Exploring the association of social connections and food security among adults with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Primary health care professionals are held accountable for various quality measures in the treatment of patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes. Uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains a considerable health problem; thus, further studying patients with this condition is important for delivering effective interventions. Social determinants of health (SDoH) have been shown to affect various aspects of diabetes care in different subpopulations. We studied the association of SDoH with uncontrolled T2D in a population of adult primary care patients. METHODS: We retrospectively searched our electronic health record for adult patients (≥18 years) with a diagnosis of T2D and a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level of 8% or higher. Patients were empaneled to 2 primary care clinic sites between January 1, 2021, and January 31, 2022. Patients were grouped by HbA1c level to stratify patients according to the extent of uncontrolled T2D. Patient characteristics were compared among groups. Unadjusted and adjusted multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds of various SDoH factors among patient groups with different levels of uncontrolled T2D. RESULTS: The study cohort included 1,596 patients. Most patients were White (79%), and the median age was 58.8 years. The median HbA1c level was 8.9%, and approximately 68% of patients were obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥30). When the study population was grouped by HbA1c level (8% to < 9% [n = 806], ≥9% to < 12% [n = 684], and ≥12% [n = 106]), significant differences among groups were observed in age group (P < .001), marital status (P < .001), race (P < .001), ethnicity (P = .001), and BMI category (P = .01). In groups with higher HbA1c levels, we noticed a higher percentage of patients who were aged 51 to 65 years or single. Among patients with uncontrolled HbA1c levels, more patients were obese than overweight. Patients in the intermediate HbA1c group had increased odds of food insecurity and some decreased social connections, even after adjusting for age, sex, race, ethnicity, and marital status. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with uncontrolled T2D, higher HbA1c levels were associated with decreased social connections and increased food insecurity. Our findings provide insight into the role of these SDoH in managing T2D and have important implications for primary care practice.

Papanicolaou test collection with the Papette brush or the spatula with cytobrush: A pragmatic study.

BACKGROUND: Cotesting with the Papanicolaou (Pap) and human papillomavirus tests detects most precancerous and cancerous lesions and increases the sensitivity for detecting high-grade precancerous and invasive cervical cancers compared with human papillomavirus testing alone. OBJECTIVE: To compare the use of the Papette brush (hereafter Papette) to the traditional spatula with endocervical brush (cytobrush) for cervical cancer screening. DESIGN: Pragmatic observational study. METHODS: Adult women aged 21-64 years who were eligible for a Papanicolaou test at a Midwest Community Internal Medicine practice underwent cervical cancer screening using the Papette or spatula with cytobrush from 18 August 2021 through 1 February 2022. Cluster sampling was used across the practice. Pathology reports were then analyzed to compare the number of satisfactory versus unsatisfactory results between the two collection techniques. RESULTS: We collected results for 756 Pap tests. The test results were satisfactory with the Papette 93.8% of the time compared with 93.0% for the spatula with cytobrush. CONCLUSION: The Papette is not inferior to a spatula with cytobrush as a collection method for Pap tests.

Incidence of Obesity at 1 and 3 Years Among Community Dwelling Adults: A Population-Based Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study determined the incidence rates for obesity among adult patients ages 20 and older empaneled in primary care practice in Midwest United States to potentially identify an optimum timeframe for initiating intervention. BACKGROUND: Primary care practice patients are likely to reflect underlying community trends in overweight and obesity; however, data on overweight and obesity in primary care patients is limited. While childhood incidence rates of obesity have been well reported, there is still a paucity of data on the incidence of obesity among adult population; literature has mainly focused on its prevalence. METHODS: Medical record review of identified cohort with BMI data was conducted. Population was stratified by age and sex and overweight category was subdivided into tertiles. RESULTS: Majority of 40 390 individuals who comprised the final population and had follow-up data, consisted of adults ages 40 to 69 years (47.5%), female (59.8%) of non-Hispanic ethnicity (95.9%) with 21 379 (52.8%) falling in weight category of overweight. Incidence of obesity was 7% at 1 year and 16% at 3 years follow-up. Highest percentages of individuals who became obese at 1 and 3 years were in age category of 40 to 69 years among men and 20 to 39 years among women. In Cox regression analysis, there was statistically significant association to developing obesity among all tertile groups in the overweight category. Age and particularly gender appeared to be modifying factors to likelihood of developing obesity. CONCLUSION: Study results suggest that while obesity incidence is higher among certain age groups in both genders, middle-aged women, and men in all tertiles of overweight category are at highest risk and may be the optimum population to target for weight loss interventions. Findings support the initiation of population-based interventions before onset of obesity.

