North Carolina Medical Journal最新文献

Background: Varied demands and stressors experienced by clergy can contribute adversely to their overall well-being. Data from United Methodist Church (UMC) clergy in North Carolina in 2008 revealed that clergy had significantly higher non-communicable disease (NCD) rates than their fellow North Carolinians.

Methods: Using data from the Clergy Health Initiative and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, the present study provided an updated analysis of obesity and 6 other NCDs among North Carolina UMC clergy compared to the general North Carolina population. First, we described the prevalence of each health condition among North Carolina UMC clergy and the general North Carolina population across multiple waves from 2008 to 2021. Then, we compared the predicted probabilities of each health condition in 2021 using logistic regressions to adjust for age, sex, and race.

Results: Comparing the unadjusted prevalence of health conditions between 2008 and 2021, we found that North Carolina UMC clergy have higher rates of obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, angina, arthritis, and asthma than North Carolinians overall. Adjusting for age, sex, and race, we found that significantly higher rates of obesity, severe obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and asthma persisted among UMC clergy in 2021 compared to all North Carolinians, with the higher rates of severe obesity being particularly concerning.

Limitations: While the current study is limited to an update of health prevalence among UMC clergy, pastors across denominations are influential leaders in their communities, shaping the physical and social health environments of their congregations.

Conclusions: Further research is needed to investigate risk factors, such as relocation and adverse childhood experiences, which may influence the higher prevalence of NCDs within and potentially beyond the UMC.

The North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services has implemented a strategic plan for limiting substance use overdose deaths, including increasing primary prevention and increasing public awareness of and access to evidence-based treatment options.

North Carolina's effort to hold drug companies account-able for their role in creating and fueling the overdose epi-demic has generated $1.4 billion for the state over 18 years. Securing these funds has been a victory, but ensuring they are used to save lives is equally critical.

Guided by the North Carolina Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), local governments are investing national opioid settlement funds to respond to the overdose crisis. Community Opioid Resources Engine for North Carolina (CORE-NC) partners have developed tools and resources that local governments are using as they plan, implement, and report on their opioid overdose response.

As the impact of the overdose crisis continues to worsen, some interventions are proving to be more impactful than others. This article provides insight on the history of harm reduction as it relates to the overdose crisis, how harm reduction strategies are saving lives in North Carolina, and the challenges that could hinder these efforts.

Background: This chart review aimed to assess the COVID-19 vaccination status of pregnant patients prior to hospitalization for delivery and vaccine administration while hospitalized postpartum.

Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of pregnant patients admitted for delivery at WakeMed Hospital during a six-month period who were offered COVID-19 vaccination immediately following delivery. We analyzed demographic characteristics by vaccination status prior to admission, during hospitalization, and at discharge. ANOVA, chi-squared, and multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results: Data analysis was performed on 1,476 obstetric patients admitted for delivery, of which 260 (17.6%) were vaccinated prior to admission. Of the 1,216 unvaccinated postpartum patients, 257 (21.1%) received a vaccine dose. Among our population, for every year increase in age, the odds of being vaccinated before admission and receiving vaccination while hospitalized postpartum were higher than those of remaining unvaccinated. The odds of being vaccinated before admission versus remaining unvaccinated at discharge were lower for Black patients compared to White patients. The odds of receiving vaccination during hospitalization were higher for Asian and Hispanic/ Latino patients compared to White patients. The odds of being vaccinated prior to admission versus remaining unvaccinated at discharge were higher for those with private insurance compared to those with public insurance.

Limitations: At the time of our intervention, we did not collect data on COVID-19 infection status of the patient at the time of admission. Additionally, vaccination counseling and administration had not been added to standardized order sets, thus variations in counseling by providers may have impacted patient acceptance.

Conclusions: Compared to patients who remained unvaccinated following discharge, patients vaccinated prior to admission were more likely to be older with private insurance, and less likely to be Black, while patients vaccinated during hospitalization once postpartum were more likely to be older and either Asian or Hispanic/Latino.