Justice-Involved Status and In-Hospital Mortality Among Nonelderly Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2021.

Objective: The purpose of this research is to examine the role of justice-involved status on in-hospital mortality among nonelderly adults during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used data from the 2021 State Inpatient Databases for 20 US states, which included discharges from general acute care hospitals among adults aged 18-64 years hospitalized for at least 24 hours. The main outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality and the primary comparison was justice-involved status.

Hepatitis C Virus Care Cascade by Race/Ethnicity in a Statewide Correctional Population, 2019-2023.

Importance: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) care cascade data by race/ethnicity for US correctional populations are sparse.

Objective: To evaluate the HCV care cascade by race/ethnicity for a state correctional population.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective cohort study used Connecticut Department of Correction data for incarcerated individuals tested, diagnosed, and treated for chronic HCV infection with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) from 2019 to 2023.

Evidence of leaky protection following COVID-19 vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 infection in an incarcerated population.

Whether SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccines confer exposure-dependent ("leaky") protection against infection remains unknown. We examined the effect of prior infection, vaccination, and hybrid immunity on infection risk among residents of Connecticut correctional facilities during periods of predominant Omicron and Delta transmission. Residents with cell, cellblock, and no documented exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infected residents were matched by facility and date.

Covid-19 vaccine acceptance among individuals incarcerated in Connecticut state jails.

Background: Vaccine hesitancy is common among incarcerated populations and, despite vaccination programs, vaccine acceptance within residents remains low, especially within jails. With the goal of assessing the Connecticut DOC's COVID-19 vaccine program within jails we examined if residents of DOC operated jails were more likely to become vaccinated following incarceration than in the community. Specifically, we conducted a retrospective cohort analysis among people who spent at least one night in a DOC-operated jail between February 2 and November 8, 2021, and were eligible for vaccination at the time of incarceration (intake).

Testing Frequency Matters: An Evaluation of the Diagnostic Performance of a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Rapid Antigen Test in US Correctional Facilities.

Background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends serial rapid antigen assay collection within congregate facilities. Although modeling and observational studies from communities and long-term care facilities have shown serial collection provides adequate sensitivity and specificity, the accuracy within correctional facilities remains unknown.

Methods: Using Connecticut Department of Correction data from 21 November 2020 to 15 June 2021, we estimated the accuracy of a rapid assay, BinaxNOW (Abbott), under 3 collection strategies: single test collection and serial collection of 2 and 3 tests separated by 1-4 days.

Compliance with a New York State 2010 HIV Testing Law: Is There Racial/Ethnic Bias in HIV Testing? Experience of Monroe County, New York, 2012.

Background: While routine HIV testing in the general population is a national recommendation, actual practice may vary.

Purpose: To determine risk factors associated with HIV testing after the adoption of a New York State law in 2010 mandating that health care providers offer HIV testing in all clinical settings.

Methods: Survey data from Monroe County, New York, were collected in 2012 for adults aged 18-64 years and analyzed in 2014.

Using smartphone apps in STD interviews to find sexual partners.

Objectives: Smartphone applications (apps) are increasingly used to facilitate casual sexual relationships, increasing the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). In STD investigations, traditional contact elicitation methods can be enhanced with smartphone technology during field interviews.

Methods: In 2013, the Monroe County Department of Public Health conducted a large, multi-infection STD investigation among men who have sex with men (MSM) using both index case and cluster interviews.

Declines in elevated blood lead levels among children, 1997-2011.

Background: Early childhood lead exposure is associated with numerous adverse health effects. Eliminating blood lead poisoning is a national health objective for 2020.

Objective: To assess temporal trends in childhood elevated blood lead level (EBLL) rates.

Meningitis in a School-Aged Child due to Haemophilus influenzae Type E during the Post-Conjugate Vaccine Era-Monroe County, NY, 2011.

In late October 2011, the Monroe County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) was notified of a suspected case of meningitis in a 9-year old girl from Monroe County, NY. Laboratory testing at the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Wadsworth Center confirmed the identification of Haemophilus influenzae serotype e (Hie) isolated from the patient's cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The universal immunization of infants with conjugate H.

Outbreak of Mycobacterium chelonae infection associated with tattoo ink.

Background: In January 2012, on the basis of an initial report from a dermatologist, we began to investigate an outbreak of tattoo-associated Mycobacterium chelonae skin and soft-tissue infections in Rochester, New York. The main goals were to identify the extent, cause, and form of transmission of the outbreak and to prevent further cases of infection.

Methods: We analyzed data from structured interviews with the patients, histopathological testing of skin-biopsy specimens, acid-fast bacilli smears, and microbial cultures and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

Treating patients with multiple cardiovascular conditions: an analysis of outpatient data in the United States, 2005.

Background: Few studies have examined treatment rates in patients with multiple cardiovascular risk factors. This study assessed outpatient visit and treatment patterns among patients having > or =1 cardiovascular conditions.

Methods: Nationally representative outpatient survey data were used to identify patients > or =25 years with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease or congestive heart failure during the year 2005 (n=15,060 records).

Predicting readmission stroke type among blacks and whites in California.

Background: It is generally assumed that initial and recurrent strokes are of the same type, but data from South London, United Kingdom; Lausanne, Switzerland; and other studies suggest this may not be true for certain subtypes. In these studies, however, the number of recurrent strokes observed during the follow-up period was small, thereby limiting the ability of these studies to provide reliable estimates of stroke type concordance.

Methods: Using a large, diverse, inpatient database, this study sought to: (1) estimate the relative agreement (Cohen's kappa) between initial and recurrent stroke types for blacks and whites; and (2) develop a risk-adjusted logistic model for readmission stroke type, with the initial admission stroke type as the main predictor and race, other sociodemographic variables, and clinical and hospital characteristics as potential covariates.

Elective and isolated carotid endarterectomy: health disparities in utilization and outcomes, but not readmission.

Background: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has been shown to decrease future ischemic stroke risk in selected patients. However, clinical trials did not examine the risk-benefit ratio for nonwhites, who have a greater ischemic stroke risk than whites. In general, few studies have examined the effects of race on CEA use and complications, and data on race and CEA readmission are lacking.

Does race predict stroke readmission? An analysis using the truncated negative binomial model.

Background: Although it is known that the risk of first-ever stroke is higher for blacks than for whites, it is unclear what their relative risk is for stroke recurrence.

Methods: Using statewide inpatient data from California, 4,784 blacks and 33,684 whites having one or more stroke admissions during the year 2000 were identified. For blacks and whites, age- and sex-adjusted incidence rates were calculated for the index stroke admission using direct standardization (to the U.

Trends in hospitalized stroke for blacks and whites in the United States, 1980-1999.

Background: Racial differences in stroke mortality are widely recognized, but it is unclear whether or not these differences are due mainly to blacks having a greater stroke incidence or higher case fatality rates compared to those of whites.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the race-specific US trends in hospital discharge rates and in-hospital mortality among stroke patients for the period 1980-1999. It was hypothesized that the hospital discharge rates and in-hospital mortality among stroke patients would be greater for blacks than for whites.

Does race predict short-term mortality after carotid surgery? The results of a meta-analysis.

Although African Americans are more likely to have an ischemic stroke and suffer a greater burden of stroke-related mortality and disability, they are less likely to have carotid surgery treatment than whites, even after accounting for clinical characteristics and ability to pay. Not surprisingly, little is known about their short- and long-term outcomes, including death, after undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA). The purpose of this study was to systematically review the published literature to clarify what role race has with respect to perioperative mortality risk following CEA.