Population Health News Round-Up: September 2024

Health Equity and Disparities

Native Hawaiians age more rapidly: Compared to White and Japanese American residents, native Hawaiians often experience “higher accelerated biological aging,” which is “influenced by lifestyle and socioeconomic conditions.” In the study, researchers looked at DNA methylation. (September 12, 2024, SciTechDaily citing a JAMA Network Open study.)

People with disabilities hit harder by Long-COVID: People with pre-existing disabilities  were more likely to have symptoms for three months or longer. They had more barriers (transportation, costs, etc) to getting the vaccine and “are also more likely to have severe COVID-19 symptoms, face treatment refusals, and be admitted to a hospital,” the researchers said. (CIDRAP, September 9, 2024, citing an AJPH study)

Looking at racism’s toll on health, starting with a lynching in Sikeston, Missouri: A film, podcast, and series of articles explore living with racism and violence and the toll on health. Two events in Sikeston, Missouri — a lynching and police shooting, years apart — are used to help explain the connections. (Kaiser Family Foundation Health News, September 10, 2024)

Environmental Health and Justice

In California, vehicle emissions are lower, but exposure disparities remain: Black, Hispanic, Asian and overburdened communities still face higher levels of exposure to emissions, especially PM2.5.  (Inside Climate News, September 11, 2024)

Disproportionate harm from the fossil fuel industry: Low-income and minority women are disproportionately harmed by fossil fuel extraction and infrastructure. (WECAN report, 4th edition, September 2024)

In Montana, seniors are suffering disproportionately from the heat: Researchers mapped 911 calls during heat waves, finding an increase in calls as temperatures rose, particularly in rural areas and with neighborhoods with more seniors. (KFF Health News, September 12, 2024)

Built Environments, Spaces, and Places

Where are cardiovascular death rates the worst in America?: In Southern, high-poverty, rural areas. (The Journal of Rural Health, August 16, 2024)

Built environments can be age-friendly and help everyone: Old and young alike can benefit from neighborhoods with public transportation, well-lit streets, and well-maintained roads, sidewalks, and public restrooms. (HospitalNews, August 29, 2024)

A technology to reduce deaths on America’s roads?: The Department of Transportation hopes “vehicle to everything” (V2X) technology is the key to lowering traffic accidents and deaths. The tech is already used in the Czeh Republic. (Bloomberg CityLab Solutions, September 19, 2024)

Policy and Programs

Standing naloxone orders and opioid deaths: In Massachusetts, “communities with pharmacies dispensing standing order naloxone to community residents showed a significant decrease in opioid fatality rates…” With a standing order, a prescription is not needed. (Boston University School of Public Health, August 29, 2024; citing the study published in JAMA Network Open)

Suicide prevention programs aren’t working as hoped: Suicide rates have mostly risen since 2001 despite strategies and interventions. Some experts say the programs “simply aren’t being funded, adopted, and used.” (Kaiser Family Foundation Health News, September 16, 2024)

Homeless sweeps are harmful to health in California: During sweeps and arrests of unhoused people, medications and critical documents like social security cards are lost, continuity of care is disrupted, appointments are missed, and mental health worsens, advocates say. (CNN, September 11, 2024)