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
- Access to Care (12)
- Adverse Drug Events (ADE) (9)
- Adverse Events (71)
- Alcohol Use (4)
- Ambulatory Care and Surgery (8)
- Antibiotics (7)
- Antimicrobial Stewardship (2)
- Anxiety (2)
- Arthritis (19)
- Asthma (9)
- Autism (1)
- Back Health and Pain (10)
- Behavioral Health (33)
- Blood Clots (3)
- Blood Pressure (6)
- Blood Thinners (11)
- Brain Injury (10)
- Breast Feeding (2)
- Cancer (68)
- Cancer: Breast Cancer (7)
- Cancer: Colorectal Cancer (4)
- Cancer: Lung Cancer (13)
- Cancer: Prostate Cancer (14)
- Cardiovascular Conditions (111)
- Care Coordination (4)
- Caregiving (2)
- Care Management (22)
- Case Study (4)
- Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI) (1)
- Children/Adolescents (72)
- Chronic Conditions (44)
- Clinical Decision Support (CDS) (4)
- Clinician-Patient Communication (2)
- Clostridium difficile Infections (1)
- Communication (7)
- Community-Acquired Infections (5)
- Community-Based Practice (5)
- Comparative Effectiveness (120)
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine (3)
- Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP) (1)
- COVID-19 (13)
- Critical Care (19)
- Cultural Competence (2)
- Data (8)
- Dementia (2)
- Dental and Oral Health (1)
- Depression (16)
- Diabetes (19)
- Diagnostic Safety and Quality (10)
- Dialysis (6)
- Digestive Disease and Health (14)
- Disabilities (5)
- Disparities (22)
- Education (1)
- Education: Continuing Medical Education (6)
- Education: Patient and Caregiver (3)
- Elderly (78)
- Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (13)
- Emergency Department (31)
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS) (8)
- Evidence-Based Practice (144)
- Eye Disease and Health (1)
- Falls (2)
- Family Health and History (2)
- Guidelines (10)
- Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) (9)
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) (32)
- Healthcare Costs (26)
- Healthcare Delivery (18)
- Healthcare Utilization (21)
- Health Information Exchange (HIE) (1)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (42)
- Health Insurance (14)
- Health Literacy (4)
- Health Services Research (HSR) (11)
- Health Status (10)
- Health Systems (2)
- Heart Disease and Health (66)
- Hepatitis (3)
- Home Healthcare (2)
- Hospital Discharge (14)
- Hospitalization (36)
- Hospital Readmissions (34)
- Hospitals (56)
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (14)
- Imaging (7)
- Implementation (3)
- Infectious Diseases (6)
- Influenza (2)
- Injuries and Wounds (23)
- Inpatient Care (19)
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (28)
- Kidney Disease and Health (30)
- Labor and Delivery (18)
- Learning Health Systems (3)
- Lifestyle Changes (4)
- Long-Term Care (7)
- Low-Income (8)
- Maternal Care (16)
- Medicaid (13)
- Medical Devices (10)
- Medicare (46)
- Medication (91)
- Medication: Safety (4)
- Men's Health (5)
- Mortality (92)
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) (1)
- Neurological Disorders (20)
- Newborns/Infants (30)
- Nursing (4)
- Nursing Homes (16)
- Nutrition (9)
- Obesity (24)
- Obesity: Weight Management (14)
- Opioids (9)
- Orthopedics (19)
- Osteoporosis (1)
- (-) Outcomes (805)
- Pain (20)
- Palliative Care (6)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (14)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (272)
- Patient Adherence/Compliance (5)
- Patient and Family Engagement (2)
- Patient Experience (8)
- Patient Safety (54)
- Patient Self-Management (2)
- Payment (3)
- Pneumonia (8)
- Policy (7)
- Practice Patterns (10)
- Pregnancy (24)
- Pressure Ulcers (1)
- Prevention (19)
- Primary Care (12)
- Primary Care: Models of Care (1)
- Provider (5)
- Provider: Health Personnel (2)
- Provider: Nurse (3)
- Provider: Physician (7)
- Provider Performance (14)
- Public Health (3)
- Public Reporting (7)
- Quality Improvement (45)
- Quality Indicators (QIs) (11)
- Quality Measures (17)
- Quality of Care (72)
- Quality of Life (31)
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (35)
- Registries (30)
- Rehabilitation (10)
- Research Methodologies (21)
- Respiratory Conditions (39)
- Risk (59)
- Rural Health (7)
- Screening (2)
- Sepsis (26)
- Sex Factors (15)
- Sexual Health (2)
- Shared Decision Making (14)
- Sickle Cell Disease (3)
- Simulation (1)
- Skin Conditions (6)
- Sleep Problems (3)
- Social Determinants of Health (18)
- Stress (4)
- Stroke (27)
- Substance Abuse (9)
- Surgery (216)
- Surveys on Patient Safety Culture (2)
- Teams (10)
- TeamSTEPPS (1)
- Telehealth (13)
- Tobacco Use (7)
- Tools & Toolkits (2)
- Training (5)
- Transitions of Care (9)
- Transplantation (23)
- Trauma (12)
- Treatments (35)
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) (1)
- Uninsured (2)
- Urban Health (3)
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) (2)
- Vaccination (1)
- Vulnerable Populations (4)
- Web-Based (1)
- Women (38)
- Workforce (3)
- Young Adults (2)
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 25 of 805 Research Studies DisplayedSolberg LI, Ziegenfuss JY, Rivard RL
Is there room for individual patient-specified preferences in the patient-reported outcome measurement revolution?
