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
AHRQ Research Studies Date
Topics
- Adverse Events (1)
- Cancer (2)
- Cardiovascular Conditions (4)
- Chronic Conditions (3)
- Comparative Effectiveness (2)
- Digestive Disease and Health (1)
- Emergency Department (1)
- Evidence-Based Practice (8)
- Heart Disease and Health (1)
- Medication (1)
- Mortality (1)
- Orthopedics (2)
- Outcomes (9)
- (-) Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (12)
- Patient Experience (1)
- Prevention (1)
- Provider Performance (1)
- Quality Improvement (1)
- Quality of Care (1)
- Registries (1)
- Rehabilitation (1)
- Respiratory Conditions (1)
- Shared Decision Making (2)
- (-) Surgery (12)
- Transplantation (2)
- Treatments (1)
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 12 of 12 Research Studies DisplayedKittelson AJ, Loyd BJ, Graber J
Examination of exclusion criteria in total knee arthroplasty rehabilitation trials: influence on the application of evidence in day-to-day practice.
This study investigated whether total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients seen in routine practice who meet common exclusion criteria in clinical trials recover differently compared to research-eligible patients. Postoperative functional outcomes were compared using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Timed Up and Go (TUG). A total of 2,528 participants from 27 trials were compared to 474 patients from the clinical dataset. Research participants were older, with lower BMI than patients in the clinical dataset. There were no differences observed in functional recovery rate between groups, except for patients with diabetes whose TUG recovered more slowly than “eligible” patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS024316.
Citation: Kittelson AJ, Loyd BJ, Graber J .
Examination of exclusion criteria in total knee arthroplasty rehabilitation trials: influence on the application of evidence in day-to-day practice.
J Eval Clin Pract 2021 Dec;27(6):1335-42. doi: 10.1111/jep.13564..
Keywords: Orthopedics, Surgery, Rehabilitation, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice, Outcomes
Whitebird RR, Solberg LI, Ziegenfuss JY
Personalized outcomes for hip and knee replacement: the patients point of view.
Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly being incorporated into clinical and surgical care for assessing outcomes. This study examined outcomes important to patients in their decision to have hip or knee replacement surgery, their perspectives on PROMs and shared decision-making, and factors they considered important for postoperative care.
AHRQ-funded; HS025618.
Citation: Whitebird RR, Solberg LI, Ziegenfuss JY .
Personalized outcomes for hip and knee replacement: the patients point of view.
J Patient Rep Outcomes 2021 Nov 4;5(1):116. doi: 10.1186/s41687-021-00393-z..
Keywords: Orthopedics, Surgery, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Patient Experience, Shared Decision Making
Cardell CF, Knapp L, Cohen ME
Successful implementation of enhanced recovery in elective colorectal surgery is variable and dependent on the local environment.
This study looked at the results of a national colorectal enhanced recovery program (ERP) to improve patient outcomes. A total of 207 hospitals participated between 2017 and 2020. Quantitative (patient-level process and outcome) and qualitative (survey and structured interviews with hospital teams) data were collected and analyzed. Results shows that 62 hospitals were characterized as High Performance, and 52 as High Improvement. High Performance hospitals were larger with more annual colorectal surgeries. Fewer barriers to staff-buy-in and competing priorities, and more experience with standardized perioperative care were also characteristics of High Performance hospitals. High Improvement hospitals had lower baseline process measure (PM) adherence and less experience with perioperative care but had positive trends in annual patient outcomes such as annual morbidity, readmission, and prolonged length of stay compared to Low Improvement Hospitals.
AHRQ-funded; 233201500020I.
Citation: Cardell CF, Knapp L, Cohen ME .
Successful implementation of enhanced recovery in elective colorectal surgery is variable and dependent on the local environment.
Ann Surg 2021 Oct 1;274(4):605-12. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005069..
Keywords: Surgery, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Provider Performance
Garsa A, Jang JK, Baxi S
Radiation therapy for brain metastases: a systematic review.
This systematic review synthesizes the available evidence on radiation therapy for brain metastases. A literature search was conducted using the major medical databases and included randomized controlled trials and large observational studies which evaluated whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) alone or in combination as initial or postoperative treatment, with or without systemic therapy for adults with brain metastases due to lung cancer, breast cancer, or melanoma. No statistically significant difference in overall survival was found with a combination of SRS plus WBRT compared with SRS alone or WBRT alone. Radiation therapy after surgery did not improve overall survival compared with surgery alone. WBRT plus systemic therapy was associated with increased risks for vomiting compared with WBRT alone. There was not enough data on patient-relevant outcomes such as quality of life, functional status, and cognitive effects.
