Strategies for Strengthening the Evidence Base for Employee Health Promotion Programs

This weekly compilation of articles appearing in recently released journals and newsletters includes:

• Articles funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) or authored by AHRQ researchers.
• Articles mentioning or discussing AHRQ staff, activities, and publications/products.
• Articles related to AHRQ-funded Evidence-based Practice Centers.
• Articles related to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force or Put Prevention into Practice program.
• Articles mentioning the National Healthcare Disparities Report and National Healthcare Quality Report.
• Other research using AHRQ data or products.

AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles

American Journal of Health Promotion
Goetzel RZ, Schoenman JA, Chapman LS, et al. Strategies for strengthening the evidence base for employee health promotion programs. Am J Health Promot 2011 Sep-Oct; 26(1):TAHP1-TAHP6, iii. [Supported in part by grant 1 R13 HS18132-01.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Therapeutics
Liu CC, Xia R, Guadagnolo A, et al. Risk of xerostomia in association with the receipt of radiation therapy in older patients with head and neck cancer. Am J Ther 2011 May; 18(3):206-15. [Supported in part by grant R01 HS16743; uses the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded articles by Romano, Roos, and Jollis (J Clin Epidemiol, 1993) and Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Surgery
Kozower BD, Stukenborg GJ. The relationship between hospital lung cancer resection volume and patient mortality risk. Ann Surg 2011 Dec; 254(6):1032-7. [Supported by grants K08 HS18049 (to first author) and R01 HS17693001A1 (to second author); uses 2007 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) and AHRQ publication, 2004 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Comparison Report, HCUP Methods Series Report 2007-03, 2007, both published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, and uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
Feudtner C, Dai D, Hexem KR, et al. Prevalence of polypharmacy exposure among hospitalized children in the United States. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2012 Jan; 166(1):9-16. [Supported by Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs) grant U18 HS17991.] Select to access the abstract.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Suri P, Miyakoshi A, Hunter DJ, Jarvik JG, et al. Does lumbar spinal degeneration begin with the anterior structures? A study of the observed epidemiology in a community-based population. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2011 Sep 13; 12:202. [Supported in part by grant R01 HS19222-01 (to fourth author).] Select to access the abstract.

Circulation. Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes
Concannon TW, Nelson J, Goetz J, et al. A percutaneous coronary intervention lab in every hospital? Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2011 Dec 6. [Epub ahead of print. Supported in part by grant K01 HS17726 (to first and third authors).] Select to access the abstract.

Health Economics
Clancy CM. Let the data be our guide: trends and tools for research on health care utilization. Health Econ 2012 Jan; 21(1):19-23. [Author is AHRQ director; discusses HCUP databases and other data sources, including the National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR) and National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR) for 2010; cites the HCUP landing on the AHRQ Web site; cites Databases, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites AHRQ's My Own Network, Powered by AHRQ (MONAHRQ) Web site; cites AHRQ publications, All-Cause Readmissions by Payer and Age, 2008, HCUP Statistical Brief 115, 2011, Medication-Related Averse Outcomes in U.S. Hospitals and Emergency Departments, 2008, HCUP Statistical Brief 109, 2011, Potentially Preventable Hospitalizations for Acute and Chronic Conditions, 2008, HCUP Statistical Brief 99, 2010, and Identifying, Categorizing, and Evaluating Health Care Efficiency Measures. Final Report, 2008.]

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Arora VM, Chang KL, Fazal AZ, et al. Objective sleep duration and quality in hospitalized older adults: associations with blood pressure and mood. J Am Geriatr Soc 2011 Nov; 59(11):2185-6. [Supported in part by CERTs grant 1 U18 HS16967-01.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Nursing Scholarship
Brooks-Carthon JM, Kutney-Lee A, Sloane DM, et al. Quality of care and patient satisfaction in hospitals with high concentrations of black patients. J Nurs Scholarsh 2011 Sep; 43(3):301-10. [Supported in part by grants K01 NR012006 (principal investigator is first author) and 1 K08 HS18534 (principal investigator is second author); uses 2007-2006 Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey data, citing data published on the Hospital Compare Web site, and CAHPS Hospital Survey (HCAHPS) Quality Assurance Guidelines, version 5.0, 2010, as published on the HCAHPS Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Care
Epstein AJ, Ketcham JD, Rathore SS, et al. Variations in the use of an innovative technology by payer: the case of drug-eluting stents. Med Care 2012 Jan; 50(1):1-9. [Supported in part by grant 1 R01 HS18403; uses 2003-2008 HCUP NIS data, citing Introduction to the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2007, 2009, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Epstein AJ, Polsky D, Yang F, et al. Geographic variation in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator use and heart failure survival. Med Care 2012 Jan; 50(1):10-17. [Supported in part by grant 1 R01 HS18403; uses AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Bleich SN, Chang HY, Lau B, et al. Impact of bariatric surgery on health care utilization and costs among patients with diabetes. Med Care 2012 Jan; 50(1):58-65. [Supported by contract HHSA290-2005-0034-I-TO4-WA1, project I.D. 35-EHC conducted by the Johns Hopkins University Developing Evidence to Inform Decisions about Effectiveness (DEcIDE) Center.] Select to access the abstract.

