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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 944 Research Studies DisplayedHaimovich AD, Shah MN, Southerland LT
Automating risk stratification for geriatric syndromes in the emergency department.
This study discussed using automated risk stratification to implement screening programs for geriatric syndromes in the emergency department (ED). This method would reduce significant workloads at a time of record-breaking ED patient volumes, staff shortages, and hospital boarding crises. The authors defined the concept of automated risk stratification and screening using existing electronic health record (EHR) data. They discussed progress made in three potential use cases in the ED: falls, cognitive impairment, and end-of-life and palliative care; emphasizing the importance of linking automated screening with systems of healthcare delivery. They found that research progress and operational deployment vary by use case, ranging from deployed solutions in falls screening to algorithmic validation in cognitive impairment and end-of-life care, but should still be considered a potential solution.
AHRQ-funded; HS027735.
Citation: Haimovich AD, Shah MN, Southerland LT .
Automating risk stratification for geriatric syndromes in the emergency department.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2024 Jan; 72(1):258-67. doi: 10.1111/jgs.18594..
Keywords: Elderly, Emergency Department, Risk, Health Information Technology (HIT)
Fabius CD, Okoye SM, Wu MMJ
The role of place in person- and family-oriented long-term services and supports.
The authors developed a conceptual framework to identify environmental domains contributing to the use, care quality, and care experiences of long-term services and supports (LTSS). They found that LTSS-relevant environmental characteristics are differentially relevant to the care experiences of older adults with disabilities. Measures of neighborhood social and economic deprivation were highly associated with adverse consequences due to unmet care needs. Measures of health care and social services delivery environment were inversely associated with participation restrictions in valued activities. The authors concluded that greater attention should be given to strengthening state- and community-based policies and practices that support aging in place.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Fabius CD, Okoye SM, Wu MMJ .
The role of place in person- and family-oriented long-term services and supports.
Milbank Q 2023 Dec; 101(4):1076-138. doi: 10.1111/1468-0009.12664..
Keywords: Long-Term Care, Elderly, Disabilities
Wang J, Mao Y, McGarry B
Assisted living or nursing home: who is moving in?
The purpose of this study was to examine the traits of older adults at the time of assisted living (AL) community admission and how those traits compare to individuals newly admitted to nursing homes (NH) to explore the differences. This study examined the individual, facility, and geographic factors associated with new AL admission. The study found that demographic, socioeconomic, and health service use traits were related with new admission to long-term care. those age 75 years and older, male, Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries, having one skilled nursing facility (SNF) stay or any hospital stay within the prior 6 months have a greater likelihood of being newly admitted to AL, whereas those who are racial/ethnic minorities, dually eligible, and with two or more SNF stays within the past 6 months have a greater likelihood of being admitted to an NH.
AHRQ-funded; HS026893.
Citation: Wang J, Mao Y, McGarry B .
Assisted living or nursing home: who is moving in?
J Am Geriatr Soc 2023 Nov; 71(11):3480-88. doi: 10.1111/jgs.18503..
Keywords: Elderly, Long-Term Care, Nursing Homes
Shear K, Rice H, Garabedian PM
Management of fall risk among older adults in diverse primary care settings.
The purpose of this study was to describe how urban and rural primary care staff and older adults manage fall risk and factors relevant to the application of computerized clinical decision support (CCDS). METHODS: Interviews, contextual inquiries, and workflow observations were analyzed. The study found that participants valued fall prevention and described similar approaches. Variations in available resources existed between rural and urban locations. Participants wanted evidence-based guidance incorporated into workflows to bridge gaps in skills.
AHRQ-funded; HS027557.
Citation: Shear K, Rice H, Garabedian PM .
Management of fall risk among older adults in diverse primary care settings.
J Appl Gerontol 2023 Nov; 42(11):2219-32. doi: 10.1177/07334648231185757..
