefits patients' mental health and reduces healthcare utilization. Primary care physicians, community nurses, and active ageing centres were the top three professionals selected as most responsible for SP by survey respondents. The most commonly cited barriers to SP were seniors' reluctance (63.4%), lacking knowledge on how to refer (59.3%), lack of time (44.7%), and cost to seniors (44.7%).

CONCLUSION

Overall, health and community care workers demonstrated positive attitudes toward SP and were keen to refer patients for SP. However, additional efforts are needed to improve knowledge about how to refer to and provide training on SP.

Association between social determinants of health and survival among the US cancer survivors population

BACKGROUND

Racial and ethnic disparities in mortality persist among US cancer survivors, with social determinants of health (SDoH) may have a significant impact on these disparities.

METHODS

A population-based cohort study of a nationally representative sample of adult cancer survivors, who participated in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2018 was included. Sociodemographic characteristics and SDoH were self-reported using standardized questionnaires in each survey cycle. The SDoH was examined by race and estimated for associations with primary outcomes, which included all-cause and cancer-specific mortality. Multiple mediation analysis was performed to assess the contribution of each unfavorable SDoH to racial disparities to all-cause and cancer-specific mortality.

RESULTS

Among 5163 cancer survivors (2724 [57.7%] females and 3580 [69.3%] non-Hispanic White individuals), only 881 (24.9%) did not report an unfavorable SDoH. During the follow-up period of up to 249 months (median 81 months), 1964 deaths were recorded (cancer, 624; cardiovascular, 529; other causes, 811). Disparities in all-cause and cancer-specific mortality were observed between non-Hispanic Black and White cancer survivors. Unemployment, lower economic status, education less than high school, government or no private insurance, renting a home or other arrangements, and social isolation were significantly and independently associated with worse overall survival. Unemployment, lower economic status, and social isolation were significantly associated with cancer-specific mortality. Compared to patients without an unfavorable SDoH, the risk of all-cause mortality was gradually increased in those with a cumulative number of unfavorable SDoHs (1 unfavorable SDoH: hazard ratio [HR] = 1.54, 95% CI 1.25-1.89; 2 unfavorable SDoHs: HR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.46-2.24; 3 unfavorable SDoHs: HR = 2.42, 95% CI 1.97-2.97; 4 unfavorable SDoHs: HR = 3.22, 95% CI 2.48-4.19; 5 unfavorable SDoHs: HR = 3.99, 95% CI 2.99-5.33; 6 unfavorable SDoHs: HR = 6.34 95% CI 4.51-8.90). A similar trend existed for cancer-specific mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

In this cohort study of a nationally representative sample of US cancer survivors, a greater number of unfavorable SDoH was associated with increased risks of mortality from all causes and cancer. Unfavorable SDoH levels were critical risk factors for all-cause and cancer-specific mortality, as well as the underlying cause of racial all-cause mortality disparities among US cancer survivors.

Inequity in US Racial/Ethnic Infant Health and Birth Outcomes: The Role of the Adult Sex Ratio as a Potential Indicator of Structural Anti-Black Racism

BACKGROUND

Structural racism accounts for inequity in health outcomes in ways that are difficult to measure. To conduct more actionable research and measure the impact of intervention programs, there is a need to develop indicator measures of structural racism. One potential candidate is the Adult Sex Ratio (ASR), which was identified by Du Bois as an important indicator of social life functioning over 100 years ago and has remained significant up to the present day. This study investigated the utility of this measure.

METHODS

We compared birth/infant health outcomes using the US 2000 Linked Birth/Infant Death Cohort Data Set matched with 2000 Census data on adult sex ratios in multilevel logistic regression models, stratified by the racial/ethnic category of the mothers.

RESULTS

In an adjusted model, the odds of infant death was 21% higher among non-Hispanic Black (NHB) women living in counties in the lowest ASR tertile category when compared to their counterparts in counties in the highest ASR tertile. Similarly, the odds of giving birth to a preterm or a low birth weight infant were each 20% higher among NHB women living in counties in the lowest ASR tertile compared to their counterparts in counties in the highest ASR tertile.

CONCLUSION

ASRs may serve as a useful indicator of anti-Black structural racism at the local level. More research is needed to determine the circumstances under which this factor may serve to improve assessment of structural racism and facilitate health equity research.