Quality of Life Research
Khanna D, Maranian P, Palta M, Kaplan RM, Hays RD, Cherepanov D, et al. Health-related quality of life in adults reporting arthritis: analysis from the National Health Measurement Study. Qual Life Res 2011 Sep; 20(7):1131-40. [Supported in part by grant T32 HS00046 (to sixth author, the University of California, Los Angeles, and RAND Corporation, Santa Monica).] Select to access the abstract.

Statistics in Medicine
Yu Z, Liu L. A joint model of recurrent events and a terminal event with a nonparametric covariate function. Stat Med 2011 Sep 30; 30(22):2683-95. [Supported in part by grant R03 HS16543.] Select to access the abstract.

Women and Health
Krans EE, Chang JC. A will without a way: barriers and facilitators to exercise during pregnancy of low-income African American women. Women Health 2011 Dec; 51(8):777-94. [Supported by grant 1 K08 HS13913-01A1. Also refer to AHRQ-funded article by Bennett et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2012), cited in Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles.] Select to access the abstract.

AHRQ-Related Articles

American Journal of Managed Care
Perrin NA, Stiefel M, Mosen DM, et al. Self-reported health and functional status information improves prediction of inpatient admissions and costs. Am J Manag Care 2011 Dec; 17(12):e472-e478. [Cites findings from AHRQ-authored articles by Fleishman, Cohen (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) et al. (Med Care, 2006) and Fleishman and Cohen (Health Serv Res, 2010) and article by DeSalvo et al. (Med Care, 2009), which uses Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data.] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Internal Medicine
Drye EE, Normand SL, Wang Y, et al. Comparison of hospital risk-standardized mortality rates calculated by using in-hospital and 30-day models: an observational study with implications for hospital profiling. Ann Intern Med 2012 Jan 3; 156(1 Pt 1):19-26. [Mentions AHRQ's development of 15 in-hospital mortality indicators, a subset of which are publicly reported by nine states and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), citing AHRQ publication, Inpatient Quality Indicators Overview, 2006, and Health Care Report Card Compendium, as published on AHRQ's Talking Quality Web site; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Baker et al. (Med Care, 2002) and Zaslavsky (Int J Qual Health Care, 2001).] Select to access the abstract.

Mitchell SL, Black BS, Ersek M, Hanson LC, Miller SC, Sachs GA, et al. Advanced dementia: state of the art and priorities for the next decade. Ann Intern Med 2012 Jan 3; 156(1 Part 1):45-51. [Notes that sixth author has received previous AHRQ funding and/or has pending AHRQ grants; cites AHRQ-funded articles by van der Steen (J Am Med Dir Assoc, 2007 and J Am Geriatr Soc, 2004), Miller et al. (J Am Geriatr Soc, 2004), Mehr et al. (Gerontologist, 2003), and Miller, Gozalo, and Mor (Am J Med, 2001).] Select to access the abstract.

Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
Stevens MW, Hainsworth KR, Weisman SJ, et al. Health-related quality of life in pediatric minor injury: reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the pediatric quality of life inventory in the emergency department. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2012 Jan; 166(1):74-81. [Cites AHRQ-authored articles by Forrest, Shipman, Dougherty, and Miller (third author is current researcher in AHRQ's Office of Extramural Research, Education, and Priority Populations and last author is former AHRQ researcher) (Pediatrics, 2003), Clancy (AHRQ director), Dougherty, and Walker (Ambul Pediatr, 2002), and Clancy and Eisenberg (former AHRQ director) (Science, 1998); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Christakis, Johnston, and Connell (Ambul Pediatr, 2001) and Wyrwich et al. (Med Care, 1999).] Select to access the abstract.

Circulation
Freeman JV, Wang Y, Curtis JP, et al. Physician procedure volume and complications of cardioverter-defibrillator implantation. Circulation 2012 Jan 3-10; 125(1):57-64. [Cites AHRQ's HCUPnet as a source of data on the use of biventricular ICDs.] Select to access the abstract.

Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Clinics of North America
Walters SR. Demonstrating value: registries and beyond. Gastrointest Endosc Clin N Am 2012 Jan; 22(1):135-45. [Discusses AHRQ's definition of a patient registry, citing AHRQ publication, Registries for Evaluating Patient Outcomes: A User's Guide, 2007, as prepared by the Outcome DEcIDE Center under contract HHSA290-2005-0035-I-TO3; mentions AHRQ's receipt of comparative effectiveness research funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).] Select to access the abstract.

