Surveillance of Mortality and Morbidity in U.S. Workers

National Health Interview Survey
Citations 1 (1-200)

 

Citations: 1-200

Citation <1>
Unique Identifier
12537160
Medline Identifier
22424450
Authors
Rogers RG. Hummer RA. Krueger PM.
Institution
Population Program and Department of Sociology, Campus Box 484, University
of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0484, USA.
Title
The effect of obesity on overall, circulatory disease- and
diabetes-specific mortality.
Source
Journal of Biosocial Science. 35(1):107-29, 2003 Jan.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
This paper explores the relationship between body mass and risk of death
among US adults. The National Health Interview Survey-Multiple Cause of
Death linked data set is used for the years 1987-1997, and Cox proportional
hazard models are employed to estimate the association between obesity, as
measured by the body mass index (BMI), and overall, circulatory
disease-specific and diabetes-specific mortality. A U-shaped relationship is
found between BMI and overall mortality. Compared with normal weight
individuals, mortality during the follow-up period is 34% higher among obese
class II individuals and 77% higher among obese class III individuals,
controlling for age and sex. A J-shaped relationship exists between
circulatory disease mortality and obesity, with a slightly higher risk of
death for all categories of BMI. The relationship between BMI and diabetes
mortality is striking. Compared with normal weight individuals, obese class
I individuals are 2.8 times as likely to die, obese class II individuals are 4.7 times as likely to die, and obese class III individuals are 9.0 times as likely to die of diabetes during the follow-up period, controlling for age and sex. These results demonstrate
that obesity heightens the risk of overall and circulatory disease
mortality, and even more substantially increases the risk of diabetes
mortality. These mortality findings, together with the substantial recent
increases in obesity, lend urgency to public health programmes aimed at
reducing the prevalence and consequences of obesity.

Citation <2>
Unique Identifier
12514417
Medline Identifier
22401716
Authors
Blumberg SJ. Dickey WC.
Institution
National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, Hyattsville, Maryland, USA. sblumberg@cdc.gov
Title
Prevalence of HIV risk behaviors, risk perceptions, and testing among US
adults with mental disorders.
Source
JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. 32(1):77-9, 2003
Jan 1.
Abstract
Persons with mental disorders may lack the knowledge, skills, and social
networks that help limit the spread of HIV by reducing risk behaviors.
Nationally representative data from the 1999 U.S. National Health Interview
Survey were used to estimate the prevalence of HIV risk behaviors among
civilian noninstitutionalized adults with and without at least one of three
psychiatric conditions (depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic
attacks) in the previous 12 months. Relative to adults without these mental
disorders, adults with a mental disorder (8.8% of adults nationally) were
more likely to have engaged in HIV risk behaviors since 1980 (5.5% vs.
1.6%). Adults with a mental disorder were also more likely to report a high
or medium chance of becoming infected, were more likely to have been tested
for HIV infection, and were more likely to expect to be tested within the
next 12 months.

Citation <3>
Unique Identifier
12517659
Medline Identifier
22406229
Authors
Pickett KE. Wakschlag LS. Dai L. Leventhal BL.
Institution
Department of Health Studies, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
60637, USA. kpickett@health.bsd.uchicago.edu
Title
Fluctuations of maternal smoking during pregnancy.
Source
Obstetrics & Gynecology. 101(1):140-7, 2003 Jan.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
To examine fluctuations in women's cigarette smoking during pregnancy and
implications for the design of clinical interventions for pregnant smokers
and research on the effects of fetal exposure to cigarettes.We examined
changes in absolute smoking status in 1426 women who reportedly smoked
during their last pregnancy in the National Health Interview Survey 1991
Pregnancy and Smoking Supplement and fluctuations in amount smoked in 60
pregnant smokers in the Family Health and Development Project.In the
National Health Interview Survey 1991 Pregnancy and Smoking Supplement, a
substantial proportion of women exhibited a pattern of repeated cessation
and relapse. In multivariable logistic regression models, having more than a
high school education was significantly associated with being an
intermittent versus a continuous smoker (odds ratio = 1.55, P <.01) and with
successful quitting versus continuously smoking or relapsing (odds ratio =
1.74, P <.01). Fluctuations in smoking intensity in the Family Health and Development Project were also substantial and, although 48% quit or reduced their smoking upon learning of their pregnancy, over half changed smoking intensity multiple times.We conclude that smoking during pregnancy is a complex and variable behavior for many
women. Simple measures of smoking may lead to under-estimation of the impact
of smoking on the fetus, and brief smoking cessation interventions early in
pregnancy are likely to be inadequate for many smokers during pregnancy.

Citation <4>
Unique Identifier
12477922
Medline Identifier
22366515
Authors
Schenker N. Gentleman JF. Rose D. Hing E. Shimizu IM.
Institution
Office of Research and Methodology, National Center for Health Statistics,
Hyattsville, MD 20782, USA. nschenker@cdc.gov
Title
Combining estimates from complementary surveys: a case study using
prevalence estimates from national health surveys of households and nursing
homes.
Source
Public Health Reports. 117(4):393-407, 2002 Jul-Aug.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: When a single survey does not cover a domain of interest,
estimates from two or more complementary surveys can be combined to extend
coverage. The purposes of this article are to discuss and demonstrate the
benefits of combining estimates from complementary surveys and to provide a
catalog of the analytic issues involved. METHODS: The authors present a case
study in which data from the National Health Interview Survey and the
National Nursing Home Survey were combined to obtain prevalence estimates
for several chronic health conditions for the years 1985, 1995, and 1997.
The combined prevalences were estimated by ratio estimation, and the
associated variances were estimated by Taylor linearization. The survey
weights, stratification, and clustering were reflected in the estimation
procedures. RESULTS: In the case study, for the age group of 65 and older,
the combined prevalence estimates for households and nursing homes are close
to those for households alone. For the age group of 85 and older, however, the combined estimates are sometimes substantially different from the household estimates. Such differences are seen both for estimates within a single year and for
estimates of trends across years. CONCLUSIONS: Several general issues
regarding comparability arise when there is a goal of combining
complementary survey data. As illustrated by this case study, combining
estimates can be very useful for improving coverage and avoiding misleading
conclusions.

Citation <5>
Unique Identifier
12467258
Medline Identifier
22355352
Authors
Bond Huie SA. Hummer RA. Rogers RG.
Institution
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Center for Cost and Financing
Studies, 2101 East Jefferson Street, Suite 500, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
shuie@ahrq.gov
Title
Individual and contextual risks of death among race and ethnic groups in
the United States.
Source
Journal of Health & Social Behavior. 43(3):359-81, 2002 Sep.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
An emerging area of social science research focuses on individual-level
and contextual-level determinants of black-white adult mortality
differentials in the United States. However, no research on adult mortality
differentials has distinguished multiple Hispanic subgroups and explored the
role of nativity at both the individual and contextual levels for small
geographic areas. Using the 1986-1997 National Health Interview
Survey-National Death Index linked file, we examine the effects of
individual and contextual factors on black-white and multiple Hispanic
subgroups (Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and "other" Hispanic)
differentials in adult mortality. In addition, we use a new, innovative
geographic area--the very small area--as our contextual unit of analysis. We
find that excess mortality risks for all race-ethnic groups considered are
associated with not only individual characteristics, but also neighborhood
characteristics. In addition, percent foreign born in a neighborhood is protective of Hispanic subgroup mortality for Puerto Rican, Mexican American, and "other" Hispanic adults in the 45-64 age category. These findings indicate a need for future research to examine more throughly the pathways through which neighborhood factors affect multiple Hispanic subgroup mortality and the role of nativity as a protective factor for older adult Hispanic mortality.

Citation <6>
Unique Identifier
12454116
Medline Identifier
22341974
Authors
Hewitt M. Rowland JH.
Institution
National Cancer Policy Board, Institute of Medicine, Washington, DC 20001,
USA. mhewitt@nas.edu
Title
Mental health service use among adult cancer survivors: analyses of the
National Health Interview Survey.
Source
Journal of Clinical Oncology. 20(23):4581-90, 2002 Dec 1.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
PURPOSE: Analyses were conducted to obtain national estimates of mental
health service use, unmet need for such services, and the prevalence of
mental health problems among individuals reporting a cancer history.
METHODS: Of a nationally representative sample of 95,615 adults in the
United States interviewed as part of the 1998, 1999, and 2000 National
Health Interview Survey, 4,878 reported a history of cancer (excluding
superficial skin cancer). Analyses assessed whether cancer survivors
relative to those without a self-reported history of cancer had increased
use of mental health services and had increased reports of unmet need for
such services. Analyses were also conducted to ascertain demographic and
health characteristics associated with service use and unmet need. RESULTS:
Compared with individuals without a cancer history, cancer survivors
reported significantly greater contact in the past year with a mental health
provider (7.2% v 5.7%). Cancer survivors were more likely to have used mental health services (odds ratio, 1.60 among those without other chronic illnesses and 3.04 among those with other chronic illnesses), and mental health service use was significantly greater among those who were under age 65 and diagnosed at younger ages, were formerly married, or had other comorbid chronic conditions. If all cancer survivors with mental health problems or who needed but could not access mental health services due to cost had received such care, mental health service use would
have increased from 7.2% to 11.7%, a 62% increase in use. CONCLUSION: Cancer
seems to be one of several chronic illnesses that precipitates the need for
and use of mental health services. Improvements are needed in recognizing
mental health problems among cancer survivors and reducing barriers to
psychosocial service use.

Citation <7>
Unique Identifier
12453819
Medline Identifier
22340479
Authors
Parker JD. Madans JH.
Institution
Office of Analysis, Epidemiology, and Health Promotion, National Center
for Health Statistics, Hyattsville, Md 20782, USA. jdparker@cdc.gov
Title
The correspondence between interracial births and multiple-race reporting.
Source
American Journal of Public Health. 92(12):1976-81, 2002 Dec.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Race-specific health statistics are routinely reported in
scientific publications; most describe health disparities across groups.
Census 2000 showed that 2.4% of the US population identifies with more than
1 race group. We examined the hypothesis that multiple-race reporting is
associated with interracial births by comparing parental race reported on
birth certificates with reported race in a national health survey. METHODS:
US natality data from 1968 through 1998 and National Health Interview Survey
data from 1990 through 1998 were compared, by year of birth. RESULTS:
Overall multiple-race survey responses correspond to expectations from
interracial births. However, there are discrepancies for specific
multiple-race combinations. CONCLUSIONS: Projected estimates of the
multiple-race population can be only partially informed by vital records.

