National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report
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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 81 Research Studies DisplayedBonner SN, Lagisetty K, Reddy RM
Clinical implications of removing race-corrected pulmonary function tests for African American patients requiring surgery for lung cancer.
This study’s objective was to identify how many hospitals providing lung cancer surgery use race correction in pulmonary function tests (PFTs), examine the association of race correction with predicted lung function, and test the effect of decorrection on surgeons' treatment recommendations. Percent predicted preoperative and postoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was calculated for African American patients who underwent lung cancer resection between January 1, 2015, and September 31, 2022, using race-corrected and race-neutral equations for hospitals performing race correction. Randomization of US cardiothoracic surgeons was conducted to receive 1 clinical vignette that differed by the use of Global Lung Function Initiative equations for (1) African American patients (percent predicted postoperative FEV1, 49%), (2) other race or multiracial patients (percent predicted postoperative FEV1, 45%), and (3) race-neutral patients (percent predicted postoperative FEV1, 42%). A total of 515 African American patients (308 [59.8%] female; mean age, 66.2 years) were included in the study. Among these patients, the percent predicted preoperative FEV1 and postoperative FEV1 would have decreased by 9.2% and 7.6%, respectively, if race-neutral equations had been used. A total of 225 surgeons (194 male [87.8%]; mean time in practice, 19.4 years) were successfully randomized and completed the vignette items regarding risk perception and treatment outcomes (76% completion rate). Surgeons randomized to the vignette with African American race-corrected PFTs were more likely to recommend lobectomy (79.2%) compared with surgeons randomized to the other race or multiracial-corrected (61.7%) or race-neutral PFTs (52.8%).
AHRQ-funded; HS028038.
Citation: Bonner SN, Lagisetty K, Reddy RM .
Clinical implications of removing race-corrected pulmonary function tests for African American patients requiring surgery for lung cancer.
JAMA Surg 2023 Oct; 158(10):1061-68. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2023.3239..
Keywords: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Cancer: Lung Cancer, Cancer, Surgery, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Murphy DR, Zimolzak AJ, Upadhyay DK
Developing electronic clinical quality measures to assess the cancer diagnostic process.
Electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs) to evaluate quality of cancer diagnosis could facilitate quantification and improvement of diagnostic performance. The purpose of this study was to developed 2 eCQMs to evaluate diagnostic assessment of red-flag clinical findings for colorectal cancer (CRC) and lung cancer. At each site the researchers assessed 100 positive and 20 negative randomly chosen records for each eCQM at each site to validate accuracy and categorized missed opportunities associated with system, provider, or patient factors. The researchers applied the CRC eCQM at both sites, while the lung cancer eCQM was only applied at the VA due to an absence of structured data indicating level of cancer suspicion on most chest imaging results at Geisinger. The study found that for the CRC eCQM, the appropriate follow-up took place in 26, 746 out of 74, 314 patients (36.0%) in the VA after removing clinical exclusions and in 1,009 out of 2,461 patients (41.1%) at Geisinger. The appropriate assessment for lung cancer in the VA took place in 25, 166 out of 40, 924 patients (61.5). Provider factors were cited by reviewers the primary source of missed opportunities at both sites.
AHRQ-funded; HS022087.
Citation: Murphy DR, Zimolzak AJ, Upadhyay DK .
Developing electronic clinical quality measures to assess the cancer diagnostic process.
J Am Med Inform Assoc 2023 Aug 18; 30(9):1526-31. doi: 10.1093/jamia/ocad089..
Keywords: Cancer: Lung Cancer, Cancer, Quality Measures, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Quality of Care
Young AL, Monuteaux MC, Cooney TM
Predictors of delayed diagnosis of pediatric CNS tumors in the emergency department.