The goal of this study was to test the feasibility of collecting qualitative patient-preferred goals and its feasibility as an addition to a standardized process for collecting quantitative composite patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) from patients undergoing knee joint replacement. The study found that joint replacement patients who responded to quantitative PROMS were willing to report on their other preferred outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS025618.
Citation: Solberg LI, Ziegenfuss JY, Rivard RL .
Is there room for individual patient-specified preferences in the patient-reported outcome measurement revolution?
J Patient Cent Res Rev 2023 Fall; 10(4):210-18. doi: 10.17294/2330-0698.2017..
Keywords: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Outcomes, Evidence-Based Practice
Aklilu AM, Kumar S, Nugent J
COVID-19-associated acute kidney injury and longitudinal kidney outcomes.
This retrospective longitudinal multicenter cohort study’s objective was to assess long-term kidney outcomes of patient who had COVID-19-associated acute kidney injury (AKI). This study was conducted in a large hospital system using electronic health records data on adult hospitalized patients with AKI and COVID-19 or other illnesses. Included patients were those 1) who were hospitalized during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020-June 2022), were screened for SARS-CoV-2, had AKI, and survived to discharge, or 2) had been hospitalized during the 5 years before the pandemic (October 2016-January 2020), had a positive influenza A or B test result, had AKI, and survived to discharge. The study cohort included 9624 hospitalized patients (mean age, 69.0 years; 4955 females) with AKI, including 987 patients with COVID-AKI, 276 with influenza-associated AKI, and 8361 with AKI associated with other illnesses (other-AKI). When compared with the other 2 groups, patients with COVID-19-associated AKI were slightly younger in age, had a higher baseline eGFR, worse baseline comorbidity scores, higher markers of illness severity, and longer hospital stay. Compared with the other-AKI group, the COVID-AKI group had lower major adverse kidney events (MAKE) (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.67) due to lower all-cause mortality (aHR, 0.31) and lower rates of worsened kidney function.
AHRQ-funded; HS027626.
Citation: Aklilu AM, Kumar S, Nugent J .
COVID-19-associated acute kidney injury and longitudinal kidney outcomes.
JAMA Intern Med 2024 Apr; 18(4):414-23. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.8225..
Keywords: COVID-19, Kidney Disease and Health, Outcomes
Neerland C, Slaughter-Acey J, Behrens K
An evidence map for social and structural determinants for maternal morbidity and mortality: a systematic review.
The study aimed to identify social and structural determinants of maternal morbidity and mortality during prenatal and postpartum periods in the U.S. Out of 8,378 references screened, 118 studies were included, covering domains like identity, socioeconomic factors, violence, and trauma. Findings revealed mixed patterns between risk factors and outcomes, with notable attention to depression and mental health. Advancing the field long-term should involve developing comprehensive datasets to thoroughly investigate intersections with biological and medical risk factors.
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120D00008.
Citation: Neerland C, Slaughter-Acey J, Behrens K .
An evidence map for social and structural determinants for maternal morbidity and mortality: a systematic review.
Obstet Gynecol 2024 Mar; 143(3):383-92. doi: 10.1097/aog.0000000000005489.
Keywords: Social Determinants of Health, Maternal Care, Mortality, Evidence-Based Practice, Risk, Women, Outcomes
Steuart R, Pan AY, Woolums A
Respiratory culture growth and 3-years lung health outcomes in children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and tracheostomies.
The goal of this cohort study is to determine the long-term effects of pathogenic identification on respiratory cultures in children. The study included infants and children with BPD and tracheostomies. The cohort study conclusions suggest that respiratory pathogens including P. aeruginosa may not promote long-term respiratory dysfunction, but identification of P. aeruginosa may delay decannulation.
AHRQ-funded; HS025138.
Citation: Steuart R, Pan AY, Woolums A .
Respiratory culture growth and 3-years lung health outcomes in children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and tracheostomies.
Pediatr Pulmonol 2024 Feb; 59(2):300-13. doi: 10.1002/ppul.26746..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Respiratory Conditions, Outcomes
Khalaf N, Ali B, Liu Y
Emergency presentations predict worse outcomes among patients with pancreatic cancer.
