Poor Social Determinants Of Health Research Articles

Linking Childhood Cultural Health Capital Factors with Adult Health Literacy.

Adult health outcomes are linked to childhood factors such as socioeconomic status via cultural health capital (CHC). Specifically, these factors shape opportunities for developing skills for navigating health environments via experience and the intergenerational transfer of health-related knowledge and skills. Health literacy (HL) is considered a part of and/or result of CHC. HL develops similarly to CHC via opportunities and experiences. Most research to date has ignored the effect of childhood factors on adult HL. The purpose of this study was to explore how childhood factors are related to adult HL. Data were collected from adults (N = 736, mean age = 40.65 years, standard deviation [SD] = 15.39; 52% female; 53.8% White, 31.3% Hispanic and Latino/a/e) in the United States using Qualtrics Panel. Multivariate ordinal and binary logistic regressions predicting HL (as measured by the Newest Vital Sign and Single-Item Literacy Scale) from childhood factors and accounting for demographic covariates were estimated. After accounting for covariates, such as the presence of an employed adult in a white-collar (odds ratio [OR] = 3.34) or blue-collar (OR = 3.68) occupation (versus unknown/not employed) increased the odds of being categorized as possible limited literacy and adequate literacy (versus limited literacy) as measured by the Newest Vital Sign. Similarly, having an employed adult during childhood who had a blue-collar occupation (vs. unknown/not employed) increased the odds of being categorized as adequate literacy (OR = 2.06) as measured by the Single-Item Literacy Scale. Because the adult's employment played a role in the child's adult HL after accounting for other factors and demographics, these findings support using a lifespan approach to assess and identify risk factors for lower HL. This study contributes to the growing body of evidence of how HL is interconnected with social determinants of health across the lifespan and the need to address HL skills in those with poor social determinants of health. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2024;8(2):e79-e88.].

Risks Associated with Quality Care among Hispanic and White Populations-A Cross-Sectional Comparison Study.

Quality care in healthcare is a multifaceted concept that encompasses the execution of effective medical treatments and the patient's overall experience. It involves a multitude of factors, including effectiveness, safety, timeliness, equity, and patient centeredness, which are important in shaping the healthcare landscape. This cross-sectional study used the data from the Health Information National Trends Survey 6 (HINTS 6), which collects data on various aspects of health communication and information-seeking behaviors, to investigate the factors associated with quality care among White and Hispanic populations. All adults who participated in HINTS 6 and visited healthcare service at least once in the past 12 months were included in this study. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the association between quality care and delay or discriminated care with the adjustment of all other sociodemographic variables. We analyzed a total of 3611 participants. Poor social determinants of health (SDOHs) (OR 0.61, CI 0.43-0.88, p = 0.008), delayed needed medical care (OR 0.34, CI 0.26-0.43, p < 0.001), and discriminated care (OR 0.29, CI 0.15-0.54, p < 0.001) were all negatively associated with optimal quality care. Negative SDOHs could also be positively associated with delayed care and discriminated care.

Social determinants of health: a need for better data capture in Asian American patients with hepatocellular cancer.

Social determinants of health lead to better cancer care. This multi-site, single-institution study sought to capture data on social determinants of health data in Asian Americans with hepatocellular carcinoma; this group constitutes 60% of patients with this malignancy and are often undertreated or not treated at all. This study took advantage of an institutional initiative designed to capture and integrate social determinants of health data into the electronic medical record for all patients. Medical records of Asian Americans with hepatocellular cancer were reviewed to acquire data on housing instability, lack of transportation, financial concerns, and social isolation; a score of 1 indicated poor social determinants of health. Of 112 adult Asian American patients with hepatocellular cancer, 22 (20%) were Southeast Asian, and 74 (67%) described English proficiency/preference. Total noncompletion per domain (no question answered within that domain) was observed in 90 patients (80%) for housing instability; 90 (80%) for lack of transportation; 92 (82%) for financial hardship; and 90 (80%) for social isolation. A score of 1 (highest risk) was observed in 1 patient (0.9%) for housing instability; 1 (0.9%) lack of transportation; no patient for financial hardship; and 1 (0.9%) for social isolation. Of note, institution-wide benchmark total noncompletion rates were 0.3%, 0.3%, 47%, and 39% for these respective domains. High total noncompletion rates make social determinants of health data challenging to interpret and underscore the need for evidence-based guidelines on how best to capture such data in underserved patients.

