National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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Topics
- Adverse Drug Events (ADE) (4)
- Adverse Events (5)
- Blood Clots (2)
- Blood Thinners (8)
- Cardiovascular Conditions (37)
- Children/Adolescents (1)
- Chronic Conditions (2)
- Communication (2)
- Comparative Effectiveness (8)
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- Elderly (3)
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- (-) Evidence-Based Practice (39)
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- Healthcare Utilization (1)
- Health Information Technology (HIT) (2)
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- Imaging (1)
- Implementation (3)
- Kidney Disease and Health (1)
- Medical Devices (2)
- Medicare (2)
- Medication (10)
- Mortality (3)
- Newborns/Infants (1)
- Nursing Homes (1)
- Nutrition (1)
- Outcomes (14)
- Patient-Centered Healthcare (4)
- (-) Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (39)
- Patient Safety (1)
- Practice Improvement (1)
- Practice Patterns (1)
- Prevention (7)
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- Primary Care: Models of Care (2)
- Provider (1)
- Provider: Clinician (1)
- Provider: Physician (1)
- Quality Improvement (11)
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- Quality Measures (1)
- Quality of Care (10)
- Quality of Life (1)
- Racial and Ethnic Minorities (1)
- Registries (10)
- Rehabilitation (2)
- Respiratory Conditions (1)
- Risk (3)
- Sex Factors (3)
- Sleep Problems (1)
- Stroke (2)
- Surgery (6)
- Transitions of Care (1)
- Transplantation (2)
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 39 Research Studies DisplayedKrefman AE, Ciolino Jd, Kan AK
Rationale and design for Healthy Hearts for Michigan (HH4M): a pragmatic single-arm hybrid effectiveness-implementation study.
The objective of the Healthy Hearts for Michigan (HH4M) study is to promote hypertension management and smoking cessation through practice facilitation and quality improvement efforts. This three-year research program evaluates rural and medically underserved primary care practices’ ability to implement the quality improvement model and tests whether the model improves blood pressure control and tobacco use screening and cessation. Primary care practices in rural and underserved areas of Michigan were recruited to join HH4M. HH4M is part of the multi-state EvidenceNOW: Building State Capacity initiative to provide external support to primary care practices to improve care delivery.
AHRQ-funded; HS027954.
Citation: Krefman AE, Ciolino Jd, Kan AK .
Rationale and design for Healthy Hearts for Michigan (HH4M): a pragmatic single-arm hybrid effectiveness-implementation study.
Contemp Clin Trials Commun 2023 Oct; 35:101199. doi: 10.1016/j.conctc.2023.101199..
Keywords: Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Evidence-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Primary Care
Schroeder MC, Chapman CG, Chrischilles EA
Generating practice-based evidence in the use of guideline-recommended combination therapy for secondary prevention of acute myocardial infarction.
This study’s goal was to determine if variation in real-world practice of guideline-recommended combination therapy for secondary prevention of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) reflects poor quality-of-care or a balance of outcome tradeoffs among patients. Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries hospitalized 2007-2008 for AMI were included. Treatment within 30-days post-discharge was grouped into one of eight possible combinations for the three drug classes: beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin-receptor blockers, and statins. Outcomes looked at included one-year overall survival, one-year cardiovascular-event-free survival, and 90-day adverse events. Results were found that each drug combination was observed in the final sample (N = 124,695), with 35.7% having all three, and 13.5% having none. There were both treatment benefits and harms in patients with AMIs with higher rates of guideline-recommended treatment.
AHRQ-funded; HS018381.
Citation: Schroeder MC, Chapman CG, Chrischilles EA .
Generating practice-based evidence in the use of guideline-recommended combination therapy for secondary prevention of acute myocardial infarction.
Pharmacy 2022 Nov 3;10(6). doi: 10.3390/pharmacy10060147..
Keywords: Evidence-Based Practice, Guidelines, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Comparative Effectiveness, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Prevention
Kuzel AJ, Cuellar A, Nichols L
The EvidenceNOW practice support initiative: the Heart of Virginia Healthcare.
