Identifying strategies that promote staff and resident influenza and COVID-19 vaccination in nursing homes: Perspectives from nursing home staff.

Resident and staff influenza and COVID-19 vaccination are critical components of infection prevention in nursing homes. Our study sought to characterize strategies that nursing home staff use to promote vaccination. Twenty-six telephone/videoconference interviews were conducted with administrators, directors of nursing, infection preventionists, and Minimum Data Set coordinators at 14 nursing homes across the US. Transcripts were analyzed using content analysis and a detailed audit trail was maintained. Staff described resident and staff influenza and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and confidence as well as varying approaches to promote vaccination. These included incentives, education efforts, and having a "vaccine champion" responsible for vaccine promotion. While many strategies had been in place prior to COVID-19 in support of improving influenza vaccination, participants reported implementing additional approaches to promote COVID-19 vaccination. Findings may inform future efforts to promote vaccination, which will be critical to mitigate the burden of influenza and COVID-19 in nursing homes.

Self-reported measures of limitation in physical function in late midlife are associated with incident Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

BACKGROUND: Even small improvements in modifiable Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) risk factors could lead to a substantial reduction of dementia cases. AIMS: To determine if self-reported functional limitation associates with ADRD symptoms 4-18 years later. METHODS: We conducted a prospective longitudinal study using the Health and Retirement Study of adults aged 51-59 years in 1998 without symptoms of ADRD by 2002 and followed them to 2016. Main exposure variables were difficulty with activities of daily living, mobility, large muscle strength, gross motor and upper limb activities. The outcome was incident ADRD identified by the Lange-Weir algorithm, death, or alive without ADRD. We fit two GEE multinomial models for each measure: (1) baseline measure of function and (2) change in function over time. RESULTS: In the model with baseline only and outcome, only difficulty with mobility associated with future ADRD across levels of difficulty with near dose-response effect (risk ratios (RR) difficulty with 1-5 functions respectively, compared with no difficulty: 1.82; 2.70; 1.73 2.81; 4.03). Mobility also significantly associated with ADRD when allowing for change over time among those with 3, 4 or 5 versus no mobility limitations (RR 1.76; 2.36; 2.37). DISCUSSION: The results infer that an adult in midlife reporting difficulty with mobility as well as those with no mobility limitations in midlife but who later report severe limitations may be at increased risk of incident ADRD. CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported measures of mobility limitation may be early indicators of ADRD and may be useful for public health planning.

Profiles of Caregiving Arrangements of Community-dwelling People Living with Probable Dementia.

People living with dementia receive care from multiple caregivers, but little is known about the structure of their caregiving arrangements. This study used the Health and Retirement Study and latent class analyses to identify subgroups of caregiving arrangements based on caregiving hours received from spouses, children, other family/friends, and paid individuals among married (n = 361) and unmarried (n = 473) community-dwelling people with probable dementia. Three classes in the married sample (class 1 "low hours with shared care," class 2 "spouse-dominant care," and class 3 "children-dominant care") were identified. In class 1, spouses, children, and paid individuals provided 53%, 22%, and 26% of the caregiving hours, respectively. Three classes in the unmarried sample (class 1 "low hours with shared care," class 2 "children-dominant care," and class 3 "paid-dominant care") were identified. In unmarried class 1, children, other family/friends, and paid individuals provided 35%, 41% and 24% of the caregiving hours, respectively.

Persistence of Racial Inequities in Receipt of Influenza Vaccination Among Nursing Home Residents in the United States.

BACKGROUND: We sought to determine if racial differences in influenza vaccination among nursing home (NH) residents during the 2008-2009 influenza season persisted in 2018-2019. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of NHs certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services during the 2018-2019 influenza season in US states with ≥1% Black NH residents and a White-Black gap in influenza vaccination of NH residents (N = 2 233 392) of at least 1 percentage point (N = 40 states). NH residents during 1 October 2018 through 31 March 2019 aged ≥18 years and self-identified as being of Black or White race were included. Residents' influenza vaccination status (vaccinated, refused, and not offered) was assessed. Multilevel modeling was used to estimate facility-level vaccination status and inequities by state. RESULTS: The White-Black gap in influenza vaccination was 9.9 percentage points. In adjusted analyses, racial inequities in vaccination were more prominent at the facility level than at the state level. Black residents disproportionately lived in NHs that had a majority of Blacks residents, which generally had the lowest vaccination. Inequities were most concentrated in the Midwestern region, also the most segregated. Not being offered the vaccine was negligible in absolute percentage points between White residents (2.6%) and Black residents (4.8%), whereas refusals were higher among Black (28.7%) than White residents (21.0%). CONCLUSIONS: The increase in the White-Black vaccination gap among NH residents is occurring at the facility level in more states, especially those with the most segregation.

