Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Homicide: A Spatial Ecological Case-Control Study of US ZIP Codes

Abstract Background: Homicide is a major cause of death and a determinant of health disparities in the United States. This burden overwhelmingly affects people from racial and ethnic minority populations as homicide occurs more often in neighborhoods with high proportions of racial and ethnic minority residents. Research has identified that social and physical environmental conditions contribute to variation in homicide rates between neighborhoods; however, it is not clear why some neighborhoods with high concentrations of racial and ethnic minority residents have high homicide rates while neighborhoods with similar demographic compositions do not. The aim of this study was to assess whether relative socioeconomic disadvantage, (i.e., income inequality), or absolute socioeconomic disadvantage (i.e., income) measured at the ZIP code- and state-levels, is associated with high homicide rates in US neighborhoods, independent of racial and ethnic composition.Methods: This ecological case-control study compared median household income and income inequality in 250 ZIP codes with the highest homicide rate in 2017 (cases) to 250 ZIP codes that did not experience any homicide deaths in 2017 (controls). Cases were matched to controls 1:1 based on demographic composition. Variables were measured at both the ZIP code- and state-levels.Results: Lower median household income at the ZIP code-level contributed most substantially to the homicide rate. Income inequality at the state-level, however, was additionally significant when controlling for both ZIP code- and state-level factors.Conclusions: Area-based interventions that improve absolute measures of neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage may reduce gaps in homicide rates.

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Factors Associated With Early-Onset Esophageal Cancer in Tanzania: A Case-Control Study

Journal of Global Oncology ◽

10.1200/jgo.18.23000 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 29s-29s

Author(s):

Geoffrey Buckle ◽

Elia J. Mmbaga ◽

Alan Paciorek ◽

Larry Akoko ◽

Katrina Deardorff ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Household Income ◽

Early Onset ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Age Groups ◽

Young Patients ◽

Second Hand Smoke ◽

Factors Associated ◽

History Of ◽

Control Study

Abstract 89 Purpose Previous studies have characterized geographic clusters of esophageal cancer (EC) in East Africa. Many of the epidemiologic features of EC in this context are shared globally with other clusters, including high rates, male predominance, and squamous cell histology. A unique feature in East Africa is the high proportion of young patients, with a recent case series reporting up to 24% of patients age < 45 years. The aim of the current study was to assess factors that are associated with early-onset EC in Tanzania (TZ). Methods We performed a secondary analysis of a previous case-control study. Patients with newly diagnosed EC were recruited at Muhimbili National Hospital and Ocean Road Cancer Institute in 2014 to 2016. Hospital controls were identified from patients with nonmalignant conditions and matched 1:1 for gender and age ± 10 years. Risk factors were assessed through interviews. Logistic regression was used to estimate age-specific odds ratios (ORs) of EC for exposures across age groups (30 to 44 years, 45 to 59 years, and ≥ 60 years) and for interactions with age. Results A total of 473 cases and 473 controls were enrolled. Median ages were 59 years (range, 30 to 91 years) for cases and 55 years (range, 31 to 88 years) for controls. Among cases, 102 patients (22%) were age 30 to 44 years, 144 patients (30%) were age 45 to 59 years, and 227 patients (48%) were age ≥ 60 years. High household income was protective for those age 30 to 44 years (OR, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.69) and 45 to 59 years (OR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.45), but not for those age ≥ 60 years (effect modification P = .047). Family history of EC was associated with a higher risk of EC among those age 45 to 59 years (OR, 3.8; 95% CI, 1.02 to 14.47) and age ≥ 60 years (OR, 6.63; 95% CI, 1.50 to 29.37), with no effect among those age 30 to 44 years (effect modification P = .019). Second-hand smoke and infrequent teeth cleaning were also associated with early-onset EC, but did not differ significantly across age groups. Additional factors associated with EC risk across all ages were firewood use (cooking), kerosene use (lighting), work on a maize farm, and in-home grain and nut storage. Protective factors were the regular use of medication, surrogates of high socioeconomic status (TV, radio, refrigerator, indoor toilet, and electricity), and charcoal or gas cooking. Conclusion Multiple exposures were identified as risk factors for early-onset EC in TZ. In age-stratified analyses, household income, second-hand smoke, and poor dental hygiene emerged as possible risk factors, whereas family history of EC had strong associations among the older but not the young age group. Our results suggest that environmental factors may underlie the high incidence of young patients with EC in TZ. AUTHORS' DISCLOSURES OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST No COIs from the authors.

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Income Inequality and Risk of Suicide in New York City Neighborhoods: A Multilevel Case-Control Study

Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior ◽

10.1521/suli.2005.35.4.448 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 448-459 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Jeffrey R. Miller ◽

Tinka Markham Piper ◽

Jennifer Ahern ◽

Melissa Tracy ◽

Kenneth J. Tardiff ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

New York City ◽

Income Inequality ◽

York City ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

Control Study

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Do Signs of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Increase the Odds of Dental Caries? A Case-Control Study

Caries Research ◽

10.1159/000486141 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 52 (3) ◽

pp. 212-219 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Isabella Mota-Veloso ◽

Isabela Almeida Pordeus ◽

Márcio Alexandre Homem ◽

Joana Ramos-Jorge ◽

Fernanda Oliveira-Ferreira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

Dental Caries ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Household Income ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

Control Group ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Control Study

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a behavioural disorder that can affect one’s performance in activities of daily living and can exert a negative impact on the oral health of children. Objective: The aim of this work was to determine the association between ADHD (signs and executive functions) and dental caries in children aged 7–12 years. Methods: A case-control study was conducted with 532 children in the city of Diamantina, Brazil. The case group was composed of children with caries and the control group was composed of children without caries. The children were submitted to a clinical oral examination for the determination of caries and neuropsychological evaluations of intellectual function and executive function. Other signs of attention deficit and hyperactivity were investigated using the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham scale administered to parents/guardians and teachers. Socioeconomic and demographic characteristics were also evaluated. Statistical analysis involved the McNemar χ2 test and conditional logistic regression. Results: The multivariate logistic regression model demonstrated that monthly household income and parental reports of signs of attention deficit were significantly associated with the occurrence of dental caries. Conclusion: Children considered by their parents/guardians to have attention deficit have a greater chance of exhibiting dental caries, independently of household income.

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