The National Healthcare Disparities Report and National Healthcare Quality Report measure the quality of health care and access to health care for various racial, ethnic, and income groups and other priority populations, such as residents of rural areas and people with disabilities. New topics added this year include care coordination and health system infrastructure. Presented in chart and tabular format, these indicators show very clearly the wide gulf of health care access and provision of services along socioeconomic lines as well as among other demarcations.
Archive for Health/Nursing
Obesity Levels to Rise Drastically in the United States
According to this article – Obesity and Severe Obesity Forecasts Through 2030 - that was just published, if obesity projections continue as they are, 51% of Americans will be obese by 2030. The consequences for the healthcare system will be severe if this trend continues unabated; as it is, health expenditures directly related to obesity are now a drain on the system. A couple of revelations in this report (and really counter-intuitive), are the facts that those with a college education and those whose household incomes are over $50,000 have shown the most dranmatic increases in obesity rates since 1990. This newly-published book from the Institute of Medicine – Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention: Solving the Weight of the Nation- should be consulted as well as the Weight on the Nation project page.
Mental Health Statistics for the United States
This biennial report, Mental Health, United States contains vast reams of information, charts, and statistics on those who have experienced serious mental illness, their socieconomic indicators, type of treatment, and plans utilized. The most recent volume is for 2010; it was just released. Previous volumes in this series can also be accessed
State and Local Government Health Care Plans
The just-released National Compensation Survey: Health Plans Provisions in State and Local Government in the United States, 2011 provides detailed information on a national level as to the provision of health care benefits: vision, dental, outpatient prescription, selected benefits by type of plan, etc. This 300 page document proceeds to analyze the data by geographic region, income level, and industry sector (including higher education). Another informative report is this April 2012 report – Employment-Based Health Benefits: Trends in Access and Coverage, 1997-2010 - that shows a downward trend in employers offering medical benefits to workers.
Autism Diagnosis Rates Rise Sharply in New Jersey and the Nation
A CDC report released today shows that the chance of a child being diagnosed with autism has risen to 1 in 88; in New Jersey, it is 1 in 49. This study is based on 14 separate site reports; the one for New Jersey was based at UMDNJ (Table 1). As reported in The New York Times, “… researchers cannot agree on whether the trend is a result of heightened awareness, an expanding definition of the spectrum, an actual increase in incidence or some combination of those factors.”(article) More information is available from: The Star-Ledger, Time, WebMD, Wall Street Journal, and Autism Speaks.
Diabetes Could Reach Epidemic Proportions by 2050
If this report - Projection of the year 2050 burden of diabetes in the US adult population: dynamic modeling of incidence, mortality, and prediabetes prevalence (from Population Health Metrics) – is correct, then the prevalence of diabetes in this country could be a catastrophic health care burden as 33% of the U.S. population could be affected. Some counter-measures are discussed that can impact this disturbing trend, but without vigilance, diabetes will become a national scourge. Previous blog entries provide additional information on this disease.
Historic Medical Texts
The Medical Heritage Library is a collaborative project involving major medical libraries with the goal of digitizing rare medical texts. As of this writing, almost 30,000 items from the 17th to 20th centuries are available for perusal. Searching is by author, title, or subject. Examples include a 1567 Latin version of Raymund Lull’s treatise on alchemy and handbooks of popular medicine. There are many entries on nursing as well.
Racial Disparities in Life Expectancy, New Jersey Among the Worst
According to this article – State-Level Variations in Racial Disparities in Life Expectancy – white males live on average to 74.8 years, while black males live 67.7 years, resulting in a 7 year difference. White females live on average to 78.8 years and black females live for 73.6 years, resulting in a difference of 5 years. However, the picture for New Jersey is bleaker: New Jersey is among the states with the largest gap in life expectancies: white males live 8 years longer and white females 6 years longer than their black counterparts. As the article points out: “… black men live fewer years than expected, whereas white men live equal to or longer than expected nationally.” For the females: “…white women have higher-than-average life expectancy and black women experience lower-than-average or average life expectancy.” Figures, tables, and a bibliography supplement this article. Another recent article that supports these troubling numbers is one that dealt with life expectancies in this country as compared with other “high income countries.” Please read Falling behind: life expectancy in US counties from 2000 to 2007 in an international context.
