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Objective:Lower-income older adults with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) are highly vulnerable to food insecurity. However, few studies have considered how health care access is related to food insecurity among older adults with MCC. The aims of this study were to examine associations between MCC and food insecurity, and, among older adults with MCC, between health care access and food insecurity.Design:Cross-sectional study data from the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey.Setting:Washington State, USA.Participants:Lower-income adults, aged 50 years or older (n 2118). MCC was defined as having ≥ 2 of 11 possible conditions. Health care access comprised three variables (unable to afford seeing the doctor, no health care coverage and not having a primary care provider (PCP)). Food insecurity was defined as buying food that did not last and not having money to get more.Results:The overall prevalence of food insecurity was 26·0 % and was 1·50 times greater (95 % CI 1·16, 1·95) among participants with MCC compared to those without MCC. Among those with MCC (n 1580), inability to afford seeing a doctor was associated with food insecurity (prevalence ratio (PR) 1·83; 95 % CI 1·46, 2·28), but not having health insurance (PR 1·49; 95 % CI 0·98, 2·24) and not having a PCP (PR 1·10; 95 % CI 0·77, 1·57) were not.Conclusions:Inability to afford healthcare is related to food insecurity among older adults with MCC. Future work should focus on collecting longitudinal data that can clarify the temporal relationship between MCC and food insecurity.

Determine the association between socioeconomic status and self-reported noticing and using calorie menu labels in 2 states with high poverty and obesity.Cross-sectional study of responses to the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Menu Labeling Module.Representative sample of noninstitutionalized adults aged ≥ 18 years in West Virginia and Mississippi (n = 9,469).The outcomes were reported noticing and using menu labels to make decisions at fast-food restaurants. Independent variables were highest attained education and federal poverty level (% FPL).Generalized linear models estimated prevalence ratios for noticing and using menu labels. Models mutually adjusted for education, % FPL, age, sex, race/ethnicity, and body mass index.Eighty-six percent of respondents reported noticing, and 56% reported using menu labels. Compared with individuals with less than high school education, college graduates were 11% more likely to report noticing (95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.18; P0.001) and 18% more likely to report using (95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.30; P0.01) menu labels. Patterns were similar for % FPL.These data support further investigation of menu labels among subgroups and a larger geographic scope. Limitations of the menu labeling module question and the cross-sectional nature of the existing literature warrant additional research.

Background It is estimated that 1.4 million people identify as transgender and over 700,000 people identify as non-binary in the United States, many of whom face significant health disparities impacting health care access. Although previous studies have reported greater vaccine uptake in women compared to men, national-level estimates of influenza vaccine uptake among transgender and non-binary people are unknown. This study aims to characterize differences in influenza vaccination by gender identity and examine associations between vaccination status and state-based gender equality policies. Methods We used cross-sectional data from adults aged 18 and older who participated in the 2015-2019 United States Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System surveys. Weighted prevalence differences (PDs) and associated confidence intervals (CIs) of being unvaccinated against influenza by self-reported gender identity were estimated using generalized linear regression models. We identified state policies on gender identity (Figure 1) as a potential effect modifier a priori and assessed through stratification. Figure 1.U.S. states implementing the SOGI module in Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System between 2015-2019, classified as having restrictive versus protective policies on gender equality (N = 38) Results A total of 1,016,012 individuals met the inclusion criteria. Compared to cisgender women (unvaccinated prevalence=57.3%), the prevalence of being unvaccinated was significantly higher among cisgender men (64.4%; PD=7.0 per 100, 95% CI: 6.7-7.4), transgender women (65.4%; PD=8.1 per 100, 95% CI: 4.0-12.2), transgender men (64.6%; PD=7.3 per 100, 95% CI: 2.7-11.8), and non-binary individuals (64.6%; PD=7.2 per 100, 95% CI: 1.3-13.2). This pattern was similar among individuals living in protective states with more favorable gender-related policies compared to restrictive states with less favorable policies (Figure 2). Figure 2.Weighted prevalence of U.S. adults unvaccinated against influenza by gender identity, Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System, 2015-2019 Conclusion Our results provide evidence of a disparity in influenza vaccine uptake by gender identity. To improve vaccine uptake among transgender and non-binary individuals, future research should focus on identifying barriers to and facilitators of vaccination by gender identity. These findings could be used to inform policies and public health interventions to improve vaccine uptake co-designed and implemented in partnership with the transgender and non-binary communities. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures.

This article outlines a three-phase, team-based approach used to analyze qualitative data from a nation-wide needs assessment of access to Veteran Health Administration services for rural-dwelling veterans. The method described here was used to develop the trustworthiness of findings from analysis of a large qualitative data set, without the use of analytic software. In Phase 1, we used templates to summarize content from 205 individual semistructured interviews. During Phase 2, a matrix display was constructed for each of 10 project sites to synthesize and display template content by participant, domain, and category. In the final phase, the summary tabulation technique was developed by a member of our team to facilitate trustworthy observations regarding patterns and variation in the large volume of qualitative data produced by the interviews. This accessible and efficient team-based strategy was feasible within the constraints of our project while preserving the richness of qualitative data.

Background The aim of this study was to assess whether arthritis is associated with lower antihypertensive medication (AHM) use among those with hypertension and whether this relationship differs by age or cardiovascular (CV) comorbidity. Methods The data were from the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. We employed survey weights to account for the complex sampling design and nonresponse bias. We used generalized linear models to estimate unadjusted and adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals comparing AHM use among those with severe or mild arthritis to those without arthritis, stratified by age, sex, and CV comorbidity. Results Among 173,098 adults with hypertension, 26.0% had severe arthritis and 22.3% had mild arthritis. Compared with those without arthritis, individuals with mild or severe arthritis were older, predominantly female, with lower income and more comorbidities. After adjustment for sex, race, inability to afford medications, and CV comorbidity, the prevalence ratios for AHM use were stronger for younger versus older age groups. Associations did not differ significantly by sex or CV comorbidity. Associations were similar for mild and severe arthritis, compared with no arthritis. Conclusions Among individuals with hypertension, those with arthritis had significantly higher prevalences of AHM use compared with those without arthritis. Higher prevalences of AHM use were seen with older age categories, although a stronger association of arthritis and AHM use was found in younger age groups. Future studies on hypertension management in arthritis should examine these relationships more closely.

Background: Maternal leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and sedentary time during pregnancy may influence programming of infant growth in a sex-specific manner. Materials and Methods: Participants (N = 35,212) from the Danish National Birth Cohort reported moderate/vigorous LTPA (hours/week) in early (conception to mean 16 weeks of gestation) and late pregnancy (mean 31 weeks of gestation to delivery) during interviews at 16 weeks of gestation and 6 months postpartum. Participants reported screen time at work and time spent watching television/videos (hours/day) in early pregnancy. Infant weight at 12 months of age was reported by mothers. Weight-for-length was categorized using sex-specific international standards. Results: Participants reported on average 1 hour per week of early pregnancy moderate/vigorous LTPA, 0.5 hour per week of late pregnancy LTPA, and 3 hours per day of early pregnancy sedentary time. Early pregnancy LTPA category was not associated with infant weight (p for trend = 0.62). There were suggested associations of early pregnancy sedentary time above the first quartile with greater odds of infant underweight (odds ratio = 1.15-1.27; p for trend = 0.27). Associations were similar in male and female infants. Conclusions: There is no clear relationship between early or late pregnancy LTPA and infant weight at 12 months in our study. Maternal early pregnancy sedentary time may be associated with infant underweight at 12 months.