AHRQ-funded; 290201500010I.
Citation: Garsa A, Jang JK, Baxi S .
Radiation therapy for brain metastases: a systematic review.
Pract Radiat Oncol 2021 Sep-Oct;11(5):354-65. doi: 10.1016/j.prro.2021.04.002..
Keywords: Cancer, Surgery, Treatments, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice
Howard R, Johnson E, Berlin NL
Hospital and surgeon variation in 30-day complication rates after ventral hernia repair.
Researchers analyzed variability in 30-day complication rates and identified specific complications that contributed to this variability after ventral hernia repair. They found that, after adjusting for a number of patient-specific clinical variables, there was significant variation in 30-day complication rates after ventral hernia repair, representing a significant opportunity to improve patient outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS025778.
Citation: Howard R, Johnson E, Berlin NL .
Hospital and surgeon variation in 30-day complication rates after ventral hernia repair.
Am J Surg 2021 Aug;222(2):417-23. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2020.12.021..
Keywords: Surgery, Adverse Events, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Chan H, Zhang L, Choti MA
Recurrence patterns after surgical resection of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: analysis from the national comprehensive cancer network oncology outcomes database.
Current National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines for gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEPNETs) recommend complete (R0) surgical resection of the primary tumor and metastases, if feasible. This study conducted large multicenter studies of recurrence patterns of GEPNETs after resection. Findings showed that R0 resection was associated with variable risk of recurrence across subtypes. Recommendations included further research to inform refinement of guidelines for the appropriate duration of surveillance after R0 resection.
AHRQ-funded; HS021700.
Citation: Chan H, Zhang L, Choti MA .
Recurrence patterns after surgical resection of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: analysis from the national comprehensive cancer network oncology outcomes database.
Pancreas 2021 Apr;50(4):506-12. doi: 10.1097/mpa.0000000000001791..
Keywords: Cancer, Surgery, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice, Outcomes
Brown CS, Osborne NH, Kim GY
Effect of concomitant deep venous reflux on truncal endovenous ablation outcomes in the Vascular Quality Initiative.
This study looked at outcomes for patients with varicose veins (C2 disease) undergoing truncal endovenous ablation with and without deep venous reflux. Data from the Vascular Quality Initiative was analyzed from 2015 to 2019. A total of 4881 patients were included, with 46.2% having combined deep and superficial reflux. Follow-up around a year later (median 336.5 days) was conducted after. Patients with deep reflux were less likely to be female, more likely to be Caucasian, and had no difference in BMI. Additionally, there were no differences in rates of prior varicose vein treatments, number of pregnancies, or history of deep venous thrombosis. However, patients without deep reflux were more likely to use anticoagulants at the time of the procedure. Patients without deep reflux had slightly higher median preprocedural Venous Clinician Severity Score (VCSS) scores as well as postprocedural VCSS scores. Total symptom score was higher for patients without deep reflux before and after the procedure, but there was no change in symptom score after the procedure. Patients with deep reflux had substantially higher rates of complications with a particular increase in proximal thrombus extension.
AHRQ-funded; HS000053.
Citation: Brown CS, Osborne NH, Kim GY .
Effect of concomitant deep venous reflux on truncal endovenous ablation outcomes in the Vascular Quality Initiative.
J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord 2021 Mar;9(2):361-68.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.jvsv.2020.04.031..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Chronic Conditions, Surgery, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice
Brown CS, Obi AT, Cronenwett JL
Outcomes after truncal ablation with or without concomitant phlebectomy for isolated symptomatic varicose veins (C2 disease).
This study looked outcomes of patients with varicose veins (C2 disease) who were treated with venous ablation alone or ablation plus phlebectomy using the Vascular Quality Initiative Varicose Vein Registry. Data between January 2015 and March 2015 was used to investigate postoperative as well as long-term clinical and patient-reported outcomes among patients with documented symptomatic C2 disease undergoing truncal endovenous ablations alone and combined ablation and phlebectomy. Out of 3375 patients, 40.1% underwent isolated truncal ablation and the rest had the combined procedure of ablation and phlebectomy. Complications were low for both procedures (8.4% and 8.7%). Overall, improvement in symptoms was experienced by 94.4% of patients with more increases in patients undergoing ablation and phlebectomy than ablation alone. Both procedures are recommended by the authors to be covered by insurance.
AHRQ-funded; HS000053.
Citation: Brown CS, Obi AT, Cronenwett JL .
Outcomes after truncal ablation with or without concomitant phlebectomy for isolated symptomatic varicose veins (C2 disease).