Delays in the diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) tumors in children may lead to adverse outcomes and undue burdens on families. The purpose of this study was to examine factors related with delayed emergency department (ED) diagnosis to identify approaches to reduce delays. Researchers included 2828 children, 76% were controls, 24% were cases). Among cases, 68% had 1 preceding ED visit, 21% had 2, and 11% had 3 or more. The study found significant predictors of delayed diagnosis included presence of a complex chronic condition, rural hospital location, nonteaching hospital status, age younger than 5 years, public insurance, and black race.
AHRQ-funded; HS026503.
Citation: Young AL, Monuteaux MC, Cooney TM .
Predictors of delayed diagnosis of pediatric CNS tumors in the emergency department.
Pediatr Emerg Care 2023 Aug; 39(8):617-22. doi: 10.1097/pec.0000000000002943..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Cancer, Emergency Department
Rao G, Ufholz K, Saroufim P
Recognition, diagnostic practices, and cancer outcomes among patients with unintentional weight loss (UWL) in primary care.
The objective of this study was to identify the incidence, rate of physician recognition, diagnostic practices, and cancer outcomes for unintentional weight loss. Researchers completed a secondary analysis of structured and unstructured EHR data collected from adult, established primary care patients with a minimum of two weight measurements in 2020 and in 2021. The results indicated that unintentional weight loss is poorly recognized across a diverse range of patients. The researchers concluded that lack of research-informed guidance may explain low rates of recognition and variability in diagnostic practices.
AHRQ-funded; HS029358.
Citation: Rao G, Ufholz K, Saroufim P .
Recognition, diagnostic practices, and cancer outcomes among patients with unintentional weight loss (UWL) in primary care.
Diagnosis 2023 Aug 1; 10(3):267-74. doi: 10.1515/dx-2023-0002..
Keywords: Cancer, Primary Care, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Provider: Physician
Ho TH, Bissell MCS, Lee CI
Prioritizing screening mammograms for immediate interpretation and diagnostic evaluation on the basis of risk for recall.
The purpose of this study was to establish a prioritization method for immediate interpretation of screening mammograms and potential diagnostic assessment. A cohort based on the population, comprising screening mammograms conducted from 2012 to 2020 at 126 radiology centers from 7 Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium registries, was examined. Classification trees were used to identify combinations of clinical history (age, BI-RADS density, time elapsed since the previous mammogram, history of false-positive recall or biopsy outcome), screening technique (digital mammography, digital breast tomosynthesis), and facility features (profit status, location, screening volume, practice type, academic affiliation) that grouped screening mammograms by recall rate, with ≥12/100 classified as high and ≥16/100 as very high. The efficiency ratio was calculated as the percentage of recalls divided by the percentage of mammograms. The research cohort consisted of 2,674,051 screening mammograms in 925,777 women, with 235,569 recalls. The study found that the primary predictor of recall was the time interval since the last mammogram, followed by age, history of false-positive recall, breast density, history of benign biopsy, and screening method. Recall rates were extremely high for baseline mammograms and high for women with ≥5 years since their previous mammogram. The 9.2% of mammograms in subgroups with very high and high recall rates represented 19.2% of recalls, yielding an efficiency ratio of 2.1 compared to a random strategy. Including women under 50 with dense breasts accounted for 20.3% of mammograms and 33.9% of recalls (efficiency ratio = 1.7). Findings incorporating facility-level characteristics were analogous.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366
Citation: Ho TH, Bissell MCS, Lee CI .
Prioritizing screening mammograms for immediate interpretation and diagnostic evaluation on the basis of risk for recall.
J Am Coll Radiol 2023 Mar;20(3):299-310. doi: 10.1016/j.jacr.2022.09.030.
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Screening, Imaging, Women, Prevention, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Severance TS, Njuguna F, Olbara G
An evaluation of the disparities affecting the underdiagnosis of pediatric cancer in Western Kenya.
This study described the international collaboration to investigate disparities affecting the underdiagnosis of pediatric cancer in Western Kenya. Estimates of cancer incidence in similar populations around the world would indicate approximately 1500 patients should be diagnosed each year. However, internal review at a large tertiary hospital noted 200-250 patients were diagnosed annually, suggesting the remaining 75-80% of patients go undiagnosed and do not receive treatment. The authors reviewed 41 malaria slides at a local referring hospital that demonstrated both morphologic and genetic evidence of leukemia. This disparity suggested a lack of education and training that were the lead factors contributing to lower rates of diagnosis.