Hazardous Substance Information
You or a co-worker are expected to handle some chemicals. What are the risks involved? Is protective gear necessary? If so, what kind? If there is an accident, what immediate care should be given? Besides calling a help line (National Poison Control Center – 1 800 222 1222), you do have access to some good online sources before you tackle a particular situation. New Jersey has the Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets. ”The Fact Sheets are prepared on pure substances and contain information on health hazards, exposure limits, personal protective equipment, proper handling, first aid, and emergency procedures for fires and spills.” There are 1600 of them with 900 translated into Spanish. They are being constantly revised and additional ones are being translated. The site allows access by alphabetical listing, new/revised sheets, carcinogens, translated into Spanish, and newly translated sheets. As the sheets are revised, they are transferred into a more accessible and informative format. The site also contains “quick response guides” for emergency responders. Tha National Librray of Medicine, within its TOXNET site, offers the Hazardous Substances Data Bank that includes over 5000 chemicals and their human health effects (with peer reviewed references) and medical treatments. The HSDB also provides mobile access.
Social Security Programs Around the World
There has been a lot of verbiage concerning pensions/social security over the past few years. This 4-volume work – Social Security Programs Throughout the World – examines social security from this perspective: “”The term social security in this report refers to programs established by statute that insure individuals against interruption or loss of earning power and for certain special expenditures arising from marriage, birth, or death. This definition also includes allowances to families for the support of children.” (Guide to Reading the Country Summaries) Each of the four volumes concentrates on a single geographic area: Europe, Asia and the Pacific, Africa, and The Americas, and the volumes are updated on a rotating basis every six months; i.e., a new volume of The Americas is due out March 2012, followed by the Europe volume in Septmber 2012, etc. Each country has its own lengthy profile covering all the aspects of this work’s definition of “social security.” In light of the euro crisis, reading the Europe volume may provide some insight into the current unrest over proposed austerity changes to pension systems. Another valuable source of information is the OECD’s Pensions at a Glance 2011: Retirement Systems in OECD and G20 Countries. This report profiles 43 economies, and while access to the full text is not provided, the country profiles are freely available online. This May 2011 OECD Working Paper – Funding in Public Sector Pension Plans: International Evidence – is particularly apposite.
A Parent’s Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorder
This publication offers parents an overview of ASD in clear language. It details what we know, or don’t know, about the causes of ASD, offers early intervention strategies, and while there is no cure for autism, there is help available. You do not have to face autism alone. Numerous links are presented for additional information/help.
We Eat Too Much Salt
In light of Campbell’s announcing that it was putting more salt in some of its products that are marketed as healthier for you (LA Times and ABCNews), it should come as no surprise that the CDC has issued a report – Usual Sodium Intakes Compared with Current Dietary Guidelines—United States, 2005-2008 – that shows that practically everyone in this country eats too much salt. The very first words of this document say it all: “High sodium intake can increase blood pressure and the risk for heart disease and stroke.” And this is certainly not a problem limited only to the United Staes; the World Health Organization has identified high sodium around the globe as a major health problem. Its document – Strategies to Monitor and Evaluate Sodium Consumption and Sources of Sodium in the Diet - simply states that “High blood pressure is responsible for 13% of deaths globally….The total dietary salt consumed is an important determinant of blood pressure levels….”(5) More information on salt consumption in your diet can be found here. On a personal note, we are always amazed at the amount of salt that television chefs dump into their recipes. We have not added salt to any homecooked dish in years, and as far as we know, no one has keeled over from salt deprivation.
