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Fowler ME, Harmon C, Sharafeldin N, Baker E, Oates G, Nassel A, Clausing D, Giri S, Williams GR. The association between food access and frailty among older adults with gastrointestinal malignancies-The CARE Registry. Cancer 2024; 130:1083-1091. [PMID: 38059840 PMCID: PMC10939932 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.35144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Food access is associated with higher gastrointestinal (GI) cancer mortality; however, its association with frailty, which is a predictor of premature mortality among older adults with cancer, is less understood. METHODS The authors included 880 adults aged 60 years and older who were recently diagnosed with GI cancers and were undergoing self-reported geriatric assessment at their first prechemotherapy visit to the University of Alabama at Birmingham oncology clinic. Food access was measured using the 2019 US Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service designation low-income, low-access (LILA), classifying census tracts based on income and/or access to food stores at various distances. The primary outcome was frailty on the CARE (Cancer and Aging Resilience Evaluation) Frailty Index, a composite of the proportion of impaired geriatric assessment measures. The authors examined the LILA-frailty association with modified Poisson regression accounting for census-tract clustering. RESULTS The median patient age was 69 years, 58.1% were men, 22.5% were non-Hispanic Black, 29.2% had colorectal cancer, 28.0% had pancreatic cancer, 70.1% presented with stage III/IV disease, and 34.9% were frail. A higher proportion in LILA areas were non-Hispanic Black (44.1% vs. 10.8%; p < .001) and had less education (high school or less: 48.1% vs. 37.9%; p = .020). Adjusting for age, race and ethnicity, sex, cancer type and stage, and education, an LILA designation was associated with 58% greater odds of worsening frailty status (95% confidence interval, 1.18-2.12). An analysis of LILA subcategories revealed that associations were maintained across all LILA measures. CONCLUSIONS Poor food access was associated with a greater risk of frailty among newly diagnosed older adults with GI cancers before they received systemic treatment. Intervening on local food access, particularly in LILA areas, may be a target for improving rates of frailty and promoting health equity in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie E. Fowler
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Christian Harmon
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Noha Sharafeldin
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Elizabeth Baker
- Department of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Gabriela Oates
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Ariann Nassel
- Lister Hill Center for Health Policy, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Daniel Clausing
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Smith Giri
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
- Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Grant R. Williams
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
- DCH Health System, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
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2
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Webb LV, Evans J, Smith V, Pettibone E, Tofil J, Hicks JF, Green S, Nassel A, Loberger JM. Sociodemographic Factors are Associated with Care Delivery and Outcomes in Pediatric Severe Sepsis. Crit Care Explor 2024; 6:e1056. [PMID: 38415020 PMCID: PMC10896474 DOI: 10.1097/cce.0000000000001056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Sepsis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and disparate outcomes exist between racial/ethnic groups despite improvements in sepsis management. These observed differences are often related to social determinants of health (SDoH). Little is known about the role of SDoH on outcomes in pediatric sepsis. OBJECTIVE This study examined the differences in care delivery and outcomes in children with severe sepsis based on race/ethnicity and neighborhood context (as measured by the social vulnerability index). DESIGN SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective, cross-sectional study was completed in a quaternary care children's hospital. Patients 18 years old or younger who were admitted between May 1, 2018, and February 28, 2022, met the improving pediatric sepsis outcomes (IPSO) collaborative definition for severe sepsis. Composite measures of social vulnerability, care delivery, and clinical outcomes were stratified by race/ethnicity. