scholarly journals Sex and Race/Ethnic Disparities in Food Security and Chronic Diseases in U.S. Older Adults

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 233372141771834 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan A. Vaccaro ◽  
Fatma G. Huffman

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships among sex, race/ethnicity, and food security with the likelihood of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and lung disease for older adults. Method: Complex sample analysis by logistic regression models for chronic diseases were conducted from National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 2011 to 2012 and 2013 to 2014, for N = 3,871 adults aged ≥55 years. Results: Being female with low food security was associated with lung disease and diabetes. Poverty, rather than low food security, was associated with cardiovascular diseases. Minority status was independently associated with low food security and diabetes. Discussion: Food insecurity, sex, and race/ethnicity were associated with chronic diseases in a representative sample of U.S. older adults.

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 213.1-214
Author(s):  
H. J. Dykhoff ◽  
E. Myasoedova ◽  
M. Peterson ◽  
J. M. Davis ◽  
V. Kronzer ◽  
...  

Background:Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have an increased burden of multimorbidity. Racial/ethnic disparities have also been associated with an increased burden of multimorbidity.Objectives:We aimed to compare multimorbidity among different racial/ethnic groups and geographic regions of the US in patients with RA and comparators without RA.Methods:We used a large longitudinal, real-world data warehouse with de-identified administrative claims for commercial and Medicare Advantage enrollees, to identify cases of RA and matched controls. Cases were defined as patients aged ≥18 years with ≥2 diagnoses of RA in January 1, 2010 - June 30, 2019 and ≥1 prescription fill for methotrexate in the year after the first RA diagnosis. Controls were persons without RA matched 1:1 to RA cases on age, sex, census region, calendar year of index date (corresponding to the date of second diagnosis code for RA), and length of prior medical/pharmacy coverage. Race was classified as non-Hispanic White (White), non-Hispanic Black (Black), Asian, Hispanic, or other/unknown, based on self-report or derived rule sets. Multimorbidity (2 or more comorbidities) was defined using 25 chronic comorbidities from a combination of the Charlson and Elixhauser Comorbidity Indices assessed during the year prior to index date. Rheumatic comorbidities were not included. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).Results:The study included 16,363 cases with RA and 16,363 matched non-RA comparators (mean age 58.2 years, 70.7% female for both cohorts). Geographic regions were the same in both cohorts: 50% South, 26% Midwest, 13% West, and 11% Northeast. Race/ethnicity was not part of the matching criteria and varied slightly between the cohorts: among RA (non-RA) patients, 74% (74%) were White, 11% (9%) Hispanic, 10% (9%) Black, 3% (4%) Asian, and 3% (4%) other/unknown. Patients with RA had more multimorbidity than non-RA subjects (51.3% vs 44.8%). Multimorbidity comparisons across US geographic regions were similar in both cohorts, with comparable multimorbidity levels for patients in the West and Midwest and higher levels for those in the Northeast and South (Figure 1). Among the non-RA patients, 43.5% of Whites experienced multimorbidity, compared to 33.9% of Asians, 46.1% of Hispanics, and 58.4% of Blacks. These associations remained after adjustment for age, sex, and geographic region, with significantly lower multimorbidity among Asians (OR: 0.81; 95%CI: 0.67-0.99) and significantly higher multimorbidity among Hispanics (OR: 1.21; 95%CI: 1.07-1.37) and Blacks (OR: 1.74; 95%CI: 1.54-1.97), compared to Whites in the non-RA cohort. Among the RA patients, racial/ethnic differences were less pronounced; 50.6% of Whites, 42.8% of Asians, 48.8% of Hispanics, and 58.4% of Blacks experienced multimorbidity. Adjusted analyses revealed no significant differences in multimorbidity for Asians (OR: 0.88; 95%CI: 0.70-1.08) and Hispanics (OR: 1.06; 95%CI: 0.95-1.19) and a less pronounced increase in multimorbidity among Blacks (OR: 1.32; 95%CI: 1.17-1.49) compared to Whites in the RA cohort.Conclusion:This large nationwide study showed increased occurrence of multimorbidity in RA versus non-RA patients and in both cohorts for residents of the Northeast and South regions of the US. Racial/ethnic disparities in multimorbidity were more pronounced among patients without RA compared to RA patients. This indicates the effects of RA and race/ethnicity on multimorbidity do not aggregate. The underlying mechanisms for these associations require further investigation.Figure 1.Logistic regression models comparing multimorbidity levels in RA and non-RA cohorts.Disclosure of Interests:Hayley J. Dykhoff: None declared, Elena Myasoedova: None declared, Madeline Peterson: None declared, John M Davis III Grant/research support from: Research grant from Pfizer, Vanessa Kronzer: None declared, Caitrin Coffey: None declared, Tina Gunderson: None declared, Cynthia S. Crowson: None declared.


