American journal of preventive medicine
-
It is unclear whether moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is associated with a lower mortality risk, over and above its contribution to total physical activity volume. ⋯ The total volume of physical activity was associated with a lower risk of mortality to a greater extent than the contribution of MVPA to physical activity volume. Integrating any intensity of physical activity into daily life may lower mortality risk in middle-aged and older adults, with a small added benefit if the same amount of activity is performed with a higher intensity.
-
Physical inactivity and sedentary behavior are recognized as independent risk factors for many diseases. However, studies investigating their associations with total and cause-specific mortality in low-income and Black populations are limited, particularly among older adults. ⋯ High sitting time is an independent risk factor for all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality, and LTPA could partially attenuate the adverse association of prolonged sitting time with mortality.
-
Routine alcohol screening of people with chronic health conditions that are exacerbated by alcohol can help to prevent morbidity and mortality. The U.S. Affordable Care Act and other recent health reforms expanded insurance coverage and supported alcohol screening in primary care. This study assessed increases in alcohol screening following health reform and insurance-related and racial and ethnic disparities in screening. ⋯ Alcohol screening of primary care patients with chronic conditions increased following health reform, but persistent disparities among patients with private insurance and specific chronic conditions underscore the need to address drivers of unequal preventive care.
-
Prior work has found incongruencies in injury information reported by crash and hospital records. However, no work has focused on child passengers. The objective of this study was to compare crash scene and hospital-reported injury information for crash-involved child passengers. This study also explored injury location and severity by child age and restraint type. ⋯ Crash reports overestimated the number of injured child passengers and misrepresented injury severity and locations. Child restraint systems mitigated a child's injury risk. Importantly, injury information documented on crash reports currently informs the allocation of traffic safety resources. These results highlight the importance of improving these reports' accuracy and underscore calls to link administrative datasets for public health efforts.
-
Testing for immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella should include only immunoglobulin G (IgG); immunoglobulin M (IgM) testing is appropriate only if acute illness is suspected. The appropriateness of measles, mumps, and rubella IgM testing was evaluated in a national administrative dataset. ⋯ The majority of IgM testing for measles, mumps, and rubella during this period appeared inappropriate. Clinicians and health systems could ensure that IgG testing alone is performed when evaluating for immunity through modifications to electronic medical records and commercial laboratories could ensure that providers are able to test for IgG alone when evaluating immunity.