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome of interest was admission to the PICU. Secondary outcomes were sepsis recognition and early goal-directed therapy (EGDT). RESULTS A total of 967 children met the criteria for IPSO-defined severe sepsis, of whom 53.4% were White/non-Hispanic. Nearly half of the cohort (48.7%) required PICU admission. There was no difference in illness severity at PICU admission by race (1.01 vs. 1.1, p = 0.18). Non-White race/Hispanic ethnicity was independently associated with PICU admission (odds ratio [OR] 1.35 [1.01-1.8], p = 0.04). Although social vulnerability was not independently associated with PICU admission (OR 0.95 [0.59-1.53], p = 0.83), non-White children were significantly more likely to reside in vulnerable neighborhoods (0.66 vs. 0.38, p < 0.001). Non-White race was associated with lower sepsis recognition (87.8% vs. 93.6%, p = 0.002) and less EGDT compliance (35.7% vs. 42.8%, p = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Non-White race/ethnicity was independently associated with PICU admission. Differences in care delivery were also identified. Prospective studies are needed to further investigate these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lece V Webb
- Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Jakob Evans
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrics Residency Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Veronica Smith
- Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Elisabeth Pettibone
- Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | | | - Jessica Floyd Hicks
- Performance Improvement and Accreditation Department, Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
| | - Sherry Green
- Performance Improvement and Accreditation Department, Children's of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
| | - Ariann Nassel
- Lister Hill Center for Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL
| | - Jeremy M Loberger
- Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
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Patel VR, Jella T, Gupta A, Nassel A, Ibrahim A, Hussaini SQ. Association of Neighborhood-Level Environmental Injustice With Health Status in the US. JAMA Intern Med 2023; 183:1162-1163. [PMID: 37578753 PMCID: PMC10425860 DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.2835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
This cross-sectional study uses the Environmental Justice Index to assess the association between environmental injustice and health status at the neighborhood level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishal R. Patel
- Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin
| | - Tarun Jella
- Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Arjun Gupta
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
| | - Ariann Nassel
- Lister Hill Center for Health Policy, University of Alabama, Birmingham
| | - Andrew Ibrahim
- Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- Taubman College of Architecture & Urban Planning, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - S.M. Qasim Hussaini
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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4
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Matthews LT, Long DM, Bassler J, Nassel A, Levitan EB, Heath SL, Rastegar J, Pratt MC, Kempf MC. Geospatial analysis of time to HIV diagnosis and adult HIV testing coverage highlights areas for intervention in the U.S. Southeast. Open Forum Infect Dis 2023; 10:ofad107. [PMID: 36968965 PMCID: PMC10034756 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
In the U.S., 44% of people with HIV (PWH) live in the Southeastern census region; many PWH remain undiagnosed. Novel strategies to inform testing outreach in rural states with dispersed HIV-epidemics are needed.
Methods
Alabama state public health HIV testing surveillance data from 2013-2017 were used to estimate time from infection to HIV diagnosis using CD4 T-cell depletion modeling, mapped to county. Diagnostic HIV tests performed 2013-2021 by commercial testing entities were used to estimate HIV tests per 100,000 adults (15-65-year-old), mapped to client ZIP code tabulation area (ZCTA). We then defined testing “cold spots”: those with <10% adults tested plus either (a) within or bordering one of the 13 counties with HIV prevalence greater than 400 cases per 100,000 population or (b) within a county with average time to diagnosis greater than the state average to inform testing outreach.
Results
Time to HIV diagnosis is a median of 3.7 (IQR 0-9.2) years across Alabama, with a range from 0.06-12.25 years. Approximately 63% of counties (N=42) have a longer time-to-diagnosis compared to national U.S. estimates. 643 ZCTAs tested 17.3% (IQR: 10.3%,25.0%) of the adult population from 2013-2017. To prioritize areas for testing outreach, we generated maps to describe 47 areas of HIV-testing cold spots at the ZCTA level.
Conclusions
Combining public health surveillance with commercial testing data provides a more nuanced understanding of HIV testing gaps in a state with a rural HIV epidemic and identifies areas to prioritize for testing outreach.
