American journal of preventive medicine
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Suicide among males is a major public health challenge. In 2019, males accounted for nearly 80% of the suicide deaths in the U.S., and suicide was the eighth leading cause of death for males aged ≥10 years. Males who die by suicide are less likely to have known mental health conditions than females; therefore, it is important to identify prevention points outside of mental health systems. The purpose of this analysis was to compare suicide characteristics among males with and without known mental health conditions by age group to inform prevention. ⋯ Acute stressors more often precipitated suicides of males without known mental health conditions, and they more often involved firearms. These findings underscore the importance of mitigating acute situational stressors that could contribute to emotionally reactive/impulsive suicides. Suicide prevention initiatives targeting males might focus on age-specific precipitating circumstances in addition to standard psychiatric markers.
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Review Meta Analysis
Fixed-Dose Combination (Polypill) for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: A Meta-Analysis.
This meta-analysis was performed to assess the efficacy of fixed-dose combination (polypill) in reducing the risk of mortality and cardiovascular events. ⋯ Despite reductions in cardiovascular risk factors, the observed mortality benefit for the polypill did not reach statistical significance. Further studies are needed to validate its clinical benefits and determine the patient populations likely to achieve such benefits.
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Social risks (e.g., food/transportation insecurity) can hamper type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) self-management, leading to poor outcomes. To determine the extent to which high-quality care can overcome social risks' health impacts, this study assessed the associations between reported social risks, receipt of guideline-based T2DM care, and T2DM outcomes when care is up to date among community health center patients. ⋯ Community health center patients received similar care regardless of the presence of social risks. However, even among those up to date on care, social risks were associated with worse T2DM control. Future research should identify strategies for improving HbA1c control for individuals with social risks.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Motivators, Barriers, and Preferences to Engagement With Offered Social Care Assistance Among People With Diabetes: A Mixed Methods Study.
A substantial proportion of patients screening positive for social risks either decline assistance or do not follow-up with offered resources. This study examined patient interest in and engagement with offered social care assistance among adults with poorly controlled diabetes at an academic medical center. ⋯ There are key barriers to the use of social care assistance that may directly reflect the process by which individuals are screened and offered assistance. Strategies to increase uptake should be patient centered and ideally provide multiple options for type of assistance and mode of engagement.
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Access to health care is affected by social determinants of health. The social vulnerability index encompasses multiple social determinants of health simultaneously and may therefore be associated with healthcare access. ⋯ State-level social vulnerability is associated with several measures related to healthcare access. These results can help to identify targeted interventions to improve access to health care in U.S. states with high social vulnerability index burden.