Treatment patterns in advanced/metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer in China: results from the CancerMPact® survey 2021.

Aim: To report the treatment patterns of advanced/metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in China from a physician survey (CancerMPact®). Materials & methods: A total of 206 Chinese physicians from 27 cities in urban mainland China reported on their treatment of NSCLC in September 2021. Results: Platinum doublets received 70.5% utilization for squamous NSCLC with PD-L1 expression <1% in first-line, whereas nonsquamous NSCLC was treated with platinum doublets (35.2%) or bevacizumab with platinum doublets (35.3%). Checkpoint inhibitors were utilized in >50% of all PD-L1-positive NSCLC cases. Driver-mutated NSCLC was most frequently treated with targeted therapy or platinum-based combinations. Conclusion: NSCLC treatment in China varies by histology, PD-L1 status and driver mutations, illustrating the complexity of decision-making for Chinese physicians as treatment markets expand.

The most common type of lung cancer is called non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). When lung cancer spreads beyond the lung, it is called advanced. Doctors in China who treat advanced NSCLC were identified. They were surveyed in September 2021 and asked about how they treat their patients. The survey included 206 doctors from 27 cities in China. There are many drugs available for NSCLC. This means that it can be hard for doctors to decide how to treat their patients. The doctors in China often reported using multiple drugs together, instead of using only one drug. One type of drug that can be used to treat NSCLC is called a checkpoint inhibitor (CPI). The doctors reported that they often used CPIs to treat their patients. They also reported that they were more likely to use CPIs made in China rather than CPIs that were made outside of China. Before receiving treatment, most patients were tested for biomarkers. Biomarkers can tell doctors important information about cancers. Doctors can use biomarkers to help decide which treatments to offer their patients. In China, the doctors often did use certain drugs based on patient biomarkers. This choice often depended on the specific biomarker that the patient had. There are many different factors for doctors to consider when treating NSCLC. More and more drugs are becoming available to use in China. While this is good news for patients with cancer, treatment decisions are becoming more complex for doctors.

Metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer without driver mutations: projections by therapy line in Western Europe, 2021-2026.

Aim: To estimate the incidence, prevalence and treated prevalence by line of therapy (LOT) for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients without driver mutations from 2021 to 2026. Materials & methods: Country-specific registry data for Western Europe were used to project incidence and prevalence of NSCLC; LOT information was obtained from CancerMPact® Treatment Architecture physician surveys. Results: Incidence, prevalence and treated prevalence across LOTs for NSCLC are projected to increase across five WE countries, including for stage IV patients without driver mutations (184,966 cases [2021] to 197,925 [2026]). Pembrolizumab monotherapy is utilized by ∼50% of NSCLC patients with programmed death-ligand 1 expression ≥50%. Conclusion: Improved treatment options for NSCLC patients without known driver mutations are important for combating the projected increase in prevalence.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in Europe. This study estimated how the number of patients living with, and being treated for, lung cancer is projected to change between 2021 and 2026 in Western Europe by collecting past data on lung cancer in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, and analyzing the trends to create estimates for the future. The number of new cases of lung cancer is projected to increase each year from 2021 to 2026, and in line with this, the number of patients receiving treatment for their disease will increase. Improving treatment options for lung cancer will be an important step to combat the expected increase in cancer cases.

Treatment of HR+/HER2- breast cancer in urban mainland China: results from the CancerMPact Survey 2019.

PURPOSE: To report the treatment utilization patterns for hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer in urban mainland China (CancerMPact®). METHODS: The results presented are from an online survey conducted in September 2019 with 45 physicians treating breast cancer patients from 11 cities in mainland China. RESULTS: Surveyed physicians reported that Stage I HR+/HER2(-) breast cancer patients are often treated with surgery alone (42%), whereas the use of surgery in combination with systemic therapy with or without radiotherapy increases in later stages (Stage II 67%, Stage III 77%). Doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide (AC)-based regimens were the most common in both the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings in HR+/HER2(-) breast cancer patients, across all stages. In metastatic patients, use of surgery and radiotherapy decreases in favor of utilization of systemic therapy alone. Pre- and post-menopausal metastatic patients were frequently treated with hormone therapy or AC-based regimens in first line. Regardless of the first-line therapy administered, capecitabine-based regimens were commonly used in second line. In third line, chemotherapy regimens containing capecitabine or gemcitabine were given to nearly 40% of HR+/HER2(-) breast cancer patients. There were no standard of care regimens established for fourth or greater lines of treatment. In metastatic HR+/HER2(-) breast cancer, physicians reported 50% objective response rates in first-line settings with a progression-free survival of 16 months. CONCLUSION: HR+/HER2(-) breast cancer patients in urban mainland China were prescribed chemotherapy regimens more frequently than CDK4/6 inhibitors. Treatment practices varied, with physicians reporting the use of multiple modalities and treatment regimens for their patients.