This study evaluated the association between pancreatic emergency presentation (EP) and cancer stage, treatment, and survival. The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study among patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma diagnosed from 2007 to 2019 at a tertiary-care Veterans Affairs medical center. They used electronic health records to identify EP cases, defined as a new pancreatic cancer diagnosis made within 30 days of an ED visit where cancer was suspected. Of 243 identified pancreatic cancer patients, 66.7% had EPs. Although there was no difference in stage by EP status, patients diagnosed through EPs were 72% less likely to receive cancer treatment compared to non-emergency presenters. Patients with EPs also had a 73% higher mortality risk. This difference in mortality remained statistically significant after adjusting for cancer stage and receipt of cancer treatment.
AHRQ-funded; HS029347; HS028595.
Citation: Khalaf N, Ali B, Liu Y .
Emergency presentations predict worse outcomes among patients with pancreatic cancer.
Dig Dis Sci 2024 Feb; 69(2):603-14. doi: 10.1007/s10620-023-08207-6.
Keywords: Cancer, Emergency Department, Outcomes
Kalata S, Schaefer SL, Nuliyahu U
Low-volume elective surgery and outcomes in Medicare beneficiaries treated at hospital networks.
This cross-sectional study’s objective was to quantify low-volume surgery and associated outcomes within hospital networks. This study used Medicare Provider Analysis and Review data to examine fee-for-service beneficiaries aged 66 to 99 years who underwent 1 of 10 elective surgical procedures (abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, carotid endarterectomy, mitral valve repair, hip or knee replacement, bariatric surgery, or resection for lung, esophageal, pancreatic, or rectal cancers) in a network hospital from 2016 to 2018. Hospital volume for each procedure (calculated with the use of National Inpatient Sample data) was compared with yearly hospital volume standards for that procedure recommended by The Leapfrog Group. The authors analyzed primary outcomes which were postoperative complications, 30-day readmission, and 30-day mortality, stratified by the volume status of the hospital and network type. Secondary outcome was the availability of a different high-volume hospital within the same network or outside the network and its proximity to the patient (based on hospital referral region and zip code). In all, data were analyzed for 950,079 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries (average age 74.4 years; 621,138 females and 427,931 males) who underwent 1,049,069 procedures at 2469 hospitals within 382 networks. Of these networks, almost 100% [380 (99.5%)] had at least 1 low-volume hospital performing the elective procedure of interest. In 79.8% of procedures that were performed at low-volume hospitals, there was a hospital that met volume standards within the same network and hospital referral region located a median (IQR) distance of 29 (12-60) miles from the patient's home. In adjusted analyses, postoperative outcomes were inferior at low-volume hospitals compared with hospitals meeting volume standards, with a 30-day mortality of 8.1% at low-volume hospitals vs 5.5% at hospitals that met volume standards.
AHRQ-funded; HS028606.
Citation: Kalata S, Schaefer SL, Nuliyahu U .
Low-volume elective surgery and outcomes in Medicare beneficiaries treated at hospital networks.
JAMA Surg 2024 Feb; 159(2):203-10. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2023.6542.
Keywords: Surgery, Medicare, Hospitals, Outcomes
Kovacevic M, Montes M, Tirone V
Treating a common comorbidity: pain outcomes following a 3-week cognitive processing therapy-based intensive treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder address.
This study examined changes in pain, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depressive symptoms among 125 veterans completing a 3-week cognitive processing therapy (CPT)-based intensive treatment program (ITP) for PTSD. The authors explored whether pretreatment pain interference predicted changes in PTSD and depressive symptom severity and whether larger changes in pain interference over the course of treatment were associated with larger changes in PTSD and depressive symptom severity. Higher levels of pretreatment pain interference were associated with higher PTSD, and depressive symptom severity, over time. Larger reductions in pain interference corresponded to more improvement in PTSD symptoms, but not depressive symptoms.
AHRQ-funded; HS028511.
Citation: Kovacevic M, Montes M, Tirone V .
Treating a common comorbidity: pain outcomes following a 3-week cognitive processing therapy-based intensive treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder address.
J Trauma Stress 2024 Feb; 37(1):47-56. doi: 10.1002/jts.22979.
Keywords: Pain, Behavioral Health, Outcomes, Chronic Conditions
Danielson EC, Li W, Suleiman L
Social risk and patient-reported outcomes after total knee replacement: implications for Medicare policy.
The objective of this study was to determine if county- or patient-level social risk factors are associated with patient-reported outcomes after total knee replacement when added to the comprehensive joint replacement risk-adjustment model. Patient and outcomes data from the Function and Outcomes Research for Comparative Effectiveness in Total Joint Replacement cohort were merged with the CDC Social Vulnerability Index. The findings indicated that patient-reported race, education, and income were associated with patient-reported pain or functional scores; pain improvement was negatively associated with Black race and positively associated with higher annual incomes. The authors concluded that these findings suggested that patient-level social factors warrant further investigation to promote health equity in patient-reported outcomes after total knee replacement.
