@article{alhanti_joode_martinez_mora_gamboa_reich_lindh_lepiz_hoppin_2021, title={Environmental exposures contribute to respiratory and allergic symptoms among women living in the banana growing regions of Costa Rica}, volume={12}, ISSN={["1470-7926"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2021-107611}, DOI={10.1136/oemed-2021-107611}, abstractNote={ObjectivesThis research evaluates whether environmental exposures (pesticides and smoke) influence respiratory and allergic outcomes in women living in a tropical, agricultural environment.MethodsWe used data from 266 mothers from the Infants’ Environmental Health cohort study in Costa Rica. We evaluated environmental exposures in women by measuring seven pesticide and two polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons metabolites in urine samples. We defined ‘high exposure’ as having a metabolite value in the top 75th percentile. We collected survey data on respiratory and allergic outcomes in mothers as well as on pesticides and other environmental exposures. Using logistic regression models adjusted for obesity, we assessed the associations of pesticide exposure with multiple outcomes (wheeze, doctor-diagnosed asthma, high (≥2) asthma score based on symptoms, rhinitis, eczema and itchy rash).ResultsCurrent pesticide use in the home was positively associated with diagnosed asthma (OR=1.99 (95% CI=1.05 to 3.87)). High urinary levels of 5-hydroxythiabendazole (thiabendazole metabolite) and living in a neighbourhood with frequent smoke from waste burning were associated with a high asthma score (OR=1.84 (95%CI=1.05 to 3.25) and OR=2.31 (95%CI=1.11 to 5.16), respectively). Women who worked in agriculture had a significantly lower prevalence of rhinitis (0.19 (0.01 to 0.93)), but were more likely to report eczema (OR=2.54 (95%CI=1.33 to 4.89)) and an itchy rash (OR=3.17 (95%CI=1.24 to 7.73)).ConclusionsWhile limited by sample size, these findings suggest that environmental exposure to both pesticides and smoke may impact respiratory and skin-related allergic outcomes in women.}, journal={OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE}, author={Alhanti, Brooke and Joode, Berna van Wendel and Martinez, Manuel Soto and Mora, Ana M. and Gamboa, Leonel Cordoba and Reich, Brian and Lindh, Christian H. and Lepiz, Marcela Quiros and Hoppin, Jane A.}, year={2021}, month={Dec} }
 @article{chow_greene_north_blumer_truby_alhanti_butler_ezekowitz_starling_mentz_2021, title={Sex-Differences in Cause of Death for Patients Hospitalized for Heart Failure With Reduced Versus Preserved Ejection Fraction (from the ASCEND-HF Trial)}, volume={154}, ISSN={["1879-1913"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.amjcard.2021.06.006}, abstractNote={Previous studies suggest that mode of death among heart failure (HF) patients may differ by sex and ejection fraction (EF). 1 Lam CSP Arnott C Beale AL Chandramouli C Hilfiker-Kleiner D Kaye DM Ky B Santema BT Sliwa K Voors AA. Sex differences in heart failure. Eur Heart J. 2019; 40: 3859-3868 Crossref PubMed Scopus (79) Google Scholar However, the interplay between sex, EF, and cause of death in acute HF (AHF) is not well characterized. The ASCEND-HF trial dataset offers an opportunity to examine sex-differences in mode of death in patients hospitalized for HF with reduced versus preserved EF.}, journal={AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY}, author={Chow, Christine and Greene, Stephen J. and North, Rebecca and Blumer, Vanessa and Truby, Lauren K. and Alhanti, Brooke and Butler, Javed and Ezekowitz, Justin A. and Starling, Randall C. and Mentz, Robert J.}, year={2021}, month={Sep}, pages={123–126} }
 @article{mohamed_alhanti_mccullough_goodin_roling_glickman_2018, title={Temporal association of implementation of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) with changes in dental-related emergency department visits in Maricopa County from 2006 to 2012}, volume={78}, ISSN={["1752-7325"]}, DOI={10.1111/jphd.12238}, abstractNote={AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate changes in emergency department (ED) dental‐related visits in Maricopa County before and after the elimination of dental benefits for adult Medicaid‐insured patients as of October 2010.MethodsHospital visits extracted from a hospital discharge dataset were used to calculate a yearly rate ratio of dental‐related versus non–dental‐related ED visits (as a comparison group) for adults, children, and payer types. Changes in ED visits over time were evaluated from 2006 to 2012.ResultsOverall, 1.3 percent of all ED visits (8,030,767) were for dental‐related purposes. Medicaid‐insured patients accounted for 41.9 percent and 44.3 percent of all dental‐related ED visits in 2006 and 2012, respectively. The rate ratio for the percentage of dental‐related versus non–dental‐related ED visits in each age category and payer type showed little fluctuation over time indicating no evidence of change in the dental‐related ED visits as a proportion of the overall number of visits due to the cuts in the dental benefits for adult Medicaid‐insured patients.ConclusionWe found no evidence that cuts in dental benefits for adult Medicaid‐insured patients resulted in increased dental‐related ED visits in Maricopa County during the study period. Rather, we found evidence of a shift in payer type after the 2010 policy change where dental‐related ED visits by self‐paid patients increased as dental‐related ED visits by Medicaid‐insured patients decreased. Such payer shifts will result in high uncompensated care burdens for providers and, ultimately, governmental payers.}, number={1}, journal={JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY}, author={Mohamed, Ahmed and Alhanti, Brooke and McCullough, Mac and Goodin, Kate and Roling, Kirsten and Glickman, Larry}, year={2018}, pages={49–55} }