AHRQ-funded; HS026390.
Citation: Severance TS, Njuguna F, Olbara G .
An evaluation of the disparities affecting the underdiagnosis of pediatric cancer in Western Kenya.
Pediatr Blood Cancer 2022 Oct;69(10):e29768. doi: 10.1002/pbc.29768..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Cancer, Disparities, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Lowry KP, Bissell MCS, Miglioretti DL
Breast biopsy recommendations and breast cancers diagnosed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The authors sought to examine breast biopsy recommendations and breast cancers diagnosed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic by mode of detection and women's characteristics. Using data from the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium, they found that there were substantially fewer breast biopsies with cancer diagnoses during the COVID-19 pandemic from March to September 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, with Asian and Hispanic women experiencing the largest declines followed by Black women.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation: Lowry KP, Bissell MCS, Miglioretti DL .
Breast biopsy recommendations and breast cancers diagnosed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Radiology 2022 May;303(2):287-94. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2021211808..
Keywords: COVID-19, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Radhakrishnan A, Reyes-Gastelum D, Abrahamse P
Physician specialties involved in thyroid cancer diagnosis and treatment: implications for improving health care disparities.
The authors sought to characterize providers involved in diagnosing and treating thyroid cancer. Patients with differentiated thyroid cancer from the Georgia and Los Angeles County Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registries were surveyed. The authors found that, among thyroid cancer patients, 40.6% reported being informed of their diagnosis by their surgeon, 37.9% by their endocrinologist, and 13.5% by their primary care physician (PCP). The researchers concluded that PCPs were involved in thyroid cancer diagnosis and treatment, and their involvement was greater among older patients and patients of minority race/ethnicity.
AHRQ-funded; HS024512.
Citation: Radhakrishnan A, Reyes-Gastelum D, Abrahamse P .
Physician specialties involved in thyroid cancer diagnosis and treatment: implications for improving health care disparities.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2022 Feb 17;107(3):e1096-e105. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgab781..
Keywords: Cancer, Disparities, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Practice Patterns, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care
Tice JA, Gard CC, Miglioretti DL
Comparing mammographic density assessed by digital breast tomosynthesis or digital mammography: the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium.
This study’s purpose was to assess the consistency of Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) breast density reporting comparing digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) with digital mammography (DM) and to evaluate density as a breast cancer risk factor when assessed using DM versus DBT. A secondary analysis of data from the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium was used from 342,149 women aged 40-79 years who underwent at least two screening mammography examinations less than 36 months apart. There were no significant differences in breast density assessment in pairs consisting of one DM and one DBT examination (57,516 of 74,729 [77%]), two DM examinations (238,678 of 301,743 [79%]), and two DBT examinations (20,763 of 26,854). Results were similar when pair analysis was restricted to readings by the same radiologist. The breast cancer hazard ratios (HRs) for breast density were similar for DM and DBT. The HRs for density acquired using DM and DBT, respectively, were 0.55 and 0.37 for almost entirely fat, 1.47 and 1.36 for heterogeneously dense, and 1.72 and 2.05 for extremely dense breasts.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation: Tice JA, Gard CC, Miglioretti DL .
Comparing mammographic density assessed by digital breast tomosynthesis or digital mammography: the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium.
Radiology 2022 Feb; 302(2):286-92. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2021204579..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Women, Imaging, Screening, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Kho RM, Desai VB, Schwartz PE
Endometrial sampling for preoperative diagnosis of uterine leiomyosarcoma.
