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 (4)
- Adverse Events (2)
- Antibiotics (2)
- Antimicrobial Stewardship (1)
- Anxiety (1)
- Asthma (1)
- Behavioral Health (3)
- Cancer (21)
- Cancer: Breast Cancer (15)
- Cancer: Cervical Cancer (2)
- Cancer: Ovarian Cancer (1)
- Cardiovascular Conditions (1)
- Case Study (1)
- Children/Adolescents (2)
- Chronic Conditions (3)
- Clinical Decision Support (CDS) (1)
- Clinician-Patient Communication (3)
- Colonoscopy (1)
- Communication (3)
- COVID-19 (2)
- Cultural Competence (1)
- Decision Making (5)
- Diagnostic Safety and Quality (2)
- Disabilities (1)
- Disparities (1)
- Education: Academic (1)
- Education: Curriculum (1)
- Education: Patient and Caregiver (1)
- Elderly (3)
- Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (2)
- Evidence-Based Practice (4)
- Genetics (1)
- Guidelines (1)
- Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) (1)
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) (5)
- Healthcare Costs (3)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (3)
- Health Insurance (5)
- Heart Disease and Health (1)
- Hospitalization (2)
- Hospital Readmissions (1)
- Hospitals (2)
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (1)
- Imaging (4)
- Labor and Delivery (7)
- Low-Income (1)
- Maternal Care (22)
- Medicaid (5)
- Medication (3)
- Mortality (2)
- Newborns/Infants (2)
- Nutrition (1)
- Outcomes (2)
- Pain (1)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (3)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (1)
- Patient Adherence/Compliance (1)
- Patient and Family Engagement (2)
- Patient Experience (1)
- Policy (2)
- Practice Patterns (1)
- Pregnancy (23)
- Prevention (5)
- Quality of Life (3)
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (6)
- Respiratory Conditions (1)
- Risk (2)
- Rural Health (2)
- Screening (9)
- Sex Factors (1)
- Sexual Health (8)
- Simulation (1)
- Substance Abuse (2)
- Surgery (6)
- Trauma (1)
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) (2)
- (-) Women (61)
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 61 Research Studies DisplayedEliason EL, Daw JR
Presumptive eligibility for pregnancy Medicaid and timely prenatal care access.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the adoption of presumptive eligibility for pregnancy Medicaid in Kansas in 2016 and timely prenatal care access. The researchers utilized 2012-2019 National Center for Health Statistics natality files of all live births in adults aged 20 or older in Kansas, Idaho, Missouri, Nebraska, Tennessee, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, with outcomes of first-trimester prenatal care, the month of first prenatal visit, and adequate prenatal care. The study found no evidence that presumptive eligibility in Kansas resulted in changes in prenatal care use. Among individuals with high school education or less, presumptive eligibility was associated with an increase in first-trimester prenatal care, driven by earlier month of first prenatal care visit. The researchers concluded that in individuals with lower education, presumptive eligibility in Medicaid non-expansion states may lead to small improvements in early prenatal care.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Eliason EL, Daw JR .
Presumptive eligibility for pregnancy Medicaid and timely prenatal care access.
Health Serv Res 2022 Dec;57(6):1288-94. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.14035..
Keywords: Pregnancy, Maternal Care, Access to Care, Medicaid, Women
Schumacher JR, Zahrieh D, Chow S
Increasing socioeconomically disadvantaged patients' engagement in breast cancer surgery decision-making through a shared decision-making intervention (A231701CD): protocol for a cluster randomised clinical trial.
This paper describes the protocol for a multisite randomized trial to test the impact of a newly developed decision aid to increase socioeconomically disadvantaged patients' engagement in breast cancer surgery decision-making. The study will be conducted through 10 surgical clinics within the National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP). A stepped-wedge design with clinics will be randomized to the time of transition from usual care to the decision aid arm. Study participants will be female, aged ≥18 years, with newly diagnosed stage 0-III breast cancer who are planning breast surgery. Data collection will include a baseline surgeon survey, baseline patient survey, audio-recording of the surgeon-patient consultation, a follow-up patient survey and medical record data review. A subset of patients, surgeons, and clinic stakeholders will participate in interviews and focus groups.
AHRQ-funded; HS025194.
Citation: Schumacher JR, Zahrieh D, Chow S .
