National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
Latest available findings on quality of and access to health care
Data
- Data Infographics
- Data Visualizations
- Data Tools
- Data Innovations
- All-Payer Claims Database
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)
- Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
- AHRQ Quality Indicator Tools for Data Analytics
- State Snapshots
- United States Health Information Knowledgebase (USHIK)
- Data Sources Available from AHRQ
Search All Research Studies
Topics
- Antibiotics (1)
- Children/Adolescents (1)
- Clostridium difficile Infections (2)
- Comparative Effectiveness (1)
- COVID-19 (1)
- Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) (1)
- (-) Infectious Diseases (5)
- Medication (2)
- Obesity (1)
- Outcomes (1)
- Respiratory Conditions (1)
- Sexual Health (1)
- Surgery (1)
- (-) Treatments (5)
AHRQ Research Studies
Sign up: AHRQ Research Studies Email updates
Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 5 of 5 Research Studies DisplayedCampbell JI, Tabatneck M, Sun M
Increasing use of interferon gamma release assays among children ≥2 years of age in a setting with low tuberculosis prevalence.
This article describes a retrospective cohort study that examined interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs) use to diagnose tuberculosis (TB) infection in children aged 2–17. The objectives of the study were to evaluate whether testing approaches for TB has changed since 2015. Electronic health records were used to identify IGRAs and tuberculin skin tests (TSTs) completed by children in two Boston-area academic health systems. The researchers observed that the proportion of IGRA tests increased between 2015 and 2021 in this low TB-prevalence setting. Testing in public versus private insurance, inpatient/subspecialty settings, lower age, and non-English preferred language were associated with an increased chance of receiving an IGRA. Findings suggest that the TST is being “retired,” and that education and support for primary care clinicians could improve equitable access to IGRA testing for children.
AHRQ-funded; HS000063.
Citation: Campbell JI, Tabatneck M, Sun M .
Increasing use of interferon gamma release assays among children ≥2 years of age in a setting with low tuberculosis prevalence.
Pediatr Infect Dis J 2022 Dec;41(12):e534-e37. doi: 10.1097/inf.0000000000003685..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Treatments, Respiratory Conditions, Infectious Diseases
Bramante CT, Buse J, Tamaritz L
Outpatient metformin use is associated with reduced severity of COVID-19 disease in adults with overweight or obesity.
This study investigated whether outpatient metformin use is associated with reduced severity of COVID-19 in adults with overweight or obesity. Metformin can decrease interleukin-6 and tumor-necrosis factor- α, which appears to contribute to COVID-19 mortality. The authors conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of electronic health record (EHR) data that was pooled across multiple EHR systems from 12 hospitals and 60 primary care clinics in the Midwest between March and December 2020. Inclusion criteria included data for BMI > 25 kg/m(2); age range 30-85 years; and a positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction test. Metformin was associated with a decrease in mortality from COVID-19 and a nonsignificant decrease in hospital admission in the overall cohort.
AHRQ-funded; HS026379.
Citation: Bramante CT, Buse J, Tamaritz L .
Outpatient metformin use is associated with reduced severity of COVID-19 disease in adults with overweight or obesity.
J Med Virol 2021 Jul;93(7):4273-79. doi: 10.1002/jmv.26873..
Keywords: COVID-19, Infectious Diseases, Obesity, Medication, Treatments, Outcomes
Bowman JA, Utter GH
Evolving strategies to manage Clostridium difficile colitis.
The authors discuss Clostridium difficile infection and diagnostic methods and treatment strategies evolved in recent years. They indicate that oral or enteral vancomycin is now preferred for first-line antimicrobial treatment across the disease spectrum, including mild to moderate initial cases. Further, fidaxomicin, bezlotoxumab, and fecal microbiota transplantation expand the therapeutic armamentarium, with operative treatment being reserved for patients with fulminant infection. They add that early identification of patients who would benefit from an operation remains a challenge.
AHRQ-funded; HS022236.5rf2c
Citation: Bowman JA, Utter GH .
Evolving strategies to manage Clostridium difficile colitis.
J Gastrointest Surg 2020 Feb;24(2):484-91. doi: 10.1007/s11605-019-04478-5..
Keywords: Clostridium difficile Infections, Infectious Diseases, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Antibiotics, Medication, Treatments
Muzny CA, Van Gerwen OT, Kissinger P
Updates in trichomonas treatment including persistent infection and 5-nitroimidazole hypersensitivity.
The purpose of this review was to update information on treatment of Trichomonas vaginalis. T. vaginalis is estimated to be the most common treatable sexually transmitted infection in the world and is associated with poor birth outcomes, cervical cancer, sperm motility and morphology issues, and HIV acquisition and transmission.
AHRQ-funded; HS013852.
Citation: Muzny CA, Van Gerwen OT, Kissinger P .
Updates in trichomonas treatment including persistent infection and 5-nitroimidazole hypersensitivity.
Curr Opin Infect Dis 2020 Feb;33(1):73-77. doi: 10.1097/qco.0000000000000618..
Keywords: Infectious Diseases, Sexual Health, Treatments
Ferrada P, Callcut R, Zielinski MD
Loop ileostomy versus total colectomy as surgical treatment for Clostridium difficile-associated disease: an Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma multicenter trial.
The objective of this study was to compare loop ileostomy (LI) and total colectomy (TC) procedures in a multicentric approach to help the surgeon decide what procedure was best suited for the patient in need. In this study, the investigators found that LI carried less mortality than TC.
AHRQ-funded; HS024547.
Citation: Ferrada P, Callcut R, Zielinski MD .
Loop ileostomy versus total colectomy as surgical treatment for Clostridium difficile-associated disease: an Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma multicenter trial.
J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2017 Jul;83(1):36-40. doi: 10.1097/ta.0000000000001498..
Keywords: Clostridium difficile Infections, Comparative Effectiveness, Infectious Diseases, Surgery, Treatments