J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord 2021 Mar;9(2):369-76. doi: 10.1016/j.jvsv.2020.05.016..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Chronic Conditions, Surgery, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Comparative Effectiveness, Evidence-Based Practice
Pennington KM, Dykhoff HJ, Yao X
The impact of antifungal prophylaxis in lung transplant recipients.
This study evaluated the effect of antifungal prophylaxis on all-cause mortality and invasive fungal infections (IFI) on lung transplant recipients. Administrative claims data was used to identify adult patients who underwent lung transplantation between 2005 and 2018. The authors identified 662 lung transplant recipients. All-cause mortality was found to be significantly lower in those receiving antifungal prophylaxis compared to those who did not. Patients receiving antifungal prophylaxis also had a lower rate of IFI, but it was not statistically significant.
AHRQ-funded; HS025164; HS025402; HS025517; HS024075.
Citation: Pennington KM, Dykhoff HJ, Yao X .
The impact of antifungal prophylaxis in lung transplant recipients.
Ann Am Thorac Soc 2021 Mar;18(3):468-76. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.202003-267OC..
Keywords: Transplantation, Surgery, Medication, Prevention, Respiratory Conditions, Mortality, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice
McKinney WT, Schaffhausen CR, Schladt D
Designing a patient-specific search of transplant program performance and outcomes: feedback from heart transplant candidates and recipients.
The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients provides transplant program-specific information, but it is unclear what patients and stakeholders need to know. Acceptance criteria for the candidate waitlist and donor organs vary by program and region, but there is no means to search for programs by the clinical profiles of recipients and donors. The authors examined variability in program-specific characteristics that could influence access to transplantation.
AHRQ-funded; HS026379; HS024527.
Citation: McKinney WT, Schaffhausen CR, Schladt D .
Designing a patient-specific search of transplant program performance and outcomes: feedback from heart transplant candidates and recipients.
Clin Transplant 2021 Feb;35(2):e14183. doi: 10.1111/ctr.14183..
Keywords: Transplantation, Surgery, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Registries, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice, Shared Decision Making
Fischer CP, Knapp L, Cohen ME
Feasibility of enhanced recovery in emergency colorectal operation.
This study examines the feasibility of using enhanced recovery pathways (ERPs) in emergency colorectal operations. It has been successfully used with elective surgical care but has not been examined for emergency procedures. A total of 31,511 patients who underwent colorectal operations at 235 hospitals were identified from a national ERP collaborative. Most were elective surgeries (28,425), with 3,086 emergencies. For emergency cases, rates of early Foley removal and venous thromboembolism prophylaxis were highest. Rates of multimodal pain control, early mobilization, and early liquid intake were modest. Patients younger than age 65 years, those with independent functional status, American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification 1 to 3, and without physiologic derangement had the most nonadherence. Lack of mobilization or liquid intake was independently associated with increased odds of ileus and prolonged length of stay.
AHRQ-funded; 233201500020I.
Citation: Fischer CP, Knapp L, Cohen ME .
Feasibility of enhanced recovery in emergency colorectal operation.
J Am Coll Surg 2021 Feb;232(2):178-85. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2020.10.004..
Keywords: Surgery, Digestive Disease and Health, Emergency Department, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Outcomes
Brown CS, Osborne NH, Kim GY
Comparison of unilateral vs bilateral and staged bilateral vs concurrent bilateral truncal endovenous ablation in the Vascular Quality Initiative.
This study compares outcomes in patients who have undergone unilateral vs bilateral venous ablation procedures or between staged and concurrent bilateral procedures. Data from the Vascular Quality Initiative from 2015 to 2019 was used to investigate immediate postoperative as well as long-term clinical and patient-reported outcomes. A total of 5029 patients were included, of whom 75.2% underwent unilateral procedures. Follow-up was conducted with a median of 227 days after. Unilateral patients were less likely to be female and white and had lower BMI compared with patients undergoing bilateral procedures. In addition, unilateral patients had fewer prior varicose vein treatments and had higher Venous Clinical Severity Scores (VCSS). There were no differences in complications in patients undergoing unilateral vs bilateral procedures. Systemic complications were rare in both groups.
AHRQ-funded; HS000053.
Citation: Brown CS, Osborne NH, Kim GY .
Comparison of unilateral vs bilateral and staged bilateral vs concurrent bilateral truncal endovenous ablation in the Vascular Quality Initiative.
J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord 2021 Jan;9(1):113-21.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.jvsv.2020.05.008..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Chronic Conditions, Surgery, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Comparative Effectiveness, Evidence-Based Practice