Purpose Of Review: We summarize the recent literature published in the last 2 years on healthcare disparities observed in the delivery of rheumatology care by telemedicine. We highlight recent research dissecting the underpinnings of healthcare disparities and identify potentially modifiable contributing factors.
Recent Findings: The COVID-19 pandemic has had major impacts on care delivery and has led to a pronounced increase in telemedicine use in rheumatology practice. Telemedicine services are disproportionately underutilized by racial/ethnic minority groups and among patients with lower socioeconomic status. Disparities in telemedicine access and use among vulnerable populations threatens to exacerbate existing outcome inequalities affecting people with rheumatic disease.
Summary: Telemedicine has the potential to expand rheumatology services by reaching traditionally underserved communities. However, some areas lack the infrastructure and technology to engage in telemedicine. Addressing health equity and the digital divide may help foster more inclusive telemedicine care.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/BOR.0000000000000869 | DOI Listing |
Inj Prev
January 2025
National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Objective: The objective of this study is to assess whether experiencing homelessness may be associated with future risk of injury death and characterise these injury deaths by homelessness status among veterans who received healthcare through the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 6 128 921 veterans (399 125 homeless and 5 729 796 non-homeless) who received VA healthcare between 2017 and 2020 and were followed until 2021 using linked data from VA's Corporate Data Warehouse, Homeless Operations Management System and the VA/Department of Defense Joint Mortality Data Repository. Injury death rates were estimated by homelessness status with 95% CIs using the exact Poisson method.
Rural Remote Health
January 2025
School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia.
Almost universally, people living in rural and remote places die younger, poorer, and sicker than urban-dwelling citizens of the same country. Despite clear need, health services are commonly less available, and more costly and challenging to access, for rural and remote people. Rural geography is commonly cited as a reason for these disparities, that is, rural people are said to live in places too distant, too underpopulated, and too difficult to access.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExpert Rev Vaccines
January 2025
Department of Expanded Program on Immunization, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, China.
Introduction: Pertussis poses a significant threat to infants under six months due to their immature immune systems, limited maternal antibody protection, and constraints in the vaccination schedule. Despite vaccination efforts, this group remains highly susceptible to severe complications. Addressing these challenges is crucial for improving the health outcomes of infants in China.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur J Epidemiol
January 2025
Health Sciences North Research Institute, Sudbury, ON, Canada.
Background: Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) is the most effective intervention for opioid use disorder (OUD), but retention has decreased due to increasingly potent drugs like fentanyl. This cohort can be used retrospectively to observe trends in service utilization, healthcare integration, healthcare costs and patient outcomes. It also facilitates the design of observational studies to mimic a prospective design.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Periodontol
January 2025
Department of Stomatology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Background: The global burden and trend of severe periodontitis, as well as its association with sociodemographic development, among women of childbearing age (WCBA) have been unclear so far. This study aims to assess the epidemiological pattern of severe periodontitis in WCBA from 1990 to 2021 and provide projections through 2040.
Methods: Data on the incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of severe periodontitis among WCBA from 1990 to 2021 were retrieved from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2021.
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