42. Congenital Upper Extremity Defects: USA National Incidence and Risk Factors

PURPOSE: Identify maternal risk factors and social determinants of health related to congenital upper extremity (UE) defects and establish the American incidences rates. METHODS: Deidentified and aggregated patient data was sourced from American institutions utilizing Epic CosmosTM. Social factors were analyzed using Center for Disease Control produced Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) data. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for categorical variables and Cochrane-Armitage tests assessed for differences in trends of ordinal SVI data. RESULTS: Querying over 166 million patient records, incidence rates and associations were established using cohorts of over 7 million and 5 million children respectively. Overall incidence rate of all UE defects was found to be 55.8 per 10,000 live births, of which polydactyly was most common (35.5) followed by syndactyly (12.5). Worsening social factors were associated with all evaluated defects, however polydactyly demonstrated near ubiquitous association with evaluated SVI factors. CONCLUSION: This study examining the largest cohort of patients reported to date establishes the US incidences of these UE Defects. Further, these data demonstrate association between UE defects and various poor social determinants of health. Finally, these findings quantify risk factors associated with congenital UE defects.

Applying the syndemic framework to cancer research for effective cancer control in low- and middle-income countries.

Cancer burden is increasing rapidly globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), which already face a double burden of infectious diseases and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). LMICs also struggle with poor social determinants of health, leading to cancer health disparities, such as delayed diagnoses and increased death rates due to cancer. Contextually, relevant research needs to be prioritised in these regions to ensure feasible, evidence-based healthcare planning and delivery for cancer prevention and control. A syndemic framework has been used to study the disease clustering of infectious diseases and NCDs across varied social contexts to understand how diseases interact adversely and how the wider environmental context and other socioeconomic factors contribute to poor health outcomes within specific populations. We propose using this model to study the 'syndemic of cancers' in the disadvantaged population of LMICs and suggest ways for the clear operationalisation of the syndemic framework through multidisciplinary evidence-generation models for the delivery of integrated, socially conscious interventions for effective cancer control.

Lower Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status May Influence Medical Complications, Emergency Department Utilization, and Costs of Care After 1- to 2-Level Lumbar Fusion.

Retrospective Case-Control Study. The objectives were to determine whether patients from poor social determinants of health, undergoing primary 1- to 2-level lumbar fusion, demonstrate differences in (1) medical complications, (2) emergency department (ED) utilizations, (3) readmission rates, and (4) costs of care. Measures of socioeconomic disadvantage may enable improved targeting and prevention of potentially increased health care utilization. The Area Deprivation Index (ADI) is a validated index of 17 census-based markers of material deprivation and poverty. A retrospective query of the 2010-2020 PearlDiver database was performed for primary 1- to 2-level lumbar fusions for degenerative lumbar pathology. High ADI (scale: 0-100) is associated with a greater disadvantage. Patients with high ADI (90%+) were 1:1 propensity score matched to controls (ADI: 0-89%) by age, sex, and Elixhauser Comorbidity Index. This yielded 34,442 patients, evenly matched between cohorts. Primary outcomes were to compare 90-day complications, ED utilizations, readmissions, and costs of care. Multivariable logistic regression models computed the odds ratios (OR) of ADI on complications, ED utilizations, and readmissions. P -values <0.05 were significant. Patients with a high ADI incurred higher rates and odds of developing respiratory failures (1.17% vs. 0.87%; OR: 1.35, P =0.005). Acute kidney injuries (2.61% vs. 2.29%; OR: 1.14, P =0.056), deep venous thromboses (0.19% vs. 0.17%; OR: 1.14, P =0.611), cerebrovascular accidents (1.29% vs. 1.31%; OR: 0.99, P =0.886), and total medical complications (23.35% vs. 22.93%; OR: 1.02, P =0.441) were similar between groups. High ADI patients experienced higher rates and odds of ED visits within 90 days (9.67% vs. 8.91%; OR: 1.10, P =0.014) and overall 90-day expenditures ($54,459 vs. $47,044; P <0.001). Socioeconomically disadvantaged patients have increased rates and odds of respiratory failure within 90 days. ED utilization within 90 days of surgery was higher in socioeconomically disadvantaged patients. Social determinants of health could be used to inform health care policy and improve postdischarge care. Level III.

