New Findings Reported from Medical College of Wisconsin Describe Advances in Mental Health Diseases and Conditions (Associated SDOH needs of patients without health insurance and experiencing food insecurity): Mental Health Diseases and Conditions

Insurance Daily News

2024 JUN 04 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- A new study on mental health diseases and conditions is now available. According to news originating from Medical College of Wisconsin by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “Although patients experiencing food insecurity commonly screen positive for a myriad of social determinants of health (SDOH) needs and chronic medical conditions influenced by diet, few studies have investigated associations within both uninsured and food insecure populations.”

Funders for this research include National Institute of General Medical Sciences; Department of Community Engagement, Medical College of Wisconsin; Department of Family And Community Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin; Robert D. And Patricia E. Kern Institute For The Transformation of Medical Education, Medical College of Wisconsin.

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from Medical College of Wisconsin: “We screened patients for food insecurity using the USDA six-item short form between October 2021 and April 2022. We then evaluated associations of food security status with nine separate SDOH needs and eight chronic medical conditions. In this cross-sectional study, of the 190 patients seen at a student-run free clinic serving patients without health insurance, 135 (71%) completed the SDOH survey. We identified chronic medical conditions via retrospective chart review and analyzed associations using multivariable logistic regressions adjusted for age and sex. Uninsured participants experiencing food insecurity (n = 22,16.3%) requested more support for: medications (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 7.28; 95% Confidence Interval [95% CI] = 2.33-23.2); p-value [P] = < 0.001, housing (AOR = 9.99; 95% CI = 2.29-48.7; P = 0.002), utilities (AOR = 3.94; 95% CI = 1.07-13.5; P = 0.03), mental health resources (AOR = 4.54; 95% CI = 1.66-12.5; P = 0.003), health insurance (AOR = 2.86; 95% CI = 1.09-8.22; P = 0.04), and dental care (AOR = 3.65; 95% CI = 1.26-13.3; P = 0.03). These participants were more likely to have anxiety (AOR = 3.26; 95% CI = 1.23-8.38; P = 0.02) and depression (AOR = 2.88; 95% CI = 1.01-7.80; P = 0.04) diagnoses or symptoms.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “We also discovered that individuals aged 18-50 experiencing food insecurity had a higher number of health conditions (AOR = 6.3455; 95% CI = 1.49-26.99; P = 0.01), underscoring the profound impact of SDOH in younger populations. Understanding the interplay between food insecurity, SDOH needs, and medical conditions informs interventions, including food distribution programs and enhanced mental health resources.”

For more information on this research see: Associated SDOH needs of patients without health insurance and experiencing food insecurity. Discover Social Science and Health, 2024,4(1):1-10. The publisher for Discover Social Science and Health is Springer.

A free version of this journal article is available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s44155-024-00084-2.