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- Access to Care (8)
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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 17 of 17 Research Studies DisplayedCron DC, Braun HJ, Ascher NL
Sex-based disparities in access to liver transplantation for waitlisted patients with model for end-stage liver disease score of 40.
The objective of this study was to determine association of sex with access to liver transplantation among candidates with the highest possible model for end-stage liver disease score (MELD 40). Using national transplant registry data, researchers compared liver offer acceptance and waitlist outcomes by sex for waitlisted liver transplant candidates who reached MELD 40. Results showed that even among candidates with high disease severity and equally high MELD scores, women have reduced access to liver transplantation and worse outcomes compared with men. The researchers concluded that policies addressing this disparity should consider factors beyond MELD score adjustments.
AHRQ-funded; HS028476.
Citation: Cron DC, Braun HJ, Ascher NL .
Sex-based disparities in access to liver transplantation for waitlisted patients with model for end-stage liver disease score of 40.
Ann Surg 2024 Jan; 279(1):112-18. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005933..
Keywords: Disparities, Access to Care, Sex Factors, Transplantation
Strauss AT, Sidoti CN, Purnell TS
Multicenter study of racial and ethnic inequities in liver transplantation evaluation: understanding mechanisms and identifying solutions.
This multicenter study examined racial and ethnic inequities in liver transplantation. The authors recruited participants from the liver transplantation (LT) teams including coordinators, advanced practice providers, physicians, social workers, dieticians, pharmacists, leadership at 2 major LT centers. They conducted 54 interviews and had 49 observation hours. They created a conceptual framework describing how transplant work system characteristics and other external factors may improve equity in the LT evaluation process. They proposed transplant center-level solutions (i.e., including but not limited to training of staff on health equity) to modifiable barriers in the clinical work system that could help patient navigation, reduce disparities, and improve access to care. Their findings call for an urgent need for transplant centers, national societies, and policy makers to focus efforts on improving equity (tailored, patient-centered resources) using the science of human factors and systems engineering.
AHRQ-funded; HS024600.
Citation: Strauss AT, Sidoti CN, Purnell TS .
Multicenter study of racial and ethnic inequities in liver transplantation evaluation: understanding mechanisms and identifying solutions.
Liver Transpl 2022 Dec;28(12):1841-56. doi: 10.1002/lt.26532..
Keywords: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Transplantation, Disparities, Access to Care
Butler T, Cummings LS, Purnell TS
The case for prioritizing diversity in the transplantation workforce to advance kidney health equity.
The authors of this article propose a more diverse transplant workforce to address the problem of kidney transplant inequity. Black patients are disproportionately affected by kidney failure and systemic barriers to kidney transplantation such as delayed referrals, which may be due to clinician bias. Workforce diversity would help to alleviate the harm of implicit biases.
AHRQ-funded; HS024600.
Citation: Butler T, Cummings LS, Purnell TS .
The case for prioritizing diversity in the transplantation workforce to advance kidney health equity.
J Am Soc Nephrol 2022 Oct; 33(10):1817-19. doi: 10.1681/asn.2022040429..
Keywords: Kidney Disease and Health, Transplantation, Workforce, Disparities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Alvarado F, Cervantes CE, Crews DC
Examining post-donation outcomes in Hispanic/Latinx living kidney donors in the United States: a systematic review.
The purpose of this systematic qualitative review was to evaluate outcomes in Hispanic donors and examine how Hispanic ethnicity was presented. In October 2021, the researchers reviewed PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus for studies, with 18 meeting the inclusion criteria. Across the studies, Hispanic donors ranged between 6% and 21% of the donor populations. The study found that Hispanic donors were not at increased risk for end-stage kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, non-pregnancy-related hospitalizations, overall perioperative surgical complications or post-donation mortality compared to non-Hispanic White donors. Also compared to non-Hispanic White donors, most studies showed Hispanic donors were at higher risk for diabetes mellitus following nephrectomy; however, mixed findings were observed regarding the risk for post-donation chronic kidney disease and hypertension. The researchers concluded that future studies should explain variation in health outcomes by considering and assessing differences within the Hispanic donor population.
AHRQ-funded; HS024600.