OBJECTIVE Daily foot self-inspection may permit earlier detection and treatment of a foot lesion, reducing the risk of infection and lower-limb amputation (LLA). Though race and ethnicity are strongly associated with LLA risk, with higher risk seen in African Americans (AA), American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN), and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders (NH/PI), associations between foot self-inspection and racial and ethnic groups are inconsistent. We aimed to assess differences in foot self-inspection among people with diabetes by race/ethnicity. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Using national, cross-sectional data from the 2015–2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System surveys and including 88,424 individuals with diabetes, we estimated prevalence ratios (PRs) and associated 95% CIs of daily foot checking for sores or irritation by racial and ethnic groups using log-binomial linear regression models, after accounting for survey weights. RESULTS Compared with whites (who had a weighted prevalence [P] of daily foot self-inspection of 57%), AA (P 67%, PR 1.18 [95% CI 1.14, 1.23]), AI/AN (P 66%, PR 1.15 [95% CI 1.07, 1.25]), and NH/PI (P 71%, PR 1.25 [95% CI 1.03, 1.52]) had higher prevalences of daily foot self-inspection. The prevalence of daily foot inspection was significantly lower among Asians (P 35%, PR 0.62 [95% CI 0.48, 0.81]) and Hispanics (P 53%, PR 0.93 [95% CI 0.88, 0.99]) compared with whites. Associations did not vary importantly by insulin use, years since diabetes diagnosis, or having received diabetes self-management education. CONCLUSIONS The higher frequency of foot self-inspection in racial and ethnic groups at elevated risk of diabetes-related LLA is not sufficient to eliminate LLA disparities; additional interventions are needed to achieve this aim.

To determine the positive predictive value (PPV) of algorithms to identify patients with major (at the ankle or more proximal) lower extremity amputation (LEA) using Department of Veterans Affairs electronic medical records (EMR) and to evaluate whether PPV varies by sex, age, and race.We conducted a validation study comparing EMR determined LEA status to self-reported LEA (criterion standard).Veterans who receive care at the Department of Veterans Affairs.We invited a national sample of patients (N=699) with at least 1 procedure or diagnosis code for major LEA to participate. We oversampled women, Black men, and men ≤40 years of age.Not applicable.We calculated PPV estimates and false negative percentages for 7 algorithms using EMR LEA procedure and diagnosis codes relative to self-reported major LEA.A total of 466 veterans self-reported their LEA status (68%). PPVs for the 7 algorithms ranged from 89% to 100%. The algorithm that required a single diagnosis or procedure code had the lowest PPV (89%). The algorithm that required at least 1 procedure code had the highest PPV (100%) but also had the highest proportion of false negatives (66%). Algorithms that required at least 1 procedure code or 2 or more diagnosis codes 1 month to 1 year apart had high PPVs (98%-99%) but varied in terms of false negative percentages. PPV estimates were higher among men than women but did not differ meaningfully by age or race, after accounting for sex.PPVs were higher if 1 procedure or at least 2 diagnosis codes were required; the difference between algorithms was marked by sex. Investigators should consider trade-offs between PPV and false negatives to identify patients with LEA using EMRs.

ObjectivesTo evaluate feasibility and acceptability of a group-based nature recreation intervention (nature hiking) and control condition (urban hiking) for military Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Design and settingA pilot randomised controlled trial conducted in the US Pacific Northwest.ParticipantsVeterans with PTSD due to any cause.InterventionsTwenty-six participants were randomised to a 12-week intervention involving either six nature hikes (n=13) or six urban hikes (n=13).Primary and secondary outcome measuresFeasibility was assessed based on recruitment, retention and attendance. Questionnaires and postintervention qualitative interviews were conducted to explore intervention acceptability. Questionnaires assessing acceptability and outcomes planned for the future trial (eg, PTSD symptoms) were collected at baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks (immediately after the final hike) and 24 weeks follow-up.ResultsOf 415 people assessed for eligibility/interest, 97 were interested and passed preliminary eligibility screening, and 26 were randomised. Mean completion of all questionnaires was 91% among those in the nature hiking group and 68% in those in the urban hiking group. Over the course of the intervention, participants in the nature and urban groups attended an average of 56% and 58%, respectively, of scheduled hikes. Acceptability of both urban and nature hikes was high; over 70% reported a positive rating (ie, good/excellent) for the study communication, as well as hike locations, distance and pace. Median PTSD symptom scores (PTSD Checklist-5) improved more at 12 weeks and 24 weeks among those in the nature versus urban hiking group.ConclusionsThis pilot study largely confirmed the feasibility and acceptability of nature hiking as a potential treatment for Veterans with PTSD. Adaptations will be needed to improve recruitment and increase hike attendance for a future randomised controlled trial to effectively test and isolate the ways in which nature contact, physical activity and social support conferred by the group impact outcomes.Trial registration numberNCT03997344.

Objective To examine whether military separation (Veteran), service component (active duty, Reserve/National Guard), and combat deployment are prospectively associated with continuing unhealthy alcohol use among US military service members. Methods Millennium Cohort Study participants were evaluated for continued or chronic unhealthy alcohol use, defined by screening positive at baseline and the next consecutive follow-up survey for heavy episodic, heavy weekly, or problem drinking. Participants meeting criteria for chronic unhealthy alcohol use were followed for up to 12 years to determine continued unhealthy use. Multivariable regression models-adjusted for demographics, military service factors, and behavioral and mental health characteristics-assessed whether separation status, service component, or combat deployment were associated with continuation of 3 unhealthy drinking outcomes: heavy weekly (sample n = 2653), heavy episodic (sample n = 22,933), and problem drinking (sample n = 2671). Results In adjusted models, Veterans (compared with actively serving personnel) and Reserve/Guard (compared with active duty members) had a significantly higher likelihood of continued chronic use for heavy weekly, heavy episodic, and problem drinking (Veteran odds ratio [OR] range 1.17-1.47; Reserve/Guard OR range 1.25-1.29). Deployers without combat experience were less likely than nondeployers to continue heavy weekly drinking (OR 0.75, 95% confidence interval 0.61-0.91). Conclusions The elevated likelihood of continued unhealthy alcohol use among Veterans and Reserve/Guard members suggests that strategies to reduce unhealthy drinking targeted to these populations may be warranted.