This retrospective cohort study examined the effectiveness of endometrial sampling for preoperative detection of uterine leiomyosarcoma in women undergoing hysterectomy, identified factors associated with missed diagnosis, and compared the outcomes of patients who had a preoperative diagnosis with those patients who had a missed diagnosis. A total of 79 patients with uterine leiomyosarcoma were included in the study. Of those patients, 46 (58.2%) were diagnosed preoperatively and 33 postoperatively. The groups were similar in age, race/ethnicity, bleeding symptoms, and comorbidities. Women who had endometrial sampling performed with hysteroscopy had a higher likelihood of preoperative diagnosis. Patients with localized stage (vs distant stage) or tumor size >11 cm were less likely to be diagnosed preoperatively.
AHRQ-funded; HS024702.
Citation: Kho RM, Desai VB, Schwartz PE .
Endometrial sampling for preoperative diagnosis of uterine leiomyosarcoma.
J Minim Invasive Gynecol 2022 Jan;29(1):119-27. doi: 10.1016/j.jmig.2021.07.004.
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Keywords: Cancer, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Surgery, Women
Choi DT, Davila JA, Sansgiry S
Factors associated with delay of diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis.
Researchers examined the frequency of and factors associated with delays in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a cohort of patients with cirrhosis in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Data was collected and analyzed from VHA electronic health records. They found that nearly half of veterans with cirrhosis have delays in diagnosis of HCC of 60 days or more after a red flag, defined by guidelines. They recommended interventions to improve timely follow-up of red flags and adherence to guidelines in order to increase early detection of HCC.
AHRQ-funded; HS027363.
Citation: Choi DT, Davila JA, Sansgiry S .
Factors associated with delay of diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with cirrhosis.
Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2021 Aug;19(8):1679-87. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2020.07.026..
Keywords: Cancer, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Shipe ME, Haddad DN, Deppen SA
Modeling the impact of delaying the diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer during COVID-19
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has led surgical societies to recommend delaying diagnosis and treatment of suspected lung cancer for lesions less than 2 cm. The COVID-19 infection rate at which immediate operative risk exceeds benefit is unknown. Delaying diagnosis can lead to disease progression, but the impact of this delay on mortality is unknown. In this study, the investigators sought to model immediate versus delayed surgical resection in a suspicious lung nodule less than 2 cm.
AHRQ-funded; HS026122.
Citation: Shipe ME, Haddad DN, Deppen SA .
Modeling the impact of delaying the diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer during COVID-19
Ann Thorac Surg 2021 Jul;112(1):248-54. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2020.08.025..
Keywords: COVID-19, Cancer: Lung Cancer, Cancer, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Case Study, Risk
Maduekwe UN, Herb JN, Esther RJ
Pathologic nodal staging for clinically node negative soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities.
This study looked at the need for pathological nodal staging in patients with extremity synovial, clear cell, angiosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and epithelioid (SCARE) soft tissue sarcoma. Patients included were without clinical nodal involvement undergoing surgical resection in the National Cancer Database (2004-2017). The cohort included 4158 patients, with 669 patients (16%) undergoing regional lymph node surgery (RLNS). Patients with epithelioid and clear cell sarcomas were most likely to undergo RLNS. Forty-five (7%) had positive nodes with clear cell sarcoma (14%) and angiosarcoma (13%) having the highest rates of nodal positivity. Five-year survival was reduced in patients with positive nodes.
AHRQ-funded; HS000032.
Citation: Maduekwe UN, Herb JN, Esther RJ .
Pathologic nodal staging for clinically node negative soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities.
J Surg Oncol 2021 May;123(8):1792-800. doi: 10.1002/jso.26465..
Keywords: Cancer, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Treatments
Asti L, Hopley C, Avelis C
The potential clinical and economic value of a human papillomavirus primary screening test that additionally identifies genotypes 31, 45, 51, and 52 individually.
