Low Socioeconomic Deprivation Research Articles

Impact of Socioeconomic Deprivation on Care Quality and Surgical Outcomes for Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in United States Veterans.

Background: Socioeconomic deprivation has been associated with higher lung cancer risk and mortality in non-Veteran populations. However, the impact of socioeconomic deprivation on outcomes for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in an integrated and equal-access healthcare system, such as the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), remains unclear. Hence, we investigated the impact of area-level socioeconomic deprivation on access to care and postoperative outcomes for early-stage NSCLC in United States Veterans. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with clinical stage I NSCLC receiving surgical treatment in the VHA between 1 October 2006 and 30 September 2016. A total of 9704 Veterans were included in the study and assigned an area deprivation index (ADI) score, a measure of socioeconomic deprivation incorporating multiple poverty, education, housing, and employment indicators. We used multivariable analyses to evaluate the relationship between ADI and postoperative outcomes as well as adherence to guideline-concordant care quality measures (QMs) for stage I NSCLC in the preoperative (positron emission tomography [PET] imaging, appropriate smoking management, pulmonary function testing [PFT], and timely surgery [≤12 weeks after diagnosis]) and postoperative periods (appropriate surveillance imaging, smoking management, and oncology referral). Results: Compared to Veterans with low socioeconomic deprivation (ADI ≤ 50), those residing in areas with high socioeconomic deprivation (ADI > 75) were less likely to have timely surgery (multivariable-adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.832, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.732-0.945) and receive PET imaging (aOR 0.592, 95% CI 0.502-0.698) and PFT (aOR 0.816, 95% CI 0.694-0.959) prior to surgery. In the postoperative period, Veterans with high socioeconomic deprivation had an increased risk of 30-day readmission (aOR 1.380, 95% CI 1.103-1.726) and decreased odds of meeting all postoperative care QMs (aOR 0.856, 95% CI 0.750-0.978) compared to those with low socioeconomic deprivation. There was no association between ADI and overall survival (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.984, 95% CI 0.911-1.062) or cumulative incidence of cancer recurrence (aHR 1.047, 95% CI 0.930-1.179). Conclusions: Our results suggest that Veterans with high socioeconomic deprivation have suboptimal adherence to care QMs for stage I NSCLC yet do not have inferior long-term outcomes after curative-intent resection. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the efficacy of an integrated, equal-access healthcare system in mitigating disparities in lung cancer survival that are frequently present in other populations. Future VHA policies should continue to target increasing adherence to QMs and reducing postoperative readmission for socioeconomically disadvantaged Veterans with early-stage NSCLC.

EPID-12. NEIGHBORHOOD SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS PREDICTS SURVIVAL IN GLIOBLASTOMA: A SINGLE CENTER COHORT STUDY

Abstract BACKGROUND Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary brain malignancy. Despite recent progress in treatments, prognosis for patients remain poor. Recent literature has suggested the association of GBM outcomes and socioeconomic status. However, there is limited evidence regarding the association of neighborhood-level socioeconomic status on GBM outcomes. OBJECTIVE To investigate the impact of neighborhood-level socioeconomic status on GBM outcomes. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed all adult GBM patients at a single institution from 2008 to 2023. Patient addresses underwent geospatial analysis and Area Deprivation Index (ADI) was extracted. Univariable and multivariable survival analyses were performed. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the effect of ADI and other socioeconomic variables while controlling for a priori selected clinical variables with known relevance to survival. RESULTS In total, 1492 patients met inclusion criteria. The average age at diagnosis was 62±14.2 years with a median overall survival of 12.1 [Interquartile Range (IQR) 5-22] months. The median ADI was 66 (IQR 46-84). Patients with high socioeconomic deprivation (ADI>75) were less likely to receive chemotherapy (92% vs 96%, p=.03), and had worse overall survival compared to patients with low socioeconomic deprivation (10 vs 13 months, p=.001). In the multivariable model, patients with high ADI had worse overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 1.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-1.73, p<.001). To account for changes in WHO guidelines, we implemented the model on patients diagnosed between 2017-2023 and findings were consistent (HR 1.34, 95%CI 1.07-1.68, p=.011). CONCLUSIONS We present the largest study reporting the effect of neighborhood-level socioeconomic status on overall survival of GBM patients. Neighborhood-level socioeconomic status provides the most accurate capture of the patient-level socioeconomic determinants of health. Patients with higher ADI have worse overall survival after controlling for other socioeconomic and clinical variables. These results suggest significant association between neighborhood-level socioeconomic status and overall survival in GBM patients.