Keywords: Falls, Elderly, Primary Care, Rural Health, Rural/Inner-City Residents
Ganguli I, Mackwood MB, Yang CW
Racial differences in low value care among older adult Medicare patients in US health systems: retrospective cohort study.
The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to characterize racial differences in receipt of low-value care among older Medicare beneficiaries overall and within U.S. health systems. Medicare fee-for-service administrative data was used for Black and White Medicare patients who were at least 65 as of 2016. Findings showed that, of the 40 low value services examined, Black patients had a higher adjusted receipt of 9 services and lower receipt of 20 services than White patients. Differences were generally small and largely due to differential care within health systems, but the authors concluded that their findings suggested potential factors that researchers, policymakers, and health system leaders might investigate to improve health care quality and equity.
AHRQ-funded; HS024930.
Citation: Ganguli I, Mackwood MB, Yang CW .
Racial differences in low value care among older adult Medicare patients in US health systems: retrospective cohort study.
BMJ 2023 Oct 25; 383:e074908. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2023-074908..
Keywords: Elderly, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Medicare, Health Systems
Chen Z, Gleason LJ, Konetzka RT
Accuracy of infection reporting in US nursing home ratings.
The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of publicly reported nursing home data on urinary tract infections (UTIs) and of pneumonia data, which are not publicly reported. Researchers developed a claims-based nursing home-level measure of hospitalized infections and estimated correlations between this and publicly reported ratings. Subjects were Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries who were nursing home residents and hospitalized for UTI or pneumonia during the study period. Findings suggested that both UTI and pneumonia were substantially underreported in data used for national public reporting. The researchers concluded that alternative approaches were needed to improve surveillance of nursing home quality.
AHRQ-funded; HS026957.
Citation: Chen Z, Gleason LJ, Konetzka RT .
Accuracy of infection reporting in US nursing home ratings.
Health Serv Res 2023 Oct; 58(5):1109-18. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.14195..
Keywords: Provider Performance, Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care, Pneumonia, Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), Elderly
Thompson MP, Stewart JW, Hou H
Determinants and outcomes associated with skilled nursing facility use after coronary artery bypass grafting: a statewide experience.
The purpose of this study was to assess determinants and outcomes related with Skilled nursing facility (SNF) use after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting. The study sample included 8,614 patients, with an average age of 73.3 years. A skilled nursing facility (SNF) was used by 22.3% of patients within 90 days of discharge and ranged from 3.2% to 58.3% across the 33 hospitals. Patients utilizing SNFs had a greater likelihood of being female, older, non-White, with greater comorbidities, worse cardiovascular function, a perioperative morbidity, and longer hospital lengths of stay. Outcomes were significantly worse for users of SNFs, including higher rates of 90-day readmissions and ED visits and lower use of home health and rehabilitation services. Compared with non-SNF users, users of SNFs had a greater risk-adjusted hazard of mortality and had 2.7-percentage point greater 5-year mortality rate in a propensity-matched cohort of patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS027830.
Citation: Thompson MP, Stewart JW, Hou H .
Determinants and outcomes associated with skilled nursing facility use after coronary artery bypass grafting: a statewide experience.
Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2023 Oct; 16(10):e009639. doi: 10.1161/circoutcomes.122.009639..
Keywords: Elderly, Nursing Homes, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Medicare, Surgery
Dekeyser GJ, Martin BI, Marchand LS
Geriatric distal femur fractures treated with distal femoral replacement are associated with higher rates of readmissions and complications.
The objective of this study was to compare mortality and complications of distal femur fracture repair among elderly patients who received operative fixation versus distal femur replacement (DFR). Participants were Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older with distal femur fracture who were identified using Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services data. Most of the patients received operative fixation surgery. Results indicated that DFR was associated with significantly greater rates of infection, device-related complication, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, costs, and readmission.
AHRQ-funded; HS024714.
Citation: Dekeyser GJ, Martin BI, Marchand LS .
Geriatric distal femur fractures treated with distal femoral replacement are associated with higher rates of readmissions and complications.