Citation: Danielson EC, Li W, Suleiman L .
Social risk and patient-reported outcomes after total knee replacement: implications for Medicare policy.
Health Serv Res 2024 Feb; 59(1):e14215. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.14215.
Keywords: Surgery, Orthopedics, Medicare, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Social Determinants of Health
Al Hussein Al Awamlh B, Wallis CJD, Penson DF
Functional outcomes after localized prostate cancer treatment.
The objective of this observational cohort study was to compare rates of adverse functional outcomes between specific treatments for localized prostate cancer. Researchers used data from five U.S. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program registries. Participants were patients treated for localized prostate cancer in 2011-2012. The results indicated that radical prostatectomy was associated with worse urinary incontinence, but not with worse sexual function, at 10-year followup when compared with radiotherapy or surveillance. Among patients with unfavorable-prognosis disease, external beam radiotherapy with androgen deprivation therapy was associated with worse bowel and hormone function at 10-year followup compared with radical prostatectomy.
AHRQ-funded; HS019356; HS022640.
Citation: Al Hussein Al Awamlh B, Wallis CJD, Penson DF .
Functional outcomes after localized prostate cancer treatment.
JAMA 2024 Jan 23; 331(4):302-17. doi: 10.1001/jama.2023.26491.
.
.
Keywords: Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Cancer, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice
Olaya F, Brin M, Caraballo PB
A randomized controlled trial of the dissemination of an mHealth intervention for improving health outcomes: the WiseApp for Spanish-speakers living with HIV study protocol.
The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of an mHealth tool to improve adherence to HIV medication in Spanish-speaking people living in New York City and the Dominican Republic. The researchers developed the WiseApp study as a two-arm randomized controlled trial. The 248 participants from New York and the Dominican Republic were randomly assigned to receive a CleverCap pill bottle that is linked to the WiseApp (intervention) or to the standard of care (control). The participants completed surveys at the baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up visits. Through blood draws at each study timepoint, the study team collected HIV-1 viral load and CD4 count results. Results will be forthcoming.
AHRQ-funded; HS028523.
Citation: Olaya F, Brin M, Caraballo PB .
A randomized controlled trial of the dissemination of an mHealth intervention for improving health outcomes: the WiseApp for Spanish-speakers living with HIV study protocol.
BMC Public Health 2024 Jan 17; 24(1):201. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-17538-y..
Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Cultural Competence, Outcomes
Roberts ET, Xue L, Lovelace J
Changes in care associated with integrating Medicare and Medicaid for dual-eligible individuals.
This study’s objective was to evaluate changes in care associated with integrating Medicare and Medicaid coverage in a fully integrated dual-eligible special needs plan (FIDE-SNP) in Pennsylvania. This cohort study used a difference-in-differences analysis compared changes in care between 2 cohorts of dual-eligible individuals: (1) an integration cohort composed of Medicare Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan enrollees who joined a companion Medicaid plan following a 2018 state reform mandating Medicaid managed care (leading to integration), and (2) a comparison cohort with nonintegrated coverage before and after the start of Medicaid managed care. Analyses were conducted of outcomes in 4 domains: use of home- and community-based services (HCBS), care management and coordination, hospital stays and postacute care, and long-term nursing home stays. The study included 7967 individuals in the integration cohort and 3832 individuals in the comparison cohort. HCBS use increased differentially in the integration vs comparison cohorts by 0.61 days/person-month. However, integration was not associated with changes in care management and coordination, including medication use for chronic conditions (-0.02 fills/person-month) or follow-up outpatient care after a hospital stay (-0.01 visits/hospital stay). There was no significant difference in hospital stays between the cohorts.
AHRQ-funded; HS026727.
Citation: Roberts ET, Xue L, Lovelace J .
Changes in care associated with integrating Medicare and Medicaid for dual-eligible individuals.
JAMA Health Forum 2023 Dec; 4(12):e234583. doi: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2023.4583..
Keywords: Medicare, Medicaid, Health Insurance, Surgery, Outcomes
Rastogi V, Guetter CR, Patel PB
Clinical presentation, outcomes, and threshold for repair by sex in degenerative saccular vs fusiform aneurysms in the descending thoracic aorta.