Ultraviolet Radiation Biological and Medical Implications

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation plays a crucial role in the development of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The types of UV radiation are differentiated by wavelength: UVA (315 to 400 nm), UVB (280 to 320 nm), and UVC (100 to 280 nm). UV radiation can cause direct DNA damage in the forms of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and 6-4 photoproducts (6-4PPs). In addition, UV radiation can also cause DNA damage indirectly through photosensitization reactions caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS), which manifest as 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanine (8-OHdG). Both direct and indirect DNA damage can lead to mutations in genes that promote the development of skin cancers. The development of melanoma is largely influenced by the signaling of the melanocortin one receptor (MC1R), which plays an essential role in the synthesis of melanin in the skin. UV-induced mutations in the BRAF and NRAS genes are also significant risk factors in melanoma development. UV radiation plays a significant role in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) development by causing mutations in the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway, which dysregulates cell proliferation and survival. UV radiation can also induce the development of squamous cell carcinoma via mutations in the TP53 gene and upregulation of MMPs in the stroma layer of the skin.

Early Home Visits and Health Outcomes in Low-Income Mothers and Offspring: 18-Year Follow-Up of a Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Individuals with low income may have heightened rates of obesity and hypertension.

Objective

To determine whether prenatal and infancy home visitation by nurses reduces maternal and offspring obesity and hypertension.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This randomized clinical trial of prenatal and infancy nurse home visitation in a public health care system in Memphis, Tennessee, enrolled 742 women with no previous live births and at least 2 sociodemographic risk factors (unmarried, <12 years of education, unemployed) from June 1, 1990, through August 31, 1991. At registration during pregnancy, 727 mothers (98%) were unmarried, and 631 (85%) lived below the federal poverty level. At offspring ages 12 and 18 years, maternal and offspring obesity and hypertension were assessed by staff masked to treatment. The data analysis was performed from July 1, 2021, to October 31, 2023.

Interventions

Women assigned to the control group received free transportation for prenatal care and child developmental screening and referral at child ages 6, 12, and 24 months. Women assigned to nurse visitation received transportation and screening plus prenatal and infant and toddler nurse home visits.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Obesity and hypertension among mothers and their offspring at child ages 12 and 18 years, although not hypothesized in the original trial design, were analyzed using post-double selection lasso method.

Results

Of the 742 participants randomized (mean [SD] age, 18.1 [3.2] years), interviews were completed with 594 mothers and 578 offspring at child age 12 years and 618 mothers and 629 offspring at child age 18 years. Obesity was assessed for 576 offspring at age 12 years and 605 at age 18 years and for 563 and 598 mothers at child ages 12 and 18 years, respectively. Blood pressure was assessed for 568 offspring aged 12 years and 596 aged 18 years and 507 and 592 mothers at child ages 12 and 18 years, respectively. There were no overall treatment-control differences in offspring obesity or hypertension at ages 12 and 18 years combined, although nurse-visited female offspring, compared with controls, had a lower prevalence of obesity (adjusted relative risk [ARR], 0.449; 95% CI, 0.234-0.858; P = .003) and severe obesity (ARR, 0.185; 95% CI, 0.046-0.748; P < .001). There were reductions at ages 12 and 18 years combined for stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension for nurse-visited vs control group mothers, with differences limited to mothers of females (stage 1: ARR, 0.613 [95% CI, 0.440-0.855; P = .001]; stage 2: ARR, 0.217 [95% CI, 0.081-0.582; P < .001]). For both obesity and hypertension outcomes, there was no intervention effect among male offspring or the mothers of males. Self-reported maternal health aligned with program effects on hypertension.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this clinical trial follow-up at offspring ages 12 and 18, nurse-visited female offspring had lower rates of obesity and mothers of females had lower rates of hypertension than control-group counterparts. These findings suggest that risks for chronic disease among mothers of females and their female offspring who live in extreme poverty may be prevented with prenatal and infant and toddler home visitations by nurses.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00708695.

