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Race/Ethnic and Educational Disparities in the Association Between Pathogen Burden and a Laboratory-Based Cumulative Deficits Index.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Noppert, GA; Aiello, AE; O'Rand, AM; Cohen, HJ
Published in: J Racial Ethn Health Disparities
February 2020

BACKGROUND: Disparities in adult morbidity and mortality may be rooted in patterns of biological dysfunction in early life. We sought to examine the association between pathogen burden and a cumulative deficits index (CDI), conceptualized as a pre-clinical marker of an unhealthy biomarker profile, specifically focusing on patterns across levels of social disadvantage. METHODS: Using the data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2004 wave (aged 20-49 years), we examined the association of pathogen burden, composed of seven pathogens, with the CDI. The CDI comprised 28 biomarkers corresponding to available clinical laboratory measures. Models were stratified by race/ethnicity and education level. RESULTS: The CDI ranged from 0.04 to 0.78. Nearly half of Blacks were classified in the high burden pathogen class compared with 8% of Whites. Among both Mexican Americans and other Hispanic groups, the largest proportion of individuals were classified in the common pathogens class. Among educational classes, 19% of those with less than a high school education were classified in the high burden class compared with 7% of those with at least a college education. Blacks in the high burden pathogen class had a CDI 0.05 greater than those in the low burden class (P < 0.05). Whites in the high burden class had a CDI only 0.03 greater than those in the low burden class (P < 0.01). DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest there are significant social disparities in the distribution of pathogen burden across race/ethnic groups, and the effects of pathogen burden may be more significant for socially disadvantaged individuals.

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Published In

J Racial Ethn Health Disparities

DOI

EISSN

2196-8837

Publication Date

February 2020

Volume

7

Issue

1

Start / End Page

99 / 108

Location

Switzerland

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • United States
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Racial Groups
  • Poverty
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Laboratories
  • Humans
  • Health Surveys
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
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MLA
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Noppert, G. A., Aiello, A. E., O’Rand, A. M., & Cohen, H. J. (2020). Race/Ethnic and Educational Disparities in the Association Between Pathogen Burden and a Laboratory-Based Cumulative Deficits Index. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities, 7(1), 99–108. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-019-00638-0
Noppert, Grace A., A. E. Aiello, A. M. O’Rand, and H. J. Cohen. “Race/Ethnic and Educational Disparities in the Association Between Pathogen Burden and a Laboratory-Based Cumulative Deficits Index.J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 7, no. 1 (February 2020): 99–108. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-019-00638-0.
Noppert GA, Aiello AE, O’Rand AM, Cohen HJ. Race/Ethnic and Educational Disparities in the Association Between Pathogen Burden and a Laboratory-Based Cumulative Deficits Index. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2020 Feb;7(1):99–108.
Noppert, Grace A., et al. “Race/Ethnic and Educational Disparities in the Association Between Pathogen Burden and a Laboratory-Based Cumulative Deficits Index.J Racial Ethn Health Disparities, vol. 7, no. 1, Feb. 2020, pp. 99–108. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s40615-019-00638-0.
Noppert GA, Aiello AE, O’Rand AM, Cohen HJ. Race/Ethnic and Educational Disparities in the Association Between Pathogen Burden and a Laboratory-Based Cumulative Deficits Index. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2020 Feb;7(1):99–108.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Racial Ethn Health Disparities

DOI

EISSN

2196-8837

Publication Date

February 2020

Volume

7

Issue

1

Start / End Page

99 / 108

Location

Switzerland

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • United States
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Racial Groups
  • Poverty
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Laboratories
  • Humans
  • Health Surveys