JAMA
Emanuel EJ. Where are the health care cost savings? JAMA 2012 Jan 4; 307(1):39-40. [Cites AHRQ publication, Research in Action: The High Concentration of U.S. Health Care Expenditures, 2006, as published on the AHRQ Web site.]

Medical Care
Graham J, Tomcavage J, Salek D, et al. Postdischarge monitoring using interactive voice response system reduces 30-day readmission rates in a case-managed Medicare population. Med Care 2012 Jan; 50(1):50-7. [Cites AHRQ publication, Nationwide Frequency and Costs of Potentially Preventable Hospitalizations, 2006, HCUP Statistical Brief 72, 2009, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Pediatrics
Long WE, Bauchner H, Sege RD, et al. The value of the medical home for children without special health care needs. Pediatrics 2012 Jan; 129(1):87-98. [Cites AHRQ-funded/authored article by Cunningham, Clancy, Cohen (second and third authors are AHRQ director and researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends, respectively) et al. (Med Care Res Rev, 1995); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Homer et al. (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

Rosen LJ, Noach MB, Winickoff JP, et al. Parental smoking cessation to protect young children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pediatrics 2012 Jan; 129(1):141-52. [Cites AHRQ-sponsored guideline, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update, 2008.] Select to access the abstract.

Tanski SE, Wilson KM. Children and secondhand smoke: clear evidence for action. Pediatrics 2012 Jan; 129(1):170-171. [Comments on article by Rosen et al. cited above in this section.]

Ishida Y, Ohde S, Takahashi O, et al. Factors affecting health care utilization for children in Japan. Pediatrics 2012 Jan; 129(1):e113-e119. [Cites AHRQ-authored article by Simpson, Owens, Zodet, Chevarley, Dougherty, Elixhauser, et al. (authors are current and former AHRQ researchers) (Ambul Pediatr, 2005), which uses various AHRQ datasets; cites AHRQ-funded articles by D'Souza-Vazirani et al. (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, 2005), Feinberg et al. (Pediatrics, 2002), and Green et al. (N Engl J Med, 2001).] Select to access the abstract.

Payne NR, Barry J, Berg W, et al. Sustained reduction in neonatal nosocomial infections through quality improvement efforts. Pediatrics 2012 Jan; 129(1):e165-e173. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Shonkoff JP, Garner AS, The Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health, et al. The lifelong effects of early childhood adversity and toxic stress. Pediatrics 2012 Jan; 129(1):e232-e246. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by DeVoe et al. (JAMA, 2008) and Reid, Vittinghoff, and Kushel (J Health Care Poor Underserved, 2008).] Select to access the abstract.

Pharmaceutical Executive
Looney W. The medicines adherence challenge. Pharmaceutical Executive 2011 Dec; 31(12):46-48, 50-1. [Mentions AHRQ's collaboration with the National Consumers League campaign on medication safety issues.]

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)/Put Prevention Into Practice (PPIP)-Related Articles

Annals of Internal Medicine
Correction: Liquid-based cytology and human papillomavirus screening for cervical cancer. Ann Intern Med 2012 Jan 3; 156(1 Pt 1):71-2. [Corrects the first paragraph in USPSTF-sponsored systematic review on liquid-based cytology and human papillomavirus screening for cervical cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2011).]

International Journal of Clinical Practice
Chen WT, White CM, Phung OJ, et al. Are the risk factors listed in warfarin prescribing information associated with anticoagulation-related bleeding? A systematic literature review. Int J Clin Pract 2011 Jul; 65(7):749-63. [Rates validity of selected evaluations using methods consistent with those given in USPSTF-sponsored article by Harris et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2001) on USPSTF methodologies.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of General Internal Medicine
So C, Kirby KA, Mehta K, et al. Medical center characteristics associated with PSA screening in elderly veterans with limited life expectancy. J Gen Intern Med 2011 Dec 17. [Epub ahead of print. Discusses/cites previous USPSTF recommendations on prostate cancer screening (Ann Intern Med, 2002) and Screening for Prostate Cancer: Draft Recommendation Statement, 2011, as published on the USPSTF Web site; cites articles by Purvis Cooper et al. (Prev Med, 2004), Fisher (J Fam Pract, 2002), and Sirovich et al. (Health Aff, 2008), which use/discuss USPSTF recommendations on prostate cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2002); uses the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).] Select to access the abstract.

Lancet
Chan AT, Lippman SM. Aspirin and colorectal cancer prevention in Lynch syndrome. Lancet 2011 Dec 17; 378(9809):2051-2. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on routine aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the primary prevention of colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2007).]

