National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 25 of 28 Research Studies DisplayedHolcomb CN, Graham LA, Richman JS
The incremental risk of noncardiac surgery on adverse cardiac events following coronary stenting.
The investigators sought to determine the incremental risk of noncardiac surgery on myocardial infarction (MI) and coronary revascularization following coronary stenting. They found that the incremental risk of noncardiac surgery on adverse cardiac events among post-stent patients is highest in the initial 6 months following stent implantation and stabilizes at 1.0% after 6 months.
AHRQ-funded; HS013852.
Citation: Holcomb CN, Graham LA, Richman JS .
The incremental risk of noncardiac surgery on adverse cardiac events following coronary stenting.
J Am Coll Cardiol 2014 Dec 30;64(25):2730-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2014.09.072.
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Keywords: Adverse Events, Cardiovascular Conditions, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Risk, Surgery
Blecker S, Ladapo JA, Doran KM
Emergency department visits for heart failure and subsequent hospitalization or observation unit admission.
The purpose of this study was to examine trends in ED visits for heart failure and disposition following such visits. The investigators found that the number of ED visits for heart failure and the high proportion of ED visits with subsequent inpatient hospitalization have not changed in the last decade. They suggest that opportunities may exist to reduce hospitalizations by increasing short-term management of heart failure in the ED or observation unit.
AHRQ-funded; HS023683.
Citation: Blecker S, Ladapo JA, Doran KM .
Emergency department visits for heart failure and subsequent hospitalization or observation unit admission.
Am Heart J 2014 Dec;168(6):901-8.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2014.08.002..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Emergency Department, Heart Disease and Health, Hospitalization
Simeone RM, Oster ME, Cassell CH
AHRQ Author: Gray DT
Pediatric inpatient hospital resource use for congenital heart defects.
The authors sought to estimate healthcare costs for infants, children, and adolescents with congenital heart defects (CHDs). Using the 2009 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids' Inpatient Database (KID), they found that hospitalizations for children with CHDs have disproportionately high hospital costs compared with other pediatric hospitalizations, and the 17% of hospitalizations with critical CHD diagnoses accounted for 27% of CHD hospital costs.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Simeone RM, Oster ME, Cassell CH .
Pediatric inpatient hospital resource use for congenital heart defects.
Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol 2014 Dec;100(12):934-43. doi: 10.1002/bdra.23262.
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Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Children/Adolescents, Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Hospitalization
Bilchick KC, Stukenborg GJ
Comparative effectiveness of cardiac resynchronization therapy in combination with implantable defibrillator in patients with heart failure and wide QRS duration.
The researchers examined the long-term outcomes among Medicare patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-D) compared with those receiving standard implantable cardioverter defibrillators. They found that the greatest benefit of CRT-D was in patients with guideline-based class I recommendations for CRT-D. For these patients, there was a 17 percent reduction in risk of death.
AHRQ-funded; HS017693
Citation: Bilchick KC, Stukenborg GJ .
Comparative effectiveness of cardiac resynchronization therapy in combination with implantable defibrillator in patients with heart failure and wide QRS duration.
Am J Cardiol. 2014 Nov 15;114(10):1537-42. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2014.08.017..
Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Medicare, Outcomes, Cardiovascular Conditions, Medical Devices
Du DT, McKean SJ, Kelman JA, et al.
AHRQ Author: Encinosa W
Early mortality after aortic valve replacement with mechanical prosthetic vs bioprosthetic valves among Medicare beneficiaries: a population-based cohort study.
The researchers compared early mortality after aortic valve replacement (AVR) between the recipients of mechanical and bioprosthetic aortic valves. Among 66,453 Medicare beneficiaries who received AVRs, use of mechanical valves was associated with a higher risk for death on the date of surgery and within 30 days compared with the bioprosthetic aortic valves. However, this applied only to those who underwent concurrent AVR and coronary artery bypass graft but not isolated AVR.
AHRQ-authored
Citation: Du DT, McKean SJ, Kelman JA, et al..
Early mortality after aortic valve replacement with mechanical prosthetic vs bioprosthetic valves among Medicare beneficiaries: a population-based cohort study.