Body Mass Index, Multi-Morbidity, and COVID-19 Risk Factors as Predictors of Severe COVID-19 Outcomes.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate body mass index, multi-morbidity, and COVID-19 Risk Score as predictors of severe COVID-19 outcomes. PATIENTS: Patients from this study are from a well-characterized patient cohort collected at Mayo Clinic between January 1, 2020 and May 23, 2020; with confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis defined as a positive result on reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) assays from nasopharyngeal swab specimens. MEASURES: Demographic and clinical data were extracted from the electronic medical record. The data included: date of birth, gender, ethnicity, race, marital status, medications (active COVID-19 agents), weight and height (from which the Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated, history of smoking, and comorbid conditions to calculate the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) multi-morbidity score. An additional COVID-19 Risk Score was also included. Outcomes included hospital admission, ICU admission, and death. RESULTS: Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the impact on mortality or hospital admission. Age, sex, and race (white/Latino, white/non-Latino, other, did not disclose) were adjusted for in the model. Patients with higher COVID-19 Risk Scores had a significantly higher likelihood of being at least admitted to the hospital (HR = 1.80; 95% CI = 1.30, 2.50; P < .001), or experiencing death or inpatient admission (includes ICU admissions) (HR = 1.20; 95% CI = 1.02, 1.42; P = .028). Age was the only statistically significant demographic predictor, but obesity was not a significant predictor of any of the outcomes. CONCLUSION: Age and COVID-19 Risk Scores were significant predictors of severe COVID-19 outcomes. Further work should examine the properties of the COVID-19 Risk Factors Scale.

A Midwest COVID-19 Cohort for the Evaluation of Multimorbidity and Adverse Outcomes from COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the process and outcome of creating a patient cohort in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to better understand the process of and predict the outcomes of COVID-19. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 1169 adults aged 18 years of age or older who tested positive in Mayo Clinic Rochester or the Mayo Clinic Midwest Health System between January 1 and May 23 of 2020. RESULTS: Patients were on average 43.9 years of age and 50.7% were female. Most patients were white (69.0%), and Blacks (23.4%) and Asians (5.8%) were also represented in larger numbers. Hispanics represented 16.3% of the sample. Just under half of patients were married (48.4%). Common comorbid conditions included: cardiovascular diseases (25.1%), dyslipidemia (16.0%), diabetes mellitus (11.2%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (6.6%), asthma (7.5%), and cancer (5.1%). All other comorbid conditions were less the 5% in prevalence. Data on 3 comorbidity indices are also available including the: DHHS multi-morbidity score, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and Mayo Clinic COVID-19 Risk Factor Score. CONCLUSION: In addition to managing the ever raging pandemic and growing death rates, it is equally important that we develop adequate resources for the investigation and understanding of COVID-19-related predictors and outcomes.

Identifying Opportunities for Advancing Weight Management in Primary Care.