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Deprivation is Associated with Worse Outcomes in Pediatric Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Social determinants of health shape a child's transplant course. We describe the association between neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation, transplant characteristics, and graft survival in US pediatric kidney transplant recipients. US recipients <18 years of age at listing transplanted January 1st, 2010, to May 31st, 2022 (N=9,178) were included from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. Recipients were stratified into three groups according to Material Community Deprivation Index score, with greater score representing higher neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation. Outcomes were modeled using multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models. Twenty-four percent (N=110) of recipients from neighborhoods of high socioeconomic deprivation identified as being of Black race, versus 12% (N=383) of recipients from neighborhoods of low socioeconomic deprivation. Neighborhoods of high socioeconomic deprivation had a much greater proportion of recipients identifying as being of Hispanic ethnicity (67%, N=311), versus neighborhoods of low socioeconomic deprivation (17%, N=562). The hazard of graft loss was 55% higher (aHR 1.55, 95% CI: 1.24, 1.94) for recipients from neighborhoods of high versus recipients from low socioeconomic deprivation neighborhoods when adjusted for base covariates, race and ethnicity, and insurance status, with 59% lower odds (aOR 0.41, 95% CI: 0.30, 0.56) of living donor transplantation and, although not statistically significant, 8% lower odds (aOR 0.92, 95% CI: 0.72, 1.19) of preemptive transplantation. The hazard of graft loss was 41% higher (aHR 1.41, 95% CI: 1.25, 1.60) for recipients from neighborhoods of intermediate versus recipients from low socioeconomic deprivation neighborhoods when adjusted for base covariates, race and ethnicity, and insurance status, with 27% lower odds (aOR 0.73, 95% CI: 0.66, 0.81) of living donor transplantation and 11% lower odds (aOR 0.89, 95% CI: 0.80, 0.99) of preemptive transplantation. Children from neighborhoods of high socioeconomic deprivation have worse graft survival and lower utilization of preemptive and living donor transplantation. These findings demonstrate inequities in pediatric kidney transplantation that warrant further intervention.

CT-derived body composition and differential association with age, TNM stage and systemic inflammation in patients with colon cancer

Low skeletal muscle index/density (SMI/SMD) is prevalent in cancer, adversely prognostic and associated with tumour stage and the systemic inflammatory response (SIR). Age and SMI/SMD has not been widely studied. The present study analyses the association between age and SMI/SMD after adjustment for other clinicopathological factors. Patients undergoing resectional surgery for TNM Stage I-III disease within the West of Scotland between 2011 and 2014 were identified. A single CT slice was obtained from each patients staging CT scan. SMI and SMD were stratified normal/abnormal. The SIR was stratified using Systemic Inflammatory Grade (SIG). When stratified by age (< 50/50s/60s/70s/80+), 39%/38%/48%/62%/74% and 27%/48%/64%/82%/92% of patients had a low SMI and SMD respectively (both p < 0.001). Older age (OR 1.47, p < 0.001), female sex (OR 1.32, p = 0.032), lower socioeconomic deprivation (OR 1.15, p = 0.004), higher ASA (OR 1.30, p = 0.019), emergency presentation (OR 1.82, p = 0.003), lower BMI (OR 0.67, p < 0.002) and higher SIG (OR 1.23, p < 0.001) were independently associated with low SMI. Older age (OR 2.28, p < 0.001), female sex (OR 1.38, p = 0.038), higher ASA (OR 1.92, p < 0.001), emergency presentation (OR 1.71, p = 0.023), and higher SIG (OR 1.37, p < 0.001) were independently associated with lower SMD. Tumour factors were not independently associated with either SMI/SMD. Age was a major factor associated with low SMI/SMD in patients with colon cancer. Therefore, in these patients it is likely that this represents largely constitutional body composition as opposed to being a disease mediated effect. Adjustment for age is required when considering the cancer mediated effect on SMI/SMD in patients with colon cancer.

Association of socioeconomic deprivation with sleep health in patients with type 2 diabetes.