Facing Healthcare Access Challenges With Specialty Care Clinics in Central Appalachia

Access to specialty care and diagnostic services in rural healthcare settings are required to achieve quality healthcare outcomes. St. Mary’s Health Wagon network of free clinics, established in 1980, serves a region with an array of health disparities and poor social determinants of health. In 2018, the administration envisioned implementation of an interprofessional team to deliver diagnostic services targeting healthcare access challenges in southwest Virginia, which is historically unprecedented. The cost of diagnostic services in the area was not equitable for the poor, uninsured, and underinsured. Many patients had to use the emergency department for radiologic exams, incurring more debt that cannot be afforded or paid or simply forgoing needed diagnostic services. The leadership team applied for and secured a United Health Foundation Grant that fulfilled their vision, employing ultrasound, diagnostic x-ray, mammogram, telecystoscopy, telecolposcopy, and dental visits into the network of clinics. To date, St. Mary’s Health Wagon has performed 3,587 exams (342 ultrasounds, 282 x-rays, 273 mammograms, 21 telecystoscopies, 16 telecolposcopies, and 2,669 dental visits) free of cost for the patients. While there were some challenges with the implementation of these services, the benefits yielded quick diagnosis and treatment, leading to optimal patient outcomes.

Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Programme For Pregnant Women Accessing Antenatal Care In Urban Public Health Facilities In Southern India

Abstract Backgrounds and problem By 2030, tobacco use is estimated to kill more than 8 million people worldwide annually, with LMICs accounting for over 80% of those deaths. In India, about 4.6% of women continue to use tobacco mainly (&amp;gt; 80%) in smokeless (SLT) form during pregnancy. This may lead to: higher risk of anemia (∼ 70%), hypertension, and postpartum hemorrhage; poor fetal development; and 2-3 times higher rate of low-birth and stillbirth babies. Importance Anti-tobacco initiatives often focus on smoking over SLT, which is commonly consumed by women. Drivers of SLT use among women include: cultural appropriateness, medicinal benefits, and poor social determinants of health. These factors must be taken into account while formulating effective anti-tobacco interventions for pregnant women, ensuring safe motherhood and neonatal health. Solution We propose integrating oral health interventions in mitigating tobacco use within the existing antenatal care (ANC) model. Women enrolled in public health facilities in an urban poor neighborhood in South India receive oral health education (OHE) integrated into ANC. The intervention promotes oral hygiene habits, dietary advices, improving dental healthcare utilization, and sensitization on the ill-effects of tobacco-use. Training for ANC providers focuses on delivering antenatal tobacco screening, cessation, and referral services. This includes expanding the medical history to record tobacco use, conduct oral examination and referrals to dentists and/or tobacco cessation centres. Final outcomes of OHE will be measured using pre and post KAP surveys informed by WHO Oral Health Surveys; and training programme using in-depth interviews among providers. Desired policy change is the inclusion of tobacco prevention and cessation programme in the Indian ANC guidelines.

Commentary: Improving access to cardiac rehabilitation (Heart: Road for health) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in rural and remote areas of North Queensland.