Objective: Much has been written about the patients' perspective concerning weight management in health care. The purpose of this survey study was to assess perspectives of primary care providers (PCPs) and nurses toward patient weight management and identify possible areas of growth. Patients and Methods: We emailed a weight management-focused survey to 674 eligible participants (437 [64.8%] nurses and 237 [35.2%] PCPs) located in 5 outpatient primary care clinics. The survey focused on opportunities, practices, knowledge, confidence, attitudes, and beliefs. A total of 219 surveys were returned (137 [62.6%] from nurses and 82 [34.4%] from PCPs). Results: Among 219 responders, 85.8% were female and 93.6% were white non-Hispanic. In this study, PCPs and nurses believed obesity to be a major health problem. While PCPs felt more equipped than nurses to address weight management (P < .001) and reported receiving more training than nurses (50.0% vs 17.6%, respectively), both felt the need for more training on obesity (73.8% and 79.4%, respectively). Although, PCPs also spent more patient contact time providing weight management services versus nurses (P < .001), the opportunity/practices score was lower for PCPs than nurses (-0.35 ± 0.44 vs -0.17 ± 0.41, P < .001) with PCPs more likely to say they lacked the time to discuss weight and they worried it would cause a poor patient-PCP relationship. The knowledge/confidence score also differed significantly between the groups, with nurses feeling less equipped to deal with weight management issues than PCPs (-0.42 ± 0.43 vs -0.03 ± 0.55, P < .001). Neither group seemed very confident, with those in the PCP group only answering with an average score of neutral. Conclusion: By asking nurses and PCP general questions about experiences, attitudes, knowledge, and opinions concerning weight management in clinical care, this survey has identified areas for growth in obesity management. Both PCPs and nurses would benefit from additional educational training on weight management.

Wellness Coaching to Improve Lifestyle Behaviors Among Adults With Prediabetes: Patients' Experience and Perceptions to Participation.

BACKGROUND: Health and Wellness Coaching has been shown to enhance treatment outcomes in the primary care setting. However, little is known about the experience and perceptions of patients who worked with a wellness coach as an integrated member of their primary health-care team. OBJECTIVE: This project assessed patients' experience and obtained their perceptions on barriers and facilitators to participation in a primary care-based wellness coaching program. METHOD: A survey was mailed to 99 primary care patients with prediabetes who participated in a 12-week wellness coaching program. RESULTS: Sixty-two (63%) completed the survey; responders felt that participation in the wellness coaching program helped move them toward healthier lifestyle behavior and created a personal vision of wellness. Major themes associated with participation were supportive coaching relationship, increased self-accountability, increased goal-setting, and healthy behavior strategies. No significant barrier to participation was reported. CONCLUSION: Participants reported highly positive experience with the program; how to best integrate health and wellness coaching into the primary care setting needs to be explored.

Impact of a 12-week wellness coaching on self-care behaviors among primary care adult patients with prediabetes.

This single arm prospective study assessed the impact of individualized wellness coaching intervention for primary care patients with prediabetes on self-reported changes in physical activity level and food choices. Five hundred sixty adult patients 18 years and older with prediabetes, seen in primary care clinic, were invited to participate in 12 weeks wellness coaching sessions delivered by certified coaches. Responses from questionnaires at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks were analyzed. Of 168 consented patients, 99 completed at least one coaching session; majority was elderly, female, overweight or obese. At baseline, 50% had <60 min aerobic exercise/week. At 6 and 12 weeks, average aerobic exercise time significantly increased from 117 min to 166 and 199 min respectively. Effect was sustained at 24 weeks. Success in making healthy eating choices also statistically improved from baseline. Significant effects on both activity level and eating behavior persisted even after adjusting for age, sex and baseline glucose/A1c values. Secondary outcomes of self-efficacy and quality of life likewise showed significant improvement. Results suggest that integration of wellness coaching in primary care practice among individuals at high risk for diabetes is feasible and may be useful as part of diabetes prevention management strategies in target populations. Future randomized clinical trials are needed to further explore this issue.

Incidence Rate of Prediabetes Progression to Diabetes: Modeling an Optimum Target Group for Intervention.