BackgroundThere are few published studies evaluating the impact of perinatal residence change on infant outcomes and whether these associations differ by socioeconomic status.MethodsWe conducted a population-based cohort study using Washington State birth certificate data from 2007 to 2014 to assess whether women who moved during the first trimester of pregnancy (n=28 011) had a higher risk of low birth weight, preterm birth and small for gestational age than women who did not move during the first trimester (n=112 367). ‘Non-first-trimester movers’ were frequency matched 4:1 to movers by year. We used generalised linear models to calculate risk ratios and risk differences adjusted for maternal age, race, marital status, parity, education, smoking, income and insurance payer for the birth. We also stratified analyses by variables related to socioeconomic status to see whether associations differed across socioeconomic strata.ResultsMoving in the first trimester was associated with an increased risk of low birth weight (6.4% vs 4.5%, adjusted risk ratio 1.37 (95% CI 1.29 to 1.45)) and preterm birth (9.1% vs 6.4%, adjusted risk ratio 1.42 (95% CI 1.36 to 1.49)) and a slight increased risk of small for gestational age (9.8% vs 8.7%, adjusted risk ratio 1.09 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.09)). Residence change was associated with low birth weight and preterm birth in all socioeconomic strata.ConclusionMoving during the first trimester of pregnancy may be a risk factor for adverse birth outcomes in US women. Healthcare providers may want to consider screening for plans to move and offering support.

Opioid use disorder (OUD), a chronic illness associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, is common in veterans. Despite several national Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) initiatives over the last 15 years to increase access to medications to treat OUD (MOUD), MOUD remain underutilized. Women and veterans with mental health comorbidities are less likely to receive MOUD. The current study evaluated associations between military sexual trauma (MST), one common comorbidity among veterans, and receipt of MOUD among VA outpatients. We also evaluated whether gender moderated the MST-MOUD association and whether mental health conditions were associated with lower rates of MOUD across MST status.In a cross-sectional study using a national sample of 80,845 veterans with OUD who sought care at VA facilities from 2009 to 2017, we fit mixed-effects logistic regression models to assess the association between MST and MOUD, adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics, and with facility modeled as a random effect. Secondary analyses added interaction terms of MST x gender and MST x mental health diagnoses and compared average predicted probabilities to evaluate whether the MST and MOUD association varied by gender or mental health diagnoses. The study used a p-value threshold of .001 to determine significance due to multiple comparisons and large sample size.Overall, 35% of veterans with OUD received MOUD. MST (8.1% overall; 5.2% of men, 48.8% of women) was not significantly associated with receipt of MOUD in a fully adjusted model (OR = 1.08; 99% CI 1.00, 1.17). No significant MST x gender interaction (p = .377) and no significant MST x mental health interaction (p = .722) occurred.Both men and women veterans with and without a history of MST received MOUD treatment at similar rates. Room for improvement exists in MOUD receipt and future research should continue to assess barriers to MOUD receipt.

Opioid use disorder and high-risk opioid prescription increase the risks for overdose and death. In Veterans, military sexual trauma is associated with increased risk for assorted health conditions. This study evaluates the association of military sexual trauma with opioid use disorder and high-risk opioid prescription and potential moderation by gender.In a national sample of Veterans Health Administration outpatients receiving care from October 1, 2009 to August 1, 2017, logistic regression models were fit to evaluate the associations between military sexual trauma and opioid use disorder and high-risk opioid prescription, adjusting for demographic and clinical covariates. A second set of models included a gender X military sexual trauma interaction. Analyses were conducted in 2020-2021.Patients with history of military sexual trauma (n=327,193) had 50% higher odds of opioid use disorder diagnosis (AOR=1.50, 95% CI=1.45, 1.54, p0.001) and 5% higher odds of high-risk opioid prescription (AOR=1.05, 95% CI=1.04, 1.07, p0.001) than those without history of military sexual trauma (n=7,738,665). The effect of military sexual trauma on opioid use disorder was stronger in men than in women . The predicted probability of opioid use disorder among men with history of military sexual trauma (1.5%) was nearly double that of women with history of military sexual trauma (0.8%).Military sexual trauma was a significant risk factor for opioid use disorder and high-risk opioid prescription, with the former association particularly strong in men. Clinical care for Veterans with military sexual trauma should consider elevated risk of opioid use disorder and high-risk opioid prescription.

Background Women Veterans with amputation are a group with unique needs whose numbers have grown over the last 5 years, accounting for nearly 3% of all Veterans with amputation in 2019. Although identified as a national priority by the Veterans Health Administration, the needs of this population have remained largely underrepresented in amputation research. Objective To describe the experiences of women Veterans with lower extremity amputation (LEA) related to prosthetic care provision and devices. Design National qualitative study using semi-structured individual interviews. Participants Thirty women Veterans with LEA who had been prescribed a prosthesis at least 12 months prior. Approach Inductive content analysis. Key Results Four key themes emerged: (1) a sense of “feeling invisible” and lacking a connection with other women Veterans with amputation; (2) the desire for prosthetic devices that meet their biological and social needs; (3) the need for individualized assessment and a prosthetic limb prescription process that is tailored to women Veterans; the current process was often perceived as biased and either dismissive of women’s concerns or failing to adequately solicit them; and (4) the desire for prosthetists who listen to and understand women’s needs. Conclusions Women Veterans with LEA articulated themes reminiscent of those previously reported by male Veterans with LEA, such as the importance of prostheses and the central role of the provider-patient relationship. However, they also articulated unique needs that could translate into specific strategies to improve prosthetic care, such as integrating formal opportunities for social support and peer interaction for women Veterans with LEA, advocating for administrative changes and research efforts to expand available prosthetic component options, and ensuring that clinical interactions are gender-sensitive and free of bias.

Objectives. To examine associations between caregiving mental or behavioral health outcomes among emerging US adults, defined as persons aged 18 to 25 years. Methods. The study sample included emerging adult respondents to the 2015–2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System’s caregiving module. Exposures were caregiver (n = 3087), expectant caregiver (n = 2303), and noncaregiver (n = 12 216) status. Expectant caregivers were defined as persons not currently providing care but anticipating doing so within the next 2 years. Outcomes included frequent mental distress (FMD), drinking (binge or heavy), and current smoking (cigarette or e-cigarette use). We used robust Poisson regression to calculate adjusted prevalence ratios (APRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We adjusted all models for income. Results. Caregivers had a similar prevalence of FMD when compared with both expectant caregivers (APR = 1.67; 95% CI = 1.28, 2.17) and noncaregivers (APR = 1.50; 95% CI = 1.23, 1.82). Caregivers had a higher prevalence of current cigarette smoking compared with noncaregivers (APR = 1.44; 95% CI = 1.21, 1.71). Conclusions. Among emerging adults, providing care is associated with poorer mental health. Point estimates looking at FMD were higher when we compared caregivers with expectant caregivers, suggesting a difference in exchangeability between comparison groups. Public Health Implications. This study highlights the importance of including emerging adults in caregiving research.