Vital Signs: Burden and Prevention of Influenza and Pertussis Among Pregnant Women and Infants - United States.

INTRODUCTION: Vaccinating pregnant women with influenza vaccine and tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) can reduce influenza and pertussis risk for themselves and their infants. METHODS: Surveillance data were analyzed to ascertain influenza-associated hospitalization among pregnant women and infant hospitalization and death associated with influenza and pertussis. An Internet panel survey was conducted during March 27-April 8, 2019, among women aged 18-49 years who reported being pregnant any time since August 1, 2018. Influenza vaccination before or during pregnancy was assessed among respondents with known influenza vaccination status who were pregnant any time during October 2018-January 2019 (2,097). Tdap receipt during pregnancy was assessed among respondents with known Tdap status who reported a live birth by their survey date (817). RESULTS: From 2010-11 to 2017-18, pregnant women accounted for 24%-34% of influenza-associated hospitalizations per season among females aged 15-44 years. From 2010 to 2017, a total of 3,928 pertussis-related hospitalizations were reported among infants aged <2 months (annual range = 262-743). Maternal influenza and Tdap vaccination coverage rates reported as of April 2019 were 53.7% and 54.9%, respectively. Among women whose health care providers offered vaccination or provided referrals, 65.7% received influenza vaccine and 70.5% received Tdap. The most commonly reported reasons for nonvaccination were believing the vaccine is not effective (influenza; 17.6%) and not knowing that vaccination is needed during each pregnancy (Tdap; 37.9%), followed by safety concerns for the infant (influenza =15.9%; Tdap = 17.1%). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE: Many pregnant women do not receive the vaccines recommended to protect themselves and their infants, even when vaccination is offered. CDC and provider organizations' resources are available to help providers convey strong, specific recommendations for influenza and Tdap vaccination that are responsive to pregnant women's concerns.

Age-Period-Cohort Analyses of Tuberculosis Incidence Rates by Nativity, United States, 1996-2016.

OBJECTIVES: To assess changes in US tuberculosis (TB) incidence rates by age, period, and cohort effects, stratified according to race/ethnicity and nativity. METHODS: We used US National Tuberculosis Surveillance System data for 1996 to 2016 to estimate trends through age-period-cohort models. RESULTS: Controlling for cohort and period effects indicated that the highest rates of TB incidence occurred among those 0 to 5 and 20 to 30 years of age. The incidence decreased by age for successive birth cohorts. There were greater estimated annual percentage decreases among US-born individuals (-7.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -7.5, -7.1) than among non-US-born individuals (-4.3%; 95% CI = -4.5, -4.1). US-born individuals older than 25 years exhibited the largest decreases, a pattern that was not reflected among non-US-born adults. In the case of race/ethnicity, the greatest decreases by nativity were among US-born Blacks (-9.3%; 95% CI = -9.6, -9.1) and non-US-born Hispanics (-5.7%; 95% CI = -6.0, -5.5). CONCLUSIONS: TB has been decreasing among all ages, races and ethnicities, and consecutive cohorts, although these decreases are less pronounced among non-US-born individuals.

Risk of Nontargeted Infectious Disease Hospitalizations Among US Children Following Inactivated and Live Vaccines, 2005-2014.

Background: Recent studies have shown that some vaccines have beneficial effects that cannot be explained solely by the prevention of their respective targeted disease(s). Methods: We used the MarketScan US Commercial Claims Databases for 2005 to 2014 to assess the risk of hospital admission for nontargeted infectious (NTI) diseases in children aged 16 through 24 months according to the last vaccine type (live and/or inactivated). We included children continuously enrolled within a month of birth through 15 months who received at least 3 doses of diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccine by the end of 15 months of age. We used Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios (HRs), stratifying by birthdate to control for age, year, and seasonality and adjusting for sex, chronic diseases, prior hospitalizations, number of outpatient visits, region of residence, urban/rural area of domicile, prematurity, low birth weight, and mother's age. Results: 311663 children were included. In adjusted analyses, risk of hospitalization for NTI from ages 16 through 24 months was reduced for those who received live vaccine alone compared with inactivated alone or concurrent live and inactivated vaccines (HR, 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43, 0.57 and HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.67, 0.91, respectively) and for those who received live and inactivated vaccines concurrently compared with inactivated-only (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.58, 0.70). Conclusions: We found lower risk of NTI disease hospitalizations from age 16 through 24 months among children whose last vaccine received was live compared with inactivated vaccine, as well as concurrent receipt compared with inactivated vaccine.