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Affiliation(s)
- L T Matthews
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama , USA
| | - D M Long
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama , USA
| | - John Bassler
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama , USA
| | - A Nassel
- Lister Hill Center for Health Policy, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama , USA
| | - E B Levitan
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama , USA
| | - S L Heath
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama , USA
| | - J Rastegar
- Center for AIDS Research, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama , USA
| | - M C Pratt
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama , USA
| | - M C Kempf
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama , USA
- Family, Community, and Health Systems, School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham, Alabama , USA
- Departments of Epidemiology and Health Behavior, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Alabama , USA
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Robbins LS, Szychowski JM, Nassel A, Arora G, Armour EK, Walker Z, Rajapreyar IN, Kraus A, Wingate M, Tita AT, Sinkey RG. Geographic disparities in peripartum cardiomyopathy outcomes. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2023; 5:100788. [PMID: 36309247 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2022.100788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardiomyopathy causes more than a third of late postpartum pregnancy-related deaths in the United States, and racial disparities in outcomes among pregnant individuals with cardiomyopathy exist. Underlying community factors may contribute to disparities in peripartum cardiomyopathy outcomes. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to identify the geographic distribution of and disparities in peripartum cardiomyopathy outcomes, hypothesizing that patients living in communities with higher social vulnerability may have worse outcomes. STUDY DESIGN This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy per the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute definition from January 2000 to November 2017 at a single center, excluding those with a post office box address as a post office box address may not reflect the census tract in which a patient resides. Severe peripartum cardiomyopathy (vs less severe peripartum cardiomyopathy) was defined as ejection fraction <30%, death, intensive care unit admission, left ventricular assist device or implantable cardioverter defibrillator placement, or transplant. The US census tract for the patient's address was linked to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Social Vulnerability Index, a 0 to 1 scale of a community's vulnerability to external stresses on health, with higher values indicating greater vulnerability. The Social Vulnerability Index includes social factors divided into socioeconomic, household composition, minority status, and housing type and transportation themes. The Social Vulnerability Index and Social Vulnerability Index components were compared among patients by peripartum cardiomyopathy severity. RESULTS Of 95 patients in the original cohort, 5 were excluded because of the use of a post office box address. Of the remaining 90 patients, 56 met severe peripartum cardiomyopathy criteria. At baseline, individuals with and without severe peripartum cardiomyopathy had similar ages, marital status, payor type, tobacco use, gestational age at delivery, and mode of delivery; however, individuals with severe peripartum cardiomyopathy were more likely to be Black (vs White) (59% vs 29%; P<.007) and less likely to recover ejection fraction (EF) to ≥55% by 12 months (36% vs 62%; P=.02) than individuals with less severe peripartum cardiomyopathy. Patients with severe peripartum cardiomyopathy were more likely to live in areas with a higher Social Vulnerability Index (0.51 vs 0.31; P=.002) and with more residents who were unemployed, impoverished, without a high school diploma, in single-parent households, of minority status, without a vehicle, and in institutionalized group quarters than patients with less severe peripartum cardiomyopathy. The median income was lower in communities of individuals with severe peripartum cardiomyopathy than in communities of individuals with less severe peripartum cardiomyopathy. CONCLUSION Patients with severe peripartum cardiomyopathy outcomes were more likely to live in communities with greater social vulnerability than patients with less severe peripartum cardiomyopathy outcomes. To reduce disparities and maternal mortality rates, resources may need to be directed to socially vulnerable communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay S Robbins
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA (Dr Robbins); Center for Maternal and Child Health Equity and Advocacy, Eastern Virginia Medical School Norfolk, VA (Dr Robbins)
| | - Jeff M Szychowski
- Center for Women's Reproductive Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL (Drs Szychowski, Tita, and Sinkey); Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL (Dr Szychowski)
| | - Ariann Nassel
- Department of Health Policy and Organization, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL (Ms Nassel and Dr Wingate)
| | - Gazal Arora
- Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL (Mses Arora and Kraus)
| | - Emily K Armour
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (Dr Armour)
| | - Zachary Walker
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA (Dr Walker)
| | - Indranee N Rajapreyar
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA (Dr Rajapreyar)
| | - Abigayle Kraus
- Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL (Mses Arora and Kraus)
| | - Martha Wingate
- Department of Health Policy and Organization, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL (Ms Nassel and Dr Wingate)
| | - Alan T Tita
- Center for Women's Reproductive Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL (Drs Szychowski, Tita, and Sinkey); Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL (Drs Tita and Sinkey)
| | - Rachel G Sinkey
- Center for Women's Reproductive Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL (Drs Szychowski, Tita, and Sinkey); Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL (Drs Tita and Sinkey).
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McCarley C, Blanchard CT, Champion ML, Nassel A, Battarbee AN, Subramaniam A. The association between social vulnerability index and neonatal intensive care unit admission. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.11.222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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7
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Champion ML, Blanchard CT, Shrestha KS, Nassel A, Battarbee AN, Subramaniam A. The association between social vulnerability index and preeclampsia. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.11.440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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8
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Orfanakos VB, Champion ML, Nassel A, Subramaniam A, Battarbee AN. Social vulnerability and adverse outcomes in patients with gestational and pregestational diabetes. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.11.710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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Seasely AR, Blanchard CT, Nassel A, Odom JD, Sinkey R, Battarbee AN, Casey BM, Tita AT, Subramaniam A. Association of social vulnerability index on COVID-19 infection severity during pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.11.192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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Nassel A, Wilson-Barthes MG, Howe CJ, Napravnik S, Mugavero MJ, Agil D, Dulin AJ. Characterizing the neighborhood risk environment in multisite clinic-based cohort studies: A practical geocoding and data linkages protocol for protected health information. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0278672. [PMID: 36580446 PMCID: PMC9799318 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maintaining patient privacy when geocoding and linking residential address information with neighborhood-level data can create challenges during research. Challenges may arise when study staff have limited training in geocoding and linking data, or when non-study staff with appropriate expertise have limited availability, are unfamiliar with a study's population or objectives, or are not affordable for the study team. Opportunities for data breaches may also arise when working with non-study staff who are not on-site. We detail a free, user-friendly protocol for constructing indices of the neighborhood risk environment during multisite, clinic-based cohort studies that rely on participants' protected health information. This protocol can be implemented by study staff who do not have prior training in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and can help minimize the operational costs of integrating geographic data into public health projects. METHODS This protocol demonstrates how to: (1) securely geocode patients' residential addresses in a clinic setting and match geocoded addresses to census tracts using Geographic Information System software (Esri, Redlands, CA); (2) ascertain contextual variables of the risk environment from the American Community Survey and ArcGIS Business Analyst (Esri, Redlands, CA); (3) use geoidentifiers to link neighborhood risk data to census tracts containing geocoded addresses; and (4) assign randomly generated identifiers to census tracts and strip census tracts of their geoidentifiers to maintain patient confidentiality. RESULTS Completion of this protocol generates three neighborhood risk indices (i.e., Neighborhood Disadvantage Index, Murder Rate Index, and Assault Rate Index) for patients' coded census tract locations. CONCLUSIONS This protocol can be used by research personnel without prior GIS experience to easily create objective indices of the neighborhood risk environment while upholding patient confidentiality. Future studies can adapt this protocol to fit their specific patient populations and analytic objectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariann Nassel
- Lister Hill Center for Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Marta G. Wilson-Barthes
- Center for Epidemiologic Research, Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Chanelle J. Howe
- Center for Epidemiologic Research, Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Sonia Napravnik
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Michael J. Mugavero
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Center for AIDS Research, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Deana Agil
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Akilah J. Dulin
- Center for Health Promotion and Health Equity, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
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Cannon RM, Nassel A, Walker JT, Sheikh SS, Orandi BJ, Shah MB, Lynch RJ, Goldberg DS, Locke JE. County-level Differences in Liver-related Mortality, Waitlisting, and Liver Transplantation in the United States. Transplantation 2022; 106:1799-1806. [PMID: 35609185 PMCID: PMC9420757 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000004171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Much of our understanding regarding geographic issues in transplantation is based on statistical techniques that do not formally account for geography and is based on obsolete boundaries such as donation service area. METHODS We applied spatial epidemiological techniques to analyze liver-related mortality and access to liver transplant services at the county level using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients from 2010 to 2018. RESULTS There was a significant negative spatial correlation between transplant rates and liver-related mortality at the county level (Moran's I, -0.319; P = 0.001). Significant clusters were identified with high transplant rates and low liver-related mortality. Counties in geographic clusters with high ratios of liver transplants to liver-related deaths had more liver transplant centers within 150 nautical miles (6.7 versus 3.6 centers; P < 0.001) compared with all other counties, as did counties in geographic clusters with high ratios of waitlist additions to liver-related deaths (8.5 versus 2.5 centers; P < 0.001). The spatial correlation between waitlist mortality and overall liver-related mortality was positive (Moran's I, 0.060; P = 0.001) but weaker. Several areas with high waitlist mortality had some of the lowest overall liver-related mortality in the country. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that high waitlist mortality and allocation model for end-stage liver disease do not necessarily correlate with decreased access to transplant, whereas local transplant center density is associated with better access to waitlisting and transplant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M. Cannon
