National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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AHRQ Research Studies Date
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- Access to Care (4)
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- (-) Transplantation (31)
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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 31 Research Studies DisplayedFeldman AG, Marsh R, Kempe A
Barriers to pretransplant immunization: a qualitative interview study of pediatric solid organ transplant stakeholders.
Investigators described the experiences and beliefs of pediatric transplant stakeholders regarding factors that contribute to low pre-transplant immunization rates. Five central themes emerged: gaps in knowledge about timing and safety of pre-transplant immunizations; lack of communication, coordination, and follow-up between team members; lack of centralized immunization records; subspecialty clinics functioning as the medical home for transplant candidates, but not able to provide all needed immunizations; and differences between organ type in prioritization and completion of pre-transplant immunization. The authors recommended new tools to overcome these barriers and to increase immunization rates in transplant candidates.
AHRQ-funded; HS026510.
Citation: Feldman AG, Marsh R, Kempe A .
Barriers to pretransplant immunization: a qualitative interview study of pediatric solid organ transplant stakeholders.
J Pediatr 2020 Dec;227:60-68. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.07.038..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Transplantation, Surgery, Healthcare Delivery, Healthcare Utilization
Feldman AG, Adams MA, Wachs ME
Successful non-directed living liver donor transplant for an infant with biliary atresia during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This case study describes a successful non-directed living liver donor transplant for an infant with biliary atresia that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Careful preoperative planning was used to prevent infection pre- and post-cooperatively, and robust telehealth technology use both in and out of the hospital.
AHRQ-funded; HS026510.
Citation: Feldman AG, Adams MA, Wachs ME .
Successful non-directed living liver donor transplant for an infant with biliary atresia during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pediatr Transplant 2020 Dec;24(8):e13816. doi: 10.1111/petr.13816..
Keywords: Newborns/Infants, COVID-19, Transplantation, Surgery, Case Study
Edwards GC, Shipe ME, Smith L
Exploring patient willingness to accept hepatitis C-infected kidneys for transplantation.
The objective of this study was to explore patient willingness to accept a kidney from Hepatitis C virus-infected donors compared to donors with active intravenous drug use and donors with longstanding diabetes and hypertension. Using electronic surveys, results showed that utilization of kidneys from Hepatitis C virus-infected donors to expand the donor pool appeared to be an acceptable option to patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS026122.
Citation: Edwards GC, Shipe ME, Smith L .
Exploring patient willingness to accept hepatitis C-infected kidneys for transplantation.
BMC Nephrol 2020 Nov 10;21(1):473. doi: 10.1186/s12882-020-02114-y..
Keywords: Hepatitis, Kidney Disease and Health, Transplantation
Kemme S, Sundaram SS, Curtis DJ
A community divided: post-transplant live vaccine practices among Society of Pediatric Liver Transplantation (SPLIT) centers.
The goal of this study was to assess current post-transplant live vaccine practices at individual pediatric liver transplant centers following the updated AST guidelines. Using email surveys with a 93% response rate, findings showed that only 29% of centers offered live vaccines post-transplant, with each center using different eligibility criteria for live vaccines. The main reasons for a center not offering post-transplant live vaccines were safety concerns and inability to reach group consensus.
AHRQ-funded; HS026510.
Citation: Kemme S, Sundaram SS, Curtis DJ .
A community divided: post-transplant live vaccine practices among Society of Pediatric Liver Transplantation (SPLIT) centers.
Pediatr Transplant 2020 Aug 26:e13804. doi: 10.1111/petr.13804..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Transplantation, Surgery, Vaccination, Practice Patterns
Shen NT, Bray J, Wahid NA
Evaluation of alcohol taxes as a public health opportunity to reduce liver transplant listings for alcohol-related liver disease.
Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is a leading indication for liver transplantation. In this study, the investigators evaluated alcohol taxes as a public health opportunity to reduce liver transplant listings for alcohol-related liver disease. The investigators concluded that transplant listings for ALD were directly associated with spirit consumption and inversely associated with spirits excise taxes. They indicate that these findings suggest a possible public health benefit of increasing excise taxes for spirits.
AHRQ-funded; HS000066.
Citation: Shen NT, Bray J, Wahid NA .
Evaluation of alcohol taxes as a public health opportunity to reduce liver transplant listings for alcohol-related liver disease.
Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2020 Nov;44(11):2307-15. doi: 10.1111/acer.14454..
