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 (2)
- Adverse Drug Events (ADE) (1)
- Adverse Events (5)
- Alcohol Use (1)
- Ambulatory Care and Surgery (1)
- Brain Injury (1)
- Cardiovascular Conditions (2)
- Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs) (1)
- Children/Adolescents (7)
- Chronic Conditions (3)
- Clostridium difficile Infections (1)
- Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) (1)
- Critical Care (1)
- Data (1)
- Diagnostic Safety and Quality (1)
- Dialysis (1)
- Digestive Disease and Health (1)
- Disparities (3)
- Elderly (2)
- Electronic Health Records (EHRs) (1)
- Emergency Department (2)
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS) (5)
- Eye Disease and Health (1)
- Guidelines (1)
- Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) (1)
- (-) Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) (39)
- Healthcare Costs (7)
- Healthcare Delivery (1)
- Healthcare Utilization (3)
- Heart Disease and Health (2)
- Home Healthcare (1)
- Hospitalization (12)
- Hospital Readmissions (6)
- Hospitals (6)
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (2)
- Inpatient Care (1)
- Kidney Disease and Health (2)
- Labor and Delivery (1)
- Medicaid (1)
- Medicare (1)
- Mortality (4)
- Neurological Disorders (1)
- Nursing (1)
- Nutrition (1)
- Outcomes (1)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (2)
- Patient Experience (1)
- Patient Safety (4)
- Practice Patterns (1)
- Pregnancy (1)
- Pressure Ulcers (1)
- Prevention (1)
- Provider Performance (1)
- Public Reporting (1)
- Quality Indicators (QIs) (3)
- Quality Measures (3)
- Quality of Care (4)
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (2)
- Respiratory Conditions (1)
- Risk (3)
- Rural Health (2)
- Social Determinants of Health (1)
- Surgery (11)
- Transitions of Care (1)
- Vaccination (3)
- Women (2)
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
26 to 39 of 39 Research Studies DisplayedYanamadala S, Morrison D, Curtin C
Electronic health records and quality of care: an observational study modeling impact on mortality, readmissions, and complications.
The authors assessed the relationship between electronic health records (EHR) adoption and patient outcomes. Their results indicate that patients receiving medical and surgical care at hospitals with no EHR system have similar outcomes compared to patients seeking care at hospitals with a full EHR system. They concluded that EHRs may play a smaller role than expected in patient outcomes and overall quality of care.
AHRQ-funded; HS024096.
Citation: Yanamadala S, Morrison D, Curtin C .
Electronic health records and quality of care: an observational study modeling impact on mortality, readmissions, and complications.
Medicine (Baltimore) 2016 May;95(19):e3332. doi: 10.1097/md.0000000000003332.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Quality of Care, Mortality, Hospitals
Heslin KC, Elixhauser A, Steiner CA
AHRQ Author: Heslin KC, Elixhauser A, Steiner CA
Identifying in-patient costs attributable to the clinical sequelae and comorbidities of alcoholic liver disease in a national hospital database.
The aim of this study was to compare the average costs of hospitalizations with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and the costs of hospitalizations with other alcohol-related diagnoses that do not involve the liver. It found that costs of hospital care for patients with ALD are higher than those for patients with other alcohol-related diagnoses.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Heslin KC, Elixhauser A, Steiner CA .
Identifying in-patient costs attributable to the clinical sequelae and comorbidities of alcoholic liver disease in a national hospital database.
Addiction 2016 May;112(5):782-91. doi: 10.1111/add.13702.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Alcohol Use, Healthcare Costs, Nutrition, Hospitalization
Olsen MA, Young-Xu Y, Stwalley D
The burden of Clostridium difficile infection: estimates of the incidence of CDI from U.S. administrative databases.
The researchers used comparable methods with multiple administrative databases to compare the incidence of clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in older and younger persons in the United States. They found that the incidence of CDI was 10-fold lower and the proportion of community-onset CDI was much higher in the privately insured younger LabRx population compared to the elderly Medicare population.
AHRQ-funded; HS019455.
Citation: Olsen MA, Young-Xu Y, Stwalley D .
The burden of Clostridium difficile infection: estimates of the incidence of CDI from U.S. administrative databases.
BMC Infect Dis 2016 Apr 22;16:177. doi: 10.1186/s12879-016-1501-7.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Clostridium difficile Infections, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Data, Prevention
Smith MW, Owens PL, Andrews RM
AHRQ Author: Owens PL, Andrews RM, Steiner CA
Differences in severity at admission for heart failure between rural and urban patients: the value of adding laboratory results to administrative data.
