Validating the Social Vulnerability Index for alternative geographies in the United States to explore trends in social determinants of health over time and geographic location.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To create county-, 5-digit ZIP code (ZIP-5)-, and 3-digit ZIP code (ZIP-3)-level datasets of the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and its components for 2016-2022 to validate the methodology beyond county level, explore trends in SVI over time and space, and demonstrate its usage in an enrichment exercise with health plan claims.

Materials and methods

The SVI consolidates 16 structural, economic, and demographic variables from the American Community Survey (ACS) into 4 themes: socioeconomic status, household characteristics, racial and ethnic minority status, and housing type and transportation. ACS estimates of the 16 variables for 2016-2022 were extracted for counties and ZIP code tabulation areas and for ZIP code geographies, crosswalked to ZIP-5, and aggregated

SUBMITTER: Ng CD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11915720 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature