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Background: Individual measures of socioeconomic status (SES) have been associated with an increased risk of neural tube defects (NTDs); however, the association between neighborhood SES and NTD risk is unknown. Using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS) from 1997 to 2011, we investigated the association between measures of census tract SES and NTD risk. Methods: The study population included 10,028 controls and 1829 NTD cases. We linked maternal addresses to census tract SES measures and used these measures to calculate the neighborhood deprivation index. We used generalized estimating equations to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) estimating the impact of quartiles of census tract deprivation on NTDs adjusting for maternal race-ethnicity, maternal education, and maternal age at delivery. Results: Quartiles of higher neighborhood deprivation were associated with NTDs when compared with the least deprived quartile (Q2: aOR = 1.2; 95% CI = 1.0, 1.4; Q3: aOR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.1, 1.5; Q4 (highest): aOR = 1.2; 95% CI = 1.0, 1.4). Results for spina bifida were similar; however, estimates for anencephaly and encephalocele were attenuated. Associations differed by maternal race-ethnicity. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that residing in a census tract with more socioeconomic deprivation is associated with an increased risk for NTDs, specifically spina bifida. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neighborhood-level socioeconomic position has been shown to influence birth outcomes, including selected birth defects. This study examines the un derstudied association between neighborhood- level socioeconomic position during early pregnancy and the risk of gastroschisis, an abdominal birth defect of increasing prevalence. Methods: We conducted a case-control study of 1,269 gastroschisis cases and 10,217 controls using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (1997-2011). To characterize neighborhood-level socioeconomic position, we conducted a principal component analysis to construct two indices--Neighborhood Deprivation Index (NDI) and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Position Index (nSEPI). We created neighborhood-level indices using census socioeconomic indicators corresponding to census tracts associated with addresses where mothers lived the longest during the periconceptional period. We used generalized estimating equations to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), with multiple imputations for missing data and adjustment for maternal race-ethnicity, household income, education, birth year, and duration of residence. Results: Mothers residing in moderate (NDI Tertile 2 aOR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.03, 1.48 and nSEPI Tertile 2 aOR = 1.24; 95% CI = 1.04, 1.49) or low socioeconomic neighborhoods (NDI Tertile 3 aOR = 1.28; 95% CI = 1.05, 1.55 and nSEPI Tertile 3 aOR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.09, 1.61) were more likely to deliver an infant with gastroschisis compared with mothers residing in high socioeconomic neighborhoods. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that lower neighborhood-level socioeconomic position during early pregnancy is associated with elevated odds of gastroschisis. Additional epidemiologic studies may aid in confirming this finding and evaluating potential mechanisms linking neighborhood-level socioeconomic factors and gastroschisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A broad spectrum of model-derived weather datasets are available in the US. Because each product integrates atmospheric conditions with different model processes, each produces different statistical biases. This study validated air temperature from NLDAS-2 and a novel statistically downscaled NLDAS-2 against observational weather station data for the state of Florida. We statistically downscaled NLDAS-2 to a 1-km grid product using MODIS land surface temperature. We investigated mean biases and Pearson correlation coefficients between daily observational data and the two model-derived datasets. We then calculated multiple Climate Extremes Indices to further scrutinize differences in capturing extreme temperatures. Finally, we quantified potential causes of systematic NLDAS-2 biases related to distance from the coast, urban heat island, land cover, and type of observational stations. Two model-derived datasets showed similar mean biases and correspondence with observational data, underestimating maximum temperature by 1°C and overestimating minimum temperature by 2°C. Extreme temperatures were well simulated in both datasets. However, we still found overestimated extreme minimum temperatures and underestimated extreme maximum temperatures. Systematic biases tended to be higher for coastal stations and grids having a high fraction of water. Our study suggests that including physical processes covering land surface and ocean interactions may improve the model accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Individuals with congenital heart defects (CHDs) are recommended to receive all inpatient cardiac and noncardiac care at facilities that can offer specialized care. We describe geographic accessibility to such centers in New York State and determine several factors associated with receiving care there.Methods: We used inpatient hospitalization data from the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) in New York State 2008-2013. In the absence of specific adult CHD care center designations during our study period, we identified pediatric/adult and adult-only cardiac surgery centers through the Cardiac Surgery Reporting System to estimate age-based specialized care. We calculated one-way drive and public transit time (in minutes) from residential address to centers using R gmapsdistance package and the Google Maps Distance Application Programming Interface (API). We calculated prevalence ratios using modified Poisson regression with model-based standard errors, fit with generalized estimating equations clustered at the hospital level and subclustered at the individual level.Results: Individuals with CHDs were more likely to seek care at pediatric/adult or adult-only cardiac surgery centers if they had severe CHDs, private health insurance, higher severity of illness at encounter, a surgical procedure, cardiac encounter, and shorter drive time. These findings can be used to increase care receipt (especially for noncardiac care) at pediatric/adult or adult-only cardiac surgery centers, identify areas with limited access, and reduce disparities in access to specialized care among this high-risk population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the effects of ambient temperature variation on respiratory hospitalizations during summer in New York State (NYS). It is stated that temperature variation is a sensitive indicator of climate change and may have an important impact on public health. With NYS residents in 62 counties as study population, results showed that daily temperature range between maximum and minimum temperature was associated with a 0.27% to 0.38% increased risk of admission.