Citation: Alvarado F, Cervantes CE, Crews DC .
Examining post-donation outcomes in Hispanic/Latinx living kidney donors in the United States: a systematic review.
Am J Transplant 2022 Jul;22(7):1737-53. doi: 10.1111/ajt.17017..
Keywords: Transplantation, Kidney Disease and Health, Chronic Conditions, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Disparities
Kemme S, Yoeli D, Sundaram SS
Decreased access to pediatric liver transplantation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The purpose of the study was to explore and understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nationwide pediatric liver transplants. The researchers compared data for transplant waiting list additions, removals, and liver transplants during pre-COVID-19 (March-November 2016-2019), early COVID-19 (March-May 2020), and late COVID-19 (June-November 2020). The study results showed a 38% decrease in liver transplantations during early COVID-19, recovering to pre-pandemic rates during late COVID-19. White children had a 30% decrease in overall liver transplantation, while non-White children had a 44% decrease in overall liver transplantation. Additions to the waiting list decreased 25% during COVID-19, with Black transplant candidates the most affected, and children spent longer on the waiting list during early COVID-19 compared to pre-COVID-19 (140 vs. 96 days). The study concluded that the COVID-19 pandemic decreased access to pediatric liver transplants, especially during early COVID-19. The researchers discussed that although the rate of pediatric liver transplants has resumed to pre-COVID-19 levels, racial disparities must be addressed.
AHRQ-funded; HS026510.
Citation: Kemme S, Yoeli D, Sundaram SS .
Decreased access to pediatric liver transplantation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pediatr Transplant 2022 Mar;26(2):e14162. doi: 10.1111/petr.14162..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, COVID-19, Transplantation, Access to Care, Disparities
Krissberg JR, Kaufmann MB, Gupta A
Racial disparities in pediatric kidney transplantation under the new Kidney Allocation System in the United States.
This study aimed to assess how implementation of the 2014 Kidney Allocation System (KAS) affected racial and ethnic disparities in pediatric kidney transplantation access and related outcomes. The authors performed a retrospective cohort study of children <18 years of age active on the kidney transplant list from 2008 to 2019 using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. Results found that all children experienced longer wait times from activation to transplantation post-KAS. Although they found that Black and Hispanic children and other children of color experienced longer times from activation to transplant compared with White children in both eras; this finding was largely attenuated after multivariable analysis. Multivariable analysis also showed that racial and ethnic disparities in time from dialysis initiation to transplantation in the pre-KAS era were lessened in the post-KAS era. No disparities were found in odds of delayed graft function, however Black and Hispanic children experienced longer times with a functioning graft in the post-KAS era.
AHRQ-funded; HS026128.
Citation: Krissberg JR, Kaufmann MB, Gupta A .
Racial disparities in pediatric kidney transplantation under the new Kidney Allocation System in the United States.
Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2021 Dec; 16(12):1862-71. doi: 10.2215/cjn.06740521..
Keywords: Disparities, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Kidney Disease and Health, Transplantation
Purnell TS, Simpson DC, Callender CO
Dismantling structural racism as a root cause of racial disparities in COVID-19 and transplantation.
As the United States faces unparalleled challenges due to COVID-19, racial disparities in health and healthcare have once again taken center stage. If effective interventions to address racial disparities in transplantation, including those magnified by COVID-19, are to be designed and implemented at the national level, it is first critical to understand the complex mechanisms by which structural, institutional, interpersonal, and internalized racism influence the presence of racial disparities in healthcare and transplantation. IN this article the authors discuss their viewpoint.
AHRQ-funded; HS024600.
Citation: Purnell TS, Simpson DC, Callender CO .
Dismantling structural racism as a root cause of racial disparities in COVID-19 and transplantation.
Am J Transplant 2021 Jul;21(7):2327-32. doi: 10.1111/ajt.16543..
Keywords: COVID-19, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Disparities, Transplantation, Surgery, Access to Care
Purnell TS, Luo X, Crews DC
Neighborhood poverty and sex differences in live donor kidney transplant outcomes in the United States.
