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- Access to Care (1)
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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 15 of 15 Research Studies DisplayedPritchard KT, Baillargeon J, Lee WC
Trends in the use of opioids vs nonpharmacologic treatments in adults with pain, 2011-2019.
This serial cross-sectional analysis on trends in the use of prescription opioids and nonpharmacologic alternatives in treating pain used MEPS to estimate the use of outpatient services by cancer-free adults with chronic or surgical pain from 2011 to 2019. A total of unweighted 46,420 respondents, 9643 (20.4% weighted) received surgery and 36,777 (79.6% weighted) did not. The prevalence of nonpharmacologic treatments increased in 2019 for both chronic and surgical pain cohorts, especially with exclusive use compared with 2011. Chiropractors and physical therapists were the most common licensed healthcare professionals used among the cohort who used nonpharmacologic treatment.
AHRQ-funded; T32HS026133.
Citation: Pritchard KT, Baillargeon J, Lee WC .
Trends in the use of opioids vs nonpharmacologic treatments in adults with pain, 2011-2019.
JAMA Netw Open 2022 Nov;5(11):e2240612. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.40612..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Opioids, Medication, Pain, Chronic Conditions, Treatments
Encinosa W, Bernard D, Selden TM
AHRQ Author: Encinosa W, Bernard D, Selden TM
Opioid and non-opioid analgesic prescribing before and after the CDC's 2016 opioid guideline.
This study examined opioid and non-opioid prescribing before and after the issuing of CDC’s 2016 opioid guideline. The authors developed a theory of physician prescribing behavior under the CDC’s two-pronged incentive structure. They used MEPS survey data to empirically corroborate the theory that the regulations and guidelines have the intended effects of reducing opioid prescriptions for acute and chronic pain, as well as the predicted unintended effects-income effects cause regulations on acute pain treatment to increase chronic pain opioid prescriptions and the chronic pain treatment guidelines spillover to reduce opioids for acute pain. They also found that the guidelines work as intended in terms of the reduced usage, with chronic pain patients shifting to non-opioids and tapering off opioid doses.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Encinosa W, Bernard D, Selden TM .
Opioid and non-opioid analgesic prescribing before and after the CDC's 2016 opioid guideline.
Int J Health Econ Manag 2022 Mar;22(1):1-52. doi: 10.1007/s10754-021-09307-4..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Opioids, Practice Patterns, Medication, Pain, Chronic Conditions
Kumar V, Encinosa W
AHRQ Author: Kumar V, Encinosa W
Explaining the obesity paradox in healthcare utilization among people with type 2 diabetes.
The authors sought to examine changes in the relationship between BMI and number of visits in diabetic vs nondiabetic populations, controlling for confounding risk factors. Using MEPS data, they found that the obesity paradox does not exist at the utilization level and is due to the presence of statistical biases such as confounding and reverse causation.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Kumar V, Encinosa W .
Explaining the obesity paradox in healthcare utilization among people with type 2 diabetes.
Diabetol Int 2022 Jan;13(1):232-43. doi: 10.1007/s13340-021-00530-5..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Obesity, Diabetes, Chronic Conditions, Healthcare Utilization
Bernard DM, Encinosa W, Cohen J
AHRQ Author: Bernard DM Encinosa W Cohen J Fang Z
Patient factors that affect opioid use among adults with and without chronic pain.
Investigators sought to determine patient characteristics associated with opioid use among adults with and without chronic pain treatment. Using MEPS data, they found that health-related attitudes affect both adults with and without chronic pain treatment similarly. Adults with self-reliant health attitudes were less likely to start and more likely to discontinue opioid use. Exercise was associated with higher probability of choosing no analgesic treatments over using opioids and also with higher probability of discontinuing opioid use in the year following opioid initiation for those electing to use them.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Bernard DM, Encinosa W, Cohen J .
Patient factors that affect opioid use among adults with and without chronic pain.
Res Social Adm Pharm 2021 Jun;17(6):1059-65. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.07.036..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Opioids, Medication, Pain, Chronic Conditions
Cheng BT, Smith SS, Fishbein AB
Functional burden and limitations in children with chronic sinusitis.
