The influence of environmental risk factors in hospitalization for GERD-related diagnoses in the United States

SUMMARYHelicobacter pylori imparts a considerable burden to public health. Infections are mainly acquired in childhood and can lead to chronic diseases, including gastric ulcers and cancer. The bacterium subsists in water, but the environment's role in transmission remains poorly understood. The nationally representative National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was examined for environmental risk factors associated with H. pylori seroprevalence. Data from 1999–2000 were examined and weighted to represent the US population. Multivariable logistic regression estimated adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations with seropositivity. Self-reported general health condition was inversely associated with seropositivity. Of participants aged <20 years, seropositivity was significantly associated with having a well as the source of home tap water (aOR 1·7, 95% CI 1·1–2·6) and living in a more crowded home (aOR 2·3, 95% CI 1·5–3·7). Of adults aged ⩾20 years, seropositivity was not associated with well water or crowded living conditions, but adults in soil-related occupations had significantly higher odds of seropositivity compared to those in non-soil-related occupations (aOR 1·9, 95% CI 1·2–2·9). Exposures to both well water and occupationally related soil increased the effect size of adults' odds of seropositivity compared to non-exposed adults (aOR 2·7, 95% CI 1·3-5·6). Environmental exposures (well-water usage and occupational contact with soil) play a role in H. pylori transmission. A disproportionate burden of infection is associated with poor health and crowded living conditions, but risks vary by age and race/ethnicity. These findings could help inform interventions to reduce the burden of infections in the United States.

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Increased Prevalence of Psychosocial, Behavioral, and Socio-Environmental Risk Factors among Overweight and Obese Youths in Mexico and the United States

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16091534 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (9) ◽

pp. 1534 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yvonne N. Flores ◽

Zuelma A. Contreras ◽

Paula Ramírez-Palacios ◽

Leo S. Morales ◽

Todd C. Edwards ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Environmental Risk ◽

Body Image Dissatisfaction ◽

The United States ◽

Environmental Risk Factors ◽

P Value ◽

Healthy Weight ◽

Weight Control Behaviors ◽

Obese Youth

The aim of this study was to examine various psychosocial, behavioral, and socio-environmental factors in a multiethnic sample of healthy-weight, overweight, and obese youths in the United States (US) and Mexico and determine differences by sex. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 633 youths aged 11–18 years who completed a self-reported questionnaire. Height and weight were measured to determine body mass index (BMI). Overweight and obese youth in both countries were significantly more likely to report a higher body image dissatisfaction (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.67 and OR= 2.95, respectively), depressive symptoms (OR = 1.08 and OR = 1.12, respectively), perceive themselves as overweight (OR = 2.57) or obese (OR = 5.30), and a lower weight-specific quality of life (OR = 0.97 and OR = 0.95, respectively) than healthy-weight youth. Obese youth have lower healthy lifestyle priorities (OR = 0.75) and are less likely to be physically active (OR = 0.79) and eat breakfast (OR = 0.47) than healthy-weight youth. Additionally, overweight and obese youth are more likely to engage in weight control behaviors (OR = 5.19 and OR = 8.88, respectively) and restrained eating than healthy-weight youth. All the aforementioned results had a p-value of <0.05, which was considered statistically significant. The association between these factors and overweight or obesity remained significant after controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and country. In conclusion, obesity was associated with a range of psychosocial, behavioral, and socio-environmental risk factors in both countries. Our findings support the need for multifactorial approaches when developing interventions to address the growing problem of obesity among youth in the US and Mexico.

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A comprehensive analysis of racial disparities in chemical biomarker concentrations in United States women, 1999-2014

10.1101/746867 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Vy Kim Nguyen ◽

Adam Kahana ◽

Julien Heidt ◽

Katelyn Polemi ◽

Jacob Kvasnicka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

United States ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Racial Disparities ◽

Environmental Risk ◽

Mexican American ◽

Age Groups ◽

Chemical Exposure ◽

Environmental Risk Factors ◽

Race Ethnicity

AbstractBackgroundStark racial disparities in disease incidence among American women remains a persistent public health challenge. These disparities likely result from complex interactions between genetic, social, lifestyle, and environmental risk factors. The influence of environmental risk factors, such as chemical exposure, however, may be substantial and is poorly understood.ObjectivesWe quantitatively evaluated chemical-exposure disparities by race/ethnicity and age in United States (US) women by using biomarker data for 143 chemicals from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2014.MethodsWe applied a series of survey-weighted, generalized linear models using data from the entire NHANES women population and age-group stratified subpopulations. The outcome was chemical biomarker concentration and the main predictor was race/ethnicity with adjustment for age, socioeconomic status, smoking habits, and NHANES cycle.ResultsThe highest disparities across non-Hispanic Black, Mexican American, Other Hispanic, and other race/multiracial women were observed for pesticides and their metabolites, including 2,5-dichlorophenol, o,p’-DDE, beta-hexachlorocyclohexane, and 2,4-dichlorophenol, along with personal care and consumer product compounds. The latter included parabens, monoethyl phthalate, and several metals, such as mercury and arsenic. Moreover, for Mexican American, Other Hispanic, and non-Hispanic black women, there were several exposure disparities that persisted across age groups, such as higher 2,4- and 2,5-dichlorophenol concentrations. Exposure differences for methyl and propyl parabens, however, were the starkest between non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white children with average differences exceeding 4 folds.DiscussionsWe systematically evaluated differences in chemical exposures across women of various race/ethnic groups and across age groups. Our findings could help inform chemical prioritization in designing epidemiological and toxicological studies. In addition, they could help guide public health interventions to reduce environmental and health disparities across populations.