The purpose of this study was to explore variations in presentation, treatment, and outcomes between saccular thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) and fusiform TAAs in the descending thoracic aorta. The researchers also explored the need for sex-specific treatment thresholds for TAAs. The study found that among 655 emergent/urgent thoracic endovascular aneurysm repairs (TEVARs), 37% were performed for saccular TAAs, whereas among 1352 elective TEVARs, 35% had saccular TAA morphology. Compared with fusiform TAAs, saccular TAAs more frequently underwent emergent/urgent (ruptured/symptomatic) TEVAR below the repair threshold in both females and males. Among patients with emergent/urgent fusiform TAAs, females presented at smaller diameters compared with males, yet there was no variance in preoperative aneurysm diameter among patients with saccular TAAs. Emergent/urgent treated saccular TAAs had similar postoperative outcomes and 5-year mortality compared with fusiform TAAs. In the elective cohort, patients with saccular TAAs had comparable postoperative mortality compared with those with fusiform TAAs, but a lower rate of postoperative spinal cord ischemia. additionally, patients with saccular TAAs had a higher rate of 5-year mortality compared with their fusiform counterparts.
AHRQ-funded; HS027285.
Citation: Rastogi V, Guetter CR, Patel PB .
Clinical presentation, outcomes, and threshold for repair by sex in degenerative saccular vs fusiform aneurysms in the descending thoracic aorta.
J Vasc Surg 2023 Dec; 78(6):1392-401.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2023.06.104..
Keywords: Outcomes, Cardiovascular Conditions
Fingar KR, Weiss AJ, Roemer M
AHRQ Author: Roemer M, Reid LD
Effects of the COVID-19 early pandemic on delivery outcomes among women with and without COVID-19 at birth.
This AHRQ-authored paper examined the early pandemic-related changes in birth outcomes for pregnant women with and without a COVID-19 diagnosis at delivery. They compared four delivery outcomes-preterm delivery (PTD), severe maternal morbidity (SMM), stillbirth, and cesarean birth-between 2017 and 2019 (prepandemic) and between April and December 2020 (early pandemic) using interrupted time series models on 11.8 million deliveries, stratified by COVID-19 infection status at birth with entropy weighting for historical controls, from the HCUP across 43 states and the District of Columbia. Relative to 2017-2019, women without COVID-19 at delivery in 2020 had lower odds of PTD (OR = 0.93) and SMM (OR = 0.88) but increased odds of stillbirth (OR = 1.04). COVID-19 deliveries had an excess of each outcome, by factors of 1.07-1.46 for outcomes except SMM at 4.21. The effect for SMM was more pronounced for Asian/Pacific Islander non-Hispanic (API; OR = 10.51) and Hispanic (OR = 5.09) pregnant women than for White non-Hispanic (OR = 3.28) women.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 290201800001C.
Citation: Fingar KR, Weiss AJ, Roemer M .
Effects of the COVID-19 early pandemic on delivery outcomes among women with and without COVID-19 at birth.
Birth 2023 Dec; 50(4):996-1008. doi: 10.1111/birt.12753..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), COVID-19, Maternal Care, Women, Outcomes
Bingham CA, Harris JG, Qui T
Pediatric Rheumatology Care and Outcomes Improvement Network's quality measure set to improve care of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
The objective of this study was to describe the selection, development, and implementation of quality measures for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) by the Pediatric Rheumatology Care and Outcomes Improvement Network (PR-COIN), a multihospital learning health network. Clinicians in PR-COIN and parents of children with JIA collaboratively selected outcome quality measures and a committee of rheumatologists and data analysts developed operational definitions. Initial measures were clinical inactive disease, low pain score, and optimal physical functioning; the revised set included additional measures of disease activity, data quality, and a balancing measure. The authors concluded that PR-COIN's set of JIA quality measures is the first comprehensive set used at the point-of-care for a large cohort of JIA patients in a variety of pediatric rheumatology practice settings.
AHRQ-funded; HS021114.
Citation: Bingham CA, Harris JG, Qui T .
Pediatric Rheumatology Care and Outcomes Improvement Network's quality measure set to improve care of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
Arthritis Care Res 2023 Dec; 75(12):2442-52. doi: 10.1002/acr.25168.
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Arthritis, Quality Measures, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Outcomes, Evidence-Based Practice
Zondlak AN, Oh EJ, Neiman PU
Association of intellectual disability with delayed presentation and worse outcomes in emergency general surgery.
Individuals with intellectual disabilities may be at higher risk of delayed presentation and worse outcomes for emergency general surgery (EGS) conditions. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between intellectual disability and both severity of disease and clinical outcomes in patients presenting with typical EGS conditions. The study found that of 1,317,572 adult EGS admissions, 0.38% of patients had an ICD-9/-10 code consistent with current intellectual disability. EGS patients with intellectual disabilities had 31% greater odds of more severe disease at presentation when compared with neurotypical patients. Intellectual disability was also related with a higher likelihood of complications and mortality, longer lengths of stay, lower rate of discharge to home, and higher inpatient costs.
AHRQ-funded; HS028672; HS027788.
Citation: Zondlak AN, Oh EJ, Neiman PU .