The purpose of this study was for The Heart of Virginia Health care (HVH) collaborative (one of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) Evidence Now project’s 7 collaboratives) to test different ways to improve performance and outcomes on ABCS clinical quality measures (appropriate Aspirin use, Blood pressure control, Cholesterol control, and Smoking cessation counseling) within small primary care practices. The researchers recruited 264 eligible practices and randomized them to 3 cohorts in a stepped wedge design, with 173, utilizing 16 different EHRs, participated through the entire initiative. Trained coaches delivered the practice support curriculum to improve performance on the ABCS measures. The program included an initial kickoff meeting, 3 months of focused support, 9 months of continued support, and access to online materials and faculty. The intervention phase was shortened due to difficulty in recruiting a sufficient number of practices. The study found that the short HVH intervention had a small but statistically significant positive average effects on appropriate use of aspirin and other anti-thrombotics, small negative effects on blood pressure control, except for those practices which did not attend the kickoff, and small negative effects on smoking cessation counseling. The researchers concluded that the truncation of the intervention contributed to the lack of substantial improvements in the ABCS.
AHRQ-funded; HS023913.
Citation: Kuzel AJ, Cuellar A, Nichols L .
The EvidenceNOW practice support initiative: the Heart of Virginia Healthcare.
J Am Board Fam Med 2022 Oct 18;35(5):979-89. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2022.05.210021..
Keywords: Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Evidence-Based Practice, Primary Care, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Healthcare Delivery
Berry CA, Nguyen AM, Cuthel AM
Measuring implementation strategy fidelity in HealthyHearts NYC: a complex intervention using practice facilitation in primary care.
This study measured implementation strategy fidelity for the HealthyHearts NYC intervention program, an AHRQ-funded program that uses practice facilitation (PF) to improve adoption of cardiovascular disease evidence-based guidelines in primary care practices. Data from 257 practices measured fidelity using 4 categories: frequency, duration, content, and coverage. Almost all (94.2%) of practices received at least the 13 PF visits with an average 26.3 hours spent at each site by facilitators. Most practices (95.7%) completed all Task List items, and 71.2% were educated on all Chronic Care Models, with the majority (65.8%) receiving full coverage.
AHRQ-funded; HS023922.
Citation: Berry CA, Nguyen AM, Cuthel AM .
Measuring implementation strategy fidelity in HealthyHearts NYC: a complex intervention using practice facilitation in primary care.
Am J Med Qual 2021 Jul-Aug;36(4):270-76. doi: 10.1177/1062860620959450..
Keywords: Implementation, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Primary Care, Practice Improvement, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Evidence-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Primary Care: Models of Care
McKinney WT, Schaffhausen CR, Schladt D
Designing a patient-specific search of transplant program performance and outcomes: feedback from heart transplant candidates and recipients.
The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients provides transplant program-specific information, but it is unclear what patients and stakeholders need to know. Acceptance criteria for the candidate waitlist and donor organs vary by program and region, but there is no means to search for programs by the clinical profiles of recipients and donors. The authors examined variability in program-specific characteristics that could influence access to transplantation.
AHRQ-funded; HS026379; HS024527.
Citation: McKinney WT, Schaffhausen CR, Schladt D .
Designing a patient-specific search of transplant program performance and outcomes: feedback from heart transplant candidates and recipients.
Clin Transplant 2021 Feb;35(2):e14183. doi: 10.1111/ctr.14183..
Keywords: Transplantation, Surgery, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Registries, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice, Decision Making
Zullo AR, Riester MR, Erqou S
Comparative effectiveness of angiotensin II receptor blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in older nursing home residents after myocardial infarction: a retrospective cohort study.
Evidence regarding differences in outcomes between angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) among older nursing home (NH) residents after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is limited. The purpose of this study was to estimate the post-AMI effects of ARBs versus ACEIs on mortality, rehospitalization, and functional decline outcomes in this important population.