Pediatrics
Wainer S, Parmar SM, Allegro D, et al. Impact of a transcutaneous bilirubinometry program on resource utilization and severe hyperbilirubinemia. Pediatrics 2012 Jan; 129(1):77-86. [Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening of infants for hyperbilirubinemia to prevent chronic bilirubin encephalopathy (Pediatrics, 2009).] Select to access the abstract.

Anderson SE, Gooze RA, Lemeshow S, et al. Quality of early maternal-child relationship and risk of adolescent obesity. Pediatrics 2012 Jan; 129(1):132-40. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored targeted systematic review on the effectiveness of weight management interventions in children (Pediatrics, 2010).] Select to access the abstract.

Evans GW, Fuller-Rowell TE, Doan SN. Childhood cumulative risk and obesity: the mediating role of self-regulatory ability. Pediatrics 2012 Jan; 129(1):e68-e73. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence summary on screening and interventions for childhood overweight (Pediatrics, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

Deem KC, Diaz-Ordaz EA, Shiner B. Identifying quality improvement opportunities in a universal newborn hearing screening program. Pediatrics 2012 Jan; 129(1):e157-e164. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored systematic review to update the 2001 USPSTF-sponsored recommendations on universal newborn hearing screening (Pediatrics, 2008); cites AHRQ-authored article by Russ, Dougherty, and Jagadish (second and third authors are researchers in AHRQ's Office of Extramural Research, Education, and Priority Populations), (Pediatrics, 2010). Also refer to article by Masoomi et al. (J Gastrointest Surg, 2011) cited in Research By Others Using AHRQ Data or Products.] Select to access the abstract.

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

Annals of Internal Medicine
Bennett WL, Odelola OA, Wilson LM, et al. Evaluation of guideline recommendations on oral medications for type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review. Ann Intern Med 2012 Jan 3; 156(1 Pt 1):27-36. [Supported by contract 290-02-0018 to the John Hopkins University Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC); reviews clinical practice guidelines with recommendations on oral medications for type 2 diabetes, identified in part via AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse™, to assess their consistency with findings from AHRQ comparative effectiveness review, Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Oral Diabetes Medications for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes, 2007, and AHRQ-funded systematic review by Bolen et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2007) on comparative effectiveness and safety of oral medications for type 2 diabetes mellitus, both prepared by the same EPC under the same contract; acknowledges support of task order officer Steven Fox (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence).] Select to access the abstract.

Lancet
Cooperberg MR. High-risk prostate cancer: treat the prostate. Lancet 2011 Dec 17; 378(9809):2056-7. [Cites AHRQ-funded systematic review by Wilt et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2008) on the comparative effectiveness and harms of treatments for clinically localized prostate cancer, prepared by the Minnesota EPC under contract 290-02-0009.] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Care
Lin WC, Chien HL, Willis G, et al. The effect of a telephone-based health coaching disease management program on Medicaid members with chronic conditions. Med Care 2012 Jan; 50(1):91-8. [Cites AHRQ technical review, Closing the Quality Gap: A Critical Analysis of Quality Improvement Strategies, 2007, prepared by the Stanford University-UCSF EPC under contract 290-02-0017. Also refer to article by Downey et al. (Health Serv Res, 2011) cited in Research By Others Using AHRQ Data or Products.] Select to access the abstract.

National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR)/National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR)-Related Articles

Pediatrics
Kit BK, Simon AE, Ogden CL, et al. Trends in preventive asthma medication use among children and adolescents, 1988-2008. Pediatrics 2012 Jan; 129(1):62-9. [Notes that the study's estimates of the use of preventive asthma medications by children and adolescents with current asthma were generally consistent with those reported in AHRQ's NHDR, 2008, based on 2003, 2004, and 2005 MEPS data; cites AHRQ-authored article by Clancy (AHRQ director), Kiley, and Weiss (Chest, 2007); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Galbraith et al. (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, 2010), DeVoe, Tillotson, and Wallace (Ann Fam Med, 2009), Ma, Wang, and Stafford (J Adolesc Health, 2005), and others. Also refer to AHRQ-authored article by Clancy (Health Econ, 2012) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles.] Select to access the abstract.

Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

American Heart Journal
Shivaraju A, Patel V, Fonarow GC, et al. Temporal trends in gastrointestinal bleeding associated with percutaneous coronary intervention: analysis of the 1998-2006 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. Am Heart J 2011 Dec; 162(6):1062-8.e5. [Uses 1998-2006 HCUP NIS data, citing Introduction to the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2008, 2010.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Cardiology
Towfighi A, Markovic D, Ovbiagele B. National gender-specific trends in myocardial infarction hospitalization rates among patients aged 35 to 64 years. Am J Cardiol 2011 Oct 15; 108(8):1102-7. [Uses 1997-2006 HCUP NIS data as published on the AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Deshmukh A, Kumar G, Kumar N, et al. Effect of Joint National Committee VII report on hospitalizations for hypertensive emergencies in the United States. Am J Cardiol 2011 Nov 1; 108(9):1277-82. [Uses 2000-2007 HCUP NIS data, citing HCUP Databases, 2008, and AHRQ publication, 2004 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Comparison Report, HCUP Method Series Report 2007-03, 2007; cites AHRQ-authored article by Steiner, Elixhauser, and Schnaier (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) (Eff Clin Pract, 2002), which uses multiple AHRQ datasets.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Gastroenterology
Schlansky B, Sonnenberg A. Epidemiology of noncardia gastric adenocarcinoma in the United States. Am J Gastroenterol 2011 Nov; 106(11):1978-85. [Uses 1997-2008 HCUP NIS and State Inpatient Databases (SID) data as published on AHRQ's HCUPnet Web site, citing Overview of the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2000-2001, Overview of the State Inpatient Databases (SID), 2000-2001, and AHRQ publication, 2007 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Comparison Report, Summary, HCUP Methods Series Report 2010-03, 2010, all published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Surgery
Masoomi H, Nguyen NT, Dolich MO, et al. Comparison of laparoscopic versus open appendectomy for acute nonperforated and perforated appendicitis in the obese population. Am J Surg 2011 Dec; 202(6):733-9. [Uses 2006-2008 HCUP NIS data; cites article by Van Hove et al. (Am J Surg, 2008), which uses 1997-2003 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Surgery
Hamlat CA, Arbabi S, Koepsell TD, et al. National variation in outcomes and costs for splenic injury and the impact of trauma systems: a population-based cohort study. Ann Surg 2012 Jan; 255(1):165-70. [Uses 2001, 2004, and 2007 HCUP SID data for 13 states, citing Overview of the State Inpatient Databases (SID), 2009, and NIS Description of Data Elements, 2009.] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Thoracic Surgery
Ellis MC, Diggs BS, Vetto JT, et al. Intraoperative oncologic staging and outcomes for lung cancer resection vary by surgeon specialty. Ann Thorac Surg 2011 Dec; 92(6):1958-64. [Uses 1998-2007 HCUP NIS data, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Karamlou T, Diggs BS, McCrindle BW, et al. A growing problem: maternal death and peripartum complications are higher in women with grown-up congenital heart disease. Ann Thorac Surg 2011 Dec; 92(6):2193-9. [Uses 1998-2007 HCUP NIS data and cites Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.]

Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
Zickafoose JS, Benneyworth BD, Riebschleger MP, et al. Hospitalizations for intussusception before and after the reintroduction of rotavirus vaccine in the United States. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2012 Jan 2. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2009 HCUP Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) data, 2006-2008 HCUP Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) data, and 1997-2006 HCUP NIS data, citing Introduction to the HCUP KIDS' Inpatient Database (KID), 2009, 2011, Overview of the Kids' Inpatient Database (KID), Introduction to the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2009, 2011, and Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), all published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, and AHRQ publication, Using the KIDS' Inpatient Database (KID) to Estimate Trends, HCUP Methods Series Report 2007-02, 2007.] Select to access the abstract.

Cancer
Trinh QD, Schmitges J, Sun M, et al. Morbidity and mortality of radical prostatectomy differs by insurance status. Cancer 2011 Aug 25. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2003-2007 HCUP NIS data and the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992); cites AHRQ-funded article by Birkmeyer et al. (N Engl J Med, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Artinyan A, Marshall CL, Balentine CJ, et al. Clinical outcomes of oncologic gastrointestinal resections in patients with cirrhosis. Cancer 2011 Dec 13. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2005-2008 HCUP NIS data as purchased from the HCUP Central Distributor, and the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).] Select to access the abstract.

Gynecology Oncology
Wright JD, Lewin SN, Deutsch I, et al. Defining the limits of radical cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer. Gynecol Oncol 2011 Dec; 123(3):467-73. [Uses 1998-2007 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site and the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).] Select to access the abstract.

Health Services Research
Downey JR, Hernandez-Boussard T, Banka G, et al. Is patient safety improving? National trends in patient safety indicators: 1998-2007. Health Serv Res 2011 Dec 8. [Epub ahead of print. Describes the establishment of AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators (PSIs) (citing Patient Safety Indicators Overview, 2006, Guide to Patient Safety Indicators, Version 3.1, 2007, and Patient Safety Indicators: Technical Specifications, Version 3.12, 2008, all on AHRQ's Quality Indicators Web site) and their expansion by the University of California-San Francisco and Stanford University EPC (citing AHRQ-funded article by Iezzoni et al., QRB Qual Rev Bull, 1992, and AHRQ Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Measures of Patient Safety Based on Hospital Administrative Data—The Patient Safety Indicators, Structured Abstract, 2002); uses hospital-level PSIs as applied to 1998-2007 HCUP NIS data and Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2007, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites several AHRQ-funded/authored and other articles which use various AHRQ datasets and/or AHRQ PSIs.] Select to access the abstract.

