Volume 55 | Number S2 | October 2020

Abstract List

Michelle S. Wong PhD, W. Neil Steers PhD, Katherine J. Hoggatt PhD, Boback Ziaeian MD, PhD, Donna L. Washington MD, MPH


Objective

To examine mediation and moderation of racial/ethnic all‐cause mortality disparities among Veteran Health Administration (VHA)‐users by neighborhood deprivation and residential segregation.


Data sources

Electronic medical records for 10/2008‐9/2009 VHA‐users linked to National Death Index, 2000 Area Deprivation Index, and 2006‐2009 US Census.


Study design

Racial/ethnic groups included American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN), Asian, non‐Hispanic black, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, and non‐Hispanic white (reference). We measured neighborhood deprivation by Area Deprivation Index, calculated segregation for non‐Hispanic black, Hispanic, and AI/AN using the Isolation Index, evaluated mediation using inverse odds‐weighted Cox regression models and moderation using Cox regression models testing for neighborhood*race/ethnicity interactions.


Principal findings

Mortality disparities existed for AI/ANs (HR = 1.07, 95%CI:1.01‐1.10) but no other groups after covariate adjustment. Neighborhood deprivation and Hispanic segregation neither mediated nor moderated AI/AN disparities. Non‐Hispanic black segregation both mediated and moderated AI/AN disparities. The AI/AN vs. non‐Hispanic white disparity was attenuated for AI/ANs living in neighborhoods with greater non‐Hispanic black segregation ( = .047). Black segregation's mediating effect was limited to VHA‐users living in counties with low black segregation. AI/AN segregation also mediated AI/AN mortality disparities in counties that included or were near AI/AN reservations.


Conclusions

Neighborhood characteristics, particularly black and AI/AN residential segregation, may contribute to AI/AN mortality disparities among VHA‐users, particularly in communities that were rural, had greater black segregation, or were located on or near AI/AN reservations. This suggests the importance of neighborhood social determinants of health on racial/ethnic mortality disparities. Living near reservations may allow AI/AN VHA‐users to maintain cultural and tribal ties, while also providing them with access to economic and other resources. Future research should explore the experiences of AI/ANs living in black communities and underlying mechanisms to identify targets for intervention.