AimsTo describe how patients respond to early signs of foot problems and the factors that result in delays in care.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with a large sample of Veterans from across the United States with diabetes mellitus who had undergone a toe amputation. Data were analyzed using inductive content analysis.ResultsWe interviewed 61 male patients. Mean age was 66 years, 41% were married, and 37% had a high school education or less. The patient-level factors related to delayed care included: 1) not knowing something was wrong, 2) misinterpreting symptoms, 3) “sudden” and “unexpected” illness progression, and 4) competing priorities getting in the way of care-seeking. The system-level factors included: 5) asking patients to watch it, 6) difficulty getting the right type of care when needed, and 7) distance to care and other transportation barriers.ConclusionA confluence of patient factors (e.g., not examining their feet regularly or thoroughly and/or not acting quickly when they noticed something was wrong) and system factors (e.g., absence of a mechanism to support patient’s appraisal of symptoms, lack of access to timely and convenient-located appointments) delayed care. Identifying patient- and system-level interventions that can shorten or eliminate care delays could help reduce rates of limb loss.

In fiscal year (FY) 2016, the U.S. transitioned to the ICD-10, which includes eight times more amputation procedure codes than the ICD-9. To evaluate trends over time, researchers need assurance that differences over time are not influenced by a change in the coding system. Thus, we aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy for ascertaining amputations performed during the ICD-9 era compared with during the ICD-10 era, using medical record review as a gold standard. This information will be valuable for others who use electronic health records to study lower-extremity amputation and whose data span this transition. The source population was veterans who had a procedure code (ICD or Current Procedural Terminology [CPT]) for an initial toe or ray amputation (hereafter referred to as toe amputations) between FY 2005 and FY 2016 and a diagnosis of diabetes or prescription for a diabetes medication in the year prior to their toe amputation (1). We randomly sampled 150 veterans from the parent study (1) who had initial toe amputations in FY 2014 and follow-up through the end of FY 2015 (during the ICD-9 era) and 150 veterans who had initial toe amputations in FY 2016 (during the ICD-10 era). The outcome of interest was an ipsilateral amputation (at any level) in the year after the toe amputation. Procedure codes were extracted from the Veterans Affairs (VA) Corporate Data Warehouse, which includes data from the VA electronic medical record. To maximize sensitivity for the parent study, we relied on both ICD and CPT codes for identification …

Firearm storage method is a potentially modifiable risk factor for suicide. Using data from a large, multi-state survey, we sought to determine whether there is an association between mental health and household firearm storage practices, and characterize that association by state of residence. Participants who endorsed the presence of a household firearm and answered the mental health questions in the 2016–2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System from eight states were included (n=26,949). Exposures were recent poor mental health (≥14 vs. 0–13 days/past month), and diagnosis of depression. Outcomes were household firearm storage practices (loaded, and both loaded and unlocked). Using Poisson regression, we calculated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) overall and stratified by state of residence. Of adults endorsing a household firearm, 35.1% reported storing a firearm loaded, and of those, 53.4% reported that the firearm was both loaded and unlocked. Neither recent poor mental health nor depression was associated with loaded (aPR 1.14 [95% CI: 0.95–1.37] and aPR 0.94 [95% CI 0.80–1.09], respectively) or loaded and unlocked (aPR 1.08 [95% CI 0.88–1.42] and aPR 1.04 [95% CI 0.88–1.22], respectively) firearm storage. In the setting of highly prevalent loaded firearm storage, no differences in storage practices by mental health indicators were observed across eight states despite disparate firearm policies and local culture. The lack of difference in storage practices by mental health indicators across several states highlights an opportunity to improve means safety counseling practices, and the need for dedicated evaluation of state-level firearm storage policies.

Objectives Regular vigorous physical activity (PA) and high levels of physical fitness (PF) confer health benefits. Conversely, sedentary time is a risk factor for chronic illness, independent of PA. We evaluated associations between self-reported PA, sedentary time, and objective PF measures in military Service members. Design Cross-sectional study including 10,105 Air Force Millennium Cohort participants with a valid physical fitness assessment (PFA). Methods Linear regression assessed associations between self-report PA, screen time, and usual activity and abdominal circumference (AC) and VO2 max; logistic regression was used for PFA failure. We stratified by age and sex. Results Men who self-reported high versus low levels of PA had greater AC (19–29 years: β = 0.23 in., 95% CI 0.07, 0.39; 30–39 years: β = 0.45 in., 95% CI 0.17, 0.72). High versus low self-reported PA was also associated with greater VO2Max (β =: 0.81–1.41 mL/kg/min). Self-reported strength training for ≥2 days/week was associated with greater VO2Max in 19–29 year old men (β = 0.84 mL/kg/min, 95% CI 0.09, 0.60) and 30–39 year old women (β = 0.74 mL/kg/min, 95% CI 0.02, 1.46). For younger men and women, Conclusions Self-reported PA and screen time were associated with some objective PF measures, including VO2Max and AC. However, screen time alone was associated with PFA failure.

Background Obesity and inactivity are common and burdensome for people with lower extremity amputation (LEA). The extent to which home-based physical activity/weight management programs are effective and safe for people with LEA is unknown. Translating effective interventions for understudied disability groups is needed. Objective To test the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of a weight management and physical activity intervention and obtain preliminary efficacy estimates for changes in weight, body composition, and physical functioning. Methods Eligibility criteria included: LEA ≥1 year prior, 18–69 years of age, overweight or obese and living in the Seattle area. The intervention arm received self-monitoring tools (e.g., pedometer, scale) and written materials, a single exercise counseling home visit by a physical therapist, and up to 11 telephone calls from a health coach over 20 weeks that involved motivational interviewing to set specific, attainable, and measurable goals. The self-directed control group received the same tools and materials but no home visit or coaching calls. Results Nineteen individuals consented to participate, 15 were randomized (mean age = 56, 73% male, 80% transtibial amputation) and 11 completed 20-week follow-up assessments. The intervention was acceptable and safe. Coached participants had greater decreases in waist circumference (mean difference between groups over 20 weeks, baseline values carried forward: −4.3 cm, 95% CI -8.2, −0.4, p = 0.03) and fat mass (−2.1 kg, 95% CI -3.8, −0.4, p = 0.02). Conclusions The home-based intervention was promising in terms of efficacy, safety and acceptability. Inclusion of multiple trial centers and increased use of technology may facilitate recruitment and retention.

