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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 363 Research Studies DisplayedNavis A, George MC, Nmashie A
Validation of the Safer Opioid Prescribing Evaluation Tool (SOPET) for assessing adherence to the Centers for Disease Control opioid prescribing guidelines.
This study assessed the use of the Safer Opioid Prescribing Evaluation Tool (SOPET) which was designed to improve the implementation of the 2016 Centers for Disease Control Guidelines on the prescription of opioids for chronic pain. Four raters with varying levels of clinical experience were trained to use the SOPET and then used it to evaluate 21 baseline patient scenarios. Inter-rater reliability was measured using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) estimates and their 95% confidence intervals for the total SOPET score based on a mean-rating absolute-agreement, two-way random-effects model. Inter-rater reliability was found to be good for the three physician raters (0.92, 0.97, and 0.99). However, inter-rater reliability for the non-physician rater was lower (0.67).
AHRQ-funded; HS025641.
Citation: Navis A, George MC, Nmashie A .
Validation of the Safer Opioid Prescribing Evaluation Tool (SOPET) for assessing adherence to the Centers for Disease Control opioid prescribing guidelines.
Pain Med 2020 Dec 25;21(12):3655-59. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnaa138..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Medication: Safety, Patient Safety, Guidelines, Practice Patterns, Pain, Chronic Conditions, Evidence-Based Practice
Barnes GD
Combining antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy in cardiovascular disease.
The author describes results of a number of randomized clinical trials that have explored different combinations of anticoagulation plus antiplatelet agents aimed at minimizing bleeding risk while preserving low thrombotic event rates. Findings include shorter courses with fewer antithrombotic agents as being effective, particularly when direct oral anticoagulants are combined with clopidogrel. Combined use of very low-dose rivaroxaban plus aspirin also demonstrated benefit in atherosclerotic diseases, including coronary and peripheral artery disease. Use of proton pump inhibitor therapy while patients were taking multiple antithrombotic agents had the potential to further reduce upper gastrointestinal bleeding risk in select populations. The author recommends that applying this evidence to patients with multiple thrombotic conditions will help to avoid costly and life-threatening adverse medication events.
AHRQ-funded; HS026874; HS026322.
Citation: Barnes GD .
Combining antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy in cardiovascular disease.
Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program 2020 Dec 4;2020(1):642-48. doi: 10.1182/hematology.2020000151..
Keywords: Blood Thinners, Medication, Medication: Safety, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Patient Safety, Cardiovascular Conditions
Caram MEV, Oerline MK, Dusetzina S
Adherence and out-of-pocket costs among Medicare beneficiaries who are prescribed oral targeted therapies for advanced prostate cancer.
The authors investigated coping and material measures of the financial hardship of abiraterone and enzalutamide among patients with advanced prostate cancer with Medicare Part D coverage. They found substantial variations in the adherence rate and out-of-pocket payments, with sociodemographic patient and regional factors found to be associated with both aspects.
AHRQ-funded; HS025707.
Citation: Caram MEV, Oerline MK, Dusetzina S .
Adherence and out-of-pocket costs among Medicare beneficiaries who are prescribed oral targeted therapies for advanced prostate cancer.
Cancer 2020 Dec 1;126(23):5050-59. doi: 10.1002/cncr.33176..
Keywords: Patient Adherence/Compliance, Medicare, Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Cancer, Medication, Healthcare Costs
Everson J, Cheng AK, Patrick SW
Association of electronic prescribing of controlled substances with opioid prescribing rates.
The purpose of this study was to assess the association between use of electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS) and trends in opioid prescribing. Results suggested that an increased use of EPCS was not associated with decreased opioid prescribing or a decrease in the amount prescribed and may have been associated with a small increase in opioid prescribing. Recommendations included levers to ensure that EPCS is integrated with outside data and that information is actively used to inform prescribing decisions.
AHRQ-funded; HS026395.
Citation: Everson J, Cheng AK, Patrick SW .
Association of electronic prescribing of controlled substances with opioid prescribing rates.
JAMA Netw Open 2020 Dec;3(12):e2027951. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.27951..
Keywords: Electronic Prescribing (E-Prescribing), Health Information Technology (HIT), Opioids, Medication, Practice Patterns, Provider: Physician, Provider: Clinician, Provider
Hambley BC, Anderson KE, Shanbhag SP
Payment incentives and the use of higher-cost drugs: a retrospective cohort analysis of intravenous iron in the Medicare population.