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Ariann Nassel
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Lister Hill Center for Health Policy, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Jeffery T. Walker
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Center for the Study of Community Health, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Saulat S. Sheikh
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Babak J. Orandi
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Malay B. Shah
- University of Kentucky, Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Raymond J. Lynch
- Emory University, Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - David S. Goldberg
- University of Miami, Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive Health and Liver Disease, Miami, Florida
| | - Jayme E. Locke
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, Birmingham, Alabama
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Fifolt M, Mooney SJ, Nabavi M, Karimi M, Nassel A, McCormick LC. Examining the Built Environment for Healthy Living via Virtual Street Audits. Environ Health Insights 2022; 16:11786302221104653. [PMID: 35719848 PMCID: PMC9201360 DOI: 10.1177/11786302221104653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
During the fall 2019 and spring 2020 semesters, 156 MPH students enrolled in the Integrative Learning Experience at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health explored concepts of the built environment and health by auditing 2500 street segments in 4 urban neighborhoods in Birmingham, Alabama. In teams of 4 to 5, in-class and online students worked collaboratively to assess 63 built environment variables related to transportation, land use, advertisement, and neighborhood physical disorder. This type of "community assessment" is the first stage of the Evidence-based Public Health Framework and consistent with the applied nature of an MPH degree. Authors conducted secondary data analysis of final team assignments to demonstrate how students translated observations and ratings into practical recommendations for neighborhood improvements to promote physical activity. Students recommended improvements in neighborhood infrastructure and services, specifically: creating exercise space, providing outdoor exercise equipment, improving neighborhood safety, and cultivating a culture of health. The Integrative Learning Experience course encouraged students to use their knowledge and skills to prioritize recommendations to improve neighborhood conditions. Variable ratings and observations increased student awareness of the built environment and its potential to impact individual and community health. Moreover, the project helped students make connections between proximal outcomes, such as improving neighborhood walkability, and distal outcomes, such as improved health outcomes among residents. Finally, this project modeled for students the use of evidence-based strategies for making data-informed decisions, which are essential skills for new and emerging public health professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Fifolt
- Department of Health Policy and
Organization, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Stephen J Mooney
- Department of Epidemiology, University
of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Meena Nabavi
- Office of Public Health Practice,
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Maryam Karimi
- Department of Environmental Health
Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Ariann Nassel
- Lister Hill Center for Health Policy,
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Lisa C McCormick
- Department of Environmental Health
Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
- Office of Public Health Practice,
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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Robbins LS, Szychowski JM, Nassel A, Armour EK, Walker ZW, Rajapreyar I, Wingate M, Tita A, Sinkey RG. 1063 Social vulnerability may underly racial disparities in peripartum cardiomyopathy outcomes. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2020.12.1088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Kennedy RE, Williams CP, Sawyer P, Lo AX, Connelly K, Nassel A, Brown CJ. Life-Space Predicts Health Care Utilization in Community-Dwelling Older Adults. J Aging Health 2017; 31:280-292. [PMID: 29254407 DOI: 10.1177/0898264317730487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether decline in life-space mobility predicts increased health care utilization among community-dwelling older adults. METHOD Health care utilization (number of emergency department [ED] visits and hospitalizations) was self-reported during monthly interviews among 419 community-dwelling African American and non-Hispanic White adults aged 75 years and older in The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Study of Aging II. Life-space was measured using the UAB Life-Space Assessment. Generalized estimating equations were used to examine associations of life-space at the beginning of each interval with health care utilization over the 1-month interval. RESULTS Overall, 400 participants were followed for 36 months. A 10-point decrease in life-space was associated with 14% increased odds of an ED visit and/or hospitalization over the next month, adjusting for demographics, transportation difficulty, comorbidity, and having a doctor visit in the last month. DISCUSSION Life-space is a practical alternative in predicting future health care utilization to performance-based measures, which can be difficult to incorporate into clinical or public health practice.