JAMA Intern Med. 2014 Nov;174(11):1788-95. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.4300..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Medicare, Mortality, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Surgery
Spangler EL, Goodney PP, Schanzer A
Outcomes of carotid endarterectomy versus stenting in comparable medical risk patients.
The purpose of this study was to compare risk-stratified outcomes of carotid artery stenting (CAS) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Included in the study group were 11,336 patients who underwent isolated primary CEA and 544 who underwent primary CAS. The researchers found that asymptomatic normal- and high-risk patients do equally well after CEA or CAS. However, normal- and high-risk symptomatic patients have substantially worse outcomes with CAS compared with CEA.
AHRQ-funded; HS021581.
Citation: Spangler EL, Goodney PP, Schanzer A .
Outcomes of carotid endarterectomy versus stenting in comparable medical risk patients.
J Vasc Surg 2014 Nov;60(5):1227-31, 31.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2014.05.044..
Keywords: Outcomes, Comparative Effectiveness, Risk, Cardiovascular Conditions, Heart Disease and Health
Hess R, Fischer GS, Sullivan SM
Patterns of response to patient-centered decision support through a personal health record.
The investigators evaluated patients' patterns of responses to notifications regarding guideline-recommended services delivered through a personalized health record (PHR). They found that approximately 61% of participants accessed the PHR or received the care that triggered the message after the first message and 73% after the first two messages. They concluded that, in this low-intensity intervention, participants accessed the PHR and received recommended care.
AHRQ-funded; HS018167.
Citation: Hess R, Fischer GS, Sullivan SM .
Patterns of response to patient-centered decision support through a personal health record.
Telemed J E Health 2014 Nov;20(11):984-9. doi: 10.1089/tmj.2013.0332.
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Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient-Centered Healthcare, Clinician-Patient Communication
Duffy RP, Adams JE, Callas PW
The influence of gender on functional outcomes of lower extremity bypass.
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effect of gender on early and late procedural and functional outcomes of lower extremity bypass (LEB). They found that women have complication rates similar to men with inferior early and late functional outcomes after LEB. The reduced patency rates in women with critical limb ischemia did not translate into differences in limb salvage.
AHRQ-funded; HS021581.
Citation: Duffy RP, Adams JE, Callas PW .
The influence of gender on functional outcomes of lower extremity bypass.
J Vasc Surg 2014 Nov;60(5):1282-90, 90.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2014.05.008.
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Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Outcomes, Sex Factors, Surgery
Patel M, Phillips-Caesar E, Boutin-Foster C
Attitudes and beliefs regarding cardiovascular risk factors among Bangladeshi immigrants in the US.
The researchers conducted a qualitative study using individual in-depth interviews to explore attitudes towards and difficulties with modifying cardiovascular disease related behaviors among a Bangladeshi cohort. Bangladeshi individuals in this study cited a combination of internal and external factors as barriers to lifestyle modification. The authors recommended interventions to address these barriers that simultaneously address self-efficacy and work-life balance.
AHRQ-funded; HS000066.
Citation: Patel M, Phillips-Caesar E, Boutin-Foster C .
Attitudes and beliefs regarding cardiovascular risk factors among Bangladeshi immigrants in the US.
J Immigr Minor Health 2014 Oct;16(5):994-1000. doi: 10.1007/s10903-013-9868-7.
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Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Lifestyle Changes, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Risk
Richards MR, Marti J
Heterogeneity in the smoking response to health shocks by out-of-pocket spending risk.
Using longitudinal data from 11 European countries, the researchers investigated the impact of a new cardiovascular (CV) health shock on smoking decisions among older adults and examine whether personal exposure to medical spending risk influences the smoking response. They found that CV shocks impact the propensity to smoke, with relatively more impact among individuals with high financial risk exposure to medical spending.
AHRQ-funded; HS017589.
Citation: Richards MR, Marti J .
Heterogeneity in the smoking response to health shocks by out-of-pocket spending risk.