Keywords: Alcohol Use, Policy, Transplantation
Mogul DB, Perito ER, Wood N
Impact of acuity circles on outcomes for pediatric liver transplant candidates.
In December 2018, UNOS approved an allocation scheme based on recipients' geographic distance from a deceased donor ("acuity circles"). Previous analyses suggested acuity circles (AC) would reduce waitlist mortality overall, but their impact on pediatric subgroups was not considered. In this study, the investigators applied Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data from 2011-2016 towards the Liver Simulated Allocation Model (LSAM) to compare outcomes by age and illness severity for the UNOS-approved AC and the existing Donor Service Area (DSA)/Region-based allocation schemes.
AHRQ-funded; HS023876.
Citation: Mogul DB, Perito ER, Wood N .
Impact of acuity circles on outcomes for pediatric liver transplant candidates.
Transplantation 2020 Aug;104(8):1627-32. doi: 10.1097/tp.0000000000003079..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Transplantation, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice, Registries, Surgery, Access to Care
Covarrubias K, Luo X, Massie A
Determinants of length of stay after pediatric liver transplantation.
In this study, the investigators sought to identify factors that were associated with LOS following pediatric (<18 years) liver transplantation in order to provide personalized counseling and discharge planning for recipients and their families. They concluded that while center-level practices accounted for substantial variation in LOS, consideration of donor and recipient factors could help clinicians provide more personalized counseling for families of pediatric liver transplant candidates.
AHRQ-funded; HS023876.
Citation: Covarrubias K, Luo X, Massie A .
Determinants of length of stay after pediatric liver transplantation.
Pediatr Transplant 2020 Jun;24(4):e13702. doi: 10.1111/petr.13702..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Transplantation
Brown CS, Wakam GK, Englesbe MJ
Increased-risk donors and solid organ transplantation: current practices and opportunities for improvement.
This study looked at recent developments in decision making for use of CDC-labeled increased-risk donor (IRD) use for solid organ transplantation. The implementation of nucleic acid testing for HIV and hepatitis C virus has resulted in decreasing risk of window-period infection often by an order of magnitude or more. However, surgeons still are hesitant to utilize IRD organs. The authors conclude that rate of transmission of window-period infection from IRD organs is exceptionally low and the harms regarding the increased risk classification outweigh the benefits for patients who need organ transplantation.
AHRQ-funded; HS000053.
Citation: Brown CS, Wakam GK, Englesbe MJ .
Increased-risk donors and solid organ transplantation: current practices and opportunities for improvement.
Curr Opin Organ Transplant 2020 Apr;25(2):139-43. doi: 10.1097/mot.0000000000000735..
Keywords: Transplantation, Surgery, Risk
Ingraham NE, Tignanelli CJ, Menk J
Pre- and peri-operative factors associated with chronic critical illness in liver transplant recipients.
This study examined whether patients with end-stage liver failure undergoing liver transplant would be at high risk for developing chronic critical illness (CCI). They looked at pre- and perioperative factors associated with CCI. This retrospective cohort study was performed at a large academic transplant center and included all adult liver transplant patients from 2011 to 2017. CCI was defined as the need for mechanical ventilation for seven days or more post-transplant. Recipients who had re-transplantation, acute rejection, or who died during transplant surgery were excluded. They identified 382 transplant recipients, and out of that cohort 45 (11.8%) developed CCI. Eight independent factors were associated with CCI including previous liver transplant, acute renal failure, frailty, lower albumin level, higher international normalized ratio, need for mechanical ventilation and higher systolic pulmonary artery pressure. A higher pre-transplant Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was associated with protection against CCI.
AHRQ-funded; HS026379.
Citation: Ingraham NE, Tignanelli CJ, Menk J .
Pre- and peri-operative factors associated with chronic critical illness in liver transplant recipients.
Surg Infect 2020 Apr;21(3):246-54. doi: 10.1089/sur.2019.192..
Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Transplantation, Surgery, Outcomes
Muzaale AD, Massie AB, Al Ammary F
Donor-recipient relationship and risk of ESKD in live kidney donors of varied racial groups.
Risk factors for kidney failure are the basis of live kidney donor candidate evaluation. In this retrospective cohort study, the investigators quantified risk for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) by the biological relationship of the donor to the recipient, a risk factor that is not addressed by current clinical practice guidelines. The investigators found that marked differences in risk for ESKD across types of donor-recipient relationship were observed for Asian, black, and white donors.