Citation <8>
Unique Identifier
12359814
Medline Identifier
22247547
Authors
Weinreb L. Wehler C. Perloff J. Scott R. Hosmer D. Sagor L.
Gundersen C.
Institution
Department of Family Medicine and Community Health. Pediatrics, University
of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655, USA.
weinrebl@ummhc.org
Title
Hunger: its impact on children's health and mental health.
Source
Pediatrics. 110(4):e41, 2002 Oct.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Hunger, with its adverse consequences for children, continues
to be an important national problem. Previous studies that document the
deleterious effects of hunger among children cannot distinguish child from
family hunger and do not take into account some critical environmental,
maternal, and child variables that may influence child outcomes. This study
examines the independent contribution of child hunger on children's physical
and mental health and academic functioning, when controlling for a range of
environmental, maternal, and child factors that have also been associated
with poor outcomes among children. METHODS: With the use of standardized
tools, comprehensive demographic, psychosocial, and health data were
collected in Worcester, Massachusetts, from homeless and low-income housed
mothers and their children (180 preschool-aged children and 228 school-aged
children). Mothers and children were part of a larger unmatched case-control
study of homelessness among female-headed households. Hunger was measured by a set of 7 dichotomous items, each asking the mother whether she has or her children have experienced a particular aspect of hunger during the past year--1 concerns
food insecurity for the entire family, 2 concern adult hunger, and 4 involve
child hunger. The items, taken from the Childhood Hunger Identification
Project measure, are summed to classify the family and divided into 3
categories: no hunger, adult or moderate child hunger, or severe child
hunger (indicating multiple signs of child hunger). Outcome measures
included children's chronic health condition count using questions adapted
from the National Health Interview Survey, Child Health Supplement, and
internalizing behavior problems and anxiety/depression, measured by the
Child Behavior Checklist. Additional covariates included demographic
variables (ie, age, gender, ethnicity, housing status, number of moves,
family size, income), low birth weight, child life events (ie, care and protection order, out of home placement, abuse, severe life events count), developmental problems (ie, developmental delay, learning disability, emotional problems), and mother's distress and psychiatric illness. Multivariate regression analyses examined the effect of
child hunger on physical and mental health outcomes. RESULTS: The average
family size for both preschoolers and school-aged children was 3; about one
third of both groups were white and 40% Puerto Rican. The average income of
families was approximately $11 000. Among the school-aged children, on
average 10 years old, 50% experienced moderate child hunger and 16% severe
child hunger. Compared with those with no hunger, school-aged children with
severe hunger were more likely to be homeless (56% vs 29%), have low birth
weights (23% vs 6%), and have more stressful life events (9 vs 6) when
compared with those with no hunger. School-aged children with severe hunger
scores had parent-reported anxiety scores that were more than double the scores for children with no hunger and significantly higher chronic illness counts (3.4 vs 1.8) and
internalizing behavior problems when compared with children with no hunger.
There was no relationship between hunger and academic achievement. Among
preschool-aged children, who averaged 4 years of age, 51% experienced
moderate child hunger and 8% severe child hunger. For preschoolers, compared
with children with no hunger, severe hunger was associated with homelessness
(75% vs 48%), more traumatic life events (8.5 vs 6), low birth weight (23%
vs 6%), and higher levels of chronic illness and internalizing behavior
problems. Mothers of both preschoolers and school-aged children who reported
severe hunger were more likely to have a lifetime diagnosis of posttraumatic
stress disorder. For school-aged children, severe hunger was a significant
predictor of chronic illness after controlling for housing status, mother's
distress, low birth weight, and child live events. For preschoolers, moderate hunger was a significant predictor of health conditions while controlling for potenns while
controlling for potential explanatory factors. For both preschoolers and
school-aged children, severe child hunger was associated with higher levels
of internalizing behavior problems. After controlling for housing status,
mother's distress, and stressful life events, severe child hunger was also
associated with higher reported anxiety/depression among school-aged
children. CONCLUSION: This study goes beyond previous research and
highlights the independent relationship between severe child hunger and
adverse physical health and mental health outcomes among low-income
children. Study findings underscore the importance of clinical recognition
of child hunger and its outcomes, allowing for preventive interventions and
efforts to increase access to food-related resources for families.

Citation <9>
Unique Identifier
12271479
Medline Identifier
22230929
Authors
Dillon C. Petersen M. Tanaka S.
Institution
Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of
Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut, USA. cid2@cdc.gov
Title
Self-reported hand and wrist arthritis and occupation: data from the U.S.
National Health Interview Survey-Occupational Health Supplement.
Source
American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 42(4):318-27, 2002 Oct.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of population-based studies examining
occupational hand-wrist arthritis. We examined relationships between
hand-wrist arthritis, occupation, and biomechanical exposures in the U.S.
National Health Interview Survey-Occupational Health Supplement. METHODS: A
randomized, multi-stage, and cross-sectional national prevalence survey was
carried out. RESULTS: Self-reported, medically attended hand-wrist arthritis
was common among employed persons (period prevalence 1.58%; lifetime
prevalence 3.58%). Highest prevalences occurred among technicians, machine
operators, assemblers, and farmers, and in the mining, agriculture, and
construction industries. Work requiring repetitive hand bending and twisting
was associated with hand-wrist arthritis (Odds Ratio 1.43; 95%CI: 1.11-1.84;
P = 0.005). Among workers with hand arthritis, 7.4% had made major changes
in their work, 7.6% missed work, and 4.5% stopped working or changed jobs
because of the problem. CONCLUSIONS: Our study links hand-wrist arthritis to occupation and potentially modifiable workplace ergonomic factors. The spectrum of hand-wrist "cumulative trauma" disorders may considerably exceed that of soft-tissue
injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis, and may include
arthritis, a widely prevalent, disabling condition. Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Citation <10>
Unique Identifier
12354338
Medline Identifier
22242802
Authors
Mannino DM. Homa DM. Akinbami LJ. Ford ES. Redd SC.
Institution
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop
E-17, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. dmm6@cdc.gov
Title
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease surveillance--United States,
1971-2000.[comment].
Comments
Comment in: Respir Care. 2002 Oct;47(10):1148-9; PMID: 12354332
Source
Respiratory Care. 47(10):1184-99, 2002 Oct.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
PROBLEM/CONDITION: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) includes
chronic bronchitis and emphysema but has been defined recently as the
physiologic finding of nonreversible pulmonary function impairment. This
surveillance summary reports trends in different measures of COPD during
1971-2000. REPORTING PERIOD COVERED: This report presents national data
regarding objectively determined COPD (1971-1994); COPD-associated activity
and functional limitations (1980-1996); self-reported COPD prevalence, COPD
physician office and hospital outpatient department visits, COPD
hospitalizations, and COPD deaths (1980-2000); and COPD emergency department
visits (1992-2000). DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEMS: The Centers for Disease
Control's National Center for Health Statistics conducts the National Health
Interview Survey annually, which includes questions concerning COPD and
activity limitations. The National Center for Health Statistics collects
physician office-visit data in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, emergency department and hospital outpatient department data in the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, hospitalization data in the National Hospital Discharge Survey, and death data in the Mortality Component of the National Vital Statistics System. Data regarding pulmonary function were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) I (1971-1975) and III (1988-1994), and data regarding functional limitation were obtained from NHANES III,
Phase 2 (1991-1994). RESULTS: During 2000, an estimated 10 million U.S.
adults reported physician-diagnosed COPD. However, data from NHANES III
estimate that approximately 24 million United States adults have evidence of
impaired lung function, indicating that COPD is underdiagnosed. During 2000,
COPD was responsible for 8 million physician office and hospital outpatient
visits, 1.5 million emergency department visits, 726,000 hospitalizations,
and 119,000 deaths. During the period analyzed, the most substantial change was the increase in the COPD death rate for women, from 20.1/100,000 in 1980 to 56.7/100,000 in 2000, compared with the more modest increase in the death rate for men, from 73.0/100,000 in 1980 to 82.6/100,000 in 2000. In 2000, for the first time,
the number of women dying from COPD surpassed the number of men dying from
COPD (59,936 vs 59,118). Another substantial change observed is that the
proportion of the population aged < 55 years with mild or moderate COPD, on
the basis of pulmonary function testing, decreased from 1971-1975 to
1988-1994, possibly indicating that the upward trends in COPD
hospitalizations and mortality might not continue. INTERPRETATION: COPD is a
major cause of morbidity, mortality, and disability in the U.S. Despite its
ease of diagnosis, COPD remains an underdiagnosed disease, chiefly in its
milder and more treatable form.

Citation <11>
Unique Identifier
12426445
Medline Identifier
22313694
Authors
Verbrugge LM. Sevak P.
Institution
Institute of Gerontology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-2007,
USA. verbrugg@umich.edu
Title
Use, type, and efficacy of assistance for disability.
Source
Journals of Gerontology Series B-Psychological Sciences & Social Sciences.
57(6):S366-79, 2002 Nov.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Personal and equipment assistance are often used to reduce
disability. This study predicts use of assistance, type of assistance, and
its efficacy (improvement with assistance) for disabilities in personal care
and household management tasks. METHODS: U.S. community-dwellers aged 55+
are studied using the 1994-1995 National Health Interview Survey Disability
Supplement. Three types of assistance are considered: Personal Only,
Equipment Only, and Both. Efficacy is measured by comparing the degree of
difficulty doing a task with versus without assistance. RESULTS: Severe
disability in a task and poor overall health/disability status increase use
of assistance for the task, and especially both types rather than one. For
people using one type of assistance, poor health/disability status is linked
with personal help, but high severity is linked with equipment use. These
results reflect high needs for assistance and limited potential for
physiological improvement, joined possibly by a strong desire for self-sufficiency among persons who are severely disabled. Controlling for factors that route people to different types of assistance, equipment is more efficacious than personal assistance.
Equipment may have distinctive technical and psychological advantages; for
example, it can be tailored to a person's specific needs, is available when
needed, and maintains self-sufficiency. DISCUSSION: The results about
equipment give impetus to policies that promote development and
dissemination of assistive technology.

Citation <12>
Unique Identifier
12094625
Medline Identifier
22089880
Authors
McDavid K. Breslow RA. Radimer K.
Institution
Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for Chronic
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, USA.
kzm2@cdc.gov
Title
Vitamin/mineral supplementation among cancer survivors: 1987 and 1992
National Health Interview Surveys.
Source
Nutrition & Cancer. 41(1-2):29-32, 2001.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
The number of cancer survivors in the United States is increasing, but
little is known about this population, including its use of vitamin/mineral
supplements. We combined data on vitamin/mineral use from the 1987 and 1992
National Health Interview Survey Cancer Epidemiology Supplement (CES) for
cancer survivors: persons reporting a diagnosis of cancer other than
nonmelanoma skin cancer > 5 yr before their interviews [n = 461 (1987) and
228 (1992)] and persons reporting no history of cancer [n = 20,851 (1987)
and 11,186 (1992)]. For both groups, we calculated gender-specific
proportions (adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, education, smoking status,
and poverty index) for use of multivitamins, vitamins A, C, and E, and
calcium during the year before each survey. Supplement use was similar in
survivors and persons reporting no history of cancer. Among survivors,
calcium use was significantly higher among women (34.9%) than men (13.8%),
and vitamin A use was higher among men than women (P < 0.05). Over three-fourths of both groups used multivitamins, and about one-half used vitamin C. No differences were found in vitamin/mineral use between male survivors and men with no cancer history or between female survivors and women with no cancer history. These first
nationally representative estimates suggest that persons who have survived
cancer and those who report that they never had the disease do not differ
appreciably in their use of vitamin/mineral supplements. Results were based
on small numbers of survivors, however, and require replication.