Increasing socioeconomically disadvantaged patients' engagement in breast cancer surgery decision-making through a shared decision-making intervention (A231701CD): protocol for a cluster randomised clinical trial.
BMJ Open 2022 Nov 17;12(11):e063895. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-063895..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Patient and Family Engagement, Decision Making, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Surgery, Women
Pineles BL, Harris AD, Goodman KE
Adverse maternal and delivery outcomes in children and very young (age ≤13 years) US adolescents compared with older adolescents and adults.
This study compared adverse maternal and delivery outcomes of pregnant 10- to 13-year-olds vs 14- to 17-year-olds and 18- to 19-year-olds. This cross-sectional study looked at all patients aged 10 to 19 years who delivered at hospitals in the Premier Healthcare Database from January 2019 through May 2021. The study included 90,876 deliveries across 655 US hospitals. Controlling for patient race and ethnicity, insurance type, and obesity status: 10- to 13-year-olds had significantly higher risks of preterm delivery and cesarean delivery compared with 14- to 17-year-olds. The risk of preeclampsia was not higher for 10- to 13-year-olds compared to 14- to 17-year-olds. There was a higher risk of preterm delivery for 10- to 13-year-olds compared to 18- to 19-year-olds, but not significantly different for cesarean delivery and preeclampsia.
AHRQ-funded; HS028363.
Citation: Pineles BL, Harris AD, Goodman KE .
Adverse maternal and delivery outcomes in children and very young (age ≤13 years) US adolescents compared with older adolescents and adults.
JAMA 2022 Nov 1;328(17):1766-68. doi: 10.1001/jama.2022.18340..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Pregnancy, Labor and Delivery, Women, Outcomes, Adverse Events, Maternal Care
Gartlehner G, Patel SV, Reddy S
Hormone therapy for the primary prevention of chronic conditions in postmenopausal persons: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
This US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation is an updated evidence report and systematic review on the use of hormone therapy in postmenopausal persons for the primary prevention of chronic conditions. The reviewers included 20 trials (N = 39,145) and 3 cohort studies (N = 1,155,410) from a dual review of abstracts, full-text articles, and study quality. Harms and benefits were compared for participants using estrogen only compared with estrogen plus progestin. Participants using estrogen only compared with placebo had significantly lower risks for diabetes and fractures, but increased for gallbladder disease over 7.1 years, stroke over 7.2 years, venous thromboembolism over 7.2 years and urinary incontinence over 1 year. For participants using estrogen plus progestin some benefits were found, but there was also an increased risk of harms significantly for invasive breast cancer, gallbladder disease, venous thromboembolism, probable dementia, and urinary incontinence.
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120D00007.
Citation: Gartlehner G, Patel SV, Reddy S .
Hormone therapy for the primary prevention of chronic conditions in postmenopausal persons: updated evidence report and systematic review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.
JAMA 2022 Nov 1;328(17):1747-65. doi: 10.1001/jama.2022.18324..
Keywords: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Prevention, Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Chronic Conditions, Women
Interrante JD, Tuttle MS, Admon LK
Severe maternal morbidity and mortality risk at the intersection of rurality, race and ethnicity, and Medicaid.
Using maternal discharge records from childbirth hospitalizations in the HCUP National Inpatient Sample, 2007-15, researchers examined differences in rates of severe maternal morbidity and mortality by rural or urban geography, race and ethnicity, and clinical factors among Medicaid-funded births and privately insured hospital births. The highest rate of severe maternal morbidity and mortality occurred among rural Indigenous Medicaid-funded births; births among Black rural and urban residents and among Hispanic urban residents also experienced elevated rates. The researchers concluded that heightened rates of severe maternal morbidity and mortality among Medicaid-funded births indicate an opportunity for state and federal policy responses to address the maternal health challenges faced by Medicaid beneficiaries, including Black, Indigenous, and rural residents
AHRQ-funded; HS027640.
Citation: Interrante JD, Tuttle MS, Admon LK .
Severe maternal morbidity and mortality risk at the intersection of rurality, race and ethnicity, and Medicaid.
Womens Health Issues 2022 Nov-Dec;32(6):540-49. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2022.05.003..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Maternal Care, Women, Pregnancy, Mortality, Risk, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Medicaid
Eliason Gordon, Gordon SH
The association between postpartum insurance instability and access to postpartum mental health services: evidence from Colorado.