J Orthop Trauma 2023 Oct; 37(10):485-91. doi: 10.1097/bot.0000000000002638..
Keywords: Elderly, Injuries and Wounds, Hospital Readmissions, Adverse Events
McInerney M, Mellor JM, Ramamoorthy V
Improving identification of Medicaid eligible community-dwelling older adults in major household surveys with limited income or asset information.
The authors provided guidance on how to identify eligible respondents in household surveys that have limited income or asset information. They demonstrated how two types of errors -- false negative and false positive -- are impacted by incorporating limited income or asset information and showed that incorporating all available income and asset data results in the lowest number of errors and the lowest overall error rates. The authors recommended that researchers adjust income and impose the asset test to the fullest extent possible when imputing Medicaid eligibility for Medicare enrollees.
AHRQ-funded; HS025422.
Citation: McInerney M, Mellor JM, Ramamoorthy V .
Improving identification of Medicaid eligible community-dwelling older adults in major household surveys with limited income or asset information.
Health Serv Outcomes Res Methodol 2023 Oct; 23(4):416-32. doi: 10.1007/s10742-022-00297-5..
Keywords: Elderly, Medicaid
Deardorff WJ, Jing B, Growdon ME
Medication misuse and overuse in community-dwelling persons with dementia.
This study sought to characterize a broad spectrum of medication misuse and overuse among community-dwelling persons with dementia (PWD). The authors included community-dwelling adults aged ≥66 in the Health and Retirement Study from 2008 to 2018 linked to Medicare and classified as having dementia using a validated algorithm. Potentially problematic medications were identified as: (1) medication overuse including over-aggressive treatment of diabetes/hypertension (e.g., insulin/sulfonylurea with hemoglobin A1c < 7.5%) and medications inappropriate near end of life based on STOPPFrail and (2) medication misuse including medications that negatively affect cognition and medications from 2019 Beers and STOPP Version 2 criteria. To contextualize, they compared medication use to people without dementia through a propensity-matched cohort by age, sex, comorbidities, and interview year. Among 1441 PWD, median age was 84, 67% female, and 14% Black. Overall, 73% of PWD were prescribed ≥1 potentially problematic medication with a mean of 2.09 per individual in the prior year. This was notable across several domains, as 41% were prescribed ≥1 medications that negatively affects cognition. Frequently prescribed problematic medications identified included proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids, antihypertensives, and antidiabetic agents. Problematic medication use was higher among PWD compared to those without dementia with 73% versus 67% prescribed ≥1 problematic medication and a mean of 2.09 versus 1.62, respectively.
AHRQ-funded; HS02638.
Citation: Deardorff WJ, Jing B, Growdon ME .
Medication misuse and overuse in community-dwelling persons with dementia.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2023 Oct; 71(10):3086-98. doi: 10.1111/jgs.18463..
Keywords: Medication, Dementia, Elderly
Herzig SJ, Anderson TS, Urman RD
Risk factors for opioid-related adverse drug events among older adults after hospitalization for major orthopedic procedures.
The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to identify risk factors for opioid-related adverse drug events (ORADEs) after hospital discharge following orthopedic procedures. The participants of this study included a national sample of Medicare beneficiaries who underwent major orthopedic surgery during hospitalization in 2016 and had an opioid prescription filled within 2 days of discharge. The study found that among 30,514 hospitalizations with a major orthopedic procedure and an opioid claim, a potential ORADE requiring hospital revisit occurred in 2.5%. After adjustment for patient characteristics, prior opioid use, co-prescribed sedating medications, and opioid prescription characteristics were not related with ORADEs. Independent risk factors did include age of 80 years or older, female sex, and clinical conditions, including heart failure, respiratory illness, kidney disease, dementia/delirium, anxiety disorder, and musculoskeletal/nervous system injuries.
AHRQ-funded; HS026215.
Citation: Herzig SJ, Anderson TS, Urman RD .