To focus on the needs, challenges and opportunities to improve access to cardiac rehabilitation (CR) (Heart: Road to health [HRH]) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in rural and remote (R&R) areas of North Queensland. It is known that there is insufficient access to HRH for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in R&R areas of NQ, who have the highest rates of heart disease and socioeconomic disadvantage mainly due to poor social determinants of health. However, at least in part due to the impact of colonialism and predominantly western medicalised approach to health care, few gains have been made. This commentary draws on recent research and literature and reflects on cultural issues that impact on improving access to an HRH for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in R&R areas. The underutilisation of the skills of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers (ATSIHW) and a lack of a defined process to ensure access to culturally responsive HRH are discussed. Finally, a way forward is proposed that includes the development of policies, pathways and guidelines to ensure that appropriate support is available in the client's home community. It is proposed that culturally responsive, accessible and effective HRH is achievable through the reorientation of current health systems that include a continuous client-centred pathway from hospital to home. In this model, ATSIHW will take a lead or partnership role in which their clinical, cultural brokerage and health promotion skills are fully utilised.

The impact of substance use on health care utilization, treatment, and outcomes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Mortality from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has improved with screening and novel treatments. The substance use epidemic has threatened health outcomes in a variety of diseases, but little is known about how it is associated with NSCLC outcomes. We performed a retrospective cohort study of 211 patients with NSCLC treated at a safety-net hospital. Sociodemographic data and clinical outcomes were extracted via review of electronic medical records. Patients were stratified based on substance use status. Comparative and multivariable analyses were performed to evaluate baseline characteristics and lung cancer outcomes including survival. Among 193 patients (91.5%) with information available on substance use, 24.9% reported substance use; specifically, alcohol, marijuana, and illicit substances. Patients with substance use were more likely to have increased health care utilization and poor social determinants of health, including safe housing, stable employment, and social support. There were no significant differences in treatment adherence. Only 6.3% of patients with substance use did not receive guideline concordant care (GCC) compared to 24.8% of patients without substance use; due to poor performance status, increased comorbidities, or loss to follow up. On univariable analysis, patients with substance use experienced inferior median overall survival (OS) if they had metastatic disease (0.40 vs. 1.03 years, P=0.01). However, in the multivariable analysis, substance use did not predict for survival. Independent predictors of mortality were sex (male HR, 1.67; 95% CI: 1.04-2.68; P=0.04), smoking status (current smoking HR, 2.63; 95% CI: 1.14-6.08; P=0.02), and stage (stage IV HR, 14.96; 95% CI: 6.28-35.63; P=0.008). Substance use is associated with poor social determinants of health and increased health care utilization. On multivariable analysis, substance use was not independently associated with OS once guideline-concordant care was used. Future studies should focus on improving our understanding of these associations, delineating potential mechanisms, and developing evidence-based strategies to reduce health care utilization and overcome challenges related to poor social determinants of health.

Incorporating social determinants of health into individual care-a multidisciplinary perspective of health professionals who work with people who have type 2 diabetes.

Social determinants of health (SDoH) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are interrelated. The prevalence of T2DM is increased amongst those with suboptimal SDoH. Poor SDoH can also negatively impact T2DM self-management. Social determinants of health are mostly considered at population and community levels, rather than individually or clinically. This qualitative study combines the perspectives of a multidisciplinary cohort of health professionals to identify and explore the impact of social determinants on self-management, and ways they could be incorporated into individual clinical care. Purposively selected participants chose to partake in an in-depth, semi-structured, one-on-one interview or focus group. Data were analysed, and themes identified using a combination of deductive and inductive thematic analysis. Fifty-one health professionals volunteered for the study. Two small focus groups (n = 3 and n = 4) and 44 one-on-one interviews were conducted. The identified themes were: 1) Support for incorporating SDoH into T2DM care, 2) Effect of SDoH on T2DM self-management, 3) Identifying and addressing social need, 4) Requirements for incorporating SDoH into T2DM individual clinical care. Health professionals reported that poor social determinants negatively affect an individual’s ability to self manage their T2DM. Person-centred care could be enhanced, and people with T2DM may be more likely to achieve self-management goals if SDoH were included in individual clinical care. To achieve successful and sustained self-management for people with T2DM, health professionals require a thorough understanding of T2DM and the effect of social determinants, respect for client privacy, client trust and rapport, effective communication skills, validated tools for assessing SDoH, team champions, teamwork, ongoing education and training, adequate resources, guiding policies and procedures, and management support. Incorporating SDoH into individual, clinical care for people with T2DM was strongly supported by health professionals. If embraced, this addition to care for individuals with T2DM could improve self-management capacity and enhance person-centred care.