Health Econ Policy Law 2014 Oct;9(4):343-57. doi: 10.1017/s1744133114000152..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Tobacco Use, Lifestyle Changes, Health Insurance, Social Determinants of Health
Petrov ME, Howard VJ, Kleindorfer D
Over-the-counter and prescription sleep medication and incident stroke: the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study.
The authors investigated the relation between sleep medication use and incident stroke. At the sleep assessment, 9.6% of the participants used prescription sleep medication and 11.1% used over-the-counter sleep aids. Over an average follow-up of 3.3 ± 1.0 years, 297 stroke events occurred. The authors found that over-the-counter sleep medication use was associated with increased risk of incident stroke; however, there was no significant association with prescription sleep medications. They concluded that over-the-counter sleep medication use may independently increase the risk of stroke beyond other risk factors in middle-aged to older individuals with no history of stroke.
AHRQ-funded; HS013852.
Citation: Petrov ME, Howard VJ, Kleindorfer D .
Over-the-counter and prescription sleep medication and incident stroke: the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study.
J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2014 Sep;23(8):2110-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2014.03.025.
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Keywords: Medication: Safety, Medication, Risk, Sleep Problems, Stroke, Cardiovascular Conditions, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Baillargeon J, Urban RJ, Kuo YF
Risk of myocardial infarction in older men receiving testosterone therapy.
The purpose of this paper was to examine the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) in a population-based cohort of older men receiving intramuscular testosterone. The investigators found that older men who were treated with intramuscular testosterone did not appear to have an increased risk of MI. For men with high MI risk, testosterone use was modestly protective against MI.
AHRQ-funded; HS022134.
Citation: Baillargeon J, Urban RJ, Kuo YF .
Risk of myocardial infarction in older men receiving testosterone therapy.
Ann Pharmacother 2014 Sep;48(9):1138-44. doi: 10.1177/1060028014539918..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Elderly, Men's Health, Heart Disease and Health, Risk
Burke JF, Vijan S, Chekan LA
Targeting high-risk employees may reduce cardiovascular racial disparities.
A possible remedy for health disparities is for employers to promote cardiovascular health among minority employees. However, this study finds that there was no significant per person differential attributable to racial disparities for heart attack and stroke. A primary implication is that targeting cardiovascular disease strategies for African Americans is unlikely to be cost saving for employers.
AHRQ-funded; HS017690
Citation: Burke JF, Vijan S, Chekan LA .
Targeting high-risk employees may reduce cardiovascular racial disparities.
Am J Manag Care. 2014 Sep;20(9):725-33..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Disparities, Healthcare Costs, Health Promotion, Health Status, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Goldsweig AM, Reid KJ, Gosch K
Contemporary use of dual antiplatelet therapy for preventing cardiovascular events.
The authors examined dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) use in contemporary clinical practice after publication of the results of the landmark randomized clinical trial CHARISMA. They found that use of DAPT is modest in patients with established cardiovascular disease, for whom the CHARISMA trial suggested decreased major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), and prescription rates have remained stable over time; use of DAPT in patients with multiple risk factors only, for whom CHARISMA suggested that DAPT may lead to increased MACEs, was low and decreased over time.
AHRQ-funded; HS018781.
Citation: Goldsweig AM, Reid KJ, Gosch K .
Contemporary use of dual antiplatelet therapy for preventing cardiovascular events.
Am J Manag Care 2014 Aug;20(8):659-65.
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Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Medication, Prevention, Practice Patterns, Risk
Kesselheim AS, Bykov K, Avorn J
Burden of changes in pill appearance for patients receiving generic cardiovascular medications after myocardial infarction: cohort and nested case-control studies.
This study sought to determine whether nonpersistent use of generic drugs among patients with cardiovascular disease after a heart attack is associated with the different shapes or colors of generic medications. It found that patients who subsequently discontinued treatment with their cardiovascular medications were 30 percent more likely to have had a change in pill shape or color preceding the discontinuation.
AHRQ-funded; HS018465
Citation: Kesselheim AS, Bykov K, Avorn J .
Burden of changes in pill appearance for patients receiving generic cardiovascular medications after myocardial infarction: cohort and nested case-control studies.