Purpose Interactive clinical video telemedicine (CVT) has the potential to benefit health care systems and patients by improving access, lowering costs, and more efficiently distributing providers. However, there is a gap in current knowledge around the demand for and potential uses of CVT in large integrated health care systems. Methods We conducted an observational study using Veterans Health Administration (VHA) administrative databases to analyze trends in CVT utilization, and types of care received, among 7.65 million veterans during fiscal years (FY) 2009-2015 (October 1, 2008-September 30, 2015). Trends were stratified by veteran rurality and analyzed using linear regression. Among 4.95 million veterans in FY2015, we used logistic regression to identify characteristics associated with CVT utilization for any care, mental health care, and major specialties. Findings Over 6 years, the annual CVT utilization grew from 30 to 124 encounters per 1,000 veterans (>300% increase), with faster growth among rural veterans than urban veterans. Over the study period, ≥50% of all CVT-delivered care was mental health care. In FY2015, 3.2% of urban and 7.2% of rural veterans utilized CVT for nearly 725,000 clinical encounters. Rural residence, younger age, longer driving distance to VHA facilities, one or more comorbidities, and higher rates of traditional, non-video utilization were independently associated with higher odds of CVT use. Conclusions CVT utilization in VHA has increased quickly and exceeds published rates in the private health care market. The availability of CVT has likely increased access to VHA care for rural veterans, especially for mental health care.

Purpose A first-born male infant may lead to an exaggerated immune response in the mother in subsequent pregnancies, increasing the risk of preterm birth (PTB) and growth restriction. This study investigated whether risks of PTB and growth restriction are greater among infants preceded by a first-born male infant and evaluated if the associations differ by paternity change or the second-born's sex. Methods We conducted a population-based cohort study using 2003–2014 Washington State birth certificate data and included mothers and birth year frequency-matched second live-born infants preceded by a first-born male (n = 58,704) or by a first-born female infant (n = 58,704). Using stratified analyses, we estimated adjusted relative risks (RRs) of PTB, low birthweight (LBW), and small for gestational age (SGA). Results Second-born infants preceded by a first-born male had greater risks of PTB (RR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.09–1.19), LBW (RR = 1.17; 1.10–1.24), and SGA (RR = 1.13; 1.08–1.18). The RR was elevated for indicated PTB (RR = 1.19; 1.10–1.29), preterm premature rupture of membranes (RR = 1.15; 1.01–1.32), and spontaneous PTB (RR = 1.12; 1.05–1.20). Associations did not differ by second-born infant's sex or paternity change. Conclusion Having a first-born male infant was associated with a greater risk of PTB, LBW, and SGA in the second-born infant.

Aim: Investigate associations of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) with DNA methylation and miRNAs during pregnancy. Patients & methods: LTPA, candidate DNA methylation and circulating miRNAs were measured (average 15 weeks gestation) in pregnant women (n = 92). Results: Each additional hour of prepregnancy LTPA duration was associated with hypermethylation in C1orf212 (β = 0.137, 95% CI: 0.004–0.270) and higher circulating miR-146b-5p (β = 0.084, 95% CI: 0.017–0.151). Each additional metabolic equivalent hour of early-pregnancy LTPA energy expenditure was associated with higher circulating miR-21-3p (β = 0.431, 95% CI: 0.089–0.772) in women carrying female offspring, and lower circulating miR-146b-5p (β = -0.285, 95% CI: -0.528 to -0.043) and miR-517-5p (β = -0.406, 95% CI: -0.736 to -0.076) in women carrying male offspring. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that LTPA may influence maternal epigenetic biomarkers, possibly in an offspring sex-specific manner.

Prior research has found a positive relationship between the variety of park facilities and park-based physical activity (PA), but has not provided an estimate of the effect that additional different PA facilities have on whether an individual is active during a park visit. Using objective measures of park visits and PA from an urban sample of 225 adults in King County, Washington, we compared the variety of PA facilities in parks visited where an individual was active to PA facilities in parks where the same individual was sedentary. Each additional different PA facility at a park was associated with a 6% increased probability of being active during a visit. Adding additional different PA facilities to a park appears to have a moderate effect on whether an individual is active during a park visit, which could translate into large community health impacts when scaled up to multiple park visitors.

Public parks provide places for urban residents to obtain physical activity (PA), which is associated with numerous health benefits. Adding facilities to existing parks could be a cost-effective approach to increase the duration of PA that occurs during park visits. Using objectively measured PA and comprehensively measured park visit data among an urban community-dwelling sample of adults, we tested the association between the variety of park facilities that directly support PA and the duration of PA during park visits where any PA occurred. Cross-classified multilevel models were used to account for the clustering of park visits (n = 1553) within individuals (n = 372) and parks (n = 233). Each additional different PA facility at a park was independently associated with a 6.8% longer duration of PA bouts that included light-intensity activity, and an 8.7% longer duration of moderate to vigorous PA time. Findings from this study are consistent with the hypothesis that more PA facilities increase the amount of PA that visitors obtain while already active at a park. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s11524-018-0311-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether specific individual posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms or symptom clusters predict cigarette smoking initiation. METHODS: Longitudinal data from the Millennium Cohort Study were used to estimate the relative risk for smoking initiation associated with PTSD symptoms among 2 groups: (1) all individuals who initially indicated they were nonsmokers (n = 44,968, main sample) and (2) a subset of the main sample who screened positive for PTSD (n = 1622). Participants were military service members who completed triennial comprehensive surveys that included assessments of smoking and PTSD symptoms. Complementary log-log models were fit to estimate the relative risk for subsequent smoking initiation associated with each of the 17 symptoms that comprise the PTSD Checklist and 5 symptom clusters. Models were adjusted for demographics, military factors, comorbid conditions, and other PTSD symptoms or clusters. RESULTS: In the main sample, no individual symptoms or clusters predicted smoking initiation. However, in the subset with PTSD, the symptoms “feeling irritable or having angry outbursts” (relative risk [RR] 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13–1.76) and “feeling as though your future will somehow be cut short” (RR 1.19, 95% CI 1.02–1.40) were associated with increased risk for subsequent smoking initiation. CONCLUSIONS: Certain PTSD symptoms were associated with higher risk for smoking initiation among current and former service members with PTSD. These results may help identify individuals who might benefit from more intensive smoking prevention efforts included with PTSD treatment.

Background Research participant recruitment is often fraught with obstacles. Poor response rates can reduce statistical power, threaten both internal and external validity, and increase study costs and duration. Military personnel are socialized to a specific set of laws, norms, traditions, and values; their willingness to participate in research may differ from civilians. The aims of this study were to better understand the views of United States (US) Veterans who served in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)/ Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) on research and motivators for participating in research to inform recruitment for a planned observational study of respiratory health in OEF/OIF Veterans. Methods We conducted 10 focus groups in a purposive sample of OEF/OIF Veterans (n = 89) in five US cities in 2015. Key topics included: reasons for participating or declining to participate in health-related research, logistics around study recruitment and conduct, compensation, written materials, and information sharing preferences for study results. Two authors independently coded the data using template analysis. Results Participants identified three criteria that motivated a decision to participate in health-related research: 1) adequate compensation, 2) desire to help other Veterans, and 3) significance and relevance of the research topic. For many, both sufficient compensation and a sense that the study would help other Veterans were critical. The importance of transparency arose as a key theme; Veterans communicated that vague language about study aims or procedures engendered distrust. Lastly, participants expressed a desire for studies to communicate results of their specific health tests, as well as overall study findings, back to research participants. Conclusions OEF/OIF Veterans described trust, transparent communication, and respect as essential characteristics of research in which they would be willing to participate. Additional studies are needed to determine whether our results generalize to other US Veterans; nevertheless, our results highlight precepts that have been reported as important for recruitment in other populations. Researchers may benefit from using community-engaged research methods to seek feedback on recruitment materials and strategies prior to initiating research. For costly studies targeting a large sample (i.e. in the thousands), it may be important to test a variety of recruitment strategies. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12874-018-0546-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

