scholarly journals Diabetes control is associated with environmental quality in the USA

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jyotsna S. Jagai ◽  
Alison K Krajewski ◽  
Kyla N Price ◽  
Danelle T Lobdell ◽  
Robert M. Sargis
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Fasting Blood Glucose ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
The United States ◽  
Diabetes Control ◽  
Diabetes Diagnosis ◽  
County Level ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
The Impact

Environmental parameters, including built and sociodemographic environments, can impact diabetes control (DC). Epidemiological studies have associated specific environmental factors with DC; however, the impact of multidimensional environmental status has not been assessed. The environmental quality index (EQI), a comprehensive quantitative metric capturing five environmental domains, was considered as an exposure. Age-adjusted rates of DC prevalence for each county in the United States were used as an outcome. DC was defined as the proportion of adults aged 20+ years with a previous diabetes diagnosis who currently do not have high fasting blood glucose (≥126 mg/dL) or elevated HbA1c (≥6.5%). We conducted county-level analyses of DC prevalence rates for 2004-2012 in association with EQI for 2006-2010 and domain-specific indices using random intercept multilevel linear regression models clustered by state and controlled for county-level rates of obesity and physical inactivity. Analyses were stratified by rural-urban strata, and results are reported as prevalence rate differences (PRD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) comparing highest quintile/worst environmental quality to lowest quintile/best environmental quality. The association of DC with cumulative environmental quality was negative after control for all counties (PRD -0.32,95% CI:-0.38, -0.27); suggesting that rates of DC worsen as environmental quality declines. While overall environmental quality exerts effects on DC that vary across the rural-urban spectrum, poor sociodemographic and built environmental factors are associated with decreased DC nationally. These data suggest improvements in environmental quality mediated by larger scale policy and practice interventions may improve glycemic control and reduce the morbidity and mortality arising from hyperglycemia.

scholarly journals The impact of environmental variables on the spread of COVID-19 in the Republic of Korea

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Kwan Lim ◽  
Oh Joo Kweon ◽  
Hye Ryoun Kim ◽  
Tae-Hyoung Kim ◽  
Mi-Kyung Lee
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Republic Of Korea ◽  
Metropolitan Region ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Ozone Level ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Impact

AbstractCorona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been declared a global pandemic and is a major public health concern worldwide. In this study, we aimed to determine the role of environmental factors, such as climate and air pollutants, in the transmission of COVID-19 in the Republic of Korea. We collected epidemiological and environmental data from two regions of the Republic of Korea, namely Seoul metropolitan region (SMR) and Daegu-Gyeongbuk region (DGR) from February 2020 to July 2020. The data was then analyzed to identify correlations between each environmental factor with confirmed daily COVID-19 cases. Among the various environmental parameters, the duration of sunshine and ozone level were found to positively correlate with COVID-19 cases in both regions. However, the association of temperature variables with COVID-19 transmission revealed contradictory results when comparing the data from SMR and DGR. Moreover, statistical bias may have arisen due to an extensive epidemiological investigation and altered socio-behaviors that occurred in response to a COVID-19 outbreak. Nevertheless, our results suggest that various environmental factors may play a role in COVID-19 transmission.

scholarly journals Assessment of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on UK HbA1c testing: implications for diabetes management and diagnosis

2021 ◽  
pp. jclinpath-2021-207776
Author(s):  
David Holland ◽  
Adrian H Heald ◽  
Mike Stedman ◽  
Fahmy Hanna ◽  
Pensee Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Management ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Glycated Haemoglobin ◽  
Diabetes Control ◽  
Suboptimal Control ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Diabetes Diagnosis ◽  
The Impact

AimsThe COVID-19 pandemic, and the focus on mitigating its effects, has disrupted diabetes healthcare services worldwide. We aimed to quantify the effect of the pandemic on diabetes diagnosis/management, using glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) as surrogate, across six UK centres.MethodsUsing routinely collected laboratory data, we estimated the number of missed HbA1c tests for ‘diagnostic’/‘screening’/‘management’ purposes during the COVID-19 impact period (CIP; 23 March 2020 to 30 September 2020). We examined potential impact in terms of: (1) diabetes control in people with diabetes and (2) detection of new diabetes and prediabetes cases.ResultsIn April 2020, HbA1c test numbers fell by ~80%. Overall, across six centres, 369 871 tests were missed during the 6.28 months of the CIP, equivalent to >6.6 million tests nationwide. We identified 79 131 missed ‘monitoring’ tests in people with diabetes. In those 28 564 people with suboptimal control, this delayed monitoring was associated with a 2–3 mmol/mol HbA1c increase. Overall, 149 455 ‘screening’ and 141 285 ‘diagnostic’ tests were also missed. Across the UK, our findings equate to 1.41 million missed/delayed diabetes monitoring tests (including 0.51 million in people with suboptimal control), 2.67 million screening tests in high-risk groups (0.48 million within the prediabetes range) and 2.52 million tests for diagnosis (0.21 million in the pre-diabetes range; ~70 000 in the diabetes range).ConclusionsOur findings illustrate the widespread collateral impact of implementing measures to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in people with, or being investigated for, diabetes. For people with diabetes, missed tests will result in further deterioration in diabetes control, especially in those whose HbA1c levels are already high.