Researchers examined prescribing patterns in the context of intravenous (IV) iron, for which multiple similarly safe and efficacious formulations exist, with wide variations in price. Using Medicare data, they found an increase in the dispensing of a higher-priced IV iron formulation associated with a shortage of a less expensive drug that persisted once the shortage ended. They concluded that their findings in IV iron have broader implications for Part B drug payment policy because the price of the drug determines the physician and health system payment.
AHRQ-funded; HS000029.
Citation: Hambley BC, Anderson KE, Shanbhag SP .
Payment incentives and the use of higher-cost drugs: a retrospective cohort analysis of intravenous iron in the Medicare population.
Am J Manag Care 2020 Dec;26(12):516-22. doi: 10.37765/ajmc.2020.88539..
Keywords: Elderly, Medication, Medicare, Payment, Healthcare Costs, Practice Patterns
Militello LG, Hurley RW, Cook RL
Primary care clinicians' beliefs and strategies for managing chronic pain in an era of a national opioid epidemic.
Investigators sought a better understanding of primary care clinicians’ approaches to managing patients with chronic pain and explored implications for technological and administrative interventions. They found that primary care clinicians’ beliefs about opioid therapy generally align with the clinical evidence but may have some important gaps, suggesting the potential value of interventions that include improved access to research findings, organizational changes to support spending time with patients to develop rapport, and the need for innovative clinical cognitive support.
AHRQ-funded; HS023306.
Citation: Militello LG, Hurley RW, Cook RL .
Primary care clinicians' beliefs and strategies for managing chronic pain in an era of a national opioid epidemic.
J Gen Intern Med 2020 Dec;35(12):3542-48. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-06178-2..
Keywords: Primary Care, Opioids, Medication, Pain, Chronic Conditions, Provider: Physician, Provider: Clinician, Provider, Care Management
Dickert NW, Mitchell AR, Venechuk GE
Show me the money: patients' perspectives on a decision aid for sacubitril/valsartan addressing out-of-pocket cost.
This study reported patients' perspectives on a decision aid for sacubitril/valsartan that explicitly addressed out-of-pocket costs. Findings indicated that patients were receptive to the inclusion of out-of-pocket cost as relevant in a decision aid for sacubitril/valsartan. Key challenges to effective integration of cost in these decisions included developing mechanisms for acquiring reliable patient-specific cost estimates and addressing patients' difficulties applying trial evidence to their own situation.
AHRQ-funded; HS026081.
Citation: Dickert NW, Mitchell AR, Venechuk GE .
Show me the money: patients' perspectives on a decision aid for sacubitril/valsartan addressing out-of-pocket cost.
Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2020 Dec;13(12):e007070. doi: 10.1161/circoutcomes.120.007070..
Keywords: Decision Making, Medication, Healthcare Costs
Mack DS, Baek J, Tjia J
Statin discontinuation and life-limiting illness in non-skilled stay nursing homes at admission.
Researchers estimated 30-day statin discontinuation among newly admitted nursing home residents overall and within categories of life-limiting illness. Participants were Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries age 65 or older who were undergoing statin pharmacotherapy before admission to Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing home facilities. The researchers found that statin use continued in a large proportion of Medicare beneficiaries after admission to a nursing home. They recommended additional deprescribing research.
AHRQ-funded; HS026840.
Citation: Mack DS, Baek J, Tjia J .
Statin discontinuation and life-limiting illness in non-skilled stay nursing homes at admission.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2020 Dec;68(12):2787-96. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16777.
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Keywords: Elderly, Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care, Medication
Savitz ST, Bailey SC, Dusetzina SB
Treatment selection and medication adherence for stable angina: the role of area-based health literacy.
Clinical studies show equivalent health outcomes from interventional procedures and treatment with medication only for stable angina patients. However, patients may be subject to overuse or access barriers for interventional procedures and may exhibit suboptimal adherence to medications. The objective of the study was to evaluate whether community-level health literacy was associated with treatment selection and medication adherence patterns.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Savitz ST, Bailey SC, Dusetzina SB .
Treatment selection and medication adherence for stable angina: the role of area-based health literacy.