Thirty-seven percent of US adults have prediabetes. Various interventions can delay diabetes progression; however, the optimum target group for risk reduction is uncertain. This study estimated rate of progression to diabetes at 1 and 5 years among a cohort of patients from 3 primary care clinics and modeled the potential magnitude in diabetes incidence risk reduction of an intervention program among specific subgroups. Records of 106,821 empaneled patients in 2005 were reviewed. Generalized population attributable risk (PAR) statistics were calculated to estimate the impact of reducing fasting blood glucose on diabetes progression. Multiple intervention effects (varying levels of glucose reduction along with multiple adherence rates) were examined for those with baseline glucose from 110 to 119 mg/dL and ≥120 mg/dL. Ten percent of patients (n = 10,796) met criteria for prediabetes. The 1- and 5-year diabetes incidence rate was 38.6 and 40.24 per 1000 person-years, respectively. Age and obesity were independent predictors of increased progression rate. The generalized PAR for a 10-point reduction in the 110-119 mg/dL subgroup with 25% adherence was 7.6%. The generalized PAR for similar percent reduction and adherence level in patients with baseline glucose of ≥120 mg/dL was only 3.0%. Rate of progression to diabetes increased over time and with associated independent risk factors. Greater risk reduction in diabetes progression within the target population can be achieved when the intervention is successful in those with baseline glucose of 110-119 mg/dL. Modeling an optimum target group for a diabetes prevention intervention offers a novel and useful guide to planning and allocating resources in population health management.

Supervised, Vigorous Intensity Exercise Intervention for Depressed Female Smokers: A Pilot Study.

INTRODUCTION: Few studies have evaluated exercise interventions for smokers with depression or other psychiatric comorbidities. This pilot study evaluated the potential role of supervised vigorous exercise as a smoking cessation intervention for depressed females. METHODS: Thirty adult women with moderate-severe depressive symptoms were enrolled and randomly assigned to 12 weeks of thrice weekly, in person sessions of vigorous intensity supervised exercise at a YMCA setting (EX; n = 15) or health education (HE; n = 15). All participants received behavioral smoking cessation counseling and nicotine patch therapy. Assessments were done in person at baseline, at the end of 12 weeks of treatment, and at 6 months post-target quit date. Primary end points were exercise adherence (proportion of 36 sessions attended) and biochemically confirmed 7-day point prevalence abstinence at Week 12. Biomarkers of inflammation were explored for differences between treatment groups and between women who smoked and those abstinent at Week 12. RESULTS: Treatment adherence was high for both groups (72% for EX and 66% for HE; p = .55). The Week 12 smoking abstinence rate was higher for EX than HE (11/15 [73%] vs. 5/15 [33%]; p = .028), but no significant differences emerged at 6-month follow-up. Interleukin-6 levels increased more for those smoking than women abstinent at Week 12 (p = .040). CONCLUSIONS: Vigorous intensity supervised exercise is feasible and enhances short-term smoking cessation among depressed female smokers. Innovative and cost-effective strategies to bolster long-term exercise adherence and smoking cessation need evaluation in this population. Inflammatory biomarkers could be examined in future research as mediators of treatment efficacy. IMPLICATIONS: This preliminary study found that vigorous intensity supervised exercise is feasible and enhances short-term smoking cessation among depressed female smokers. This research addressed an important gap in the field. Despite decades of research examining exercise interventions for smoking cessation, few studies were done among depressed smokers or those with comorbid psychiatric disorders. A novel finding was increases in levels of a pro-inflammatory biomarker observed among women who smoked at the end of the intervention compared to those who did not.

Associations Between Anxiety Disorder Diagnoses and Body Mass Index Differ by Age, Sex and Race: A Population Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Few large studies have examined correlations between anxiety and body mass index (BMI) by gender or racial groups using clinical data. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine associations between diagnosed anxiety disorders and BMI, and evaluate whether observed associations varied by demographic characteristics. METHOD: Data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP) data linkage system were analyzed to examine associations between anxiety disorders and BMI among adults ages 18-85 residing in Olmsted County, MN in 2009 (n=103,557). Height and weight data were available for 75,958 people (73%). The international classification of underweight, overweight, and obesity by BMI was used. RESULTS: Population consisted of 56% females, 92.8% White individuals, with median age of 46 years. When adjusted for age, sex, and race, we observed a U-shaped association between anxiety and BMI group. Underweight and obese individuals were more likely to have an anxiety diagnosis compared to normal weight individuals. Stratification by sex yielded a U-shaped association between anxiety and BMI only in women. Stratification by race showed a U-shaped association between anxiety and BMI only in the White population. Anxiety was significantly associated only with obesity in the Black population. Anxiety was not associated with a BMI category in Asian or Hispanic groups. Among elderly group, there is inverse correlation between anxiety and obesity. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that anxiety may have heterogeneous associations with BMI in the population. Further research on potential mechanisms contributing to these findings will help direct efforts in anxiety and obesity management across diverse population groups.