This study looked at the potential clinical and economic value of a human papillomavirus (HPV) primary screening test that additionally identified genotypes 31,45,51, and 52 along with genotypes 16 and 18. The authors developed a Markov model of the HPV disease course and evaluated the clinical and economic value of HPV primary screening with Onclarity. Currently HPV primary screening results in 25,194 invasive procedures and 48 invasive cervical cancer (ICC) cases per 100,000 women. Screening with extended genotyping and later screening women with certain genotypes averted 903 to 3163 invasive procedures and results in 0 to 3 more ICC cases compared with current primary screening tests. Extended genotyping was cost effective when costing $75 and cost saving when costing $43. When the probabilities of disease progression increased 2-4 times, it was not cost-effective because it resulted in more ICC cases and accrued fewer quality-adjusted life-years.
AHRQ-funded; HS023317.
Citation: Asti L, Hopley C, Avelis C .
The potential clinical and economic value of a human papillomavirus primary screening test that additionally identifies genotypes 31, 45, 51, and 52 individually.
Sex Transm Dis 2021 May;48(5):370-80. doi: 10.1097/olq.0000000000001327.
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Keywords: Sexual Health, Infectious Diseases, Screening, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Genetics, Cancer: Cervical Cancer, Cancer, Women
Davis K, Wilbur K, Metzger S
Symptom and needs assessment screening in oncology patients: alternate outreach methods during COVID-19.
This initiative’s goal was to develop alternate outreach methods to cancer patients without access to an electronic portal during COVID-19. The authors implemented a standardized telephone outreach process targeting patients without active electronic portal accounts to improve remote symptom monitoring. A total of 172 screens were completed, identifying 110 needs for 63 individuals. Twenty-eight patients completed patient enrollment, with outreach calls capturing a higher percentage of Black patients (34%) and older adults age 61-80 years old (69%) compared to portal users.
AHRQ-funded; HS026170.
Citation: Davis K, Wilbur K, Metzger S .
Symptom and needs assessment screening in oncology patients: alternate outreach methods during COVID-19.
J Psychosoc Oncol 2021;39(3):452-60. doi: 10.1080/07347332.2021.1890663..
Keywords: COVID-19, Cancer, Access to Care, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Rauscher GH, Murphy AM, Qiu Q
The "sweet spot" revisited: optimal recall rates for cancer detection with 2D and 3D digital screening mammography in the Metro Chicago Breast Cancer Registry.
The authors examined the trade-offs for higher recall rates in terms of biopsy recommendations and cancer detection in mammography in a single large health care organization. 2D analog, 2D digital, and 3D digital mammography screenings among women 40-79 years old with cancer follow-up were examined. They found that the results of their investigation were in contrast to those of a recent study suggesting appropriateness of higher recall rates. They concluded that optimal cancer detection appeared to be in the recall rate range of 7-9% for both 2D digital mammography and 3D tomosynthesis.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation: Rauscher GH, Murphy AM, Qiu Q .
The "sweet spot" revisited: optimal recall rates for cancer detection with 2D and 3D digital screening mammography in the Metro Chicago Breast Cancer Registry.
AJR Am J Roentgenol 2021 Apr;216(4):894-902. doi: 10.2214/ajr.19.22429.
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Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Imaging, Screening, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Women, Prevention
Jones OT, Calanzani N, Saji S
Artificial intelligence techniques that may be applied to primary care data to facilitate earlier diagnosis of cancer: systematic review.
This study’s objective was a systematic review of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques that might facilitate earlier diagnosis of cancer and could be applied to primary care electronic health record (EHR) data. Findings showed that AI techniques have been applied to EHR-type data to facilitate early diagnosis of cancer, but their use in primary care settings is still at an early stage of maturity. Further evidence is needed on their performance using primary care data, implementation barriers, and cost-effectiveness before widespread adoption into routine primary care clinical practice can be recommended.
AHRQ-funded; HS027363.
Citation: Jones OT, Calanzani N, Saji S .
Artificial intelligence techniques that may be applied to primary care data to facilitate earlier diagnosis of cancer: systematic review.
J Med Internet Res 2021 Mar 3;23(3):e23483. doi: 10.2196/23483..
