Risk factors for incidence of trachomatous scarring in a cohort of women in low endemic district

2018 ◽  
Vol 102 (4) ◽  
pp. 419-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rabia Karani ◽  
Meraf Wolle ◽  
Harran Mkocha ◽  
Beatriz Muñoz ◽  
Sheila K West
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Demographic Factors ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
Fire Exposure ◽  
Lower Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Multivariable Logistic Regression Model ◽  
Lower Socioeconomic ◽  
Endemic District

Background/aimsTo determine the incidence of scarring in women in a trachoma low endemic district of rural Tanzania and to determine the effects of lifetime cooking fire exposure and markers of lower socioeconomic status on incidence of scarring in these women.MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted over a 3.5-year period from 2013 to 2016 in 48 villages in Kongwa, Tanzania where trachoma at baseline was 5.2% in children. A random sample of 2966 women aged 15 and older who were at risk for incident scarring were eligible for follow-up. Data on demographic factors, cooking fire exposure and trachomatous scarring were gathered at baseline and follow-up. An index of lifetime exposure to cooking fire exposure was created and bivariate analysis, age-adjusted logistic regression and multivariable logistic models were used to look for associations of demographic factors and cooking fire exposure with incident trachomatous scarring.ResultsThe cumulative incidence of scarring was 7.1% or 2.0% per year. Incidence of scarring increased with age and exposure to markers of lower socioeconomic status. A multivariable logistic regression model adjusting for confounding factors did not find an association between lifetime cooking fire exposure and incidence of scarring (OR=0.92; 95% CI 0.68 to 1.24, P=0.58).ConclusionsThere was still incident scarring in women in Tanzania despite low rates of active trachoma. There was no association between exposure to cooking fires and incident scarring. More research is needed to understand the factors that contribute to new scarring in these women.

scholarly journals Socioeconomic disparity and the risk of contracting COVID-19 in South Korea: an NHIS-COVID-19 database cohort study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tak Kyu Oh ◽  
Jae-Wook Choi ◽  
In-Ae Song
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Final Analysis ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Lower Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Multivariable Logistic Regression Model ◽  
Multivariable Logistic Regression ◽  
Lower Socioeconomic

Abstract Background The relationship between socioeconomic status and the risk of contracting coronavirus disease (COVID-19) remains controversial. We aimed to investigate whether socioeconomic status affected the risk of contracting COVID-19 in the South Korean population. Methods The NHIS-COVID-19 database cohort was used in this population-based study. We collected the data of COVID-19 patients who were diagnosed between January 1, 2020 and June 4, 2020 and those of the control population. The income levels of all individuals as of February 2020 were extracted, and study participants were classified into four groups based on quartiles: Q1 (the lowest) to Q4 (the highest). Data were statistically analyzed using multivariable logistic regression modeling. Results In total, 122,040 individuals—7669 and 114,371 individuals in the COVID-19 and control groups, respectively—were included in the final analysis. The multivariable logistic regression model showed that the Q1 group had a 1.19-fold higher risk of contracting COVID-19 than the Q4 group, whereas the Q2 and Q3 groups showed no significant differences. In the 20–39 years age group, compared with the Q4 group, the Q3 and Q2 groups showed 11 and 22% lower risks of contracting COVID-19, respectively. In the ≥60 years age group, compared with the Q4 group, the Q1, Q2, and Q3 groups showed a 1.39-, 1.29-, and 1.14-fold higher risks of COVID-19, respectively. Conclusions Lower socioeconomic status was associated with a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 in South Korea. This association was more evident in the older population (age ≥ 60 years), whereas both lower and higher socioeconomic statuses were associated with higher risks of contracting COVID-19 in the young adult population (in the 20–39 year age group). Strategies for the prevention of COVID-19 should focus on individuals of lower socioeconomic status and on young adults of higher and lower socioeconomic status.

