American journal of preventive medicine
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Social determinants are structures and conditions in the biological, physical, built, and social environments that affect health, social and physical functioning, health risk, quality of life, and health outcomes. The adoption of recommended, standard measurement protocols for social determinants of health will advance the science of minority health and health disparities research and provide standard social determinants of health protocols for inclusion in all studies with human participants. ⋯ Promoting the adoption of well-established social determinants of health protocols can enable consistent data collection and facilitate comparing and combining studies, with the potential to increase their scientific impact.
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The Veterans Health Administration (VA) provides low- to no-cost care to enrolled veterans with low incomes. This study assessed the associations between VA coverage and medical financial hardship among U.S. veterans with low incomes. ⋯ VA coverage was associated with protection against four types of medical financial hardship among veterans with low incomes, yet many are not enrolled. Research is needed to understand reasons these veterans lack VA coverage and to identify strategies to address medical financial hardship.
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Cannabis use for medical purposes is legalized across 39 states and the District of Columbia in the U.S. The objective of this study was to evaluate temporal trends and correlates of cannabis use for medical purposes in the U.S. ⋯ The study documents a continued nationwide increase in the use of cannabis for diverse medical purposes between 2013 and 2020, two decades after the first state passed legalizing legislation.
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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the principal cause of death in U.S. women. Peak oxygen uptake is strongly related to mortality and CVD. This study aimed to investigate the association between estimated peak oxygen uptake, determined using a moderate 1-km walking test, and all-cause mortality in female patients with stable CVD. ⋯ Higher peak oxygen uptake levels were associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality. The indirect estimation of peak oxygen uptake using the 1-km walking test is feasible and can be applied for risk stratification among female patients undergoing secondary prevention programs.