Risk factors for opioid-related adverse drug events among older adults after hospitalization for major orthopedic procedures.
J Patient Saf 2023 Oct 1; 19(6):379-85. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000001144..
Keywords: Elderly, Opioids, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Hospitalization, Orthopedics, Surgery, Medication, Risk, Medication: Safety, Patient Safety
Reistetter T, Hreha K, Dean JM
The pre-adaptation of a stroke-specific self-management program among older adults.
To understand the management of multimorbidity in aging stroke survivors and to examine the complex relationships between comorbidities, researchers used visual analytics to identify patient subgroup. Five significant subgroups of comorbidities such as obesity and cancer were identified. An interdisciplinary team constructed six vignettes that highlighted multimorbidity to customize a self-management program that fitted the needs of older adult stroke survivors.
AHRQ-funded; HS026133.
Citation: Reistetter T, Hreha K, Dean JM .
The pre-adaptation of a stroke-specific self-management program among older adults.
J Aging Health 2023 Oct; 35(9):632-42. doi: 10.1177/08982643231152520..
Keywords: Stroke, Cardiovascular Conditions, Elderly, Patient Self-Management
Schuttner L, Richardson C, Parikh T
"Low-value" glycemic outcomes among older adults with diabetes cared for by primary care nurse practitioners or physicians: a retrospective cohort study.
The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to compare patients with diabetes reassigned to nurse practitioners to those reassigned to physicians after their previous physician separated from practice in an integrated US health system. Participants were patients aged at least 65 with diabetes who were at increased risk for hypoglycemia, whose primary care physician had left the Veterans Health Administration, and who were reassigned to a new primary care provider in the following year. The results indicated that primary care nurse practitioners delivered equivalent or better rates of low-value diabetes care for older patients, compared to physicians.
AHRQ-funded; HS026369.
Citation: Schuttner L, Richardson C, Parikh T .
"Low-value" glycemic outcomes among older adults with diabetes cared for by primary care nurse practitioners or physicians: a retrospective cohort study.
Int J Nurs Stud 2023 Sep; 145:104532. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2023.104532..
Keywords: Elderly, Primary Care, Diabetes, Chronic Conditions
Min SH, Song J, Evans L
Home healthcare patients with distinct psychological, cognitive, and behavioral symptom profiles and at-risk subgroup for hospitalization and emergency department visits using latent class analysis.
The purpose of this study was to explore subgroups of older adults receiving home healthcare services with similar psychological, cognitive, and behavioral symptom profiles and an at-risk subgroup for future hospitalization and emergency department visits as an indicator of underdiagnosis or undertreatment. The three-class model applied in the study consisted of Class 1: "Moderate psychological symptoms without behavioral issues," Class 2: "Severe psychological symptoms with behavioral issues," and Class 3: "Mild psychological symptoms without behavioral issues." The study found that Class 1 patients had 1.14 higher odds and Class 2 patients had 1.26 higher odds of being hospitalized or visiting emergency departments compared to Class 3. The researchers discovered significant differences in individual characteristics such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, and insurance.
AHRQ-funded; HS027742.
Citation: Min SH, Song J, Evans L .
Home healthcare patients with distinct psychological, cognitive, and behavioral symptom profiles and at-risk subgroup for hospitalization and emergency department visits using latent class analysis.
Clin Nurs Res 2023 Sep; 32(7):1021-30. doi: 10.1177/10547738231183026..
Keywords: Home Healthcare, Emergency Department, Hospitalization, Elderly
McGarry BE, Mao Y, Nelson D
Hospital proximity and emergency department use among assisted living residents.