Author(s):  
Ijeoma C. Okwandu ◽  
Meredith Anderson ◽  
Debbie Postlethwaite ◽  
Aida Shirazi ◽  
Sandra Torrente

Abstract Objective To compare cesarean delivery rates and indications by race/ethnicity among nulliparous women with term, singleton, vertex presentation deliveries. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study of nulliparous women delivering term, singleton, vertex neonates at Kaiser Permanente Northern California from 1/1/2016 to 6/30/2017. Women with cesarean for elective, malpresentation, or previa were excluded. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusting for maternal, neonatal, and facility factors were used to assess the likelihood of cesarean by race/ethnicity. Further modeling was performed to examine odds of cesarean for the indications of failure to progress and fetal intolerance by race/ethnicity. Results The cohort of 16,587 racially/ethnically diverse women meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria consisted of 41.62% White, 27.73% Asian, 22.11% Hispanic, 5.32% Black, and 3.21% multiple race/other women. In adjusted logistic regression models, all race and ethnic categories had higher odds of cesarean deliveries in comparison to White women. Black women had the highest odds of cesarean delivery (adjusted OR [aOR] = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.45–2.06), followed by Asian (aOR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.45–2.06), multiple race/other (aOR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.17–1.80), and Hispanic (aOR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.28–1.59) women. Compared with White women, Asian (aOR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.22–1.74) and Hispanic (aOR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.03–1.52) women had higher odds of failure to progress as the indication. Among women with failure to progress, Black (aOR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.30–0.81), Hispanic (aOR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.53–0.87), and Asian (aOR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.61–0.96) women were less likely than White women to reach 10 cm dilation. Compared with White women, Black women were more likely to have cesarean delivery for fetal intolerance (aOR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.10–2.07). Among women with fetal intolerance of labor, there were no significant differences by race/ethnicity for Apgar score or neonatal intensive care unit admission. Conclusions Race/ethnicity was significantly associated with the odds of cesarean and indication. All other race/ethnicity groups had higher odds of cesarean compared with White women. Compared with White women, Black women had greater odds of fetal intolerance as an indication, while Hispanic and Asian women had greater odds of failure to progress. Maternal, neonate, and facility factors for cesarean delivery did not explain the observed disparities in cesarean delivery rates.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pavani Bandaru ◽  
Anoop Shankar

Serum uric acid has been shown to be associated with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease in previous studies. However, few studies have examined the association between serum uric acid and diabetes mellitus and their findings are not consistent. Therefore, we examined the association between serum uric acid levels and diabetes mellitus in participants from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (, 52.5% women). Serum uric acid levels were categorized into quartiles. Diabetes mellitus was defined as fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL, nonfasting glucose ≥200 mg/dL, or use of oral hypoglycemic medication or insulin (). In multivariable logistic regression models, we found that higher serum uric acid levels were inversely associated with diabetes mellitus after adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, smoking, alcohol intake, body mass index, hypertension, and serum cholesterol. Compared to quartile 1 of serum uric acid, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of diabetes mellitus was 0.48 (0.35–0.66; trend ). The results were consistent in subgroup analysis by gender and hypertension status. Higher serum uric acid levels were inversely associated with diabetes mellitus in a representative sample of US adults.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 13-14
Author(s):  
Ellen Compernolle ◽  
Laura Finch ◽  
Louise Hawkley ◽  
Kathleen Cagney

Abstract Staying at home has particularly been emphasized for older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, given their elevated risk of infection and complications. However, little is known about the extent to which this population is indeed spending more time at home during the pandemic, compared to before it began. The present investigation addresses this question, also examining differences by gender and race/ethnicity. We analyzed ecological momentary assessments among 98 older adults (age 65-88 in 2020) who participated in two waves of the Chicago Health and Activity Space in Real Time study. Pre-pandemic data were collected from July-October 2019, and pandemic data were collected from June-September 2020. Participants responded to smartphone “pings” (five per day for 7 days in each wave; n=1,910 and n=2,437 before and during the pandemic, respectively) by reporting their momentary location (e.g., home). Findings suggest that respondents were indeed at home more often in mid-2020 than 1 year prior. Multilevel logistic regression models revealed that net of demographics, marital and employment status, and physical health, respondents were more likely to be momentarily at home during versus before the pandemic (B=0.70, SE=0.08, p<.001). This effect was larger among women than men (B=0.50, SE=0.16, p=.002), but did not differ by race/ethnicity. Additional analyses examine whether and how the observed increased reports of being at home may be associated with increased reports of momentary loneliness across the two waves. Findings characterize where Chicago older adults are spending their time amid the pandemic and how this may relate to their well-being.


