Christopher T Rentsch
Biographic Data
| ID | 4792786 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Christopher T Rentsch |
| GIVEN NAMES | Christopher T |
| FAMILY NAME | Rentsch |
| SIGNATURE | RENTSCH C T |
| AFFILIATIONS | London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-1408-7907 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 19 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 8 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 19 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2012 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
What Are High-Quality Race and Ethnicity Data and How Are They Used in Health Equity Research
The COVID-19 pandemic changed public awareness of the importance of high-quality race and ethnicity data for identifying and redressing widely documented racial and ethnic health inequity. This article emphasizes the importance of high-quality race and ethnicity data in health equity research, as highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The article defines what constitutes high-quality race and ethnicity data, discusses challenges in using these dat…
How Should Meaningful Evidence Be Generated From Datasets
Datasets are often considered "ideal" when they are large and contain longitudinal and representative data. But even research that uses ideal datasets might not generate high-quality evidence. This article emphasizes the roles that transparency plays in enhancing observational epidemiological findings' credibility and relevance and argues that epidemiological research can produce high-quality evidence even when datasets are not ideal. This articl…
Alcohol use disorder and body mass index show genetic pleiotropy and shared neural associations
Hypertension Control During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic
DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: We sought to examine whether disruptions in follow-up intervals contributed to hypertension control. BACKGROUND: Disruptions in health care were widespread during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We identified a cohort of individuals with hypertension in both prepandemic (March 2019-February 2020) and pandemic periods (March 2020-February 2022) in the Veterans Health Admin…
Enhanced Identification of Hispanic Ethnicity Using Clinical Data
BACKGROUND: Collection of accurate Hispanic ethnicity data is critical to evaluate disparities in health and health care. However, this information is often inconsistently recorded in electronic health record (EHR) data. OBJECTIVE: To enhance capture of Hispanic ethnicity in the Veterans Affairs EHR and compare relative disparities in health and health care. METHODS: We first developed an algorithm based on surname and country of birth. We then d…
Sociodemographic and clinical correlates of gabapentin receipt with and without opioids among a national cohort of patients with HIV
Gabapentin is commonly prescribed for chronic pain, including to patients with HIV (PWH). There is growing concern regarding gabapentin's potential for harm, particularly in combination with opioids. Among PWH, we examined factors associated with higher doses of gabapentin receipt and determined if receipt varied by opioid use. We examined data from the Veterans Aging Cohort Study, a national prospective cohort including PWH, from 2002 through 20…
Accuracy of the Veterans Health Administration Covid-19 (Vaco) Index for predicting short-term mortality among 1307 US academic medical centre inpatients and 427 224 US Medicare patients
BACKGROUND: The Veterans Health Administration COVID-19 (VACO) Index predicts 30-day all-cause mortality in patients with COVID-19 using age, sex and pre-existing comorbidity diagnoses. The VACO Index was initially developed and validated in a nationwide cohort of US veterans-we now assess its accuracy in an academic medical centre and a nationwide US Medicare cohort. METHODS: With measures and weights previously derived and validated in US natio…
Ethnic differences in Sars-CoV-2 infection and Covid-19-related hospitalisation, intensive care unit admission, and death in 17 million adults in England
BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has disproportionately affected minority ethnic populations in the UK. Our aim was to quantify ethnic differences in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 outcomes during the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in England. METHODS: We conducted an observational cohort study of adults (aged ≥18 years) registered with primary care practices in England for whom electronic health records were available through the OpenSAF…
UK prevalence of underlying conditions which increase the risk of severe Covid-19 disease
The population at risk of severe COVID-19 (defined as either aged ≥70 years, or younger with an underlying health condition) comprises 18.5 million individuals in the UK, including a considerable proportion of school-aged and working-aged individuals. Our national estimates broadly support the use of Global Burden of Disease modelled estimates in other countries. We provide age- and region- stratified prevalence for each condition to support effe…
Long-term Patterns of Self-reported Opioid Use, Vacs Index, and Mortality Among People with HIV Engaged in Care
