J Natl Med Assoc
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There are demonstrated racial inequities in coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) disease burden, and the initial vaccine rollout did not equitably address these disparities. ⋯ COVID-19 vaccination levels were high among Black adult residents of Allegheny County who responded to the survey. Future efforts should continue to strive towards addressing reasons for mistrust with focused attention from healthcare institutions and the government on increasing their trustworthiness, alongside employment of evidence-based strategies to increase vaccination rates. Additionally, efforts should continue to engage unvaccinated and vaccine hesitant persons' perspectives to inform ongoing health equity interventions.
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To study the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and associated risk factors among different races/ethnicities across different income groups. ⋯ Racial and ethnic disparities in the risk of CVD persists across income levels, with a greater difference in prevalence of select CVD and risk factors between NH Black and NH White participants in the highest income quartile compared to the lowest income quartile.
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Youth exposed to community violence and neighborhood stressors report devastating mental health consequences. Black youth are at greater risk and experience community violence at rates higher than other youth populations. An underexplored mental health consequence is anxiety sensitivity, the fear of experiencing anxiety-related symptoms, which contributes to maladaptive coping strategies and the development and severity of other mental health problems. ⋯ Results indicated that neighborhood risk, parenting behaviors, and exposure to delinquent peers were indirectly associated with anxiety sensitivity, which occurred through community violence exposure. Additionally, neighborhood risks had direct effects on anxiety sensitivity. Results point to the need to incorporate social and environmental factors in interventions addressing anxiety sensitivity among Black youth in urban communities.
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The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges to global healthcare, particularly affecting respiratory systems and impacting individuals with pre-existing conditions, including those with HIV. ⋯ HIV patients are more susceptible to COVID-19, but the direct impact is less significant than other factors. Additional factors contribute to increased risk, while early improvement, accurate diagnosis, and intensive care reduce fatalities.