Keywords: Cancer, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Primary Care, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Health Information Technology (HIT)
Zhou Y, Walter FM, Singh H
Prolonged diagnostic intervals as marker of missed diagnostic opportunities in bladder and kidney cancer patients with alarm features: a longitudinal linked data study.
In England, patients who meet National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline criteria for suspected cancer should receive a specialist assessment within 14 days. In this study, the researchers examined how quickly bladder and kidney cancer patients who met fast-track referral criteria were actually diagnosed. The investigators found that more than a quarter of patients presenting with fast-track referral features did not achieve a timely diagnosis, suggesting inadequate guideline adherence for some patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS022087.
Citation: Zhou Y, Walter FM, Singh H .
Prolonged diagnostic intervals as marker of missed diagnostic opportunities in bladder and kidney cancer patients with alarm features: a longitudinal linked data study.
Cancers 2021 Jan 5;13(1). doi: 10.3390/cancers13010156..
Keywords: Cancer, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Rauscher GH, Tossas-Milligan K, Macarol T
Trends in attaining mammography quality benchmarks with repeated participation in a quality measurement program: going beyond the mammography quality standards act to address breast cancer disparities.
The Mammography Quality Standards Act requires that mammography facilities conduct audits, but there are no specifications on the metrics to be measured. In this study, the authors present trends from the first 5 years of data collection to examine whether continued participation in this quality improvement program was associated with an increase in the number of benchmarks met for breast cancer screening.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation: Rauscher GH, Tossas-Milligan K, Macarol T .
Trends in attaining mammography quality benchmarks with repeated participation in a quality measurement program: going beyond the mammography quality standards act to address breast cancer disparities.
J Am Coll Radiol 2020 Nov;17(11):1420-28. doi: 10.1016/j.jacr.2020.07.019..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Women, Screening, Quality Measures, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Shah SC, Itzkowitz SH
Reappraising risk factors for inflammatory bowel disease-associated neoplasia: implications for colonoscopic surveillance in IBD.
One of the most feared complications of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]-associated colitis is colorectal cancer. An opportunity for early detection is being missed in a group that is overlooked as high-risk, as a substantial proportion of colorectal cancers are being diagnosed in individuals with colonic IBD who have disease duration shorter than when guidelines recommend surveillance initiation. In this study, the investigators discuss a viewpoint that supports a paradigm shift that will ideally result in a more effective and higher-value colorectal cancer prevention approach in IBD.
AHRQ-funded; HS026395.
Citation: Shah SC, Itzkowitz SH .
Reappraising risk factors for inflammatory bowel disease-associated neoplasia: implications for colonoscopic surveillance in IBD.
J Crohns Colitis 2020 Sep 7;14(8):1172-77. doi: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjaa040..
Keywords: Digestive Disease and Health, Risk, Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Cancer, Colonoscopy, Prevention, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Screening
Haymart MR, Reyes-Gastelum D, Caoili E
The relationship between imaging and thyroid cancer diagnosis and survival.
Controversy exists over whether there has been a true increase in the occurrence of thyroid cancer or overdiagnosis secondary to imaging practices. Because cancer overdiagnosis is associated with detection of indolent disease, overdiagnosis can be associated with perceived improvement in survival. The investigators concluded that there was improved disease-specific survival in patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer after thyroid ultrasound as compared with after other imaging.
AHRQ-funded; HS024512.
Citation: Haymart MR, Reyes-Gastelum D, Caoili E .
The relationship between imaging and thyroid cancer diagnosis and survival.
Oncologist 2020 Sep;25(9):765-71. doi: 10.1634/theoncologist.2020-0159..
Keywords: Cancer, Imaging, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Sprague BL, Miglioretti DL, Lee CI
New mammography screening performance metrics based on the entire screening episode.
Established mammography screening performance metrics use the initial screening mammography assessment because they were developed for radiologist performance auditing, yet these metrics are frequently used to inform health policy and screening decision making. The authors developed new performance metrics based on the final assessment that consider the entire screening episode, including diagnostic workup. They concluded that established screening performance metrics underestimated the interval cancer rate of a mammography screening episode, particularly for women with dense breasts or an elevated breast cancer risk.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation: Sprague BL, Miglioretti DL, Lee CI .