The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to explore the association between the distance of assisted living (AL) communities to the nearest hospital and AL residents' rates of emergency department (ED) utilization. The researchers hypothesized that when access to an ED is a shorter distance, AL-to-ED transfers are more common, especially for non-emergency conditions. The study found that among 540,944 resident-years from 16,514 AL communities, the median distance to the closest hospital was 2.5 miles. After statistical adjustment, a doubling of distance to the closest hospital was related with 43.5 fewer ED treat-and-release visits per 1000 resident years and no significant difference in the rate of ED visits resulting in an inpatient admission. Among ED treat-and-release visits, a doubling of distance was related with a 3.0% decrease in visits classified as nonemergent, and a 1.6% decrease in visits classified as emergent, not primary care treatable.
AHRQ-funded; HS026893.
Citation: McGarry BE, Mao Y, Nelson D .
Hospital proximity and emergency department use among assisted living residents.
J Am Med Dir Assoc 2023 Sep; 24(9):1349-55.e.5. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2023.05.002..
Keywords: Emergency Department, Elderly, Long-Term Care, Medicare, Hospitals
Troy AL, Herzig SJ, Trivedi S
Initiation of oral anticoagulation in US older adults newly diagnosed with atrial fibrillation during hospitalization.
This study investigated prevalence of oral anticoagulant initiation for newly diagnosed US older adults with atrial fibrillation within 7 days of hospital discharge. The authors used a 20% national sample of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries, identifying patients aged 65 years or older newly diagnosed with atrial fibrillation while hospitalized in 2016. Among 38,379 older adults newly diagnosed with atrial fibrillation while hospitalized (mean age 78.2; 51.8% female; 83.3% white), 36,633 (95.4%) had an indication for anticoagulation and 24.6% (9011) of those initiated an oral anticoagulant following discharge. Higher CHA(2) DS(2) -VASc score was associated with a small increase in oral anticoagulant initiation (predicted probability 20.5% for scores <2 and 24.9% for ≥4). Elevated HAS-BLED score was associated with a small decrease in probability of anticoagulant initiation (25.4% for score <2 and 23.1% for ≥3). Frailty was associated with decreased likelihood of oral anticoagulant initiation (24.7% for non-frail and 18.1% for moderately-severely frail). Anticoagulant initiation varied by primary reason for hospitalization, with predicted probability highest among patients with a primary diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (46.1%) and lowest among those with non-cardiovascular conditions (13.8%) and bleeds (3.6%).
AHRQ-funded; HS026215.
Citation: Troy AL, Herzig SJ, Trivedi S .
Initiation of oral anticoagulation in US older adults newly diagnosed with atrial fibrillation during hospitalization.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2023 Sep; 71(9):2748-58. doi: 10.1111/jgs.18375..
Keywords: Elderly, Blood Thinners, Medication, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Stroke
Hekman DJ, Cochran AL, Maru AP
Effectiveness of an emergency department-based machine learning clinical decision support tool to prevent outpatient falls among older adults: protocol for a quasi-experimental study.
This article described a research protocol for evaluating the effectiveness of an automated screening and referral intervention tool for patients receiving falls risk intervention. The study will attempt to quantify the impact of a machine learning (ML) clinical decision support intervention on patient behavior and outcomes. The primary analysis will obtain referral completion rates from different emergency departments. The findings will inform ongoing discussion on the use of ML and artificial intelligence to augment medical decision-making.
AHRQ-funded; HS027735.
Citation: Hekman DJ, Cochran AL, Maru AP .
Effectiveness of an emergency department-based machine learning clinical decision support tool to prevent outpatient falls among older adults: protocol for a quasi-experimental study.
JMIR Res Protoc 2023 Aug 3; 12:e48128. doi: 10.2196/48128..
Keywords: Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Emergency Department, Health Information Technology (HIT), Elderly, Falls
Smulowitz PB, Weinreb G, McWilliams JM
Association of functional status, cognition, social support, and geriatric syndrome with admission from the emergency department.