scholarly journals Econometric Analysis Suggests Possible Crowding Out of Public Libraries by Book Superstores among Middle Income Families in the 1990s

2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 94
Author(s):  
Stephanie Hall
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Public Library ◽  
The United States ◽  
Econometric Analysis ◽  
Consumer Information ◽  
County Level ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Library Use ◽  
The Impact

Objective – To determine the effect of large bookstores (defined as those having 20 or more employees) on household library use. Design – Econometric analysis using cross-sectional data sets. Setting – The United States of America. Subjects – People in over 55,000 households across the U.S.A. Methods – Data from 3 1996 studies were examined using logit and multinomial logit estimation procedures: the National Center for Education Statistics’ National Household Education Survey (NHES) and Public Library Survey (PLS), and the U.S. Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns (CBP). The county level results of the NHES telephone survey were merged with the county level data from the PLS and the CBP. Additionally, data on Internet use at the state level from the Statistical Abstract of the United States were incorporated into the data set. A logit regression model was used to estimate probability of library use based on several independent variables, evaluated at the mean. Main results – In general, Hemmeter found that "with regard to the impact of large bookstores on household library use, large bookstores do not appear to have an effect on overall library use among the general population” (613). While no significant changes in general library use were found among high and low income households where more large bookstores were present, nor in the population taken as a whole, middle income households (between $25,000 and $50,000 in annual income) showed notable declines in library use in these situations. These effects were strongest in the areas of borrowing (200% less likely) and recreational purposes (161%), but were also present in work-related use and job searching. Hemmeter also writes that “poorer households use the library more often for job search purposes. The probability of library use for recreation, work, and consumer information increases as income increases. This effect diminishes as households get richer” (611). Finally, home ownership was also correlated with higher library use. Households with children were more than 20% more likely to use the library (610). Their use of the library for school-related purposes, general borrowing, program activities, and so on was not affected by the presence of book superstores. White families with children were somewhat less likely to use the library, while families with higher earning and education levels were more likely to use the library. Library use also increased with the number of children in the family. Shorter distances to the nearest branch and a higher proportion of AV materials were also predictive of higher library use. Educational level was another important factor, with those having less than high school completion being significantly less likely to use the library than those with higher levels of educational attainment. Conclusions – The notable decline in public library use among middle income households where more large bookstores are present is seen as an important threat to libraries, as it may result in a decline in general support and support for funding among an important voting block. More current data are needed in this area. In addition to the type of information examined in this study, the author recommends the inclusion of information on funding, support for library referenda, and library quality as they relate to the presence of large bookstores.

Highly stretchable and sensitive strain sensors based on carbon nanotube–elastomer nanocomposites: the effect of environmental factors on strain sensing performance

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (18) ◽  
pp. 6185-6195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Nankali ◽  
Norouz Mohammad Nouri ◽  
Mahdi Navidbakhsh ◽  
Nima Geran Malek ◽  
Mohammad Amin Amindehghan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanotube ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Strain Sensors ◽  
Sensitive Strain ◽  
Effect Of Temperature ◽  
Strain Sensing ◽  
Highly Stretchable ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Sensing Performance

The impact of environmental parameters on the sensing behavior of carbon nanotube–elastomer nanocomposite strain sensors has been investigated, revealing significant effect of temperature and humidity variations on the sensing performance.

scholarly journals Weather During Key Growth Stages Explains Grain Quality and Yield of Maize

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carrie J. Butts-Wilmsmeyer ◽  
Juliann R. Seebauer ◽  
Lee Singleton ◽  
Frederick E. Below
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Grain Quality ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
The United States ◽  
Soil Water Storage ◽  
Growth Stages ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Compositional Quality ◽  
Large Geographical Region

Maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield and compositional quality are interrelated and are highly influenced by environmental factors such as temperature, total precipitation, and soil water storage. Our aim was to develop a regression model to account for this relationship among grain yield and compositional quality traits across a large geographical region. Three key growth periods were used to develop algorithms based on the week of emergence, the week of 50% silking, and the week of maturity that enabled collection and modeling of the effect of weather and climatic variables across the major maize growing region of the United States. Principal component analysis (PCA), stepwise linear regression models, and hierarchical clustering analyses were used to evaluate the multivariate relationship between weather, grain quality, and yield. Two PCAs were found that could identify superior grain compositional quality as a result of ideal environmental factors as opposed to low-yielding conditions. Above-average grain protein and oil levels were favored by less nitrogen leaching during early vegetative growth and higher temperatures at flowering, while greater oil than protein concentrations resulted from lower temperatures during flowering and grain fill. Water availability during flowering and grain fill was highly explanatory of grain yield and compositional quality.