This study assessed the association between postpartum insurance instability and access to postpartum mental health services. The authors used data from the 2018-2019 Colorado Health eMoms survey, which sampled mothers from the 2018 birth certificate files at 3-6 months and 12-14 months postpartum. Respondents were classified at each time point as stably insured or unstable insured based on postpartum insurance status. Of respondents with public coverage at childbirth, 33.2% experienced postpartum insurance changes compared with 9.5% with private coverage. Respondents were more likely to experience unstable postpartum insurance if they were younger, had incomes of less than $50,000, and were of Hispanic ethnicity. Respondents who experienced postpartum insurance instability had lower odds of reporting that they discussed mental health at a postpartum check-up and received postpartum mental health services.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Eliason Gordon, Gordon SH .
The association between postpartum insurance instability and access to postpartum mental health services: evidence from Colorado.
Womens Health Issues 2022 Nov-Dec;32(6):550-56. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2022.06.010..
Keywords: Maternal Care, Access to Care, Women, Behavioral Health, Health Insurance
Snyder BM, Patterson MF, Gebretsadik T
Association between asthma status and prenatal antibiotic prescription fills among women in a Medicaid population.
The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between maternal asthma and outpatient prenatal antibiotic prescription fills to inform antibiotic stewardship. With data from the Tennessee Medicaid Program, findings showed that women with asthma had an increased risk of filling at least one prenatal antibiotic prescription and had an increased number of fills during pregnancy compared to women without asthma. These findings highlight that pregnant women with asthma disproportionately fill more antibiotic prescriptions during pregnancy.
AHRQ-funded; HS018454.
Citation: Snyder BM, Patterson MF, Gebretsadik T .
Association between asthma status and prenatal antibiotic prescription fills among women in a Medicaid population.
J Asthma 2022 Oct;59(10):2100-07. doi: 10.1080/02770903.2021.1993247..
Keywords: Asthma, Respiratory Conditions, Pregnancy, Antibiotics, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Medication, Maternal Care, Women, Chronic Conditions
Ross RL, Rubio K, Rodriguez HP
Mammography and decision aid use for breast cancer screening in older women.
This study examines the association between practice-level decision-aid use and mammography use among older women. Physician practice responses to the 2017/2018 National Survey of Healthcare Organizations and Systems were linked to 2016-17 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiary data from eligible beneficiaries aged 65-74 years. Findings showed that health information technology-enabled automation of mammography reminders and other advanced health information technology functions may support mammography, whereas breast cancer decision aids may reduce patients' propensities to be screened through the alignment of their preferences and screening decision.
AHRQ-funded; HS022241; HS024075.
Citation: Ross RL, Rubio K, Rodriguez HP .
Mammography and decision aid use for breast cancer screening in older women.
Am J Prev Med 2022 Oct;63(4):630-35. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2022.04.014..
Keywords: Imaging, Screening, Decision Making, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Women, Prevention, Cancer, Elderly
Venkataramani M, Ogunwole SM, Caulfield LE
Maternal, infant, and child health outcomes associated with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children: a systematic review.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether WIC participation was associated with improved maternal, neonatal-birth, and infant-child health outcomes or differences in outcomes by subgroups and WIC enrollment duration. Findings showed moderate strength of evidence (SOE) that maternal WIC participation during pregnancy is likely associated with lower risk for preterm birth, low birthweight infants, and infant mortality; low SOE that maternal WIC participation may be associated with a lower likelihood of inadequate gestational weight gain, as well as increased well-child visits and childhood immunizations; and low SOE that child WIC participation may be associated with increased childhood immunizations. Further, findings showed low SOE for differences in some outcomes by race and ethnicity but insufficient evidence for differences by WIC enrollment duration.
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120D00003.
Citation: Venkataramani M, Ogunwole SM, Caulfield LE .
Maternal, infant, and child health outcomes associated with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children: a systematic review.
pediatric pediatrics food.
Keywords: Newborns/Infants, Children/Adolescents, Women, Maternal Care, Outcomes, Nutrition
Warren DK, Peacock KM, Nickel KB
Postdischarge prophylactic antibiotics following mastectomy with and without breast reconstruction.
The authors investigated factors associated with post-discharge prophylactic antibiotic use after mastectomy with and without immediate reconstruction and the impact on surgical-site infection (SSI). They found that anti-methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus antibiotics were associated with decreased risk of SSI for patients who had mastectomy only and those who had mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. They concluded that the high numbers needed to treat suggest that potential benefits of post-discharge antibiotics should be weighed against potential harms associated with antibiotic overuse.