Utilization of a mental health collaborative care model among patients who require interpreter services.

BACKGROUND: Immigrants and refugees to the United States have a higher prevalence of depression compared to the general population and are less likely to receive adequate mental health services and treatment. Those with limited English proficiency (LEP) are at an even higher risk of inadequate mental health care. Collaborative care management (CCM) models for depression are effective in achieving treatment goals among a wide range of patient populations, including patients with LEP. The purpose of this study was to assess the utilization of a statewide initiative that uses CCM for depression management, among patients with LEP in a large primary care practice. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with depression in a large primary care practice in Minnesota. Patients who met criteria for enrollment into the CCM [with a provider-generated diagnosis of depression or dysthymia in the electronic medical records, and a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score ≥10]. Patient-identified need for interpreter services was used as a proxy for LEP. Rates of enrollment into the DIAMOND (Depression Improvement Across Minnesota, Offering A New Direction) program, a statewide initiative that uses CCM for depression management were measured. These rates were compared between eligible patients who require interpreter services versus patients who do not. RESULTS: Of the 7561 patients who met criteria for enrollment into the DIAMOND program during the study interval, 3511 were enrolled. Only 18.2 % of the eligible patients with LEP were enrolled into DIAMOND compared with the 47.2 % of the eligible English proficient patients. This finding persisted after adjustment for differences in age, gender and depression severity scores (adjusted OR [95 % confidence interval] = 0.43 [0.23, 0.81]). CONCLUSIONS: Within primary care practices, tailored interventions are needed, including those that address cultural competence and language navigation, to improve the utilization of this effective model among patients with LEP.

Increased medical cost metrics for patients 50 years of age and older in the collaborate care model of treatment for depression.

BACKGROUND: The collaborative care model (CCM) has been consistently shown to achieve effectiveness in depression management compared to usual care. In the present study, we aimed to determine the impact of age on cost metrics in patients who were treated with CCM for 6 months after a diagnosis of depression. METHODS: The upper quartile of age was 50 years and older (n = 56), and the comparison group was composed of patients in the three younger quartiles, aged 18-49 years (n = 163). RESULTS: Patients in the older age group had an elevated median Current Procedure Terminology cost rank of 255.5 compared to 168.0 for the younger patients (P < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that being in the upper quartile of age (≥ 50 years) (odds ratio = 2.272, 95% confidence interval: 1.064-4.851; P = 0.034) and having higher numbers of clinical visits 6 months prior to index (odds ratio = 1.209, 95% confidence interval: 1.118-1.307; P < 0.001) were significant predictor variables of being cost rank outliers (>80th percentile) in patients with CCM. CONCLUSION: Medical cost utilization in the 6 months after diagnosis of depression was significantly higher in patients in the upper age quartile (≥ 50 years) enrolled in CCM than those in the lower quartiles (age < 50).

Once-daily omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate heals severe refractory reflux esophagitis with morning or nighttime dosing.

BACKGROUND: Morning dose or twice-daily proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use is often prescribed to heal severe reflux esophagitis. AIM: Compare the effect of single dose morning (control arm) versus nighttime (experimental arm) omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate (Zegerid(®)) (IR-OME) on esophagitis and gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. METHODS: Adult outpatients with Los Angeles grade C or D esophagitis were allocated to open-label 40 mg IR-OME once a day for 8 weeks in a prospective, randomized, parallel design, single center study. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and validated self-report symptom questionnaires were completed at baseline and follow-up. Intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses were performed. RESULTS: Ninety-two of 128 (72 %) eligible subjects participated [64 (70 %) male, mean age 58 (range 19-86), median BMI 29 (range 21-51), 58 C:34 D]. Overall, 81 (88 %) subjects healed [n = 70 (76 %)] or improved [n = 11 (12 %)] erosions. There was no significant difference (morning vs. night) in mucosal healing [81 vs. 71 %, (p = 0.44)] or symptom resolution [heartburn (77 vs. 65 %, p = 0.12), acid regurgitation (82 vs. 73 %, p = 0.28)]. Prevalence of newly identified Barrett's esophagus was 14 % with half diagnosed only after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Once-daily IR-OME (taken morning or night) effectively heals severe reflux esophagitis and improves GERD symptoms. Results support the clinical practice recommendation to repeat EGD after 8 weeks PPI therapy in severe esophagitis patients to assure healing and exclude Barrett's esophagus.

