Improving the Epidemiological Understanding of the Dynamic Relationship Between Life Course Financial Well-Being and Health
AbstractPurpose of ReviewWe posit that there are many different measures of financial well-being such as income, debt, assets, and wealth, which may have different consequences for health at different times in the life course. We frame our discussion of financial well-being within existing theories and mechanisms by which financial well-being may influence health.Recent FindingsWe contrast the influences of “snap shot” or one point in time measures of financial well-being with those of repeated measures of financial well-being across the life course. Reviewing recent research, we show the importance of measures apart f...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - February 5, 2019 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Sampling and Sampling Frames in Big Data Epidemiology
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe ‘big data’ revolution affords the opportunity to reuse administrative datasets for public health research. While such datasets offer dramatically increased statistical power compared with conventional primary data collection, typically at much lower cost, their use also raises substantial infere ntial challenges. In particular, it can be difficult to make population inferences because the sampling frames for many administrative datasets are undefined. We reviewed options for accounting for sampling in big data epidemiology.Recent FindingsWe identified three common strategies for accounting ...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - February 2, 2019 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
DNA Methylation Signatures as Biomarkers of Prior Environmental Exposures
We present the evidence for association between past exposure, including prenatal exposures, and DNA methylation measured at a later time in the life course. We demonstrate the potential utility of DNA methylation-based biomarkers of past exposure using results from multiple studies of smoking as an example. Multiple studies show the ability to accurately predict prenatal smoking exposure based on DNA methylation measured at birth, in childhood, and even adulthood. Separate sets of DNA methylation loci have been used to predict past personal smoking exposure (postnatal) as well. Further, it appears that these two types of ...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - February 1, 2019 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Linkage of Administrative Datasets: Enhancing Longitudinal Epidemiological Studies in the Era of “Big Data”
Abstract“Modern epidemiology” has consolidated the direct collection of individual data as the most valued approach for conducting epidemiological research. An essential feature of powerful epidemiological studies (in whatever design, observational, quasi-experimental or experimental) is a longitudinal structure, so that in the course of the study, data are collected over time and measurements can be repeated for each participant. Notably, the amount and variety of individual health data routinely collected from different sources and available in digital media have increased exponentially. This gr owing amount of data ...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - December 4, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Early Life Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Epigenetic Programming of a Pro-inflammatory Phenotype: a Review of Recent Evidence
AbstractPurpose of ReviewA growing body of literature suggests that early life socioeconomic disadvantage (SD) may play a key role in shaping a pro-inflammatory phenotype hypothesized to result from programming of cells of the innate immune system (i.e., monocytes and macrophages) for desensitization to glucocorticoid signaling and exacerbated inflammatory response to immune stimuli, yet understanding of the biologic pathways by which such programming may occur remains limited. The purpose of this review is to discuss the current research supporting the hypothesis that early life SD is associated with a pro-inflammatory ph...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - October 8, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Use of Age-Period-Cohort Analysis in Cancer Epidemiology Research
AbstractPurpose of ReviewAge-period-cohort (APC) models simultaneously estimate the effects of age —biological process of aging; time period—secular trends that occur in all ages simultaneously; and birth cohort—variation among those born around the same year or from one generation to the next. APC models inform understanding of cancer etiology, natural history, and disparities. We reviewed findings from recent studies (published 2008–2018) examining age, period, and cohort effects and summarized trends in age-standardized rates and age-specific rates by birth cohort. We also described prevalence of cancer risk fac...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - October 3, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Environmentally Induced Epigenetic Plasticity in Development: Epigenetic Toxicity and Epigenetic Adaptation
AbstractPurpose of ReviewEpigenetic processes represent important mechanisms underlying developmental plasticity in response to environmental exposures. The current review discusses three classes of environmentally induced epigenetic changes reflecting two aspects of that plasticity, toxicity effects as well as adaptation in the process of development.Recent FindingsDue to innate resilience, epigenetic changes caused by environmental exposures may not always lead to impairments but may allow the organisms to achieve positive developmental outcomes through appropriate adaptation and a buffering response. Thus, some epigenet...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - October 2, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
A Review of Global Epidemiology and Response to Meningococcal Disease Outbreaks among Men Who Have Sex with Men, 2001 –2018
AbstractPurpose of ReviewMen who have sex with men (MSM) have been previously shown to be at increased risk for meningococcal disease compared to other men. We summarized the global epidemiology and public health response to meningococcal disease outbreaks among MSM.Recent FindingsAt least ten outbreaks of serogroup C meningococcal disease among MSM have been reported since 2001. Investigation of and response to outbreaks among MSM have often been hampered by an inability to identify epidemiologic links among cases, and the target population recommended for vaccination has been expanded over time in many outbreaks. Unique ...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - September 29, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Contemporary Social Disparities in TB Infection and Disease in the USA: a Review
AbstractPurpose of ReviewSocioeconomic status (SES) has long been understood to be a key determinant of the distribution of tuberculosis (TB), and the role of social factors has long been a truism of TB epidemiology. We review studies that have examined the social determinants of TB in the USA in the past 20 years. We pay particular attention to how the findings of these studies fit within the framework of fundamental cause theory and argue that a more explicit linkage with fundamental cause theory is critical for understanding the current state of TB health disparities in the USA and for charting a w ay towards TB elimi...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - September 28, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Assessment of Medication Safety Using Only Dispensing Data
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the published studies that have been used to generate evidence on the safety of medicine use when only medication dispensing data are available.Recent FindingsMedication dispensing databases are increasingly available for research on large populations, particularly in countries that provide universal coverage for medicines. These data are often used for drug utilisation studies to identify inappropriate medicine use at the population level that may be associated with known safety issues. Lack of coded diagnoses, to identify outcomes, and lack ...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - September 28, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Contemporary Social Disparities in TB Infection and Disease in the USA: a Review
AbstractPurpose of ReviewSocioeconomic status (SES) has long been understood to be a key determinant of the distribution of tuberculosis (TB), and the role of social factors has long been a truism of TB epidemiology. We review studies that have examined the social determinants of TB in the USA in the past 20 years. We pay particular attention to how the findings of these studies fit within the framework of fundamental cause theory and argue that a more explicit linkage with fundamental cause theory is critical for understanding the current state of TB health disparities in the USA and for charting a w ay towards TB elimi...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - September 28, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
Assessment of Medication Safety Using Only Dispensing Data
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the published studies that have been used to generate evidence on the safety of medicine use when only medication dispensing data are available.Recent FindingsMedication dispensing databases are increasingly available for research on large populations, particularly in countries that provide universal coverage for medicines. These data are often used for drug utilisation studies to identify inappropriate medicine use at the population level that may be associated with known safety issues. Lack of coded diagnoses, to identify outcomes, and lack ...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - September 28, 2018 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research
