Racial and Ethnic Differences in Subjective Cognitive Decline - United States, 2015-2020.

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD), the self-reported experience of worsening or more frequent memory loss or confusion, might be a symptom of early-stage dementia or future serious cognitive decline such as Alzheimer disease* or a related dementia (ADRD) (1). Established modifiable risk factors for ADRD include high blood pressure, inadequate physical activity, obesity, diabetes, depression, current cigarette smoking, and hearing loss (2). An estimated 6.

Unmet needs for assistance related to subjective cognitive decline among community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults in the US: prevalence and impact on health-related quality of life.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of unmet needs for assistance among middle-aged and older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) in the US and to evaluate whether unmet needs were associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: US - 50 states, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Perceptions matter: beliefs about influenza vaccine and vaccination behavior among elderly white, black and Hispanic Americans.

Background: Knowledge and beliefs about influenza vaccine that differ across racial or ethnic groups may promote racial or ethnic disparities in vaccination.

Objective: To identify associations between vaccination behavior and personal beliefs about influenza vaccine by race or ethnicity and education levels among the U.S.

Developing an integrated strategy to reduce ethnic and racial disparities in the delivery of clinical preventive services for older Americans.

Objectives: To determine the optimum strategy for increasing up-to-date (UTD) levels in older Americans, while reducing disparities between White, Black, and Hispanic adults, aged 65 years and older.

Methods: Data were analyzed from the 2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, quantifying the proportion of older Americans UTD with influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations, mammograms, Papanicolaou tests, and colorectal cancer screening. A comparison of projected changes in UTD levels and disparities was ascertained by numerically accounting for UTD adults lacking 1 or more clinical preventive services (CPS).

Clinical features and electrodiagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the dysvascular patient.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a common disorder that can lead to limb loss and death. Up to 50% of DPN patients can be asymptomatic. This fact contributes to making DPN the leading cause of lower limb amputation.

Translating physical activity recommendations into a pedometer-based step goal: 3000 steps in 30 minutes.

Background: It is a public health recommendation to accumulate at least 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity physical activity. Although pedometers are widely used as a physical activity-monitoring tool, they are unable to measure activity intensity. Translating current physical activity recommendations into a pedometer-based guideline could increase the public health impact of physical activity interventions.

Associations between childhood vaccination status and medical practice characteristics among white, black, and Hispanic children.

Background: The purpose of the study was to identify and understand associations between characteristics of medical practices where immunization services are delivered and vaccination status among white, black, and Hispanic children aged less than 19 months.

Methods: Eighty pediatric and family physicians participated in a physician-patient encounters survey that included 684 children aged less than 19 months who received at least 1 vaccination during a randomly selected week in 2003.

Results: According to physicians' responses to survey questions, white children who used large medical practices, and black and Hispanic children who used practices, all enrolled in the Vaccine for Children (VFC) program, were more likely to receive vaccines at the recommended age, but Hispanic children who used large Medicaid practices were less likely to receive them at the recommended age.

Childhood immunization coverage by provider type.

Objective: To determine how child characteristics and immunization coverage levels differ among children using public and private providers.

Methods: Immunization coverage rates between 1996 and 2004 were compared among children aged 19-35 months, using data from the National Immunization Survey. Coverage was based on the 4:3:1:3:3 vaccine series: four or more doses of diphtheria, tetanus toxoids, acellular pertussis vaccine; three or more doses of poliovirus vaccine; one or more doses of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine; three or more doses of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine; and three or more doses of hepatitis B vaccine.

Comparing colorectal cancer screening and immunization status in older americans.

Background: This study examined patterns of use of three adult preventive services-influenza vaccination, pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination, and colorectal cancer (CRC) screening; factors associated with different use patterns; and reasons for non-use.

Methods: Data from 3675 individuals aged 65 and older responding to the 2004 National Adult Immunization Survey, which included a CRC screening module, were analyzed in 2005-2006. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize patterns of use of preventive services, and to assess reasons for non-use.

Socioeconomic factors and persistent racial disparities in childhood vaccination.

