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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 10 of 10 Research Studies DisplayedAdams C, Wortley P, Chamberlain A
Declining COVID-19 case-fatality in Georgia, USA, March 2020 to March 2021: a sign of real improvement or a broadening epidemic?
This article examined whether declines in the crude US COVID-19 case fatality ratio is due to improved clinical care and/or other factors. The authors used multivariable logistic regression to examine associations between report month and mortality among confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases and hospitalized cases in Georgia from March 2020 through March 2021. Mortality risk was lowest in November 2020 compared to August 2020 and remained lower until March 2021. Among hospitalized cases, mortality risk increased in December 2020 and January 2021 before declining in March 2021. The authors concluded that improved clinical management may have contributed to lower mortality risk.
AHRQ-funded; HS025987.
Citation: Adams C, Wortley P, Chamberlain A .
Declining COVID-19 case-fatality in Georgia, USA, March 2020 to March 2021: a sign of real improvement or a broadening epidemic?
Ann Epidemiol 2022 Aug;72:57-64. doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2022.05.008..
Keywords: COVID-19, Public Health, Mortality
Riviello ED, Dechen T, O'Donoghue AL
Assessment of a crisis standards of care scoring system for resource prioritization and estimated excess mortality by race, ethnicity, and socially vulnerable area during a regional surge in COVID-19.
Researchers analyzed the association of a crisis standards of care (CSOC) scoring system with resource prioritization and estimated excess mortality by race, ethnicity, and residence in a socially vulnerable area during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data from 6 hospitals in greater Boston, Massachusetts, they found that a CSOC priority score resulted in lower prioritization of Black patients to receive scarce resources. Also, a model using a random lottery resulted in more estimated excess deaths overall without improving equity by race.
AHRQ-funded; HS024288.
Citation: Riviello ED, Dechen T, O'Donoghue AL .
Assessment of a crisis standards of care scoring system for resource prioritization and estimated excess mortality by race, ethnicity, and socially vulnerable area during a regional surge in COVID-19.
JAMA Netw Open 2022 Mar;5(3):e221744. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.1744..
Keywords: COVID-19, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Mortality, Public Health, Vulnerable Populations
Auty SG, Griffith KN
Medicaid expansion and drug overdose mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
This study examined trends in overdose mortality nationally and by state Medicaid expansion status from 2013 to 2020. Using data from the CDC’s WONDER database, findings showed that the increase in drug or opioid overdose deaths experienced during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic was similar in states with and without Medicaid expansion.
AHRQ-funded; HS026395.
Citation: Auty SG, Griffith KN .
Medicaid expansion and drug overdose mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
Drug Alcohol Depend 2022 Mar 1;232:109340. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109340..
Keywords: COVID-19, Medicaid, Opioids, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Health, Mortality, Public Health
Bramante CT, Ingraham NE, Murray TA
Metformin and risk of mortality in patients hospitalised with COVID-19: a retrospective cohort analysis.
This study examined whether metformin use by patients with diagnosed with type 2 diabetes had reduced mortality when hospitalized for COVID-19. Pharmacy claims data from UnitedHealth Group’s Clinical Discovery Claims Database was used. Patient data were included if they were aged 18 years or older; had type 2 diabetes or obesity (defined based on claims); at least 6 months of continuous enrolment in 2019; and admission to hospital for COVID-19 confirmed by PCR; manual chart review by UHG; or reported from the hospital to UHG. Metformin was not associated with significant reduction in mortality among men, but there was an association with decreased mortality in women.
AHRQ-funded; HS026379.
Citation: Bramante CT, Ingraham NE, Murray TA .
Metformin and risk of mortality in patients hospitalised with COVID-19: a retrospective cohort analysis.
Lancet Healthy Longev 2021 Jan;2(1):e34-e41. doi: 10.1016/s2666-7568(20)30033-7..
Keywords: COVID-19, Hospitalization, Medication, Mortality, Risk, Diabetes, Chronic Conditions, Public Health, Infectious Diseases
Auger KA, Shah SS, Richardson T
Association between statewide school closure and COVID-19 incidence and mortality in the US.
This study examined whether school closures between March and May due to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with decreased COVID-19 incidence and mortality. States were examined in quartiles using the number of cases per 100,000 population. States with the lowest cumulative incidence had the most significant decline (-72%) in cases compared to states with the highest incidence (-49%). States that closed schools earlier had the largest reduction in incidence and mortality.
AHRQ-funded; HS024735, HS026763, HS025138.
Citation: Auger KA, Shah SS, Richardson T .
Association between statewide school closure and COVID-19 incidence and mortality in the US.
JAMA 2020 Sep;324(9):859-70. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.14348..