This study’s main objective was to examine the role of laboratory test results in measuring disease severity at the time of admission for inpatients who reside in rural and urban areas. It concluded that heart failure patients from rural areas are hospitalized at lower severity levels than their urban counterparts. Laboratory test data provide insight on clinical severity and practice patterns beyond what is available in administrative discharge data.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 29020060009.
Citation: Smith MW, Owens PL, Andrews RM .
Differences in severity at admission for heart failure between rural and urban patients: the value of adding laboratory results to administrative data.
BMC Health Serv Res 2016 Apr 18;16(1):133. doi: 10.1186/s12913-016-1380-z.
.
.
Keywords: Heart Disease and Health, Hospitalization, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Rural Health
Flottemesch TJ, Raetzman S, Heslin KC
AHRQ Author: Heslin KC
Age-related disparities in trauma center access for severe head injuries following the release of the updated field triage guidelines.
Reflecting perceived undertriage to trauma centers (TCs) for older adults, the American College of Surgeons' Committee on Trauma and the Center for Disease Control revised field triage guidelines in 2011 with additional emphasis on direct transport to a Level I or II trauma center. Researchers examined whether age-based disparities in TC care for severe head injury decreased. Although patterns of increased TC treatment for all groups with severe head trauma indicate improvements, age-based disparities persisted.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 290201300002C.
Citation: Flottemesch TJ, Raetzman S, Heslin KC .
Age-related disparities in trauma center access for severe head injuries following the release of the updated field triage guidelines.
Acad Emerg Med 2016 Apr;24(4):447-57. doi: 10.1111/acem.13150.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Disparities, Elderly, Brain Injury, Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Berry JG, Hall M, Dumas H
Pediatric hospital discharges to home health and postacute facility care: a national study.
The researchers assessed the national prevalence of, characteristics of children discharged to, and variation in use across states of home health care (HHC) and facility-based postacute care (PAC) for children. They found that HHC and PAC use after discharge for hospitalized children is infrequent, even for children with multiple chronic conditions. It varies significantly by race/ethnicity and across states.
AHRQ-funded; HS023092.
Citation: Berry JG, Hall M, Dumas H .
Pediatric hospital discharges to home health and postacute facility care: a national study.
JAMA Pediatr 2016 Apr;170(4):326-33. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2015.4836.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Home Healthcare, Children/Adolescents, Children/Adolescents, Critical Care
Brown JR, Rezaee ME, Nichols EL
Incidence and in-hospital mortality of acute kidney injury (AKI) and dialysis-requiring AKI (AKI-D) after cardiac catheterization in the National Inpatient Sample.
This study examined cardiac catheterization or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) hospital discharges from the nationally representative National Inpatient Sample to determine annual population incidence rates for AKI and AKI-D in the United States from 2001 to 2011. It found that the incidence of AKI among cardiac catheterization and PCI patients has increased sharply in the United States; however, mortality has significantly declined.
AHRQ-funded; HS018443.
Citation: Brown JR, Rezaee ME, Nichols EL .
Incidence and in-hospital mortality of acute kidney injury (AKI) and dialysis-requiring AKI (AKI-D) after cardiac catheterization in the National Inpatient Sample.
J Am Heart Assoc 2016 Mar 15;5(3):e002739. doi: 10.1161/jaha.115.002739.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Adverse Events, Mortality, Patient Safety, Surgery, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Kidney Disease and Health, Dialysis, Hospitals
Friedman B, Barbash GI, Glied SA
AHRQ Author: Friedman B, Steiner CA
Hospital revisits within 30 days after conventional and robotically assisted hysterectomy.
This study compared the rates of hospital readmissions, emergency department, and outpatient clinic visits after discharge for robotically assisted (RA) versus nonrobotic hysterectomy in women age 30 or more with nonmalignant conditions. It found that using 2 different methods to control for selection, there were higher rates of revisits among women undergoing RA versus non-RA hysterectomy for benign conditions.
AHRQ-authored
Citation: Friedman B, Barbash GI, Glied SA .
Hospital revisits within 30 days after conventional and robotically assisted hysterectomy.
Med Care 2016 Mar;54(3):311-8. doi: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000000482..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Hospital Readmissions, Emergency Department, Ambulatory Care and Surgery, Women
Raol N, Zogg CK, Boss EF
Inpatient pediatric tonsillectomy: Does hospital type affect cost and outcomes of care?
The researchers ascertained whether hospital type is associated with differences in total cost and outcomes for inpatient tonsillectomy. They found that significant differences in costs, outcomes, and patient factors exist for inpatient tonsillectomy based on hospital type. Reasons for these differences are not discernable using isolated claims data.
