Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · May 2022
Dietary patterns, genetic risk, and incidence of obesity: Application of reduced rank regression in 11,735 adults from the UK Biobank study.
Few studies have derived dietary patterns based on intake of discretionary foods and beverages and examined associations with genetic risk and obesity. We examined associations between dietary patterns based on discretionary foods, saturated fatty acids (SFA), and fiber, with a polygenetic risk score (PRS) for obesity and risk of overall obesity, central obesity and high body fat (BF) up to 9.7 years later. Data from 11,735 adults from the UK Biobank cohort study were used. ⋯ DP3, correlated positively with SFA and fiber, inversely with discretionary foods, was associated with lower risk of central obesity (hazard ratio: 0.92; 95% confidence interval: 0.87, 0.98). There was limited evidence of interactions with PRS. A dietary pattern high in high-SFA and low-fiber discretionary foods and beverages was associated with higher risk of obesity, independent of genetic predisposition.
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Preventive medicine · May 2022
Missed routine pediatric care and vaccinations in US children during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic has decreased uptake of pediatric preventive care, including immunizations. We estimate the prevalence of missed pediatric routine medical visits and vaccinations over the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of 2074 US parents of children ≤12 years in March 2021 to measure the proportion of children who missed pediatric care and vaccinations over the first 12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ Compared to the 2019-20 flu season, pediatric influenza vaccination decreased in 2020-21 (51.3% vs. 62.2%; p < 0.0001). A high proportion of US children ≤12 years missed routine pediatric care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Catch-up efforts are needed to ensure continuity of preventive care for all children.
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Preventive medicine · May 2022
Factors that differentiate COVID-19 vaccine intentions among Indiana parents: Implications for targeted vaccine promotion.
Given low rates of uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine for children 12-17 and 5-11 years old, research is needed to understand parental behaviors and behavioral intentions related to COVID-19 vaccination for their children. In the state of Indiana, we conducted a non-random, online survey of parents or caregivers (N = 10,266) about their COVID-19 vaccine intentions or behaviors, demographic characteristics, and potential motivating reasons for getting the vaccine. ⋯ Compared to vaccine rejecters, vaccine hesitators were more likely to be motivated by perceptions of vaccine safety and efficacy, normative influences such as close friends/family who had been vaccinated and a recommendation from a provider, as well as if they were vaccinated themselves. These findings have implications for the development of targeted vaccine promotion strategies, such as social norms messaging and a focus on vaccine safety, in order to increase COVID-19 vaccination for eligible children.
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Preventive medicine · May 2022
Perspectives on clinician-delivered firearm safety counseling during routine care: Results of a national survey.
Only 7.5% of United States (U. S.) adults report ever having spoken with a clinician about firearm safety. One reason that clinicians may infrequently counsel patients about firearm safety is that they are unsure whether patients are open to these discussions. ⋯ These findings demonstrate that a large majority of U. S. adults who live in households with firearms believe that clinicians should discuss firearm safety when patients or their family members are experiencing specific clinical scenarios. Clinicians' and healthcare systems' concerns that patients might object to discussing firearm safety in these contexts should not impede efforts to integrate such interventions into routine care.
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Preventive medicine · May 2022
The changing epidemiology of interpersonal firearm violence during the COVID-19 pandemic in Philadelphia, PA.
Recent increases in firearm violence in U. S. cities are well-documented, however dynamic changes in the people, places and intensity of this public health threat during the COVID-19 pandemic are relatively unexplored. This descriptive epidemiologic study spanning from January 1, 2015 - March 31, 2021 utilizes the Philadelphia Police Department's registry of shooting victims, a database which includes all individuals shot and/or killed due to interpersonal firearm violence in the city of Philadelphia. ⋯ Geographic analysis revealed relative increases in all shootings and mass shootings in specific city locations post-containment. The observed changes in firearm injury epidemiology following COVID-19 containment in Philadelphia demonstrate an intensification in firearm violence, which is increasingly impacting people who are likely made more vulnerable by existing social and structural disadvantage. These findings support existing knowledge about structural causes of interpersonal firearm violence and suggest structural solutions are required to address this public health threat.