Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · Dec 2021
The association between social needs and chronic conditions in a large, urban primary care population.
There is consensus that social needs influence health outcomes, but less is known about the relationships between certain needs and chronic health conditions in large, diverse populations. This study sought to understand the association between social needs and specific chronic conditions using social needs screening and clinical data from Electronic Health Records. Between April 2018-December 2019, 33,550 adult (≥18y) patients completed a 10-item social needs screener during primary care visits in Bronx and Westchester counties, NY. ⋯ For example, those with transportation needs were 84% more likely to have an alcohol/drug use disorder diagnosis (95% CI: 1.59, 2.13) and 41% more likely to smoke (95% CI: 1.25, 1.58). Specific social needs may influence clinical issues in distinct ways. These findings suggest that health systems need to develop strategies that address unmet social need in order to optimize health outcomes, particularly in communities with a dual burden of poverty and chronic disease.
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Preventive medicine · Dec 2021
Physical activity and cutaneous melanoma risk: A Norwegian population-based cohort study.
Physical activity (PA) is an important factor in cancer prevention, but positive association between PA and risk of cutaneous melanoma found in recent studies may complicate this strategy. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure during outdoor PA is a plausible explanation for a positive association. We investigated the associations between PA, UVR and melanoma risk in the Norwegian Women and Cancer cohort. ⋯ Seasonal PAs were not associated with melanoma risk. In conclusion, we found positive associations between overall PA and sunbathing vacations and indoor tanning, and, unlike literature, inverse association between overall PA and sunburns. Our results do not support a positive association between PA and melanoma risk in Norwegian women.
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Preventive medicine · Dec 2021
The impact of the Covid-19 crisis on socioeconomic differences in physical activity behavior: Evidence from the lifelines COVID-19 cohort study.
Covid-19 and measures to contain spreading the disease have led to changed physical activity behavior. This study aims to investigate the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and changes in the amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during the Covid-19 crisis. Using the Dutch Lifelines Covid-19 cohort study (n = 17,749), the amount of MVPA was measured at 15 time-points between March and December 2020, and compared with the amount before the Covid19 pandemic. ⋯ Most findings were consistent over the full research period. Socioeconomic inequalities in MVPA have increased during the Covid-19 pandemic, even when Covid-19 containment measures were relaxed. Our findings suggest that future public health policies need to increase efforts to improve physical activity behavior with an even larger focus on low SES groups.
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Preventive medicine · Dec 2021
Physical activity recommendation by health care providers to adults with and without functional limitations.
Adults with functional limitations are more likely to be physically inactive than those without functional limitations, despite evidence that regular physical activity (PA) slows the progression of functional decline. The health care setting provides an opportunity to communicate with patients about positive behavior changes, including increased PA, but there is little information about provider recommendation for PA to adults with functional limitations. This study investigated health care provider recommendation to increase PA among adults with and without functional limitations. ⋯ Only one-third of adults in the United States received PA recommendations. Health care providers recommended PA to approximately half of adults with functional limitations. Continued efforts to leverage health care encounters for behavior change should be explored, particularly for middle aged and older adults.
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Preventive medicine · Dec 2021
STRIDES - STudying Risk to Improve DisparitiES in Cervical Cancer in Mississippi - Design and baseline results of a Statewide Cohort Study.
Cervical cancer rates in Mississippi are disproportionately high, particularly among Black individuals; yet, research in this population is lacking. We designed a statewide, racially diverse cohort of individuals undergoing cervical screening in Mississippi. Here, we report the baseline findings from this study. ⋯ S. We show a high burden of abnormal cytology and HPV positivity, with significant racial differences in HPV genotype prevalence. Future studies will evaluate cervical precancer risk, HPV genotyping, and novel biomarkers in this population.