AHRQ-funded; HS024600.
Citation: Muzaale AD, Massie AB, Al Ammary F .
Donor-recipient relationship and risk of ESKD in live kidney donors of varied racial groups.
Am J Kidney Dis 2020 Mar;75(3):333-41. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2019.08.020..
Keywords: Transplantation, Kidney Disease and Health, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Risk, Registries
Bowring MG, Massie AB, Chu NM
Projected 20- and 30-year outcomes for pediatric liver transplant recipients in the United States.
Researchers aimed to use national registry data and parametric models to project 20- and 30-year post-transplant outcomes for recently transplanted pediatric liver transplant (LT) recipients. Using Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data, they found that projected long-term outcomes for recently transplanted pediatric LT recipients are excellent, reflective of substantial improvements in medical care, and informative for physician-patient education and decision making in the current era.
AHRQ-funded; HS023876.
Citation: Bowring MG, Massie AB, Chu NM .
Projected 20- and 30-year outcomes for pediatric liver transplant recipients in the United States.
J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2020 Mar;70(3):356-63. doi: 10.1097/mpg.0000000000002592..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Transplantation, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Outcomes, Surgery, Registries, Evidence-Based Practice
Schaffhausen CR, Bruin MJ, Chu S
Tool to aid patients in selecting a liver transplant center.
Variations in candidate and donor acceptance criteria may influence access and mortality for liver transplantation. In this study, the investigators sought to understand how recipient and donor characteristics varied across centers and how patients interpreted this information. The data was then used to develop a tool to provide tailored information to candidates seeking a center.
AHRQ-funded; HS024527; HS026379.
Citation: Schaffhausen CR, Bruin MJ, Chu S .
Tool to aid patients in selecting a liver transplant center.
Liver Transpl 2020 Mar;26(3):337-48. doi: 10.1002/lt.25715..
Keywords: Transplantation, Decision Making
Shen NT, Wu A, Farrell K
Patient perspectives of high-quality care on the liver transplant waiting list: a qualitative study.
The prevalence of advanced liver disease and listing for liver transplantation is increasing. Prior assessments of quality of care neither incorporate nor emphasize the patient perspective on quality of care, which may impact clinical outcomes. In this study the investigators aimed to identify patients' perceptions on what constitutes high quality of care, comparing the findings to existing frameworks and assessments to determine if a patient-derived tool assessing quality of care could facilitate efforts to improve health care.
AHRQ-funded; HS000066.
Citation: Shen NT, Wu A, Farrell K .
Patient perspectives of high-quality care on the liver transplant waiting list: a qualitative study.
Liver Transpl 2020 Feb;26(2):238-46. doi: 10.1002/lt.25645..
Keywords: Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS), Transplantation, Quality of Care, Healthcare Delivery, Patient Experience
Schaffhausen CR, Bruin MJ, Chu S
Comparing pretransplant and posttransplant outcomes when choosing a transplant center: focus groups and a randomized survey.
In response to calls for an increased focus on pretransplant outcomes and other patient-centered metrics in public reports of center outcomes, this mixed methods study evaluated how the content and presentation style of new information influenced decision-making. This mixed methods design utilized qualitative and quantitative phases where the strengths of one method helped address limitations of the other, and multiple methods facilitated comparing results. The authors concluded that the presentation of public reports influenced decision-making behavior.
AHRQ-funded; HS026379; HS024527.
Citation: Schaffhausen CR, Bruin MJ, Chu S .
Comparing pretransplant and posttransplant outcomes when choosing a transplant center: focus groups and a randomized survey.
Transplantation 2020 Jan;104(1):201-10. doi: 10.1097/tp.0000000000002809..
Keywords: Transplantation, Decision Making, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice, Outcomes
Feldman AG, Hsu EK, Mack CL
The importance of prioritizing pre and posttransplant immunizations in an era of vaccine refusal and epidemic outbreaks.