Neighborhood poverty has been associated with worse outcomes after live donor kidney transplantation (LDKT), and prior work suggests that women with kidney disease may be more susceptible to the negative influence of poverty than men. As such, our goal was to examine whether poverty differentially affects women in influencing LDKT outcomes. The investigators concluded that given their findings that poverty was more strongly associated with graft loss in women, targeted efforts are needed to specifically address mechanisms driving these disparities in LDKT outcomes.
AHRQ-funded; HS024600.
Citation: Purnell TS, Luo X, Crews DC .
Neighborhood poverty and sex differences in live donor kidney transplant outcomes in the United States.
Transplantation 2019 Oct;103(10):2183-89. doi: 10.1097/tp.0000000000002654.
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Keywords: Transplantation, Kidney Disease and Health, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Disparities, Women, Sex Factors, Low-Income, Outcomes
Chang SH, Wang M, Liu X
Racial/ethnic disparities in access and outcomes of simultaneous liver-kidney transplant among liver transplant candidates with renal dysfunction in the United States.
Since the Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) allocation system was implemented, the proportion of simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation (SLKT) has increased significantly. The investigators study whether racial/ethnic disparities exist in access to SLKT and post-SLKT survival. The investigators concluded that in the MELD era, racial/ethnic differences exist in access and survival of SLKT for patients with renal dysfunction at listing for LT.
AHRQ-funded; HS022330.
Citation: Chang SH, Wang M, Liu X .
Racial/ethnic disparities in access and outcomes of simultaneous liver-kidney transplant among liver transplant candidates with renal dysfunction in the United States.
Transplantation 2019 Aug;103(8):1663-74. doi: 10.1097/tp.0000000000002574..
Keywords: Access to Care, Disparities, Kidney Disease and Health, Outcomes, Policy, Transplantation
Kumar K, Tonascia JM, Muzaale AD
Racial differences in completion of the living kidney donor evaluation process.
Racial disparities in living donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) persist, but the most effective target to eliminate these disparities remains unknown. The researchers investigated delays during completion of the live donor evaluation process. They concluded that delays may be a manifestation of the transplant candidate's social network and recommended targeted efforts to optimize networks for identification of donor candidates in order to address LDKT disparities.
AHRQ-funded; HS024600.
Citation: Kumar K, Tonascia JM, Muzaale AD .
Racial differences in completion of the living kidney donor evaluation process.
Clin Transplant 2018 Jul;32(7):e13291. doi: 10.1111/ctr.13291..
Keywords: Transplantation, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Disparities, Kidney Disease and Health
Mehrotra S, Kilambi V, Bui K
A concentric neighborhood solution to disparity in liver access that contains current UNOS districts.
Policymakers are deliberating policy reforms to reduce geographic disparity in liver allocation. This study conducted simulations comparing current allocation with the neighborhoods and sharing policies. The study concluded that the current 11 districts can be adapted systematically by adding neighboring donor service areas (DSAs) to improve geographic disparity, mortality, and airplane travel distance. Modifications to Share 35 and Share 15 policies result in further improvements.
AHRQ-funded; HS024840.
Citation: Mehrotra S, Kilambi V, Bui K .
A concentric neighborhood solution to disparity in liver access that contains current UNOS districts.
Transplantation 2018 Feb;102(2):255-78. doi: 10.1097/tp.0000000000001934..
Keywords: Access to Care, Disparities, Policy, Transplantation
Purnell TS, Luo X, Cooper LA
Association of race and ethnicity with live donor kidney transplantation in the United States from 1995 to 2014.
This study estimated changes over time in racial/ethnic disparities in live donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) in the United States, accounting for differences in death and deceased donor kidney transplantation. Among adult first-time kidney transplantation candidates in the United States who were added to the deceased donor kidney transplantation waiting list between 1995 and 2014, disparities in the receipt of live donor kidney transplantation increased from 1995-1999 to 2010-2014.
AHRQ-funded; HS024600.
Citation: Purnell TS, Luo X, Cooper LA .
Association of race and ethnicity with live donor kidney transplantation in the United States from 1995 to 2014.
JAMA 2018 Jan 2;319(1):49-61. doi: 10.1001/jama.2017.19152.