Citation <13>
Unique Identifier
12413336
Medline Identifier
22301056
Authors
Schuster MA. Franke T. Pham CB.
Institution
RAND, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138, USA. schuster@rand.org
Title
Smoking patterns of household members and visitors in homes with children
in the United States.
Source
Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. 156(11):1094-100, 2002 Nov.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), also called passive
smoking, has been shown to have adverse effects on the health of children.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and pattern of ETS exposure in US
homes with children younger than 18 years. DESIGN: We analyzed data from the
1994 National Health Interview Survey and Year 2000 Objectives supplement. A
multistage sample design was used to represent the civilian,
noninstitutionalized population of the United States. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Frequency of smoking by household residents and visitors in homes with
children. RESULTS: Thirty-five percent of children in the United States-21
million children-live in homes where residents or visitors smoke in the home
on a regular basis (> or =1 d/wk). From the household perspective, regular
smoking by residents and visitors occurs in 36% of homes in which children
reside. In 92% of homes with children where residents smoke at home, they do
so every day of the week. Sixteen percent of nonsmoking respondents with children report that other residents or visitors smoke in the home. In 6% of the homes where no
residents smoke, there is nevertheless regular smoking by visitors. In multivariate regression analysis, the prevalence of regular smoking in homes with children varies by age of youngest child, race/ethnicity, number of parents in the home, parental educational level, income, and region of the country. CONCLUSIONS: Many children live in homes with ETS. Most respondents who smoke report that smoking occurs in the home every day. Visitors are an additional source of ETS in homes, including some homes where residents do not smoke. Clinicians who take care of children can advise parents, whether or not they smoke, on how to limit their children's ETS exposure.

Citation <14>
Unique Identifier
12427070
Medline Identifier
22314566
Authors
Lee DJ. Gomez-Marin O. Lam BL. Zheng DD.
Institution
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami School
of Medicine, 1801 NW Ninth Ave, Miami, FL 33136, USA. dlee@med.miami.edu
Title
Visual acuity impairment and mortality in US adults.
Source
Archives of Ophthalmology. 120(11):1544-50, 2002 Nov.
Local Messages
Title Available at Ophthalmology Library
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between reported visual impairment
(VI) and mortality in a nationally representative sample of US adults.
METHODS: The National Health Interview Survey is a multistage probability
survey of the US civilian population. Adults within households were
administered questions about VI and selected eye diseases (n = 116 796).
Mortality linkage data with more than 96% of the 1986-1994 survey
participants were available through December 31, 1997. Statistical analyses
included Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. MAIN OUTCOME
MEASURES: All-cause, cardiovascular disease-related, and cancer-related
mortality. RESULTS: A total of 327 participants (0.3%) had severe bilateral
VI; an additional 4754 (4%) had some VI and/or severe VI in at least one
eye. Mortality linkage identified 8949 deaths. After controlling for survey
design, age, race, marital status, educational level, reported health
status, glaucoma, cataract, and retinopathy, women, but not men, with reported severe bilateral VI were at a significantly increased risk of death relative to their counterparts without VI (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval], 2.21 and 2 over black square]; [1 and 2 over black square].61-3.02] and 1.33 [0.96-1.84], respectively); risk of
mortality was also slightly but significantly elevated in women and men with
some reported VI compared with those reporting no VI. Similar patterns of
associations were found for cardiovascular disease-related mortality. Risk
of cancer-related mortality was not associated with VI. CONCLUSION: Reported
severe bilateral VI and, to a smaller extent, less severe VI are associated
with an increased risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular
disease-related mortality in US women; there is weaker evidence for an
association between VI and mortality in US men.

Citation <15>
Unique Identifier
8423663
Medline Identifier
93140235
Authors
Hafner-Eaton C.
Institution
RAND/UCLA Center for Health Policy Study.
Title
Physician utilization disparities between the uninsured and insured.
Comparisons of the chronically ill, acutely ill, and well nonelderly
populations.
Source
JAMA. 269(6):787-92, 1993 Feb 10.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
BACKGROUND--This study examines the associations between lack of health
insurance coverage and physician utilization for the chronically ill,
acutely ill, and well nonelderly populations in the United States.
METHODS--Cross-sectional data from the 1989 National Health Interview
Survey, conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, were
analyzed for the nonelderly population using a correlational, two-group
design (N = 102,055). Analytic models, using multiple logistic regression,
were tested to predict the odds and likelihood of physician utilization for
the uninsured and insured in the three subpopulations (ie, chronically ill,
acutely ill, and well), controlling for health status, number of conditions,
and geographic, sociodemographic, and economic factors. Disparities in
utilization were then calculated between the uninsured and insured for each
subpopulation. RESULTS--The nonelderly uninsured were consistently less
likely than the insured to have received any health care within 12 months. Moreover, there were differential effects of being uninsured on utilization depending on whether an individual was chronically ill, acutely ill, or well. Whereas chronically ill and well
uninsured persons were half as likely to have seen a physician as their
insured counterparts (odds ratio, 0.50), acutely ill uninsured persons were
almost two thirds as likely to receive physician care (odds ratio, 0.62).
Thus, the disparity in physician utilization between the uninsured and
insured was larger for the chronically ill and well than for the acutely
ill; uninsured acutely ill were less likely to go without care. Of the three
populations, those in the well population had average disparities with the
largest magnitude (40%), compared with disparities of the chronically ill
(20%) and acutely ill (10%). CONCLUSIONS--These disparities represent large
inequities in utilization of care by the uninsured, particularly for the
chronically ill and well. Whether these disparities result from lower access or individual choice cannot be determined from this study. When viewed in light of other studies examining the impact of utilization on health status, these results provide support
for the development of comprehensive health insurance packages with
universal coverage and better inclusion of chronic and preventive care
models in benefit packages.

Citation <16>
Unique Identifier
1578595
Medline Identifier
92251937
Authors
St Peter RF. Newacheck PW. Halfon N.
Institution
Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, University of California,
San Francisco 94143-0903.
Title
Access to care for poor children. Separate and unequal?[comment].
Comments
Comment in: JAMA. 1992 Oct 21;268(15):2033-4; PMID: 1404739
Source
JAMA. 267(20):2760-4, 1992 May 27.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
OBJECTIVE--To determine how coverage by Medicaid affects the use of
preventive care, as well as the location and continuity of care for poor
children. DESIGN--Analysis of the 1988 National Health Interview Survey on
Child Health. SETTING--Nationally representative sample of the US
noninstitutionalized, civilian population. PARTICIPANTS--A total of 17,710
children under 18 years of age selected in a stratified cluster sampling of
US households. INTERVENTION--None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--The percentage of
children with a usual source of routine care; the timeliness of visits for
routine care; the usual source where routine care is received; and the
continuity between sources of care. RESULTS--Poor children with Medicaid
coverage were more likely than those without Medicaid to have a usual source
of routine care (91% vs 78%, P less than .001) and to receive routine care
within an appropriate time interval (84% vs 69%, P less than .001). However,
poor children with Medicaid were less likely than children living above the poverty line to receive routine care in physicians' offices (56% vs 82%, P less than .001) and more likely to lack continuity between usual sources of routine and sick care (18% vs
6%, P less than .001). Children receiving routine care at community clinics
compared with children receiving care at physicians' offices were more
likely to receive sick care at a different location than where they receive
routine care (40% vs 4%, P less than .001) and also more likely to identify
an emergency department as their usual source of sick care (9% vs 2%, P less
than .001). CONCLUSIONS--While Medicaid does improve access to care for poor
children, it does not ensure them access to the same locations and
continuity of care as that available to other children. Recent changes in
the Medicaid program may address some of these inequities, but others are
likely to remain.

Citation <17>
Unique Identifier
12432046
Medline Identifier
22319422
Authors
Wong MD. Shapiro MF. Boscardin WJ. Ettner SL.
Institution
Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research,
University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles 90095-1736, USA.
miwong@mednet.ucla.edu
Title
Contribution of major diseases to disparities in mortality.
Source
New England Journal of Medicine. 347(20):1585-92, 2002 Nov 14.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Mortality from all causes is higher for persons with fewer
years of education and for blacks, but it is unknown which diseases
contribute most to these disparities. METHODS: We estimated cause-specific
risks of death from data from the National Health Interview Survey conducted
from 1986 through 1994 and from linked vital statistics. Using these risk
estimates, we calculated potential years of life lost and potential gains in
life expectancy related to specific causes, with stratification according to
education level and race. RESULTS: Persons without a high-school education
lost 12.8 potential life-years per person in the population, as compared
with 3.6 for persons who graduated from high school (ratio, 3.5; P<0.001).
Ischemic heart disease contributed most (11.7 percent) to the difference
according to education in potential life-years lost (with all cardiovascular
diseases accounting for 35.3 percent). All cancers accounted for 26.5
percent, including 7.7 percent due to lung cancer; other lung diseases and pneumonia contributed 10.1 percent of the total, whereas human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease accounted for none of the difference according to education. The pattern of
disparities according to level of income was similar to that according to
level of education. Blacks and whites lost 7.0 and 5.2 potential life-years
per person, respectively, as a result of deaths from any cause (ratio, 1.35;
P<0.001). Cardiovascular diseases accounted for one third of this disparity,
in large part because of hypertension (15.0 percent); HIV disease (11.2
percent) contributed almost as much as ischemic heart disease (5.5 percent),
stroke (2.8 percent), and cancer (3.4 percent) combined; trauma and diabetes
mellitus accounted for 10.7 percent and 8.5 percent, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: Although many conditions contribute to socioeconomic and racial
disparities in potential life-years lost, a few conditions account for most
of these disparities - smoking-related diseases in the case of mortality among persons with fewer years of education, and hypertension, HIV, diabetes mellitus, and
trauma in the case of mortality among black persons. These findings have
important implications for targeting efforts to reduce existing disparities
in mortality rates. Copyright 2002 Massachusetts Medical Society