The objective of this study was to use a validated pediatric quality of life (QOL) tool to quantify the impact of pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in a representative epidemiological sample. Findings showed that pediatric CRS was associated with substantial QOL burden across multiple psychosocial and cognitive domains and that CRS children with lower family income and comorbid asthma, anxiety, and depression had higher Columbia Impairment Scale scores associated with even greater functional impairment. These findings suggested that pediatric CRS might be a population requiring greater attention and screening for mental health symptoms.
AHRQ-funded; HS023011.
Citation: Cheng BT, Smith SS, Fishbein AB .
Functional burden and limitations in children with chronic sinusitis.
Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2020 Jan;31(1):103-05. doi: 10.1111/pai.13121..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Children/Adolescents, Quality of Life, Healthcare Costs, Respiratory Conditions, Chronic Conditions
Biener AI, Decker SL, Rohde F
AHRQ Author: Decker SL, Rohde F
Prevalence and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the United States.
This infographic depicts MEPS data concerning the prevalence and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including information on costs, medications and other chronic conditions.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Biener AI, Decker SL, Rohde F .
Prevalence and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the United States.
JAMA 2019 Aug 20;322(7):602. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.10241..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Respiratory Conditions, Care Management, Chronic Conditions, Healthcare Costs
Adams JS, Chien AT, Wisk LE
Mental illness among youth with chronic physical conditions.
Using MEPS data, the authors compared the risk of incident mental health conditions (MHCs) in youth with and without chronic physical conditions (CPCs), and explored whether activity limitations might contribute to any association. They found that youth with CPCs have increased risk for MHCs and that limitations on activity may play a role in MHC development. They recommended that youth with CPCs may benefit from services that bolster their ability to participate in developmentally important activities and that may help to detect and treat new onset MHCs.
AHRQ-funded; HS022986.
Citation: Adams JS, Chien AT, Wisk LE .
Mental illness among youth with chronic physical conditions.
Pediatrics 2019 Jul;141(1):pii: e20181819. doi: 10.1542/peds.2018-1819..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Chronic Conditions, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Behavioral Health
Biener AI, Decker SL, Rohde F
AHRQ Author: Deck SL, Rohde F
Source of increased health care spending in the United States.
This infographic depicts MEPS information for five medical conditions that account for nearly 1/3 of all medical expenditures in 2015. Factors include the difference in spending associated with these conditions; the number of people treated for them; per capita costs; and related ambulatory visits and prescription drug costs as a proportion of health expenditures.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Biener AI, Decker SL, Rohde F .
Source of increased health care spending in the United States.
JAMA 2019 Mar 26;321(12):1147. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.0679..
Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Healthcare Costs, Healthcare Utilization, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
Abdus S, Keenan PS
AHRQ Author: Abdus S, Keenan PS
Financial burden of employer-sponsored high-deductible health plans for low-income adults with chronic health conditions.
In this research letter, the authors used 2011-2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component data on adults 19 to 64 years of age enrolled in employer-sponsored insurance plans throughout the year to examine the burden of high deductible health plans on low income adults with chronic health conditions.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Abdus S, Keenan PS .
Financial burden of employer-sponsored high-deductible health plans for low-income adults with chronic health conditions.
JAMA Intern Med 2018 Dec;178(12):1706-08. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.4706..
Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Healthcare Costs, Health Insurance, Low-Income, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
Biener AI, Decker SL
AHRQ Author: Biener AI, Decker SL
Medical care use and expenditures associated with adult obesity in the United States.
This infographic consists of bar charts and a line graph making the following points: (1) adult obesity is associated with higher prevalence of chronic conditions, (2) growth in total medical expenditures among obese adults is outpacing that of normal weight adults, and (3) most medical expenditures rise as body mass index increases to higher than normal levels.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Biener AI, Decker SL .
Medical care use and expenditures associated with adult obesity in the United States.
JAMA 2018 Jan 16;319(3):218. doi: 10.1001/jama.2017.21063.