Disease surveillance infrastructure and the economisation of public health.

The city government of Chicago adopted a ‘racial equity’ approach to tackle racial disparities in COVID‐19 outcomes. Drawing on experience addressing core vulnerabilities associated with HIV risk, Chicago public health experts who designed COVID‐19 mitigation initiatives recognised that the same social determinants of health drive racial disparities for both HIV and COVID‐19. Yet, when building an infrastructure to respond to COVID‐19, disease surveillance and data collection became the priority for investment ahead of other forms of public health work or the provision of social services. The building of a disease surveillance infrastructure that responded to and supplied data took precedence over addressing social determinants of poor health. Community‐based organisations that might have otherwise organised for social service provision were incorporated into this infrastructure. Further, public health officials often failed to heed the lessons learned from their experience with HIV vulnerability. Based on qualitative analysis of 56 interviews with public health experts and policymakers in Chicago, we argue that the prioritisation of disease surveillance, coupled with a scarcity model of public health provision, undermined the city’s attempt to redress racial inequities in outcomes. We argue that the economisation of pandemic response exacerbates health disparities, even when racial equity frameworks are adopted.

Disparities in disaster healthcare: A review of past disasters.

To review the literature on the effects seen after disaster on those with poor social determinants of health (SDOH) and individual social needs. The Disaster Preparedness and Response Committee of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) formed a work group to study healthcare disparities seen in disaster. This group was composed of six physicians on the committee, all of whom have extensive background in disaster medicine and the chair of the committee. A systematic literature review regarding past disasters and all the healthcare disparities seen was undertaken with the goal of organizing this information in one broad concise document looking at multiple disasters over history. The group reviewed multiple documents regarding SDOH and individual social needs for a complete understanding of these factors. Then, a topic list of healthcare disparities resulting from these factors was composed. This list was then filled out with subtopics falling under the header topics. Each member of the workgroup took one of these topics of healthcare disparity seen in disasters and completed a literature search. The databases reviewed include PubMed Central, Google Scholar, and Medline. The terms queried were disaster, healthcare disparities, disaster healthcare disparities, healthcare disparities associated with disasters, SDOH and disaster, special populations and disaster effects, and vulnerable populations and disaster effects. Each author chose articles they felt were most representative and demonstrative of the healthcare disparities seen in past disasters. These social determinant factors and individual social needs were then cross referenced in relation to past disasters for both their causes and the effect they had on various populations after disaster. This was presented to the ACEP board as a committee report. All the SDOH and individual social needs showed significant negative effects for the populations when combined with a disaster event. These SDOH cut across age, race, and gender affecting a wide swath of people. Previous disaster planning either did not plan or under planned for these marginalized populations during disaster events. Disparities in healthcare are a pervasive problem that effects many different groups. Disasters magnify and more fully expose these healthcare disparities. We have explored the healthcare disparities with past disasters. These disparities, although common, can be mitigated. The recognition of these poor determinants of health can lead to better and more comprehensive disaster planning for future disasters. Subsequent research is needed to explore these healthcare disparities exacerbated by disasters and to find methods for their mitigation.

COVID-19 and inequities in the Americas: lessons learned and implications for essential health services.