Citation <18>
Unique Identifier
12420904
Medline Identifier
22307990
Authors
Mannino DM. Homa DM. Akinbami LJ. Moorman JE. Gwynn C. Redd SC.
Institution
Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, National Center for
Environmental Health, USA.
Title
Surveillance for asthma--United States, 1980-1999.
Source
Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report. Surveillance Summaries. 51(1):1-13,
2002 Mar 29.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
PROBLEM/CONDITION: Asthma, a chronic disease occurring among both children
and adults, has been the focus of clinical and public health interventions
during recent years. In addition, CDC has outlined a strategy to improve the
timeliness and geographic specificity of asthma surveillance as part of a
comprehensive public health approach to asthma surveillance. REPORTING
PERIOD COVERED: This report presents national data regarding self-reported
asthma prevalence, school and work days lost because of asthma, and
asthma-associated activity limitations (1980-1996); asthma-associated
outpatient visits, asthma-associated hospitalizations, and asthma-associated
deaths (1980-1999); asthma-associated emergency department visits
(1992-1999); and self-reported asthma episodes or attacks (1997-1999).
DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEMS: CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)
conducts the National Health Interview Survey annually, which includes
questions regarding asthma and asthma-related activity limitations. NCHS collects physician office-visit data in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, emergency department and hospital outpatient data in the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, hospitalization data in the National Hospital Discharge Survey, and death
data in the Mortality Component of the National Vital Statistics System.
RESULTS: During 1980-1996, asthma prevalence increased. Annual rates of
persons reporting asthma episodes or attacks, measured during 1997-1999,
were lower than the previously reported asthma prevalence rates, whereas the
rates of lifetime asthma, also measured during 1997-1999, were higher than
the previously reported rates. Since 1980, the proportion of children and
adults with asthma who report activity limitation has remained stable. Since
1995, the rate of outpatient visits and emergency department visits for
asthma increased, whereas the rates of hospitalization and death decreased.
Blacks continue to have higher rates of asthma emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths than do whites. INTERPRETATION: Since the previous report in 1998 (CDC. Surveillance for Asthma--United States, 1960-1995. MMWR 1998;47[No. SS-1]:1-28), changes in asthma-associated morbidity and death have been
limited. Asthma remains a critical clinical and public health problem.
Although data in this report indicate certain early indications of success
in current asthma intervention programs (e.g., limited decreases in asthma
hospitalization and death rates), the continued presence of substantial
racial disparities in these asthma endpoints highlights the need for
continued surveillance and targeted interventions.

Citation <19>
Unique Identifier
12383534
Medline Identifier
22272455
Authors
Cote I. Jacobs P. Cumming D.
Institution
Institute of Health Economics, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Title
Work loss associated with increased menstrual loss in the United States.
Source
Obstetrics & Gynecology. 100(4):683-7, 2002 Oct.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of increased menstrual flow on the loss
of work. METHODS: Heavy or otherwise abnormal menstrual bleeding is a common
problem among women in the reproductive age range. Until now, there has been
no evidence of its effect on absences from work. We used data from the
National Health Interview Survey 1999, a personal interview household survey
using a nationwide representative sample of the civilian
noninstitutionalized population of the United States. Participants were 3133
women aged between 18 and 64 years who reported having a natural menstrual
period in the last 12 months and in the last 3 months, never having taken
medication containing estrogen (except past use of oral contraceptives), and
never having been told that they had reproductive cancer. Analysis was
performed using data from 2805 women, 373 having self-described heavy flow
and 2432 having normal flow. The main outcome measure was work loss
associated with the degree of menstrual flow. RESULTS: Using binary logistic regression, age, marital status, education, family size, perception of health, and flow of menstrual periods are associated with work losses (P <.05). The odds ratio of 0.72 (95%
confidence interval 0.56, 0.92) indicates that women who have a heavier flow
are 72% as likely to be working as are women who have a lighter or normal
flow. CONCLUSION: Menstrual bleeding has significant economic implications
for women in the workplace: work loss from increased blood flow is estimated
to be $1692 annually per woman.

Citation <20>
Unique Identifier
12356929
Medline Identifier
22244614
Authors
Guo HR.
Institution
Graduate Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health, Medical
College, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. hrguo@mail.ncku.edu.tw
Title
Working hours spent on repeated activities and prevalence of back pain.
Source
Occupational & Environmental Medicine. 59(10):680-8, 2002 Oct.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Back pain is the most common reason for filing
workers' compensation claims in the United States and affects large numbers
of workers in many other countries. To evaluate the associations between
working hours spent on repeated activities and back pain, data gathered
through the 1988 National Health Interview Survey were analysed. The data
were also used to identify high risk occupations. METHODS: A total of 30 074
workers participated in the survey. They were asked to provide information
on their job, including the time spent on repeated strenuous physical
activities (RSPA) and the time spent on repeated bending, twisting, or
reaching (RBTR) on a typical job. A case of back pain was defined as a
worker who had back pain every day for a week or more during the past 12
months. Each case was asked to report the cause of back pain. Those who
attributed their back pain to repeated activities (RA) or a single accident
or injury (AI) were asked to recall whether they performed RA or had the AI at work. RESULTS: Whereas the prevalence of back pain increased as the number of working hours spent on RSPA or RBTR increased, the dose-response relations were not linear for either factor, suggesting the involvement of other unmeasured factors. The estimated
overall prevalence of RA back pain was 8.9% among male workers and 5.9%
among female workers. "Carpenters" had the highest prevalence (19.2%) and
most cases (338 000) among the major occupations of men, and "nursing aides,
orderlies, and attendants" had the highest prevalence (15.2%) and most cases
(217 000) among the major occupations of women. CONCLUSIONS: The number of
hours spent on repeated activities at work was associated with the
prevalence of back pain. This study identified high risk occupations for
future research and intervention.

Citation <21>
Unique Identifier
11977423
Medline Identifier
21973764
Authors
Zwerling C. Whitten PS. Sprince NL. Davis CS. Wallace RB. Blanck PD.
Heeringa SG.
Institution
University of Iowa, College of Public Health, 100 Oakdale Campus, #126
IREH, Iowa City, IA 52242-5000, USA. CZwerling@mail.public-health.uiowa.edu
Title
Workforce participation by persons with disabilities: the National Health
Interview Survey Disability Supplement, 1994 to 1995.
Source
Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine. 44(4):358-64, 2002 Apr.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
Using the National Health Interview Survey Disability Supplement of 1994
to 1995, we examined the factors associated with employment among Americans
with disabilities. Persons with disabilities who were more educated were
more likely to be working. Married men were more likely to work than
unmarried men (odds ratio [OR], 1.58). Blacks were less likely to work than
whites (OR, 0.56). Persons with disabilities related to cardiovascular
disease (OR, 0.23), musculoskeletal disease (OR, 0.37), and respiratory
disease (OR, 0.23) were less likely to work than other Americans with
disabilities. Among persons with psychiatric disorders, there was
considerable variety in the propensity to work. Persons with schizophrenia
(OR, 0.24) and paranoid delusional disorder (OR, 0.34) were markedly less
likely to work; persons with bipolar disorder (OR, 0.60) and major
depression (OR, 0.69) were also less likely to work. Lastly, persons with
self-reported alcohol abuse (OR, 1.30) were more likely to work, and persons with self-reported drug abuse (OR, 0.93) were not less likely to work, than others in our study population of Americans with disabilities.

Citation <22>
Unique Identifier
12241134
Medline Identifier
22226314
Authors
Akinbami LJ. LaFleur BJ. Schoendorf KC.
Institution
Infant and Child Health Studies Branch, National Center for Health
Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6525 Belcrest Road,
Room 790, Hyattsville, MD 20782, USA. lea8@cdc.gov
Title
Racial and income disparities in childhood asthma in the United States.
Source
Ambulatory Pediatrics. 2(5):382-7, 2002 Sep-Oct.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine racial and income disparities in asthma prevalence
in US children, and disparities in morbidity and ambulatory health care use
among children with asthma. METHODS: Using 1993-1996 National Health
Interview Survey data, we measured asthma prevalence and morbidity in
children aged 3 to 17 years (N = 14 211) stratifying by race and poverty
status. Measures of morbidity included asthma-related activity limitation
and number of bed days. We used the ratio of asthma-related doctor contacts
to number of bed days in the past 2 weeks to measure health care use
adjusted for severity of illness. RESULTS: An annual average of 7.4% of
children aged 3 to 17 years had asthma. There were no significant
differences in asthma prevalence between race and poverty groups. In
contrast, asthma-related morbidity was higher among black and poor children.
Black poor children were most likely to have activity limitations due to
asthma: 49% were limited compared with about 20% of black nonpoor, white poor, and white nonpoor children. Among children with activity limitations, black children and white poor children were more likely to have severe limitations, and white nonpoor children were least likely. Finally, white nonpoor children had the highest level of ambulatory care use for asthma after accounting for disease severity, and black poor
children had the lowest level. CONCLUSIONS: We found no significant racial
or income disparities in asthma prevalence among children in the United
States. However, black children and poor children are at higher risk for
activity limitation, more severe activity limitation, and relative underuse
of ambulatory health care. Black children living in poverty are at highest
risk. Targeted interventions to reduce the burden of asthma morbidity in
this population are likely to reduce disparities in asthma morbidity as well
as reduce overall childhood asthma morbidity.

Citation <23>
Unique Identifier
12166923
Medline Identifier
22157323
Authors
Gentleman JF. Pleis JR.
Institution
Division of Health Interview Statistics, National Center for Health
Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Md
20782, USA. JGentleman@cdc.gov
Title
The National Health Interview Survey: an overview.
Source
Effective Clinical Practice. 5(3 Suppl):E2, 2002 May-Jun.

Citation <24>
Unique Identifier
12135397
Medline Identifier
22130933
Authors
Newacheck PW. Hung YY. Wright KK.
Institution
Institute for Health Policy Studies and Department of Pediatrics,
University of California-San Francisco, 94118, USA.
Title
Racial and ethnic disparities in access to care for children with special
health care needs.
Source
Ambulatory Pediatrics. 2(4):247-54, 2002 Jul-Aug.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Numerous studies have examined racial and ethnic differences in
access to and utilization of health services. However, few studies have
addressed these issues with respect to children with special health care
needs. This study examines whether disparities in access and utilization are
present among black, white, and Hispanic children identified as having
special health care needs. METHODS: We analyzed data on 57 553 children
younger than 18 years old included in the 1994-95 National Health Interview
Survey on Disability. Of these, 10 169, or 17.7% of the sample, were
identified as having an existing special health care need. Bivariate and
multivariate analyses were used to assess how race and ethnicity are related
to measures of access and utilization, such as usual source of care, missed
care, and use of physician and hospital services. RESULTS: Our analyses show
that among children with special health care needs, minorities were more
likely than white children to be without health insurance coverage (13.2% vs 10.3%; P <.01), to be without usual source of care (6.7% vs 4.3%; P <.01), and to report inability
to get needed medical care (3.9% vs 2.8%; P <.05). Also, white children with
special health care needs were more likely than their minority counterparts
to have used physician services (88.6 vs 85.0; P <.01); however, minority
children with special health care needs were more likely to have been
hospitalized during the past year (7.6% vs 6.3%; P < 0.5). After adjustments
for confounding variables (income, insurance coverage, health status, and
other variables), racial and ethnic differences in access and utilization
were attenuated but remained significant for several measures (without a
usual source of care, receipt of care outside of a doctor's office or HMO,
no regular clinician, no doctor contacts in past year, and volume of doctor
contacts). Gaps in access were more frequent and generally larger for
Hispanic children with special health care needs. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis indicates that access and utilization disparities remain between white and minority children with special health care needs, with Hispanic children experiencing especially
disparate care.

