Dataset Information

Estimating the Within-Person Change in Dental Service Access Measures during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States.

ABSTRACT:

Background

American adults delay dental care more than any other healthcare service. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic may have stalled efforts to address dental service delays. Early evidence has suggested substantial declines in dental service visits in the early phase of the pandemic; however, our study is among the first to measure within-person changes from 2019 to 2020 and conduct subgroup analyses to examine if changing dental patterns were mediated by exposure to the pandemic, risk of adverse COVID-19 outcomes, or dental insurance.

Methods

We analyzed a National Health Interview Survey panel of individuals initially surveyed in 2019, with subsequent follow-up in 2020. The outcomes included dental service access measures and the interval of a most recent dental visit. By constructing a probability-weighted linear regression model with fixed-effects, we estimated the average within-person change from 2019 to 2020. Robust standard errors were clustered within each respondent.

Results

From 2019 to 2020, adults reported a 4.6%-point reduction in the probability of visiting the dentist (p < 0.001). Significantly higher declines were found in Northeast and West regions compared to Midwest and South regions. We find no evidence that declining dental services in 2020 were associated with more chronic diseases, older age, or lack of dental insurance coverage. Adults did not report more financial or nonfinancial access barriers to dental care in 2020 compared to 2019.

Conclusions

The long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on delayed dental care warrant continued monitoring as policymakers aim to mitigate the pandemic's negative consequences on oral health equity.

SUBMITTER: Semprini J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10154088 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Estimating the Within-Person Change in Dental Service Access Measures during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States.

Semprini Jason J

International journal of dentistry 20230425

<h4>Background</h4>American adults delay dental care more than any other healthcare service. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic may have stalled efforts to address dental service delays. Early evidence has suggested substantial declines in dental service visits in the early phase of the pandemic; however, our study is among the first to measure within-person changes from 2019 to 2020 and conduct subgroup analyses to examine if changing dental patterns were mediated by exposure to the pandemic, ...[more]

PMID: 37143852

Similar Datasets

Project description:ObjectivesThis article aims to examine the disparities in dental service utilization among 3 age groups: younger adults (20-49 y), middle-aged adults (50-64 y), and older adults (65+ y), among Whites, Hispanics, Blacks, Asians, American Indians or Alaska Natives (AIAN), and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islanders (NHOPI).MethodsWeighted logistic regression models were conducted to analyze 9 waves of cross-sectional survey data (2002-2018) from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. We estimated age group- and race/ethnic-specific prevalences of dental service utilization adjusting sociodemographics and self-rated health for each wave and compared with crude analysis. Next, we performed linear regression analysis of the trend of adjusted prevalences over time and the average level by race/ethnicity and age groups.ResultsRacial/ethnic disparities increased with age, even though the adjusted prevalences of dental service utilization were less apparent than the crude analysis. The all-wave average prevalence was 71%. Black older adults had the lowest level of dental service utilization (65%) as compared with the 2 highest groups: White older adults (79%) and Asian older adults (76%). The general younger adult populations had low prevalences, with the lowest among Asian younger adults (65%). AIAN and NHOPI individuals from all age groups tended to have average or below average prevalences. In addition, a decreasing trend of dental service utilization was observed among White individuals of all age groups (0.2%-0.3% lower per year, P < 0.01) and AIAN younger adults (0.5% lower per year, P < 0.01).ConclusionHealth policy, federal funding, and community-based programs should address the needs of dental service utilization for racial/ethnic minorities including Blacks, AIANs, and NHOPIs.Knowledge transfer statementOur study offers insights into our understanding of disparities in dental service utilization among minority racial/ethnic groups. As health policy, federal funding, and community-based programs seek to improve oral health, there is a need to address access to and utilization of dental service for Blacks, American Indians or Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islanders.

Project description:Our objective was to quantify short-term total within-person variability in standard and nontraditional kidney measures using national data.Repeated examination study of serum and urine kidney measures.Participants 18 years or older in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) who had repeated blood and urine samples collected during visits occurring approximately 18 days apart.Standardized serum creatinine, standardized cystatin C, ?-trace protein (BTP), ?(2)-microglobulin (B2M), and urine albumin and creatinine. We calculated the within-person coefficient of variation (CV(w)), which includes both biological and analytical variability. We also evaluated the impact of variability on estimates of the prevalence of reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate and albuminuria.Serum cystatin C level demonstrated the lowest short-term within-person variability (CV(w) = 6.8%). Serum creatinine and B2M levels (CV(w) = 7.6% and 8.4%, respectively) also had low variability. BTP level had the most variability of the serum markers (CV(w) = 11.6%). As expected, urine albumin and urine creatinine measurements showed high variability (CV(w) >30% for both); however, albumin-creatinine ratio performed much better than either measure alone, with CV(w) of 11.3%. The effect of short-term variability on the prevalence of reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate was moderate, with an ~20% lower prevalence when defined based on single measurements compared to repeated application of the same test approximately 18 days apart. Repeated testing for albuminuria had a larger effect, showing a 33% lower prevalence of albuminuria when repeated testing was applied.Only 2 measurements available. General population with low prevalence of kidney disease.Our results suggest that creatinine, cystatin C, and B2M levels have similarly low short-term variability. BTP level was more variable compared with the other serum filtration markers. Urine albumin and creatinine levels were highly variable and may benefit from repeated assessments to reduce the misclassification of albuminuria.

Dataset Information

Estimating the Within-Person Change in Dental Service Access Measures during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Estimating the Within-Person Change in Dental Service Access Measures during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets