Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · Jan 2020
How are lifestyle factors associated with socioeconomic differences in health care costs? Evidence from full population data in the Netherlands.
There is a strong socioeconomic gradient in health care costs. However, little is known about the role of lifestyle factors in the association between health care costs and socioeconomic status (SES). This study investigates variation in the association between lifestyle indicators and health care costs between and within neighborhoods with similar SES. ⋯ Our findings suggest that prevention policies aimed at reducing the number of smokers and increasing sport club membership may reduce health care costs across all NSES groups, while increasing compliance with physical exercise norms may be effective mainly in low SES neighborhoods.
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Preventive medicine · Jan 2020
Using change in a seat belt law to study racially-biased policing in South Carolina.
Seat belt laws have increased seat belt use in the US and contributed to reduced fatalities and injuries. However, these policies provide the potential for increased discrimination. The objective of this study is to determine whether a change in seat belt use enforcement led to a differential change in the number of stops, arrests, and searches to White, Black and Hispanic drivers in one US state. ⋯ White drivers [RR searches = 0.86 (0.81, 0.91) and RR arrests = 0.90 (0.85, 0.96)]. For Hispanic drivers, effects of the policy change were also found among stops for speeding, which failed the falsification test and suggested that other changes likely affected this group. These findings may support the hypothesis of differential enforcement of seat belt policy in South Carolina for Black and White drivers.
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Preventive medicine · Jan 2020
The association of nativity/length of residence and cardiovascular disease risk factors in the United States.
Differences by nativity status for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors have been previously reported. Recent research has focused on understanding how other acculturation factors, such as length of residence, affect health behaviors and outcomes. This study examines the association between CVD risk factors and nativity/length of US residence. ⋯ Overweight/obesity overall and diabetes among Hispanic adults were lower among non-US born residents in the US <15 years. In contrast, non-US born non-Hispanic Asian residents in the US <15 years had higher prevalence of diabetes. Non-US born adults were less likely to have most CVD risk factors compared to US born adults regardless of length of residence, although, for smoking and diabetes this pattern differed by race and Hispanic origin.
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Preventive medicine · Jan 2020
Cost-effectiveness of a comprehensive immunization program serving high-risk, uninsured adults.
Despite the numerous social and economic benefits of vaccination, adult immunization rates fall far short of recommended levels costing the United States $9 billion annually in health care expenditures and reduced productivity. While it is well recognized that childhood immunization is highly cost-effective, the economic impact of adult immunization programs varies by disease and is influenced by population demographics. This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of a comprehensive adult immunization program serving high-need populations delivered by a local health department (LHD) in partnership with community organizations. ⋯ Sensitivity analyses did not substantially impact the results. The ICER for program as a whole was $67,940/LYS. A community-delivered comprehensive immunization program serving uninsured, low income, high-risk adults is a cost-effective investment even when most do not receive the full regimen of some vaccines.
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Preventive medicine · Jan 2020
Building a culture of health through research: The role of the physical activity research center.
This paper provides brief context for why the physical activity research center was created and how it supports the national movement to build a culture of health.