Citation <25>
Unique Identifier
12135153
Medline Identifier
22130178
Authors
Auchincloss AH. Hadden W.
Institution
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health
Statistics, Hyttsville, MD 20782, USA.
Title
The health effects of rural-urban residence and concentrated poverty.
Source
Journal of Rural Health. 18(2):319-36, 2002 Spring.
Abstract
This research quantifies the extent to which excess morbidity in rural
areas is associated with individual characteristics, county income, and
neighborhood poverty. Census geographic codes were assigned to people 25 to
64 years old (n = 176,930) from the National Health Interview Survey, 1989
to 1991, in order to link individuals to the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's county urban-rural classification scheme and to 1990 county
per capita income and poverty concentration in Census tracts. General health
status and limitation of activity were analyzed in logistic and multinomial
logit models. Residents of rural counties were at greater risk for health
problems compared to residents of metropolitan and central core counties. In
adjusted models, the health disadvantage of rural areas was partly explained
by differences in population composition. The residual rural disadvantage
was concentrated in people with less than a high school education. Tract
poverty and county per capita income were also important independent predictors of morbidity. The results of this study suggest that special attention should be paid to improving education in disadvantaged places and to better understanding the ways in
which economic growth and its benefits are distributed.

Citation <26>
Unique Identifier
12119807
Medline Identifier
22115941
Authors
Waldman HB.
Institution
Dental Health Services, Department of General Dentistry, State University
of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8706, USA.
Title
Health of U.S. children in the late 1990s.
Source
Journal of Dentistry for Children. 69(1):104-7, 14, 2002 Jan-Apr.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
A summary is presented of the finding from the 1997 National Health
Interview Survey on the health of children. Despite major improvements in
general health levels, many millions of children continue to have
significant unmet general health and oral health needs.

Citation <27>
Unique Identifier
11905483
Medline Identifier
21902227
Authors
Smith LA. Hatcher JL. Wertheimer R.
Institution
Department of Pediatrics of Boston University School of Medicine, USA.
Title
The association of childhood asthma with parental employment and welfare
receipt.
Source
Journal of the American Medical Womens Association. 57(1):11-5, 2002
Winter.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: to assess the association of childhood asthma with parental
employment and welfare receipt, which has not been studied. METHOD: We
analyzed cross-sectional data on 13 371 children younger than 18 from the
1997 National Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative
stratified probability sample of the US noninstitutionalized population.
Single-parent (n=3,907) and 2-parent families (n=9,464) were analyzed
separately. Families with children younger than 6 and families with incomes
below the federal poverty level (FPL) were also analyzed separately. The
main outcome measures were full-time parental employment and welfare
receipt. RESULTS: Compared to single parents of nonasthmatic children
younger than 6, single parents of young children with asthma were more
likely to be employed less than full time (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.1, 95%
confidence interval [CI], 1.4-3.2). This relationship was also evident among
single-parent families with incomes below FPL (adjusted OR 2.8, 95% CI, 1.2-6.5). Parental employment among 2-parent families with young children was similar regardless of child's asthma status. Two-parent families with young asthmatic children were more likely to have received welfare for at least 1 parent (adjusted OR 2.6, 95% CI, 1.5-4.6).
Single-parent families of asthmatic children were also more likely to have
received welfare (adjusted OR 1.4, 95% CI, 1.1-1.7). CONCLUSION: Children's
asthma is associated with reduced parental employment among single parents
and increased welfare receipt among single- and 2-parent families. These
associations with children's asthma may have implications for policy makers
interested in increasing employment and decreasing welfare

Citation <28>
Unique Identifier
12215134
Medline Identifier
22204316
Authors
Weil E. Wachterman M. McCarthy EP. Davis RB. O'Day B. Iezzoni LI.
Wee CC.
Institution
Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Beth Israel Deaconess
Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Title
Obesity among adults with disabling conditions.
Source
JAMA. 288(10):1265-8, 2002 Sep 11.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
CONTEXT: Obesity, a leading cause of preventable death and chronic
disease, is associated with disability. Little is known about obesity among
adults with specific disabilities. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence
of obesity in adults with physical and sensory limitations and serious
mental illness. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The 1994-1995 National
Health Interview Survey of 145 007 US community-dwelling respondents, 25 626
of whom had 1 or more disabilities. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Likelihood of
being obese, attempting weight loss, and receiving exercise counseling among
adults with and without disabilities. RESULTS: Among adults with
disabilities, 24.9% were obese vs 15.1% of those without disabilities. After
adjusting for sociodemographic factors, adults with a disability were more
likely to be obese, with an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 1.9 (95% confidence
interval [CI], 1.8-2.0). The highest risk occurred among adults with some
(AOR, 2.4; 95% CI, 2.3-2.5) or severe (AOR, 2.5; 95% CI, 2.3-2.7) lower extremity mobility difficulties. After further adjustment for comorbid conditions, adults with disabilities were as likely to attempt weight loss as those without disabilities, except
for adults with severe lower extremity mobility difficulties, who were less
likely (AOR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.5-0.9]), and adults with mental illness, who
were more likely (AOR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.2-1.8). Physician exercise counseling
was reported less often among adults with severe lower extremity (AOR, 0.5;
95% CI, 0.4-0.7) and upper extremity (AOR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.5-1.0) mobility
difficulties. CONCLUSION: Obesity appears to be more prevalent in adults
with sensory, physical, and mental health conditions. Health care
practitioners should address weight control and exercise among adults with
disabilities.

Citation <29>
Unique Identifier
12205757
Medline Identifier
22193020
Authors
Burkhauser RV. Daly MC. Houtenville AJ. Nargis N.
Institution
Department of Policy Analysis and Management, Cornell University, Mary C.
Daly, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, USA.
Title
Self-reported work-limitation data: what they can and cannot tell us.
Source
Demography. 39(3):541-55, 2002 Aug.
Abstract
Despite their widespread use in the literature, the Current Population
Survey (CPS) and similar surveys have come under attack of late. We put the
criticisms in perspective by systematically examining what the CPS data can
and cannot be used for in disability research compared to the National
Health Interview Survey. On the basis of our findings, we argue (1) that the
CPS can be used to monitor trends in outcomes of those with disabilities and
(2) that the dramatic decline in the employment of people with disabilities
we describe in the CPS during the 1990s is not an artifact of the data.

Citation <30>
Unique Identifier
12202061
Medline Identifier
22192121
Authors
Nadel MR. Blackman DK. Shapiro JA. Seeff LC.
Institution
Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Epidemiology Branch, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, Atlanta, GA
30341, USA. mrn1@cdc.gov
Title
Are people being screened for colorectal cancer as recommended? Results
from the National Health Interview Survey.
Source
Preventive Medicine. 35(3):199-206, 2002 Sep.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The evidence is now compelling that colorectal cancer
incidence and mortality can be reduced by screening, and medical
organizations recommend regular screening among persons of average risk aged
50 years or older. We sought to determine whether appropriate screening has
become more widespread now that consensus over its value has been achieved.
METHODS: We analyzed data from the 1992 and 1998 National Health Interview
Survey, an in-person survey of a nationally representative sample of the
U.S. population. Persons aged > or =50 years (4428 in 1992, 12,629 in 1998)
were questioned about their use of colorectal cancer screening. RESULTS:
Self-reported use of fecal occult blood testing and proctoscopy increased
slightly from 1992 to 1998. In 1998, however, only an estimated 22.9% of
Americans aged > or =50 years had been screened with either the
home-administered fecal occult blood testing in the past year or proctoscopy
within 5 years. Nearly half of fecal occult blood testings were performed with a sample taken during an in-office physical examination rather than with the recommended home kit. CONCLUSION: Most eligible persons are still not meeting the screening recommendations for colorectal cancer. Education is needed for both the public and health care providers to increase their compliance with current guidelines.

Citation <31>
Unique Identifier
12202276
Medline Identifier
22190151
Authors
Kataoka SH. Zhang L. Wells KB.
Institution
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Research Center on
Managed Care for Psychiatric Disorders, University of California, Los
Angeles, USA. skataoka@ucla.edu
Title
Unmet need for mental health care among U.S. children: variation by
ethnicity and insurance status.
Source
American Journal of Psychiatry. 159(9):1548-55, 2002 Sep.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Policy discussions regarding the mental health needs of
children and adolescents emphasize a lack of use of mental health services
among youth, but few national estimates are available. The authors use three
national data sets and examine ethnic disparities in unmet need (defined as
having a need for mental health evaluation but not using any services in a
1-year period) to provide such estimates. METHOD: The authors conducted
secondary data analyses in three nationally representative household surveys
fielded in 1996-1998: the National Health Interview Survey, the National
Survey of American Families, and the Community Tracking Survey. They
determined rates of mental health service use by children and adolescents
3-17 years of age and differences by ethnicity and insurance status. Among
the children defined as in need of mental health services, defined by an
estimator of mental health problems (selected items from the Child Behavior
Checklist), they examined the association of unmet need with ethnicity and insurance status. RESULTS: In a 12-month period, 2%-3% of children 3-5 years old and 6%-9% of children and adolescents 6-17 years old used mental health services. Of children and
adolescents 6-17 years old who were defined as needing mental health
services, nearly 80% did not receive mental health care. Controlling for
other factors, the authors determined that the rate of unmet need was
greater among Latino than white children and among uninsured than publicly
insured children. CONCLUSIONS: These findings reveal that most children who
need a mental health evaluation do not receive services and that Latinos and
the uninsured have especially high rates of unmet need relative to other
children. Rates of use of mental health services are extremely low among
preschool children. Research clarifying the reasons for high rates of unmet
need in specific groups can help inform policy and clinical programs.