To investigate the association between socioeconomic deprivation and indicators of sleep health among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and additionally, to examine whether socioeconomic deprivation is associated with higher glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in these patients. We analysed data from the UK Biobank, consisting of 17 206 participants with T2DM, to explore the relationship between socioeconomic deprivation, self-reported indicators of sleep health, and HbA1c levels. Socioeconomic deprivation was assessed using the Townsend deprivation index. Participants were divided into two groups: low socioeconomic deprivation (n = 8604; reference group) and high socioeconomic deprivation (n = 8602). Logistic regression models were employed, adjusting for covariates such as body mass index (BMI), age, and biological sex. Patients with high socioeconomic deprivation had higher odds of reporting usual difficulties falling asleep or sleeping through the night (adjusted odds ratio 1.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12, 1.28), and they were more likely to use at least one hypnotic medication (adjusted odds ratio 1.41, 95% CI 1.09, 1.84). They also had higher odds of reporting snoring and difficulties staying awake during the daytime (adjusted odds ratio 1.09, 95% CI 1.01, 1.18), as well as experiencing short sleep duration (defined as <6 hours of sleep per day; adjusted odds ratio 1.69, 95% CI 1.50, 1.91). Moreover, patients with high socioeconomic deprivation had increased odds of experiencing comorbid sleep problems (P ≤ 0.001). Finally, high socioeconomic deprivation was associated with a 0.1% higher HbA1c level (P < 0.001). Controlling for indicators of poor sleep health did not alter the strength of this association. Socioeconomic deprivation may represent a risk factor for poor sleep health in patients with T2DM.

Supporting Children Who Are English Language Learners Succeed in Their Early Literacy Development

Introduction: The Better Start Literacy Approach is an example of a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) to facilitate children’s early literacy success. It is set within a strengths-based and culturally responsive framework for literacy teaching and is being implemented in over 800 English medium schools across New Zealand. This report focuses on how children identified at school entry as English Language Learners (ELL) responded to the Better Start Literacy Approach during their first year at school. Method: Using a matched control design, the growth in phoneme awareness, phoneme-grapheme knowledge, and oral narrative skills for 1,853 ELL was compared to a cohort of 1,853 non-ELL. The cohorts were matched for ethnicity (mostly Asian, 46% and Pacific, 26%), age (M = 65 months), gender (53% male), and socioeconomic deprivation index (82% in areas of mid to high deprivation). Results: Data analyses indicated similar positive growth rates for ELL and non-ELL from baseline to the first monitoring assessment following 10 weeks of Tier 1 (universal/class level) teaching. Despite demonstrating lower phoneme awareness skills at baseline, following 10 weeks of teaching, the ELL cohort performed similarly to non-ELL in non-word reading and spelling tasks. Predictors of growth analyses indicated that ELL from areas of low socioeconomic deprivation, who used a greater number of different words in their English story retells at the baseline assessment, and females made the most growth in their phonic and phoneme awareness development. Following the 10-week monitoring assessment, 11% of the ELL and 13% of the non-ELL cohorts received supplementary Tier 2 (targeted small group) teaching. At the next monitoring assessment (20 weeks post baseline assessment) the ELL cohort showed accelerated growth in listening comprehension, phoneme-grapheme matching and phoneme blending skills, catching up to their non-ELL peers. Discussion: Despite limitations of the dataset available, it provides one of the few insights into the response of ELL to Tier 1 and Tier 2 teaching in their first year at school. The data suggest that the Better Start Literacy Approach, which includes high-quality professional learning and development for teachers, literacy specialists, and speech-language therapists, is an effective approach toward developing foundational literacy skills for ELL. The important role speech-language therapists have in collaborating with class teachers to support children’s early literacy success within a MTSS framework is discussed.

Association of Race and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage with Incident Peripheral Artery Disease and Chronic Limb-threatening Ischemia

There are disparities in peripheral artery disease (PAD) outcomes according to both race and socioeconomic disadvantage separately. However, few studies have investigated the association of race and socioeconomic deprivation together with risk of PAD. We aimed to investigate the association of race and socioeconomic disadvantage with risk of incident PAD and incident chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). We included all non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic Black adults in the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission from January 2013 through December 2019 without prevalent PAD or CLTI at their index visit. PAD and CLTI were defined by inpatient and outpatient diagnosis codes. Socioeconomic disadvantage was determined by the area deprivation index (ADI), a comprehensive measure of socioeconomic deprivation, using nine-digit zip codes. Patients living in neighborhoods with greater socioeconomic deprivation (ADI 3 and 4) were categorized as high ADI, while patients living in neighborhoods with lower socioeconomic deprivation (ADI 1 and 2) were categorized as low ADI. We estimated the cumulative incidence of PAD and CLTI and quantified hazard ratios (HR) using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models across four race and ADI groups after correcting for traditional demographic and cardiovascular risk factors. A total of 5,592,650 adult patients without PAD or CLTI at baseline (51.6% ≥65 years of age, 37.9% Black, 31.2% with high ADI) were followed for a median of 10.71 years (interquartile range, 5-31 years). The overall cumulative incidence of PAD and CLTI was 22% and 6%, respectively, and varied significantly by race and ADI (Figs 1 and 2). After adjusting for baseline differences between groups, the risk of incident PAD was highest for the Black-high ADI group (hazard ratio [HR], 1.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.38-1.43), followed by White-high ADI (HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.20-1.24) and Black-low ADI (HR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.99- 1.01) compared to White-low ADI (Table). Similarly, the risk of incident CLTI was highest for the Black-high ADI group (HR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.48-1.57), followed by White-high ADI (HR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.33-1.42), then Black-low ADI (HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.11-1.17) compared to White-low ADI. Previously reported racial differences in risk of PAD and CLTI are largely explained by socioeconomic deprivation, as characterized by ADI. Adults living in areas with higher socioeconomic deprivation are at higher risk of incident PAD and CLTI than their less socioeconomically deprived counterparts.Fig 2Cumulative Incidence Function Curves of Incident CLTI in health Services Cost Review Commission Database from 2013 through 2019 Stratified by Race and ADI.View Large Image Figure ViewerDownload Hi-res image Download (PPT)