AHRQ-funded; HS022998.
Citation: Zullo AR, Riester MR, Erqou S .
Comparative effectiveness of angiotensin II receptor blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in older nursing home residents after myocardial infarction: a retrospective cohort study.
Drugs Aging 2020 Oct;37(10):755-66. doi: 10.1007/s40266-020-00791-w..
Keywords: Elderly, Nursing Homes, Heart Disease and Health, Medication, Evidence-Based Practice, Comparative Effectiveness, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Outcomes
Nguyen AM, Cuthel A, Padgett DK
How practice facilitation strategies differ by practice context.
The purpose of this study was to identify contextual factors that drive facilitators' strategies to meet practice improvement goals, and how these strategies are tailored to practice context. This study was conducted as part of a larger study, HealthyHearts New York City, which evaluated the impact of practice facilitation on adoption of cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment guidelines.
AHRQ-funded; HS023922.
Citation: Nguyen AM, Cuthel A, Padgett DK .
How practice facilitation strategies differ by practice context.
J Gen Intern Med 2020 Mar;35(3):824-31. doi: 10.1007/s11606-019-05350-7..
Keywords: Quality Improvement, Evidence-Based Practice, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Primary Care, Quality of Care, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Primary Care: Models of Care
Dhruva SS, Ross JS, Mortazavi BJ
Association of use of an intravascular microaxial left ventricular assist device vs intra-aortic balloon pump with in-hospital mortality and major bleeding among patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock.
This study examines outcomes among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock. Two interventions are compared: intravascular microaxial left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) versus intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABPs). The American College of Cardiology’s National Cardiovascular Data Registry was used to identify patients with AMI complicated by cardiogenic shock from hospitals participating in the CathPCI and Chest Pain-MI registries and identified 28,304 patients. Over the study period (2015 to 2017), LVAD was used in 6.2% of patients and IABP in 29.9%. LVAD was shown to have higher rates of in-hospital death and major bleeding complications compared to IABP.
AHRQ-funded; HS022882; HS025402; HS025517; HS026379.
Citation: Dhruva SS, Ross JS, Mortazavi BJ .
Association of use of an intravascular microaxial left ventricular assist device vs intra-aortic balloon pump with in-hospital mortality and major bleeding among patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock.
JAMA 2020 Feb 25;323(8):734-45. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.0254..
Keywords: Medical Devices, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Mortality, Adverse Events, Registries, Patient Safety, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice
Kelly JP, DeVore AD, Wu J
Rhythm control versus rate control in patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: insights from get with the guidelines-heart failure.
Researchers analyzed the Get With The Guidelines - Heart Failure (GWTG-HF) registry linked to Medicare claims data to describe current treatments for rate versus rhythm control and subsequent outcomes in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and atrial fibrillation. They found that rhythm control in patients aged 65 and older with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and AF was associated with a lower risk of one-year all-cause mortality. They recommended future prospective randomized studies to explore this potential benefit.
AHRQ-funded; HS021092.
Citation: Kelly JP, DeVore AD, Wu J .
Rhythm control versus rate control in patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: insights from get with the guidelines-heart failure.
J Am Heart Assoc 2019 Dec 17;8(24):e011560. doi: 10.1161/jaha.118.011560.
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Keywords: Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Guidelines, Evidence-Based Practice, Registries, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Goldstone AB, Chiu P, Baiocchi M
Interfacility transfer of Medicare beneficiaries with acute type a aortic dissection and regionalization of care in the United States.
Researchers investigated the hypothesis that regionalizing care at high-volume hospitals for acute type A aortic dissections will lower mortality. Operative mortality and long-term survival were compared for Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with an acute type A aortic dissection who were transferred versus not transferred, underwent surgery at high-volume versus low-volume hospitals, and were rerouted versus not rerouted to a high-volume hospital for treatment. The researchers found that, despite delaying surgery, a regionalization policy that transfers patients to high-volume hospitals was associated with a 7.2% absolute risk reduction in operative mortality. They recommended that policymakers evaluate the feasibility and benefits of regionalizing the surgical treatment of acute type A aortic dissection in the United States.