Association of intellectual disability with delayed presentation and worse outcomes in emergency general surgery.
Ann Surg 2023 Nov 1; 278(5):e1118-e22. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005863..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Disabilities, Surgery, Outcomes
Bauer TM, Yaser JM, Daramola T
Cardiac rehabilitation reduces two-year mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting.
This study analyzed the outcome of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) use for patients who have undergone coronary revascularization procedures. The study looked at Medicare fee-for-service claims linked to surgical data patients discharged alive following isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) from January 2015 to October 2019. A total of 3,848/6,412 (60.0%) of patients were enrolled in CR for an average of 23.2 sessions with 770/6,412 (12.0%) completing all recommended 36 sessions. Predictors of post-discharge CR use included increasing age, discharge to home (vs extended care facility), and shorter length of stay. Unadjusted and inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) analyses showed significant reduction in 2-year mortality in CR users as compared to CR non-users (unadjusted 9.4%).
AHRQ-funded; HS027830.
Citation: Bauer TM, Yaser JM, Daramola T .
Cardiac rehabilitation reduces two-year mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting.
Ann Thorac Surg 2023 Nov; 116(5):1099-105. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2023.05.044..
Keywords: Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Surgery, Mortality, Outcomes
O'Leary KJ, Johnson JK, Williams MV
Effect of complementary interventions to redesign care on teamwork and quality for hospitalized medical patients: a pragmatic controlled trial.
The objective of this pragmatic controlled trial was to evaluate the effect of interventions to redesign hospital care delivery on teamwork and patient outcomes. Survey participants were healthcare professionals and hospitalized medical patients in medical units at four U.S. hospitals. The results showed that the median teamwork climate score was higher after the intervention among nurses, but that interventions to redesign care for hospitalized patients were not associated with improved patient outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS02564.
Citation: O'Leary KJ, Johnson JK, Williams MV .
Effect of complementary interventions to redesign care on teamwork and quality for hospitalized medical patients: a pragmatic controlled trial.
Ann Intern Med 2023 Nov; 176(11):1456-64. doi: 10.7326/m23-0953..
Keywords: Teams, Inpatient Care, Hospitals, Quality of Care, Outcomes
Thompson MP, Hou H, Stewart JW
Relationship between community-level distress and cardiac rehabilitation participation, facility access, and clinical outcomes after inpatient coronary revascularization.
The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to assess the association between community-level distress and cardiac rehabilitation (CR) participation, access to CR facilities, and clinical outcomes. The study included a 100% sample of Medicare beneficiaries undergoing inpatient coronary revascularization between July 2016 and December 2018. Community-level distress was defined by the researchers as using the Distressed Community Index quintile at the beneficiary zip code level, with the first and fifth quintiles representing prosperous and distressed communities, respectively. The study found that any CR use was lower for beneficiaries in distressed compared with prosperous communities (26.0% versus 46.1%), which was significant after multivariable adjustment. 23.7% of beneficiaries had a CR facility within their zip code, which increased from 16.3% in prosperous communities to 26.6% in distressed communities. Any CR utilization was related with absolute reductions in mortality, all-cause hospitalization, and acute myocardial infarction hospitalization, which were comparable across each Distressed Community Index quintiles.
AHRQ-funded; HS027830.
Citation: Thompson MP, Hou H, Stewart JW .
Relationship between community-level distress and cardiac rehabilitation participation, facility access, and clinical outcomes after inpatient coronary revascularization.
Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2023 Nov; 16(11):e010148. doi: 10.1161/circoutcomes.123.010148..
Keywords: Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Outcomes
Mullens CL, Lussiez A, Scott JW
Association of health professional shortage area hospital designation with surgical outcomes and expenditures among Medicare beneficiaries.
This study’s objective was to compare surgical outcomes and expenditures at hospitals located in Health Professional Shortage Areas to nonshortage area designated hospitals among Medicare beneficiaries. This cross-sectional retrospective study used data from 842,787 Medicare beneficiary patient admissions to hospitals with and without Health Professional Shortage Area designations for common operations including appendectomy, cholecystectomy, colectomy, and hernia repair from 2014 to 2018. Primary outcomes measures were 30-day mortality, hospital readmissions, and 30-day surgical episode payments. Patients (mean age=75.6 years, males=44.4%) undergoing common surgical procedures in shortage area hospitals were less likely to be White (84.6% vs 88.4%) and less likely to have≥2 Elixhauser comorbidities (75.5% vs 78.2%). Patients undergoing surgery at Health Professional Shortage Area hospitals had lower risk-adjusted rates of 30-day mortality (6.05% vs 6.69%) and readmission (14.99% vs 15.74%). Medicare expenditures at Health Professional Shortage Area hospitals were also lower than nonshortage designated hospitals ($28,517 vs $29,685).