AHRQ-funded; HS019455.
Citation: Warren DK, Peacock KM, Nickel KB .
Postdischarge prophylactic antibiotics following mastectomy with and without breast reconstruction.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2022 Oct;43(10):1382-88. doi: 10.1017/ice.2021.400..
Keywords: Antibiotics, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Medication, Surgery, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Prevention, Women, Practice Patterns
Holcomb J, Ferguson GM, Sun J
Stakeholder engagement in adoption, implementation, and sustainment of an evidence-based intervention to increase mammography adherence among low-income women.
The purpose of this document review study was to create a conceptual framework to guide stakeholder engagement in an evidence-based intervention to increase mammography appointment adherence in underserved and low-income women. The document review results were aligned with the constructs of the conceptual framework and an application of stakeholder engagement in an evidence-based mammography intervention. The researchers concluded that both the conceptual framework constructs and the stakeholder engagement strategies can be utilized across a range of organizations, programs, and settings.
AHRQ-funded; HS023255.
Citation: Holcomb J, Ferguson GM, Sun J .
Stakeholder engagement in adoption, implementation, and sustainment of an evidence-based intervention to increase mammography adherence among low-income women.
J Cancer Educ 2022 Oct;37(5):1486-95. doi: 10.1007/s13187-021-01988-2..
Keywords: Evidence-Based Practice, Screening, Imaging, Women, Low-Income, Patient Adherence/Compliance
Eliason EL, A Spishak-Thomas, Steenland MW
Association of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansions with postpartum contraceptive use and early postpartum pregnancy.
The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion with postpartum contraception use and pregnancy. The researchers found that Medicaid expansion was associated with a 7.0 percentage point increase in postpartum use of the contraceptive implant and intrauterine device LARC, a 3.1 percentage point decrease in short-acting contraception, and a 3.9 percentage point decrease in non-prescription contraceptive use overall. Increases in LARC use were concentrated among non-Hispanic, White, and Black respondents. Medicaid expansion was associated with a decrease in early postpartum pregnancy only among non-Hispanic Black respondents. The researchers concluded that the ACA Medicaid expansion improved postpartum contraceptive access and led to shifts from methods with a lower upfront out-of-pocket cost for people without insurance towards methods with the higher upfront out-of-pocket cost for people without insurance. These changes suggest that Medicaid expansions increased access to the full range of contraceptive methods.
AHRQ-funded; HS027464; HS000011
Citation: Eliason EL, A Spishak-Thomas, Steenland MW .
Association of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansions with postpartum contraceptive use and early postpartum pregnancy.
Contraception 2022 Sep;113:42-48. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2022.02.012..
Keywords: Sexual Health, Pregnancy, Maternal Care, Women, Medicaid, Access to Care, Policy
Thompson I, Bryant AG, Stuebe AM
Centering the patient in postpartum contraceptive counseling.
This article discusses the timing of postpartum contraceptive counseling and the fact that many health care providers believe prevention of future pregnancies is a priority in the postpartum period and that the inpatient postpartum stay is an ideal time to discuss contraception. However, this belief is not necessarily shared by the birthing parent, and they might be unready to discuss contraceptives, especially for people whose reproduction has been marginalized. The authors state that health care providers must acknowledge this harmful and racist history to change counseling practices actively and thoughtfully to best meet patient needs while simultaneously respecting patient autonomy.
AHRQ-funded; HS027260.
Citation: Thompson I, Bryant AG, Stuebe AM .
Centering the patient in postpartum contraceptive counseling.
Clin Obstet Gynecol 2022 Sep 1;65(3):588-93. doi: 10.1097/grf.0000000000000725..
Keywords: Maternal Care, Pregnancy, Women, Sexual Health
White VanGompel E, Lai JS, Davis DA
Psychometric validation of a patient-reported experience measure of obstetric racism© (The PREM-OB Scale™ suite).