Human Molecular Genetics
Taylor KC, Lange LA, Zabaneh D, et al. A gene-centric association scan for Coagulation Factor VII levels in European and African Americans: the Candidate Gene Association Resource (CARe) Consortium. Hum Mol Genet 2011 Sep 1; 20(17):3525-34. [Uses study cohort data from the Whitehall II study, previously funded by AHRQ.] Select to access the abstract.

Injury evention
Taylor JA, Gerwin D, Morlock L, Miller R. Triangulating case-finding tools for patient safety surveillance: a cross-sectional case study of puncture/laceration. nj Prev 2011 Dec; 17(6):388-93. [Uses AHRQ's PSIs and Windows QI Software, Version 3.0, and All Patient Refined Diagnosis Related Groups (APR-DRGs), Version 12, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, citing AHRQ Quality Indicators—Guide to The Patient Safety Indicators, 2005; cites AHRQ publications, Advances in Patient Safety: From Research to Implementation, Volume 1: Research Findings and Volume 2: Concepts and Methodology, 2005, "Reducing and Preventing Adverse Drug Events To Decrease Hospital Costs," Research in Action 1, 2001, and Lessons from the AHRQ PSI Validation Pilot Project. Slide Presentation from the AHRQ 2008 Annual Conference (Text Version), 2009, all published on the AHRQ Web site; cites several AHRQ-funded/authored and other articles which use AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators.] Select to access the abstract.

International Journal of Vascular Medicine
Brunt ME, Egorova NN, Moskowitz AJ. Propensity score-matched analysis of open surgical and endovascular repair for type B aortic dissection. Int J Vasc Med 2011; 2011:364046. [Uses 2005-2008 HCUP NIS data; expands on work done by Sachs et al. (J Vasc Surg, 2010) which uses HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Ambulatory Care Management
Richard P, Ku L, Dor A, et al. Cost savings associated with the use of community health centers. J Ambul Care Manage 2012 Jan; 35(1):50-9. [Uses 2006 MEPS; cites AHRQ-authored articles by Cohen, Ezzati-Rice, and Yu (first author is director of and second and third authors are researchers in, respectively, AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends) (Med Care, 2006) and Sing, Banthin, Selden, et al. (third author is current researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends and first and second authors are former AHRQ researchers) (Health Care Financ Rev, 2002), both of which use MEPS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery
Masoomi H, Buchberg B, Dang P, et al. Outcomes of right vs. left colectomy for colon cancer. J Gastrointest Surg 2011 Nov; 15(11):2023-8. [Uses 2007 HCUP NIS data; cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2008).] Select to access the abstract.

Masoomi H, Mills S, Dolich MO, et al. Comparison of outcomes of laparoscopic versus open appendectomy in adults: data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2006-2008. J Gastrointest Surg 2011 Dec; 15(12):2226-31. [Uses 2006-2008 HCUP NIS data; cites several articles which use various HCUP NIS datasets.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Hospital Medicine
Pati S, Lorch SA, Lee GE, et al. Health insurance and length of stay for children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia. J Hosp Med 2011 Oct 3. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 1997, 2000, 2003, and 2006 HCUP KID data, citing Overview of the Kids' Inpatient Database (KID), 1997, 2000, 2003, and 2006, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites AHRQ-authored article by Chevarley, Owens, Zodet, Simpson, McCormick, and Dougherty (current and former AHRQ staff members) (Ambul Pediatr, 2006), which uses various AHRQ datasets.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Neurosurgery
McDonald RJ, Cloft HJ, Kallmes DF. Impact of admission month and hospital teaching status on outcomes in subarachnoid hemorrhage: evidence against the July effect. J Neurosurg 2012 Jan; 116(1):157-63. [Uses 2001-2008 HCUP NIS data as published on the AHRQ's HCUP Web site; cites articles by Berthelsen (Top Health Inf Manage, 2000) and others which use HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases
Ovbiagele B. National sex-specific trends in hospital-based stroke rates. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2011 Nov; 20(6):537-40. [Uses 1997-2006 HCUP NIS data as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web; cites AHRQ publication, Hospital Stays for Stroke and Other Cerebrovascular Diseases, 2005, HCUP Statistical Brief 51, 2008.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Surgical Research
McGrath B, Buckius MT, Grim R, et al. Economics of appendicitis: cost trend analysis of laparoscopic versus open appendectomy from 1998 to 2008. J Surg Res 2011 Dec; 171(2):e161-e168. [Uses 1998-2008 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS),1998-2008, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, and the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Gopaldas RR, Dao TK, LeMaire SA, et al. Endovascular versus open repair of ruptured descending thoracic aortic aneurysms: a nationwide risk-adjusted study of 923 patients. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2011 Nov; 142(5):1010-18. [Uses 2006-2008 HCUP NIS data (citing NIS Related Reports, 2011, HCUP Quality Control Procedures, 2008, and Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2001, all published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site), the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992), and hospital bed-size cutoff values described on the AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Urology
Kim SP, Shah ND, Weight CJ, et al. Contemporary trends in nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma in the United States: results from a population based cohort. J Urol 2011 Nov; 186(5):1779-85. [Uses 2003-2008 HCUP NIS data, citing AHRQ publication, HCUP Databases, 2010, and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites several articles using various HCUP NIS datasets.] Select to access the abstract.

