American journal of preventive medicine
-
Limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods affects the health of individuals. Because of its association with chronic health conditions, addressing food insecurity may improve health outcomes and decrease health-related costs. This study explores whether and how information seeking as captured by calls made to United Way 2-1-1 can be used to identify food-insecure areas and information deserts-communities with low proportions of residents accessing government food resources but with high rates of 2-1-1 calls for emergency food resources. ⋯ Patterns of information seeking about emergency food resources suggest that, despite statewide access to federal means-tested food programs, significant food needs remain. This novel approach in food insecurity research can help public health officials and health systems address an important social determinant of health by identifying areas vulnerable to food insecurity. In addition, this work may be useful in benchmarking food needs, information seeking, and replicating analyses where similar data are available.
-
Early detection screening tools are needed to aid in preventing vascular complications associated with type 2 diabetes. As low muscular strength is linked to increased diabetes risk, the purpose of this study is to establish muscular strength cut points for determining diabetes risk using a large, nationally representative U.S. ⋯ Normalized grip strength using the cut points proposed in this paper may be a useful screening tool for diabetes risk in apparently healthy, normotensive adults.
-
Researchers have shown a connection between e-cigarette use and subsequent cigarette use. This study prospectively examines the connection between e-cigarette use and marijuana use. ⋯ E-cigarette use, even when not in conjunction with cigarette use, may be a marker of marijuana use risk during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood. The e-cigarette and marijuana use link may strengthen in the future with the increasing trend of adolescents vaping marijuana.
-
Diabetes might confer a modestly increased risk of latent tuberculosis infection, which without treatment can progress to active tuberculosis disease. Three recent analyses of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found a positive association between diabetes and a positive test for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. This study examines whether prevalence of a positive test still varies by diabetes status after stratifying by race/ethnicity. ⋯ Hispanic and Asian subpopulation results drove much of the previously reported positive association between diabetes and a positive test for M. tuberculosis infection. Hispanic and Asian adults with diabetes might particularly benefit from screening and treatment for latent tuberculosis infection.
-
Suicidality is higher for gender minorities than the general population, yet little is known about suicidality in disabled or older adult gender minorities. ⋯ Heightened suicidality among identified gender minority Medicare beneficiaries highlights a pressing need to identify and reduce barriers to wellness in this population.