This paper discusses the prevalence of vaccine-preventable outbreaks occurring both nationally and internationally. Rates of vaccine hesitancy and refusal have been increasing which leads to decreased herd immunity. This poses greater risk to immunosuppressed transplant recipients, and currently 1 in 6 pediatric solid organ transplant recipients are hospitalized with a vaccine-preventable infection in the first 5 years posttransplant. This often results in significant morbidity, mortality, and increased hospitalization costs. Surprisingly, many transplant recipients are not up-to-date on age appropriate immunizations at the time of transplant and thereafter. The authors feel that immunizations must be prioritized in both pre and posttransplant care. They call for more research to understand how to monitor immune response to vaccines in immunosuppressed patients and when to optimally immunize patients posttransplant. They also recommend reexamination of the administration of live vaccines posttransplant.
AHRQ-funded; HS026510.
Citation: Feldman AG, Hsu EK, Mack CL .
The importance of prioritizing pre and posttransplant immunizations in an era of vaccine refusal and epidemic outbreaks.
Transplantation 2020 Jan;104(1):33-38. doi: 10.1097/tp.0000000000002936..
Keywords: Vaccination, Medication, Emergency Preparedness, Public Health, Transplantation
Feldman AG, Curtis DJ, Moore SL
Under-immunization of pediatric transplant recipients: a call to action for the pediatric community.
This article is a call to action for pediatric solid organ transplant recipients to receive their recommended immunizations. Vaccine-preventable infections (VIPs) occur in 1 in 6 pediatric transplant recipients and these hospitalizations result in significant morbidity, mortality, graft injury, and cost. There has been an increase in the overall population in non-medical vaccine exemptions, which reduces herd immunity and creates greater risk for patients undergoing or already having received transplants.
AHRQ-funded; HS026510.
Citation: Feldman AG, Curtis DJ, Moore SL .
Under-immunization of pediatric transplant recipients: a call to action for the pediatric community.
Pediatr Res 2020 Jan;87(2):277-81. doi: 10.1038/s41390-019-0507-4..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Transplantation, Vaccination, Adverse Events, Patient Safety
Feldman AG, Atkinson K, Wilson K
Underimmunization of the solid organ transplant population: An urgent problem with potential digital health solutions.
This paper describes ways that digital health technologies may help solid organ transplant recipients stay free from vaccine-preventable infections so they are not underimmunized at the time of transplant and thereafter. Due to vaccine hesitancy and refusal in the general population, recipients can no longer rely on herd immunity to protect them. Digital health technologies can provide accurate information about vaccine safety, efficacy and timing in the pre- and post-transplant periods; make complete immunization records universally available and easily accessible; enable communication between patients and multiple providers; and provide automated vaccine reminders to both patients and providers.
AHRQ-funded; HS026510.
Citation: Feldman AG, Atkinson K, Wilson K .
Underimmunization of the solid organ transplant population: An urgent problem with potential digital health solutions.
Am J Transplant 2020 Jan;20(1):34-39. doi: 10.1111/ajt.15605..
Keywords: Transplantation, Surgery, Healthcare Utilization, Infectious Diseases, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Vaccination
Rodrigue JR, Fleishman A, Fitzpatrick S
Organ donation video messaging in motor vehicle offices: results of a randomized trial.
Since nearly all registered organ donors in the United States signed up via a driver's license transaction, motor vehicle (MV) offices represent an important venue for organ donation education. The researchers evaluated the impact of organ donation video messaging in MV offices. There was a relatively low uptake of the video intervention by customers that most likely contributed to the negative trial finding.
HS022061; HS024204
Citation: Rodrigue JR, Fleishman A, Fitzpatrick S .
Organ donation video messaging in motor vehicle offices: results of a randomized trial.
Prog Transplant 2015 Dec;25(4):332-8. doi: 10.7182/pit2015166..
Keywords: Transplantation, Health Promotion, Education: Patient and Caregiver
Donnelly JP, Wang HE, Locke JE
Hospital-onset Clostridium difficile infection among solid organ transplant recipients.
The researchers examined hospital-onset Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) from 2012 to 2014 among transplant recipients in the University HealthSystem Consortium, which includes academic medical center-affiliated hospitals in the United States. They found that factors associated with CDI among transplant recipients included transplant type, risk of mortality, comorbidities, and inpatient complications.
AHRQ-funded; HS013852.
Citation: Donnelly JP, Wang HE, Locke JE .
Hospital-onset Clostridium difficile infection among solid organ transplant recipients.
Am J Transplant 2015 Nov;15(11):2970-7. doi: 10.1111/ajt.13491.