Ann Intern Med. 2014 Jul 15;161(2):96-103. doi: 10.7326/M13-2381..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Medication, Chronic Conditions, Patient Adherence/Compliance
Shih T, Zhang M, Kommareddi M
Center-level variation in infection rates after coronary artery bypass grafting.
This study was undertaken to compare observed and expected rates of healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) across all 33 institutions performing isolated CABG surgery in the state of Michigan. Although predicted risk of HAI differed in absolute terms by 2.8 percent across centers, The study found that observed rates varied by 18.2 percent. Differences in observed rates of infections could not be fully explained by patient case mix.
AHRQ-funded; HS022535.
Citation: Shih T, Zhang M, Kommareddi M .
Center-level variation in infection rates after coronary artery bypass grafting.
Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2014 Jul;7(4):567-73. doi: 10.1161/circoutcomes.113.000770..
Keywords: Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Surgery, Cardiovascular Conditions, Patient Safety
Johnson MA, Grahan BJ, Haukoos JS
Demographics, bystander CPR, and AED use in out-of-hospital pediatric arrests.
The researchers sought to determine if the 2005 American Heart Association guidelines for routine use of automated external defibrillators during pediatric out-of-hospital arrest are used during resuscitations. They found that young children suffering from presumed out-of-hospital cardiac arrests are less likely to have a shockable rhythm when compared to adults, and are less likely to have an AED used during resuscitation.
AHRQ-funded; HS017526.
Citation: Johnson MA, Grahan BJ, Haukoos JS .
Demographics, bystander CPR, and AED use in out-of-hospital pediatric arrests.
Resuscitation 2014 Jul;85(7):920-6. doi: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2014.03.044.
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Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Children/Adolescents, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Guidelines, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Strom Williams JL, Lynch CP, Winchester R
Gender differences in composite control of cardiovascular risk factors among patients with type 2 diabetes.
This study examined the gender differences in multiple cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor control in adults with type 2 diabetes seen in diverse clinical settings. It found that women had significantly poorer composite control of CVD risk outcomes compared with men, adjusting for relevant confounding factors. In unadjusted analyses, women had higher mean systolic blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels compared with men.
AHRQ-funded; HS011418.
Citation: Strom Williams JL, Lynch CP, Winchester R .
Gender differences in composite control of cardiovascular risk factors among patients with type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes Technol Ther 2014 Jul;16(7):421-7. doi: 10.1089/dia.2013.0329..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Risk, Diabetes, Outcomes, Sex Factors
Edelson DP, Yuen TC, Mancini ME
Hospital cardiac arrest resuscitation practice in the United States: a nationally representative survey.
The authors describe variance in in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) resuscitation care among hospitals. Their survey of 100 hospitals found wide variability among hospitals and practices for resuscitation care in the U.S. with opportunities for improvement, for example, in training.
AHRQ-funded; HS020416
Citation: Edelson DP, Yuen TC, Mancini ME .
Hospital cardiac arrest resuscitation practice in the United States: a nationally representative survey.
J Hosp Med. 2014 Jun;9(6):353-7. doi: 10.1002/jhm.2174..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Hospitalization, Quality of Care, Inpatient Care
Wehbe-Janek H, Pliego J, Sheather S
System-based interprofessional simulation-based training program increases awareness and use of rapid response teams.
The objective of this study was to develop and implement an interprofessional simulation-based training program for rapid response and cardiac arrest emergencies with emphasis on early recognition and effective communication. The researchers concluded that their study demonstrated that rapid response team underuse due to system barriers may be overcome by this type of program targeting specific needs of the institution.
AHRQ-funded; HS016634
Citation: Wehbe-Janek H, Pliego J, Sheather S .
System-based interprofessional simulation-based training program increases awareness and use of rapid response teams.
Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf. 2014 Jun;40(6):279-87..
Keywords: Critical Care, Cardiovascular Conditions, Simulation, Training, Communication
Thacker EL, Muntner P, Zhao H
Claims-based algorithms for identifying Medicare beneficiaries at high estimated risk for coronary heart disease events: a cross-sectional study.
