Predictors of intra-community variation in air quality.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Franklin M
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4391642 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar-Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Predictors of intra-community variation in air quality.
Franklin Meredith M Vora Hita H Avol Edward E McConnell Rob R Lurmann Fred F Liu Feifei F Penfold Bryan B Berhane Kiros K Gilliland Frank F Gauderman W James WJ
Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology 20120118 2
Air quality has emerged as a key determinant of important health outcomes in children and adults. This study aims to identify factors that influence local, within-community air quality, and to build a model for traffic-related air pollution (TRP).We utilized concentrations of NO(2), NO, and total oxides of nitrogen (NO(x)), which were measured at 942 locations in 12 southern California communities. For each location, population density, elevation, land-use, and several indicators of traffic were ...[more]
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Project description:BackgroundPrior studies have reported that community health centers perform as well as other sites of care, despite serving more vulnerable patient populations. However, there is little prior study of geographic variation in quality outcomes and disparities in outcomes in this setting. Quantifying geographic variation is important so as to target quality improvement efforts and funding and to learn from states where total quality is highest and racial/ethnic disparities are lowest.ObjectivesTo estimate between-state variation in hypertension, diabetes, and pregnancy outcomes and racial/ethnic disparities in these outcomes for health center patients.MethodsUsing data on all US health centers from 2010 to 2014 (N=1047 health centers/year, or 21.2 million patients in 2014), we used linear regression models to estimate adjusted quality outcomes and racial/ethnic disparities in quality outcomes by state for hypertension control, diabetes control, and normal birthweight.ResultsWe found wide variation in both outcomes and racial/ethnic disparities in outcomes between states for patients seen at health centers. For instance, between states, the mean proportion of patients with hypertension control ranged from 58% to 70% for white patients, from 49% to 64% for black patients, and from 53% to 74% for Hispanic patients (P<0.001). Racial/ethnic disparities in outcomes ranged from negative or nonsignificant in some states to positive in others.ConclusionsWide variation in health center patient outcomes and disparities in outcomes is observed between states. This variation suggests that policymakers should target funding and interventions to underperforming states, and identify determinants of high quality in higher performing states.
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