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Keywords: Disparities, Kidney Disease and Health, Kidney Disease and Health, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Transplantation
Kumar K, Holscher CM, Luo X
Persistent regional and racial disparities in nondirected living kidney donation.
Nondirected living donors (NDLDs) are an important and growing source of kidneys to help reduce the organ shortage. The authors of this study hypothesized that the initial geographic clustering and racial disparities may have improved due to an increase in NDLDs. The authors found that despite the increased number of NDLDs, racial disparities have worsened and the center-level distribution of NDLD transplants has narrowed in recent years.
AHRQ-funded; HS024600.
Citation: Kumar K, Holscher CM, Luo X .
Persistent regional and racial disparities in nondirected living kidney donation.
Clin Transplant 2017 Dec;31(12). doi: 10.1111/ctr.13135..
Keywords: Disparities, Health Services Research (HSR), Policy, Transplantation, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Traino HM, Nonterah CW, Cyrus JW
Disparities in the completion of steps to kidney transplantation: protocol for a systematic review.
This review will catalogue disparities in the steps to transplantation as well as the barriers and facilitators to completion of each step identified in the extant literature. The results of the review will be used to generate recommendations for future research to improve equity in access to kidney transplantation.
AHRQ-funded; HS018113.
Citation: Traino HM, Nonterah CW, Cyrus JW .
Disparities in the completion of steps to kidney transplantation: protocol for a systematic review.
BMJ Open 2015 Sep 08;5(9):e008677. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008677.
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Keywords: Disparities, Transplantation, Kidney Disease and Health, Access to Care, Guidelines
Davis AE, Mehrotra S, Friedewald JJ
Improving geographic equity in kidney transplantation using alternative kidney sharing and optimization modeling.
The authors analyzed current kidney allocation and developed an alternative kidney sharing strategy using a multiperiod linear optimization model, KSHARE, which aims to improve geographic equity in kidney transplantation while also respecting transplant system constraints and priorities. They used Organ Procurement and Transplant Network data to determine that enhancing the practice of sharing kidneys by the KSHARE model may increase geographic equity in kidney transplantation.
AHRQ-funded; HS021078.
Citation: Davis AE, Mehrotra S, Friedewald JJ .
Improving geographic equity in kidney transplantation using alternative kidney sharing and optimization modeling.
Med Decis Making 2015 Aug;35(6):797-807. doi: 10.1177/0272989x14557696.
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Keywords: Access to Care, Disparities, Health Services Research (HSR), Social Determinants of Health, Transplantation
Davis AE, Mehrotra S, Ladner DP
Changes in geographic disparity in kidney transplantation since the final rule.
The researchers assessed the significance of changes of geographic disparities for four metrics since the 1998 adoption of HHS Final Rule’s emphasizing objective priority criteria: waiting times, transplant rates, pre-transplant mortality, and organ quality. They found that the ranges of the four metrics have worsened by approximately 30% or more after the Final Rule at both the regional and donor service area levels.
AHRQ-funded; HS021078.
Citation: Davis AE, Mehrotra S, Ladner DP .
Changes in geographic disparity in kidney transplantation since the final rule.
Transplantation 2014 Nov 15;98(9):931-6. doi: 10.1097/tp.0000000000000446..
Keywords: Transplantation, Disparities, Policy, Outcomes
Davis AE, Mehrotra S, Kilambi V
The effect of the Statewide Sharing variance on geographic disparity in kidney transplantation in the United States.
This study examined the effect of Statewide Sharing on geographic allocation disparity over time between donor service areas (DSAs) within Tennessee and Florida and compared them with geographic disparity between the DSAs within a state for all states with more than one DSA (California, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin). Findings suggested that changes which are untested run the risk of unintended consequences, and Statewide Sharing should be further studied and considered.
AHRQ-funded; HS021078.
Citation: Davis AE, Mehrotra S, Kilambi V .
The effect of the Statewide Sharing variance on geographic disparity in kidney transplantation in the United States.
Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2014 Aug 7;9(8):1449-60. doi: 10.2215/cjn.05350513.
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Keywords: Chronic Conditions, Disparities, Kidney Disease and Health, Policy, Transplantation