AHRQ-funded; HS022192.
Citation: Goldstone AB, Chiu P, Baiocchi M .
Interfacility transfer of Medicare beneficiaries with acute type a aortic dissection and regionalization of care in the United States.
Circulation 2019 Oct 8;140(15):1239-50. doi: 10.1161/circulationaha.118.038867..
Keywords: Transitions of Care, Medicare, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Risk, Evidence-Based Practice, Mortality, Hospitals
Sterling MR, Echeverria SE, Commodore-Mensah Y
Health equity and implementation science in heart, lung, blood, and sleep-related research: emerging themes from the 2018 Saunders-Watkins Leadership Workshop.
This article discusses the key themes from a 2-day workshop that was held at the National Institutes of Health in May 2018 to promote health equity and implementation science in heart, lung, and sleep-related research. This inaugural workshop was named the Saunders-Watkins Leadership Workshop. Recommendations are offered for the future direction of this research.
AHRQ-funded; HS000066.
Citation: Sterling MR, Echeverria SE, Commodore-Mensah Y .
Health equity and implementation science in heart, lung, blood, and sleep-related research: emerging themes from the 2018 Saunders-Watkins Leadership Workshop.
Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2019 Oct;12(10):e005586. doi: 10.1161/circoutcomes.119.005586..
Keywords: Implementation, Evidence-Based Practice, Disparities, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Cardiovascular Conditions, Heart Disease and Health, Respiratory Conditions, Sleep Problems
Bath J, Smith JB, Kruse RL
Association of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio with outcomes after elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
This study investigated postoperative outcomes from elective abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery (AAA) repair using neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as the predictor. Inpatients from the Cerner Health Facts database undergoing elective AAA repair from 2008 to 2015 were selected using ICD-9 procedure codes. Patients with a high postoperative NLR experienced longer hospital stays; higher rates of in-hospital death; high rates of renal failure, cardiac problems, respiratory problems, and infection compared to patients with a low postoperative NLR. The authors recommend future study of NLR to help provide clinically important risk profiles.
AHRQ-funded; HS022140.
Citation: Bath J, Smith JB, Kruse RL .
Association of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio with outcomes after elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
J Vasc Nurs 2019 Sep;37(3):213-20. doi: 10.1016/j.jvn.2019.06.001..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Heart Disease and Health, Surgery, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Outcomes, Evidence-Based Practice
Rogers ES, Cuthel AM, Berry CA
Clinician perspectives on the benefits of practice facilitation for small primary care practices.
This study examined the effectiveness of practice facilitation to improve cardiovascular disease in 257 small independent primary care practices (SIPs) enrolled in the AHRQ-funded EvidenceNOW initiative called HealthyHearts. These SIPs were enrolled in HealthyHearts NYC in New York City. Interviews were conducted with SIPs with 3 or fewer office staff and their answers were compared with interviews with practices with more than 3 office staff. Three facilitation benefits were found to the most important, including 1. Creating awareness of quality gaps; 2. Connecting practices to information, resources, and strategies, and; 3. Optimizing the HER for QI goals.
AHRQ-funded; HS023922.
Citation: Rogers ES, Cuthel AM, Berry CA .
Clinician perspectives on the benefits of practice facilitation for small primary care practices.
Ann Fam Med 2019 Aug 12;17(Suppl 1):S17-s23. doi: 10.1370/afm.2427..
Keywords: Primary Care, Provider: Clinician, Provider: Physician, Provider, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Cardiovascular Conditions, Heart Disease and Health, Evidence-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Knierim KE, Hall TL, Dickinson LM
Primary care practices' ability to report electronic clinical quality measures in the EvidenceNOW Southwest Initiative to Improve Heart Health.