ABSTRACTThe COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated social, economic, and health-related disparities, which disproportionately affect persons living in conditions of vulnerability. Such populations include ethnic groups who face discrimination and experience barriers to accessing comprehensive health care. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed these health disparities, and disruptions of essential health services have further widened the gaps in access to health care. Noncommunicable diseases are more prevalent among groups most impacted by poor social determinants of health and have been associated with an increased likelihood of severe COVID-19 disease and higher mortality. Disruptions in the provision of essential health services for noncommunicable diseases, mental health, communicable diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, and maternal and child health services (including sexual and reproductive health), are projected to also increase poor health outcomes. Other challenges have been an increased frequency of interpersonal violence and food insecurity. Countries in the Americas have responded to the disruptions caused by the pandemic by means of health service delivery through telemedicine and other digital solutions and stepping up social service support interventions. As vaccinations for COVID-19 create the opportunity to overcome the pandemic, countries must strengthen primary health care and essential health services with a view to ensuring equity, if the region is to achieve universal health coverage in fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals.

P-134 Social determinants of health are risk factors for early onset colorectal cancer in Appalachia

The Appalachian mountain range encompasses 420 counties and parallels the eastern seaboard of the United States (US). This region is characterized as being predominantly rural with poverty rates that exceed the national average. Recently, areas in southern and central Appalachia were identified as geographical hot-spots for EOCRC mortality in men. The purpose of this investigation is to describe the relationship between social determinants of health, including educational attainment, poverty, income, unemployment, and access to cancer screening, and the incidence of EOCRC in Appalachia. This is a retrospective cohort analysis of the National Cancer Institutes’ Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. 4,724 patients age 20-49 who were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in Appalachia from 2000-2016 met inclusion criteria and were analyzed. 105 of the 420 Appalachian counties designated by the Appalachian Regional Commission were represented in this study. County-level incidence of EOCRC was calculated (n=105) and the counties in the top (n=25) and bottom (n=27) quartiles for incidence of EOCRC were separated into two cohorts for comparison. County characteristics reported by the American Community Survey from 2012-2016 Census and the National Health Interview Survey (2008-2011) were compared between the cohorts. Appalachian counties above the top quartile for EOCRC incidence were found to have significantly lower levels of educational attainment with significant differences seen at all cutoffs (< 9th grade, < high school, < bachelor’s degree). Appalachian counties above the 75th percentile for EOCRC also have a significantly higher unemployment rates and greater levels of poverty defined as percentage of the population living under 200% of the federal poverty level. Moreover, county-level median household income was found to be inversely related to county incidence of EOCRC. Appalachian counties above the 75th percentile incidence of EOCRC have significantly higher percentage of residents who identify as current smokers or ever smokers. Furthermore, EOCRC incidence in Appalachia inversely correlated with utilization of health screens. Specifically, the top quartile for EOCRC incidence had significantly lower rates of endoscopy use and CRC testing for screening-aged adults. While it is known that social determinants of health play a key role in colorectal cancer morbidity, mortality, and survival, this study shows that social determinants of health are also risk factors for the incidence of EOCRC. We hypothesize that counties with poor social determinants of health (high poverty rates, low educational obtainment, and decreased access to preventative healthcare) may also have higher rates of independent risk factors for EOCRC such as obesity and processed meat consumption. Interestingly, this study demonstrates that EOCRC incidence inversely corelated with county utilization of CRC testing for screening age adults. These results provide data to strongly support public health initiatives in Appalachia aimed at improving these social determinants of health at a county-level. We further hypothesize that tobacco use, processed meat consumption, obesity, and limited access to primary care are some of the likely many factors driving the increased incidence of EOCRC in Appalachia and therefore provide targets for future interventions at the regional level.

