Are We Targeting the Right Metric for Heart Failure?

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 Heart Journal
Kociol RD, Liang L, Hernandez AF, et al. Are we targeting the right metric for heart failure? Comparison of hospital 30-day readmission rates and total episode of care inpatient days. Am Heart J 2013 Jun; 165(6):987-94. [Supported by grant U18 HS16964.] Select to access the abstract.

Clinical Toxicology
Cummins MR, Crouch B, Gesteland P, et al. Inefficiencies and vulnerabilities of telephone-based communication between U.S. poison control centers and emergency departments. Clin Toxicol 2013 Jun; 51(5):435-43. [Supported by grant 1 R21 HS18773-01.] Select to access the abstract.

Critical Care Medicine
Prescott HC, Cooke CR. Trends in mortality and early central line placement in septic shock: true, true, and related? Crit Care Med 2013 Jun; 41(6):1577-8. [Supported by Mentored Clinical Scientist Career Development Award grant K08 HS20672 (to second author).] Select to access the abstract.

Health Services Research
Stuart B, Davidoff A, Erten M, et al. How Medicare Part D benefit phases affect adherence with evidence-based medications following acute myocardial infarction. Health Serv Res 2013 Jun 6. [Epub ahead of print. Second author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends.] Select to access the abstract.

Haematologica
Zandberg DP, Huan TY, Ke X, Baer MR, Gore SD, Smith SW, Davidoff AJ. Haematologica 2013 Apr; 98(4):584-90. [Last author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends.] Select to access the abstract.

 Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Boatright DH, Byyny RL, Hopkins E, Bakes K, Hissett J, Tunson J, Easter JS, Sasson C, Vogel JA, Bensard D, Haukoos JS. Validation of rules to predict emergent surgical intervention in pediatric trauma patients. J Am Coll Cardiol 2013 Jun; 216(6):1094-102. [Supported by grants K12 HS19464 (to seventh author) and K02 HS01726 (to last author).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Geriatric Oncology
Davidoff AJ, Zuckerman IH, Pandya N, et al. A novel approach to improve health status measurement in observational claims-based studies of cancer treatment and outcomes. J Geriatr Oncol 2013 Apr; 4(2):157-65. [First author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology
Guggilam A, Hutchinson KR, West TA, Kelly AP, Galantowicz, Davidoff AJ, et al. In vivo and in vitro cardiac responses to beta-adrenergic stimulation in volume-overload heart failure. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2013 Apr; 57:47-58. [Sixth author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends.] Select to access the abstract.

Leukemia & Lymphoma
Zandberg DP, Hendrick F, Vannorsdall E, Bierenbaum J, Tidwell ML, Ning Y, Zhao XF, Davidoff AJ, et al. Tertiary center referral patterns for patients with myelodysplastic syndrome are indicative of age and race disparities: a single-institution experience. Leuk Lymphoma 2013 Feb; 54(2):304-9. [Eighth author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends.] Select to access the abstract.

Leukemia Research
Davidoff AJ, Weiss SR, Baer MR, et al. Patterns of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent use among Medicare beneficiaries with myelodysplastic syndromes and consistency with clinical guidelines. Leuk Res 2013 Jun; 37(6):675-80. [First author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends.] Select to access the abstract.

Milbank Quarterly
Nuckols TK, Escarce JJ, Asch SM. The effects of quality of care on costs: a conceptual framework. Milbank Q 2013 Jun; 91(2):316-53. [Supported by Mentored Clinical Scientist Career Development Award grant K08 HS17954 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

Richards MR, Sindelar JL. Rewarding healthy food choices in SNAP: behavioral economic applications. Milbank Q 2013 Jun; 91(2):395-412. [Supported by grant T32 HS17589 (to first author).] Select to access the abstract.

Population Health Management
Vinnard C, Linkin DR, Localio AR, et al. Effectiveness of interventions in reducing antibiotic use for upper respiratory infections in ambulatory care practices. Popul Health Manag 2013 Feb; 16(1):22-7. [Supported by Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs) cooperative agreement grant HS10399.] Select to access the abstract.