What the New Health Insurance Plans Look Like for New Jersey Local/State Employees
Aon Hewitt has submitted its recommendations for the new health insurance options that are to be offered by the state. These reports, called rate renewal reports, are available here. A major assumption is that workers will stay with the plans they already have, even if the premiums have gone up; for example, the family coverage premium tops out at over $21,000. In addition, most workers will not have to pay much more until July 1, 2012. Aon’s recommendations for 2012 start on p.54 of this document. Some elucidation is provided by: NJBiz and The Bergen Record
President Obama Reauthorizes “Combating Autism Act”
This past Friday, President Obama signed into law the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act of 2011, extending research for an additional three years. More information can be found at: Autism Speaks, The Bergen Record, the National Journal, and Disability Scoop. It should be pointed out that the author of the House version is Representative Chris Smith of New Jersey while the Senate’s version was written by New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez. Earlier blog entries on autism are also available.
What is Listeria?
Listeria is a serious infection usually caused by eating food containing the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. This has been in the press of late because of the multiple deaths caused by eating cantaloupe infected with this bacterium. More information, including statistics, prevention, who is at risk, etc can be found at the Center for Disease Control’s Listeriosis page. You’ll also be directed to articles from its publication MMWR highlighting previous outbreaks as well as to its investigation update. Multistate foodborne outbreaks are also detailed. Food safety is obviously in everyone’s best interests so you have to wonder why Republicans have cut funding to food safety programs.
Firefighters and Cancer: 9/11 First Responders
The Lancet medical journal has recently published a series of articles dealing with 9/11. The one that has garnered the most attention is “Early assessment of cancer outcomes in New York City firefighters after the 9/11 attacks: an observational cohort study.” This and the other important articles are available with a simple and free registration.
Should Obese Children be Put in Foster Care?
As this commentary from JAMA puts it: “State intervention may serve the best interests of many children with life-threatening obesity, comprising the only realistic way to control harmful behaviors.” With obesity a major health concern as evidenced by the recent report F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future ( in which New Jersey ranked #43 on a list where #1 is the most obese state with “only” 24.1% of adults classified as obese, and #21 on the list with “only” 15.4% of children obese), greater attention is being paid to this condition. The following recent sources should be consulted: Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Policies (National Academies Press); WHO European Database on Nutrition, Obesity and Physical Activity (NOPA); One in Four Britons Smoke, Are Obese (with a link to the voluminous Gallup Well-Being Index); Obesity and Socioeconomic Status in Children and Adolescents: United States, 2005 to 2008 (NCHS Data Brief); Adolescent Obesity in the United States: Facts for Policymakers (National Center for Children in Poverty); CDC Grand Rounds: Childhood Obesity in the United States; Health Effects of Obesity (Library of Congress. Science Reference Guide); The Economic Impact of Obesity in the United States (Brookings Institution); and How Does Obesity in Adults Affect Spending on Health Care? (Congressional Budget Office). Two good overviews with numerous links are found at the National Library of Medicine: Obesity and Obesity in Children.
Environmental Rather Than Genetic Factors Play a Larger Role in the Onset of Autism
A major study of twins has led to the conclusion that while heredity stills plays a role in the development of autism, environmental effects are the more prominent causes. The original study is available online. Reportage is available at: National Institute of Mental Health, CNN Health, Time HealthLand, The New York Times, WebMD, and Autism Speaks. More information on autism can be found at this NIH page.
New Jersey Beach Conditions for 2011
New Jersey ranks second-highest in the nation with regards to the lack of bacteria-caused beach closings according to the National Resources Defense Council’s Testing the Waters 2011. However, that doesn’t mean the beaches are pristine, it just means that New Jersey’s beaches are less worse than others. Beaches are listed by county and give the frequency of testing, the total number of samples, the percentage of samples that exceed state limits, and the number of advisory/closing days.
U.S. Life Expectancy Falls Behind in World Rankings
Despite spending more per capita on healthcare than any country in the world, the United States ranks only 38th on the list for life expectancy. This information is contained in the report Falling behind: Life expectancy in U.S. counties from 2000-2007 in an international context. According to the data (a link to which is found at the bottom of this page), life expectancies vary widely across the country; i.e., people in the South and Appalachia live the shortest lives, while Bergen County ranks as the 22nd highest county as far as life expectancy goes. The tables are broken down by state, county, sex, and race over a span of 20 years, along with a “years behind” category (“This means that some counties have a life expectancy today that nations with the best health outcomes had in 1957.”)