This study sought to develop a valid patient-reported experience measure (PREM) of Obstetric Racism(©) in hospital-based intrapartum care designed for, by, and with Black women as patient, community, and content experts. The study was conducted using PROMIS© instrument development standards adapted with cultural rigor methodology. The study had 2 phases: Phase 1 included item pool generation, modified Delphi method, and cognitive interviews and Phase 2 evaluated the item pool using factor analysis and item response theory. Items were identified or written to cover 7 previously identified theoretical domains with 806 Black mothers and birthing people completing the pilot test. Good fit indices were indicated with factor analysis. Factor 1 was “Humanity” which had 31 items measuring experiences of safety and accountability, autonomy, communication, and empathy; Factor 2 “Racism” which had 12 items measuring experiences of neglect and mistreatment; and Factor 3 “Kinship” which had 7 items measuring hospital denial and disruption of relationships between Black mothers and their child or support system.
AHRQ-funded; HS028028.
Citation: White VanGompel E, Lai JS, Davis DA .
Psychometric validation of a patient-reported experience measure of obstetric racism© (The PREM-OB Scale™ suite).
Birth 2022 Sep;49(3):514-25. doi: 10.1111/birt.12622..
Keywords: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Women, Patient Experience
Horner-Johnson W, Garg B, Darney BG BG
Severe maternal morbidity and other perinatal complications among women with physical, sensory, or intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The authors assessed differences in severe maternal morbidity (SMM) and other perinatal complications by presence and type of disability in a retrospective cohort study of California births from 2000-2012. They found that SMM and other perinatal complications were more common among women with disabilities than among women without disabilities.
AHRQ-funded; HS022981.
Citation: Horner-Johnson W, Garg B, Darney BG BG .
Severe maternal morbidity and other perinatal complications among women with physical, sensory, or intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2022 Sep;36(5):759-68. doi: 10.1111/ppe.12873..
Keywords: Maternal Care, Disabilities, Adverse Events, Pregnancy, Women
Windgassen SS, Sutherland S, Finn MTM
Gender differences in the experience of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.
This study assessed gender differences in a debilitating urologic pain condition, interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). Findings indicated that women reported greater pain intensity and extent, but not significantly greater impairment from pain. The duration between time of pain symptom onset and time to diagnosis was significantly greater for women than men. Men emphasized needing more physiological treatment options whilst women emphasized needing more social and emotional support. While men reported feeling supported and involved in treatment decisions, women reported feeling dismissed and disbelieved.
AHRQ-funded; HS022990.
Citation: Windgassen SS, Sutherland S, Finn MTM .
Gender differences in the experience of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.
Front Pain Res 2022 Aug 11;3:954967. doi: 10.3389/fpain.2022.954967..
Keywords: Pain, Sex Factors, Women
Jackson Levin N, Zhang A, Reyes-Gastelum D
Change in worry over time among Hispanic women with thyroid cancer.
This survey assessed change in worry over time in Hispanic women with thyroid cancer. A total of 273 Hispanic women with thyroid cancer diagnosed in 2014-2015 were recruited from SEER Los Angeles. Participants were surveyed at two points in time: time 1 from 2017 to 2018 and time 2 in 2019 on recurrence, quality of life, family at risk, death, and harm from treatments. Women were surveyed on their amount of worry: high worry (somewhat, quite a bit, very much) or low worry (not at all, a little). The survey showed 20.1-39.6% had high worry at both time 1 and time 2. An additional 7.6-13.4% had low worry at time 1 that evolved into high worry at time 2. Women with younger age (20-39) compared to older (40-79) had higher worry about thyroid cancer recurrence. A history of recurrent or persistent disease was associated with high worry about harms from treatment. Greater number of complications or side effect symptoms was associated with worry across all five items.
AHRQ-funded; HS024512.
Citation: Jackson Levin N, Zhang A, Reyes-Gastelum D .
Change in worry over time among Hispanic women with thyroid cancer.
J Cancer Surviv 2022 Aug;16(4):844-52. doi: 10.1007/s11764-021-01078-8..
Keywords: Cancer, Women, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Quality of Life, Anxiety
Wernli KJ, Smith RE, Henderson LM
Decision quality and regret with treatment decisions in women with breast cancer: pre-operative breast MRI and breast density.
The authors evaluated self-report of decision quality and regret with breast cancer surgical treatment by pre-operative breast MRI use in women recently diagnosed with breast cancer. They found that breast MRI use in the diagnostic work-up of breast cancer does not negatively alter women's perceptions of surgical treatment decisions in early survivorship.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation: Wernli KJ, Smith RE, Henderson LM .
Decision quality and regret with treatment decisions in women with breast cancer: pre-operative breast MRI and breast density.