Endoscopic Disease Activity and Biologic Therapy Are Independent Predictors of Suboptimal Bowel Preparation in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Undergoing Colonoscopy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Optimal bowel preparation (BP) is critical for endoscopic assessment of inflammation and dysplasia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Comorbidities and patient-related factors have been associated with suboptimal BP (SOBP) in the general population. We sought to identify disease-specific characteristics that may impact the quality of BP in patients with IBD. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of adult IBD patients who underwent outpatient colonoscopies between January 2014 and September 2020 at a large academic medical center. Quality of BP was documented using the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS) or the Aronchick scale and dichotomized into "suboptimal" (BBPS 0-5 or Aronchick "fair," "poor," unsatisfactory") and "optimal" (BBPS 6-9 or Aronchick "excellent," "good"). IBD-specific and other factors associated with SOBP were evaluated using logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Among a total of 395 IBD patients [54% males, mean age 40 years, 63% with Crohn's disease (CD), 35% with ulcerative colitis (UC)], 24.8% had SOBP. On multivariable analysis, moderate-to-severe endoscopic disease vs mild or inactive disease was associated with a higher odds of SOBP [adjusted OR 2.7(95% CI 1.52-4.94)], whereas baseline biologic use was associated with a lower odds of SOBP [aOR 0.24(0.09-0.65)] among the overall IBD cohort. Additionally, age > 65 years [aOR 2.99(1.19-7.54)] and single-dose vs split-dose BP [aOR 2.37(1.43-3.95)] were predictors of SOBP. In the subgroup analysis by IBD type, moderate-to-severe endoscopic disease predicted SOBP among both CD and UC cohorts. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic disease activity was predictive of SOBP, and biologic therapy was protective against SOBP among IBD patients.

Mortality Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Case-Control Study of New York State Death Records.

BACKGROUND: Studies examining the mortality risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have yielded conflicting results, and most do not account for recent advancements made in the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). We aim to assess the overall, premature, and cause-specific mortality in IBD patients over a 17-year time period and to evaluate any differences since the introduction of biologic therapy. METHODS: A death record case-control study was performed to explore the odds of premature death (before age 65) and all-cause mortality among those with IBD. Cases consisted of IBD patients (1,129 with CD and 841 with UC) who died in New York State (NYS) from 1993 to 2010. Controls (n = 7880) were matched 4:1 on the basis of sex and zip code from those who died in NYS in the same time frame, without an IBD diagnosis. RESULTS: Compared with matched controls, those with CD (OR 1.56, CI 95% 1.34-1.82), but not UC (OR 0.72, CI 95% 0.59-0.89), were more likely to die prematurely. Both those with UC and CD were more likely to die from a gastrointestinal cause (CD OR 15.28, 95% CI 12.11-19.27; UC OR 14.02, 95% CI 10.76-18.26). There was no difference in the cause or age of death before and after the introduction of anti-TNF agents in those with IBD. CONCLUSIONS: Both CD and UC cases were more likely to die of a gastrointestinal etiology, and CD patients were more likely to die prematurely. There was no significant difference in the premature death, average age of death, and cause of death in this IBD population after the availability of anti-TNF therapy.