Abstract 685: A social epigenomic investigation of racial disparity in pulmonary impairment among aging survivors of childhood cancer

Abstract Background: Prior research suggests that social determinants of health (SDOH) may influence health through an epigenetic mechanism. However, the social epigenomic approach has not yet been applied to childhood cancer survivors, a population at high risk for chronic health conditions. We aim to investigate how SDOH factors contribute to racial disparity in pulmonary impairment with survivors from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study. Methods: DNA methylation (DNAm) profile was generated with EPIC BeadChip using blood derived DNA. SDOH factors included educational attainment and personal income self-reported using a survey, and socioeconomic area deprivation index (ADI) geocoded using full home addresses. Clinically assessed pulmonary impairment included pulmonary diffusion deficits (PDD), restrictive pulmonary deficits (RPD) and obstructive pulmonary deficits (OPD). Epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) was performed to evaluate the association between DNAm at each CpG and each SDOH factor. Mediation analysis was conducted by treating each SDOH-associated CpG as a mediator, SDOH factor as an exposure, and specific pulmonary condition as the outcome. Genetically inferred races, i.e. survivors of European ancestry (EA) and African ancestry (AA), were considered. Results: The study included 258 AA (median time from cancer diagnosis [MTD]=25.2 years, interquartile range [IQR]=19.9-32.1 years) and 1,618 EA survivors (MTD=27.3, IQR=21.1-33.7 years). Compared to EA survivors, AA survivors had lower educational attainment (P&amp;lt;0.0001), lower personal income (P&amp;lt;0.0001), and higher ADI (P&amp;lt;0.0001). Compared to EA survivors, incidence of PDD (25.2% in AA vs 18.2% in EA, P=0.03) and RPD (14.2% in AA vs 7.5% in EA, P=0.002) were significantly higher in AA survivors, whereas OPD were comparable between groups (9.8% vs 13.1%, P=0.21). However, the racial disparity in PDD became nonsignificant after adjusting for SDOH. EWAS identified 130 SDOH-CpG associations at epigenome-wide significance (P&amp;lt;9×10-8) including 88 for educational attainment, 23 for personal income, and 19 for ADI. Thirteen CpGs, commonly associated with all three SDOH factors, resided at pleiotropic loci featuring cigarette smoking genes, e.g. CPOX and AHRR among others. Three independent SDOH-associated CpGs (cg04180924, cg1120500, and cg27470486) had a significant combined mediation effect for educational attainment (%mediation = 48.9%), and a single mediator cg08064403 had a significant mediation effect for personal income (25.9%) and ADI (24.1%) on PDD risk. Conclusions: DNAm signatures, many resembling the effect of tobacco use, are associated with educational attainment, personal income, and ADI. Our findings suggest that these DNAm are potential mechanistic mediators for the effects of SDOH factors on PDD risk. Through this mechanism, poor SDOH factors in AA survivors led to racial disparity in PDD. Citation Format: Nan Song, Jin-ah Sim, Qian Dong, Yinan Zheng, Lifang Hou, Zhenghong Li, Chia-Wei Hsu, Haitao Pan, Heather Mulder, John Easton, Emily Walker, Geoffrey Neale, Carmen L. Wilson, Kirsten K. Ness, Kevin R. Krull, Deo Kumar Srivastava, Yutaka Yasui, Jinghui Zhang, Melissa M. Hudson, Leslie L. Robison, I-Chan Huang, Zhaoming Wang. A social epigenomic investigation of racial disparity in pulmonary impairment among aging survivors of childhood cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 685.

Unmet needs for ancillary care services are associated with HIV clinical outcomes among adults with diagnosed HIV

ABSTRACT Ancillary care services are essential for supporting care engagement and viral suppression among persons with HIV. Estimating unmet needs for ancillary care services may help address care barriers and improve clinical outcomes, but recent, nationally representative estimates are lacking. Using CDC Medical Monitoring Project data from 2015–2018, we report representative estimates of unmet needs for ancillary care services and associations with HIV clinical outcomes among U.S. adults with HIV. Data were collected through interview and medical record abstraction. We described weighted percentages for all characteristics and associations with HIV clinical outcomes using prevalence ratios with predicted marginal means, adjusting for potential confounding. Substantial unmet needs were reported; unmet needs were higher among persons with social determinants of poor health, persons who engaged in drug use or binge drinking, and those who experienced depression or anxiety. Having unmet needs for care was associated with adverseHIV clinical outcomes, with a dose response effect between number of unmet needs and outcomes. Expanding ancillary care access based on a comprehensive care model, strengthening partnerships between providers to connect patients to essential services, and tailoring services based on need may help reduce disparities in unmet needs and improve outcomes.

COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Among Adults - United States, December 14, 2020-May 22, 2021.

The U.S. COVID-19 vaccination program launched on December 14, 2020. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended prioritizing COVID-19 vaccination for specific groups of the U.S. population who were at highest risk for COVID-19 hospitalization and death, including adults aged ≥75 years*; implementation varied by state, and eligibility was gradually expanded to persons aged ≥65 years beginning in January 2021. By April 19, 2021, eligibility was expanded to all adults aged ≥18 years nationwide.† To assess patterns of COVID-19 vaccination coverage among U.S. adults, CDC analyzed data submitted on vaccinations administered during December 14, 2020-May 22, 2021, by age, sex, and community-level characteristics. By May 22, 2021, 57.0% of persons aged ≥18 years had received ≥1 COVID-19 vaccine dose; coverage was highest among persons aged ≥65 years (80.0%) and lowest among persons aged 18-29 years (38.3%). During the week beginning February 7, 2021, vaccination initiation among adults aged ≥65 years peaked at 8.2%, whereas weekly initiation among other age groups peaked later and at lower levels. During April 19-May 22, 2021, the period following expanded eligibility to all adults, weekly initiation remained <4.0% and decreased for all age groups, including persons aged 18-29 years (3.6% to 1.9%) and 30-49 years (3.5% to 1.7%); based on the current rate of weekly initiation (as of May 22), younger persons will not reach the same levels of coverage as older persons by the end of August. Across all age groups, coverage (≥1 dose) was lower among men compared with women, except among adults aged ≥65 years, and lower among persons living in counties that were less urban, had higher social vulnerabilities, or had higher percentages of social determinants of poor health. Continued efforts to improve vaccination confidence and alleviate barriers to vaccination initiation, especially among adults aged 18-49 years, could improve vaccination coverage.

Examining the Relationship Between Sleep-Related Infant Deaths and Social Determinants of Health in Urban Communities.

The purpose of this article is to develop a case for considering the relationship between racial disparities in SRID and social determinants of health (SDOH) in impoverished communities. The later has been related to chronic stress impacting biological and psychological functioning. The authors advocate that undesirable SDOH be regarded when developing safe sleep strategies for at risk communities, since chronic stress can impact psychological and biologic functioning, possibly manifesting in inconsistent safe sleep practices by caregivers. An adapted environmental scan (AES), using SRID and SDOH data from impoverished communities, was used to illustrate the comparison of SRID and SDOH in contrasting Baltimore neighborhoods. The AES revealed a match between disparities in SRID and SDOH (e.g., educational achievement, unemployment, poverty, poor housing, and violence). The comparison between the SDOH and SRID increases together for named impoverished neighborhoods, as compared to those with low SRID rates in Baltimore. Rather than limit safe sleep interventions to crib and infant sleeper give-aways, for example, hazardous SDOH seen in impoverished communities should be addressed. We posit that these results will stimulate discussion for well-placed and financed programs, along with policies that focus on decreasing SRID by improving poor SDOH.

Clinical ethnography in severe mental illness: a clinical method to tackle social determinants and structural racism in personalised care.

Ethnic inequalities in the experiences and outcomes of severe mental illness are well established. These include a higher incidence of severe mental illnesses (psychoses), adverse pathways into and through care, including crisis care, police and criminal justice systems involvement, and care under the powers of the Mental Health Act. The situation persists despite awareness and is driven by a mixture of the social determinants of poor health, societal disadvantage and structural racism, as well as conflictual interactions with care systems, which themselves are configured in ways that sustain or deepen these inequalities. Although training and education are often proposed, this is not shown to have sustained effects. Clinical processes (interviewing/assessment/formulation/intervention) need to address systemic influences and improve the cultural precision with which care is delivered, organised and commissioned. We discuss clinical ethnography and present evidence of its value in addressing systemic as well as individual care needs for diverse communities.