AHRQ-funded; HS028606; HS028672.
Citation: Mullens CL, Lussiez A, Scott JW .
Association of health professional shortage area hospital designation with surgical outcomes and expenditures among Medicare beneficiaries.
Ann Surg 2023 Oct 1; 278(4):e733-e39. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005762..
Keywords: Hospitals, Surgery, Medicare, Healthcare Costs, Workforce, Outcomes
Romijn AC, Rastogi V, Proaño-Zamudio JA
Early versus delayed thoracic endovascular aortic repair for blunt thoracic aortic injury: a propensity score-matched analysis.
This study examined the outcomes of ≤24 h) versus delayed (>24 h) thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI), taking the aortic injury severity into consideration. Current trauma surgery guidelines recommend delayed TEVAR. Patients undergoing TEVAR for BTAI in the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program between 2016 and 2019 were included and then stratified into early (≤24 h) or delayed (>24 h). The cohort looked at included 1339 patients, of whom 1054 (79%) underwent early TEVAR. Compared with the delayed group, the early group had significantly less severe head injuries (early vs delayed; 25% vs 32%), fewer early interventions for AAS grade 1 occurred, and AAS grade 3 aortic injuries often were intervened upon within 24 hours (grade 1: 28% vs 47%; grade 3: 49% vs 23%). Compared with the delayed group, the early group had significantly higher in-hospital mortality (8.8% vs 4.4%, relative risk: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.1-4.4), alongside a shorter length of hospital stay (5.0 vs 10 days), a shorter intensive care unit length of stay (4.0 vs 11 days) and fewer days on the ventilator (4.0 vs 6.5 days). Regardless of the higher risk of acute kidney injury in the delayed group (3.3% vs 7.7%), no other differences in in-hospital complications were observed between the early and delayed group.
AHRQ-funded; HS027285.
Citation: Romijn AC, Rastogi V, Proaño-Zamudio JA .
Early versus delayed thoracic endovascular aortic repair for blunt thoracic aortic injury: a propensity score-matched analysis.
Ann Surg 2023 Oct 1; 278(4):e848-e54. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005817..
Keywords: Surgery, Cardiovascular Conditions, Risk, Outcomes
Aklilu AM, Kumar S, Yamamoto Y
Outcomes associated with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor use in acute heart failure hospitalizations complicated by AKI.
This retrospective study examined the association of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) use with patients who have KDIGO-defined acute kidney injury (AKI) during acute heart failure (AHF) hospitalizations and their kidney function recovery at 14 days and 30 days using time-varying multivariable Cox-regression analyses. The study looked at 3305 adults hospitalized across 5 Yale New Haven Health Systems between January 2020 and May 2022 with AHF complicated by KDIGO-defined AKI. Of those individuals hospitalized with AHF and AKI, 356 received SGLT2i following AKI diagnosis either as initiation or continuation. The rate of renal recovery was not significantly different among those exposed and unexposed to SGLT2i following AKI (adjusted HR 0.94). SGLT2i exposure was associated with lower risk of 30-day mortality (adjusted HR 0.45). Rates of renal recovery were similar between the exposed and nonexposed cohorts regardless of the proximity of SGLT2i exposure to AKI diagnosis.
AHRQ-funded; HS027626.
Citation: Aklilu AM, Kumar S, Yamamoto Y .
Outcomes associated with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor use in acute heart failure hospitalizations complicated by AKI.
Kidney360 2023 Oct; 4(10):1371-81. doi: 10.34067/kid.0000000000000250..
Keywords: Kidney Disease and Health, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Inpatient Care, Medication, Outcomes
Thumma SR, Dualeh SHA, Kunnath NJ
Outcomes for high-risk surgical procedures across high- and low-competition hospital markets.
The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess whether there is a relationship between hospital market competition and outcomes post high-risk surgery. The study included Medicare beneficiaries 65 years and older who electively underwent 1 of 10 high-risk surgical procedures. Procedures included: bariatric surgery, carotid endarterectomy, esophagectomy hip replacement, knee replacement, mitral lung resection valve repair, open aortic aneurysm repair, pancreatectomy, and rectal resection. Hospitals were categorized into high-competition and low-competition markets based on the hospital market Herfindahl-Hirschman index. The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative mortality and readmissions. The study found that when analyzed by procedure, compared with low-competition hospitals, high-competition market hospitals demonstrated higher 30-day mortality for 2 of 10 procedures (mitral valve repair and carotid endarterectomy) and no difference for 5 of 10 procedures (open aortic aneurysm repair, bariatric surgery, esophagectomy, knee replacement, and hip replacement.) High-competition hospitals also demonstrated 30-day readmissions that were higher for 5 of 10 procedures (carotid endarterectomy, knee replacement, mitral valve repair, open aortic aneurysm repair, and rectal resection) and no difference for 3 procedures (bariatric surgery, esophagectomy: and pancreatectomy.) Hospitals in high-competition compared with low-competition markets cared for patients who were older, were more likely to be racial and ethnic minority individuals and had more comorbidities.
