American journal of preventive medicine
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Obesity and proinflammatory conditions are associated with increased risks of cancer. The associations of baseline allostatic load with cancer mortality and whether this association is modified by body mass index (BMI) were examined. ⋯ The risk of cancer death is highest among those with high allostatic load and obese BMI, but this effect was attenuated among those with high allostatic load and underweight/healthy or overweight BMI.
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Observational Study
PARTICIPATION IN CENTERINGPREGNANCY PROGRAM AND PREGNANCY-INDUCED HYPERTENSION.
CenteringPregnancy emphasizes nutrition, learning, and peer support through a group meeting format in contrast to the standard of prenatal care that maximizes a pregnant patient's time with their provider. It was hypothesized that the program may yield a reduced risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension. In this observational study, authors examined the impacts of the CenteringPregnancy program versus those of standard of prenatal care on pregnancy-induced hypertension. ⋯ Participation in CenteringPregnancy was associated with higher odds of pregnancy-induced hypertension, particularly gestational hypertension, than participation in standard of prenatal care. Additional research is warranted to definitely rule out selection bias and identify contributing factor(s) that increased pregnancy-induced hypertension despite efforts to improve pregnancy-related health outcomes among CenteringPregnancy participants.
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One in 5 pregnant individuals report consuming sugar-sweetened beverages at least once per day. Excess sugar consumption during pregnancy is associated with several perinatal complications. As sugar-sweetened beverage taxes become increasingly common public health measures to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, evidence of the downstream effects of sugar-sweetened beverage taxes on perinatal health remains limited. ⋯ Sugar-sweetened beverage taxes levied in five U.S. cities were associated with improvements in perinatal health. Sugar-sweetened beverage taxes may be an effective policy instrument for improving health during pregnancy, a critical window during which short-term dietary exposures can have lifelong consequences for the birthing person and child.
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This study aimed to better understand the inequitable impact of the pandemic by examining the associations between stay-at-home orders and indoor smoking in public housing, measured by ambient particulate matter at the 2.5-micron threshold, a marker for secondhand smoke. ⋯ Stay-at-home orders likely led to increased indoor secondhand smoke in public housing. In light of evidence linking air pollutants, including secondhand smoke, with COVID-19, these results also provide further evidence of the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. This consequence of the pandemic response is unlikely to be isolated and calls for a critical examination of the COVID-19 experience to avoid similar policy failures in future public health crises.
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Youth with incarcerated parents experience more adverse childhood experiences than other youth, placing them at higher risk for mental health and substance use disorders. Despite their increased risk, these youth may be less likely to access mental health services, particularly given their racial and ethnic makeup. Therefore, this study aimed to assess racial and ethnic disparities in access to mental health services for youth with incarcerated parents. ⋯ Youth with incarcerated parents were more likely to report utilization of mental health services, but significant racial and ethnic disparities exist between Black and Latinx youth with incarcerated parents compared with that among White and non-Latinx youth with incarcerated parents. There is a continued need to expand mental health services to youth with incarcerated parents and to address racial and ethnic disparities in access to care.