(312) Area Deprivation Index in Men Undergoing AUS Placement– Community Resource Limitations Do Not Correlate with Poorer Device or Satisfaction Outcomes

Abstract Introduction Outcomes following artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) placement have been associated with non-urologic health metrics including hemoglobin A1c and BMI, as well as with health literacy and frailty. Concerns about these patient factors may lead urologic prosthetic surgeons to alter their recommendations for stress urinary incontinence treatment to avoid poor patient outcomes. The Area Deprivation Index (ADI) is a ranking system to measure socioeconomic disadvantage between neighborhoods and correlates with rates of chronic medical conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as healthcare service utilization and death. This ranking system includes a composite score of patient income, education level, employment status and housing quality. Evaluating socioeconomic disadvantage may help implanters tailor their patient counseling and improve patient pre- and postoperative education. Objective We sought to characterize variability in functional, subjective, and objective outcomes following AUS placement according to ADI. Methods Patients were identified by CPT codes for AUS insertion, removal/replacement, and revision from 2014 to 2022 at our institution. National percentile ADI was obtained using the Neighborhood Atlas® (Madison, WI) based on patient home address. Higher ADI scores indicate greater socioeconomic disadvantage. Associations of ADI with post-AUS satisfaction, device survival, and complications including (I) any Clavien-Dindo complication and (II) complications requiring surgical intervention. Patient satisfaction was assessed on a 1-5 Likert scale based on telephone interviews. Results 284 patients met inclusion criteria with 232 having data available regarding complications. Median ADI scores in our cohort was 59 (41-75), and we divided the cohort according to high (&amp;gt;58) and low socioeconomic deprivation groups based on this cutoff. Of these, 53 (22.8%) experienced any complication following AUS procedure, over a median of 6.3 months follow up. Device survival at last follow up was similar between low (88.8%) and high ADI groups (92%, P=0.41). Patients with low and high ADI scores had similar overall complication rates (21.6% vs. 24.4%; P=0.64) of any Clavien-Dindo score. Device survival was high at last follow up regardless of ADI score (88.8% vs. 92.0%; P=0.41) with total follow up also being similar between groups (5.64 mo vs. 8.01 mo; P=0.23). Time from prostatectomy to AUS implantation was also similar between high and low ADI groups (4.23 years vs. 4.17 years, P=0.70) Finally, patient satisfaction was very high in both the low and high ADI groups (5 vs. 5; P=0.41). Conclusions ADI was not associated with time to sphincter implantation, postoperative complications, patient satisfaction or device survival. Despite ADI capturing several factors that potentially impact a patient’s ability to optimally access medical care-including income, education and housing quality, we found no evidence that socioeconomic disadvantage by ADI scores was predictive of poorer outcomes, satisfaction, or suboptimal follow up. Disclosure No

The influence of socioeconomic aspects and hospital case volume on survival in colorectal cancer in Saxony, Germany

BackgroundColorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common types of cancer in Western civilization and responsible for a high number of yearly deaths. Long-term outcome is influenced by many factors, potentially including socioeconomic aspects like income, education, and employment. Furthermore, annual surgical case volume plays a major role in achieving good oncological results. In our retrospective study, we evaluated the effect of socioeconomic deprivation and hospital volume on overall survival (OS) in the federal state of Saxony, Germany.MethodsAll patients with CRC who underwent surgery in Saxony, Germany between 2010 and 2020 and were living in Saxony at the time of diagnosis were included in our retrospective analysis. Uni- and multivariate analyses were conducted considering age, sex, tumor localization, UICC tumor stage, surgical approach (open/laparoscopic), number of resected lymph nodes, adjuvant chemotherapy, year of surgery, and hospital case volume. In addition, our model was adjusted for social disparity using the German Index of Socioeconomic Deprivation (GISD).ResultsA total of 24,085 patients were analyzed (15,883 with colon cancer and 8,202 with rectal cancer). Age, sex, UICC tumor stage and tumor localization were distributed as expected for CRC. Median overall survival time was 87.9 months for colon cancer and 110.0 months for rectal cancer. Univariate analysis revealed laparoscopic surgery (colon and rectum P < 0.001), high case volume (rectum: P = 0.002) and low levels of socioeconomic deprivation (colon and rectum P < 0.001) to be significantly associated with better survival. In multivariate analyses, the associations of laparoscopic surgery (colon: HR = 0.76, P < 0.001; rectum: HR = 0.87, P < 0.01), and mid-low to mid-high socioeconomic deprivation (colon: HR = 1.18–1.22, P < 0.001; rectum: HR = 1.18–1.36, P < 0.001–0.01) remained statistically significant. Higher hospital case volume was associated with better survival only in rectal cancer (HR = 0.89; P < 0.01).ConclusionIn Saxony, Germany, better long-term survival after CRC surgery was associated with low socioeconomic deprivation, laparoscopic surgery and partly with high hospital case volume. Thus, there is a need to reduce social differences in access to high-quality treatment and prevention and increase hospital patient volume.

Associations between long-term exposure to air pollution and cause-specific mortality in River Sacco Valley area

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The River Sacco Valley is an industrial contaminated site in a central area of Italy. It is characterized by environmental pollution and socioeconomic deprivation. The study aim is to evaluate the chronic effects on cause-specific mortality of air pollution and socioeconomic deprivation (SEP) in an administrative cohort of residents in an industrial polluted site. METHODS: Subjects who were resident in River Sacco Valley between 2008 and 2018 were enrolled by linking administrative data. We collected information about age, sex, residential address and cause of death. Exposure to PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, Benzene and O3 were assessed by FARM models for each residential address, while socioeconomic deprivation has been derived by an area-level indicator. Cox proportional hazard models adjusted by age (as time-scale), sex and city of residence were used to evaluate the effects of exposure to air pollutants and SEP to natural, cardiovascular, respiratory and malignancies mortality. RESULTS: 182578 subjects were enrolled in the cohort, among which 30% were aged 50+ years and 35% had high SEP. We observed 9205, 4019, 573, 2790 non-accidental, cardiovascular, respiratory and malignant cancer deaths, respectively. Each pollutant had average levels above the WHO guidelines standards. The results of main analysis showed positive hazard ratios (HR) per IQR increases up to 1.084 (95% confidence intervals: 0.99, 1.18) and 1.136 (0.99, 1.30) for PM10 and non-accidental and cardiovascular mortality, respectively. Furthermore, high deprivation was associated positively with each outcome. In particular, we registered HRs equals to 1.064 (0.98, 1.16) and 1.101 (0.97, 1.25) for non-accidental and cardiovascular mortality in high vs low SEP category. CONCLUSIONS: Living in a polluted site worse the health status for several causes. We observe that high levels of air pollutants and socioeconomic deprivation are linked to excess of risk of cause-specific mortality in the River Sacco Valley area.

Associations with baseline visual acuity in 12,414 eyes starting treatment for neovascular AMD

AimsTo determine baseline visual acuity before the start of treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), compare median and visual acuity states between treatment sites and investigate the association of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics with baseline acuity.MethodsAnonymised demographic and clinical data, collected as part of routine clinical care, were extracted from electronic medical records at treating National Health Service (NHS) Trusts. Analyses were restricted to eyes with baseline visual acuity recorded at treatment initiation. Associations with baseline acuity were investigated using multivariate linear regression.ResultsAnalysis included 12,414 eyes of 9116 patients at 13 NHS Trusts. Median baseline acuity was LogMAR 0.46 (interquartile range = 0.26–0.80) and 34.5% of eyes had good acuity, defined as LogMAR ≤0.3. Baseline acuity was positively associated with second-treated eye status, younger age, lower socio-economic deprivation, independent living, and female sex. There was little evidence of association between baseline acuity and distance to the nearest treatment centre, systemic or ocular co-morbidity. Despite case-mix adjustments, there was evidence of significant variation of baseline visual acuity between sites.ConclusionsDespite access to publicly funded treatment within the NHS, variation in visual acuity at the start of neovascular AMD treatment persists. Identifying the characteristics associated with poor baseline acuity, targeted health awareness campaigns, professional education, and pathway re-design may help to improve baseline acuity, the first eye gap, and visual acuity outcomes.

Children's perspectives on the wicked problem of child poverty in Aotearoa New Zealand: a wearable camera study.