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Keywords: Clostridium difficile Infections, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Transplantation, Adverse Events, Mortality
Fumo DE, Kapoor V, Reece LJ
Historical matching strategies in kidney paired donation: the 7-year evolution of a web-based virtual matching system.
Failure to convert computer-identified possible kidney paired donation (KPD) exchanges into transplants has prohibited KPD from reaching its full potential. This study analyzes the progress of exchanges in moving from "offers" to completed transplants. The "offer" and 1-way success rates were 21.9 and 15.5 percent, respectively. Three reasons for failure were found that could be prospectively prevented by changes in protocol or software.
AHRQ-funded; HS020610.
Citation: Fumo DE, Kapoor V, Reece LJ .
Historical matching strategies in kidney paired donation: the 7-year evolution of a web-based virtual matching system.
Am J Transplant 2015 Oct;15(10):2646-54. doi: 10.1111/ajt.13337.
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Keywords: Health Information Technology (HIT), Transplantation, Decision Making, Clinical Decision Support (CDS)
Bray M, Wang W, Song PX
Planning for uncertainty and fallbacks can increase the number of transplants in a kidney-paired donation program.
The researchers outlined and examined, through example and by simulation, four schemes for selecting potential matches in a realistic model of a kidney-paired donation system. Their proposed schemes take account of probabilities that chosen transplants may not be completed as well as allowing for contingency plans when the optimal solution fails.
AHRQ-funded; HS020610.
Citation: Bray M, Wang W, Song PX .
Planning for uncertainty and fallbacks can increase the number of transplants in a kidney-paired donation program.
Am J Transplant 2015 Oct;15(10):2636-45. doi: 10.1111/ajt.13413.
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Keywords: Transplantation, Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Health Information Technology (HIT)
Traino HM, Nonterah CW, Cyrus JW
Disparities in the completion of steps to kidney transplantation: protocol for a systematic review.
This review will catalogue disparities in the steps to transplantation as well as the barriers and facilitators to completion of each step identified in the extant literature. The results of the review will be used to generate recommendations for future research to improve equity in access to kidney transplantation.
AHRQ-funded; HS018113.
Citation: Traino HM, Nonterah CW, Cyrus JW .
Disparities in the completion of steps to kidney transplantation: protocol for a systematic review.
BMJ Open 2015 Sep 08;5(9):e008677. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008677.
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Keywords: Disparities, Transplantation, Kidney Disease and Health, Access to Care, Guidelines
Parikh ND, Waljee AK, Singal AG
Downstaging hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and pooled analysis.
The researchers aimed to characterize rates of successful downstaging to within Milan criteria and post-liver transplantation recurrence and survival among patients who underwent downstaging. They concluded that the success rate of downstaging hepatocellular carcinoma to within Milan criteria exceeds 40 percent; however, posttransplant HCC recurrence rates are high at 16 percent.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Parikh ND, Waljee AK, Singal AG .
Downstaging hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and pooled analysis.
Liver Transpl 2015 Sep;21(9):1142-52. doi: 10.1002/lt.24169..
Keywords: Cancer, Risk, Transplantation
Orman ES, Mayorga ME, Wheeler SB
Declining liver graft quality threatens the future of liver transplantation in the United States.
This study used the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database to inform a 20-year discrete event simulation estimating liver transplantation (LT) volume from 2010 to 2030. It found that if donor liver utilization practices remain constant, utilization will fall from 78 percent to 44 percent by 2030, resulting in 2,230 fewer LTs.
AHRQ-funded; HS019468.
Citation: Orman ES, Mayorga ME, Wheeler SB .
Declining liver graft quality threatens the future of liver transplantation in the United States.
Liver Transpl 2015 Aug;21(8):1040-50. doi: 10.1002/lt.24160..
Keywords: Healthcare Utilization, Health Services Research (HSR), Transplantation
McElroy LM, Schmidt KA, Richards CT
Early postoperative emergency department care of abdominal transplant recipients.
The goal of this study was to describe early postoperative ED care of transplant recipients. It found that transplant recipients have a high frequency of ED visits in the first post transplantation year and high rates of subsequent hospital admission.
AHRQ-funded; HS000078.
Citation: McElroy LM, Schmidt KA, Richards CT .
Early postoperative emergency department care of abdominal transplant recipients.
Transplantation 2015 Aug;99(8):1652-7. doi: 10.1097/tp.0000000000000781..
Keywords: Emergency Department, Transplantation, Hospital Readmissions, Hospitals