Using supervised machine learning to identify efficient blocking schemes for record linkage.

Record linkage enables survey data to be integrated with other data sources, expanding the analytic potential of both sources. However, depending on the number of records being linked, the processing time can be prohibitive. This paper describes a case study using a supervised machine learning algorithm, known as the Sequential Coverage Algorithm (SCA).

Feasibility of replacing the ICD-10-CM with the ICD-11 for morbidity coding: A content analysis.

Objective: The study sought to assess the feasibility of replacing the International Classification of Diseases-Tenth Revision-Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) with the International Classification of Diseases-11th Revision (ICD-11) for morbidity coding based on content analysis.

Materials And Methods: The most frequently used ICD-10-CM codes from each chapter covering 60% of patients were identified from Medicare claims and hospital data. Each ICD-10-CM code was recoded in the ICD-11, using postcoordination (combination of codes) if necessary.

A National Framework to Improve Mortality, Morbidity, and Disparities Data for COVID-19 and Other Large-Scale Disasters.

Timely and accurate data on COVID-19 cases and COVID-19‒related deaths are essential for making decisions with significant health, economic, and policy implications. A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine proposes a uniform national framework for data collection to more accurately quantify disaster-related deaths, injuries, and illnesses. This article describes how following the report's recommendations could help improve the quality and timeliness of public health surveillance data during pandemics, with special attention to addressing gaps in the data necessary to understand pandemic-related health disparities.

Changes in adiposity among children and adolescents in the United States, 1999-2006 to 2011-2018.

Background: Data from the NHANES indicate that BMI has increased in some subgroups of children and adolescents in the United States over the past 20 y; however, BMI is an indirect measure of body fatness.

Objectives: We assessed changes in DXA-derived measures of adiposity in a nationally representative population of US children and adolescents aged 8-19 y from 1999-2006 to 2011-2018.

Methods: Using data from the NHANES, we compared the means and distributions of DXA-derived percentage body fat (%BF) and fat mass index (FMI; fat mass/height2 in kg/m2) between 1999-2006 (n = 10,231) and 2011-2018 (n = 6923) among males and females by age group, race and Hispanic origin, and BMI categories.

Optimizing Provider Preexposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Training: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Recommendations from Providers Across the PrEP Implementation Cascade.

Expanding PrEP access necessitates training that supports healthcare providers' progression along the PrEP implementation cascade, moving from PrEP awareness to prescription. We surveyed 359 USA providers about PrEP training content and format recommendations. We examined the association between cascade location and training recommendations.

Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, Part 1: National Cancer Statistics.

Background: The American Cancer Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Cancer Institute, and North American Association of Central Cancer Registries collaborate to provide annual updates on cancer incidence and mortality and trends by cancer type, sex, age group, and racial/ethnic group in the United States. In this report, we also examine trends in stage-specific survival for melanoma of the skin (melanoma).

Methods: Incidence data for all cancers from 2001 through 2017 and survival data for melanoma cases diagnosed during 2001-2014 and followed-up through 2016 were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention- and National Cancer Institute-funded population-based cancer registry programs compiled by the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries.

A Full Nesterov-Todd Step Infeasible Interior-point Method for Symmetric Optimization in the Wider Neighborhood of the Central Path.

In this paper, an improved Interior-Point Method (IPM) for solving symmetric optimization problems is presented. Symmetric optimization (SO) problems are linear optimization problems over symmetric cones. In particular, the method can be efficiently applied to an important instance of SO, a Controlled Tabular Adjustment (CTA) problem which is a method used for Statistical Disclosure Limitation (SDL) of tabular data.

Screening for Colorectal Cancer in the United States: Correlates and Time Trends by Type of Test.

Background: It is strongly recommended that adults aged 50-75 years be screened for colorectal cancer. Recommended screening options include colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, CT colonography, guaiac fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), fecal immunochemical testing (FIT), or the more recently introduced FIT-DNA (FIT in combination with a stool DNA test). Colorectal cancer screening programs can benefit from knowledge of patterns of use by test type and within population subgroups.

