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Boston University School of Public Health


BU study: Monthly caps on out-of-pocket costs would provide financial relief to privately insured patients

A new study found that placing a monthly cap on out-of-pocket costs for commercially insured patients could lower their highest monthly healthcare bills by 50-60%. A $500 monthly limit would affect about 25% of enrollees and reduce in-network OOP costs over a year by 46%, while a $250 limit would show a 51% reduction.

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeObservational study·DateSep 22, 2022

BU study: BCG vaccine prevents tuberculosis in young children, but not adults

A recent study suggests that the BCG vaccine is effective in preventing tuberculosis (TB) in children under 5 years old. However, adolescents and adults may require additional protection to maintain immunity beyond childhood. The researchers emphasize the need for booster vaccinations and new TB vaccines to supplement the BCG vaccine.

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalThe Lancet Global Health·TypeSystematic review·DateAug 9, 2022

Inefficient building electrification risks prolonging fossil fuels

A new study by Boston University School of Public Health found that decarbonization pathways need to incorporate more efficient electric heating technologies and renewable energy sources to minimize strain on the US electric grid. The researchers analyzed building energy data from March 2010 to February 2020 and found that winter heati...

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalScientific Reports·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 28, 2022

Tweets suggest people consumed healthier foods during the pandemic

A study analyzing Twitter data from May 2020 to January 2021 found that the share of tweets about healthy foods increased by 20%, while fast-food and alcohol tweets decreased by 9% and 11%, respectively. The study suggests that people may have made healthier dietary changes during the pandemic, depending on their neighborhood environment.

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalPatterns·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 26, 2022

Racial disparities in traffic fatalities much wider than previously known

A new analysis suggests that Black and Hispanic Americans are disproportionately affected by traffic-related deaths, and that these disparities are larger than previous estimates show. The study found that travel distances vary among racial/ethnic groups when walking, cycling, or driving, and when these differences in activity levels a...

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateJun 7, 2022

BU study: racial disparities in child exposure to gun violence worsened

A new study found that non-White children experienced greater exposure to neighborhood firearm violence before the pandemic and saw an increase in disparities during COVID. The study quantified racial disparities in childhood exposure to gun violence with data from every US neighborhood.

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 5, 2022

BU study: Having assets may protect people from persistent depression during COVID

A new BU study found that individuals with physical, social, and financial assets, particularly higher incomes and fewer savings, were less likely to experience sustained depression during the first year of the pandemic. Persistent depression was highest among people in low-income households and those with fewer savings.

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 2, 2022