Rehabilitation Utilization for Falls Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in the United States in the National Health and Aging Trends Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the characteristics of community-dwelling older adults receiving fall-related rehabilitation. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of the fifth round (2015) of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS). Fall-related rehabilitation utilization was analyzed using weighted multinomial logistic regression with SEs adjusted for the sample design. SETTING: In-person interviews of a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling older adults. PARTICIPANTS: Medicare beneficiaries from NHATS (N=7062). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Rehabilitation utilization categorized into fall-related rehabilitation, other rehabilitation, or no rehabilitation. RESULTS: Fall status (single fall: odds ratio [OR]=2.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.52-5.77; recurrent falls: OR=14.21; 95% CI, 7.45-27.10), fear of falling (OR=3.11; 95% CI, 1.90-5.08), poor Short Physical Performance Battery scores (score 0: OR=6.62; 95% CI, 3.31-13.24; score 1-4: OR=4.65; 95% CI, 2.23-9.68), and hip fracture (OR=3.24; 95% CI, 1.46-7.20) were all associated with receiving fall-related rehabilitation. Lower education level (less than high school diploma compared with 4-y college degree: OR=.21; 95% CI, .11-.40) and Hispanic ethnicity (OR=.37; 95% CI, .15-.87) were associated with not receiving fall-related rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: Hispanic older adults and older adults who are less educated are less likely to receive fall-related rehabilitation. Recurrent fallers followed by those who fell once in the past year were more likely to receive fall-related rehabilitation than are older adults who have not had a fall in the past year.

Gender-Based Differences in Response to Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Therapies for Ulcerative Colitis: Individual Participant Data Meta-Analyses of Clinical Trials.

BACKGROUND: Gender-based differences are reported in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) pathogenesis, but their impacts on IBD outcomes are not well known. We determined gender-based differences in response to treatment with tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) therapies in individuals with ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: We used the Yale University Open Data Access (YODA) platform to abstract individual participant data from randomized clinical trials to study infliximab and golimumab as induction and maintenance therapies in moderately to severely active UC. Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined associations between gender and the endpoints of clinical remission, mucosal healing, and clinical response for each study individually and in a meta-analysis. RESULTS: Of 1639 patients included in induction trials (Program of Ulcerative Colitis Research Studies Utilizing an Investigational Treatment-Subcutaneous [PURSUIT-SC], active ulcerative colitis trials [ACT] 1 and 2) and 1280 patients included in maintenance trials (Program of Ulcerative Colitis Research Studies Utilizing an Investigational Treatment-Maintenance [PURSUIT-IM], ACT 1 and 2), 696 (42.5%) and 534 (41.7%) were women, respectively. In a meta-analysis of induction trials, the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) of clinical remission (aOR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.31-0.97), mucosal healing (aOR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.27-0.83), and clinical response (aOR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.29-0.90) in the treatment arm and of clinical remission in the placebo arm (aOR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.15-0.82) were lower in men compared to women. There were no differences in outcomes by gender in the treatment and placebo arms in the meta-analysis of maintenance trials. CONCLUSIONS: Men are less likely to achieve clinical remission, mucosal healing, and clinical response compared to women during induction treatment with TNFi for UC, but not during the maintenance phase. Future studies delineating the mechanisms underlying these observations would be informative.

In our meta-analysis of individual patient data from 4 ulcerative colitis clinical trials, the odds of clinical remission, mucosal healing, and clinical response with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors were lower among men compared to women during induction therapy, but not during maintenance therapy.

Ideal Vial Size for Infliximab in the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An Analysis of Pharmaceutical Waste and Physician Opinions.

Background: Infliximab is a weight-based prescription for multiple autoimmune diseases and is dispensed only in single-use, 100mg vials. We aim to compute the quantity of infliximab waste at our site and in an ideal world where weight-based prescribing practices are followed. We estimate hypothetical waste reduction and cost-savings if a smaller vial is dispensed. We also surveyed gastroenterologists to study prescription rounding practices for infliximab. Methods: A pre-existing registry of 426 inflammatory bowel disease patients identified 112 individuals who had received a total of 1003 infliximab administrations from December 2013 to May 2019. We calculated infliximab wastage per administration for the real world and an ideal (weight-based) world. Analysis of potential waste reduction and cost-savings was computed with the hypothetical creation of 50 and 25mg vials. Infliximab-prescribing gastroenterologists completed an online survey, determining reasons for rounding of weight-based prescription, rounding practices, and biosimilar use. Results: At our site, the total value of infliximab wasted was between $112738.08 and $243209.50. Utilizing 50 and 25mg vials would reduce this waste by 92.2% and 99.4%, respectively. If prescriber guidelines were followed precisely, the total value of waste was between $132781.08 and $286448.19. Utilizing 50 and 25mg vials would reduce waste by 50.39% and 75.34%, respectively. The physician survey revealed that 68.1% rounded doses while only 31.9% prescribed exact weight-based doses. Conclusions: Infliximab-prescribing gastroenterologists considered reducing drug waste as a common reason in their rounding practices. Our analysis demonstrates significant waste reduction and cost-savings are possible with the introduction of 50 and 25mg vials.