Minority Primary Care Patients With Depression: Outcome Disparities Improve With Collaborative Care Management.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Racial and ethnic disparities in depression incidence, prevalence, treatment, and outcomes still persist. The hypothesis of this study was that use of collaborative care management (CCM) in treating depressed primary care patients would decrease racial disparities in 6-month clinical outcomes compared with those patients treated with usual primary care (UC). RESEARCH DESIGN/SUBJECTS: In a retrospective chart review analysis, 3588 (51.2%) patients received UC and 3422 (48.8%) patients were enrolled in CCM. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine disparities in 6-month outcomes. RESULTS: Minority patients enrolled in CCM were more likely to be participating in depression care at 6 months than minority patients in UC (61.8% vs. 14.4%; P≤0.001). After adjustment for demographic and clinical covariates, this difference remained statistically significant (odds ratio=9.929; 95% CI, 6.539-15.077, P≤0.001).The 568 minority UC patients with 6-month follow-up PHQ-9 data demonstrated a much lower odds ratio of a PHQ-9 score of <5 (0.220; 95% CI, 0.085-0.570; P=0.002) and a much higher odds ratio of PHQ-9 score of ≥10 (3.068; 95% CI, 1.622-5.804; P<0.001) when compared with the white, non-Hispanic patients. In contrast, the 2329 patients treated with CCM, the odds ratio for a PHQ-9 score of <5 or ≥10 after 6 months, demonstrated no significance of minority status. CONCLUSIONS: Utilization of CCM for depression was associated with a significant reduction of the disparities for outcomes of compliance, remission, or persistence of depressive symptoms for minority patients with depression versus those treated with UC.

Baseline screening tools as indicators for symptom outcomes and health services utilization in a collaborative care model for depression in primary care: a practice-based observational study.

OBJECTIVE: Within a practice-based collaborative care program for depression, we examined associations between positive baseline screens for comorbid mental and behavioral health problems, depression remission and utilization after 1 year. METHODS: This observational study of 1507 depressed adults examined baseline screens for hazardous drinking (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score ≥ 8), severe anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item score ≥ 15) and bipolar disorder [Mood Disorders Questionnaire (MDQ) positive screen]; 6-month depression remission; primary care, psychiatric, emergency department (ED) and inpatient visits 1 year postbaseline; and multiple covariates. Analyses included logistic and zero-inflated negative binomial regression. RESULTS: At unadjusted baseline, 60.7% had no positive screens beyond depression, 31.5% had one (mostly severe anxiety), 6.6% had two and 1.2% had all three. In multivariate models, positive screens reduced odds of remission versus no positive screens [e.g., one screen odds ratio (OR) = 0.608, p = .000; all three OR = 0.152, p = .018]. Screening positive for severe anxiety predicted more postbaseline visits of all types; severe anxiety plus hazardous drinking predicted greater primary care, ED and inpatient; severe anxiety plus MDQ and the combination of all three positive screens both predicted greater psychiatric visits (all p < .05). Regression-adjusted utilization patterns varied across combinations of positive screens. CONCLUSIONS: Positive screens predicted lower remission. Severe anxiety and its combinations with other positive screens were common and generally predicted greater utilization. Practices may benefit from assessing collaborative care patients presenting with these screening patterns to determine resource allocation.

Collaborative care management effectively promotes self-management: patient evaluation of care management for depression in primary care.