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Current Perspective on the Global and United States Cancer Burden Attributable to Lifestyle and Environmental Risk Factors

Annual Review of Public Health ◽

10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031912-114350 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 34 (1) ◽

pp. 97-117 ◽

Cited By ~ 63

Author(s):

David Schottenfeld ◽

Jennifer L. Beebe-Dimmer ◽

Patricia A. Buffler ◽

Gilbert S. Omenn

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Environmental Risk ◽

Environmental Risk Factors ◽

Cancer Burden ◽

Current Perspective

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Similar birth-cohort patterns in Crohn’s disease and multiple sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458517691620 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 140-149 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Amnon Sonnenberg ◽

Vladeta Ajdacic-Gross

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Crohn’S Disease ◽

Crohn's Disease ◽

Birth Cohort ◽

Environmental Risk ◽

Time Trends ◽

The United States ◽

Environmental Risk Factors

Background: The etiology of Crohn’s disease and multiple sclerosis is unknown. Genetic susceptibility and environmental factors are believed to play a role in both diseases. Objectives: To compare the long-term time trends of the two diseases and thus gain insight about their etiology. Methods: We analyzed mortality data of Crohn’s disease and multiple sclerosis from Canada, England, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United States during the past 60 years. Age–period–cohort (APC) analyses based on logit models served to disentangle the separate influences of age, period, and cohort effects on the overall time trends. Results: The long-term time trends of Crohn’s disease and multiple sclerosis have been shaped by strikingly similar birth-cohort patterns. In both diseases alike, mortality increased in all generations born prior to 1910. It peaked among generations born between 1910 and 1930 and then declined in all subsequent generations. Similar birth-cohort patterns of Crohn’s disease and multiple sclerosis were found in each country analyzed separately. Conclusion: The birth-cohort patterns indicate that the development of Crohn’s disease and multiple sclerosis is influenced by exposure to environmental risk factors during an early period of life. These environmental risk factors may be similar or even identical in Crohn’s disease and multiple sclerosis.

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Environmental risk factors associated with pulmonary isolation of nontuberculous mycobacteria, a population-based study in the southeastern United States

The Science of The Total Environment ◽

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144552 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 763 ◽

pp. 144552

Author(s):

Stephanie DeFlorio-Barker ◽

Andrey Egorov ◽

Genee S. Smith ◽

Mark S. Murphy ◽

Jason E. Stout ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Environmental Risk ◽

Nontuberculous Mycobacteria ◽

Southeastern United States ◽

Population Based ◽

Environmental Risk Factors ◽

Population Based Study ◽

Factors Associated

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Neighborhood Environment and Asthma Exacerbation in Washington, DC

Annual Review of Nursing Research ◽

10.1891/0739-6686.38.53 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 53-72

Author(s):

Kelly K. Jones ◽

Laura Anderko ◽

John Davies-Cole

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Environmental Risk ◽

The United States ◽

Environmental Risk Factors ◽

Neighborhood Environment ◽

Medical Expenditure ◽

Natural Environments ◽

Washington Dc ◽

Social Vulnerability Index ◽

Zip Code

Approximately one in eight people in the United States have been diagnosed with asthma. Asthma is associated with significant medical expenditure and has been implicated as a leading reason for chronic school absences. Environmental risk factors such as access to green space and exposure to poor air quality are patterned such that some vulnerable populations may be at higher risk. Using data from DC Health, the Washington, DC, department of public health, this study investigated associations between neighborhood social, built, and natural environments and rates of asthma-related healthcare encounters by ZIP code between 2014 and 2017. We found that significant differences in rates exist between ZIP codes and for different subpopulations. Black boys had the highest overall rate, with 58.49 visits per 1,000 population, ranging by ZIP code from 0 to 88.56 visits. We found that the ZIP code Social Vulnerability Index was consistently associated with rates of healthcare encounters, but not access to green/open space or exposure to high traffic. However, we discuss how the ZIP code level may not be an appropriate level at which to investigate such built/natural environment features because of the proportion of variability that is found within rather than between ZIP codes. We end with a short discussion of ways that nurses, in particular school nurses, could help to address neighborhood environmental risk factors.

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Mortality and Economic Instability: Detailed Analyses for Britain and Comparative Analyses for Selected Industrialized Countries

International Journal of Health Services ◽

10.2190/6xa5-4w36-m8hr-nx1x ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 563-620 ◽

Cited By ~ 67

Author(s):

M. Harvey Brenner

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Infant Mortality ◽

Environmental Risk ◽

Economic Change ◽

The United States ◽

Mortality Rates ◽

Environmental Risk Factors ◽

Change Model ◽

Industrialized Countries ◽

Simple Economic

This paper discusses a first-stage analysis of the link of unemployment rates, as well as other economic, social and environmental health risk factors, to mortality rates in postwar Britain. The results presented represent part of an international study of the impact of economic change on mortality patterns in industrialized countries. The mortality patterns examined include total and infant mortality and (by cause) cardiovascular (total), cerebrovascular and heart disease, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide, homicide and motor vehicle accidents. Among the most prominent factors that beneficially influence postwar mortality patterns in England/Wales and Scotland are economic growth and stability and health service availability. A principal detrimental factor to health is a high rate of unemployment. Additional factors that have an adverse influence on mortality rates are cigarette consumption and heavy alcohol use and unusually cold winter temperatures (especially in Scotland). The model of mortality that includes both economic changes and behavioral and environmental risk factors was successfully applied to infant mortality rates in the interwar period. In addition, the “simple” economic change model of mortality (using only economic indicators) was applied to other industrialized countries. In Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Sweden, the simple version of the economic change model could be successfully applied only if the analysis was begun before World War II; for analysis beginning in the postwar era, the more sophisticated economic change model, including behavioral and environmental risk factors, was required. In France, West Germany, Italy, and Spain, by contrast, some success was achieved using the simple economic change model.

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