This study was conducted to assess the food environment (FE) within a historically Black university (HBU) and to examine the association between campus FE factors and metabolic health markers.

Family-based health promotion and disease prevention strategies are recommended as best practice; however, there is limited knowledge regarding the family-level factors that influence modifiable behavior risk factors like physical activity (PA) among Latinx adolescents. This study addressed this knowledge gap by using qualitative methods to identify perceptions of family-level factors that influence PA among Hispanic youth.

Social determinants of health (SDoH), health care use, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk perception are understudied among men who identify as Black and Hispanic. In this study we sought to describe these factors among a cohort of urban-residing Black men, participants in a community-engaged trial on hypertension prevention. We focused on presenting intermediary SDoH, including material circumstances, health behaviors, and psychosocial factors, which allow for a more robust understanding of health inequities but are underexplored. We analyzed baseline trial data (N=430) and compared subgroups (44% of participants self-identified as having Hispanic ethnicity and a Black racial identity). Average age was 38 years, with mean blood pressure of 129/83 mmHg. Hispanic Black (HB) men reported higher unemployment (21.4% versus 11.1%, P=.02) and more housing instability (28.7% versus 18.6%, P=.01) than did non-Hispanic Black (NHB) men. Overall, HB men reported worse household conditions compared with NHB men. Approximately half of both groups reported high stress, 45% (HB) and 51% (NHB), respectively. Both groups had low perception of personal CVD risk and underutilized health care. Hispanic Black men were less likely to have a primary care provider than were NHB men (17.6% versus 29.3%, P<.001). Non-Hispanic Black men reported lower physical activity than did HB men (median, 2655 vs 2547 metabolic equivalent minutes/week, P=.03). Recognizing heterogeneity among Black populations, including in social drivers of CVD disparities, will allow for more precision in designing CVD health promotion interventions. Findings also suggest that perception of personal CVD risk and health care utilization may be important targets for CVD prevention in Black men.

This study examined how Mexican and Central American immigrants' location of origin (in their home country) along the rural/urban continuum was associated with four selected dental outcomes among recent immigrants, prior to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

Given differences in disease presentation and potentially greater role of humoral immunity in Black patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared to White patients with MS, we analyzed the effectiveness of anti-CD20 therapies in the 2 groups of patients with relapsing MS. We included all anti-CD20 therapies and evaluated relapse rate, disability, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcomes.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global health concern that has affected various populations worldwide. Among the various methods to monitor the progress and management of DM, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA) serves as a key marker for understanding long-term glucose control. The Mayan populations of Yucatan represent a unique demographic in which the prevalence and management of DM can be distinctively analyzed.

This study was conducted to quantify the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and depressive symptoms across racial/ethnic and socioeconomic strata in a nationally representative U.S. sample.

People living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa bear a disproportionate burden of mental and behavioral health disorders compared with the general population. Several health care systems throughout the region have made efforts to integrate HIV and mental health care, but these systems have met challenges in long-term sustainability due to limited care continuity and insufficient attention to social determinants of health. In this commentary, we propose evidence-based recommendations for integrating HIV and mental health care that may overcome these barriers. These strategies include mental health screenings and referrals during routine HIV clinic visits, community-based mobile clinics and telemedicine to expand access to mental health services, concurrent mental health and HIV education within schools, and models for future health care innovation. These approaches have the potential to offer an entire continuum of care for people living with HIV and co-occurring mental health disorders, mitigating the dual burden of these conditions in sub-Saharan Africa.

Individuals with severe mental illness (SMI)-schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder-are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) than the general population. Black Americans are known to have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. However, the association of SMI with CVD and its risk factors in this population has not been widely examined.

In this commentary, 5 women of color who are engaged in different aspects of the research mission at the University of Vermont weigh in on the historical importance, current rationale, and persisting barriers to impactful health equity research.