BACKGROUND: Chronic disease management in the primary care setting increasingly involves self-management support from a nurse care manager. Prior research had shown patient acceptance and willingness to work with care managers. METHODS: This survey study evaluated patient-perceived satisfaction with care management and patient opinions on the effectiveness of care management in promoting self-management. Qualitative and quantitative survey responses were collected from 125 patients (79% female; average age 46; 94% Caucasian) enrolled in care management for depression. Qualitative responses were coded with methods of content analysis by 2 independent analysts. RESULTS: Patients were satisfied with depression care management. Patients felt that care management improved their treatment above and beyond other aspects of their depression treatment (mean score, 6.7 [SD, 2]; 10 = Very much), increased their understanding of depression self-management (mean score, 7.2 [SD, 2]; 10 = Very much), and increased the frequency of self-management goal setting (mean score, 6.9 [SD, 3]; 10 = Very much). Predominant qualitative themes emphasized that patients value emotional, motivational, and relational aspects of the care manager relationship. Patients viewed care managers as caring and supportive, helpful in creating accountability for patients and knowledgeable in the area of depression care. Care managers empower patients to take on an active role in depression self-management. Some logistical challenges associated with a telephonic intervention are described. CONCLUSION: Care manager training should include communication and motivation strategies, specifically self-management education, as these strategies are valued by patients. Barriers to care management, such as scheduling telephone calls, should be addressed in future care management implementation and study.

Antidepressant Medication Use Among Patients with Depression: Comparison between Usual Care and Collaborative Care Using Care Managers.

Depression poses a significant economic and health burden, yet it remains underdiagnosed and inadequately treated. The STAR*D trial funded by the National Institute of Mental Health showed that more than one antidepressant medication is often necessary to achieve disease remission among patients seen in both psychiatric and primary care settings. The collaborative care model (CCM), using care managers, has been shown to be effective in numerous studies in achieving sustained outcomes in depression management compared to usual care. This model was adopted in a statewide depression treatment improvement initiative among primary care clinics in Minnesota, which was launched in March 2008. In this study, records of patients who were enrolled in CCM from March 2008 until March 2009 were reviewed and compared to those under usual care. Patients who were followed under the CCM had a significantly greater number of antidepressant medication utilizations when compared to those under usual care. After 6 months, mean PHQ-9 score of patients under CCM was statistically lower than those in usual care. There was no significant difference in both mean PHQ-9 scores at 6 months and antidepressant utilization between the 2 groups among patients aged 65 years and older.

Capsule endoscopy device retention and magnetic resonance imaging.

A 55-year-old man was hospitalized for a neurologic and infectious workup after having hallucinations and productive cough for 2 days. During hospitalization, he experienced dark stools with an acute drop in hemoglobin. Upper endoscopy and colonoscopy were negative for an identifiable source of bleed. Capsule endoscopy was later done and subsequently an anteroposterior abdominal radiograph confirmed the presence of a retained capsule near the junction of the descending and distal transverse colon, likely contained within a colonic diverticulum. In the interim, the patient developed acute right-sided lumbar radiculopathy prompting emergent lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). During the scanning process, the retained capsule was seen and the test was immediately terminated without harm to the patient. Device retention is a complication unique to capsule endoscopy, occurring at a rate of 1% to 1.7%; retained devices are considered a danger and contraindication to MRI.

Patient body mass index does not predict six-month clinical outcome of depression managed under collaborative care.

Obesity and depression are often comorbid conditions. There appears to be a bidirectional relationship between these. Obesity at baseline has been shown to increase the risk of onset of depression and depression at baseline increased the odds for developing obesity. Less is understood about the impact of obesity on depression treatment outcomes. The authors' hypothesis was that obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m²) and morbid obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m²) would each have negative effects on depression remission rates after 6 months of enrollment into collaborative care management for depression. In a retrospective analysis of 1111 depressed patients with a PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire) score of 10 or greater, multivariate analysis for the odds ratio of achieving remission at 6 months demonstrated that the patient's BMI at baseline was not an independent risk factor for depression outcome at 6 months. Collaborative care management for depression has been shown to be effective for improving depression outcomes, yet minimal prior research has focused on other clinical comorbidities that might affect outcomes. Although obesity was common in the study population, it was reassuring, based on this study that 6-month depression treatment outcomes do not appear to be significantly affected by the patient's baseline BMI.