The Association of Pain Levels and Low Physical Activity among Older Women.

There is an integral research gap regarding whether there is a relationship between pain levels and low physical activity among older women. This is a secondary analysis of a longitudinal cohort study, the Women's Health and Aging Study (WHAS) II. Our analyses included 436 community-dwelling women between the ages of 70 and 79, who were followed for 10.5 years. We employed marginal structural modeling, which controls for time-dependent confounding, with the aim of assessing the potential direct association between pain levels and low physical activity and assess a graded relationship. Compared to women with no pain, those with widespread pain were nearly half as likely to be moderately active versus low active (aOR: 0.46, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.22, 0.96). A graded association was observed across the four pain levels (no pain or mild pain, other pain, moderate or severe lower extremity pain, and widespread pain) on low physical activity. Our findings indicate that reducing chronic widespread pain in older women may increase moderate physical activity, and therefore reduce the downstream health risks of low physical activity, including morbidity and mortality risk.

Treatment patterns in non-small-cell lung cancer in China: Results from the CancerMPact survey 2020.

PURPOSE: To report the treatment patterns of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in China based on a survey of physicians (CancerMPact). METHODS: 117 Chinese physicians from 27 cities in mainland China were recruited for an online survey in October 2020, reporting on how they treat their patients across all disease stages, including histology and relevant biomarkers in advanced or metastatic NSCLC. RESULTS: Surveyed physicians indicated that almost half of their stage I patients were treated with surgery only. For stage II patients, it is more common to treat with surgery in combination with radiation and/or systemic therapy (44.5%), whereas the use of surgery decreases for stage III patients and the overall use of systemic therapy increases (63.4%-68.8%). Physicians are more likely to use systemic therapy alone for stage IV patients (31.4%). Chosen treatment regimens for stage IV NSCLC varied by histology and biomarkers, and several observed treatment patterns differed from the USA. In China, platinum-based chemotherapy is standard of care for treating stage IV NSCLC patients, unlike the USA, where checkpoint inhibitors are the dominant choice in first-line. Further, Chinese physicians reported prescribing biomarker-targeted agents for one-third or less of their patients with EGFR, ALK, ROS-1, or BRAF driver mutations, compared to 60-95% in the USA. CONCLUSION: As treatment options expand in NSCLC in China, physicians face complex decisions for the treatment of their patients. Treatment patterns often vary, including by disease histology and clinically relevant biomarkers. The standard of care for NSCLC in China also differs from the USA.

Corticosteroid and Biologic Use Not Associated With Adverse Outcomes for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: To date, studies investigating the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patient experience with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have consistently reported that the observed rate of COVID-19 within this population is similar to the general population. Limited research has suggested that corticosteroid use in the IBD population may be associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes, but it is still yet to be determined if specific IBD-related clinical factors are associated with worse outcomes. Our goal was to describe clinical COVID-19 outcomes for IBD patients and to identify the clinical factors that may be associated with worse outcomes. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we utilized the inpatient database within the largest hospital network in the New York City Metropolitan area to identify all IBD patients with confirmed COVID-19. RESULTS: Of 83 IBD/COVID-19 patients presenting to a hospital network emergency room, 56 were hospitalized. Overall, 19.6% of hospitalized IBD patients died, compared with 22.2% of all hospital system COVID-19 patients during the time period. There was no association between pre-admission corticosteroid use or biologic treatment with a severe course of COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to some prior reports, we did not observe an association of pre-admission corticosteroid use and adverse outcomes. While the mortality rate was high for IBD/COVID-19 patients, it was not greater than that for hospitalized COVID-19 patients generally. Though our results are encouraging, we continue to support the recommendations of the leading gastrointestinal and IBD societies to regard our patients as "at risk", and to observe caution in their care.

Review of inflammatory bowel disease and COVID-19.

The first cases of a novel corona virus infection were reported in Wuhan China in December of 2019, followed by the declaration of an international pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. Early reports of the virus, now known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, and its clinical disease coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has shown higher rates of morbidity and mortality in the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions. Of particular concern is the safety of those with compromised immune systems. Inflammatory Bowel disease (IBD) is itself caused by a disordered immune response, with the most effective medical therapies being immune suppressing or modifying. As such, the risk of COVID-19, virus related outcomes, and appropriate management of IBD patients during the global pandemic is of immediate concern to gastroenterologists worldwide. There has been a rapid accumulation of clinical data and expert opinion on the topic. This review will highlight the latest source information on clinical observation/outcomes of the IBD population and provide a concise summary of the most up to date perspectives on IBD management in the age of COVID-19.