Author(s):  
Kosuke Inoue ◽  
Roch Nianogo ◽  
Donatello Telesca ◽  
Atsushi Goto ◽  
Vahe Khachadourian ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective It is unclear whether relatively low glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels are beneficial or harmful for the long-term health outcomes among people without diabetes. We aimed to investigate the association between low HbA1c levels and mortality among the US general population. Methods This study includes a nationally representative sample of 39 453 US adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 1999–2014, linked to mortality data through 2015. We employed the parametric g-formula with pooled logistic regression models and the ensemble machine learning algorithms to estimate the time-varying risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality by HbA1c categories (low, 4.0 to <5.0%; mid-level, 5.0 to <5.7%; prediabetes, 5.7 to <6.5%; and diabetes, ≥6.5% or taking antidiabetic medication), adjusting for 72 potential confounders including demographic characteristics, lifestyle, biomarkers, comorbidities and medications. Results Over a median follow-up of 7.5 years, 5118 (13%) all-cause deaths, and 1116 (3%) cardiovascular deaths were observed. Logistic regression models and machine learning algorithms showed nearly identical predictive performance of death and risk estimates. Compared with mid-level HbA1c, low HbA1c was associated with a 30% (95% CI, 16 to 48) and a 12% (95% CI, 3 to 22) increased risk of all-cause mortality at 5 years and 10 years of follow-up, respectively. We found no evidence that low HbA1c levels were associated with cardiovascular mortality risk. The diabetes group, but not the prediabetes group, also showed an increased risk of all-cause mortality. Conclusions Using the US national database and adjusting for an extensive set of potential confounders with flexible modelling, we found that adults with low HbA1c were at increased risk of all-cause mortality. Further evaluation and careful monitoring of low HbA1c levels need to be considered.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. e039295
Author(s):  
Mary L. Greaney ◽  
Steven A. Cohen ◽  
Furong Xu ◽  
Christie L Ward-Ritacco ◽  
Deborah Riebe

ObjectivesTo determine if adults with overweight or obesity received counselling from their healthcare providers (HCPs) to lose weight and/or adopt healthful behaviours associated with weight loss, and whether they took action on their HCPs’ recommendations.DesignCross-sectional analysis of 2011–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data.SampleNHANES respondents aged 18+ who were overweight/obese and had seen an HCP in the previous 12 months (n=13 158).MethodsRespondents reported if their HCPs recommended they control/lose weight, increase exercise/physical activity (PA) and/or reduce fat/calorie intake, and if they adopted the offered recommendation(s). Weighted logistic regression models examined receipt of HCP counselling by sex, age, race/ethnicity, and weight status accounting for demographic characteristics and complex sampling. Similar analyses examined reported adoption of HCPs’ recommendations.ResultsThe sample was 53.1% women, 45.0% were overweight and 55.0% had obesity. In total, 40.4% received counselling to control/lose weight, 49.5% to increase exercise/PA and 38.9% to reduce fat/calorie intake. The following groups were less likely (p<0.001) to receive counselling: men; younger adults (aged 18–39) versus middle-aged (aged 40–64) and older adults (aged 65+); White versus Black and Hispanic respondents; overweight respondents versus respondents with obesity. Approximately half of those advised to make changes reported doing so (53.6% controlled/lost weight, 57.3% increased exercise/PA, 51.8% reduced fat/calorie intake). Differences in the adoption of recommendations were identified by sex, age group, race/ethnicity and weight status (all p<0.05); women, middle-aged and older adults, Black and Hispanic respondents and individuals with obesity were more likely to adopt one or more recommendations.ConclusionMost respondents did not receive HCP counselling, and approximately half of those who received counselling reported taking action. HCPs may need training to provide counselling and to offer recommendations tailored to the social contexts of populations less likely to adopt weight control related recommendations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 76-76
Author(s):  
Kylie Meyer ◽  
Zachary Gassoumis ◽  
Kathleen Wilber

Abstract Caregiving for a spouse is considered a major stressor many Americans will encounter during their lifetimes. Although most studies indicate caregiving is associated with experiencing diminished health outcomes, little is known about how this role affects caregivers’ use of acute health services. To understand how spousal caregiving affects the use of acute health services, we use data from the Health and Retirement Study. We apply fixed effects (FE) logistic regression models to examine odds of experiencing an overnight hospitalization in the previous two years according to caregiving status, intensity, and changes in caregiving status and intensity. Models controlled for caregiver gender, age, race, ethnicity, educational attainment, health insurance status, the number of household residents, and self-assessed health. Overall, caregivers were no more likely to experience an overnight hospitalization compared to non-caregivers (OR 0.92; CI 0.84 to 1.00; p-value=0.057). However, effects varied according to the intensity of caregiving and the time spent in this role. Compared to non-caregivers, for example, spouses who provided care to someone with no need for assistance with activities of daily living had lower odds of experiencing a hospitalization (OR 0.77; CI 0.66 to 0.89). In contrast, caregivers who provided care to someone with dementia for 4 to &lt;6 years had 3.29 times the odds of experiencing an overnight hospitalization (CI 1.04 to 10.38; p-value=0.042). Findings indicate that, although caregivers overall appear to use acute health services about as much as non-caregivers, large differences exist between caregivers. Results emphasize the importance of recognizing diversity within caregiving experiences.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
rhow not provided ◽  
Vidhya Gunaseelan ◽  
mbicket not provided