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Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Healthcare Costs, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Obesity
Chang SH, Yu YC, Carlsson NP
Racial disparity in life expectancies and life years lost associated with multiple obesity-related chronic conditions.
This study investigated racial disparity in life expectancies (LEs) and life years lost associated with multiple obesity-related chronic conditions. It found that black individuals had higher risks of developing diabetes, hypertension, and stroke. This disparity in LE between white and black participants was largest in men age 40 to 49 with at least stroke: black men lived 3.12 years shorter than white men.
AHRQ-funded; HS022330.
Citation: Chang SH, Yu YC, Carlsson NP .
Racial disparity in life expectancies and life years lost associated with multiple obesity-related chronic conditions.
Obesity 2017 May;25(5):950-57. doi: 10.1002/oby.21822.
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Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Disparities, Health Status, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Obesity, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Bernard D, Selden T, Yeh S
AHRQ Author: Bernard D, Selden T
Financial burdens and barriers to care among nonelderly adults: the role of functional limitations and chronic conditions.
The researchers examined the financial burdens and barriers to care among nonelderly adults, focusing on the role of functional limitations and chronic conditions. Functional limitations and chronic conditions were associated with increased prevalence of burdens and financial barriers in all insurance categories, with the exception that an association between functional limitations and the prevalence of burdens was not observed for public coverage.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Bernard D, Selden T, Yeh S .
Financial burdens and barriers to care among nonelderly adults: the role of functional limitations and chronic conditions.
Disabil Health J 2016 Apr;9(2):256-64. doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2015.09.003.
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Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Healthcare Costs, Chronic Conditions, Access to Care, Health Services Research (HSR)
McGuire TG, Newhouse JP, Normand SL
AHRQ Author: Zuvekas S
Assessing incentives for service-level selection in private health insurance exchanges.
The authors used MEPS data to measure plan incentives by constructing predictive ratios and by measuring incentives based on the predictability and predictiveness of various medical diagnoses. They found that, among the chronic diseases studied, plans have the greatest incentive to skimp on care for cancer, mental health, and substance abuse.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: McGuire TG, Newhouse JP, Normand SL .
Assessing incentives for service-level selection in private health insurance exchanges.
J Health Econ 2014 May;35:47-63. doi: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2014.01.009.
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Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Health Insurance, Health Status, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
Meyerhoefer CD, Zuvekas SH, Manski R
AHRQ Author: Zuvekas SH, Manski R
The demand for preventive and restorative dental services.
The authors sought to examine the extent to which limited dental coverage and high out-of-pocket costs reduce dental service use by the nonelderly privately insured and uninsured. They concluded that dental coverage is an important determinant of preventive dental service use, but other nonprice factors related to consumer preferences, especially education, are equal if not stronger determinants.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Meyerhoefer CD, Zuvekas SH, Manski R .
The demand for preventive and restorative dental services.
Health Econ 2014 Jan;23(1):14-32. doi: 10.1002/hec.2899.
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Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Dental and Oral Health, Health Insurance, Health Services Research (HSR), Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
Machlin SR, Soni A
AHRQ Author: Machlin SR, Soni A
Health care expenditures for adults with multiple treated chronic conditions: estimates from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2009.
The authors illustrated the usefulness of MEPS data for examining variations in medical expenditures for people with multiple chronic conditions (MCC). They found that the proportion of adults treated for MCC increased with age, with white non-Hispanic adults most likely and Hispanic and Asian adults least likely to be treated for MCC. Regardless of age or sex, hypertension and hyperlipidemia was the most common dyad among adults treated for MCC, and diabetes in conjunction with these 2 conditions was a common triad. They concluded that MEPS has the capacity to produce national estimates of health care expenditures associated with MCC.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Machlin SR, Soni A .
Health care expenditures for adults with multiple treated chronic conditions: estimates from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2009.
Prev Chronic Dis 2013 Apr 25;10:E63. doi: 10.5888/pcd10.120172.
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Keywords: Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Chronic Conditions, Healthcare Costs, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)