Citation <32>
Unique Identifier
12198919
Medline Identifier
22187806
Authors
Mannino DM. Homa DM. Akinbami LJ. Ford ES. Redd SC.
Institution
Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, National Center for
Environmental Health.
Title
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease surveillance--United States,
1971-2000.
Source
Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report. Surveillance Summaries. 51(6):1-16,
2002 Aug 2.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
PROBLEM/CONDITION: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) includes
chronic bronchitis and emphysema but has been defined recently as the
physiologic finding of nonreversible pulmonary function impairment. This
surveillance summary reports trends in different measures of COPD during
1971-2000. REPORTING PERIOD COVERED: This report presents national data
regarding objectively determined COPD (1971-1994); COPD-associated activity
and functional limitations (1980-1996); self-reported COPD prevalence, COPD
physician office and hospital outpatient department visits, COPD
hospitalizations, and COPD deaths (1980-2000); and COPD emergency department
visits (1992-2000). DESCRIPTION OF SYSTEMS: CDC's National Center for Health
Statistics (NCHS) conducts the National Health Interview Survey annually,
which includes questions concerning COPD and activity limitations. NCHS
collects physician office-visit data in the National Ambulatory Medical Care
Survey, emergency department and hospital outpatient department data in the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, hospitalization data in the National Hospital Discharge Survey, and death data in the Mortality Component of the National Vital
Statistics System. Data regarding pulmonary function were obtained from the
National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) I (1971-1975) and
III (1988-1994), and data regarding functional limitation were obtained from
NHANES III, Phase 2 (1991-1994). RESULTS: During 2000, an estimated 10
million U.S. adults reported physician-diagnosed COPD. However, data from
NHANES III estimate that approximately 24 million U.S. adults have evidence
of impaired lung function, indicating that COPD is underdiagnosed. During
2000, COPD was responsible for 8 million physician office and hospital
outpatient visits, 1.5 million emergency department visits, 726,000
hospitalizations, and 119,000 deaths. During the period analyzed, the most
substantial changes was the increase in the COPD death rate for women, from 20.1/100,000 in 1980 to 56.7/100,000 in 2000, compared with the more modest increase in the death rate for men, from 73.0/100,000 in 1980 to 82.6/100,000 in 2000. In 2000,
for the first time, the number of women dying from COPD surpassed the number
of men dying from COPD (59,936 versus 59,118). Another substantial change
observed is that the proportion of the population aged < 55 years with mild
or moderate COPD, on the basis of pulmonary function testing, decreased from
1971-1975 to 1988-1994, possibly indicating that the upward trends in COPD
hospitalizations and mortality might not continue. INTERPRETATION: COPD is a
major cause of morbidity, mortality, and disability in the United States.
Despite its ease of diagnosis, COPD remains an underdiagnosed disease,
chiefly in its milder and more treatable form.

Citation <33>
Unique Identifier
12198107
Medline Identifier
22186848
Authors
Fleishman JA. Spector WD. Altman BM.
Institution
Center for Cost and Financing Studies, Agency for Healthcare Research and
Quality, 2101 East Jefferson Street, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
jfleishm@ahrq.gov
Title
Impact of differential item functioning on age and gender differences in
functional disability.
Source
Journals of Gerontology Series B-Psychological Sciences & Social Sciences.
57(5):S275-84, 2002 Sep.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Estimates of group differences in functional disability may be
biased if items exhibit differential item functioning (DIF). For a given
item, DIF exists if persons in different groups do not have the same
probability of responding, given their level of disability. This study
examines the extent to which DIF affects estimates of age and gender group
differences in disability severity among adults with some functional
disability. METHODS: Data came from the 1994/1995 National Health Interview
Survey Disability Supplement. Analyses focused on 5,750 adult respondents
who received help or supervision with at least one of 11 activities of daily
living/instrumental activities of daily living tasks. We estimated gender
and age group (18-39, 40-69, and 70+) differences in disability, using
multiple-indicator/multiple-cause models, which treat functional disability
as a latent trait. RESULTS: Nine items manifested significant DIF by age or
gender; DIF was especially large for "shopping" and "money management." Without adjusting for DIF, middle-aged persons were less disabled than elderly men, and women were less disabled than men among nonelderly persons. After adjusting for DIF,
middle-aged persons did not differ from elderly persons, and gender
differences within age groups were not significant. DISCUSSION: Comparisons
of disability across sociodemographic groups need to take DIF into account.
Future research should examine the causes of DIF and develop alternative
question wordings that reduce DIF effects.

Citation <34>
Unique Identifier
12197973
Medline Identifier
22186398
Authors
Wise PH. Wampler NS. Chavkin W. Romero D.
Institution
Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center and Boston University
School of Medicine, Boston, Mass 02118, USA. pwise@bu.edu
Title
Chronic illness among poor children enrolled in the temporary assistance
for needy families program.
Source
American Journal of Public Health. 92(9):1458-61, 2002 Sep.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study assessed chronic child illness among recipients of
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits and poor families
not receiving benefits. METHODS: Data from the 1998 National Health
Interview Survey were used to examine chronic child illness, enrollment in
TANF, health insurance status, and selected access indicators. RESULTS: One
quarter of TANF-enrolled children had chronic illnesses. Unenrolled children
were 3 times as likely as TANF-enrolled children to be uninsured. Among the
chronically ill, 31.7% of unenrolled and 14.3% of enrolled children
experienced gaps in insurance coverage that were associated with access
barriers. CONCLUSIONS: Welfare policies should consider the effects of
chronic illness and gaps in insurance coverage on the health of poor
children.

Citation <35>
Unique Identifier
12164010
Medline Identifier
22154610
Authors
Chang CH. Chiang TL.
Institution
Institute of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, NTU
Room 1517, No. 1, Jen-Ai Road, Section 1, Taipei, Taiwan.
d5821003@ms17.hinet.net
Title
Vitamin/calcium supplement use in Taiwan: findings from the 1994 National
Health Interview Survey.
Source
Kao-Hsiung i Hsueh Ko Hsueh Tsa Chih [Kaohsiung Journal of Medical
Sciences]. 18(4):171-81, 2002 Apr.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
This study aimed to provide the prevalence of vitamin/calcium supplement
use and, to explore the gender differences in and the correlates of
supplement use. Data came from the 1994 National Health Interview Survey of
3,814 households; and 7,019 respondents (3,561 females and 3,458 males) aged
25 years old and older were included in the analysis. Supplement users were
defined as individuals who reported taking any supplements at least once a
week. Associations between supplement use and its correlates were examined
by using chi-square analysis and logistic regression. The results indicated
that 22.2% of females and 12.7% of males used vitamin supplement, and 10.2%
of females and 3.7% of males took calcium supplement. The adjusted sex odds
ratio was 2.8 (95% CI = 2.4-3.2) for vitamin supplement use and 3.8 (95% CI
= 3.0-4.7) for calcium supplement use when sociodemographic and health
variables were controlled. Increased likelihood on the use of
vitamin/calcium supplement was associated with sociodemographic characteristics (females, over 45 years old, more educated) and health behaviors (more regular exercise and check on blood pressure). Additionally, females who received regular Pap smear or
with no chronic disease tended to take more vitamin supplement and females
who perceived themselves with a poor health condition were more likely to
use calcium supplement than others.

Citation <36>
Unique Identifier
12093416
Medline Identifier
22088044
Authors
Wang G. Zheng ZJ. Heath G. Macera C. Pratt M. Buchner D.
Institution
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
gbw9@cdc.gov
Title
Economic burden of cardiovascular disease associated with excess body
weight in U.S. adults.
Source
American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 23(1):1-6, 2002 Jul.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Excess body weight (EBW), which continues to become more
prevalent, is a clear contributor to cardiovascular disease (CVD), the
leading cause of death and disability among U.S. adults. Information on the
economic impact of CVD associated with EBW is lacking, however. OBJECTIVE:
To estimate the direct medical costs of CVD associated with EBW. METHODS: We
conducted a population-based analysis of direct medical costs by linking the
1995 National Health Interview Survey and the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel
Survey. The study subjects are adults (aged > or =25 years, excluding
pregnant women) in the non-institutionalized, civilian population in 1996.
RESULTS: The prevalence of CVD among people in the normal weight (body mass
index [BMI] > or =18.5 to <25), overweight (BMI > or =25 to <30), and obese
(BMI > or =30) groups was 20%, 28%, and 39%, respectively. There were 12.95
million CVD cases among overweight people, more than 25% of which was
associated with overweight. There were 9.3 million CVD cases among obese people, of which more than 45% was associated with obesity. This extra disease burden led to $22.17 billion in direct medical costs in 1996 ($31 billion in 2001 dollars, 17% of
the total direct medical cost of treating CVD). CONCLUSIONS: The strong
positive association between EBW and CVD, and the significant economic
impact of EBW-associated CVD demonstrate the need to prevent EBW among U.S.
adults.

Citation <37>
Unique Identifier
12036790
Medline Identifier
22032614
Authors
McGrady GA. Pederson LL.
Institution
Department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School
of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA. genemc@gene.msm.edu
Title
Do sex and ethnic differences in smoking initiation mask similarities in
cessation behavior?.
Source
American Journal of Public Health. 92(6):961-5, 2002 Jun.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study compared success in smoking cessation by sex,
ethnic status, and birth cohort. METHODS: African and European American
respondents to the 1996 Current Population Survey (tobacco supplement) and
the 1987 National Health Interview Survey (cancer control and cancer
epidemiology supplements) constituted the study population. Elapsed time
from smoking initiation to cessation was compared via nonparametric tests
and survival analysis techniques. RESULTS: Findings showed that success in
quitting was independent of ethnic status and sex and that population
differences in smoking initiation age (assuming no differences in quitting
behavior) could produce statistical associations between sex/ethnicity and
smoking cessation. CONCLUSIONS: Population differences in smoking initiation
patterns can mask similarities in cessation rates.

Citation <38>
Unique Identifier
12022916
Medline Identifier
22018335
Authors
Birenbaum A.
Institution
Rose F. Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disability
Education, Research and Service, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx,
NY 10461, USA. birenbau@aecom.ye.edu
Title
Poverty, welfare reform, and disproportionate rates of disability among
children.[erratum appears in Ment Retard 2002 Aug;40(4):277].
Source
Mental Retardation. 40(3):212-8, 2002 Jun.
Local Messages
Title Available at Richter Library
Abstract
The relationship between poverty and risks associated with childhood
disability were explored. I examined some recent findings in various states
regarding people who have remained dependent on Temporary Assistance for
Needy Persons for support and the national prevalence studies of disability
among children, derived from the National Longitudinal Transition Study and
the National Health Interview Survey. Implications were identified.
Recommendations for action include expanding access to health care and
quality early-childhood care for these at-risk children, promoting the use
of behavioral health services, lowering eligibility standards, and
recruiting more actively to increase income maintenance through Social
Security Income (SSI) benefits for children with disabilities.
Recommendations were also made about securing vocational training for
mothers who are long-term recipients of cash benefits through public
assistance.