Breast Cancer Res Treat 2022 Aug;194(3):607-16. doi: 10.1007/s10549-022-06648-7..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Decision Making, Women, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Hirai AH, Owens PL, Reid LD
AHRQ Author: Owens PL, Reid LD
Associations between state-level severe maternal morbidity and other perinatal indicators.
This study used the HCUP State Inpatient Databases (HCUP-SID) to determine the correlation between state-level severe maternal morbidity (SMM) rates and perinatal indicators. HCUP-SID was analyzed from 2017 to 2019 using revised code sets for 20 indicators excluding blood transfusions. Perinatal indicators used included prepregnancy hypertension, prepregnancy diabetes, prepregnancy obesity, low-risk cesarean delivery, preterm birth, infant mortality, and maternal mortality. HCUP-SID data for 10,542,942 maternal deliveries and 11,394,752 live births from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) were aggregated for state-level analysis. SMM rates were significantly correlated with 2 of the 7 perinatal indicators: prepregnancy hypertension and low-risk cesarean deliveries. All other perinatal indicators were significantly associated with at least 4 of 7 other indicators, and most correlations were higher in magnitude. Maternity mortality rates were highest in the southeast.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Hirai AH, Owens PL, Reid LD .
Associations between state-level severe maternal morbidity and other perinatal indicators.
JAMA Netw Open 2022 Jul;5(7):e2224621. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.24621..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Maternal Care, Pregnancy, Women, Labor and Delivery, Hospitalization
Smith AJB, Zhou RA, Sites E
Childbirths at home and in birthing centers rose during COVID-19: Oregon 2020 vs prior years.
This study’s objectives were to compare place of birth between 2020 and years before the COVID-19 pandemic and to investigate whether changes in place of birth differed between system-owned and independent hospitals and urban and rural regions in Oregon. Findings showed that, in Oregon, in-hospital births declined significantly during the first year of COVID-19 and affected system-owned hospitals more than independent ones. Further, shifts toward out-of-hospital births occurred in both urban and rural areas.
AHRQ-funded; HS024072.
Citation: Smith AJB, Zhou RA, Sites E .
Childbirths at home and in birthing centers rose during COVID-19: Oregon 2020 vs prior years.
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2022 Jul;227(1):108-11. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.03.027..
Keywords: Labor and Delivery, Pregnancy, Women, COVID-19
Bredbeck BC, Mott NM, Wang T
Facility-level variation of low-value breast cancer treatments in older women with early-stage breast cancer: analysis of a statewide claims registry.
The goal of this retrospective cohort study was to determine facility-level variation of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and adjuvant radiotherapy in older women with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer who were undergoing breast-conserving surgery (BCS). Researchers used a statewide registry of claims data and included a cohort of women aged 70 or older who were diagnosed with breast cancer and who underwent BCS at 80 hospitals in the Michigan Value Collaborative. They concluded that SLNB and radiotherapy rates remain high with significant variation in utilization at the facility level, and that high utilizers of SLNB are also likely to be high utilizers of radiotherapy.
AHRQ-funded; HS026030.
Citation: Bredbeck BC, Mott NM, Wang T .
Facility-level variation of low-value breast cancer treatments in older women with early-stage breast cancer: analysis of a statewide claims registry.
Ann Surg Oncol 2022 Jul; 29(7):4155-64. doi: 10.1245/s10434-022-11631-z..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Elderly, Women
Ellison J, Wang C, Yarrington C
Insurance and geographic variations in non-invasive prenatal testing.
The purpose of this study was to estimate the population-level rate of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) uptake in Massachusetts and identify disparities based on patient zip-code and insurance type. The researchers identified pregnant patients aged 35 years or older at their delivery between 7/1/2015 to 12/31/2015 who were eligible for NIPT use, to assess the role of area‐level sociodemographic characteristics and NIPT uptake. The study reported that considerable geographic variation was discovered. Patients living in zip‐codes within and surrounding the Boston metropolitan area were more likely to receive NIPT, as were those living in Eastern MA. The observed NIPT rate (per 1000 pregnant individuals aged 35 and over) was 48.7 for Medicaid enrollees and 272.1 for commercial enrollees; 123.0 and 223.2 for patients living in a zip‐code with a high versus low proportion of Black/Hispanic residents; and 107.7 and 218.4 for those in a zip‐code with a high versus low proportion of low‐income residents. The researchers reported that birthing people covered by Medicaid were over five times less likely to receive NIPT than their counterparts with commercial coverage. Lower NIPT rates in zip‐codes with a high proportion of low‐income or Black/Hispanic residents also suggests that geographic variations in uptake may reflect racial/ethnic and income disparities independent of insurance coverage. The researchers concluded that the study findings emphasize the presence of substantial disparities in NIPT uptake based on insurance and zip-code of residence, and that further research is needed to identify barriers and facilitators to uptake and to evaluate interventions to address inequities in NIPT use.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Ellison J, Wang C, Yarrington C .