Development and demonstration of a state model for the estimation of incidence of partly undetected chronic diseases.

BACKGROUND: Estimation of incidence of the state of undiagnosed chronic disease provides a crucial missing link for the monitoring of chronic disease epidemics and determining the degree to which changes in prevalence are affected or biased by detection. METHODS: We developed a four-part compartment model for undiagnosed cases of irreversible chronic diseases with a preclinical state that precedes the diagnosis. Applicability of the model is tested in a simulation study of a hypothetical chronic disease and using diabetes data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). RESULTS: A two dimensional system of partial differential equations forms the basis for estimating incidence of the undiagnosed and diagnosed disease states from the prevalence of the associated states. In the simulation study we reach very good agreement between the estimates and the true values. Application to the HRS data demonstrates practical relevance of the methods. DISCUSSION: We have demonstrated the applicability of the modeling framework in a simulation study and in the analysis of the Health and Retirement Study. The model provides insight into the epidemiology of undiagnosed chronic diseases.

Geographic Variation in Racial Disparities in Receipt of High-Dose Influenza Vaccine Among US Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Racial disparities in receipt of high-dose influenza vaccine (HDV) have been documented nationally, but whether small-area geographic variation in such disparities exists remains unknown. We assessed the distribution of disparities in HDV receipt between Black and White traditional Medicare beneficiaries vaccinated against influenza within states and hospital referral regions (HRRs). METHODS: We conducted a nationally representative retrospective cohort study of 11,768,724 community-dwelling traditional Medicare beneficiaries vaccinated against influenza during the 2015-2016 influenza season (94.3% White and 5.7% Black). Our comparison was marginalized versus privileged racial group measured as Black versus White race. Vaccination and type of vaccine were obtained from Medicare Carrier and Outpatient files. Differences in the proportions of individuals who received HDV between Black and White beneficiaries within states and HRRs were used to measure age- and sex-standardized disparities in HDV receipt. We restricted to states and HRRs with ≥ 100 beneficiaries per age-sex strata per racial group. RESULTS: We detected a national disparity in HDV receipt of 12.8 percentage points (pps). At the state level, the median standardized HDV receipt disparity was 10.7 pps (minimum, maximum: 2.9, 25.6; n = 30 states). The median standardized HDV receipt disparity among HRRs was 11.6 pps (minimum, maximum: 0.4, 24.7; n = 54 HRRs). CONCLUSION: Black beneficiaries were less likely to receive HDV compared to White beneficiaries in almost every state and HRR in our analysis. The magnitudes of disparities varied substantially across states and HRRs. Local interventions and policies are needed to target geographic areas with the largest disparities to address these inequities.

Geospatial Distribution of Racial Disparities in Influenza Vaccination in Nursing Homes.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the distribution of racial disparities in influenza vaccination between White and Black short-stay and long-stay nursing home residents among states and hospital referral regions (HRRs). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: We included short-stay and long-stay older adults residing in US nursing homes during influenza seasons between 2011 and 2018. Included residents were aged ≥65 years and enrolled in Traditional Medicare. Analyses were conducted using resident-seasons, whereby residents could contribute to one or more influenza seasons if they resided in a nursing home across multiple seasons. METHODS: Our comparison of interest was marginalized vs privileged racial group membership measured as Black vs White race. We obtained influenza vaccination documentation from resident Minimum Data Set assessments from October 1 through June 30 of a particular influenza season. Nonparametric g-formula was used to estimate age- and sex-standardized disparities in vaccination, measured as the percentage point (pp) difference in the proportions of individuals vaccinated between Black and White nursing home residents within states and HRRs. RESULTS: The study included 7,807,187 short-stay resident-seasons (89.7% White and 10.3% Black) in 14,889 nursing homes and 7,308,111 long-stay resident-seasons (86.7% White and 13.3% Black) in 14,885 nursing homes. Among states, the median age- and sex-standardized disparity between Black and White residents was 10.1 percentage points (pps) among short-stay residents and 5.3 pps among long-stay residents across seasons. Among HRRs, the median disparity was 8.6 pps among short-stay residents and 5.0 pps among long-stay residents across seasons. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Our analysis revealed that the magnitudes of vaccination disparities varied substantially across states and HRRs, from no disparity in vaccination to disparities in excess of 25 pps. Local interventions and policies should be targeted to high-disparity geographic areas to increase vaccine uptake and promote health equity.