Effect modifiers for patient-reported outcomes in operatively and nonoperatively treated patients with adult symptomatic lumbar scoliosis: a combined analysis of randomized and observational cohorts

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-26
Author(s):  
Elizabeth L. Yanik ◽  
Michael P. Kelly ◽  
Jon D. Lurie ◽  
Christine R. Baldus ◽  
Christopher I. Shaffrey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Operative Treatment ◽  
Nonoperative Treatment ◽  
Lower Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Effect Modifier ◽  
Lumbar Scoliosis ◽  
Lower Socioeconomic ◽  
High Bmi

OBJECTIVEAdult symptomatic lumbar scoliosis (ASLS) is a common and disabling condition. The ASLS-1 was a multicenter, dual-arm study (with randomized and observational cohorts) examining operative and nonoperative care on health-related quality of life in ASLS. An aim of ASLS-1 was to determine patient and radiographic factors that modify the effect of operative treatment for ASLS.METHODSPatients 40–80 years old with ASLS were enrolled in randomized and observational cohorts at 9 North American centers. Primary outcomes were the differences in mean change from baseline to 2-year follow-up for the SRS-22 subscore (SRS-SS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Analyses were performed using an as-treated approach with combined cohorts. Factors examined were prespecified or determined using regression tree analysis. For each potential effect modifier, subgroups were created using clinically relevant cutoffs or via regression trees. Estimates of within-group and between-group change were compared using generalized linear mixed models. An effect modifier was defined as a treatment effect difference greater than the minimal detectable measurement difference for both SRS-SS (0.4) and ODI (7).RESULTSTwo hundred eighty-six patients were enrolled and 256 (90%) completed 2-year follow-up; 171 received operative treatment and 115 received nonoperative treatment. Surgery was superior to nonoperative care for all effect subgroups considered, with the exception of those with nearly normal pelvic incidence−lumbar lordosis (PI–LL) match (≤ 11°). Male patients and patients with more (> 11°) PI–LL mismatch at baseline had greater operative treatment effects on both the SRS-SS and ODI compared to nonoperative treatment. No other radiographic subgroups were associated with treatment effects. High BMI, lower socioeconomic status, and poor mental health were not related to worse outcomes.CONCLUSIONSNumerous factors previously related to poor outcomes with surgery, such as low mental health, lower socioeconomic status, and high BMI, were not related to outcomes in ASLS in this exploratory analysis. Those patients with higher PI–LL mismatch did improve more with surgery than those with normal alignment. On average, none of the factors considered were associated with a worse outcome with operative treatment versus nonoperative treatment. These findings may guide future prospective analyses of factors related to outcomes in ASLS care.

Long-term Cognitive Outcome of Children With Parenchymal Neurocysticercosis: A Prospective Observation Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
pp. 468-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pratibha Singhi ◽  
Prabhjot Malhi ◽  
Renu Suthar ◽  
Brijendra Deo ◽  
N. K. Khandelwal
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Cognitive Assessment ◽  
Cognitive Outcome ◽  
Lower Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Observation Study ◽  
Lower Socioeconomic ◽  
Scholastic Performance ◽  
Poor Memory

To study the cognitive profile and scholastic performance of children with parenchymal neurocysticercosis. A total of 500 children with a diagnosis of neurocysticercosis and epilepsy registered in our pediatric neurocysticercosis clinic between January 1996 and December 2002 were enrolled. Patients were evaluated for their scholastic performance using their school grades. Cognitive assessment was done using Parental interview and the “Draw-a-Man” test. Poor scholastic performance was seen in 22.2% (111) children. Draw-a-Man test was done in 148 children; 18.2% (27/148) had scores equivalent to IQ <70. Intermittent headache, behavior problems, and poor memory were reported in 40% (201) children. Multiple lesions, lower socioeconomic status, and calcified lesions on follow-up were associated with academic underachievement ( P < .05). About a fourth of children with neurocysticercosis had cognitive impairment during follow-up. This was mostly seen in children from lower socioeconomic status and in those with multiple-lesion neurocysticercosis.

