Steve Rust’s Post

Representation of our patients in pain science is needed - 'we' are not there yet. In this article lead by Dr. Taylor Boyd and Samantha Meints, PhD, HSP, and joined by Meredith Adams MD, MS, FASA, FAMIA (NIH NIDA HEAL IMPOWR IDEA-CC), Julie Silver, MD; ethnicity, sex, age and race demographics of pain science are compared to 2020 US census data. But questions remain - 1) how do we define representation? - should it be based on the demographics of the world, individual countries, individual localities, the prevalence of the condition being studied? 2) what variables should be considered/included by scientists to best represent the patients? Some guidance comes from the shared editorial by a group of pain journal EICs - https://lnkd.in/eM-rjKiA National Institutes of Health, Amber Brooks

📉 Understanding America's Aging Population: A Call for Action in Health Justice A recent Newsweek article highlights a critical demographic shift: America is facing a population time bomb with its rapidly aging society. This transition poses significant challenges and opportunities for public health that demand our immediate attention. At Asé Analytics, we recognize this as a pivotal moment to apply the principles of epidemiologic transition and lifecourse frameworks. As the population ages, the prevalence of chronic diseases increases, shifting our healthcare needs and resource allocation. This is not just a matter of numbers; it’s about understanding the complex interplay of aging, health, and disease over an individual's lifetime. Lifecourse frameworks help us understand that the health injustices faced by the elderly are not just the culmination of old age, but the result of a lifetime of experiences, exposures, and interactions. By studying these patterns, we can identify critical interventions that can enhance health equity throughout one's life, particularly in preparation for old age. We advocate for a robust health justice framework that supports our aging populations by: -Ensuring equitable access to healthcare that addresses both acute and chronic conditions efficiently and empathetically. -Promoting aging in place through community and home-based programs that support the elderly in their preferred environments. -Integrating preventive health measures early in life to reduce disease risk factors before they manifest in old age. -Addressing the social determinants of health that influence these lifelong experiences, exposures, and interactions, such as socioeconomic status, education, neighborhood, and employment. As we face this population shift, let's commit to transforming our health systems to be more inclusive, responsive, and just for our aging population. Join us in this conversation and share your thoughts on how we can collectively build a healthcare system that respects and supports our elders. #HealthJustice #AgingPopulation #PublicHealth #Epidemiology #SocialDeterminantsofHealth https://lnkd.in/efPamA37

https://lnkd.in/gCke92gi NZ rapid dropping fertility again blamed on non-biological factors. Such a powerful narrative that its rising incomes, or women at work. It shades out the biological reality, 1 in 3 women miscarry pregnancies now and men's sperm count is collapsing 2 % a year. wonder what it would take to educate demographers about endocrine disruption? Who wants to fund a multi-disciplinary symposium that coalesces media and political interests to change the narrative?

AATD Conclusions What can be learned from this Machine Learning approach to patient cohort finding? We found: 1/ The Asian, Black or African American, and Hispanic or Latino populations were underrepresented in the AATD-diagnosed patient pool when compared to actual US demographics. 2/ Although racial and ethnic biases were evident, the prediction model accurately identified patients with likely undiagnosed AATD earlier in their diagnostic journey in these subpopulations. 3/ Among patients diagnosed with AATD, there were fewer treated than tested individuals. 4/ Treatment rates were lower in non-White and Hispanic patients. 5 / Evaluating by race and ethnicity, a larger proportion of non-White and Hispanic or Latino patients with likely undiagnosed AATD had asthma. If you would like to see how this process can help your efforts to reduce health disparities in underserved communities, please message us directly.

Overcoming the Power of Negative Self-Perception: Strategies to Break Free from Imposter Syndrome Introduction What is Imposter Syndrome? Have you ever felt like you’re not good enough, like you’re pretending to be someone you’re not, and that everyone else is going to discover your “secret”? This is called Imposter Syndrome. It’s a common feeling that many people experience, especially when they’re facing new challenges or situations. Let’s Learn More In this section, we’ll take a closer look at Imposter Syndrome and what causes it. We’ll explore the history and definition of Imposter Syndrome, as well as its prevalence and demographics. Definition and History of Imposter Syndrome A Brief History Imposter Syndrome was first... Read more at https://lnkd.in/gaueDb8r

The majority of genetic testing is based on reference data from a mostly northern European ethnic population. With such growth in diversity in the USA population, shouldn't genetic testing be powered by more genetically diverse data? "The nation’s non-white population has nearly doubled, growing from about 24.4% in 1990 to 41.6% in 2023. The majority of this growth came from the Hispanic population, which expanded from 23 million in 1990 to 65 million in 2023." https://lnkd.in/gwBJRaUf

Researcher applications are now open for the DICE EDS & HSD Global Registry! The Ehlers-Danlos Society DICE Global Registry is an extensive repository of demographic, morbidity, and co-morbidity data from people of all ages who live with a type of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) or hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD). The global registry is rich with data for cohort and nested case-control studies and is suited to interpopulation comparisons, providing rapid and cost-free access to a large community. It also provides access to specific groups identified as required by their demographics and health concerns for invited participation in new studies. We encourage researchers to consider the possibilities the DICE Registry can bring to your research. We look forward to exploring opportunities to assist and collaborate with you in supporting the EDS and HSD community and researching these conditions. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/em-5TQDi

🚨 Impact of COVID-19 on Violent Penetrating Injuries 🚨 Authors: Elizabeth C Pino, Erika Gebo, Elizabeth Dugan, Jonathan Jay The research highlights a significant increase in shootings, contrasting with the stable rate of stabbings. This trend started during the early phase of the pandemic and continued through the major societal disruptions of 2020. The demographics of the victims also shifted, with notable increases among specific groups. https://lnkd.in/d2mWnXYj #PhysicianInsights #PublicHealth #COVID19Impact #ViolencePrevention #MedicalResearch #CME

#HealthSurvey: NPC Commences Demographic Survey in Ogun https://lnkd.in/d34hNUk7

Developing survey weights to ensure representativeness in a national, matched cohort study: results from the children and young people with Long Covid (CLoCk) study By BMC (BioMedCentral) Abstract Background Findings from studies assessing Long Covid in children and young people (CYP) need to be assessed in light of their methodological limitations. For example, if non-response and/or attrition over time systematically differ by sub-groups of CYP, findings could be biased and any generalisation limited. The present study aimed to (i) construct survey weights for the Children and young people with Long Covid (CLoCk) study, and (ii) apply them to published CLoCk findings showing the prevalence of shortness of breath and tiredness increased over time from baseline to 12-months post-baseline in both SARS-CoV-2 Positive and Negative CYP. Methods Logistic regression models were fitted to compute the probability of (i) Responding given envisioned to take part, (ii) Responding timely given responded, and (iii) (Re)infection given timely response. Response, timely response and (re)infection weights were generated as the reciprocal of the corresponding probability, with an overall ‘envisioned population’ survey weight derived as the product of these weights. Survey weights were trimmed, and an interactive tool developed to re-calibrate target population survey weights to the general population using data from the 2021 UK Census. Results Flexible survey weights for the CLoCk study were successfully developed. In the illustrative example, re-weighted results (when accounting for selection in response, attrition, and (re)infection) were consistent with published findings. Conclusions Flexible survey weights to address potential bias and selection issues were created for and used in the CLoCk study. Previously reported prospective findings from CLoCk are generalisable to the wider population of CYP in England. This study highlights the importance of considering selection into a sample and attrition over time when considering generalisability of findings. ***Please click on image in the banner below to access the entire study results. Posted by Larry Cole