The researchers sought to develop claims-based algorithms to identify individuals at high risk for coronary artery disease (CHD) and to identify low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol among statin users at high risk for CHD events. They found that despite low sensitivity, the high predictive value of their algorithm for high risk for CHD events supports the use of claims to identify Medicare beneficiaries at high risk for CHD events.
AHRQ-funded; HS018517
Citation: Thacker EL, Muntner P, Zhao H .
Claims-based algorithms for identifying Medicare beneficiaries at high estimated risk for coronary heart disease events: a cross-sectional study.
BMC Health Serv Res. 2014 Apr 29;14:195. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-14-195..
Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Medicare, Risk, Cardiovascular Conditions, Chronic Conditions
Black JT, Romano PS, Sadeghi B
A remote monitoring and telephone nurse coaching intervention to reduce readmissions among patients with heart failure: study protocol for the Better
The objective of this randomized controlled comparative effectiveness study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a care transition intervention that included pre-discharge education about heart failure and post-discharge telephone nurse coaching combined with home telemonitoring of weight, blood pressure, heart rate, and symptoms in reducing all-cause 180-day hospital readmissions for older adults hospitalized with heart failure.
AHRQ-funded; HS019311.
Citation: Black JT, Romano PS, Sadeghi B .
A remote monitoring and telephone nurse coaching intervention to reduce readmissions among patients with heart failure: study protocol for the Better
Trials 2014 Apr 13;15:124. doi: 10.1186/1745-6215-15-124..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Comparative Effectiveness, Health Information Technology (HIT), Heart Disease and Health, Hospital Readmissions, Telehealth, Transitions of Care
Shah TR, Rockman CB, Adelman MA
Nationwide comparative impact of thoracic endovascular aortic repair of acute uncomplicated type B aortic dissections.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) on mortality, morbidity, length of stay (LOS), and discharge status on patients with acute uncomplicated Type B aortic dissections (TBAD). It found that TEVAR for acute uncomplicated TBAD was associated with similar in-hospital mortality and renal failure as compared to medical management.
AHRQ-funded; HS019473.
Citation: Shah TR, Rockman CB, Adelman MA .
Nationwide comparative impact of thoracic endovascular aortic repair of acute uncomplicated type B aortic dissections.
Vasc Endovascular Surg. 2014 Apr;48(3):230-3. doi: 10.1177/1538574413518122..
Keywords: Comparative Effectiveness, Outcomes, Cardiovascular Conditions, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)
O'Brien EC, Holmes DN, Ansell JE
Physician practices regarding contraindications to oral anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation: findings from the Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (ORBIT-AF) registry.
This study describes the frequencies of and factors associated with oral anticoagulation (OAC) contraindications in clinical practice for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Contraindications to OAC therapy among patients with AF are common but subjective. Many patients with reported contraindications were receiving OAC, suggesting that the perceived benefits outweighed the potential harm posed by the relative contraindication.
AHRQ-funded; HS021092
Citation: O'Brien EC, Holmes DN, Ansell JE .
Physician practices regarding contraindications to oral anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation: findings from the Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (ORBIT-AF) registry.
Am Heart J. 2014 Apr;167(4):601-609.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2013.12.014..
Keywords: Heart Disease and Health, Blood Thinners, Medication, Registries, Cardiovascular Conditions, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice, Practice Patterns
Arkin N, Lee PH, McDonald K
Association of Nurse-to-Patient Ratio with mortality and preventable complications following aortic valve replacement.
The purpose of this study was to examine hospital resources associated with patient outcomes for aortic valve replacement (AVR), including inpatient adverse events and mortality. The investigators found that the hospital volume-outcomes relationship was associated with mortality outcomes but not postoperative complications. They identified structural differences in hospital size, nurses-to-patient ratio, and nursing skill level indicative of high quality outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS018558.
Citation: Arkin N, Lee PH, McDonald K .
Association of Nurse-to-Patient Ratio with mortality and preventable complications following aortic valve replacement.
J Card Surg 2014 Mar;29(2):141-8. doi: 10.1111/jocs.12284..
Keywords: Adverse Events, Cardiovascular Conditions, Quality of Care, Mortality, Risk