In what I believe is a "first," LANCET devotes an entire issue to U.S. health policy, under the cover page, "A Presidential Briefing Book."
Find it here. At least five of the US articles are open-access. About 20 are available by adding email registration alone.
Titles of most of the US articles:
- A roadmap to better health in the USA
- How the US National Institutes of Health is confronting health threats in a changing world
- US health at home and abroad
- Moving from indifference to reparative action: a public health approach to racial health inequities in life expectancy in cities in the USA
- Identifying groups with the greatest need for interventions to improve wellbeing
- The obesity crisis in the USA: why are there no signs of plateauing yet?
- Understanding disparities in life expectancy
- The US health-care paradox: lifting the veil
- Projections of health outcomes in the USA in 2050
- Can the US health-care workforce keep pace with demand?
- “Even worse than fentanyls”: nitazenes in the USA
- US health in historical context
- Health and freedom
- What United States of America do you live in?
- Disparities in wellbeing in the USA by race and ethnicity, age, sex, and location, 2008–21: an analysis using the Human Development Index
- Ten Americas: a systematic analysis of life expectancy disparities in the USA
- The burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors by state in the USA, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
- Burden of disease scenarios by state in the USA, 2022–50: a forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
- Strategic imperatives for health in the USA: a roadmap for the incoming presidential administration
- Reversing the decline of health in the USA: a call to action
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AI Corner
Google Notebook LM summarizes an upload of 16 PDFs.
Briefing Doc: Health and Wellbeing in the USA
This briefing document reviews key themes and findings from several sources focusing on health and wellbeing in the United States. The data highlights significant disparities across states and demographic groups, underscoring the urgency for targeted interventions and policy changes.
Key Themes:
- Geographic Disparities in Life Expectancy: Life expectancy varies drastically across states, with Hawaii consistently ranking highest and states like Mississippi, West Virginia, and Oklahoma consistently at the bottom. The gap is widening, with some states experiencing declining life expectancy while others continue to improve. "The-burden-of-diseases,-injuries,-and-risk-factors.pdf" reveals a stark contrast: "Bottom-ranked state, female: MS; Bottom-ranked state, male: WV; Top-ranked state, female: HI; Top-ranked state, male: HI"
- Impact of Socioeconomic Factors: "Ten-Americas--a-systematic-analysis-of-life-expect.pdf" emphasizes the impact of socioeconomic factors. "America 4: White | Non-metropolitan and low-income Northlands" experiences lower life expectancy compared to more affluent regions.
- Obesity Prevalence and Trends: "National-level-and-state-level-prevalence-of-overw.pdf" paints a worrying picture of obesity in the US. The prevalence is increasing across all age groups and both sexes, with significant state-level variations. Projected trends indicate a continued rise in obesity rates if current trends persist.
- Dietary Risks: Dietary factors play a significant role in disease burden. "Burden-of-disease-scenarios-by-state-in-the-USA,-2.pdf" states that: "Diet low in omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids... Percentage change, 2022 to 2050: –33·7 (–55·4 to –12·3)" This highlights the need for dietary interventions to mitigate the impact of unhealthy eating habits.
- Leading Causes of Disease Burden: "The-burden-of-diseases,-injuries,-and-risk-factors.pdf" identifies major contributors to disease burden including high systolic blood pressure, tobacco use, high fasting plasma glucose, dietary risks, high LDL cholesterol, high body mass index, and drug use disorders. These factors disproportionately affect specific demographic groups and regions, contributing to health disparities.
- Racial and Ethnic Disparities: "Disparities-in-wellbeing-in-the-USA-by-race-and-et.pdf" reveals stark disparities in wellbeing across racial and ethnic groups. The data, presented in deciles, shows significant gaps in various aspects of well-being, highlighting the need for policies addressing systemic inequities.
Important Facts:
- Hawaii consistently ranks highest in life expectancy for both males and females.
- West Virginia and Mississippi consistently rank lowest in life expectancy for males and females, respectively.
- Obesity prevalence is projected to increase significantly by 2050 if current trends continue.
- Dietary risks, particularly diets low in omega-6 fatty acids, are projected to contribute significantly to future disease burden.
- High systolic blood pressure and tobacco use are leading risk factors for disease burden.
- Racial and ethnic minorities experience significantly lower levels of wellbeing compared to white Americans.
Recommendations:
- Targeted interventions focused on improving health outcomes in states with lower life expectancy.
- Policy changes addressing socioeconomic factors contributing to health disparities.
- Public health campaigns promoting healthy diets and physical activity.
- Expanded access to healthcare and preventative services.
- Initiatives addressing systemic racism and discrimination impacting minority health.
Conclusion:
The data reviewed reveals a complex landscape of health and wellbeing in the United States. Addressing geographic disparities, socioeconomic factors, and racial/ethnic inequities is crucial for improving overall health outcomes and reducing the burden of disease. A multi-pronged approach involving policy changes, targeted interventions, and public health initiatives is necessary to achieve a healthier and more equitable future for all Americans.