Highly effective antiretroviral therapy has increased the life expectancy of people living with HIV (PLWH), resulting in an increase in noncommunicable diseases, including cognitive and mental health disorders. Published literature on cognitive performance in older PLWH is scarce in low- and middle-income countries, including Georgia. Our study aimed to assess mental health and cognitive performance and identify associated factors among PLWH aged ≥40 years.

Previous research indicates a higher prevalence of glaucoma in Black individuals of African descent. However, the association between race and glaucoma in Brazil's multiracial population remains underexplored. This study examines this association and seeks to identify preventable factors potentially influencing prevalence differences among racial groups in Brazil, should such difference be found.

Limited social connection places individuals at greater risk for chronic conditions; however, there is limited research examining the association between chronic conditions and barriers to disease self-management on social connections. Our study addresses this gap in the empirical literature by examining these issues among Black men aged 40+ years with 1 or more chronic conditions.

The aim of this study was to estimate and compare the age-specific and sex-adjusted case-fatality rates (CFRs) among Arab Americans to Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic White, and Asian adults living in Michigan. Data from Michigan's vital records, surveillance data (March 2020-July 2021), and an Arab/Chaldean surname algorithm were used. We used χ tests to determine statistically significant differences between groups. Logistic regression was used to estimate age-specific and sex-adjusted CFRs. Arab Americans had a lower CFR of 1.54% compared with Asian (1.97%), non-Hispanic White (2.17%), and non-Hispanic Black adults (3.36%), regardless of sex. For those 80 years of age or older, Arab American (30.72%) and Asian adults (31.47%) had higher CFR compared with the other racial or ethnic groups, with non-Hispanic White adults displaying a lower CFR of 18.28%. An Arab American ethnic identifier would likely increase the visibility of this population so that they can be included in the efforts to increase awareness, testing, and prevention strategies of COVID-19 or similar pandemics that might be facing us in the future.

Strokes are a leading cause of death and disability among African Americans in the United States. Biological markers to predict stroke remain elusive; thus, our objective was to investigate whether inflammation, as measured by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), was associated with stroke incidence among African Americans enrolled in the Jackson Heart Study (JHS).

Domestic and international migrants along the United States-Mexico border are at increased risk for diabetes due to structural and psychosocial adversities.

Health disparities in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors persist among racially, ethnically, and sex diverse civilian populations. Little is known about whether these disparities persist in US military populations. The aim of this study was to examine and describe differences in CVD risk factors by sex, race, and ethnicity among US service members and veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom conflicts.

To evaluate the potential of using specific biopsychosocial instruments in capturing data on the relationship between stress and obesity and determine if job satisfaction influences the effect estimate.

Resettled refugees have been exposed to stressful and life-threatening events preresettlement and are among the most marginalized and vulnerable groups in society. Postresettlement, they face challenges when assimilating to an unfamiliar host country, which renders them vulnerable to adverse health outcomes including obesity, a major public health burden. This study was conducted to examine the association of mental health and sociodemographic factors, including language proficiency and educational attainment, with obesity in first-generation resettled refugees.

The lack of diversity in genomic studies is a disparity that influences our understanding of human genomic variation and threatens equity in the benefits of precision medicine. Given our current genomic research with Black older adults, we conducted a qualitative study to elucidate participants' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about genomic research and research participation and what factors contribute to their willingness to participate and to gain insights into barriers that researchers may have in recruiting Black Americans. We conducted semistructured interviews (N=16) with previous genomic research participants, and an inductive thematic approach was used to code and interpret the data. The mean age was 70, 82% reported <$15,000 annual income, and 100% participated in genomic research. The results note that genomic research is poorly understood despite participation in prior genomic studies, and cultural beliefs about health and managing health impact an individual's research participation. Although not all participants identified with historical distrust, those who did report health system distrust also contributed distrust in research. Relationship building facilitates research participation, especially when perceived as personally relevant and meaningful. Participant incentives and convenience to engage in the study are less important if the personal benefits or relevance of the research are clear. Our results provide new context into the importance of relationship building and research literacy and highlight new considerations for engaging racially diverse populations in research.