Trinh QD, Schmitges J, Sun M, et al. Radical prostatectomy at academic versus nonacademic institutions: a population based analysis. J Urol 2011 Nov; 186(5):1849-54. [Uses 2001-2007 HCUP NIS data and the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992); cites AHRQ-funded article by Birkmeyer et al. (N Engl J Med, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Zhao LC, Lautz TB, Meeks JJ, et al. Pediatric testicular torsion epidemiology using a national database: incidence, risk of orchiectomy and possible measures toward improving the quality of care. J Urol 2011 Nov; 186(5):2009-13. [Uses 2000, 2003, and 2006 HCUP KID data, citing Overview of the Kids' Inpatient Database (KID), 2000, 2003, and 2006, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Vascular Surgery
Sachs T, Pomposelli F, Hamdan A, et al. Trends in the national outcomes and costs for claudication and limb threatening ischemia: angioplasty vs bypass graft. J Vasc Surg 2011 Oct; 54(4):1021-31.e1. [Uses 1999-2007 HCUP NIS data, 2005-2007 HCUP State Ambulatory Surgery Database (SASD) data, and HCUP SID data for New Jersey, citing Cost-to-Charge Ratio Files, 2010, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Modrall JG, Rosero EB, Chung J, et al. Defining the type of surgeon volume that influences the outcomes for open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. J Vasc Surg 2011 Dec; 54(6):1599-604. [Uses 2000-2008 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, and uses the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992); cites articles by Modrall et al. (Vasc Endovascular Surg, 2009, and J Vasc Surg, 2008), both of which use various HCUP NIS datasets.] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Care
Huesch MD. Long-term impact of Medicare managed care on patients treated for coronary artery disease. Med Care 2012 Jan; 50(1):18-26. [Uses HCUP Clinical Classifications Software (CCS); cites AHRQ-authored article by Zhan, Miller, and Wong (first and last authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence and Center for Delivery, Organizations, and Markets, respectively, and second author is former AHRQ researcher) (Health Serv Res, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

Rosen AK, Itani KM, Cevasco M, et al. Validating the Patient Safety Indicators in the Veterans Health Administration: do they accurately identify true safety events? Med Care 2012 Jan; 50(1):74-85. [Uses AHRQ's PSI software, Version 3.1a, and 12 of the 20 hospital-level PSIs as applied to VA inpatient data (citing AHRQ Quality Indicators: Patient Safety Indicator Composite SAS Documentation, version 3.1a, 2007, AHRQ Quality Indicators: Guide to Patient Safety Indicators, 2003, and Patient Safety Indicators Software SAS Documentation, Version 3.2, 2003), and uses standardized data abstraction instruments and guidelines adapted from AHRQ Quality Indicators Validation Pilot as published on AHRQ's Quality Indicators Web site; cites AHRQ publications, Advances in Patient Safety: From Research to Implementation, Volume 2: Concepts and Methodology, 2005; lists in Appendix "Accepted Hospital-Level Indicator Definitions" from AHRQ Patient Safety Indicators Software, Version 3.1, 2007, and cites Patient Safety Indicators Download, 2007, as published on AHRQ's Quality Indicators Web site; discusses the development and validation of AHRQ's PSIs, citing several AHRQ-funded/authored and other articles.] Select to access the abstract.

Neuro Oncology
McClelland S 3rd, Guo H, Okuyemi KS. Morbidity and mortality following acoustic neuroma excision in the United States: analysis of racial disparities during a decade in the radiosurgery era. Neuro Oncol 2011 Nov; 13(11):1252-9. [Uses 1994-2003 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998); cites AHRQ-authored article by Steiner, Elixhauser, and Schnaier (authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) (Eff Clin Pract, 2002), which uses multiple AHRQ datasets.] Select to access the abstract.

