Infectious Disease
Economic Impact of Universal Hepatitis C Virus Testing for Middle-Aged Adults Who Inject Drugs
The objective of this study was to estimate the economic impact of providing universal hepatitis C virus testing in commercially insured middle-aged persons who inject drugs in the U.S.Associations of Transactional Sex and Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Treatment-Seeking Individuals With Opioid Use Disorder
Coinciding with the rise in opioid use across the U.S., the rates of sexually transmitted infections have reached historically high levels, underscoring the need to understand multiple pathways of disease spread. Although prevention is often focused on injection-related behaviors, this study sought to identify the prevalence and associations of a little understood pathway, transactional sex, among individuals with opioid use disorder, including associations of transactional sex with the prevalence of sexually transmitted infection diagnoses.Accessibility of HIV Services in Philadelphia: Location-Allocation Analysis
As the first step in the HIV care continuum, timely diagnosis is central to reducing transmission of the virus and ending the HIV epidemic. Studies have shown that distance from a testing site is essential for ease of access to services and educational material. This study shows how location-allocation analysis can be used to improve allocation of HIV testing services utilizing existing publicly available data from 2015 to 2019 on HIV prevalence, testing site location, and factors related to HIV in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Excess Mortality in California by Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Understanding educational patterns in excess mortality during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may help to identify strategies to reduce disparities. It is unclear whether educational inequalities in COVID-19 mortality have persisted throughout the pandemic, spanned the full range of educational attainment, or varied by other demographic indicators of COVID-19 risks, such as age or occupation.Geographic Heterogeneity in Behavioral and Social Drivers of COVID-19 Vaccination
Little is known about how the drivers of COVID-19 vaccination vary across the U.S. To inform vaccination outreach efforts, this study explores geographic variation in correlates of COVID-19 nonvaccination among adults.Intranasal SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines: Indispensable and Inevitable
Their extraordinary efficacy notwithstanding, the parenterally administered mRNA vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have proven incapable of preventing breakthrough infections in otherwise fully vaccinated subjects.1 Interpersonal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through respiratory droplets and aerosols by fully vaccinated subjects has also proven resistant to vaccine-induced immunity.1 These relative shortcomings of the parenterally administered mRNA vaccines are hardly unanticipated because upper airway protection against SARS-CoV-2 replication and shedding requires local mucosal rather than systemic humoral immunity.Multiscale Dimensions of Spatial Process: COVID-19 Fully Vaccinated Rates in U.S. Counties
This study aimed to examine the heterogeneity of the associations between social determinants and COVID-19 fully vaccinated rate.Medicaid Hepatitis C Virus Treatment Policies: Impact on Testing and Treatment in the Commercially Insured
A total of 23 state Medicaid programs continue to restrict hepatitis C virus (HCV) medication access by liver disease or substance-use criteria, creating obstacles to HCV elimination and significant care disparities. Because public insurers often set precedents for private insurer coverage and clinician practice patterns, this study sought to analyze whether spillover occurs from state Medicaid HCV treatment restrictions to HCV screening and treatment rates in commercially insured individuals.Dispensing of HIV and Hepatitis C Antivirals During COVID-19: An Interrupted Time-Series Analysis of U.S. National Data
Little is known about the potential changes in the dispensation of life-saving hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV antivirals after the initial U.S. outbreak of COVID-19. The objective of this study was to describe the immediate and 1-year impacts of the U.S. outbreak of COVID-19 on monthly dispensing of HIV and HCV antivirals, specifically direct-acting antivirals (DAA) to treat HCV, antiretroviral therapy (ART) to treat HIV, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV.Mental Illness in Adults With HIV and HCV Infection: Indian Health Service, 2001–2020
Mental health disorders (MHDs) and substance use disorders (SUDs) in people living with HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and HIV/HCV coinfection are common and result in significant morbidity. However, there are no national prevalence estimates of these comorbidities in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults with HIV, HCV infection, or HIV/HCV coinfection. This study estimates the prevalence of MHD and SUD diagnoses in AI/AN adults diagnosed with HIV, HCV infection, or HIV/HCV coinfection within the Indian Health Service (IHS).The Association Between Previous Influenza Vaccination and COVID-19 Infection Risk and Severity: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
The association between influenza vaccination and COVID-19 remains controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate whether influenza vaccination reduces the susceptibility and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection.Community Health Needs Assessment Data and Community Recovery From COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact beyond physical morbidity and mortality. A mid-cycle Community Health Needs Assessment survey was administered in 1 community to generate data to evaluate change in community well-being since the beginning of the pandemic.Impact of Low Rates of Influenza on Next-Season Influenza Infections