AHRQ-funded; HS028963; HS028606.
Citation: Thumma SR, Dualeh SHA, Kunnath NJ .
Outcomes for high-risk surgical procedures across high- and low-competition hospital markets.
JAMA Surg 2023 Oct; 158(10):1041-48. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2023.3221..
Keywords: Surgery, Outcomes, Hospitals
Smith JH, Silverberg JI
Correlation of clinician-reported outcomes with patient-reported outcomes by race and ethnicity in patients with atopic dermatitis.
This study examined the correlation of clinician-reported outcome measures (ClinROMs) with patient-reported outcomes by race and ethnicity in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). A prospective, dermatology practice-based study was conducted with children and adults with AD for patients enrolled January 2014 through September 2019. Electronic surveys were completed by patients or caregivers, including self-identified race and Hispanic ethnicity, Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for average itch in the past 7 days, and Patient Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM). Different severity indexes including Ezcema Area and Severity Index (EASI), and objective-SCORing Atopic Dermatitis Index (SCORAD) were used by a dermatologist to perform total body skin assessments. Spear correlations were performed for POEM and NRS-itch versus objective-SCORAD and EASI. Overall, 1987 patients were included in the study (age less than 18 years: 101 [5.08%], age greater or equal to 18 years: 1886 [94.92%]), including 198 (9.96%) Black, 360 (18.12%) Asian, 8 (0.40%) Multiracial/Other, 1313 (66.08%) White, and 108 (5.44%) Hispanic. Black patients had a moderate correlation for POEM with objective-SCORAD and EASI, while NRS average-itch had a weak-moderate correlation. In White patients there were strong correlations for both measures. Patients who were Asian/Pacific Islander had numerically weaker correlations of POEM but strong or very strong correlations of NRS average-itch with objective-SCORAD and EASI compared to White patients while patients with Hispanic ethnicity also showed numerically weaker correlations for POEM with objective-SCORAD and EASI, and weaker correlations of NRS average-itch with EASI.
AHRQ-funded; HS023011.
Citation: Smith JH, Silverberg JI .
Correlation of clinician-reported outcomes with patient-reported outcomes by race and ethnicity in patients with atopic dermatitis.
J Am Acad Dermatol 2023 Sep; 89(3):579-80. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2023.04.050..
Keywords: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Skin Conditions, Outcomes
Mullens CL, Lussiez A, Scott JW
High-risk surgery among Medicare beneficiaries living in health professional shortage areas.
This study’s objective was to compare high-risk surgical outcomes at hospitals located in Health Professional Shortage Areas to nonshortage area designated hospitals among Medicare beneficiaries. The authors performed a retrospective review of Medicare beneficiaries living in health professional shortage areas and nonshortage areas who underwent abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, coronary artery bypass graft, esophagectomy, liver resection, pancreatectomy, or rectal resection between 2014 and 2018. They compared rates of postoperative complications and 30-day mortality between the patient cohorts. They used beneficiary and hospital ZIP codes to quantify travel time to obtain care. Compared with patients living in nonshortage areas, patients living in health professional shortage areas traveled longer (median 60.0 vs 28.0 minutes). There were no differences in risk-adjusted rates of complications (28.5% vs 28.6%) and small differences in rates of 30-day mortality (4.2% vs 4.4%) between beneficiaries living in shortage areas versus those not in shortage areas, respectively.
AHRQ-funded; HS028606; HS028672; HS027788.
Citation: Mullens CL, Lussiez A, Scott JW .
High-risk surgery among Medicare beneficiaries living in health professional shortage areas.
J Rural Health 2023 Sep; 39(4):824-32. doi: 10.1111/jrh.12748..
Keywords: Surgery, Hospitals, Workforce, Medicare, Outcomes
Ramadan OI, Kelz RR, Sharpe JE
Impact of Medicaid expansion on outcomes after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
Researchers sought to assess the association between Medicaid expansion and outcomes after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair using HCUP State Inpatient Databases data from 14 states. They examined data on 8995 adult patients under age 65 from both non-expansion states and Medicaid expansion states. The results indicated that Medicaid expansion was associated with decreased in-hospital mortality after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair among all patients, particularly among patients who were either on Medicaid or were uninsured. The researchers concluded that these results provided support for improved access to care for patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm repair through Medicaid expansion.
AHRQ-funded; HS026116.
Citation: Ramadan OI, Kelz RR, Sharpe JE .
Impact of Medicaid expansion on outcomes after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
J Vasc Surg 2023 Sep; 78(3):648-56.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2023.04.029..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Medicaid, Outcomes, Access to Care