The objective of this cohort study was to determine the extent to which patient-level factors such as such as functional status, cognitive status, social supports, and geriatric syndromes are associated with rates of hospital admission following an emergency department (ED) visit. Survey data collected from participants or their proxies enrolled in the Health and Retirement Study were linked to Medicare fee-for-service claims data. The results suggested that key patient-level characteristics were associated with the decision to admit older patients to the hospital from the ED. The authors concluded that these factors will be critical to consider when devising strategies to reduce low-value admissions from the ED among older adult patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS025408.
Citation: Smulowitz PB, Weinreb G, McWilliams JM .
Association of functional status, cognition, social support, and geriatric syndrome with admission from the emergency department.
JAMA Intern Med 2023 Aug; 183(8):784-92. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.2149..
Keywords: Elderly, Emergency Department
Nguyen JK, P P
Comparison of survival outcomes among older adults with major trauma after trauma center versus non-trauma center care in the United States.
This study’s objective was to compare level 1 and 2 trauma centers with similarly sized non-trauma centers on survival after major trauma among older adults. The authors used claims of 100% of 2012-2017 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries who received hospital care after major trauma. They assessed the roles of prehospital care, hospital quality, and volume. Thirty-day mortality was higher overall at level 1 versus non-trauma centers by 2.2 percentage points (pp). Thirty-day mortality was higher at level 1 versus non-trauma centers by 2.3 pp for falls and 2.3 pp for motor vehicle crashes. Outcomes were similar at level 1 and 2 trauma centers. The difference was not explained by hospital quality and volume. There were also no statistical differences in the ambulance-transported group, after adjusting for prehospital variables.
AHRQ-funded; HS025720.
Citation: Nguyen JK, P P .
Comparison of survival outcomes among older adults with major trauma after trauma center versus non-trauma center care in the United States.
Health Serv Res 2023 Aug; 58(4):817-27. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.14148..
Keywords: Elderly, Trauma, Outcomes, Injuries and Wounds, Emergency Department, Hospitals
Hua Y, Temkin-Greener H, Cai S
Primary care telemedicine use among assisted living residents with dementia during COVID-19: race and dual enrollment status.
The purpose of this study was to explore primary care telemedicine use among Medicare beneficiaries with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) who resided in Assisted Living Facilities (Als) during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on possible racial and socioeconomic differences. The study found that at the start of the pandemic in quarter 2 of 2020, Black residents were less likely to have telemedicine visits than their White counterparts. In the following two quarters, Black residents were more likely to receive primary care via telemedicine than White residents; a similar difference was observed between Hispanic and White residents, but with smaller effect sizes. Compared with nondual residents, dual residents were more likely to receive primary care via telemedicine in Q3. In addition, residents in AL communities with a higher proportion of dual residents, compared with those in low-dual ALs, were less likely to receive primary care via telemedicine throughout the study period. However, the difference in telemedicine use between higher vs lower dual ALs narrowed over time.
AHRQ-funded; HS026893.
Citation: Hua Y, Temkin-Greener H, Cai S .
Primary care telemedicine use among assisted living residents with dementia during COVID-19: race and dual enrollment status.
J Am Med Dir Assoc 2023 Aug; 24(8):1157-58.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2023.05.005..
Keywords: COVID-19, Primary Care, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care, Dementia, Neurological Disorders, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Elderly
Valentine KD, Vo H, Mancini B
Shared decision making for elective surgical procedures in older adults with and without cognitive insufficiencies.
The purpose of this study was to examine surgical decision-making processes of older adults with and without cognitive insufficiencies and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the shared decision making (SDM) Process scale. Participants were eligible patients aged 65 or older who were scheduled for a preoperative appointment before elective surgery; a baseline phone survey was administered a week before the visit and a follow-up survey 3 months later to assess decision regret. Survey responses indicated that patient-reported shared decision making, decisional conflict, and decision regret did not differ significantly for patients with and without cognitive insufficiencies. The authors concluded that the SDM Process scale was an acceptable, reliable, and valid measure of shared decision making.
AHRQ-funded; HS025718.
Citation: Valentine KD, Vo H, Mancini B .