Sociodemographic Characteristics of Mission of Mercy Attendees in Wisconsin

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-132
Author(s):  
C. Okunseri ◽  
E. Eggert ◽  
C. Zheng ◽  
F. Eichmiller ◽  
E. Okunseri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dental Care ◽  
Dental Health ◽  
The United States ◽  
County Level ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Access To Dental Care ◽  
Event Location ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
Population Ratio ◽  
The Impact

Objective: Mission of Mercy (MoM) events are scheduled to provide care to populations suffering from urgent needs and inadequate access to dental care in the United States. This study examined individual and county-level characteristics of MoM attendees and the factors associated with changes in the rate of attendance. Methods: Deidentified archival data for MoM events available from the America’s Dentists Care Foundation (2013–2016) were analyzed. Summary statistics were calculated separately for each year. Chi-square test was performed to identify changes in attendance distribution over time. Poisson regression analyses were conducted to test changes in the rate of attendance with and without adjustment for county-level characteristics and history of prior MoM events. Results: Total numbers of attendees at Wisconsin MoM events were 1,560, 1,635, 1,187, and 951 in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively. Attendees were mostly female (>50%) and White (58%–81%), and mean age ranged between 36.5 and 39.2 y. The average travel distance ranged between 27 and 80 miles. Residents of counties where MoM events were held in previous years were more likely to attend another MoM event after adjusting for county distance to current location. After adjusting for dentists-to-population ratio, event history, and county distance to event location, we found that there was no statistically significant change in the rate of attendance from 2013 to 2016. Conclusions: Previous attendees with experience of attending a MoM event in their counties of residence were more likely to attend another MoM event. Higher rates of attendance were associated with shorter travel distances to MoM events. Knowledge Transfer Statement: The Mission of Mercy (MoM) events are promoted by local dental organizations to highlight the issue of access to dental care and bring greater awareness to the problem by providing urgent dental care to populations in need. Through the data-sharing practices and analyses, policy makers, dental health advocates, and program organizers will have a better understanding of the impact and reach of the program. Findings from this study will help to expand program practices, promote efficiency, and aid in the identification of appropriate event locations, innovative strategies, and public policies relevant to addressing access to dental care.

scholarly journals Issue of Compliance with Use of Personal Protective Equipment among Wastewater Workers across the Southeast Region of the United States

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamara Wright ◽  
Atin Adhikari ◽  
Jingjing Yin ◽  
Robert Vogel ◽  
Stacy Smallwood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Occupational Exposures ◽  
The United States ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Perceived Susceptibility ◽  
Occupational Illness ◽  
Southeast Region ◽  
The Impact

Wastewater workers are exposed to different occupational hazards such as chemicals, gases, viruses, and bacteria. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is a significant factor that can reduce or decrease the probability of an accident from hazardous exposures to chemicals and microbial contaminants. The purpose of this study was to examine wastewater worker’s beliefs and practices on wearing PPE through the integration of the Health Belief Model (HBM), identify the impact that management has on wastewater workers wearing PPE, and determine the predictors of PPE compliance among workers in the wastewater industry. Data was collected from 272 wastewater workers located at 33 wastewater facilities across the southeast region of the United States. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted to present frequency distributions of participants’ knowledge and compliance with wearing PPE. Univariate and multiple linear regression models were applied to determine the association of predictors of interest with PPE compliance. Wastewater workers were knowledgeable of occupational exposures and PPE requirements at their facility. Positive predictors of PPE compliance were perceived susceptibility and perceived severity of contracting an occupational illness (p < 0.05). A negative association was identified between managers setting the example of wearing PPE sometimes and PPE compliance (p < 0.05). Utilizing perceived susceptibility and severity for safety programs and interventions may improve PPE compliance among wastewater workers.

scholarly journals The Impact of Comprehensive Sanatorium Rehabilitation on Diabetes Control for Patients on 21-day Treatment Resort. Own Observations

2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 236-242
Author(s):  
Agata Stachura ◽  
Agnieszka Łagowska-Batyra ◽  
Patrycja Gierszon ◽  
Agata Smoleń
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Day Treatment ◽  
Fasting Blood Glucose ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
Diabetes Control ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Health Resort ◽  
Female Population ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: An integral part of modern healthcare is resort medicine, which should be a continuation of hospital or outpatient treatment. The paper discusses the impact of comprehensive sanatorium rehabilitation on the maintenance of blood pressure, glycaemia and BMI among diabetic patients on a 21-day resort stay in Nałęczów. In addition, the work includes, among others, the latest diabetes control criteria recommended by the Polish Diabetes Association. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of health resort treatment on diabetes control parameters in the male and female population during 21-day sanatorium stays. Material and Methods: The study group consisted of 152 patients (76 men, 50.00%) with type 2 diabetes mellitus with an average age of 67.45 ± 7.124 years on 21-day spa stays. The study method was a retrospective and comparative assessment of patients’ results in two subgroups. The frequency of physical activity, smoking, the presence of comorbidities, the model of their treatment, and the percentage of balneological and physical procedures ordered were analyzed. Results: The results of our own research show both a decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as fasting blood glucose and 2 hours after a meal in both study groups. The studies also showed weight reduction, which, combined with a proper diet and regular physical activity, is the beginning of a healthy lifestyle after returning from a sanatorium.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document