Interventions to curb the spread of COVID-19 during the 2020–2021 influenza season essentially eliminated influenza during that season. Given waning antibody titers over time, future residual population immunity against influenza will be reduced. The implication for the subsequent 2021–2022 influenza season is unknown.Predictors of Public Support for Social Safety Net Policy During the COVID-19 Pandemic
U.S. residents had varying experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and social safety net policy in 2020. Past research has suggested that partisanship, ideology, racial attitudes, and personal experience may each influence policy attitudes. In this study, we explore whether variation in support for social safety net policy in 2020 is predicted by negative experiences of the pandemic when controlling for racial attitudes, partisanship, and ideology.COVID-19 Vaccination: Concerning Trends in Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas
Widespread vaccination is the most promising way to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Unfortunately, U.S. vaccination rates have stagnated. The rates are particularly low among racial/ethnic minority groups1 and rural residents.2 Although much of the discussion about low vaccination centers on person-level factors, the role of healthcare system factors is not well understood. An important system factor is the availability of primary care physicians, who play an integral role in counseling patients regarding the risks and benefits of vaccination.Vaccinating Veterans for COVID-19 at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
With the COVID-19 (most recent) Omicron variant surge across the U.S., more research is needed to better understand how vaccination and booster uptake can be increased. COVID-19 vaccinations have proven to help decrease the likelihood of becoming seriously ill, getting hospitalized, or dying. Studies examining patient characteristics of individuals who received COVID-19 vaccinations are limited. This study examines the patient characteristics of veterans who were vaccinated during the first 8 months (December 2020–July 2021) of the vaccination rollout at the U.S.Life Expectancy and COVID-19 in Florida State Prisons
The heightened risk of COVID-19 infection and mortality in prisons is well documented, but COVID-19’s impact on all-cause mortality in incarcerated populations has not yet been studied. This study analyzed mortality records from the Florida State Department of Corrections prison system population to evaluate the impact COVID-19 had on all-cause mortality and compare mortality rates and life expectancy with that of the overall state of Florida population.Prenatal Syphilis Screening Among Medicaid Enrollees in 6 Southern States
The rates of syphilis among pregnant women and infants have increased in recent years, particularly in the U.S. South. Although state policies require prenatal syphilis testing, recent screening rates comparable across Southern states are not known. The purpose of this study is to measure syphilis screening among Medicaid enrollees with delivery in states in the U.S. South.COVID-19 Vaccination and Mental Health: A Difference-In-Difference Analysis of the Understanding America Study
Mental health problems increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The knowledge that one is less at risk after being vaccinated may alleviate distress, but this hypothesis remains unexplored. This study tests whether psychological distress declined in those vaccinated against COVID-19 in the U.S. and whether changes in anticipatory fears mediated any association.Video-Observed Therapy Versus Directly Observed Therapy in Patients With Tuberculosis
This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized evidence in the effects of video-observed therapy versus that of directly observed therapy on medication adherence, treatment completion, and tuberculosis resolution among patients with tuberculosis.COVID-19 Vaccination and Intent Among Healthcare Personnel, U.S.
Healthcare personnel are at increased risk for COVID-19 from workplace exposure. National estimates on COVID-19 vaccination coverage among healthcare personnel are limited.Racial and Ethnic Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage: The Contribution of Socioeconomic and Demographic Factors
Health disparities among racial and ethnic and socioeconomic groups are pervasive, and the COVID-19 pandemic has not been an exception. This study explores the key demographic and socioeconomic factors related to racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 vaccination coverage.Modeling COVID-19 Mortality Across 44 Countries: Face Covering May Reduce Deaths
Despite ongoing efforts to vaccinate communities against COVID-19, the necessity of face mask use in controlling the pandemic remains subject to debate. Several studies have investigated face masks and COVID-19, covering smaller and less diverse populations than this study's sample. This study examines a hypothesized association of face-covering mandates with COVID-19 mortality decline across 44 countries in 2 continents.Association of Poor Mental-Health Days With COVID-19 Infection Rates in the U.S.
Limited evidence exists about the association between prior prevalence of poor mental health at the area level and subsequent rates of COVID-19 infections. This association was tested using area-level nationwide population data in the U.S.Racial/Ethnic Variation in Veterans Health Administration COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake
Equitable COVID-19 vaccine access is imperative to mitigating negative COVID-19 impacts among racial/ethnic minorities. U.S. racial/ethnic minorities have lower COVID-19 vaccination rates than Whites despite higher COVID-19 death/case rates. The Veterans Health Administration provides the unique context of a managed care system with few access barriers. This study evaluates race/ethnicity as a predictor of Veterans Health Administration COVID-19 vaccination.
