News Briefs – NOVEMBER 2022
by INELDA
Study Looks at Disparities in Rural and Urban Health
An important AARP study looked at the disparities for the 20 million Americans 50 years and older who live in rural areas. Prior research has shown that the rural population is more likely to die from heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke than those living in urban areas—disparities that are closely tied to social determinants of health. Elements contributing to these factors include higher rates of poverty and limited job opportunities, lower rates of health insurance and limited access to health care providers, and environmental factors such as geographic isolation and lack of transportation.
American Indian and Alaska Native Elders Have Highest Rates of Pneumococcal Vaccination
Another AARP Public Policy Institute report found that American Indian and Alaska Native elders have the highest rates (47%) of the pneumococcal vaccination, which fights pneumonia. Pneumonia is a leading cause of death for this group of elders, occurring at a rate four times higher than the general population. Inversely, American Indian and Alaska Native elders tied with Hispanic older adults for the groups least likely to receive the influenza vaccination (50%).
Continued Cancer Treatment at End of Life May Have Drawbacks
This October, JAMA Oncology issued a report indicating that systemic anticancer therapy is associated with increased acute care use, delayed conversations about goals of care, late hospice enrollment, higher costs, and possibly adverse quality and duration of life. As reported in Medicalexpress, “rates of treatment within 30 days of death among all cancer types combined did not change with similar trends seen for treatment within 14 days of death.” The continuation of cancer therapy treatments may lead to less palliative care intervention. The researchers stated that more studies are necessary to determine how this affected end-of-life care.