This retrospective cohort study will investigate the timeliness of surgery based on the racial/ethnic group of patients who under colorectal surgery for cancer. Patients are included if they underwent surgical procedures for colon cancer between January 1, 2015 and April 30, 2020. The primary exposure of interest is the racial/ethnic group of the patient. The primary outcome is the the timeliness of surgery, defined as having urgent/emergent surgery (less timely) vs. elective surgery (more timely). Secondary outcomes relate to comprehensiveness of surgery, and include performance of preoperative staging tests, preoperative lab testing, and preoperative teaching of patients, as well as length of stay and additional clinical outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression models will be used to adjust for other demographic and clinical differences between study groups.


Author(s):  
Rahul Aggarwal ◽  
Nicholas Chiu ◽  
Rishi K. Wadhera ◽  
Andrew E. Moran ◽  
Inbar Raber ◽  
...  

We evaluated the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension (defined as a systolic blood pressure [BP]) ≥140 mm Hg, diastolic BP ≥90 mm Hg, or a self-reported use of an antihypertensive agent) among US adults, stratified by race/ethnicity. This analysis included 16 531 nonpregnant US adults (≥18 years) in the three National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cycles between 2013 and 2018. Race/ethnicity was defined by self-report as White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, or other Americans. Among 76 910 050 (74 449 985–79 370 115) US adults with hypertension, 48.6% (47.3%–49.8%, unadjusted) have controlled BP. When compared with BP control rates for White adults (49.0% [46.8%–51.2%], age-adjusted), BP control rates are lower in Black (39.2%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.71 [95% CI, 0.59–0.85], P <0.001), Hispanic (40.0%, aOR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.58–0.88], P =0.003), and Asian (37.8%, aOR, 0.68 [95% CI, 0.55–0.84], P =0.001) Americans. Black adults have higher hypertension prevalence (45.3% versus 31.4%, aOR, 2.24 [95% CI, 1.97–2.56], P <0.001) but similar awareness and treatment rates as White adults. Hispanic adults have similar hypertension prevalence, but lower awareness (71.1% versus 79.1%, aOR, 0.72 [95% CI, 0.58–0.89], P =0.005) and treatment rates (60.5% versus 67.3%, aOR, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.66–0.94], P =0.010) than White adults. Asian adults have similar hypertension prevalence, lower awareness (72.5% versus 79.1%, aOR, 0.75 [95% CI, 0.58–0.97], P =0.038) but similar treatment rates. Black, Hispanic, and Asian Americans have different vulnerabilities in the hypertension control cascade of prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control. These differences can inform targeted public health efforts to promote health equity and reduce the burden of hypertension in the United States.


2022 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura P Sands ◽  
Quyen Do ◽  
Pang Du ◽  
Rachel Pruchno

Abstract Background and Objectives Our understanding of the impact of disaster exposure on the physical health of older adults is largely based on hospital admissions for acute illnesses in the weeks following a disaster. Studies of longer-term outcomes have centered primarily on mental health. Missing have been studies examining whether exposure to disaster increases the risk for the onset of chronic diseases. We examined the extent to which 2 indicators of disaster exposure (geographic exposure and peritraumatic stress) were associated with new onset of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, arthritis, and lung disease to improve our understanding of the long-term physical health consequences of disaster exposure. Research Design and Methods We linked self-reported data collected prior to and following Hurricane Sandy from a longitudinal panel study with Medicare data to assess time to new onset of chronic diseases in the 4 years after the hurricane. Results We found that older adults who reported high levels of peritraumatic stress from Hurricane Sandy had more than twice the risk of experiencing a new diagnosis of lung disease, diabetes, and arthritis in the 4 years after the hurricane compared to older adults who did not experience high levels of peritraumatic stress. Geographic proximity to the hurricane was not associated with these outcomes. Analyses controlled for known risk factors for the onset of chronic diseases, including demographic, psychosocial, and health risks. Discussion and Implications Findings reveal that physical health effects of disaster-related peritraumatic stress extend beyond the weeks and months after a disaster and include new onset of chronic diseases that are associated with loss of functioning and early mortality.


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