The objective of this study was to determine how quickly primary care practices can report electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs) and to identify the practice characteristics associated with faster reporting. Examining the EvidenceNOW Southwest initiative, the researchers’ results showed that the time to report eCQMs varied by measure and practice type, with very few practices reporting quickly. Additional support for practices to succeed in new programs that require eCQM reporting was recommended.
AHRQ-funded; HS023904.
Citation: Knierim KE, Hall TL, Dickinson LM .
Primary care practices' ability to report electronic clinical quality measures in the EvidenceNOW Southwest Initiative to Improve Heart Health.
JAMA Netw Open 2019 Aug 2;2(8):e198569. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.8569..
Keywords: Primary Care, Quality Indicators (QIs), Quality Measures, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT)
Parchman ML, Anderson ML, Coleman K
Assessing quality improvement capacity in primary care practices.
The Healthy Hearts Northwest (H2N) Study is part of an AHRQ initiative to build quality improvement (QI) capacity in primary care with a focus on cardiovascular risk factors. The three main risk factors are appropriate aspirin use, blood pressure control, and tobacco screening/cessation. A practice facilitator (PF) met with clinicians and staff in the participating practices to discuss the results for each item on the Quality Improvement Capacity Assessment (QICA) scale. The score was associated with prior experience managing change and moderately associated with two of the three risk factors: aspirin use and blood pressure control. The QICA was found to be a useful assessment tool to measure QI capacity within a practice.
AHRQ-funded; HS023908.
Citation: Parchman ML, Anderson ML, Coleman K .
Assessing quality improvement capacity in primary care practices.
BMC Fam Pract 2019 Jul 25;20(1):103. doi: 10.1186/s12875-019-1000-1.
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Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Evidence-Based Practice, Heart Disease and Health, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Primary Care, Quality of Care, Quality Improvement
Hoch JM, Fatusin O, Yenokyan G
Feeding methods for infants with single ventricle physiology are associated with length of stay during stage 2 surgery hospitalization.
The purpose of this paper was to identify types of feeding methods following stage 2 palliation and their influence on length of stay. Results showed that feeding methods established at admission for stage 2 palliation are not likely to change by discharge, and that length of stay is more likely to be impacted by tube feeding and intubation history than by age or weight-for-age z score at admission. Recommendations included a better understanding for selection of feeding methods and their impact on patient outcomes in order to develop evidence-based guidelines to decrease variability in clinical practice patterns and to provide appropriate counseling to caregivers.
AHRQ-funded; HS021114.
Citation: Hoch JM, Fatusin O, Yenokyan G .
Feeding methods for infants with single ventricle physiology are associated with length of stay during stage 2 surgery hospitalization.
Congenit Heart Dis 2019 May;14(3):438-45. doi: 10.1111/chd.12742.
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Keywords: Nutrition, Newborns/Infants, Children/Adolescents, Hospitalization, Surgery, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Evidence-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Cykert S, DeWalt DA, Weiner BJ
A population approach using cholesterol imputation to identify adults with high cardiovascular risk: a report from AHRQ's EvidenceNow initiative.
Investigators estimated cholesterol scores for patients between the ages of 40 and 79 in large practice electronic health networks who did not have that in their electronic health record (EHR). This data was used to calculate 10-year Assessment of Cardiovascular Disease Risk (ASCVD) risk scores for patients in 219 practices. They estimated the scores using both “good value’ estimation methodology and formal imputation. The “good value” estimation methodology resulted in less patients with risk scores than imputation but it had higher specificity and a lower false positive rate.
AHRQ-funded; HS023912.
Citation: Cykert S, DeWalt DA, Weiner BJ .
A population approach using cholesterol imputation to identify adults with high cardiovascular risk: a report from AHRQ's EvidenceNow initiative.
J Am Med Inform Assoc 2019 Feb;26(2):155-58. doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocy151..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Heart Disease and Health, Evidence-Based Practice, Health Information Technology (HIT), Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Quality Improvement
Lowenstern A, Al-Khatib SM, Sharan L
Interventions for preventing thromboembolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation: a systematic review.
