Predicting Self-Rated Health Across the Life Course: Health Equity Insights from Machine Learning Models.

Background: Self-rated health is a strong predictor of mortality and morbidity. Machine learning techniques may provide insights into which of the multifaceted contributors to self-rated health are key drivers in diverse groups.

Objective: We used machine learning algorithms to predict self-rated health in diverse groups in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), to understand how machine learning algorithms might be used explicitly to examine drivers of self-rated health in diverse populations.

Financial Stress and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in the Jackson Heart Study.

Introduction: Financial hardship is associated with coronary heart disease risk factors, and may disproportionately affect some African American groups. This study examines whether stress because of financial hardship is associated with incident coronary heart disease in African Americans.

Methods: The Jackson Heart Study is a longitudinal cohort study of cardiovascular disease risks in African Americans in the Jackson, Mississippi metropolitan statistical area.