AHRQ-funded; HS022932.
Citation: Raol N, Zogg CK, Boss EF .
Inpatient pediatric tonsillectomy: Does hospital type affect cost and outcomes of care?
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2016 Mar;154(3):486-93. doi: 10.1177/0194599815621739..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Healthcare Costs, Surgery, Children/Adolescents
Skinner HG, Coffey R, Jones J
AHRQ Author: Heslin KC, Moy E
The effects of multiple chronic conditions on hospitalization costs and utilization for ambulatory care sensitive conditions in the United States: a nationally representative cross-sectional study.
A purpose of this study was to evaluate how multiple chronic conditions relate to inpatient hospitalization costs. It found that compared with costs for patients with 0 or 1 chronic condition, hospitalization costs per stay for overall ambulatory care sensitive conditions were 19 percent higher for those with 2 or 3 , 32 percent higher for those with 4 or 5, and 31 percent higher for those with 6+ conditions.
AHRQ-authored; AHRQ-funded; 290201300002C.
Citation: Skinner HG, Coffey R, Jones J .
The effects of multiple chronic conditions on hospitalization costs and utilization for ambulatory care sensitive conditions in the United States: a nationally representative cross-sectional study.
BMC Health Serv Res 2016 Mar 1;16:77. doi: 10.1186/s12913-016-1304-y.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Chronic Conditions, Hospitalization, Healthcare Utilization, Healthcare Costs
Berry SA, Fleishman JA, Moore RD
AHRQ Author: Fleishman JA
Thirty-day hospital readmissions for adults with and without HIV infection.
This study compared 30-day readmission rates by HIV status in a multi-state sample with planned subgroup comparisons by insurance and diagnostic categories. After adjustment for age, gender, race, insurance, and diagnostic category, HIV infection was associated with 1.5 times higher odds of readmission. Predicted, adjusted readmission rates were higher for persons living with HIV within every insurance category, including Medicaid.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Berry SA, Fleishman JA, Moore RD .
Thirty-day hospital readmissions for adults with and without HIV infection.
HIV Med 2016 Mar;17(3):167-77. doi: 10.1111/hiv.12287.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hospital Readmissions, Medicaid, Medicare
Dresden SM, Feinglass JM, Kang R
Ambulatory care sensitive hospitalizations through the emergency department by payer: comparing 2003 and 2009.
This study compared rates of ED ambulatory care sensitive hospitalizations (ACSHs) for 2003 and 2009 among patients 18 to 64 years of age with private insurance, Medicaid, or no insurance.It found that an increase in the uninsured population was associated with an increase in the rate of ED ACSH for uninsured patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS000078.
Citation: Dresden SM, Feinglass JM, Kang R .
Ambulatory care sensitive hospitalizations through the emergency department by payer: comparing 2003 and 2009.
J Emerg Med 2016 Jan;50(1):135-42. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2015.02.047.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Quality Indicators (QIs), Hospitalization, Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Moy E, Coffey RM, Moore BJ
AHRQ Author: Moy E
Length of stay in EDs: variation across classifications of clinical condition and patient discharge disposition.
The researchers used a census of one state's data to measure length of emergency departments stays by patients' conditions and dispositions and exlore differences between means and medians as quality metrics. For the 10 most common diagnoses, patients with relatively minor injuries typically required the shortest mean stay (3 hours or less); conditions resulting in admission or transfer tended to be more serious, resulting in longer stays.
AHRQ-authored.
Citation: Moy E, Coffey RM, Moore BJ .
Length of stay in EDs: variation across classifications of clinical condition and patient discharge disposition.
Am J Emerg Med 2016 Jan;34(1):83-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2015.09.031..
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Emergency Department, Quality Measures, Hospitalization, Quality of Care
Singh JA, Ramachandran R
Time trends in total ankle arthroplasty in the USA: a study of the National Inpatient Sample.
The objective of this study was to assess the time trends in utilization, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of patients undergoing total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) in the USA. It concluded that the utilization rate of TAA increased rapidly in the USA from 1998 to 2010, but post-arthroplasty mortality rate was stable. Underlying diagnosis and medical comorbidity changed over time and both can impact outcomes after TAA.
AHRQ-funded; HS021110.
Citation: Singh JA, Ramachandran R .
Time trends in total ankle arthroplasty in the USA: a study of the National Inpatient Sample.
Clin Rheumatol 2016 Jan;35(1):239-45. doi: 10.1007/s10067-014-2703-2.
.
.
Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs), Surgery, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Healthcare Utilization