The purpose of this review was to compare the effectiveness of therapies to prevent thromboembolic events and bleeding complications in adults with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). Two independent reviewers screened citations in order to identify comparative studies of treatments to prevent stroke in adults with nonvalvular AF who reported thromboembolic or bleeding complications, then abstracted data from 220 selected articles, assessed study quality and applicability, and rated the strength of evidence. The article concludes that available direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are at least as effective and safe as warfarin for patients with nonvalvular AF and had similar benefits across several patient subgroups.
AHRQ-funded; 290201500004I.
Citation: Lowenstern A, Al-Khatib SM, Sharan L .
Interventions for preventing thromboembolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation: a systematic review.
Ann Intern Med 2018 Dec 4;169(11):774-87. doi: 10.7326/m18-1523..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Heart Disease and Health, Blood Thinners, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Medication, Comparative Effectiveness, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice
Borre ED, Goode A, Raitz G
Predicting thromboembolic and bleeding event risk in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: a systematic review.
This systematic review compared the strength of tools to predict stroke and bleeding risk in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) taking blood thinners. Sixty-one studies were found to predict thromboembolic risk and 38 to predict bleeding risk.
AHRQ-funded; 290201500004I.
Citation: Borre ED, Goode A, Raitz G .
Predicting thromboembolic and bleeding event risk in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: a systematic review.
Thromb Haemost 2018 Dec;118(12):2171-87. doi: 10.1055/s-0038-1675400..
Keywords: Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Stroke, Blood Clots, Blood Thinners, Medication, Adverse Drug Events (ADE), Adverse Events, Risk, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Evidence-Based Practice
Baldwin LM, Fischer MA, Powell J
Virtual educational outreach intervention in primary care based on the principles of academic detailing.
This paper describes the efforts of the Healthy Hearts Northwest (H2N) EvidenceNOW cooperative in providing virtual outreach intervention in primary care based on the principles of academic detailing (AD). EvidenceNOW is AHRQ’s initiative to fund seven regional cooperatives to identify and implement effective strategies to improve the quality of cardiovascular care in communities across the United States. The H2N network covers three states: Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. For this initiative they recruited 259 primary care practices that had 10 full-time or fewer providers and met stage 1 electronic health record meaningful use criteria. The aim was to increase adoption of the four ABCS of heart disease prevention: Aspirin use by high-risk individuals, Blood pressure control, Cholesterol management, and Smoking cessation. Due to the long distances and staffing limitations H2N decided to develop an educational outreach program using virtual visits instead of the traditional AD program structure. The findings and outcomes of this program is described in detail in this paper.
AHRQ-funded; HS023236; HS023908.
Citation: Baldwin LM, Fischer MA, Powell J .
Virtual educational outreach intervention in primary care based on the principles of academic detailing.
J Contin Educ Health Prof 2018 Fall;38(4):269-75. doi: 10.1097/ceh.0000000000000224..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Heart Disease and Health, Evidence-Based Practice, Primary Care, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Outcomes, Prevention
Mentias A, Shantha G, Chaudhury P
Assessment of outcomes of treatment with oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation and multiple chronic conditions: a comparative effectiveness analysis.
The purpose of this retrospective comparative effectiveness analysis was to determine whether there are differences in efficacy and safety of dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and warfarin regarding stroke prevention and bleeding rates, respectively, in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) with multiple chronic conditions (MCC). The investigators concluded that oral anticoagulants were similarly effective in stroke prevention among patients with AF with MCC. However, the indicate that dabigatran and rivaroxaban use may be associated with lower rates of mortality in patients with MCC.
AHRQ-funded; HS023104.
Citation: Mentias A, Shantha G, Chaudhury P .
Assessment of outcomes of treatment with oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation and multiple chronic conditions: a comparative effectiveness analysis.
JAMA Netw Open 2018 Sep 7;1(5):e182870. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.2870..
Keywords: Blood Thinners, Heart Disease and Health, Cardiovascular Conditions, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Medication, Evidence-Based Practice, Comparative Effectiveness, Chronic Conditions
Ciolino JD, Jackson KL, Liss DT
Design of Healthy Hearts in the Heartland (H3): a practice-randomized, comparative effectiveness study.