Citation <39>
Unique Identifier
11986490
Medline Identifier
21982922
Authors
Park CH. Kogan MD. Overpeck MD. Casselbrant ML.
Institution
Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services
Administration, Rockville, Maryland 20857, USA. cpark1@hrsa.gov
Title
Black-white differences in health care utilization among US children with
frequent ear infections.
Source
Pediatrics. 109(5):E84-4, 2002 May.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine differences in patterns of and barriers to health
care utilization between black and white children who have frequent ear
infections (FEI). METHODS: Analysis was conducted using the 1997 and 1998
National Health Interview Survey-Sample Child Files. Data on 25 497 children
under 18 years of age and 1985 who were reported by the parent/guardian to
have had "3 or more ear infections during the past 12 months" were analyzed.
The data were weighted and analyzed to represent all black and white
children nationwide, accounting for the complex survey design. RESULTS: Of
white and black children under 18 years of age in the United States, 8.0 and
6.6%, respectively, had FEI in the past year. Among those with FEI, whites
and blacks exhibited significantly different patterns in the type of health
insurance they had and in the usual source of care. After accounting for
sociodemographic factors, health insurance, and usual source of care, there
were still significant differences in health care use between whites and blacks. The affected black children had an increased risk of getting delayed care because of
transportation problems (odds ratio [OR]: 2.32) and a reduced likelihood of
seeing a medical specialist (OR: 0.49) and having surgery (OR: 0.39) in
comparison to white children. CONCLUSION: Although black children with FEI
were as likely as white children to be covered by health insurance and have
a usual place of health care, they were significantly more likely to face
barriers in obtaining the care, especially the more specialized care.

Citation <40>
Unique Identifier
11943694
Medline Identifier
21940121
Authors
Finch BK. Hummer RA. Reindl M. Vega WA.
Institution
School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley,
CA 94720, USA. bkfinch@uclink.berkeley.edu
Title
Validity of self-rated health among Latino(a)s.
Source
American Journal of Epidemiology. 155(8):755-9, 2002 Apr 15.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
The authors investigated whether self-rated health (SRH) had differential
mortality risks for Latino(a) adults of various acculturation statuses
living in the United States. They used cumulative National Health Interview
Survey data from 1989 to 1994 (n = 37,713) linked with the National Health
Interview Survey Multiple Cause of Death data files (1,364 deaths) that
match records from the National Death Index through 1997. The authors
specified survival models to estimate the effect of SRH on mortality and
further stratified their model by birth and duration in the United States as
proxies for acculturation. These estimates were compared across strata. Poor
SRH was found to be a weaker predictor of subsequent mortality risk among
the less acculturated, although the overall risk among the aggregated sample
is similar to the risk reported in previous studies. The relation between
poor SRH and mortality risk increases with United States acculturation among
Latinos. While poor SRH was significantly associated with short-term mortality among the least acculturated, this association did not persist beyond 2-year mortality risk.
Health researchers wishing to use SRH to assess the physical health of
multiethnic populations should at least control for levels of acculturation
among respondents.

Citation <41>
Unique Identifier
11931581
Medline Identifier
21928548
Authors
Singh GK. Siahpush M.
Institution
National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-8316, USA.
Title
Ethnic-immigrant differentials in health behaviors, morbidity, and
cause-specific mortality in the United States: an analysis of two national
data bases.
Source
Human Biology. 74(1):83-109, 2002 Feb.
Local Messages
Title Available at Richter Library
Abstract
This study examines the extent to which various ethnic-immigrant and
US-born groups differ in their risks of all-cause and cause-specific
mortality, morbidity, and health behaviors. Using data from the National
Longitudinal Mortality Study, 1979-1989, we estimated, for major US racial
and ethnic groups, mortality risks of immigrants relative to those of the
US-born. The Cox regression model was used to adjust mortality differentials
by age, sex, marital status, rural/urban residence, education, and family
income. Logistic regression was fitted to the National Health Interview
Survey data to determine whether health status and behaviors vary among
ethnic-immigrant groups and by length of US residence. Compared with US-born
whites of equivalent socioeconomic and demographic background, foreign-born
blacks, Hispanics, and Asians/Pacific Islanders (APIs), US-born APIs,
US-born Hispanics, and foreign-born whites had, respectively, 48%, 45%, 43%,
32%, 26%, and 16% lower mortality risks. While American Indians did not differ significantly from US-born whites, US-born blacks had an 8% higher mortality risk. Black and Hispanic immigrants experienced, respectively, 52% and 26% lower mortality risks than their US-born counterparts. Considerable differentials were also found in
mortality for cancer, cardiovascular, respiratory, infectious disease, and
injury, and in morbidity and health behaviors, with API and Hispanic
immigrants generally experiencing the lowest risks. Consistent with the
acculturation hypothesis, immigrants' risks of smoking, obesity,
hypertension, and chronic condition, although substantially lower than those
for the US-born, increased with increasing length of US residence. Given the
substantial nativity differences in health status and mortality, future
waves of immigrants of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds will likely
have a sizeable impact on the overall health, disease, and mortality
patterns in the United States.

Citation <42>
Unique Identifier
11880798
Medline Identifier
21872510
Authors
Gold MR. Muennig P.
Institution
City University of New York Medical School, New York, New York 10031, USA.
goldmr@med.cuny.edu
Title
Measure-dependent variation in burden of disease estimates: implications
for policy.
Source
Medical Care. 40(3):260-6, 2002 Mar.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Health adjusted life years (HALYs) are used for estimating
burden of disease and as outcomes in cost-effectiveness analyses of medical
care and public health interventions. OBJECTIVES: The impact of use of
health-related quality of life (HRQL) scores associated with the
disability-adjusted life year (DALY), the quality-adjusted life year (QALY),
and the years of healthy life (YHL) measure on burden of disease estimates
by income and race for five illnesses was studied. RESEARCH DESIGN: Abridged
life tables were constructed using 1997 death certificate data from the
National Center for Health Statistics. These tables were then
quality-adjusted using prevalence data from the National Health Interview
Survey and HRQL scores obtained using the Quality of Well-Being scale, the
DALY, and the YHL measure to estimate burden of disease for five common
diseases. Separate estimates were made for low and higher income families as
well as black persons and white persons. RESULTS: Measure-related burden of disease estimates differed substantially from one another. Rank order of disease burden was not maintained across measures. Discrepancies in the rank order of disease were greater when different sociodemographic groups were examined. CONCLUSIONS: Diseases and
demographic groups will receive differing priorities for intervention or
research depending on which measurement system is used to inform
decision-making. Refinement and standardization of measures is necessary to
enhance their utility for medical care and public health policy
applications.

Citation <43>
Unique Identifier
11888420
Medline Identifier
21885657
Authors
Rolett A. Parker JD. Heck KE. Makuc DM.
Institution
Division of Health Utilization and Analysis, National Center for Health
Statistics, Hyattsville, MD 20782, USA.
Title
Parental employment, family structure, and child's health insurance.
Source
Ambulatory Pediatrics. 1(6):306-13, 2001 Nov-Dec.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of family structure on the relationship
between parental employment characteristics and employer-sponsored health
insurance coverage among children with employed parents in the United
States. METHODS: National Health Interview Survey data for 1993-1995 was
used to estimate proportions of children without employer-sponsored health
insurance, by family structure, separately according to maternal and
paternal employment characteristics. In addition, relative odds of being
without employer-sponsored insurance were estimated, controlling for family
structure and child's age, race, and poverty status. RESULTS: Children with
2 employed parents were more likely to have employer-sponsored health
insurance coverage than children with 1 employed parent, even among children
in 2-parent families. However, among children with employed parents, the
percentage with employer-sponsored health insurance coverage varied widely,
depending on the hours worked, employment sector, occupation, industry, and firm size. CONCLUSIONS: Employer-sponsored health insurance coverage for children is extremely variable, depending on employment characteristics and marital status of the
parents.

Citation <44>
Unique Identifier
11816657
Medline Identifier
21591184
Authors
Blumberg LJ. Nichols LM.
Institution
Urban Institute, Washington, DC, USA.
Title
The health status of workers who decline employer-sponsored insurance.
Source
Health Affairs. 20(6):180-7, 2001 Nov-Dec.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
This paper uses data from the 1997 National Health Interview Survey to
compare workers who decline employers' offers of health insurance
(decliners) with comparison groups of workers who take up offers of employer
coverage and those who do not have such offers. Uninsured decliners fare
much worse than coverage takers on every mental health measure. While the
evidence on physical health measures is somewhat mixed, decliners who are
not healthy appear to have greater difficulty obtaining needed services than
do workers who take up employer coverage, although decliners tend to have
somewhat better access than do the uninsured who are not offered such
coverage.

Citation <45>
Unique Identifier
11838916
Medline Identifier
21827553
Authors
Dawson DA.
Institution
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of
Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7003, USA. ddawson@willco.niaaa.nih.gov
Title
Alcohol and mortality from external causes.
Source
Journal of Studies on Alcohol. 62(6):790-7, 2001 Nov.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between
alcohol consumption, considering both volume of intake and drinking pattern,
and the risk of death from external causes. METHOD: A prospective study of
mortality from external causes was conducted using data from the 1988
National Health Interview Survey linked with the National Death Index for
1988 through 1995. During the 7.5-year follow-up interval, there were 155
deaths from external causes among the 42,910 adults 18 years of age and over
included in the sample. Proportional hazards models were used to adjust for
censoring due to competing causes of death and for the effects of
potentially confounding background variables including age, gender, marital
status, education, smoking and poor health at baseline. RESULTS: Relative to
lifetime abstainers and infrequent drinkers, the risk of death from external
causes increased directly with volume of intake, exhibiting a
logarithmic-shaped risk curve. There was no evidence of reduced risk among light or moderate drinkers. When usual quantity and frequency were examined, the only drinkers at significantly increased risk were those who drank less than once a month but
usually drank 5+ drinks (or, to a lesser extent, 3+ drinks) and those who
drank at least twice a week and usually drank 2+ drinks. Former drinkers
also were at increased risk. Age strongly affected the drinking pattern
parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Quantity and frequency of drinking are proxies for
in-the-event risks associated with alcohol intake and their cumulative
effect on mortality risk. The results are discussed with particular
attention to the role of factors that may affect the association between
usual quantity of drinks consumed and the in-the-event risk of mortality
from external causes.

Citation <46>
Unique Identifier
11813730
Medline Identifier
21672186
Authors
Auchincloss AH. Van Nostrand JF. Ronsaville D.
Institution
National Center for Health Statistics, Center for Disease Control and
Prevention, USA. aauch@juno.com
Title
Access to health care for older persons in the United States: personal,
structural, and neighborhood characteristics.
Source
Journal of Aging & Health. 13(3):329-54, 2001 Aug.
Local Messages
Title Available at Richter Library
Abstract
OBJECTIVE. To determine the contributions of personal, structural, and
neighborhood characteristics to differential access to health care for older
persons in the United States. METHODS. This study used the 1994 National
Health Interview Survey, ages 65 and older (n = 12,341), 1990 census block
group data, and data on health professional shortage areas. Logistic
regression was used to model the probability of problems accessing care.
RESULTS. The likelihood of access problems increased sharply with decreasing
gradients of family income and for those lacking private health care
insurance. Rural areas and poor areas were at a disadvantage in accessing
care, whereas residents of neighborhoods that were homogeneous in ancestral
heritage appeared better able to access care. DISCUSSION. Considering the
high association between neighborhood and personal characteristics, it is
notable that any neighborhood effects remained after combining them with
personal effects.