Corrigendum to "Fall Risk Reduction Program Paired with a Transportation Program in an Underserved, Urban Minority Community: A Qualitative Evaluation".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2019/2719290.].

Erratum: Creation of the Person-Centered Wellness Home in Older Adults.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igz055.].

Creation of the Person-Centered Wellness Home in Older Adults.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Extending the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model into the community may address the poor linkage between medical clinics and underserved communities. Our first of three objectives was to determine if peer leaders and wellness coaches can be the relationship center of wellness care. We evaluated the Self-management Resource Center Small Group Programs (SMRCSGP), plus wellness coaching, as a booster intervention in older adults with chronic diseases. Second, we evaluated the role of personal health records (PHR) prototype as the linkage between the clinic and community. Using input from these two objectives, we lay the groundwork for the Person-centered Wellness Home (PCWH). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Participants enrolled from five South Bronx New York City Housing Authority communities. We conducted a pragmatic, randomized controlled trial using two arms (n = 121): (1) SMRCSGP and (2) SMRCSGP plus wellness coaching initiated as a booster after SMRCSGP completion. Adjusted individual growth models compared the slope differences for outcomes. We conducted a social networking analysis on the ties between wellness coaches and participants. PCMH-certified physicians completed in-depth interviews on the PHR prototype. An adaptation from the consensus-workshop model summarized the priority PCWH items. RESULTS: There was an improvement in self-reported physical functioning (2.0 T-score units higher, p = .03) by the wellness coaching group, but the groups did not differ on physical activity. From the social networking analysis, connections were stable over time with wellness-coaches and participants. The Consensus Conference identified eight major components of the PCWH. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Wellness coaching post-SMRCSGP was a booster to physical function, an upstream outcome for physical activity. During the Consensus-Conference, community-based prevention marketing and personal navigators for connecting to a PCMH emerged as novel components. This supports future work in training community health workers as peer leaders to provide evidence-based programs and other PCWH components.

Fall Risk Reduction Program Paired with a Transportation Program in an Underserved, Urban Minority Community: A Qualitative Evaluation.

This study sought to evaluate A Matter of Balance/Volunteer Lay Leaders (AMOB/VLL) fall prevention curriculum in combination with a "door-through-door" program: Coordinated Older-Adult Senior Transportation Services (COASTS) for older adults living in an urban, underserved community. AMOB/VLL participants were offered eight 2-hour classes as part of the training program. Focus groups were conducted with older adult participants, COASTS mobility facilitators, and AMOB/VLL master trainers. A thematic analysis was conducted, and primary themes relating to curriculum content, cultural relevancy, and outcomes were examined. Older adults and facilitators felt the course was rewarding and led to improvements in mobility and confidence. Master trainers were more critical and recommended simplifying content, with tailored guidance for specific populations. They also recommended increased emphasis on balance and physical activity. Although participants and MoFas felt combining AMOB/VLL and COASTS was rewarding and improved participant mobility, master trainers and participants suggested minor modifications to increase program benefits for urban, underserved communities.

Reduced Lower Extremity Functioning Is Associated With an Increased Rate of Being a Nondriver: The National Health and Aging Trends Study.

BACKGROUND: Driving a motor vehicle is an important aspect of mobility for older adults. Limited lower extremity functioning performance, as measured by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), has been associated with various negative health outcomes, but little is known about the association of SPPB scores with driving status. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether lower (poorer) SPPB scores are associated with an increased rate for being a current nondriver among a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling older adults. DESIGN: The National Health and Aging Trends Study is a longitudinal cohort study. METHODS: A population of 5935 participants, surveyed annually from 2011 to 2014 for the National Health and Aging Trends Study, was used to examine the relationship between SPPB and driving status. Using weighted data, multivariable Poisson regression with generalized estimating equations was used to calculate the rate ratios, adjusting for covariates and clustering due to the complex survey design. RESULTS: Participants with a low (poor) SPPB score (0-5) had a rate for being a current nondriver 2.01 times the rate (or 101% increase) of those with a high (good) SPPB score (10-12) (adjusted 95% confidence interval = 1.78-2.26). LIMITATIONS: Current nondrivers were not asked whether they planned to resume driving if they had not driven in the previous year. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike other factors, such as cognitive decline, lower SPPB scores (poorer lower extremity functioning) are significantly associated with an increased rate of being a current nondriver and are a modifiable risk factor. Further research is needed to examine whether optimum exercises and other physical therapist interventions focused on improving lower extremity strength and balance ultimately improve driving outcomes.