Child poverty is a wicked problem and a key determinant of health, but research on child poverty has relied largely on self-report methods and reports from parents or caregivers. In this study we aimed to assess aspects of child poverty using data collected by children using wearable cameras. The Kids'Cam Project recruited 168 randomly selected children aged 11-13 from 16 randomly selected schools in the Wellington Region of Aotearoa New Zealand. Each child wore a wearable camera for four consecutive days, recording an image every seven seconds. We used negative binomial regression models to compare measures of household resources, harms, behaviours and built environment characteristics between children living in low socio-economic deprivation households (n=52) and children living in high socio-economic deprivation households (n=26). Compared with children living in conditions of low socio-economic deprivation, children living in conditions of high socio-economic deprivation captured significantly fewer types of fruit (RR=0.46), vegetables (RR=0.25), educational materials (RR = 0.49) and physical activity equipment (RR = 0.66) on camera. However, they lived in homes with more structural deficiencies (RR=4.50) and mould (no mould was observed in low socio-economic deprivation households). They were also less likely to live in households with fixed heating (RR=0.27) and home computers (RR=0.45), and more likely to consume non-core food outside home (RR=1.94). The children in this study show that children in poverty face disadvantages across many aspects of their lives. Comprehensive policies are urgently needed to address the complex problem of child poverty.

Associations with visual acuity outcomes after 12 months of treatment in 9401 eyes with neovascular AMD

ObjectiveTo record visual acuity outcomes after 12 months of treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NvAMD), investigate variation between sites and explore associations with baseline characteristics and care processes.Methods and...

Incidence and Characteristics of Remission of Type 2 Diabetes in England: A Cohort Study Using the National Diabetes Audit.

To assess the incidence of remission of type 2 diabetes in routine care settings. People with type 2 diabetes (HbA1c ≥48 mmol/mol [6.5%] or <48 mmol/mol [6.5%] with a prescription for glucose-lowering medications) alive on 1 April 2018 were identified from a national collation of health records in England and followed until 31 December 2019. Remission was defined as two HbA1c measurements of <48 mmol/mol (6.5%) at least 182 days apart, with no prescription for glucose-lowering medications 90 days before these measurements. In 2,297,700 people with type 2 diabetes, the overall incidence of remission per 1,000 person-years was 9.7 (95% CI 9.6-9.8) and 44.9 (95% CI 44.0-45.7) in 75,610 (3.3%) people who were diagnosed <1 year. In addition to shorter duration of diagnosis, baseline factors associated with higher odds of remission were no prescription for glucose-lowering medication, lower HbA1c and BMI, BMI reduction, White ethnicity, female sex, and lower socioeconomic deprivation. Among 8,940 (0.4%) with characteristics associated with remission (diagnosed <2 years, HbA1c <53 mmol/mol [7.0%], prescribed metformin alone or no glucose-lowering medications, BMI reduction of ≥10%), incidence of remission per 1,000 person-years was 83.2 (95% CI 78.7-87.9). Remission of type 2 diabetes was generally infrequent in routine care settings but may be a reasonable goal for a subset of people who lose a significant amount of weight shortly after diagnosis. Policies that encourage intentional remission of type 2 diabetes should seek to reduce the ethnic and socioeconomic inequalities identified.

Campania and cancer mortality: An inseparable pair? The role of environmental quality and socio-economic deprivation

The region of Campania in Southern Italy features high levels of socio-economic deprivation and low levels of environmental quality. A vast strand of the scientific literature has tried to verify whether poor environmental quality and widespread socio-economic deprivation might explain the high cancer mortality rates (CMRs) observed, especially in the municipalities – infamously labelled as the ‘Land of Fires’ – that were hit most severely by the crisis. While some studies managed to identify links between these two confounding factors and cancer mortality, the evidence is overall mixed. Interesting information may be drawn from the observation of municipal data: in spite of previous claims, some municipalities featuring high environmental quality and low socio-economic deprivation also display high CMRs, while other Campanian municipalities facing disastrous environmental and socio-economic conditions are characterised by low CMRs. These figures, in contrast to common sentiment and previous studies, need to be investigated thoroughly in order to assess the exact role of the confounding factors. In this work, we aim to identify the municipalities where confounding factors act as driving forces in the determination of high CMRs through an original multi-step analysis based on frequentist and Bayesian analysis. Pinpointing these municipalities could allow policymakers to design targeted and effective policy measures aimed at reducing cancer mortality.