Citation <47>
Unique Identifier
11732954
Medline Identifier
21590093
Authors
Kuhlthau KA. Perrin JM.
Institution
Center for Child and Adolescent Health Policy, MassGeneral Hospital for
Children, 50 Staniford St, Suite 901, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
kkuhlthau@partners.org
Title
Child health status and parental employment.
Source
Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. 155(12):1346-50, 2001 Dec.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To understand the relationship between several measures of
child health status and the employment of parents. DESIGN: A cross-sectional
study using 1994 National Health Interview Survey on Disability data.
PARTICIPANTS: A nationally representative sample of children and their
parents. OUTCOME MEASURES: Maternal and paternal employment (measured
separately). INTERVENTION: We use a series of logistic regression models
with maternal and paternal employment as the dependent variables and the
health status of the child with the poorest health status in the family as
the primary independent variable. Models additionally include
sociodemographic correlates of employment. RESULTS: Having a child with poor
health status, as measured by general reported health, hospitalizations,
activity limitations, and chronic condition or disability status, is
associated with reduced employment of mothers and fathers. For example, the
odds ratios of being employed for having a child with an activity limitation are 0.75 for mothers (95% confidence interval, 0.67-0.85) and 0.66 for fathers (95% confidence interval, 0.53-0.82). CONCLUSIONS: Having a child with poor health status is associated with reduced maternal and paternal employment. Further studies are needed to
determine whether poor child health status causes reductions in parental
labor force participation. If such a causal relationship exists, it has
important implications for social policy, employment policy, and clinical
anticipatory guidance.

Citation <48>
Unique Identifier
11726372
Medline Identifier
21583096
Authors
Simon PA. Wold CM. Cousineau MR. Fielding JE.
Institution
Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Los Angeles, Calif.,
USA. psimon@dhs.co.la.ca.us
Title
Meeting the data needs of a local health department: the Los Angeles
County Health Survey.
Source
American Journal of Public Health. 91(12):1950-2, 2001 Dec.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
Monitoring the health status of populations is a core function of all
public health agencies but is particularly important at the municipal and
community levels, where population health data increasingly are used to
drive public health decision making and community health improvement
efforts. Unfortunately, most local health jurisdictions lack important data
for developing population health profiles, such as data on chronic disease
prevalence, quality-of-life measures, functional status, and
self-perceptions of health status. In addition, data on important
determinants of health, including health behaviors and access to health care
services, are rarely available locally. These data frequently are collected
in national and state surveys (e.g., the National Health Interview Survey
and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System) and provide critical
information to assess progress toward achieving state and national health
objectives. The surveys rarely serve local data needs, however, because of insufficient sample size and lack of flexibility to address local health issues. To address gaps in local health data, in 1997 the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services inaugurated the Los Angeles County Health Survey.

Citation <49>
Unique Identifier
11679460
Medline Identifier
21536651
Authors
Boyle JP. Honeycutt AA. Narayan KM. Hoerger TJ. Geiss LS. Chen H.
Thompson TJ.
Institution
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341-3717,
USA. jboyle@cdc.gov
Title
Projection of diabetes burden through 2050: impact of changing demography
and disease prevalence in the U.S.
Source
Diabetes Care. 24(11):1936-40, 2001 Nov.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To project the number of people with diagnosed diabetes in the
U.S. through 2050, accounting for changing demography and diabetes
prevalence rates. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We combined age-, sex-, and
race-specific diagnosed diabetes prevalence rates-predicted from 1980-1998
trends in prevalence data from the National Health Interview Survey-with
Bureau of Census population demographic projections. Sensitivity analyses
were performed by varying both prevalence rate and population projections.
RESULTS: The number of Americans with diagnosed diabetes is projected to
increase 165%, from 11 million in 2000 (prevalence of 4.0%) to 29 million in
2050 (prevalence of 7.2%). The largest percent increase in diagnosed
diabetes will be among those aged > or =75 years (+271% in women and +437%
in men). The fastest growing ethnic group with diagnosed diabetes is
expected to be black males (+363% from 2000-2050), with black females
(+217%), white males (+148%), and white females (+107%) following. Of the projected 18 million increase in the number of cases of diabetes in 2050, 37% are due to changes in demographic composition, 27% are due to population growth, and 36% are due to increasing prevalence rates. CONCLUSIONS: If recent trends in diabetes prevalence rates continue linearly over the next 50 years, future changes in the size and demographic characteristics of the U.S. population will lead to dramatic increases in the number of Americans with diagnosed diabetes.

Citation <50>
Unique Identifier
11571748
Medline Identifier
21455261
Authors
Santmyire BR. Feldman SR. Fleischer AB Jr.
Institution
Bristol Myers-Squibb Center for Dermatology Research and Department of
Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North
Carolina 27157, USA.
Title
Lifestyle high-risk behaviors and demographics may predict the level of
participation in sun-protection behaviors and skin cancer primary prevention
in the United States: results of the 1998 National Health Interview Survey.
Source
Cancer. 92(5):1315-24, 2001 Sep 1.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sun and ultraviolet radiation exposure are major risk factors
for skin cancer, and sun-protective behaviors and skin cancer examinations
are means of primary prevention of skin cancer. The objective of this study
was to evaluate the extent to which demographics and other high-risk
behaviors may predict the reported level of participation in sun-protection
behaviors and skin cancer primary prevention in the United States adult
population. METHODS: Data on reported sun-protection behaviors and skin
cancer examinations were obtained from surveys completed by adults in the
1998 National Health Interview Survey. Univariate and multivariate data
analyses were performed using specialized statistics software. RESULTS: For
the United States adult population surveyed (n = 32,440), only 21% of those
surveyed indicated that they had ever had a skin cancer examination, and, of
those, only 45% indicated that the skin cancer examination was within the
past year. For sun-protective behaviors, only 23%, 27%, and 30% of those surveyed reported that they were very likely to wear protective clothing, stay in the shade, and use
sunscreen, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The likelihood of participation in
sun-protective behaviors and skin cancer prevention was related to a number
of demographic characteristics and high-risk behaviors, including currently
smoking cigarettes and wearing seatbelts. Copyright 2001 American Cancer
Society.

Citation <51>
Unique Identifier
11562006
Medline Identifier
21445911
Authors
Shi L. Regan J. Politzer RM. Luo J.
Institution
Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins School of
Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205-1996, USA.
Title
Community Health Centers and racial/ethnic disparities in healthy life.
Source
International Journal of Health Services. 31(3):567-82, 2001.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
This study examined disparities in health status among individuals of
different racial and ethnic groups cared for by the nation's community
health centers (CHCs) and compared these results with the findings for
individuals using non-CHC sites as their usual source of care. The sample
consisted of CHC users from the 1994 CHC User Survey and non-CHC users from
the 1994 National Health Interview Survey. Bivariate comparisons were made
between individuals' race/ethnicity and their experience of healthy life, an
integrated measure that incorporates both activity limitation and
self-perceived health status. Multiple regressions were followed to examine
the independent association of race/ethnicity with healthy life experience
for both CHC and non-CHC users while controlling for sociodemographic
correlates of health. Among CHC users, racial and ethnic minorities did not
have worse health than whites, but among non-CHC users there were
significant racial and ethnic disparities: whites experienced significantly healthier life than both blacks and non-white Hispanics. These findings persisted after controlling for sociodemographic correlates of health. The results indicate that while racial/ethnic
disparities in health persist nationally, these disparities do not exist
within CHCs, safety-net providers with an explicit mission to serve
vulnerable populations.

Citation <52>
Unique Identifier
11556930
Medline Identifier
21441732
Authors
Chang VW. Christakis NA.
Institution
Section of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of
Chicago, IL 60637, USA. vchang1@midway.uchicago.edu
Title
Extent and determinants of discrepancy between self-evaluations of weight
status and clinical standards.
Source
Journal of General Internal Medicine. 16(8):538-43, 2001 Aug.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To examine the extent and type of discordance between personal
and medical classifications of weight status, and to examine the influence
of sociodemographic factors on the misclassification of weight status.
DESIGN/SETTING: The 1991 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Supplement
of the National Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative,
cross-sectional survey of the U.S. population. PARTICIPANTS: Adults 18 years
and older (N = 41,676). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Respondents'
self-evaluations of weight status were compared to classification of their
body mass index (BMI) by medical standards. Twenty-nine percent of
respondents incorrectly classified their weight status relative to medical
standards, and the nature of this error was variable. While 27.4% of
overweight persons judged their weight to be "just about right," of those
who did judge themselves to be overweight, 23.9% were in fact normal or
underweight according to their BMI. Overall, 16.6% of persons underassessed their weight category, and 12.4% overassessed their weight category. Multivariate analysis revealed that sex, age, race, income, education, and occupation influenced the misclassification of weight status. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion of Americans deviate from medical standards in their self-evaluations of weight appropriateness, and this lack of correspondence may reflect the normative judgments of various population subgroups. Clinical and public health programs that employ a
uniform strategy or approach to the population may not be efficacious.

Citation <53>
Unique Identifier
11519766
Medline Identifier
21410535
Authors
Bandera EV.
Title
Re: Diet and lung cancer mortality: a 1987 National Health Interview
Survey cohort study.[comment].
Comments
Comment on: Cancer Causes Control. 1992 Jul;3(4):361-9; PMID: 1617124,
Comment on: Cancer Causes Control. 1997 Sep;8(5):729-37; PMID: 9328195,
Comment on: Cancer Causes Control. 2000 May;11(5):419-31; PMID: 10877335
Source
Cancer Causes & Control. 12(6):577-8, 2001 Aug.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog

Citation <54>
Unique Identifier
11513224
Medline Identifier
21404132
Authors
Smothers B. Bertolucci D.
Institution
Epidemiology Branch, Division of Biometry and Epidemiology, National
Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health,
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7003, USA. bs86h@nih.gov
Title
Alcohol consumption and health-promoting behavior in a U.S. household
sample: leisure-time physical activity.
Source
Journal of Studies on Alcohol. 62(4):467-76, 2001 Jul.
Local Messages
Title Available at Calder Library, Check Catalog
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Hypothesizing that people who moderate their alcohol intake
engage in other health-promoting cardioprotective behavior, this research
explored associations between alcohol consumption and leisure-time physical
activity. METHOD: Data representative of the U.S. population (N = 41,104;
52.5% women) were derived from the 1990 National Health Interview Survey,
which employed a multistage probability design. Multivariate logistic
regression analyses were performed, using lifetime abstainers as the
reference group. RESULTS: An inverted J-sha