AHRQ-Related Articles

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Enbom JA. Should medical malpractice prevention be considered separately or as an integral part of comprehensive health care safety improvement? Am J Obstet Gynecol 2013 Jun; 208(6):495-8. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006) and reviews RAND Institute for Civil Justice report, Is Better Patient Safety Associated with Less Malpractice Activity?, 2010, which uses HCUP State Inpatient Databases (SID) data for California and AHRQ's Patient Safety Indicators (PSIs).]

Annals of Internal Medicine
Kocher KE, Asplin BR. What is our plan for acute unscheduled care? Ann Intern Med 2013 Jun 18; 158(12):907-9. [Cites AHRQ's Health Care Innovations Exchange Web site.]

Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy Journal
Van Zant RS, Capt KJ, Roach K, et al. Physical therapists' perceptions of knowledge and clinical behavior regarding cardiovascular disease prevention. Cardiopulm Phys Ther J 2013 Jun; 24(2):18-26. [Cites AHRQ-sponsored guideline, Cardiac Rehabilitation, 1995.] Select to access the abstract.

Expert Review of Dermatology
Linkner RV, Pompei D, Goldenberg G, et al. Current update on the treatment of genital warts. Expert Rev Dermatol 2013 Jun; 8(3):321-32. [Cites AHRQ-sponsored guideline, Acute Pain Management: Operative or Medical Procedures and Trauma, 1992.]

Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine
Colice GL. The misuse of asthma drugs. Expert Rev Respir Med 2013 Jun; 7(3):307-20. [Cites article by Sullivan et al. (J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2011) which uses Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data.] Select to access the abstract.

Hospitals & Health Networks
Butcher L. The no-fall zone. Hosp Health Netw 2013 Jun; 87(6):26-30. [Mentions AHRQ data on numbers of patients falling in hospitals annually and AHRQ's release of Preventing Falls in Hospitals: A Toolkit for Improving Quality of Care.] Select to access the abstract.

MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Emergency department visits by patients with mental health disorders - North Carolina, 2008-2010. MMWR Morbid Mortal Wkly Rep 2013 Jun 14; 62(23):469-472. [Cites AHRQ publication Mental Health and Substance Abuse-Related Emergency Department Visits Among Adults, 2007, HCUP Statistical Brief 92, 2010.] Select to access the abstract.

Yale Law Journal
Capczynski A, Syed T. The continuum of excludability and the limits of patents. Yale Law J 2013 May; 122(8):1900-62. [Discusses the AHRQ-funded "breakthrough" intervention for central-line catheter infections developed by Pronovost et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006) that "reduced the number of these infections by about two-thirds, works in a range of settings" and "could save more than 15,000 lives and $1 billion in treatment costs each year;" cites AHRQ publication, Infections with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) in U.S. Hospitals, 1993-2005, HCUP Statistical Brief 35, 2007.]

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

Aging Health
Miller AB. Mammography screening for women aged 75 years or more. Aging Health 2013 Jun; 9(3):287-90. [Cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence update on screening for breast cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2009).]

American Family Physician
CME quiz. Am Fam Physician 2013 Jun 15; 87(12):833-4. [Includes question based on USPSTF recommendations on behavioral counseling interventions to promote a healthful diet and physical activity for cardiovascular disease prevention in adults cited below in this section.]

Apgar BS, Kaufman AJ, Bettcher C. Gynecologic procedures: colposcopy, treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, and endometrial assessment. Am Fam Physician 2013 Jun 15; 87(12):836-43. [Uses USPSTF recommendations and AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse™ as data sources.] Select to access the abstract.

LeBlanc KE, LeBlanc LL, LeBlanc KA. Inguinal hernias: diagnosis and management. Am Fam Physician 2013 Jun 15; 87(12):844-8. [Uses USPSTF recommendations, AHRQ resources, and AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse™ as data sources.] Select to access the abstract.