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Kennedy R, Williams C, Sawyer P, Lo A, Connelly K, Nassel A, Brown C. LIFE-SPACE PREDICTS HEALTHCARE UTILIZATION IN COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS. Innov Aging 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igx004.343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- R.E. Kennedy
- Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama,
| | - C. Williams
- Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama,
| | - P. Sawyer
- Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama,
| | - A. Lo
- Emergency Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama,
| | | | - A. Nassel
- School of Public Health, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - C. Brown
- Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama,
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Hoppe J, Monte A, Sasson C, Nassel A, Heard S, Kile D, Heard K. EMF-2 The Use of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs and Geographic Information Systems to Identify Communities at Risk of Prescription Opioid Overdose Fatalities. Ann Emerg Med 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2014.07.430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Hites LS, Fifolt M, Beck H, Su W, Kerbawy S, Wakelee J, Nassel A. A geospatial mixed methods approach to assessing campus safety. Eval Rev 2013; 37:347-369. [PMID: 24379450 DOI: 10.1177/0193841x13509815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While there is no panacea for alleviating campus safety concerns, safety experts agree that one of the key components to an effective campus security plan is monitoring the environment. Despite previous attempts to measure campus safety, quantifying perceptions of fear, safety, and risk remains a challenging issue. Since perceptions of safety and incidents of crime do not necessarily mirror one another, both were utilized in this investigation. PURPOSE The purpose of this article is to describe an innovative, mixed methods approach for assessing campus safety at a large, urban campus in the southeast region of the United States. METHOD A concurrent triangulation design was implemented to allow investigators the opportunity to collect qualitative and quantitative data simultaneously and integrate results in the interpretation phase. Data were collected from four distinct sources of information. RESULTS Student focus groups yielded data regarding perceptions of risk, and kernel density analysis was used to identify "hot spots" of campus crime incidents. CONCLUSION While in many cases perceived risk and actual crime incidents were associated, incidents of hot spots of each type occurred independently with such frequency that an overall correlation of the two was not significant. Accordingly, while no significant correlation between perceived risk and crime incidents was confirmed statistically, the geospatial integration of these data suggested three types of safety conditions. Further, the combination of focus group data and spatial analyses provided a more comprehensive and, therefore, more complete understanding of the multifaceted issues related to campus safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisle S Hites
- Department of Health Care Organization and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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Sasson C, Cudnik MT, Nassel A, Semple H, Magid DJ, Sayre M, Keseg D, Haukoos JS, Warden CR. Identifying high-risk geographic areas for cardiac arrest using three methods for cluster analysis. Acad Emerg Med 2012; 19:139-46. [PMID: 22320364 DOI: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2011.01284.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective was to identify high-risk census tracts, defined as those areas that have both a high incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and a low prevalence of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), by using three spatial statistical methods. METHODS This was a secondary analysis of two prospectively collected registries in the city of Columbus, Ohio. Consecutive adult (≥18 years) OHCA patients, restricted to those of cardiac etiology and treated by emergency medical services (EMS) from April 1, 2004, to April 30, 2009, were studied. Three different spatial analysis methods (Global Empirical Bayes, Local Moran's I, and SaTScan's spatial scan statistic) were used to identify high-risk census tracts. RESULTS A total of 4,553 arrests in 200 census tracts occurred during the study period, with 1,632 arrests included in the final sample after exclusions for no resuscitation attempt, noncardiac etiology, etc. The overall incidence for OHCA was 0.70 per 1,000 people for the 6-year study period (SD = ±0.52). Bystander CPR occurred in 20.2% (n = 329), with 10.0% (n = 167) surviving to hospital discharge. Five high-risk census tracts were identified by all three analytic methods. CONCLUSIONS The five high-risk census tracts identified may be possible sites for high-yield targeted community-based interventions to improve CPR training and cardiovascular disease education efforts and ultimately improve survival from OHCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Comilla Sasson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
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