US nursing home residents receiving PCV13 in the SNF by recorded pneumococcal vaccination up-to-date status, 2014-2018.

BACKGROUND: Since PCV13 was recommended in 2014, the characteristics of nursing home (NH) residents (and their facilities) recorded by facilities as not up-to-date with pneumococcal vaccination upon admission were unknown, and it is unknown if they received PCV13 in the NH. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort of NH residents of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS)-certified skilled nursing facilities from October 1, 2014, through September 22, 2018. CMS' Minimum Data Set (MDS) was linked to Medicare Part B Carrier claims to corroborate pneumococcal vaccination up-to-date status in the MDS with pneumococcal vaccination claims. The primary outcome of interest was vaccination with PCV13 versus nonreceipt among those identified as "not up to date" according to facility MDS records. We estimated generalized estimating equation (GEE) models. RESULTS: Of the 1,459,814 residents recorded not up-to-date, (78.2%) had no Part B claims for PCV13 before or in the NH, the majority of whom (71.5%) were reported to have refused the vaccine when offered. Only 1.3% subsequently received PCV13 within 99 days after NH admission. In adjusted analyses, residents less likely to receive PCV13 in the NH than those who did included: residence in a for-profit facility (OR: 0.94 [95% CI: 0.89, 0.99]); male (OR: 0.92 [95% CI:0.89, 0.95]); black race (OR: 0.71 (95%CI: 0.66, 0.77); Hispanic ethnicity (OR: 0.69 [95%CI: 0.59, 0.75]); severely cognitively impaired compared with any lesser degree of impairment; had diabetes (OR: 0.93 [95%CI: 0.89, 0.97]); long-stay (≥100 days) compared with short-stay residents (OR: 0.17 (95%CI: 0.15, 0.20); and did not receive the influenza vaccine (OR: 0.74 (95%CI: 0.71, 0.77). CONCLUSIONS: Due to refusals, few NH residents recorded not up-to-date on pneumococcal vaccinations from 2014 to 2018 received PCV13 within three months of admission. Strategies to promote newly recommended PCV15 or PCV20 vaccination upon NH admission may be needed.

Variation in influenza vaccine assessment, receipt, and refusal by the concentration of Medicare Advantage enrollees in U.S. nursing homes.

BACKGROUND: More older adults enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) are entering nursing homes (NHs), and MA concentration could affect vaccination rates through shifts in resident characteristics and/or payer-related influences on preventive services use. We investigated whether rates of influenza vaccination and refusal differ across NHs with varying concentrations of MA-enrolled residents. METHODS: We analyzed 2014-2015 Medicare enrollment data and Minimum Data Set clinical assessments linked to NH-level characteristics, star ratings, and county-level MA penetration rates. The independent variable was the percentage of residents enrolled in MA at admission and categorized into three equally-sized groups. We examined three NH-level outcomes including the percentages of residents assessed and appropriately considered for influenza vaccination, received influenza vaccination, and refused influenza vaccination. RESULTS: There were 936,513 long-stay residents in 12,384 NHs. Categories for the prevalence of MA enrollment in NHs were low (0% to 3.3%; n = 4131 NHs), moderate (3.4% to 18.6%; n = 4127 NHs) and high (>18.6%; n = 4126 NHs). Overall, 81.3% of long-stay residents received influenza vaccination and 14.3% refused the vaccine when offered. Adjusting for covariates, influenza vaccination rates among long-stay residents were higher in NHs with moderate (1.70 percentage points [pp], 95% confidence limits [CL]: 1.15 pp, 2.24 pp), or high (3.05 pp, 95% CL: 2.45 pp, 3.66 pp) MA versus the lowest prevalence of MA. Influenza vaccine refusal was lower in NHs with moderate (-3.10 pp, 95% CL: -3.53 pp, -2.68 pp), or high (-4.63 pp, 95% CL: -5.11 pp, -4.15 pp) MA compared with NHs with the lowest prevalence of MA. CONCLUSION: A higher concentration of long-stay NH residents enrolled in MA was associated with greater influenza vaccine receipt and lower vaccine refusal. As MA becomes a larger share of the Medicare program, and more MA beneficiaries enter NHs, decisionmakers need to consider how managed care can be leveraged to improve the delivery of preventive services like influenza vaccinations in NH settings.