Objective: To better understand the effects of socioeconomic factors on racial disparities in childhood vaccination.

Methods: The National Immunization Survey data collected in 1999-2003 among children 19-35 months of age were analyzed using chisquare tests for trends and logistic regression modeling. Statistical significance was based on P<0.

Assessing influenza vaccine utilization in physician offices serving adult patients: experience during a season of vaccine delays and shortages.

Background: Influenza vaccination among US adults has plateaued at suboptimal levels. Severe delays and shortages of influenza vaccine prompted revised guidances to prioritize vaccine first to persons at greatest risk for serious influenza complications and to create vaccine stockpiles.

Objectives: (1) Pilot an assessment of influenza vaccine use in a large sample of physician offices with adult patients.

The association of health insurance and continuous primary care in the medical home on vaccination coverage for 19- to 35-month-old children.

Objective: Our goal was to examine the association of continuous care in the medical home and health insurance on up-to-date vaccination coverage by using data from the National Survey of Children's Health and the National Immunization Survey.

Methods: Interviews were conducted with 5400 parents of 19- to 35-month-old children to collect data on demographics and medically-verified vaccinations. Health insurance coverage was categorized as always, intermittently, or uninsured for the previous 12 months.

Association between health care providers' influence on parents who have concerns about vaccine safety and vaccination coverage.

Objectives: Parents who have concerns about vaccine safety may be reluctant to have their children vaccinated. The purpose of this study was to explore how vaccination coverage among children 19 to 35 months of age is associated with health care providers' influence on parents' decision to vaccinate their children, and with parents' beliefs about vaccine safety.

Methods: Parents of 7695 children 19 to 35 months of age sampled by the National Immunization Survey were administered the National Immunization Survey Parental Knowledge Module between the third quarter of 2001 and the fourth quarter of 2002.

Influenza vaccination of healthcare workers in the United States, 1989-2002.

Objectives: We sought to estimate influenza vaccination coverage among healthcare workers (HCWs) in the United States during 1989-2002 and to identify factors associated with vaccination in this group. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends annual influenza vaccination for HCWs to reduce transmission of influenza to patients at high risk for serious complications of influenza.

Design: Analysis of cross-sectional data from 1989-2002 surveys conducted by the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).

Factors influencing African-American mothers' concerns about immunization safety: a summary of focus group findings.

Objective: To examine the vaccine safety concerns of African-American mothers who, despite concerns, have their children immunized.

Methods: Six focus groups of Atlanta-area African-American mothers who were very concerned about vaccine safety but whose children were fully vaccinated were conducted.

Results: Major factors influencing participants' concerns about immunizations included: lack of information and mistrust of the medical community and government.

Population-based surveillance for hospitalizations associated with respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus, and parainfluenza viruses among young children.

Objective: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza virus, and parainfluenza viruses (PIV) cause significant morbidity in young children. Although only influenza virus infection and illness is currently vaccine-preventable, vaccines are under development for RSV and PIV. We established a prospective, active population-based surveillance network to provide precise estimates of hospitalization rates for viral acute respiratory illness (ARI) in young children and to measure the potential impact of enhanced vaccine usage on these rates.

Population immunity to measles in the United States, 1999.

To estimate population immunity, we examined measles immunity among residents of the United States in 1999 from serological and vaccine coverage surveys. For persons aged >or=20 years, serological data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994) were used. For persons <20 years of age, immunity was estimated from results of the National Immunization Survey (1994-1998), state surveys of school entrants (1990-2000), and vaccine coverage surveys of adolescents (1997).

Hepatitis B surface antigen prevalence among pregnant women in urban areas: implications for testing, reporting, and preventing perinatal transmission.

Objectives: To estimate race/ethnicity-specific prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in pregnant urban women and to evaluate factors associated with maternal HBsAg testing.

Methods: A multicenter, retrospective chart review was conducted of a racially/ethnically stratified random sample of maternal/infant charts of 10 523 women who gave birth to live infants during 1990-1993 in 4 urban areas in the United States. Data were collected on multiple variables, including demographic variables, HBsAg test dates and results, prenatal care type, and amount and source of payment.