Exploring Preventive Health Care Utilization Among Black/African American Men

Black/African American (BAA) men have the lowest life expectancy among other major demographic groups in the United States, with BAA male mortality rates 40% higher than their White male counterparts. Despite known benefits of preventive health care utilization, BAA men are 43% more likely to use the emergency department for usual care. Many intersecting factors like medical mistrust and religion have been identified as common barriers BAA men face in health care utilization with few studies exploring factors that impact their current preventive health care utilization. In addition, BAA men's perceptions of health and ability to identify or seek help have always been disproportionately lower than other racial groups despite higher rates of preventable diseases. Using the tenets of the Andersen Healthcare Utilization Model, this cross-sectional study of 176 BAA men explores BAA men's current preventive health care practices while examining the intersection of predisposing, enabling, and need factors on BAA men's preventive health care utilization. While it is well known that higher income levels and higher education positively influence health care utilization, the intersection of religious affiliation and higher levels of medical mistrust was associated with BAA men's decreased engagement with health care as religion posed as a buffer to health care utilization. This study demonstrated that BAA men's perception of health differed by sexual orientation, educational status, and income. However, across all groups the participants' perspective of their health was not in alignment with their current health outcomes. Future studies should evaluate the impact of masculine norms as potential enabling factors on BAA men's preventive health care utilization.

Racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 vaccine uptake: A mediation framework

BACKGROUND

Previous research suggests that racial and ethnic minority groups especially Black Americans showed stronger COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and resistance, which may result from a lack of trust toward the government and vaccine manufacturers, among other sociodemographic and health factors.

OBJECTIVES

The current study explored potential social and economic, clinical, and psychological factors that may have mediated racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 vaccine uptake among US adults.

METHODS

A sample of 6078 US individuals was selected from a national longitudinal survey administered in 2020-2021. Baseline characteristics were collected in December 2020, and respondents were followed up to July 2021. Racial and ethnic disparities in time to vaccine initiation and completion (based on a 2-dose regimen) were first assessed with the Kaplan-Meier Curve and log-rank test, and then explored with the Cox proportional hazards model adjusting for potential time-varying mediators, such as education, income, marital status, chronic health conditions, trust in vaccine development and approval processes, and perceived risk of infection.

RESULTS

Prior to mediator adjustment, Black and Hispanic Americans had slower vaccine initiation and completion than Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and White Americans (p's < 0.0001). After accounting for the mediators, there were no significant differences in vaccine initiation or completion between each minoritized group as compared to White Americans. Education, household income, marital status, chronic health conditions, trust, and perceived infection risk were potential mediators.

CONCLUSION

Racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 vaccine uptake were mediated through social and economic conditions, psychological influences, and chronic health conditions. To address the racial and ethnic inequity in vaccination, it is important to target the social, economic, and psychological forces behind it.

Impacts of a Workplace-Based Weight-Control Intervention on Objective and Perceived Physical Activity among a Subgroup of Workers

Physical activity (PA) has many benefits; however, groups facing barriers to health-promoting behaviors are less likely to be physically active. This may be addressed through workplace interventions. The current study employs objective (accelerometry) and perceived (International Physical Activity Questionnaire [IPAQ]) measures of PA among a subset of participants from the "Working for You" study, which tests a multi-level (work group and individual) workplace intervention targeted at workers with low-incomes. Linear mixed and hierarchical logistic regression models are used to determine the intervention's impact on moderate- to vigorous-PA (MVPA) and achieving the PA Guideline for Americans (≥150 minutes MVPA/week), respectively from baseline to 6- and 24-months, relative to a control group. Correlations (Spearman Rho) between perceived and objective PA are assessed. Of the 140 workers (69 control, 71 intervention) in the sub-study, 131 (94%) have valid data at baseline, 88 (63%) at 6-months, and 77 (55%) at 24-months. Changes in MVPA are not significantly different among intervention relative to control participants assessed by accelerometer or IPAQ at 6- or 24-months follow-up. The percent achieving the PA Guideline for Americans does not vary by treatment group by any measure at any time point (e.g., baseline accelerometry: [control: n=37 (57%); intervention: n=35 (53%)]). This study identifies limited agreement (correlation range: 0.04 to 0.42, all p>.05) between perceived and objective measures. Results suggest the intervention did not improve PA among the sub-study participants. Though agreement between objective and perceived MVPA is low, similar conclusions regarding intervention effectiveness are drawn.