Life in Data Sets: Locating and Accessing Data on the Health of Americans Across the Life Span.

Context: The US government manages a large number of data sets, including federally funded data collection activities that examine infectious and chronic conditions, as well as risk and protective factors for adverse health outcomes. Although there currently is no mature, comprehensive metadata repository of existing data sets, US federal agencies are working to develop and make metadata repositories available that will improve discoverability. However, because these repositories are not yet operating at full capacity, researchers must rely on their own knowledge of the field to identify available data sets.

Prevalence of dementia subtypes in United States Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries, 2011-2013.

Introduction: Rapid growth of the older adult population requires greater epidemiologic characterization of dementia. We developed national prevalence estimates of diagnosed dementia and subtypes in the highest risk United States (US) population.

Methods: We analyzed Centers for Medicare & Medicaid administrative enrollment and claims data for 100% of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries enrolled during 2011-2013 and age ≥68 years as of December 31, 2013 (n = 21.

What is "community health"? Examining the meaning of an evolving field in public health.

In this commentary, we review definition frameworks for community health and examine factors having core relevance to shaping the meaning of this term and growing field. We conclude by suggesting a potential framework for conceptualizing and advancing this field of public health practice through improved understanding of the meaning, scope, and science of community health.

A novel approach to mixing qualitative and quantitative methods in HIV and STI prevention research.

Mixed-method designs are increasingly used in sexually transmitted infection (STI) and HIV prevention research. The authors designed a mixedmethod approach and applied it to estimate and evaluate a predictor of continued female condom use (6+ uses, among those who used it at least once) in a 6-month prospective cohort study. The analysis included 402 women who received an intervention promoting use of female and male condoms for STI prevention and completed monthly quantitative surveys; 33 also completed a semistructured qualitative interview.

Defining and measuring chronic conditions: imperatives for research, policy, program, and practice.

Current trends in US population growth, age distribution, and disease dynamics foretell rises in the prevalence of chronic diseases and other chronic conditions. These trends include the rapidly growing population of older adults, the increasing life expectancy associated with advances in public health and clinical medicine, the persistently high prevalence of some risk factors, and the emerging high prevalence of multiple chronic conditions. Although preventing and mitigating the effect of chronic conditions requires sufficient measurement capacities, such measurement has been constrained by lack of consistency in definitions and diagnostic classification schemes and by heterogeneity in data systems and methods of data collection.

Co-occurrence of leading lifestyle-related chronic conditions among adults in the United States, 2002-2009.

Introduction: Public health and clinical strategies for meeting the emerging challenges of multiple chronic conditions must address the high prevalence of lifestyle-related causes. Our objective was to assess prevalence and trends in the chronic conditions that are leading causes of disease and death among adults in the United States that are amenable to preventive lifestyle interventions.

Methods: We used self-reported data from 196,240 adults aged 25 years or older who participated in the National Health Interview Surveys from 2002 to 2009.

Complications of common gynecologic surgeries among HIV-infected women in the United States.

Objective: To compare frequencies of complications among HIV-infected and-uninfected women undergoing common gynecological surgical procedures in inpatient settings.

Methods: We used 1994-2007 data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, a nationally representative sample of inpatient hospitalizations. Our analysis included discharge records of women aged ≥15 undergoing hysterectomy, oophorectomy, salpingectomy for ectopic pregnancy, bilateral tubal sterilization, or dilation and curettage.

Trends and factors associated with the Day 5 embryo transfer, assisted reproductive technology surveillance, USA, 2001-2009.

Study Question: What characteristics are associated with a Day 5 embryo transfer?

Summary Answer: The use of the Day 5 embryo transfer has increased over time, with clinicians allowing women with typically 'poorer' prognostic characteristics to undergo a Day 5 embryo transfer. The mean number of embryos per Day 5 transfer decreased from 2001 to 2009, although the prevalence of the Day 5 single embryo transfer remains low and the rate of multiple births remains substantial.

What Is Known And What This Paper Adds: Day 5 embryo transfer may reduce the rate of multiple gestation pregnancy.

Clinical indications and determinants of the rise of cesarean section in three hospitals in rural China.

This study investigated changes in cesarean delivery rate and cesarean indications in 3 county-level hospitals in rural China. Hospital delivery records in 1997 and 2003 were used to examine the reasons behind the changes. In Chengde County Hospital, the cesarean delivery rate increased from 28% in 1997 to 54% in 2003.

Disparities in reproductive health-related visits to the emergency department in Maryland by age and race, 1999-2005.

Objective: To describe reproductive health-related visits to Maryland emergency departments (EDs) among women aged 15-44 years from 1999 to 2005.

Methods: We obtained data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Emergency Department Database and State Inpatient Database. ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes were used to classify reproductive health-related visits.

Integrating the life course perspective into a local maternal and child health program.

For many decades, early access to prenatal care has been considered the gold standard for improving birth outcomes. In Contra Costa County, a diverse urban and suburban county of over one million people in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Family Maternal and Child Health Programs of Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) have seen high rates of early entry into prenatal care since 2000. Yet despite our best efforts to increase access to quality prenatal care, our rates of low birth weight and infant mortality, especially among African Americans, continue to be high.

Poisoning hospitalisations among reproductive-aged women in the USA, 1998-2006.

Objective: To describe poisoning hospitalisations among reproductive-aged women from 1998 to 2006.

Methods: 1998-2006 data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample of the Healthcare Cost and Utilisation Project were used to identify hospitalisations for poisonings among US women aged 15-44 years. Differences in hospitalisation characteristics were compared by intent using χ(2) statistics.

Hospitalizations for invasive pneumococcal disease among HIV-1-infected adolescents and adults in the United States in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy and the conjugate pneumococcal vaccine.

We describe hospitalization trends of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) among HIV-infected adolescents and adults since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) in the United States, using the nation-wide inpatient sample. We estimated national trends of IPD hospitalizations during 3 periods: 1994-1995 (pre-HAART/pre-PCV7); 1998-1999 (HAART/pre-PCV7); and 2004-2005 (HAART/ early PCV7). The number of IPD hospitalizations among HIV-infected individuals declined 49.

Who's responsible? Correlates of partner involvement in contraceptive decision making.

Objectives: Researchers have begun looking at joint responsibility for contraceptive decision making as a mechanism to increase effective contraceptive use. This analysis identifies correlates of partner involvement in contraceptive decision making.

Methods: Participants were first-time users of either oral contraceptives or Depo-Provera recruited from 10 family planning clinics in Texas (n = 481).