American journal of preventive medicine
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Traditional methods of summarizing burden of disease have limitations in terms of identifying communities within a population that are in need of prevention and intervention resources. This paper proposes a new method of burden assessment for use in guiding these decisions. ⋯ The use of the Z-Score Burden Metric provides an alternative way of measuring realized community burden of injury while still facilitating comparisons between communities with different age distributions. This method can be used for any injury or disease outcome and may help to prioritize the allocation of resources to communities suffering high burdens of injury and disease.
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Traffic fatalities remain a major public health challenge despite progress made during recent decades. This study develops exposure-based estimates of fatalities per mile traveled for pedestrians, cyclists, and light-duty vehicle occupants and describes disparities by race/ethnicity, including a subanalysis of fatality rates during darkness and in urban areas. ⋯ Traffic fatalities are a substantial and preventable public health challenge in America. Black and Hispanic Americans have higher traffic fatality rates per mile traveled than White Americans across the transportation system, requiring urgent attention.
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This study aimed to determine the prevalence of treated and untreated substance use disorders among Medicare beneficiaries, the characteristics of Medicare beneficiaries with substance use disorders, and reasons for their unmet needs. ⋯ Few Medicare beneficiaries who need substance use disorder treatment receive it. Reducing Medicare coverage gaps and stigma may help meet this need.
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Student loan debt has become common for young adults in the U.S. and is correlated with poor physical and mental health. It is unclear how the accumulation or repayment of student debt is associated with longer-term cardiovascular risks and chronic inflammation. ⋯ As student debt accumulates, within-cohort disparities in cardiovascular disease and related morbidities may undermine the health benefits of postsecondary education.
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Women suffer from depression at higher rates than men. This difference is well established, although a consolidated explanation remains elusive. This study examines the role played by medications with depression or suicidality as a potential side effect in explaining the sex difference in depression. ⋯ Findings suggest a significant sex difference in pharmaceutical treatment and the potential consequences of pharmaceutical side effects on distress and depression. These results highlight the importance of pharmaceutical side effects in understanding health and health disparities.