COVID-19 vaccination has significantly decreased morbidity, hospitalizations, and death during the pandemic. However, disparities in vaccination uptake threatens to stymie the progress made in safeguarding the health of Americans. Using a nationally representative adult (≥18 years old) sample from the 2021 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), we aimed to explore disparities in COVID-19 vaccine and booster uptake by income levels. To reflect the nature of the survey, a weighted logistic regression analysis was used to explore factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine and booster uptake. A total of 241,645,704 (unweighted n = 21,554) adults were included in the analysis. Average (SD) age of the population was 49 (18) years old, and 51% were female. There were disparities in COVID-19 vaccine and booster uptake by income groups. All other income groups were less likely to receive COVID-19 vaccines and booster shot than those in the high-income group. Those in the poor income group had 55% lower odds of being vaccinated for COVID-19 (aOR = 0.45, p<0.01). Considering the female population only, women with lower incomes may have greater disparities in access to COVID-19 vaccines than do males with lower incomes. Disparities in COVID-19 vaccination by income may have even greater implications as the updated vaccines are rolled out in the US without the government covering the cost as before.

Objective: Hyponatremia is a common electrolyte disorder among older adults that can cause serious adverse effects. The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of hyponatremia with the concurrent use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and thiazide diuretics in an older population.Methods: Two retrospective nested case–control studies were conducted with exposure to an SSRI or a thiazide diuretic. Persons of interest were those enrolled in Medicare and who received parts A, B, and D benefits from 2017 to 2019 and who were receiving either an SSRI or thiazide diuretic. Cases were individuals with a diagnosis of hyponatremia. Controls had no documented history of hyponatremia. A logistic regression was conducted to determine the odds of hyponatremia.Results: Of the 551,298 patients receiving a SSRIs, the mean age was 77.8 years (Standard Deviation (SD) ± 8.0 years), 69% were female, and 91.23% were classified as White. We identified 701,007 individuals receiving a thiazide diuretic, with a mean age of 77.1 years (SD ± 7.2 years), 60.2% female, and 82.72% White. The prevalence of hyponatremia was 10.4% in patients taking thiazides alone and 9.0% in those taking SSRIs alone. On the other hand, patients on both medications had a hyponatremia prevalence of approximately 13.0%. Among SSRI users, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) of hyponatremia with concomitant use of thiazide diuretics was 1.24 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.22–1.26). For thiazide users, the adjusted OR of hyponatremia with exposure to SSRIs was 1.27 (95% CI:1.24–1.29).Conclusion: The concurrent use of thiazide diuretics and SSRIs is associated with an increased risk of hyponatremia in older populations.

Long-term care (LTC) refers to care and support services that are required by individuals who lack the ability to perform important daily routines and may be dependent on others for personal, social and medical needs over a sustained period of time. LTC may be broadly categorized into formal and informal care, where formal care is provided by professionals who are compensated to provide these services and informal care captures the care services provided without compensation by family members, friends, or other unpaid individuals. In this narrative review, we identify and synthesize evidence to evaluate the cost of long-term care while balancing the needs of caregivers. We searched Embase and EconLit for studies published from 2010 to November 2023. Our search strategy used a combination of keywords such as 'long-term care,' 'caregiver burden,' 'caregiver support,' 'cost of care,' and 'caregiver wellbeing.' We include both formal and informal LTC, as well as predictors of caregiver wellbeing. The review highlights the global variability in LTC costs and the significant burden on caregivers, emphasizing the need for policy interventions and comprehensive insurance schemes. Future research should focus on standardized assessment tools, intervention effectiveness, and integrating caregiver support into healthcare models, ensuring holistic and sustainable LTC solutions.

Background/Objectives: Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is known to reduce cancer risk. However, the association between specific bariatric procedures and cancer incidence is not well-studied. This study examined the association between four different MBS procedures and cancer incidence. Methods: Bariatric surgery registry data were linked with statewide cancer registry data from 1979 to 2018. The study included 27,092 adult subjects (aged ≥ 18 years old at surgery) who underwent MBS (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² at surgery) from 1979 to 2017. Cancer records were linked to MBS patient records, resulting in 1547 cancer cases. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to examine the association between MBS procedure types and cancer incidence. Results: Of all patients, 75% underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), 9% adjustable gastric banding (AGB), 10% sleeve gastrectomy (SG), and 6% duodenal switch (BPD-DS). The overall cancer incidence during the follow-up period was 6.4% for RYGB, 4.6% for AGB, 1.6% for SG, and 5.9% for BPD-DS. The mean follow-up duration from surgery to cancer incidence or censoring was 167 months (standard deviation = 121 months). Compared to RYGB, patients who underwent AGB (Hazard Ratio [HR] = 1.26, p = 0.03) and BPD-DS (HR = 1.91, p < 0.01) had a significantly higher hazard of developing cancer, while SG (HR = 1.17, p = 0.33) showed no significant difference. Conclusions: These findings suggest that AGB and BPD-DS may be associated with higher cancer risks compared to RYGB. Additional large population studies are needed to better understand the long-term cancer risks and mechanisms associated with different MBS types.