Kundu RV, Patterson S. Dermatologic conditions in skin of color: Part I. Special considerations for common skin disorders. Am Fam Physician 2013 Jun 15; 87(12):850-6. [Uses USPSTF recommendations and AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse™ as data sources.] Select to access the abstract.

Kundu RV, Patterson S. Dermatologic conditions in skin of color: Part II. Special considerations for common skin disorders. Am Fam Physician 2013 Jun 15; 87(12):859-65. [Uses USPSTF recommendations and AHRQ's National Guideline Clearinghouse™ as data sources.] Select to access the abstract.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Behavioral counseling interventions to promote a healthful diet and physical activity for cardiovascular disease prevention in adults: recommendation statement. Am Fam Physician 2013 Jun 15; 87(12):869-71. [Summarizes USPSTF recommendations as published on the USPSTF Web site; cites associated USPSTF-sponsored systematic review (Ann Intern Med, 2010) and evidence synthesis, Behavioral Counseling to Promote Physical Activity and a Healthful Diet to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease in Adults, 2010.]

JAMA
Krogsboll LT, Jorgensen KJ, Gotzsche PC. General health checks in adults for reducing morbidity and mortality from disease. JAMA 2013 Jun 19; 309(23):2489-90. [Mentions that the USPSTF does not specifically advocate routine check-ups.]

JAMA Surgery
Amri R, Bordeianou LG, Sulla P, et al. Impact of screening colonoscopy on outcomes in colon cancer surgery. JAMA Surg 2013 Jun 19. [Epub ahead of print. Cites USPSTF recommendations on screening for colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2002). Also refer to article by Fu et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2013) cited in Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPC)-Related Articles.] Select to access the abstract.

Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPC)-Related Articles

Annals of Internal Medicine
Fu R, Selph S, McDonagh M, et al. Effectiveness and harms of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 in spine fusion. Ann Intern Med 2013 Jun 18; 158(12):890-902. [Cites AHRQ-sponsored technology assessment report, Bone Morphogenetic Protein: The State of the Evidence of On-Label and Off-Label Use, prepared by the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association EPC under contract HHSA 290-2007-10066-I; uses strength of evidence criteria from AHRQ-funded article by Owens et al. (J Clin Epidemiol, 2010) and USPSTF study quality criteria from USPSTF-sponsored article by Harris et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2001).] Select to access the abstract.

Hospital Peer Review
AHRQ releases 10 best bets for safety: proven strategies can save lives. Hosp Peer Rev 2013 Jun; 38(6):68. [Reviews AHRQ evidence report/technology assessment Making Health Care Safer II: An Updated Critical Analysis of the Evidence for Patient Safety Practices, 2013.]

Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

American Journal of Kidney Diseases
Gipson DS, Messer KL, Tran CL, et al. Inpatient health care utilization in the United States among children, adolescents, and young adults with nephrotic syndrome. Am J Kidney Dis 2013 Jun; 61(6):910-17. [Uses 2006 and 2009 HCUP Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) data, citing Overview of the Kids' Inpatient Database (KID), 2006 and 2009, as accessed on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Anesthesiology
Dalton JE, Glance LG, Mascha EJ, et al. Impact of present-on-admission indicators on risk-adjusted hospital mortality measurement. Anesthesiology 2013 Jun; 118(6):1298-306. [Uses 204-2009 HCUP SID data for California, as accessed on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Surgery
Halabi WJ, Kang CY, Ketana N, et al. Surgery for gallstone ileus: a nationwide comparison of trends and outcomes. Ann Surg 2013 Jan 4. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2004-2009 HCUP NIS data, as accessed on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Halabi WJ, Jafari MD, Kang CY, et al. Colonic volvulus in the United States: trends, outcomes, and predictors of mortality. Ann Surg 2013 Mar 18. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2002-2010 HCUP NIS data, as accessed on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Arthritis Care & Research
Yazdanyar A, Wasko MC, Scalzi LV, et al. Short-term Perioperative all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events in women with systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Care Res 2013 Jun; 65(6):986-91. [Uses 1998-2002 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data, NIS Procedure Classes, 2009, NIS Trends Supplemental Files, and HCUP Clinical Classifications Software, all accessed on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
Dehal A, Abbas A, Johna S. Comorbidity and outcomes after surgery among women with breast cancer: analysis of nationwide in-patient sample database. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2013 Jun; 139(2):469-76. [Uses 2005-2009 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), and uses the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index as described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).] Select to access the abstract.