In the first known longitudinal study of the topic, we examined whether experiencing sexual assault or sexual harassment while in the military was associated with increased risk for subsequent unhealthy alcohol use and smoking among U.S. service members in the Millennium Cohort Study (2001-2012). Adjusted complementary log-log models were fit to estimate the relative risk of (a) smoking relapse among former smokers (men: n = 4,610; women: n = 1,453); (b) initiation of unhealthy alcohol use (problem drinking and/or drinking over recommended limits) among those with no known history of unhealthy alcohol use (men: n = 8,459; women: n = 4,816); and (c) relapse among those previously reporting unhealthy alcohol use (men: n = 3,487; women: n = 1,318). Men who reported experiencing sexual assault while in the military had sixfold higher risk for smoking relapse: relative risk (RR) = 6.62; 95% confidence interval (CI) [2.34, 18.73], than men who did not. Women who reported experiencing sexual assault while in the military had almost twice the risk for alcohol relapse: RR = 1.73; 95% CI [1.06, 2.83]. There were no other significant associations. These findings suggest that men and women may respond differently following sexual trauma, and support future concerted policy efforts by military leadership to prevent, detect, and intervene on sexual assault.

Background Veterans who use the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) also may use Medicare coverage for treatment outside VHA. Using multiple health care systems introduces fragmentation and may increase utilization. The purpose of this study was to compare chronic wound care utilization among VHA-Medicare dual system users and VHA-exclusive users. Methods Using data from VHA chart review and Medicare claims, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of 203 Medicare-enrolled VHA users with an incident, chronic lower limb wound between October 1, 2006 and September 30, 2007 and followed them for up to one year. We identified all VHA and Medicare wound-care visits during the wound episode. Results 19.7% of the cohort was dual users. Dual users had higher observed wound care utilization than VHA-exclusive users (11.9 versus 7.6 outpatient visits [p = 0.002] and 1.6 versus 0.7 inpatient stays [p = 0.0008]). After adjusting for covariates including wound duration, dual users were predicted to have 8.6 outpatient wound care visits and 1.1 inpatient wound care stays while VHA-exclusive users were predicted to have 7.0 (p = 0.07) outpatient visits and 0.7 (p = 0.05) inpatient stays. Conclusions Dual use contributes to higher wound care utilization potentially because of longer wound duration.

This article summarizes outcomes of the behavioral interventions work group for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) State of the Art Conference (SOTA) for Weight Management. Sixteen VHA and non-VHA subject matter experts, representing clinical care delivery, research, and policy arenas, participated. The work group reviewed current evidence of efficacy, effectiveness, and implementation of behavioral interventions for weight management, participated in phone- and online-based consensus processes, generated key questions to address gaps, and attended an in-person conference in March 2016. The work group agreed that there is strong evidence for efficacy and effectiveness of core behavioral intervention components and processes, but insufficient evidence to determine the comparative effectiveness of multiple clinician-delivered weight management modalities, as well as technologies that may or may not supplement clinician-delivered treatments. Effective strategies for implementation of weight management services in VHA were identified. The SOTA work group’s foremost policy recommendations are to establish a system-wide culture for weight management and to identify a population-level health metric to measure the impact of weight management interventions that can be tracked and clearly communicated throughout VHA. The work group’s top research recommendation is to determine how to deploy and scale the most effective behavioral weight management interventions for Veterans.

Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical, anal and oro-pharyngeal cancer worldwide. The HPV vaccine can prevent over 90% of HPV-related malignancies but vaccination rates in the United State (US) vary significantly by region. In this study, we assessed whether state-level politics is associated with receipt of HPV vaccination in the US, and if the association is modified by sex and age. Methods This study analyzed data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. Persons ages 18 to 36 years of age, who lived in 17 states that included the supplementary “Adult Human Papillomavirus (HPV)” module questionnaire in 2016, 2017 or 2018, were included. We compared self-reported receipt of HPV vaccination among persons living in Republican versus Democratic states, based on state electoral college votes in the 2016 US presidential election. Mantel-Haenszel stratified analysis was used to estimate prevalence ratios and to assess for effect modification and control for confounding. Results Overall, 36,334 survey respondents were included in the analysis, 22.7% of whom reported prior receipt of the HPV vaccine, 28.1% in Democratic states and 20.4% in Republican states. When adjusted for race, living in a Democratic state was associated with a higher prevalence of prior receipt of the HPV vaccine in comparison to living in a Republican state. This association was strongest for men less than 26 years of age (PR 1.77, 95% CI: 1.58, 1.98) but remained significant for men ages 26 – 36 years (PR 1.51, 95% CI: 1.24, 1.85), women less than 26 years of age (PR 1.20, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.27), and women ages 26 – 36 years (PR 1.69, 95% CI: 1.57, 1.83). Conclusion Overall HPV vaccine coverage was low in adults 18–36 years of age. The strong association between state-level voting patterns and prior receipt of the HPV vaccine suggests that HPV vaccine coverage is lower in Republican states when compared to Democratic states. Further public health efforts are needed to promote HPV vaccine uptake among young men and women, particularly in Republican voting states. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

The association between drinking 100% fruit juice and long-term weight gain is controversial and has been investigated in few studies. We examined whether 100% fruit juice consumption was associated with weight change in a large prospective cohort of postmenopausal women. We analyzed data from 49,106 postmenopausal women in the United States enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative between 1993 and 1998. Food frequency questionnaires at baseline and year 3 assessed food and beverage intake. Body weight was measured at in-person clinic visits. We used linear mixed effects modeling to determine the association between change in 100% fruit juice consumption and 3-year weight change over the same time period. Covariates of interest included age, demographic factors, smoking, body mass index, hormone replacement therapy, lifestyle factors, change in whole fruit intake, and change in sugar-sweetened beverage intake. The mean weight change was 3.2 lbs. over 3 years. In multivariable adjusted analyses, each 1 serving/day increase in 100% fruit juice intake was associated with a 3-year weight gain of 0.39 lbs. (95% confidence interval: 0.10, 0.69). In conclusion, an increase in 100% fruit juice consumption was associated with a small amount of long-term weight gain in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE To assess whether the risk of subsequent lower-limb amputations and death following an initial toe amputation among individuals with diabetes has changed over time and varies by demographic characteristics and geographic region. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Using Veterans Health Administration (VHA) electronic medical records from 1 October 2004 to 30 September 2016, we determined risk of subsequent ipsilateral minor and major amputation within 1 year after an initial toe/ray amputation among veterans with diabetes. To assess changes in the annual rate of subsequent amputation over time, we estimated age-adjusted incidence of minor and major subsequent ipsilateral amputation for each year, separately for African Americans (AAs) and whites. Geographic variation was assessed across VHA markets (n = 89) using log-linear Poisson regression models adjusting for age and ethnoracial category. RESULTS Among 17,786 individuals who had an initial toe amputation, 34% had another amputation on the same limb within 1 year, including 10% who had a major ipsilateral amputation. Median time to subsequent ipsilateral amputation (minor or major) was 36 days. One-year risk of subsequent major amputation decreased over time, but risk of subsequent minor amputation did not. Risk of subsequent major ipsilateral amputation was higher in AAs than whites. After adjusting for age and ethnoracial category, 1-year risk of major subsequent amputation varied fivefold across VHA markets. CONCLUSIONS Nearly one-third of individuals require reamputation following an initial toe amputation, although risks of subsequent major ipsilateral amputation have decreased over time. Nevertheless, risks remain particularly high for AAs and vary substantially geographically.