Adverse events following third dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccination among nursing home residents who received the primary series.

BACKGROUND: We sought to compare rates of adverse events among nursing home residents who received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine booster dose with those who had not yet received their booster. METHODS: We assessed a prospective cohort of 11,200 nursing home residents who received a primary COVID-19 mRNA vaccine series at least 6 months prior to September 22, 2021 and received a third "booster dose" between September 22, 2021 and February 2, 2022. Residents lived in 239 nursing homes operated by Genesis HealthCare, spanning 21 U.S. states. We screened electronic health records for 20 serious vaccine-related adverse events that are monitored following receipt of COVID-19 vaccination by the CDC's Vaccine Safety Datalink. We matched boosted and yet-to-be boosted residents during the same time period, comparing rates of events occurring 14 days after booster administration with those occurring 14 days prior to booster administration. To supplement previously reported background rates of adverse events, we report background rates of medical conditions among nursing home residents during 2020, before COVID-19 vaccines were administered in nursing homes. Events occurring in 2021-2022 were confirmed by physician chart review. We report unadjusted rates of adverse events and used a false discovery rate procedure to adjust for multiplicity of events tested. RESULTS: No adverse events were reported during the 14 days post-booster. A few adverse events occurred prior to booster (ischemic stroke: 49.4 per 100,000 residents, 95% CI: 21.2, 115.7; venous thromboembolism: 9.9 per 100,000 residents, 95% CI: 1.7, 56.0), though differences in event rates pre- versus post-booster were not statistically significant (p < 0.05) after adjusting for multiple comparisons. No significant differences were detected between post-booster vaccination rates and prior year 14-day background rates of medical conditions. CONCLUSIONS: No safety signals were detected following a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine booster dose in this large multi-state sample of nursing home residents.

Causes and timing of 30-day rehospitalization from skilled nursing facilities after a hospital admission for pneumonia or sepsis.

BACKGROUND: Pneumonia and sepsis are among the most common causes of hospitalization in the United States and often result in discharges to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) for rehabilitation. We described the timing and most common causes of 30-day unplanned hospital readmission following an index hospitalization for pneumonia or sepsis. METHODS AND FINDINGS: This national retrospective cohort study included adults ≥65 years who were hospitalized for pneumonia or sepsis and were discharged to a SNF between July 1, 2012 and July 4, 2015. We quantified the ten most common 30-day unplanned readmission diagnoses and estimated the daily risk of first unplanned rehospitalization for four causes of readmission (circulatory, infectious, respiratory, and genitourinary). The index hospitalization was pneumonia for 92,153 SNF stays and sepsis for 452,254 SNF stays. Of these SNF stays, 20.9% and 25.9%, respectively, resulted in a 30-day unplanned readmission. Overall, septicemia was the single most common readmission diagnosis for residents with an index hospitalization for pneumonia (16.7% of 30-day readmissions) and sepsis (22.4% of 30-day readmissions). The mean time to unplanned readmission was approximately 14 days overall. Respiratory causes displayed the highest daily risk of rehospitalization following index hospitalizations for pneumonia, while circulatory and infectious causes had the highest daily risk of rehospitalization following index hospitalizations for sepsis. The day of highest risk for readmission occurred within two weeks of the index hospitalization discharge, but the readmission risk persisted across the 30-day follow-up. CONCLUSION: Among older adults discharged to SNFs following a hospitalization for pneumonia or sepsis, hospital readmissions for infectious, circulatory, respiratory, and genitourinary causes occurred frequently throughout the 30-day post-discharge period. Our data suggests further study is needed, perhaps on the value of closer monitoring in SNFs post-hospital discharge and improved communication between hospitals and SNFs, to reduce the risk of potentially preventable hospital readmissions.

Relationships Between Community Virus Activity and Cardiorespiratory Rehospitalizations From Post-Acute Care.