Insurance and geographic variations in non-invasive prenatal testing.
Prenat Diagn 2022 Jul;42(8):1004-07. doi: 10.1002/pd.6155..
Keywords: Pregnancy, Maternal Care, Women, Health Insurance, Screening
Parikh DA, Kody L, Brain S
Patient perspectives on window of opportunity clinical trials in early-stage breast cancer.
This qualitative study aimed to understand patient perspectives on participation in window of opportunity (WOT) clinical trials with women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. The authors recruited 25 women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer who were awaiting definitive therapy at a single-academic medical center to participate in semi-structured interviews. Interviewees indicated positive attitudes toward participation in such a trial were a desire to contribute to research and a hope for personal benefit. The most common concerns were the potential for side effects and how they impact fitness for planned treatment. Family was indicated as an important normative factor. Participation could be hindered by delay in standard treatment and the requirement for additional visits or procedures. Ultimately, 17 out of 25 interviewees stated that they would participate in a WOT if offered.
AHRQ-funded; HS026128.
Citation: Parikh DA, Kody L, Brain S .
Patient perspectives on window of opportunity clinical trials in early-stage breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Res Treat 2022 Jul;194(1):171-78. doi: 10.1007/s10549-022-06611-6..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Women
Moniz MH, Peahl AF, Zinsser D
Social vulnerability and use of postpartum long-acting reversible contraception and sterilization.
This retrospective cohort analysis examined whether social determinants like transportation, housing quality, childcare, and structural racism may plausibly shape individuals’ postpartum contraceptive preferences and access. The authors used administrative claims data from a statewide collaborative quality initiative to identify childbirth episodes from January 2016 to December 2019. Outcomes included long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) and sterilization use by 60 days postpartum. They used the CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) to evaluate associations between the outcomes and exposures to the highest quintile SVI by census tract by theme and controlling for patient characteristics. Individuals with the highest quintile of socioeconomic vulnerability and minority status and language vulnerability were the most likely to use LARCs, while those with the highest household composition vulnerability were least likely. Housing/transportation vulnerability was not associated with LARC utilization. Sterilization use was less like to be taken up by those with the highest socioeconomic vulnerability and minority status/language vulnerability, while it was for those with the highest housing/transportation vulnerability and household composition vulnerability.
AHRQ-funded; HS025465.
Citation: Moniz MH, Peahl AF, Zinsser D .
Social vulnerability and use of postpartum long-acting reversible contraception and sterilization.
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2022 Jul;227(1):111-13.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.03.031..
Keywords: Sexual Health, Women
Danan ER, Brunner J, Bergman A
The relationship between sexual assault history and cervical cancer screening completion among women veterans in the Veterans Health Administration.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether a history of sexual assault in women Veterans is associated with decreased cervical cancer screening completion. The researchers analyzed data from a 2015 survey of 1049 women Veterans who accessed primary care services at 12 Veterans health administration facilities (VA’s) in nine states, and linked responses with electronic health data from the VA system. Fifty-seven percent (616) of women Veterans reported lifetime sexual assault, and those who did so had a greater likelihood of reporting a high level of distress associated with pelvic examinations and delaying a gynecologic exam due to distress. However, in the final adjusted model, there was not a significant association between lifetime sexual assault and reduced odds of cervical cancer screening completion. The study concluded that there was no significant association between sexual assault and gaps in cervical cancer screening completion.
AHRQ-funded; HS026379.
Citation: Danan ER, Brunner J, Bergman A .
The relationship between sexual assault history and cervical cancer screening completion among women veterans in the Veterans Health Administration.
J Womens Health 2022 Jul;31(7):1040-47. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2021.0237.AHRQ-funded; HS026379..
Keywords: Women, Cancer: Cervical Cancer, Cancer, Screening, Trauma