scholarly journals Socioeconomic Disparities in Surveillance and Follow-Up of Patients with Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Shang ◽  
Gabe Weininger ◽  
Makoto Mori ◽  
Arianna Kahler-Quesada ◽  
Ellelan Degife ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Aortic Aneurysm ◽  
Competing Risks ◽  
Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm ◽  
Surgical Intervention ◽  
Aortic Aneurysms ◽  
Lower Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Lower Socioeconomic ◽  
Surveillance Imaging

Background: Thoracic aortic aneurysm is a significant risk factor for aortic dissection and rupture. Guidelines recommend referral of patients to a cardiovascular specialist for periodic surveillance imaging with surgical intervention determined primarily by aneurysm size. We investigated the association between socioeconomic status and surveillance practices in patients with ascending aortic aneurysms. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed records of 465 consecutive patients diagnosed between 2013-2016 with ascending aortic aneurysm ≥4cm on computed tomography scans. Primary outcomes were clinical follow-up with a cardiovascular specialist and aortic surveillance imaging within 2 years following index scan. We stratified patients into quartiles using the area deprivation index (ADI), a validated percentile measure of 17 variables characterizing socioeconomic status at the census block group level. Competing risks analysis was used to determine interquartile differences in risk of death prior to follow up with a cardiovascular specialist. Results: Lower socioeconomic status was associated with significantly lower rates of surveillance imaging and referral to a cardiovascular specialist. On competing risks regression, the ADI quartile with lowest socioeconomic status had lower hazard of follow-up with a cardiologist or cardiac surgeon prior to death (HR 0.46 [0.34, 0.62], p<0.001). Though there were no differences in aneurysm size at time of surgical repair, patients in the lowest socioeconomic quartile were more frequently symptomatic at surgery than other quartiles (92% vs 23-38%, p<0.001). Conclusion: Patients with lower socioeconomic status receive less timely follow-up imaging and specialist referral for thoracic aortic aneurysms, resulting in surgical intervention only when alarming symptoms are already present.

scholarly journals Social Disparities in Adopting Non-pharmaceutical Interventions During COVID-19

2021 ◽  
pp. 0169796X2199685
Author(s):  
Svenn-Erik Mamelund ◽  
Jessica Dimka ◽  
Nan Zou Bakkeli
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Public Transportation ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Social Disparities ◽  
Lower Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Home Office ◽  
Disease Outcomes ◽  
Lower Socioeconomic ◽  
Pharmaceutical Interventions

In the absence of vaccines to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020 governments had to respond by rely on non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). Socioeconomic inequalities likely influenced the uptake of NPIs. Using Norwegian survey data, we study whether income was associated with increased handwashing, keeping 1 m distance, using facemasks increased use of home office, and less use of public transportation. Except for using facemasks and less public transportation in a non-work context, all analyzed NPIs showed an independent positive association with income. Social disparities in NPI uptake may be important drivers of higher risks of disease outcomes for people of lower socioeconomic status.

Is Fringe Baking A Component of Socially Determined Health?

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney L Hundley ◽  
Richard W. Wilson ◽  
John Chenault ◽  
Jamie L. Smimble
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Health It ◽  
Lower Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Lower Socioeconomic ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Indirect Association ◽  
Zip Code

This was an exploratory study to assess the association between density of fringe lenders (e.g.payday) and health status. For Louisville, Kentucky, ZIP code level data on hospitalizations and mortalityrates as health measures were compared to fringe bank locations. We found lower socioeconomic status(SES) positively correlated with greater frequency of fringe banks; rates of illness appear to be higher in ZIPcodes with more fringe banks, but this finding was not statistically significant. In conclusion, neighbor-hoods between higher frequencies of fringe banks appear to have poorer health; it is premature to rule in orrule out a direct or indirect association between neighborhood presence of fringe banks, but there is enoughevidence to justify additional research to put any conclusions on a firmer footing.

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