Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Climate change? Global change!

The book offers hope and impetus in the right direction by demonstrating that human courage and reason can help overcome paralyzing fear. It highlights the need for self-reliance, revitalization of human values, personal and local action, and a global perspective to steer humanity towards a modern world.

Children's Hospital Los Angeles researchers uncover social and economic factors that influence acute liver failure in children—and ways to overcome them

A CHLA research team found that socio-economic factors like family support, employment status, patient age, race, and language spoken can impact clinical outcomes. Children with limited social support systems and working caregivers have worse outcomes.

SourceChildren's Hospital Los Angeles·JournalPediatric Transplantation·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 13, 2024

Including socioeconomic status of patients in calculation of Medicare readmission penalties would reduce stress on safety-net hospitals

A new study suggests that including socioeconomic status in the calculation of Medicare readmission penalties would reduce penalty amounts for 38% of safety-net hospitals compared to 17% of non-safety net hospitals. This adjustment could help alleviate financial pressure on these hospitals, which often care for sicker patients with lim...

SourceRegenstrief Institute·JournalJournal of Vascular Surgery·DateFeb 12, 2024

UK austerity politics correlated with increased frailty in the oldest adults

Researchers analyzed data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing and found that public spending cuts during austerity (2012-2018) led to a steeper increase in frailty with age compared to pre-austerity period. This association was observed across all population groups, but particularly among the oldest people.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 7, 2024

Social inequity is linked to lower use of epidural in childbirth

Research at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health found that social inequity contributes to lower use of epidural analgesia among non-Hispanic White and African American women. In counties with high social inequity, labor neuraxial analgesia was used by 72% of African American women, compared to 78% in low-equality counties.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalObstetrics and Gynecology·DateFeb 1, 2024

Socioeconomic insights shift hiring views

A study published by the American Psychological Association found that people from all political spectra are more likely to support programs encouraging socioeconomic diversity after learning about social class disparities, test scores, and work experiences. Learning about these issues reduces perceived fairness of merit-based processe...

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Experimental Psychology·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 1, 2024

Risk of death during heatwaves in Brazil linked to socioeconomic factors

A new study found that heatwaves in Brazil are disproportionately affecting female, elderly, Black, Brown, and low-education individuals, resulting in a staggering 48,075 deaths between 2000 and 2018. The research highlights the need for targeted efforts to reduce mortality rates during future heatwaves.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateJan 24, 2024

Better mental, physical health in older people tied to living near nature

A Washington State University study found that living near nature can reduce serious psychological distress and improve general health in older adults. Researchers analyzed data from over 42,000 people aged 65 and older, finding a strong association between access to green spaces and better mental and physical health outcomes.

SourceWashington State University·JournalHealth & Place·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 4, 2024

Multi-site study reveals addressable socioeconomic barriers to prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart defects

A recent multi-center study found that nearly 80% of patients with congenital heart disease experienced at least one socioeconomic barrier to prenatal diagnosis. The most common barriers were difficulty with appointment scheduling, transportation access, and childcare. Improving paid sick leave policies may help alleviate these barriers.

Where patients live impacts whether they pick up their heart-failure medications

A new study by NYU Langone Health found that patients from lower socioeconomic areas were less likely to fill their heart-failure medications, highlighting the importance of neighborhood-level interventions to improve access to lifesaving drugs. The research team plans to explore additional barriers, such as cost and language barriers,...

Research shows disadvantaged people wait significantly longer for power restoration after major storms

Researchers analyzed data from 15 million customers in nine states and found that people in lower socioeconomic tiers experience significantly longer power outage durations. The study suggests that poorer communities are more distant from critical infrastructure or require more significant repairs to power lines.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalPNAS Nexus·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 14, 2023

COVID-19 symptoms and economic hardship among US families

A study found that persistent COVID-19 symptoms and previous severe cases were associated with increased odds of pandemic-related economic hardship. Families with lower incomes before the pandemic were disproportionately affected, experiencing more employment disruptions and earnings losses.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateDec 12, 2023

Trends in adult smoking prevalence

A study of 353,000 US adults found a decline in smoking prevalence from 2011 to 2022, except for those 65 and older. The greatest gains in reducing smoking-attributable morbidity and mortality can be achieved by targeting individuals with low socioeconomic status.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Health Forum·DateDec 1, 2023

Personal wealth is associated with health care costs in people with Alzheimer’s disease

A new study from the University of Eastern Finland found that individuals with higher wealth levels had greater hospital care and medication costs before diagnosis. However, after diagnosis, wealth was associated with lower healthcare costs due to differences in comorbidities among different wealth groups.

SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalJournal of the American Medical Directors Association·DateNov 28, 2023

Novel framework for assessing the utilization efficiency of mobile power sources in the power grid

A new theoretical framework evaluates the utilization efficiency of mobile power sources in power grids, considering various failure scenarios and structural resilience. The study emphasizes deploying mobile power sources to improve grid survivability and rapid recovery capabilities during disasters.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalJournal of Economy and Technology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 19, 2023

Type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer risk

A study of 54,000 participants found that diabetes was associated with an elevated risk of colorectal cancer. The association was attenuated for those who completed colonoscopies, highlighting the potential benefits of preventative screening.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateNov 14, 2023

Warming world, widening gap: climate change’s toll on poverty and inequality in South Africa

A new study reveals that climate change widens the inequality gap in South Africa, particularly for poorer segments of the population. The research highlights the need for climate change policies to address poverty and inequality, as warming is expected to reduce average growth and exacerbate inequalities by the end of the century.

SourceCMCC Foundation - Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateNov 2, 2023

Older adults from distressed communities attend less cardiac rehab after heart procedures

A Michigan Medicine-led study reveals that older adults from distressed communities are less likely to attend cardiac rehabilitation after coronary revascularization. The study found that only 26% of patients from these areas used cardiac rehab, compared to 46% from prosperous areas.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalCirculation Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 24, 2023

Unveiling real-time economic insights with search big data

A team of Japanese researchers created a big data-driven model that accurately forecasts key economic indicators in real time, eliminating the need for aggregated semi-macroeconomic data. The approach leverages search engine query data to identify highly correlated queries and provides timely insights into economic trends.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalThe Journal of Finance and Data Science·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 16, 2023

CHOP researchers find barriers to driver training and licensure, especially among low-income teens

Researchers from CHOP and the University of Pennsylvania found that teenagers living in lower-income areas are up to four times less likely to complete driver training and obtain their license before age 18. Long travel times to driving schools also impacted enrollment, affecting those from both high- and low-income areas.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalAccident Analysis & Prevention·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 4, 2023

Life satisfaction may not enhance cognitive functioning among some older adults

A new study suggests that life satisfaction has limited benefits for cognitive function in older adults experiencing health or socioeconomic challenges. High life satisfaction was associated with increased cognitive functioning among most individuals, but it was less beneficial for those with low SES, poor health, or adverse psychologi...

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalSSM - Mental Health·TypeSurvey·DateSep 28, 2023

Job loss is linked to increased risk of miscarriage and stillbirth

A recent study published in Human Reproduction found a doubling in the chances of pregnancy miscarrying or resulting in a stillbirth following a job loss. The researchers emphasize an association between job loss and increased probability of miscarriage or stillbirth, highlighting potential socioeconomic factors.

SourceEuropean Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology·JournalHuman Reproduction·TypeObservational study·DateSep 27, 2023

Preschoolers from low-income families may have worse health and benefit less from health promotion interventions than children with higher socioeconomic status

Researchers found that preschoolers from low-income families had poorer health outcomes and improved less in healthy lifestyle habits compared to their peers from more affluent backgrounds. The intervention program showed significant improvements in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among children with higher socioeconomic status, bu...

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateSep 18, 2023

What defines a safety-net hospital?

Researchers found that different safety-net hospital definitions captured varying hospitals and characteristics, complicating funding allocations. A universal definition or index is recommended to identify hospitals for funding, incorporating community and service characteristics beyond financial expenditures.

SourceNew York University·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateSep 8, 2023

A positive worldview is less associated with privilege than expected

Researchers found no significant association between socioeconomic status, neighborhood safety, health, and gender with positive world views. Surveys showed that certain indicators of privilege—socioeconomic status, neighborhood safety, health, and gender—are much less associated with positive world views than predicted by researchers.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalJournal of Personality·TypeSurvey·DateSep 7, 2023

Heart transplant patients from socioeconomically distressed communities face higher mortality, organ failure risk

Research reveals that heart transplant recipients from economically disadvantaged areas are at a greater risk of graft failure and mortality, with a 10% increased relative risk compared to those from non-distressed communities. The disparity in outcomes has widened since the implementation of the 2018 UNOS Heart Allocation policy.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalAnnals of Surgery·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 31, 2023

‘You just emotionally break’: understanding COVID-19 narratives through public health humanities

A new essay highlights how news stories about healthcare workers during COVID-19 often left out crucial socioeconomic and environmental contexts, which can impact consumer thoughts and responses. By introducing a public health framework, experts aim to broaden storytelling and reframed scientific information dissemination.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalMedical Humanities·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateAug 25, 2023