BACKGROUND: Obesity rates differ between Hispanic and White (non-Hispanic) women in the United States, with higher rates among Hispanic women. Socioeconomic processes contribute to this disparity both at the individual and the environmental level. Understanding these complex relationships requires multilevel analyses within cohorts of women that have a shared environment. In population-based samples of Hispanic and White (non-Hispanic) women from the same neighborhoods, we evaluated within each ethnic group a) The association of individual-level socioeconomic status (SES) with body mass index (BMI); and b) The additional contribution of neighborhood-level measures of SES. METHODS: Using population-based multi-stage sampling methods, we oversampled low SES and Hispanic block groups. During household screening, we identified women aged 30 to 50 years. Among White women, we specifically oversampled women with low educational levels. 515 Hispanic and 503 White women completed baseline. Height and weight were measured. Baseline surveys, in Spanish and English, included four measures of SES. Three measures of area-level SES were examined. Analysis of log(e) BMI on each SES measure used linear mixed models, incorporating design effects. RESULTS: Among White women, low education, social status, and neighborhood SES were associated with higher BMI (p < 0.001, p < 0.0001, and p < 0.05, respectively), independent of other SES measures. Although the highest grouped category of education, income and subjective social status within the Hispanic cohort had the lowest mean estimated BMI, the point estimates across categories were not monotonic, and had wide confidence intervals. As a result, in contrast to the findings among White women, no statistically significant associations were found between BMI and measures of SES among Hispanic women. DISCUSSION: Neighborhood and individual measures of SES operate differently in Hispanic compared with White women. We had assumed the measures we included to be most salient and operate similarly for both groups of women. Rather the salient factors for Hispanic women have yet to be identified. Improved understanding may ultimately inform the design of culturally-relevant multilevel obesity prevention strategies.

Veterans who use Veterans Health Affairs (VHA) have the option of enrolling in and obtaining care from other non-VA sources. Dual system use may improve care by increasing options or it may result in poorer outcomes because of fragmented care. Our objective was to assess whether dual system use of VHA and Medicare for wound care was associated with chronic wound healing. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 227 Medicare-enrolled VHA users in the Pacific Northwest who had an incident, chronic lower limb wound between October 1, 2006 and September 30, 2007 identified through VHA chart review. All wounds were followed until resolution or for up to one year. Dual system wound care was identified through Medicare claims during follow-up. We used a proportional hazards model to compare wound healing among VHA-exclusive and dual wound care users, using a time-varying measure of dual use and treating amputation and death as competing risks. About 18.1% of subjects were classified as dual wound care users during follow-up. After adjustment using propensity scores, dual use was associated with a significantly lower hazard of wound healing compared to VHA-exclusive use (HR = 0.63, 95%CI: 0.39-0.99, p = 0.047). Hazards for the competing risks, amputation (HR = 4.23, 95% CI: 1.61-11.15, p = 0.003) and death (HR = 3.08, 95%CI: 1.11-8.56, p = 0.031), were significantly higher for dual users compared to VHA-exclusive users. Results were similar in inverse probability of treatment weighted analyses and in sensitivity analyses that excluded veterans enrolled in a Medicare managed care plan and that used a revised wound resolution date based on Medicare claims data, but were not always statistically significant. Overall, dual wound care use was associated with substantially poorer wound healing compared to VHA-exclusive wound care use. VHA may need to design programs or policies that support and improve care coordination for veterans needing chronic wound care.

Purpose Obesity disproportionately burdens individuals with serious mental illness (SMI), especially women. This observational study investigated whether there were sex differences in weight loss and program participation among veterans with SMI enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) MOVE! weight management program. Procedures Participants were identified from a national cohort of 148,254 veterans enrolled in MOVE! during fiscal years 2008 through 2012 who attended two or more sessions within 12 months of enrollment. The cohort included those with International Classification of Disease, 9th Edition, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) diagnoses for SMI, age less than 70 years, and weight data at baseline and one or more follow-up timepoints within approximately 1 year of enrollment ( n = 8,943 men; n = 2,245 women). Linear mixed models assessed associations of sex with 6- and 12-month weight change from baseline, adjusting for demographic- and site-level variables. Findings Both sexes averaged 6.4 (standard deviation, 4.6) sessions within 12 months; however, women with and without SMI participated at rates double their respective proportion rates among all VHA users. Participants averaged statistically significant weight loss at 6 months (men, −2.5 lb [95% CI, −2.8 to −2.1]; women, −2.4 lb [95% CI, −3.1 to −1.7]) and 12 months (men, −2.5 lb [95% CI, −2.8 to −2.2]; women, −2.9 lb [95% CI, −3.6 to −2.2]), but no sex-based difference in absolute weight loss at either timepoint. Slightly more women achieved 5% or greater (clinically significant) weight loss at the 12-month follow-up than did men (25.7% vs. 23.0%; p Conclusions Women with SMI participated in MOVE! at rates equivalent to or greater than men with SMI, with comparable weight loss. More women were Black, single, had bipolar and posttraumatic stress disorder, and higher service-connected disability, suggesting areas for program customization.

Background Three-quarters of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans enrolled in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) care are overweight or obese. The VHA MOVE!® weight management program can mitigate the risks of obesity-related morbidity. However, many Iraq and Afghanistan veterans experience barriers to VHA services, which may affect participation, especially among those with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or depression. Little is known about MOVE! engagement among recent veterans. We describe a retrospective evaluation of MOVE! participation among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with and without mental health problems. Methods As part of a national VHA mental health evaluation study, we accessed VHA patient care databases to identify Iraq and Afghanistan veterans receiving care from 2008–2013 who had ≥1 MOVE! visit(s) and ≥1 weight measurements (N=24,899). We used logistic regression to determine whether mental health conditions were associated with having 12 visits/year (desirable dose of care), adjusting for demographic, health, and utilization factors. Results Among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans enrolled in MOVE!, 4% had a desirable dose of participation. In adjusted models, desirable MOVE! participation was more likely among those without PTSD; those who were older, female, and unmarried; and those who had higher baseline weight, more medical comorbidities, no pain, psychotropic medication use, higher disability ratings, and more mental health visits. Limitations We used administrative ICD-9 codes. Sample only included veterans in VHA care. Conclusions Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, particularly those with PTSD, had low participation in VHA weight management programming. Correlates of MOVE! participation were identified, highlighting opportunities to tailor MOVE! to improve participation for these veterans.