Pediatric Nephrology
Spencer JD, Schwaderer A, McHugh K, et al. The demographics and costs of inpatient vesicoureteral reflux management in the USA. Pediatr Nephrol 2011 Nov; 26(11):1995-2001. [Uses 2000-2006 HCUP KID data and HCUP Clinical Classifications Software (CCS), citing Appendix A—Clinical Classification Software-DIAGNOSES (January 1980 through September 2012), 2011, Overview of the Kids' Inpatient Database (KID), 2000, 2003, and 2006, and Clinical Classifications Software (CCS) for ICD-10, 2000, 2003, and 2006, all published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Pediatrics
Fiks AG, Mayne S, Localio AR, et al. Shared decision-making and health care expenditures among children with special health care needs. Pediatrics 2012 Jan; 129(1):99-107. [Uses 2002-2006 MEPS Household Component (MEPS-HC) data, citing MEPS Household Component, MEPS Topics: Health Care Costs/Expenditures, and Computing Standard Errors for MEPS Estimates, 2005, all published on AHRQ's MEPS Web site; cites AHRQ-authored article by Chan, Zhan (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence) and Homer (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, 2002), and AHRQ-funded article by Newacheck et al. (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, 2005), both of which use 2000 MEPS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Stanley RM, Bonsu BK, Zhao W, et al. US estimates of hospitalized children with severe traumatic brain injury: implications for clinical trials. Pediatrics 2012 Jan; 129(1):e24-e30. [Uses 2006 HCUP KID data, citing Overview of the Kids' Inpatient Database (KID), 2006, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

PLoS One
Walcott BP, Kuklina EV, Nahed BV, et al. Craniectomy for malignant cerebral infarction: prevalence and outcomes in US hospitals. PLoS One 2011; 6(12):e29193. [Uses 1999-2008 HCUP NIS data as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 1992, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Richard P, West K, Ku L. The return on investment of a Medicaid tobacco cessation program in Massachusetts. PLoS One 2011; 6(12):e29665. [Uses 2002-2008 MEPS data, HCUP CCS, and methodologies developed by Land et al. (PLoS Med, 2010) to group inpatient admissions into HCUP-defined groups using CCS codes; cites AHRQ-sponsored guideline, Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, 2008.]

Revista Española de Cardiología
Gili M, Sala J, López J, et al. Impact of comorbidities on in-hospital mortality from acute myocardial infarction, 2003-2009. Rev Esp Cardiol 2011 Dec; 64(12):1130-7. [Uses AHRQ's Quality Indicators (designated in article as "quality of care indicators"), citing AHRQ Quality Indicators—Patient Safety Indicators: Technical Specifications, Version 3.2, 2008, AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998), and the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992); cites several AHRQ-funded and other articles which use AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures and/or the adapted Charlson comorbidity index.] Select to access the abstract.

Spine
Farjoodi P, Skolasky RL, Riley LH. The effects of hospital and surgeon volume on postoperative complications after lumbar spine surgery. Spine 2011 Nov 15; 36(24):2069-75. [Uses 1992-2005 HCUP NIS data and the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).] Select to access the abstract.

Stroke
Towfighi A, Markovic D, Ovbiagele B. Recent patterns of sex-specific midlife stroke hospitalization rates in the United States. Stroke 2011 Nov; 42(11):3029-33. [Uses 1997-2006 HCUP NIS data as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Surgical Infections
Davis JM, Kuo YH, Ahmed N, et al. Surg Infect 2011 Dec; 12(6):429-34. Report card on Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP): Nationwide Inpatient Sample infection data 2001-2006. [Uses 2001-2006 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2001-2006, as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Urology
Tan HJ, Wolf JS Jr, Hollenbeck BK, et al. Use of ureteroscopy before and after expansion of lithotripter ownership in Michigan. Urology 2011 Dec; 78(6):1287-91. [Uses 2004-2007 HCUP SASD data for Michigan, citing Evaluation of the State Ambulatory Surgery Databases Available through the HCUP Central Distributor, 2004, and Overview of the State Ambulatory Surgery Databases (SASD), both published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site, and uses the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992). Also refer to AHRQ-funded articles by Liu et al. (Am J Ther, 2011), Kozower and Stukenborg (Ann Surg, 2011), Brooks-Carthon et al. (J Nurs Scholarsh, 2011), Epstein et al. (Med Care, 2012), and Epstein et al. (Med Care, 2012) cited in AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles, and article by So et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 2011) cited in U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)/Put Prevention Into Practice (PPIP)-Related Articles above, and AHRQ-funded article by Bennett et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2012) cited in Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles.] Select to access the abstract.