Neighborhood area-level social determinants and receipt of mammography screening in an area with high deprivation: A retrospective cohort study.

e18550 Background: Early detection through screening mammography has been shown to decrease breast cancer mortality. Screening mammography rates remains low among racial/ethnic minorities and patients with socioeconomic deprivation (SED). Most studies evaluating the role of area-level social determinants of health and breast cancer screening have included only a small number of variables; in this study, a comprehensive and granular measure of socioeconomic deprivation (SED) which included 17 variables was used to determine an association with screening mammogram completion. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at an academic hospital system between 2014-2020 to identify asymptomatic female patients who received screening mammogram referrals in their primary care clinic after they were deemed eligible per screening guidelines. Patients were assessed for mammogram completion at their annual visits. SED was evaluated using the area deprivation index (ADI), a measure of 17 variables including education, housing, and income at the census block group level. Other covariates analyzed were insurance status, age, and race. Chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis test and a multivariate logistic regression model were used for statistical analysis. Results: 856 women were referred for screening mammography. 324 (38%) underwent mammogram. Patients with high, moderate, and low SED comprised 69 (8%), 287 (34%) and 500 (58%) of the cohort, respectively. In multivariable analysis, SED and race were not associated with higher screening rates. Uninsured and self-pay patients had the lowest odds of screening mammography completion (AOR 0.22; 95% 0.08, 0.60) and Medicare patients had decreased odds of mammogram completion relative to privately insured patients (AOR 0.64; 95% CI 0.43, 0.97). Older age was associated with a slightly higher odds of mammography completion (AOR 1.02; 95% CI 1.00, 1.04). Conclusions: The receipt of screening mammography was low among all patients relative to previously published rates. Uninsured/self-pay status was the strongest indicator for completion of mammography. Additional research is needed to understand the barriers that may influence mammography completion in this population with high socioeconomic deprivation. Multivariate Logistic Regression Estimates for Associations Between Mammogram Completion and SED category.[Table: see text]

A retrospective epidemiological study of type 1 diabetes mellitus in wales, UK between 2008 and 2018.

IntroductionStudies of prevalence and the demographic profile of type 1 diabetes are challenging because of the relative rarity of the condition, however, these outcomes can be determined using routine healthcare data repositories. Understanding the epidemiology of type 1 diabetes allows for targeted interventions and care of this life-affecting condition.ObjectivesTo describe the prevalence, incidence and demographics of persons with type 1 diabetes diagnosed in Wales, UK, using the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank.MethodsData derived from primary and secondary care throughout Wales available in the SAIL Databank were used to identify people with type 1 diabetes to determine the prevalence and incidence of type 1 diabetes over a 10 year period (2008–18) and describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of this population by age, socioeconomic deprivation and settlement type. The seasonal variation in incidence rates was also examined.ResultsThe prevalence of type 1 diabetes in 2018 was 0.32% in the whole population, being greater in men compared to women (0.35% vs 0.28% respectively); highest in those aged 15-29 years (0.52%) and living in the most socioeconomically deprived areas (0.38%). The incidence of type 1 diabetes over 10 years was 14.0 cases/100,000 people/year for the whole population of Wales. It was highest in children aged 0-14 years (33.6 cases/100,000 people/year) and areas of high socioeconomic deprivation (16.8 cases/100,000 people/year) and least in those aged 45-60 years (6.5 cases/100,000 people/year) and in areas of low socioeconomic deprivation (11.63 cases/100,000 people/year). A seasonal trend in the diagnoses of type 1 diabetes was observed with higher incidence in winter months.ConclusionThis nation-wide retrospective epidemiological study using routine data revealed that the incidence of type 1 diabetes in Wales was greatest in those aged 0-14 years with a higher incidence and prevalence in the most deprived areas. These findings illustrate the need for health-related policies targeted at high deprivation areas to include type 1 diabetes in their remit.