J Eval Clin Pract 2020 Dec;26(6):1711-21. doi: 10.1111/jep.13341..
Keywords: Medication, Patient Adherence/Compliance, Health Literacy, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions
Daniel VT, Francalancia S, Amir NS
Upper gastrointestinal perforations: a possible danger of antibiotic overuse.
Investigators conducted a retrospective case-control study to examine the relationship between antibiotic exposure and upper gastrointestinal (UGI) perforations in a national sample. A 5% random sample of Medicare were queried to identify patients at least 65 years old who were hospitalized with stomach or small intestine UGI perforations using International Classification of Diseases diagnosis codes; Cases with UGI perforations were matched with 4 controls based on age and sex. The investigators concluded that recent outpatient antibiotic use, in particular in the preceding 30 days, is associated with UGI perforation among Medicare beneficiaries. They recommended minimizing exposure to antibiotics in the outpatient setting.
AHRQ-funded; HS022694.
Citation: Daniel VT, Francalancia S, Amir NS .
Upper gastrointestinal perforations: a possible danger of antibiotic overuse.
J Gastrointest Surg 2020 Dec;24(12):2730-36. doi: 10.1007/s11605-019-04473-w..
Keywords: Digestive Disease and Health, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Antibiotics, Medication, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events
Schesing KB, Chia R, Elwood B
Assessment of patient and provider attitudes towards therapeutic drug monitoring to improve medication adherence in low-income patients with hypertension: a qualitative study.
Previous studies have implicated therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), by measuring serum or urine drug levels, as a highly reliable technique for detecting medication non-adherence but the attitudes of patients and physicians toward TDM have not been evaluated previously. In this study, the investigators solicited input from patients with uncontrolled hypertension and their physicians about their views on TDM.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Schesing KB, Chia R, Elwood B .
Assessment of patient and provider attitudes towards therapeutic drug monitoring to improve medication adherence in low-income patients with hypertension: a qualitative study.
BMJ Open 2020 Nov 27;10(11):e039940. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039940..
Keywords: Patient Adherence/Compliance, Medication, Blood Pressure
Flynn G, Jia H, Reynolds NR
Protocol of the randomized control trial: the WiseApp trial for improving health outcomes in PLWH (WiseApp).
This paper outlines the protocol for the WiseApp randomized control trial. The WiseApp contains real-time medication monitoring linking an electronic pill bottle and fitness tracker to the app, helping persons living with HIV (PLWH) self-manage their medication adherence and improve their overall quality of life. The primary objective of the trial is to test the effect of the WiseApp's medication adherence features on antiretroviral adherence in underserved PLWH in New York City. The real-time monitoring of the WiseApp has the potential to help providers initiate interventions to help patients resume treatment before drug resistance begins.
AHRQ-funded; HS025071.
Citation: Flynn G, Jia H, Reynolds NR .
Protocol of the randomized control trial: the WiseApp trial for improving health outcomes in PLWH (WiseApp).
BMC Public Health 2020 Nov 25;20(1):1775. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-09688-0..
Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Medication, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient Adherence/Compliance, Patient Self-Management, Chronic Conditions, Care Management, Healthcare Delivery
Romman AN, Hsu CM, Chou LN
Opioid prescribing to Medicare Part D enrollees, 2013-2017: shifting responsibility to pain management providers.
This study looked at trends in opioid prescribing frequency to Medicare Part D enrollees from 2013 to 2017 by medical specialty and provider type. The authors analyzed opioid claims and prescribing trends for specialties accounting for ≥1% of all opioid claims. Pain management specialists increased Medicare Part D opioid claims by 27.3% to 1,140 mean claims per provider in 2017. Physical medicine and rehabilitation providers increased claims by 16.9% to 511 mean claims per provider in 2017. All other medical specialties decreased opioid claims during this period, with emergency medicine decreasing the most (-19.9%) and orthopedic surgery (-16%) dropping opioid claims the most of all the other specialties. Overall physician decrease was -5.2%. However opioid claims among dentists (+5.6%) and nonphysician providers (+10.2%) increased during this period.
AHRQ-funded; HS020642.
Citation: Romman AN, Hsu CM, Chou LN .
Opioid prescribing to Medicare Part D enrollees, 2013-2017: shifting responsibility to pain management providers.
