ABSTRACT
Introduction Despite a notable reduction in infant mortality over recent decades, the United States, with a rate of 5.8 deaths per 1,000 live births, still ranks unfavorably compared to other developed countries. This improvement appears inadequate when contrasted with the country's healthcare spending, the highest among developed nations. A significant proportion of this infant mortality rate can be attributed to neonatal fatalities. Objective The present study aimed to determine the risk factors associated with neonatal deaths in the United States. Method Using the United States Vital Statistics records, we conducted a retrospective study on childbirths between 2015 and 2019 to identify risk factors for neonatal mortality. Our final multivariate analysis included maternal parameters like age, insurance type, education level, cesarean section rate, pregnancy inductions and augmentations, weight gain during pregnancy, birth weight, number of prenatal visits, pre-existing conditions like chronic hypertension and prediabetes, and pregnancy complications like gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). These variables were incorporated to enhance our model's sensitivity and specificity. Result There were 51,174 neonatal mortalities. Mothers with augmentation of labor had a 25% reduction in neonatal mortalities (NM) (OR=0.75; 95% CI 0.72-0.79), while labor induction was associated with a 31% reduction in NM (OR=0.69; 95% CI 0.66-0.72). Women above 40 years had a 29% increase in NM rate (OR=1.29;95% CI 1.15-1.44). Women without prenatal care have a 22% increase in the risk of NM (OR=1.22; 95% CI 1.14-1.30). The present model has a 60.7% sensitivity and a 99.9% specificity. Conclusion In the present study, significant interventions such as labor induction, augmentation, and prenatal care were associated with improved neonatal outcomes. These findings could serve as an algorithm for improving neonatal outcomes in the United States.
ABSTRACT
Introduction Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a significant health concern in the United States, affecting 38 million Americans. Despite a recent decline in prevalence, social determinants of health remain an important factor driving infections, particularly among minority populations. However, the relationship between community-level economic deprivation indices and HIV infection among hospital admissions has been understudied in the literature. Objectives This study investigated the association between community-level economic deprivation, measured by the Distressed Community Index (DCI), and HIV infection among hospital admissions in Washington, District of Columbia (DC). Methods We utilized data from the State Inpatient Database (SID) for Washington, DC, between 2016 and 2019, identifying all admissions with a history of HIV. The multivariate analysis determined the association between DCI quintiles and HIV infection among hospital admissions. Also included in the multivariate analysis were patients' age, sex, race/ethnicity, insurance type, smoking status, obesity, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), hepatitis B infections, and mental health conditions. Results Of the 213,682 admissions captured in the DCI quintiles, 67.4% were Black, 17.2% were White, and 10.7% were Hispanic. The prevalence of HIV infection in the study population was 4.4%. There was a statistically significant association between the DCI quintiles and HIV infection among hospital admissions. The residents of the richest neighborhoods defined as prosperous quintile (also the reference group) had the lowest odds of HIV infections compared to the other quintiles (comfortable, odds ratio {OR}=1.94 and 95% confidence interval {CI}=1.38-2.74; mid-tier, OR=1.49 and 95% CI=1.04-2.14; at risk, OR=1.75 and 95% CI=1.22-2.49; and distressed, OR=1.97 and 95% CI=1.38-2.82). Other significant predictors of HIV infection were Black race (OR=1.82; 95% CI=1.41-2.33), age between 45 and 65 years (OR=1.55; 95% CI=1.32-1.80), male sex (OR=1.58; 95% CI=1.40-1.77), and depression (OR=1.21; 95% CI=1.03-1.43). Conclusion This study reveals a significant association between increased levels of economic distress and the prevalence of HIV among hospital admissions in Washington, DC. Our findings emphasize the importance of taking social determinants of health into account when addressing HIV prevention and management. Implementing targeted interventions and resources in economically distressed communities may be crucial for reducing HIV prevalence and improving health outcomes for affected populations.
