Dataset Information

Food Insecurity and COVID-19 Infection: Findings From the 2020-2021 National Health Interview Survey.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to examine the sociodemographic and health-related factors associated with food insecurity and the association between food insecurity and COVID-19 infection using a nationally representative sample in the U.S.

Methods

Cross-sectional data of 61,050 adults (aged ≥18 years) from the 2020 and 2021 National Health Interview Survey were analyzed. Food insecurity was measured by the 10-item U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Security Survey Module. Weighted multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate associations with food insecurity.

Results

A total of 6.8% of the National Health Interview Survey participants lived in food-insecure households, and 18.9% tested positive for COVID-19 infection. Young (aged 18-34 years) or middle (aged 35-64 years) age, female sex, minor race/ethnicity (Hispanic/non-Hispanic Black/non-Hispanic Asian/others), education level less than high school, unmarried status, unemployment, poverty (below the federal poverty level), having no health insurance, a larger number of adults and children in the household, poorer self-reported health status, and the presence of chronic conditions were significantly associated with food insecurity (AOR ranged from 1.20 to 3.15, all p<0.0001). Food insecurity was independently associated with positive COVID-19 infection (AOR=1.25, 95% CI=1.11, 1.40), controlling for sociodemographic and health-related factors. The greatest magnitude of the association was observed for the non-Hispanic Black participants (AOR=1.47, 95% CI=1.15, 1.88), female participants (AOR=1.44, 95% CI=1.20, 1.71), and those below the federal poverty level (AOR=1.39, 95% CI=1.12, 1.73) across all the subgroups.

Conclusions

Food insecurity disproportionately affected vulnerable subgroups such as young adults, female individuals, minority race/ethnicity groups, and those with lower socioeconomic status, and was associated with positive COVID-19 infection. Policies addressing food insecurity may help to reduce the likelihood of COVID-19 infection, especially for those vulnerable subgroups.

SUBMITTER: Cai J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9847318 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Food Insecurity and COVID-19 Infection: Findings From the 2020-2021 National Health Interview Survey.

Cai Jiahui J

AJPM focus 20230118 2

<h4>Introduction</h4>The purpose of this study was to examine the sociodemographic and health-related factors associated with food insecurity and the association between food insecurity and COVID-19 infection using a nationally representative sample in the U.S.<h4>Methods</h4>Cross-sectional data of 61,050 adults (aged ≥18 years) from the 2020 and 2021 National Health Interview Survey were analyzed. Food insecurity was measured by the 10-item U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Security Survey M ...[more]

PMID: 36687320

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Project description:BackgroundThis study aims to examine how the presence of chronic conditions or positive COVID-19 infection (as exposures) is related to food insecurity (as an outcome) in the older population and whether there is a dose-response relationship between the number of chronic conditions and the severity of food insecurity.MethodsCross-sectional data of 17,977 older adults (≥ 65 years) from the 2020-2021 National Health Interview Survey were analyzed. Chronic conditions included physical health conditions (i.e., arthritis, coronary heart diseases, hypertension, stroke, prediabetes, diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and disability) and mental health conditions (i.e., anxiety and depression disorder). COVID-19 infection status was determined by a self-reported diagnosis of COVID-19. Household food insecurity was measured using the 10-item US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Security Survey Module with a 30-day look-back window. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine the association between health conditions and food insecurity controlling for socio-demographic factors.ResultsOur results indicated that 4.0% of the older adults lived in food-insecure households. The presence of chronic conditions was significantly associated with higher odds of being food insecure independent of socio-demographic factors (AOR ranged from 1.17 to 3.58, all p < 0.0001). Compared with participants with 0-1 chronic condition, the odds of being (low or very low) food insecure was 1.09 to 4.07 times higher for those with 2, or ≥ 3 chronic conditions (all p < 0.0001). The severity of food insecurity significantly increased as the number of chronic conditions increased (p for trend < 0.0001). Besides, COVID-infected participants were 82% more likely to be very low food secure than the non-infected participants (AOR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.80, 1.84).ConclusionsThe presence of chronic conditions or positive COVID-infection is independently associated with household food insecurity. Clinical health professionals may help identify and assist individuals at risk of food insecurity. Management and improvement of health conditions may help reduce the prevalence and severity of food insecurity in the older population.

Project description:IntroductionNon-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as handwashing, social distancing and face mask wearing, have been widely promoted to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This study aimed to explore the relationship between self-reported use of NPIs and COVID-19 infection.MethodsWe conducted an online questionnaire study recruiting members of the UK public from November 2020 to May 2021. The association between self-reported COVID-19 illness and reported use of NPIs was explored using logistic regression and controlling for participant characteristics, month of questionnaire completion, and vaccine status. Participants who had been exposed to COVID-19 in their household in the previous 2 weeks were excluded.ResultsTwenty-seven thousand seven hundred fifty-eight participants were included and 2,814 (10.1%) reported having a COVID-19 infection. The odds of COVID-19 infection were reduced with use of a face covering in unadjusted (OR 0.17 (95% CI: 0.15 to 0.20) and adjusted (aOR 0.19, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.23) analyses. Social distancing (OR 0.27, 95% CI: 0.22 to 0.31; aOR 0.35, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.43) and handwashing when arriving home (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.73; aOR 0.63, 95% CI: 0.48 to 0.83) also reduced the odds of COVID-19. Being in crowded places of 10-100 people (OR 1.89, 95% CI: 1.70 to 2.11; aOR 1.62, 95% CI: 1.42 to 1.85) and > 100 people (OR 2.33, 95% CI: 2.11 to 2.58; aOR 1.73, 95% CI: 1.53 to 1.97) were both associated with increased odds of COVID-19 infection. Handwashing before eating, avoiding touching the face, and cleaning things with virus on were all associated with increased odds of COVID-19 infections.ConclusionsThis large observational study found evidence for strong protective effects for individuals from use of face coverings, social distancing (including avoiding crowded places) and handwashing on arriving home on developing COVID-19 infection. We also found evidence for an increased risk associated with other behaviours, possibly from recall bias.

Dataset Information

Food Insecurity and COVID-19 Infection: Findings From the 2020-2021 National Health Interview Survey.

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Food Insecurity and COVID-19 Infection: Findings From the 2020-2021 National Health Interview Survey.

Similar Datasets

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