The objective of this effort is to gather data to tailor interventions appropriately. Greater understanding of the correlates of socioeconomic status and obesogenic dietary behaviors was the focus of this manuscript. Using multistage sampling, women with varied education levels completed a baseline assessment in a longitudinal study of women aged 30 to 50 years. This study was conducted in low-SES areas of South King County, Washington State. This study included 530 Caucasian and 510 Hispanic women. Fruit and vegetable consumption was positively associated and soft drink consumption inversely associated with the level of education in Caucasian women. In contrast, percentage calories from fat was positively associated with the level of education in Hispanic women. In Hispanic women, level of education interacted significantly with food security in relation to percentage calories from fat, and with eating norms in relation to soft drink consumption. Neighborhood presence of ethnic food stores was associated with outcomes for Hispanic women, but for Caucasians, presence of fast food restaurants was important. Education was consistently associated with two of the three obesogenic dietary behaviors studied among Caucasian women. Education played a moderating role in the associations of food security and eating norms, independent of area level food availability, in two of three obesogenic dietary behaviors studied. However, these patterns differed for Hispanic women, indicating the need for more research into important variables to support change in Hispanic women. Women of differing ethnic groups did not respond similarly to environmental conditions and policy-relevant surroundings. These data have meaning for considering urban policy that impacts obesity levels in the population.

Background Patients who undergo lower extremity amputation secondary to the complications of diabetes or peripheral artery disease have poor long-term survival. Providing patients and surgeons with individual-patient, rather than population, survival estimates provides them with important information to make individualized treatment decisions. Methods Patients with peripheral artery disease and/or diabetes undergoing their first unilateral transmetatarsal, transtibial or transfemoral amputation were identified in the Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program (VASQIP) database. Stepdown logistic regression was used to develop a 1-year mortality risk prediction model from a list of 33 candidate predictors using data from three of five Department of Veterans Affairs national geographical regions. External geographical validation was performed using data from the remaining two regions. Calibration and discrimination were assessed in the development and validation samples. Results The development sample included 5028 patients and the validation sample 2140. The final mortality prediction model (AMPREDICT-Mortality) included amputation level, age, BMI, race, functional status, congestive heart failure, dialysis, blood urea nitrogen level, and white blood cell and platelet counts. The model fit in the validation sample was good. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the validation sample was 0·76 and Cox calibration regression indicated excellent calibration (slope 0·96, 95 per cent c.i. 0·85 to 1·06; intercept 0·02, 95 per cent c.i. –0·12 to 0·17). Given the external validation characteristics, the development and validation samples were combined, giving a total sample of 7168. Conclusion The AMPREDICT-Mortality prediction model is a validated parsimonious model that can be used to inform the 1-year mortality risk following non-traumatic lower extremity amputation of patients with peripheral artery disease or diabetes.

Background Sedentary behavior is associated with adverse health outcomes in the general population. Whether sedentary behavior during pregnancy is associated with newborn outcomes, such as birth size, is not established, and previous studies have been inconsistent. While previous research suggests that male and female fetuses respond differently to maternal behaviors, such as physical activity, the role of infant sex in sedentary behavior-birth size associations has not been examined. Methods Participants in the Omega study, a cohort in Washington State (1996–2008), reported leisure time sedentary behavior (non-work time spent sitting), light intensity physical activity, and moderate/vigorous leisure time physical activity duration in the year before pregnancy (N = 1373) and in early pregnancy (N = 1535, mean 15 weeks). Offspring birth size was abstracted from delivery records. Non-parametric calibration weighting was used to assign adjustment weight (matching the distribution of sociodemographic and medical characteristics of the full cohort (N = 4128)) to participants with available sedentary behavior data. Weighted linear regression models were used to estimate mean differences in offspring birthweight, head circumference, and ponderal index (birthweight/length3) associated with leisure time sedentary behavior. Regression models were run overall and stratified by offspring sex. Isotemporal substitution modeling was used to determine mean differences in birthweight associated with replacing sedentary behavior with light or moderate/vigorous physical activity. Results On average, women spent 2.3 and 2.6 h/day in leisure time sedentary behavior during pre- and early pregnancy, respectively. There were no associations of pre-pregnancy leisure time sedentary behavior with mean birthweight, head circumference, or ponderal index (adjusted β = − 12, 95% CI: -28, 4.1; β = 0.0, 95% CI: -0.04, 0.1; and β = 0.1, 95% CI: -0.2, 0.4, respectively). Early pregnancy sedentary behavior was not associated with mean birth size. Associations of sedentary behavior with mean birth size did not differ by offspring sex. Replacing sedentary time with light or moderate/vigorous physical activity was not associated with mean birthweight. Conclusions We did not observe associations of maternal sedentary behavior during pre- or early pregnancy with mean offspring birth size. Pre-pregnancy and early pregnancy sedentary behavior may have important adverse effects on maternal health, but our results do not support associations with mean offspring birth size.

Background Breech presentation affects approximately 3% of women with singleton pregnancies. External cephalic version is a manual procedure that reorients a foetus to cephalic position in preparation for birth, reducing indications for caesarean birth. However, unsuccessful attempts are associated with some adverse health outcomes. Versions are successful in 17–86% of attempts. Temporal trends in version success and association between maternal height or prenatal care and version success are unknown. Few population-based studies and no recent investigations in the United States have evaluated predictive factors for version success. Objectives This study aimed to estimate the proportion of successful version procedures in the United States and to evaluate factors associated with version success. Methods We used birth certificate and hospital administrative data. The study included all women who had a singleton birth in Washington State between 2003–2014 following a version procedure (total n = 4981). Prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using Poisson regression. Findings 57.2% of version attempts were successful. Primiparity (Prevalence Ratio:1.43; 95% Confidence Interval:1.29–1.60) and multiparity (Prevalence Ratio:1.68; 95% Confidence Interval:1.50–1.88) were associated with procedure success. Oligohydramnios was associated with lower version success (Prevalence Ratio:0.75; 95% Confidence Interval:0.57–1.00). Maternal height, pre-pregnancy weight, polyhydramnios, frequency of prenatal care, smoking, infant sex, and year of birth were not significantly associated with version outcome. Conclusion We found that most version procedures are successful. This reinforces that procedures may be able to reduce the frequency of caesarean birth. These contemporary results can help women and clinicians make decisions with realistic estimates of success.