Dehal A, Abbas A, Johna S. Racial disparities in clinical presentation, surgical treatment and in-hospital outcomes of women with breast cancer: analysis of nationwide inpatient sample database. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2013 Jun; 139(2):561-9. [Uses 2005-2009 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), and uses the AHRQ-funded adaptation of the Charlson comorbidity index as described in AHRQ-funded article by Deyo, Cherkin, and Ciol (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).]  Select to access the abstract.

Cancer
Dowling EC, Chawla N, Forsythe LP, et al. Lost productivity and burden of illness in cancer survivors with and without other chronic conditions. Cancer 2013 Jun 21 [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2008-2010 MEPS data, citing MEPS Survey Background and Total Expenses and Percent Distribution for Selected Conditions by Source of Payment: United States, 2010 (interactively generated data), both accessed on AHRQ's MEPS Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Critical Care Medicine
Walkey AJ, Weiner RS, Lindenauer PK. Utilization patterns and outcomes associated with central venous catheter in septic shock: a population-based study. Crit Care Med 2013 Jun; 41(6):1450-7. [Uses 1998-2009 HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), as published on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Gynecologic Oncology
Lesnock JL, Farris C, Beriwal S, et al. Upfront treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer with intensity modulated radiation therapy compared to four-field radiation therapy: a cost-effectiveness analysis. Gynecol Oncol 2013 Jun; 129(3):574-9. [Uses HCUP data as accessed on AHRQ's HCUP Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Heart
Itagaki S, Cavallaro P, Adams DH, et al. Bilateral internal mammary artery grafts, mortality and morbidity: an analysis of 1 526 360 coronary bypass operations. Heart 2013 Jun; 99(12);849-53. [Uses 2002-2008 HCUP NIS data and AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American Dental Association
Nalliah RP, Da Silva JD, Allareddy V, et al. The characteristics of hospital emergency department visits made by people with mental health conditions who had dental problems. J Am Dent Assoc 2013 Jun; 144(6):617-24. [Uses 2008 HCUP Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) data.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association
Bauer NS, Carroll AE, Downs SM. Understanding the acceptability of a computer decision support system in pediatric primary care. J Am Med Inform Assoc 2013 Jun 20. [Epub ahead of print. Uses the AHRQ-funded Child Health Improvement through Computer Automation (CHICA) autism care and developmental screening modules.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery
Halabi WJ, Jafari MD, Nguyen VQ, et al. A nationwide analysis of the use and outcomes of epidural analgesia in open colorectal surgery. J Gastrointest Surg 2013 Jun; 17(6):1130-7. [Uses 2002-2010 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Maternal and Child Health Journal
Goedken AM, Urmie JM, Polgren LA. Factors related to receipt of well-child visits in insured children. Matern Child Health J 2013 Jun. [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2007 MEPS Household Component data, AHRQ-authored article by Selden (Pediatrics, 2006) and AHRQ publication, Computing Standard Errors for MEPS Estimates, 2005.] Select to access the abstract.

Thyroid
Sun GH, DeMonner S, Davis MM. Epidemiological and economic trends in inpatient and outpatient thyroidectomy in the United States, 1996-2006. Thyroid 2013 Jun; 23(6):727-33. [Uses HCUP NIS data, citing Overview of the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS); mentions the availability of comorbidity data for the NIS via AHRQ's Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Elixhauser et al., Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

World Journal of Surgery
Halabi WJ, Kang CY, Jafari MD, et al. Robotic-assisted colorectal surgery in the United States: a nationwide analysis of trends and outcomes. World J Surg 2013 Apr 6 [Epub ahead of print. Uses 2009-2010 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.