Pain Med 2020 Nov 7;21(7):1400-07. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnz344..
Keywords: Elderly, Opioids, Medication, Medicare, Pain, Chronic Conditions, Practice Patterns
Orloff JN, Touhamy SH, Truong W
Trial of restarting and tolerating metformin (TreatMet).
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, n-of-1 crossover study assessed whether metformin's side effects are reproducible in patients with a history of metformin intolerance. Participants completed up to four cycles of 2 weeks of metformin exposure and 2 weeks of placebo exposure. Participants completed surveys based on the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale and the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication.
AHRQ-funded; HS023898.
Citation: Orloff JN, Touhamy SH, Truong W .
Trial of restarting and tolerating metformin (TreatMet).
Diabetes Obes Metab 2020 Nov;22(11):2189-92. doi: 10.1111/dom.14137..
Keywords: Medication, Digestive Disease and Health, Diabetes, Chronic Conditions
Salmasian H, Blanchfield BB, Joyce K
Association of display of patient photographs in the electronic health record with wrong-patient order entry errors.
Wrong-patient order entry (WPOE) errors have a high potential for harm; these errors are particularly frequent wherever workflows are complex and multitasking and interruptions are common, such as in the emergency department (ED). The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the use of noninterruptive display of patient photographs in the banner of the electronic health record (EHR) is associated with a decreased rate of WPOE errors.
AHRQ-funded; HS024713.
Citation: Salmasian H, Blanchfield BB, Joyce K .
Association of display of patient photographs in the electronic health record with wrong-patient order entry errors.
AMA Netw Open 2020 Nov 2;3(11):e2019652. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.19652..
Keywords: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT), Medical Errors, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Medication, Medication: Safety, Patient Safety, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Chan B, Freeman M, Ayers C
A systematic review and meta-analysis of medications for stimulant use disorders in patients with co-occurring opioid use disorders.
This systematic review and meta-analysis looked at medication efficacy for stimulant use disorders in patients with co-occurring opioid use disorders. Multiple databases were searched through April 2019 for randomized controlled trials, and dual-screened studies using pre-specified inclusion criteria. Thirty-four trials of 22 medications focused on cocaine use disorder in patients with opioid use disorder. Most studies used methadone treatment for patients with opioid use disorder. Primary outcomes were abstinence, defined as stimulant-negative urine for three or more consecutive weeks. However, none of the six studies that assessed abstinence found significant differences among groups. The authors found moderate strength evidence that antidepressants and disulfiram worsened treatment retention. There was low-strength evidence that psychostimulants reduced cocaine use. There was only 1 trial for methamphetamine use disorder which had insufficient strength evidence for naltrexone.
AHRQ-funded; HS022981.
Citation: Chan B, Freeman M, Ayers C .
A systematic review and meta-analysis of medications for stimulant use disorders in patients with co-occurring opioid use disorders.
Drug Alcohol Depend 2020 Nov 1;216:108193. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108193..
Keywords: Opioids, Substance Abuse, Medication, Evidence-Based Practice
Miller BJ, Carson KA, Keller S
Educating patients on unnecessary antibiotics: personalizing potential harm aids patient understanding.
Antibiotic resistance is a public health emergency fueled by inappropriate antibiotic use. Public education campaigns often focus on global antibiotic resistance or societal harm of antibiotic misuse. In this study, the investigators administered a survey at a primary care clinic in Baltimore, MD. A total of 250 participants rated 18 statements about potential harm from antibiotics on how each statement changed their likelihood to request antibiotics for an upper respiratory tract infection.
AHRQ-funded; HS025782.
Citation: Miller BJ, Carson KA, Keller S .
Educating patients on unnecessary antibiotics: personalizing potential harm aids patient understanding.
J Am Board Fam Med 2020 Nov-Dec;33(6):969-77. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2020.06.200210..
Keywords: Antimicrobial Stewardship, Antibiotics, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Medication, Respiratory Conditions, Health Literacy
Mohr NM, Pape SG, Runde D
Etomidate use is associated with less hypotension than ketamine for emergency department sepsis intubations: a NEAR cohort study.