Factors associated with Covid-19-related death using OpenSafely
Patterns and Correlates of Prescription Opioid Receipt Among US Veterans
Differentiating Types of Self-Reported Alcohol Abstinence
Non-disclosure of HIV testing history in population-based surveys
Background: HIV/AIDS programmes and organisations around the world use routinely updated estimates of the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets to track progress and prioritise further programme implementation. Any bias in these estimates has the potential to mislead organisations on where gaps exist in HIV testing and treatment programmes. Objective: To measure the extent of undisclosed HIV testing history and its impact on estimating the proportion of people…
Alcohol-Related Diagnoses and All-Cause Hospitalization Among HIV-Infected and Uninfected Patients
Comparison of colorectal cancer screening and diagnoses in HIV-positive and HIV-negative veterans
Non-AIDS defining malignancies, including colorectal cancer (CRC), are emerging as significant problems in HIV-infected people. Some data suggest that HIV-positive patients have higher incidence of CRC at younger ages than those who are HIV-negative. This investigation examined CRC rates and screening types and trends between 943 HIV-infected cases and their age, race, and gender matched HIV-negative controls (n = 943) from 1 January 2005 to 31 D…
Minority Stress in the Lives of Men Who Have Sex With Men in Cape Town, South Africa
The mental health outcomes of men who have sex with men (MSM) living in sub-Saharan Africa are understudied, despite evidence that discrimination and stigma are widespread. This article examines the occurrence and mental health effects of minority stress in a sample of diverse South African MSM. Twenty-two MSM living in Cape Town took part in exploratory qualitative in-depth interviews and completed mental health questionnaires. Results indicate …
High levels of acceptability of couples-based HIV testing among MSM in South Africa
The acceptability of couples-based voluntary HIV counseling and testing (CVCT) has not been previously investigated among men who have sex with men (MSM) in South Africa. Using online advertisements, data were collected from 486 MSM, who were 18 years of age or older with a current residence in South Africa and had at least one male sex partner in the previous 12 months. The analysis examined associations between individual characteristics and wi…
Attitudes Toward Couples-Based HIV Counseling and Testing Among MSM in Cape Town, South Africa
Minority Stress in the Lives of Men Who Have Sex With Men in Cape Town, South Africa
The mental health outcomes of men who have sex with men (MSM) living in sub-Saharan Africa are understudied, despite evidence that discrimination and stigma are widespread. This article examines the occurrence and mental health effects of minority stress in a sample of diverse South African MSM. Twenty-two MSM living in Cape Town took part in exploratory qualitative in-depth interviews and completed mental health questionnaires. Results indicate …
High levels of acceptability of couples-based HIV testing among MSM in South Africa
The acceptability of couples-based voluntary HIV counseling and testing (CVCT) has not been previously investigated among men who have sex with men (MSM) in South Africa. Using online advertisements, data were collected from 486 MSM, who were 18 years of age or older with a current residence in South Africa and had at least one male sex partner in the previous 12 months. The analysis examined associations between individual characteristics and wi…
Attitudes Toward Couples-Based HIV Counseling and Testing Among MSM in Cape Town, South Africa
Comparison of colorectal cancer screening and diagnoses in HIV-positive and HIV-negative veterans
Non-AIDS defining malignancies, including colorectal cancer (CRC), are emerging as significant problems in HIV-infected people. Some data suggest that HIV-positive patients have higher incidence of CRC at younger ages than those who are HIV-negative. This investigation examined CRC rates and screening types and trends between 943 HIV-infected cases and their age, race, and gender matched HIV-negative controls (n = 943) from 1 January 2005 to 31 D…
Minority Stress in the Lives of Men Who Have Sex With Men in Cape Town, South Africa
The mental health outcomes of men who have sex with men (MSM) living in sub-Saharan Africa are understudied, despite evidence that discrimination and stigma are widespread. This article examines the occurrence and mental health effects of minority stress in a sample of diverse South African MSM. Twenty-two MSM living in Cape Town took part in exploratory qualitative in-depth interviews and completed mental health questionnaires. Results indicate …
Alcohol-Related Diagnoses and All-Cause Hospitalization Among HIV-Infected and Uninfected Patients
Non-disclosure of HIV testing history in population-based surveys
Background: HIV/AIDS programmes and organisations around the world use routinely updated estimates of the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets to track progress and prioritise further programme implementation. Any bias in these estimates has the potential to mislead organisations on where gaps exist in HIV testing and treatment programmes. Objective: To measure the extent of undisclosed HIV testing history and its impact on estimating the proportion of people…