New mammography screening performance metrics based on the entire screening episode.
Cancer 2020 Jul 15;126(14):3289-96. doi: 10.1002/cncr.32939..
Keywords: Screening, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Prevention, Women, Provider Performance, Imaging
Pollack LM, Ekwueme DU, Hung MC Pollack LM, Ekwueme DU, Hung MC, Pollack LM, Ekwueme DU, Hung MC Pollack LM, Ekwueme DU, Hung MC, Hung MC
Estimating the impact of increasing cervical cancer screening in the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program among low-income women in the USA.
The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) provides free cervical cancer screening to low-income women. This study estimated the health benefits gained in terms of life years (LYs) saved and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained if cervical cancer screening by the NBCCEDP increased to reach more eligible women. The investigators found that the reported estimates emphasized the value of cervical cancer screening program by extending LE in low-income women.
Citation: Pollack LM, Ekwueme DU, Hung MC Pollack LM, Ekwueme DU, Hung MC, Pollack LM, Ekwueme DU, Hung MC Pollack LM, Ekwueme DU, Hung MC, Hung MC .
Estimating the impact of increasing cervical cancer screening in the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program among low-income women in the USA.
Cancer Causes Control 2020 Jul;31(7):691-702. doi: 10.1007/s10552-020-01314-z..
Keywords: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), Cancer: Cervical Cancer, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Screening, Women, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Low-Income
Lowry KP, Coley RY, Miglioretti DL
Screening performance of digital breast tomosynthesis vs digital mammography in community practice by patient age, screening round, and breast density.
The purpose of this study was to compare digital mammography (DM) vs digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) performance by age, baseline vs subsequent screening round, and breast density category. Information was taken from screening examinations at participating Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium facilities of 1.5 million women aged 40 to 79 with no prior history of breast cancer. Findings showed that improvements in recall and cancer detection rates with DBT were greatest on baseline mammograms. On subsequent screening mammograms, the benefits of DBT varied by age and breast density, and women with extremely dense breasts did not benefit from improved recall or cancer detection with DBT on subsequent screening rounds.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation: Lowry KP, Coley RY, Miglioretti DL .
Screening performance of digital breast tomosynthesis vs digital mammography in community practice by patient age, screening round, and breast density.
JAMA Netw Open 2020 Jul;3(7):e2011792. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.11792..
Keywords: Imaging, Screening, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Women, Evidence-Based Practice, Comparative Effectiveness, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Franc BL, Thombley R, Luo Y
Using diagnosis codes in claims data to identify cohorts of breast cancer patients following initial treatment.
This article describes how researchers trying to study patterns of care and medical service utilization can use diagnosis codes to help identify patients who had undergone initial breast cancer treatment during the first 5 years after treatment for the primary cancer. The authors used claims data of 51,278 newly diagnosed breast cancer (BC) patients from the BC subset of the 2000-2014 SEER-Medicare linked database. From that database they determined the fraction of BC patients who could be identified using BC-specific does 174.x and v10.3 during the year of diagnosis/treatment and during each of the following 5 years after treatment. They then developed a list of diagnosis codes that were found more often in claims from BC patients than in claims of a cohort of patients without a BC diagnosis. They were able to identify BC patients as belonging to 5 different subgroups. In any single year 72.8-99.1% of BC patients had a claim with a174.x diagnosis code. Another 0-11% of BC patients had a v10.3 code. From their findings they concluded that BC patients can be robustly identified within claims databases.
AHRQ-funded; HS024936.
Citation: Franc BL, Thombley R, Luo Y .
Using diagnosis codes in claims data to identify cohorts of breast cancer patients following initial treatment.
Breast J 2020 Jul;26(7):1472-74. doi: 10.1111/tbj.13758..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Women, Research Methodologies