OBJECTIVES: Quantify the relationship between increasing influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) community viral activity and cardiorespiratory rehospitalizations among older adults discharged to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged ≥65 years who were hospitalized and then discharged to a US SNF between 2012 and 2015. METHODS: We linked Medicare Provider Analysis and Review claims to Minimum Data Set version 3.0 assessments, PRISM Climate Group data, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention viral testing data. All data were aggregated to US Department of Health and Human Services regions. Negative binomial regression models quantified the relationship between increasing viral activity for RSV and 3 influenza strains (H1N1pdm09, H3N2, and B) and cardiorespiratory rehospitalizations from SNFs. Incidence rate ratios described the relationship between a 5% increase in circulating virus and the rates of rehospitalization for cardiorespiratory outcomes. Analyses were repeated using the same model, but influenza and RSV were considered "in season" or "out of season" based on a 10% positive testing threshold. RESULTS: Cardiorespiratory rehospitalization rates increased by approximately 1% for every 5% increase in circulating influenza A(H3N2), influenza B, and RSV, but decreased by 1% for every 5% increase in circulating influenza A(H1N1pdm09). When respiratory viruses were in season (vs out of season), cardiorespiratory rehospitalization rates increased by approximately 6% for influenza A(H3N2), 3% for influenza B, and 5% for RSV, but decreased by 6% for influenza A(H1N1pdm09). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The respiratory season is a particularly important period to implement interventions that reduce cardiorespiratory hospitalizations among SNF residents. Decreasing viral transmission in SNFs through practices such as influenza vaccination for residents and staff, use of personal protective equipment, improved environmental cleaning measures, screening and testing of residents and staff, surveillance of viral activity, and quarantining infected individuals may be potential strategies to limit viral infections and associated cardiorespiratory rehospitalizations.

Geographic Variation in Influenza Vaccination Disparities Between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White US Nursing Home Residents.

Background: Disparities in influenza vaccination exist between Hispanic and non-Hispanic White US nursing home (NH) residents, but the geographic areas with the largest disparities remain unknown. We examined how these racial/ethnic disparities differ across states and hospital referral regions (HRRs). Methods: This retrospective cohort study included >14 million short-stay and long-stay US NH resident-seasons over 7 influenza seasons from October 1, 2011, to March 31, 2018, where residents could contribute to 1 or more seasons. Residents were aged ≥65 years and enrolled in Medicare fee-for-service. We used the Medicare Beneficiary Summary File to ascertain race/ethnicity and Minimum Data Set assessments for influenza vaccination. We calculated age- and sex-standardized percentage point (pp) differences in the proportions vaccinated between non-Hispanic White and Hispanic (any race) resident-seasons. Positive pp differences were considered disparities, where the proportion of non-Hispanic White residents vaccinated was greater than the proportion of Hispanic residents vaccinated. States and HRRs with ≥100 resident-seasons per age-sex stratum per racial/ethnic group were included in analyses. Results: Among 7 442 241 short-stay resident-seasons (94.1% non-Hispanic White, 5.9% Hispanic), the median standardized disparities in influenza vaccination were 4.3 pp (minimum, maximum: 0.3, 19.2; n = 22 states) and 2.8 pp (minimum, maximum: -3.6, 10.3; n = 49 HRRs). Among 6 758 616 long-stay resident-seasons (93.7% non-Hispanic White, 6.5% Hispanic), the median standardized differences were -0.1 pp (minimum, maximum: -4.1, 11.4; n = 18 states) and -1.8 pp (minimum, maximum: -6.5, 7.6; n = 34 HRRs). Conclusions: Wide geographic variation in influenza vaccination disparities existed across US states and HRRs. Localized interventions targeted toward areas with high disparities may be a more effective strategy to promote health equity than one-size-fits-all national interventions.

Progression to diabetes by baseline glycemic status among middle-aged and older adults in the United States, 2006-2014.