Patterns and Correlates of Prescription Opioid Receipt Among US Veterans
Differentiating Types of Self-Reported Alcohol Abstinence
Factors associated with Covid-19-related death using OpenSafely
Ethnic differences in Sars-CoV-2 infection and Covid-19-related hospitalisation, intensive care unit admission, and death in 17 million adults in England
BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has disproportionately affected minority ethnic populations in the UK. Our aim was to quantify ethnic differences in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 outcomes during the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in England. METHODS: We conducted an observational cohort study of adults (aged ≥18 years) registered with primary care practices in England for whom electronic health records were available through the OpenSAF…
UK prevalence of underlying conditions which increase the risk of severe Covid-19 disease
The population at risk of severe COVID-19 (defined as either aged ≥70 years, or younger with an underlying health condition) comprises 18.5 million individuals in the UK, including a considerable proportion of school-aged and working-aged individuals. Our national estimates broadly support the use of Global Burden of Disease modelled estimates in other countries. We provide age- and region- stratified prevalence for each condition to support effe…
Long-term Patterns of Self-reported Opioid Use, Vacs Index, and Mortality Among People with HIV Engaged in Care
Sociodemographic and clinical correlates of gabapentin receipt with and without opioids among a national cohort of patients with HIV
Gabapentin is commonly prescribed for chronic pain, including to patients with HIV (PWH). There is growing concern regarding gabapentin's potential for harm, particularly in combination with opioids. Among PWH, we examined factors associated with higher doses of gabapentin receipt and determined if receipt varied by opioid use. We examined data from the Veterans Aging Cohort Study, a national prospective cohort including PWH, from 2002 through 20…
Accuracy of the Veterans Health Administration Covid-19 (Vaco) Index for predicting short-term mortality among 1307 US academic medical centre inpatients and 427 224 US Medicare patients
BACKGROUND: The Veterans Health Administration COVID-19 (VACO) Index predicts 30-day all-cause mortality in patients with COVID-19 using age, sex and pre-existing comorbidity diagnoses. The VACO Index was initially developed and validated in a nationwide cohort of US veterans-we now assess its accuracy in an academic medical centre and a nationwide US Medicare cohort. METHODS: With measures and weights previously derived and validated in US natio…
Enhanced Identification of Hispanic Ethnicity Using Clinical Data
BACKGROUND: Collection of accurate Hispanic ethnicity data is critical to evaluate disparities in health and health care. However, this information is often inconsistently recorded in electronic health record (EHR) data. OBJECTIVE: To enhance capture of Hispanic ethnicity in the Veterans Affairs EHR and compare relative disparities in health and health care. METHODS: We first developed an algorithm based on surname and country of birth. We then d…
Hypertension Control During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic
DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: We sought to examine whether disruptions in follow-up intervals contributed to hypertension control. BACKGROUND: Disruptions in health care were widespread during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We identified a cohort of individuals with hypertension in both prepandemic (March 2019-February 2020) and pandemic periods (March 2020-February 2022) in the Veterans Health Admin…
What Are High-Quality Race and Ethnicity Data and How Are They Used in Health Equity Research
The COVID-19 pandemic changed public awareness of the importance of high-quality race and ethnicity data for identifying and redressing widely documented racial and ethnic health inequity. This article emphasizes the importance of high-quality race and ethnicity data in health equity research, as highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The article defines what constitutes high-quality race and ethnicity data, discusses challenges in using these dat…
How Should Meaningful Evidence Be Generated From Datasets
Datasets are often considered "ideal" when they are large and contain longitudinal and representative data. But even research that uses ideal datasets might not generate high-quality evidence. This article emphasizes the roles that transparency plays in enhancing observational epidemiological findings' credibility and relevance and argues that epidemiological research can produce high-quality evidence even when datasets are not ideal. This articl…
Alcohol use disorder and body mass index show genetic pleiotropy and shared neural associations
Medicine (18 works) · Internal Medicine (11 works) · Demography (8 works) · Public health (8 works) · Cohort (7 works) · Cohort study (6 works) · Disease (6 works) · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk (6 works) · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions (6 works) · Psychology (6 works)