Shared decision making for elective surgical procedures in older adults with and without cognitive insufficiencies.
Med Decis Making 2023 Aug; 43(6):656-66. doi: 10.1177/0272989x231182436..
Keywords: Decision Making, Elderly, Surgery
Strayer TE, Hollingsworth EK, Shah AS
Why do older adults decline participation in research? Results from two deprescribing clinical trials.
The objective of this study was to examine reasons why hospitalized older adults declined participation in two deprescribing clinical trials, Shed-MEDS (non-Veterans) and VA DROP (Veterans). The reasons given by participating patients were condensed into three themes: feeling overwhelmed by current health status; lack of interest or mistrust; hesitancy to participate. A greater proportion of Veterans expressed a lack of interest or, while more non-Veterans expressed feeling overwhelmed by their current health status. The authors concluded that understanding the reasons why older adults decline participation can inform future strategies to engage this multimorbid population.
AHRQ-funded; HS026122.
Citation: Strayer TE, Hollingsworth EK, Shah AS .
Why do older adults decline participation in research? Results from two deprescribing clinical trials.
Trials 2023 Jul 18; 24(1):456. doi: 10.1186/s13063-023-07506-7..
Keywords: Elderly, Research Methodologies, Health Services Research (HSR)
Di M, Keeney T, Belanger E
Functional status and therapy for older adults with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in nursing homes: a population-based study.
The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of functional and cognitive impairments, and relationships between impairments and treatment in older patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) receiving nursing home (NH) care. The study found that of the eligible 649 NH patients 45% received chemoimmunotherapy; among the recipients, 47% received multi-agent, anthracycline-containing regimens. Those patients in a NH were less likely to receive chemoimmunotherapy, had higher 30-day mortality, and poorer OS compared with community-dwelling patients. NH patients with severe functional (61%) or any cognitive impairment (48%) were less likely to receive chemoimmunotherapy.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Di M, Keeney T, Belanger E .
Functional status and therapy for older adults with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in nursing homes: a population-based study.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2023 Jul; 71(7):2239-49. doi: 10.1111/jgs.18302..
Keywords: Elderly, Nursing Homes, Medicare, Cancer, Treatments
Wretman CJ, Boynton MH, Preisser JS
Patient-level information underlying overdiagnosis of urinary tract infections in nursing homes: a discrete choice experiment.
The purpose of this study was to address the overdiagnosis of UTIs in nursing home residents as a significant public health threat by exploring which patient-level information was related with the overdiagnosis. The study found that the results of urinalyses and lower urinary tract status were most related with the overdiagnosis of UTIs.
AHRQ-funded; HS024519.
Citation: Wretman CJ, Boynton MH, Preisser JS .
Patient-level information underlying overdiagnosis of urinary tract infections in nursing homes: a discrete choice experiment.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2023 Jul; 44(7):1151-54. doi: 10.1017/ice.2022.171..
Keywords: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Elderly
Zhu JM, Meiselbach MK, Drake C C
Psychiatrist networks In Medicare Advantage plans are substantially narrower than in Medicaid and ACA Markets.
The authors used a novel data set that linked insurance network service areas, plans, and providers across Medicare Advantage, Medicaid managed care, and Affordable Care Act plan markets to compare psychiatrist network breadth; their purpose was to assess the percentage of providers in a given area considered in network for a plan. They found that nearly two-thirds of psychiatrist networks in Medicare Advantage contained fewer than 25 percent of providers in a network's service area. They concluded that these findings suggest a certain “narrowness” in psychiatrist networks in Medicare Advantage, which may disadvantage enrollees attempted to obtain mental health services.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Zhu JM, Meiselbach MK, Drake C C .
Psychiatrist networks In Medicare Advantage plans are substantially narrower than in Medicaid and ACA Markets.
Health Aff 2023 Jul; 42(7):909-18. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2022.01547..
Keywords: Elderly, Medicare, Behavioral Health, Access to Care