AIMS: Primary prevention studies have indicated that structured lifestyle change programs in adults with an annual diabetes risk of 4.7% are cost-effective. However, few population-based studies have quantified the risk of diabetes among adults with prediabetes. METHODS: We used the nationally representative U.S. Health and Retirement Study to identify adults aged ≥ 52 years with prediabetes (A1c: 5.7% - 6.4%) in 2006 and followed them to 2014 to assess diabetes status defined by A1c ≥ 6.5% in 2010 or 2014 or by self-report of a diabetes diagnosis by various risk factors. RESULTS: Among the 1,406 adults with prediabetes (average 4.7 years of follow-up), risk factors significantly associated with subsequent incident diabetes with adjusted annual risk of diabetes ≥ 4.7% were: male gender (4.8%); aged 52-64 years (5.0%); Black race (5.5%); obesity (body mass index (kg/m2) ≥ 30.0, 6.8%); large waist circumference (women: > 35 in.; men: > 40 in., 4.9%); C-reactive protein levels ≥ 3 ug/L (5.5%); treated for high cholesterol (4.7%); treated for hypertension (5.3%); and moderate mobility loss (4.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Primary prevention interventions among adults with prediabetes who also have moderate mobility loss or well-known risk factors for diabetes are likely to be cost-effective.

Successful Discharge to Community Gap of FFS Medicare Beneficiaries With and Without ADRD Narrowed.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: We sought to compare the post-acute and long-term care experience of Medicare beneficiaries with and without Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD), and whether differences changed from January 1, 2007 to September 30, 2015. DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional trend study using Medicare claims linked to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) Minimum Data Set. SETTING: CMS-certified skilled nursing facilities (skilled nursing facility (SNF), n = 17,043). PARTICIPANTS: Fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥66 years (n = 6,614,939) discharged from a hospital to a SNF who had not lived in a nursing home during the year before hospitalization. MEASUREMENTS: ADRD was defined by the Chronic Condition Data Warehouse. Outcome measures included: (1) successful discharge defined as being in SNF less than 90 days, then discharged back to the community, alive without subsequent inpatient health care for 30 continuous days; (2) became long-stay resident in SNF; (3) death in SNF within 90 days; (4) hospital readmission within 30 days of entering SNF; and (5) transferred to another nursing home within 30 days of entering SNF. RESULTS: Successful discharge of beneficiaries with ADRD increased from 43.4% in 2007 to 53.9% in 2015 (average annual percent change (AAPC) = 2.1 (95% CI = 2.0-2.2)); those without ADRD also increased (from 59.1% to 63.6%, AAPC = 0.9 (95% CI = 0.7-1.1)) but not as fast as those with ADRD (P < .01). The proportion of all beneficiaries who became long-stay or were readmitted to the hospital decreased (P < .05). The proportion with ADRD who became long-stay was nearly three times higher than those without throughout the study (15.0% vs 5.5% in 2007; 11.3% vs 4.3% in 2015). CONCLUSION: Though disparity in ADRD in becoming long-stay residents remains, the increase in successful discharges among those with ADRD also stresses the increasing importance of community as a care setting for adults with ADRD.

Short-term impact of nursing home SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations on new infections, hospitalizations, and deaths.

OBJECTIVE: To compare rates of incident SARS-CoV-2 infection and 30-day hospitalization or death among residents with confirmed infection in nursing homes with earlier versus later SARS-CoV-2 vaccine clinics. DESIGN: Matched pairs analysis of nursing homes that had their initial vaccine clinics between December 18, 2020, and January 2, 2021, versus between January 3, 2021, and January 18, 2021. Matched facilities had their initial vaccine clinics between 12 and 16 days apart. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred and eighty nursing homes in 21 states owned and operated by the largest long-term care provider in the United States. MEASUREMENTS: Incident SARS-CoV-2 infections per 100 at-risk residents per week; hospital transfers and/or deaths per 100 residents with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection per day, averaged over a week. RESULTS: The early vaccinated group included 136 facilities with 12,157 residents; the late vaccinated group included 144 facilities with 13,221 residents. After 1 week, early vaccinated facilities had a predicted 2.5 fewer incident SARS-CoV-2 infections per 100 at-risk residents per week (95% CI: 1.2-4.0) compared with what would have been expected based on the experience of the late vaccinated facilities. The rates remained significantly lower for several weeks. Cumulatively over 5 weeks, the predicted reduction in new infections was 5.2 cases per 100 at-risk residents (95% CI: 3.2-7.3). By 5 to 8 weeks post-vaccine clinic, early vaccinated facilities had a predicted 1.1 to 3.8 fewer hospitalizations and/or deaths per 100 infected residents per day, averaged by week than expected based on late vaccinated facilities' experience for a cumulative on average difference of 5 events per 100 infected residents per day. CONCLUSIONS: The SARS-CoV-2 vaccines seem to have accelerated the rate of decline of incident infections, morbidity, and mortality in this large multi-state nursing home population.