Keywords: COVID-19, Public Health, Children/Adolescents, Policy, Mortality
Buxbaum JD, Chernew ME, Fendrick AM
Contributions of public health, pharmaceuticals, and other medical care to US life expectancy changes, 1990-2015.
This study examined the contributions of public health, pharmaceuticals, and other medical care to increases in US life expectancy by 3.3 years from 1990 to 2015. Vital statistics data and cause-deletion analysis was used to identify the conditions most responsible. They found that 12 conditions most responsible for changing life expectance explained 2.9 years of net improvement. Ischemic heart disease prevention was the largest positive contributor to life expectancy, with accidental poisoning or drug overdose the largest negative contributor. Life expectancy improvement was attributed to public health 45%, 35% to pharmaceuticals, 13% to other medical care, and -7% was attributable to other/unknown factors.
AHRQ-funded; HS000055.
Citation: Buxbaum JD, Chernew ME, Fendrick AM .
Contributions of public health, pharmaceuticals, and other medical care to US life expectancy changes, 1990-2015.
Health Aff 2020 Sep;39(9):1546-56. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00284..
Keywords: Public Health, Medication, Mortality
Mejia-Chew c, O'Halloran JA, Olsen MA
Effect of infectious disease consultation on mortality and treatment of patients with candida bloodstream infections: a retrospective, cohort study.
Candida bloodstream infection is associated with high mortality. Infectious disease consultation improves outcomes in several infections, including Staphylococcus aureus and cryptococcosis, as well as multidrug-resistant organisms. In this study, the investigators aimed to examine the association between infectious disease consultation and differences in management with mortality in candida bloodstream infections.
AHRQ-funded; HS019455.
Citation: Mejia-Chew c, O'Halloran JA, Olsen MA .
Effect of infectious disease consultation on mortality and treatment of patients with candida bloodstream infections: a retrospective, cohort study.
Lancet Infect Dis 2019 Dec;19(12):1336-44. doi: 10.1016/s1473-3099(19)30405-0..
Keywords: Infectious Diseases, Public Health, Mortality
Leyenaar JK, Bogetz JF
Child mortality in the United States: bridging palliative care and public health perspectives.
This commentary discusses the findings of the article by Trowbridge et al in this same issue of Pediatrics, which examines modes of death rather than causes of death at a freestanding children’s hospital. Five distinct categories were created: withdrawal of life-sustaining technology; non-escalation of care; failed resuscitation; code then withdrawal; death by neurological criteria. More than 60% of the deaths were infants. The authors of this commentary note that conceptualizing the findings of this study from a public health perspective raises important questions about how causes of death are associated with end-of-life care in hospitals.
AHRQ-funded; HS024133.
Citation: Leyenaar JK, Bogetz JF .
Child mortality in the United States: bridging palliative care and public health perspectives.
Pediatrics 2018 Oct;142(4). doi: 10.1542/peds.2018-1927..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Hospitals, Mortality, Palliative Care, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Public Health
Bartsch SM, Gorham K, Lee BY
The cost of an Ebola case.
The researchers developed a mathematical model to estimate the cost of an Ebola virus disease (EVD) case from the provider and societal perspectives in the three most affected countries of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Their model estimates the total societal cost of an EVD case with full recovery ranges from $480 to $912, while that of an EVD case not surviving ranges from $5,929 to $18,929, varying by age and country.
AHRQ-funded; HS023317.
Citation: Bartsch SM, Gorham K, Lee BY .
The cost of an Ebola case.
Pathog Glob Health 2015 Feb;109(1):4-9. doi: 10.1179/2047773214y.0000000169..
Keywords: Healthcare Costs, Mortality, Public Health, Infectious Diseases
Khazeni N, Hutton DW, Collins CI
Health and economic benefits of early vaccination and nonpharmaceutical interventions for a human influenza A (H7N9) pandemic: a modeling study.
In order to determine how quickly vaccination should be completed to reduce infections, deaths, and health care costs in a severe influenza pandemic in a large metropolitan area, researchers used a dynamic transmission model. They found that vaccination in an influenza-A (H7N9) pandemic would need to be completed much faster than in the 2009 pandemic to substantially reduce morbidity, mortality, and health care costs.
AHRQ-funded; HS019816
Citation: Khazeni N, Hutton DW, Collins CI .
Health and economic benefits of early vaccination and nonpharmaceutical interventions for a human influenza A (H7N9) pandemic: a modeling study.
Ann Intern Med. 2014 May 20;160(10):684-94. doi: 10.7326/M13-2071..
Keywords: Vaccination, Influenza, Mortality, Healthcare Costs, Public Health