The Healthy Hearts in the Heartland (H3) study is part of a nationwide effort, EvidenceNOW, seeking to better understand the ability of small primary care practices to improve "ABCS" clinical quality measures: appropriate Aspirin therapy, Blood pressure control, Cholesterol management, and Smoking cessation. In this paper, the authors describe the design and randomization of the H3 study.
AHRQ-funded; HS023921.
Citation: Ciolino JD, Jackson KL, Liss DT .
Design of Healthy Hearts in the Heartland (H3): a practice-randomized, comparative effectiveness study.
Contemp Clin Trials 2018 Aug;71:47-54. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2018.06.004..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Comparative Effectiveness, Evidence-Based Practice, Heart Disease and Health, Prevention, Primary Care, Quality of Care, Quality Improvement, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Angraal S, Khera R, Wang Y
Sex and race differences in the utilization and outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting among Medicare beneficiaries, 1999-2014.
The authors sought to evaluate how the use of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and its outcomes have evolved in different sex and racial subgroups. Using Medicare data, they found that women and black patients had persistently higher CABG mortality than men and white patients, respectively, despite greater declines over the time period. The authors conclude that these findings indicate progress, but further progress is needed.
AHRQ-funded; HS023000.
Citation: Angraal S, Khera R, Wang Y .
Sex and race differences in the utilization and outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting among Medicare beneficiaries, 1999-2014.
J Am Heart Assoc 2018 Jul 12;7(14). doi: 10.1161/jaha.118.009014..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Elderly, Evidence-Based Practice, Heart Disease and Health, Healthcare Utilization, Medicare, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Sex Factors
Chou AF, Homco JB, Nagykaldi Z
Disseminating, implementing, and evaluating patient-centered outcomes to improve cardiovascular care using a stepped-wedge design: healthy hearts for Oklahoma.
The Healthy Hearts for Oklahoma (H2O) Study proposes to build a quality improvement (QI) infrastructure by (1) constructing a sustainable Oklahoma Primary Healthcare Improvement Collaborative (OPHIC) to support dissemination and implementation (D&I) of QI methods; and (2) providing QI support in primary care practices to better manage patients at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. H2O has 263 small primary care practices across Oklahoma that receive the bundled QI intervention to improve ABCS (aspirin therapy, blood pressure control, cholesterol management, and smoking cessation) performance. The infrastructure established as a result of this funding will help reach medically underserved Oklahomans, particularly among rural and tribal populations.
AHRQ-funded; HS023919.
Citation: Chou AF, Homco JB, Nagykaldi Z .
Disseminating, implementing, and evaluating patient-centered outcomes to improve cardiovascular care using a stepped-wedge design: healthy hearts for Oklahoma.
BMC Health Serv Res 2018 Jun 4;18(1):404. doi: 10.1186/s12913-018-3189-4.
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Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Communication, Heart Disease and Health, Healthcare Delivery, Evidence-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Healthcare, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Primary Care, Prevention, Quality of Care, Quality Improvement
Fudim M, Liu PR, Shrader P
Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism in patients with atrial fibrillation: findings from the ORBIT-AF (Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation) registry.
Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) therapy may be beneficial to patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), but little is known about their use in patients with AF and subsequent outcomes. In order to better understand MRA use and subsequent outcomes, the investigators performed a retrospective cohort study of the contemporary ORBIT-AF (Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation) registry.
AHRQ-funded; HS021092.
Citation: Fudim M, Liu PR, Shrader P .
Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism in patients with atrial fibrillation: findings from the ORBIT-AF (Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation) registry.
J Am Heart Assoc 2018 Apr 13;7(8). doi: 10.1161/jaha.117.007987..
Keywords: Cardiovascular Conditions, Evidence-Based Practice, Heart Disease and Health, Medication, Outcomes, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Prevention, Registries, Stroke