The inverse care law and the potential of primary care in deprived areas

The inverse care law, whereby health care favours more assertive interests and in doing so compounds the disadvantage of patients and communities with the poorest health, 1 Hart JT The inverse care law. Lancet. 1971; 1: 405-412 Summary PubMed Scopus (2006) Google Scholar exists in most health systems. 50 years after Julian Tudor Hart's landmark paper in which he first described the inverse care law in England and Wales, 1 Hart JT The inverse care law. Lancet. 1971; 1: 405-412 Summary PubMed Scopus (2006) Google Scholar it is still going strong. 2 Fisher R Dunn P Asaria M et al. Briefing: level or not? Comparing general practice in areas of high and low socioeconomic deprivation in England. Health Foundation, London2020 Google Scholar , 3 Gopfert A Deeny SR Fisher R Stafford M Primary care consultation length by deprivation and multimorbidity in England: an observational study using electronic patient records. Br J Gen Pract. 2020; (published online Dec 14.)https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp20X714029 Crossref PubMed Scopus (7) Google Scholar In The Lancet, Richard Cookson and colleagues 4 Cookson R Doran T Asaria M Gupta I Parra Mujica F The inverse care law re-examined: a global perspective. Lancet. 2021; 397: 828-838 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (14) Google Scholar provide a global re-examination of the inverse care law. 50 years of the inverse care law“The availability of good medical care tends to vary with the need for it in the population served. This inverse care law operates more completely where medical care is most exposed to market forces, and less so where such exposure is reduced.” Full-Text PDF The inverse care law in the Anthropocene epochJulian Tudor Hart described the inverse relationship between the need for effective health care and its provision in compelling terms. During his career in primary care in a former coal mining community in south Wales, UK, he showed how, by integrating clinical care with an epidemiological approach, much can be done to improve health in disadvantaged populations.1 He wrote the inverse care law2 based on an analysis of the UK National Health Service (NHS) 50 years ago and yet its importance has transcended that historical period and its national context. Full-Text PDF The inverse care law re-examined: a global perspectiveAn inverse care law persists in almost all low-income and middle-income countries, whereby socially disadvantaged people receive less, and lower-quality, health care despite having greater need. By contrast, a disproportionate care law persists in high-income countries, whereby socially disadvantaged people receive more health care, but of worse quality and insufficient quantity to meet their additional needs. Both laws are caused not only by financial barriers and fragmented health insurance systems but also by social inequalities in care seeking and co-investment as well as the costs and benefits of health care. Full-Text PDF

Exploring GP work in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation: a secondary analysis.

BackgroundThere is a GP workforce crisis, particularly in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation where levels of multimorbidity and social complexity are higher than in areas of low socioeconomic deprivation. How this impacts GP work, and how GPs manage workload has not been fully explored.AimTo explore GP work in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation and the strategies GPs employ, using Corbin and Strauss’s framework on managing chronic illness as an analytical lens.Design & settingSecondary analysis of qualitative in-depth interviews with GPs working with populations experiencing high levels of socioeconomic deprivation.MethodSecondary analysis of in-depth interviews with GPs working in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation (n = 10).ResultsAll three types of work defined by Corbin and Strauss (everyday, illness, and biographical) were described, and one additional type: emotional (work managing GPs’ own emotions). The context of socioeconomic deprivation, increased multimorbidity plus social complexity (’multimorbidity plus’), influenced GP work. Healthcare systems and self-management strategies did not meet patients’ needs, which meant the resulting gap created extra everyday work, often unrecognised (which was a source of frustration). GPs also described taking on ’illness work’ for patients who were either overwhelmed or unable to do it. Some GPs described biographical work, asserting their professional role against demands from patients and other professionals. Work aligning with personal values was important in sustaining motivation; for example, being part of a strong team and having outside professional interests appeared to build resilience.ConclusionGPs working in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation experience different types of work from those working in areas of low socioeconomic deprivation; much of which is unrecognised and not resourced. Current strategies to reduce burnout could be more effective if the complexity of different types of work was addressed. In addition, personal values, practice teams, and outside professional interests all need to be supported.

The impact of social determinants on receipt of colonoscopy in an under-resourced hospital service area: A retrospective cohort study.

216 Background: Although colorectal cancer (CRC) screening with colonoscopy reduces the risk of CRC mortality, screening rates remain low among African Americans and low social economic status (SES) patients. However, few studies have assessed CRC screening rates in under-resourced hospital service areas. Using a granular measure of socioeconomic deprivation (SED), we examined the association between social determinants and CRC screening. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study from 2014-2019 to identify primary care patients referred for CRC screening with colonoscopy at an academic hospital system. Patients were assessed at annual visits for completion of colonoscopy. SED was assessed using the area deprivation index (ADI), a composite measure of 17 SED indicators including income, housing, education, and employment at the census block group level. Other social determinants analyzed were race and insurance status. Frequency and multivariable logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. Results: 1040 patients met CRC screening guidelines and were referred for colonoscopy. 136 (13.1%) underwent colonoscopy in the follow-up period. High and low SED made up 655 (63%) and 77 (7.4%) of patients, respectively. SED, race, age, and sex were not associated with higher screening rates. Uninsured patients had a lower rate of screening. After controlling for other social determinants, uninsured patients had the lowest odds of colonoscopy (OR 0.28; 95% CI, 0.08-0.92). Conclusions: In this under-resourced hospital service area, receipt of colonoscopy for CRC screening is significantly lower than previously reported. Furthermore, screening rates were persistently low across strata of SED, race and insurance status, with uninsured patients having the lowest odds of screening. These data suggest that in an under-resourced hospital service area with extensive SED, further research is needed to understand the role of social determinants and behavioral factors to address disparities in CRC screening with colonoscopy. [Table: see text]