The objectives of this study were to describe the current use of etomidate and other induction agents in patients with sepsis and to compare adverse events between etomidate and ketamine in sepsis. Using the National Emergency Airway Registry data set, findings showed that etomidate is used less frequently in sepsis patients than in non-sepsis patients, with ketamine being the most frequently used alternative. Further, ketamine was associated with more postprocedural hypotension than etomidate. Recommendations included future clinical trials to determine the optimal induction agent in patients with sepsis.
AHRQ-funded; HS025753.
Citation: Mohr NM, Pape SG, Runde D .
Etomidate use is associated with less hypotension than ketamine for emergency department sepsis intubations: a NEAR cohort study.
Acad Emerg Med 2020 Nov;27(11):1140-49. doi: 10.1111/acem.14070..
Keywords: Medication, Sepsis, Emergency Department, Registries, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events
Guglielminotti J, Li G
Exposure to general anesthesia for cesarean delivery and odds of severe postpartum depression requiring hospitalization.
This retrospective cohort study evaluated the risk of general anesthesia use in cesarean delivery versus neuraxial anesthesia on maternal mental health. Cesarean deliveries performed in New York State hospitals between 2006 and 2013 were included. Exclusion criteria included having more than 1 cesarean delivery during the study period, residing outside of New York State, and having a general anesthetic for other surgery or delivery in the year before or after the index case. The primary outcome looked at was severe postpartum depression (PPD), and secondary outcomes were suicidal ideation, anxiety disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The majority of cesareans used neuraxial anesthesia and only 8% (34,356) had general anesthesia. Severe PPD requiring hospitalization occurred in 1158 women with 60% identified during readmission. General anesthesia was found to be associated with a 54% increased odds of PPD, and a 91% increased odds of suicidal ideation or self-inflicted injury. There was insufficient evidence for increased risk of anxiety orders.
AHRQ-funded; HS025787.
Citation: Guglielminotti J, Li G .
Exposure to general anesthesia for cesarean delivery and odds of severe postpartum depression requiring hospitalization.
Anesth Analg 2020 Nov;131(5):1421-29. doi: 10.1213/ane.0000000000004663..
Keywords: Labor and Delivery, Pregnancy, Women, Depression, Behavioral Health, Surgery, Risk, Hospitalization, Medication, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events
Hill SC, Miller GE, Ding Y
AHRQ Author: Hill SC, Miller GE, Ding Y
Net spending on retail specialty drugs grew rapidly, especially for private insurance and Medicare Part D.
This study examined net spending trends on retail specialty drugs from 2010 to 2017. Spending has been difficult to measure due to proprietary rebate payments by manufacturers by insurers, pharmacy benefit managers and state Medicaid agencies. The authors incorporated those rebates into their research. They found that specialty drugs accounted for 37.7% of retail and mail-order prescription spending net of rebates in 2016-17. The spending net of rebates tripled for Medicare Part D beneficiaries and more than doubled for people with private insurance from 2010 to 2017. Medicaid net spending of rebates had a slower increase.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Hill SC, Miller GE, Ding Y .
Net spending on retail specialty drugs grew rapidly, especially for private insurance and Medicare Part D.
Health Aff 2020 Nov;39(11):1970-76. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.01830..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Healthcare Costs, Medication, Medicare, Health Insurance
Althoff KN, Leifheit KM, Park JN
Opioid-related overdose mortality in the era of fentanyl: monitoring a shifting epidemic by person, place, and time.
Investigators described US trends in opioid-related overdose mortality rates by race, age, urbanicity, and opioid type before and after the emergence of fentanyl. Using the CDC’s WONDER database, they found a disproportionate increase in opioid-related overdose deaths among urban non-Hispanic Black Americans and recommended interventions for this population in order to halt the increase in overdose deaths.
AHRQ-funded; HS000046.
Citation: Althoff KN, Leifheit KM, Park JN .
Opioid-related overdose mortality in the era of fentanyl: monitoring a shifting epidemic by person, place, and time.
Drug Alcohol Depend 2020 Nov 1;216:108321. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108321..
Keywords: Opioids, Medication, Substance Abuse, Mortality, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Social Determinants of Health
Scherer M, Weiss L, Kamler A M, Weiss L, Kamler A
Patient recommendations for opioid prescribing in the context of HIV care: findings from a set of public deliberations.
