The United States public health services failure to control the coronavirus epidemic.

The unprecedented COVID-19 epidemic in the United States (US) and worldwide, caused by a new type of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), occurred mostly because of higher-than-expected transmission speed and degree of virulence compared with previous respiratory virus outbreaks, especially earlier Coronaviruses with person-to-person transmission (e.g., MERS, SARS).

Assessment of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health services use.

Objectives: The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic declared by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020 impacted healthcare services with provider and patient cancellations, delays, and patient avoidance or delay of emergency department or urgent care. Limited data exist on the population proportion affected by delayed healthcare, which is important for future healthcare planning efforts. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare service cancellations or delays and delays/avoidance of emergency/urgent care overall and by population characteristics.

SARS-CoV-2 active infection prevalence and seroprevalence in the adult population of St. Louis County.

Background: The true prevalence of COVID-19 is difficult to estimate due to the absence of random population-based testing. To estimate current and past COVID-19 infection prevalence in a large urban area, we conducted a population-based survey in St. Louis County, Missouri.

Predicting coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outcomes in the United States early in the epidemic.

By 21 October 2020, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic in the United States (US) had infected 8.3 million people, resulting in 61,364 laboratory-confirmed hospitalizations and 222,157 deaths. Currently, policymakers are trying to better understand this epidemic, especially the human-to-human transmissibility of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in relation to social, populational, air travel related and environmental exposure factors.

Comorbidities and the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality among racially diverse patients with breast cancer.

Background: Women who have coexisting comorbidities at the time of breast cancer diagnosis have an increased risk of breast cancer and overall mortality. However, the associations between newly diagnosed comorbidities and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality among these patients have not been examined.

Methods: The authors compared the associations between coexisting and newly diagnosed CVD, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension and the risk of CVD mortality among patients with breast cancer identified in the Missouri Cancer Registry.

Usability Assessment of the Missouri Cancer Registry's Published Interactive Mapping Reports: Round Two.

Background: Health-related data's users have trouble understanding and interpreting combined statistical and mapping information. This is the second round of a usability study conducted after we modified and simplified our tested maps based on the first round's results.

Objective: To explore if the tested maps' usability improved by modifying the maps according to the first round's results.

The effect of metabolic risk factors on cancer mortality among blacks and whites.

Background: Previous data showed that metabolic syndrome (MS) and its components are associated with cancer mortality. However, whether the association varies by race is unclear. To examine the association between metabolic risk factors and cancer death in non-Hispanic whites (whites) and non-Hispanic blacks (blacks) in the US.

Five Fruit and Vegetable a Day Does Not Reflect the Upward Trend of Obesity in the U.S.

Objective: After almost three decades of U.S. surveillance in fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake and obesity, it is important to evaluate their usefulness for monitoring prevention and health promotion efforts in public health.

Improving Visualization of Female Breast Cancer Survival Estimates: Analysis Using Interactive Mapping Reports.

Background: The Missouri Cancer Registry collects population-based cancer incidence data on Missouri residents diagnosed with reportable malignant neoplasms. The Missouri Cancer Registry wanted to produce data that would be of interest to lawmakers as well as public health officials at the legislative district level on breast cancer, the most common non-skin cancer among females.

Objective: The aim was to measure and interactively visualize survival data of female breast cancer cases in the Missouri Cancer Registry.

Estimated and Interactively Visualized Female Breast Cancer Incidence Rates in Missouri Senate Districts: 2008-2012.

Objectives: To measure and interactively visualize female breast cancer (FBC) incidence rates in Missouri by age, race, stage and grade, and senate district of residence at diagnosis from 2008 to 2012.

Methods: An observational epidemiological study. The FBC cases in counties split by senate districts were geocoded.

Geographic Information Systems: Usability, Perception, and Preferences of Public Health Professionals.

Background: Analyzing and visualizing health-related databases using Geographic Information Systems (GISs) becomes essential in controlling many public health problems.

Objectives: To explore the perception and preferences of public health professionals (PHPs) about the usability of GISs in public health field.

Methods: For this scoping review, the investigators searched Medline Ovid, PubMed, IEEE, Scopus, and GeoBase databases.

Usability Assessment of the Missouri Cancer Registry's Published Interactive Mapping Reports: Round One.

Background:  Many users of spatial data have difficulty interpreting information in health-related spatial reports. The Missouri Cancer Registry and Research Center (MCR-ARC) has produced interactive reports for several years. These reports have never been tested for usability.

Increased risk for colorectal cancer under age 50 in racial and ethnic minorities living in the United States.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer death in USA. We analyzed CRC disparities in African Americans, Hispanics, Asians/Pacific Islanders, and American Indians/Alaska Natives compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Current guidelines recommend screening for CRC beginning at age 50.

Information Management in Cancer Registries: Evaluating the Needs for Cancer Data Collection and Cancer Research.

Cancer registry data collection involves, at a minimum, collecting data on demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment. A common, identified, and standardized set of data elements is needed to share data quickly and efficiently with consumers of this data. This project highlights the fact that, there is a need to develop common data elements; Surveys were developed for central cancer registries (CCRs) and cancer researchers (CRs) at NCI-designated Cancer Centers, in order to understand data needs.

Melanoma surveillance in the United States: overview of methods.

Background: Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Melanoma skin cancer is particularly deadly; more than 8000 US residents die from it each year. Although recent reports suggest that melanoma incidence rates have been increasing, these apparent increases could be caused by an increase in reporting and/or screening, and by an actual increase in the occurrence of melanoma.

Breast cancer incidence among American Indian and Alaska Native women: US, 1999-2004.

Background: Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women. Although published studies have suggested that breast cancer rates among AI/AN women are lower than those among other racial and ethnic populations, accurate determinations of the breast cancer burden have been hampered by misclassification of AI/AN race.

Methods: Cancer incidence data from the National Program of Cancer Registries and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program were combined to estimate age-adjusted rates for the diagnosis years 1999 through 2004.

Regional differences in colorectal cancer incidence, stage, and subsite among American Indians and Alaska Natives, 1999-2004.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs), but misclassification of race causes underestimates of disease burden.

Methods: The authors compared regional differences in CRC incidence, stage at diagnosis, and anatomic distribution between AI/ANs and non-Hispanic whites (NHWs). To reduce misclassification, data from the National Program of Cancer Registries; the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program; and the Indian Health Service (IHS) were linked.

Case completeness and data accuracy in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Program of Cancer Registries.

Background: Issues of case completeness (CC) and data quality within the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR)-Cancer Surveillance System (NPCR-CSS) are assessed in part by the NPCR Technical Assistance and Audit Program (NPCR-TAA). In addition, the NPCR Annual Program Evaluation Instrument (NPCR-APEI) provides information about NPCR-supported central cancer registries (CCRs). The current report includes a unique, national-level analysis of NPCR-TAA results linked with NPCR-APEI data and other covariates.

Evaluating the utility and accuracy of a reverse telephone directory to identify the location of survey respondents.

Purpose: To investigate the utility and positional accuracy of a reverse telephone directory to enhance geocoding using self-reported street addresses.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used 2001 self-reported survey data from 2636 participants in three Missouri areas. When available, street addresses were appended to participant telephone numbers using a reverse telephone directory.

The prevalence of arthritis and activity limitation and their predictors in Missouri.

Arthritis and other rheumatic conditions comprise the leading cause of disability in the United States. In 1990, an estimated 16.7% of Missourians had arthritis.