Supplemental Vitamin D Increased Serum Total 25-Hydroxyvitamin D in the US Adult Population During 2007-2014.

Background: Data from the 2007-2010 NHANES suggested that vitamin D supplements contributed to increased serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in the US population.

Objectives: We sought to determine whether 25(OH)D continued to increase during NHANES 2011-2014 and whether associations of 25(OH)D with preselected covariates differed across time periods.

Methods: For this study, 25(OH)D was measured in adults (≥20 y) using LC-MS/MS.

Fewer US adults had low or transitional vitamin B12 status based on the novel combined indicator of vitamin B12 status compared with individual, conventional markers, NHANES 1999-2004.

Background: Elevated plasma methylmalonic acid (MMA) and/or total homocysteine (tHcy), as well as low serum vitamin B12 and/or holotranscobalamin (holoTC) are indicative of vitamin B12 deficiency. Combined indicators (cB12), which pool some or all 4 markers into an index, may be a more reliable diagnostic tool to overcome inconclusive diagnoses with individual markers.

Objectives: We aimed to describe different cB12 score combinations and estimate the prevalence of low or transitional vitamin B12 status compared with individual markers.

Differences in Hypertension Prevalence and Hypertension Control by Urbanization Among Adults in the United States, 2013-2018.

Background: To examine the associations between urbanization and hypertension, stage II hypertension, and hypertension control.

Methods: Data on 16,360 US adults aged 18 years or older from the 2013-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used to estimate the prevalence of hypertension (blood pressure (BP) ≥130/80 mm Hg or use of medication for hypertension), stage II hypertension (BP ≥140/90 mm Hg), and hypertension control (BP <130/80 mm Hg among hypertensives) by urbanization, classified by levels of metropolitan statistical areas as large MSAs (population ≥1,000,000), medium to small MSAs (population 50,000-999,999), and non-MSAs (population <50,000).

Results: All prevalence ratios (PRs) were compared with large MSAs and adjusted for demographics and risk factors.

On Different Formulations of a Continuous CTA Model.

In this paper, we consider a Controlled Tabular Adjustment (CTA) model for statistical disclosure limitation of tabular data. The goal of the CTA model is to find the closest safe (masked) table to the original table that contains sensitive information. The measure of closeness is usually measured using or norm.

Multivariate Top-Coding for Statistical Disclosure Limitation.

One of the most challenging problems for national statistical agencies is how to release to the public microdata sets with a large number of attributes while keeping the disclosure risk of sensitive information of data subjects under control. When statistical agencies alter microdata in order to limit the disclosure risk, they need to take into account relationships between the variables to produce a good quality public data set. Hence, Statistical Disclosure Limitation (SDL) methods should not be univariate (treating each variable independently of others), but preferably multivariate, that is, handling several variables at the same time.

Provisional Mortality Data - United States, 2020.

CDC's National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) collects and reports annual mortality statistics using data from U.S. death certificates.

Symptoms of Anxiety or Depressive Disorder and Use of Mental Health Care Among Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic - United States, August 2020-February 2021.

The spread of disease and increase in deaths during large outbreaks of transmissible diseases is often associated with fear and grief (1). Social restrictions, limits on operating nonessential businesses, and other measures to reduce pandemic-related mortality and morbidity can lead to isolation and unemployment or underemployment, further increasing the risk for mental health problems (2). To rapidly monitor changes in mental health status and access to care during the COVID-19 pandemic, CDC partnered with the U.

Prescription medication use among Canadian children and youth, 2012 to 2017.

Background: Prescription medications are used throughout the life course, including among children and youth. Prescribing practices may be influenced by emerging medical conditions, the availability of new medications, changing clinical practices, and evolving knowledge of the safety and effectiveness of medications. The Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) provides national-level information to help monitor the use of prescribed medications in the population.

Rural-Urban Residence and Maternal Hepatitis C Infection, U.S.: 2010-2018.

Introduction: The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among women delivering live births in the U.S. may be higher in rural areas where county-level estimates may be unreliable.