It is widely acknowledged that the growing opioid epidemic and associated increase in overdose deaths necessitates a reexamination of processes and procedures related to an opioid prescription for the treatment of chronic pain. However, the perspectives of patients, including those at the highest risk for opioid-related harms, are largely missing from this reexamination. To partially address the gap, the investigators conducted a pair of one-day public deliberations on opioid prescribing in the context of HIV care.
AHRQ-funded; HS025641.
Citation: Scherer M, Weiss L, Kamler A M, Weiss L, Kamler A .
Patient recommendations for opioid prescribing in the context of HIV care: findings from a set of public deliberations.
AIDS Care 2020 Nov;32(11):1471-78. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2019.1705962..
Keywords: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Opioids, Medication, Chronic Conditions, Pain
Coleman DT, Stone CA, Wei WQ
Penicillin allergy labels drive perioperative prophylactic antibiotic selection in orthopedic procedures.
This retrospective chart review was conducted to study prophylactic antibiotic selection in patients with penicillin allergy labels (PALs) during and after orthopedic surgical procedures. Generally, PALs are associated with surgical site infections (SSIs). Most orthopedic surgeries use a first-generation cephalosporin such as cefazolin due to decreased costs and lower SSI rates. PAL surgical patients more often receive vancomycin and clindamycin over cefazolin for concern of penicillin and cephalosporin cross-reactivity. This study used iterative natural language processing (NLP) and manual chart review to examine Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s deidentified patient data. Perioperative antibiotic selection data were available to review for 9300 surgeries, of whom 1412 (15.2%) were patients with PALs. Surgeries in patients with PALs used cefazolin less frequently than patients without PALs, and were more frequently prescribed clindamycin. PALs patients were more frequently female and white. The first pull with NLP found a much larger number of cases where non-PAL patients used clindamycin than expected. However, after manual chart review, 550 of these cases were found to be patients with PALS who had PAL free-text inputs missed by their initial NLP protocol.
AHRQ-funded; HS026395.
Citation: Coleman DT, Stone CA, Wei WQ .
Penicillin allergy labels drive perioperative prophylactic antibiotic selection in orthopedic procedures.
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2020 Nov-Dec;8(10):3634-36e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2020.07.007..
Keywords: Antibiotics, Medication, Surgery, Practice Patterns
Brown TJ Keshvani, N Gupta, et al.
Rates of appropriate laxative prophylaxis for opioid-induced constipation in veterans with lung cancer: a retrospective cohort study.
This study examined trends in the use of laxatives for opioid-induced constipation (OIC) in patients prescribed opioids for cancer pain treatment. A retrospective study was conducted of lung cancer patients seen in the Veteran’s Affair system from 2003 to 2016. There were 130,990 individuals included in the analysis. The majority (87%) received no prophylaxis (75%) or received docusate alone while 5% received OIC prophylaxis with the unnecessary addition of docusate. Throughout the study period, laxative prescription significantly decreased while categories of OIC prophylaxis were unchanged. The study concluded that almost 90% received inadequate or inappropriate OIC prophylaxis.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Brown TJ Keshvani, N Gupta, et al..
Rates of appropriate laxative prophylaxis for opioid-induced constipation in veterans with lung cancer: a retrospective cohort study.
Support Care Cancer 2020 Nov;28(11):5315-21. doi: 10.1007/s00520-020-05364-6..
Keywords: Cancer: Lung Cancer, Cancer, Opioids, Medication, Prevention, Pain
Anzuoni K, Field TS, Mazor KM
Recruitment challenges for low-risk health system intervention trials in older adults: a case study.
Researchers assessed factors associated with trial participation in the context of a low-risk intervention intended to reduce adverse drug events in recently hospitalized older adults. They found that recruiting older adults recently discharged from the hospital to participate in trials of low-risk, system-level interventions was challenging and may under-enroll the oldest individuals and those potentially at the highest risk for adverse events, limiting generalizability of study findings.
AHRQ-funded; HS023774.
Citation: Anzuoni K, Field TS, Mazor KM .
Recruitment challenges for low-risk health system intervention trials in older adults: a case study.
J Am Geriatr Soc 2020 Nov;68(11):2558-64. doi: 10.1111/jgs.16696..
Keywords: Elderly, Case Study, Research Methodologies, Health Services Research (HSR), Medication