Escalation of Immunosuppressive Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is Not Associated With Adverse Outcomes After Infection With Clostridium difficile.

BACKGROUND: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), often leading to diagnostic confusion and delays in IBD therapy escalation. This study sought to assess outcomes after CDI in IBD patients exposed to new or escalated immunosuppressive therapy. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included IBD patients with documented CDI at 4 academic medical centers. Data were abstracted from clinical databases at each institution. Outcomes at 30 and 90 days were compared between patients undergoing new or intensified immunosuppressive therapy and those without therapy escalation. Continuous variables were compared using t tests, and proportions using chi-square tests. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the association of individual variables with severe outcomes (including death, sepsis, and/or colectomy) within 90 days. Secondary outcomes included CDI recurrence, rehospitalization, worsening of IBD, and severe outcomes within 30 days. RESULTS: A total of 207 adult patients with IBD and CDI were included, of whom 62 underwent escalation to biologic or corticosteroid therapy (median time to escalation, 13 days). Severe outcomes within 90 days occurred in 21 (15.6%) nonescalated and 1 (1.8%) therapy-escalated patients. Serum albumin <2.5 mg/dL, lactate >2.2 mg/dL, intensive care unit admission, hypotension, and comorbid disease were associated with severe outcomes. Likelihood of severe outcomes was decreased in patients undergoing escalation of IBD therapy after CDI (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.12) and increased among patients aged >65 years (aOR, 4.55). CONCLUSIONS: Therapy escalation for IBD within 90 days of CDI was not associated with worse clinical outcomes. Initiation of immunosuppression for active IBD may therefore be appropriate in carefully selected patients after treatment of CDI.

Relationship Between Falls and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to examine the potential relationship between different forms of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use and falls among older adults in New York City (NYC). DESIGN: This cross-sectional study of data from the NYC Health Indicators Project survey used modified questionnaire items from several national surveys. SETTINGS: Participants were recruited from 56 senior centers located in the 5 boroughs of NYC. PARTICIPANTS: There were 1273 participants aged 60 years or older included in the final analysis. OUTCOME MEASURES: Of particular interest to the researchers was a dichotomous outcome variable for falls, indicating that an individual had experienced no falls during the past year or one or more falls. Also of interest in the analyses were five CAM therapy types: alternative medical systems, biologically based therapies, manipulative and body-based therapies, mind-body therapies, and movement therapies. RESULTS: Prevalence of falls in NYC was 26.8%, which is consistent with the national average. Prevalence of CAM use was 92%. Participants who had tried manipulative and body-based therapies were more likely to report falling in the past 12 months (odds ratio, 1.65; 95% confidence interval, 1.26-2.15), after adjustment for age and sex. This observed association may reflect older adults with chronic pain who are already at risk for falling and are seeking therapy for this pain. None of the other CAM types were significantly associated with falls. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the growing popularity of CAM use within this population, CAM practitioners should be included in falls prevention strategies. Particular attention should be taken to include practitioners who provide manipulative and body-based therapies (e.g., chiropractors, osteopaths, physical and massage therapists) because of the high risk for falls observed among individuals who use these therapies.

Select physical performance measures and driving outcomes in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Improving physical functioning may be a future intervention to keep older adults driving safely longer as it can help maintain both physical and cognitive health longer. This systematic review assesses the evidence on the association between three physical functioning measures: the Short Physical Performance Battery, the Timed Up-and-Go test, and the Rapid Pace Walk with driving outcomes in older adults. METHODS: Older adult studies published between 1994 and 2015 that included the Short Physical Performance Battery, the Timed Up-and-Go test, or the Rapid Pace Walk as a measure of physical functioning and included a driving-related outcome were identified through a comprehensive search and reviewed following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. RESULTS: Thirteen studies involving 5,313 older adults met the inclusion criteria. Lower Short Physical Performance Battery scores were associated with reduced driving exposure and increased cessation in all three Short Physical Performance Battery studies. The Timed Up-and-Go test was not associated with the driving outcomes (cessation, ability, crashes, and citations) in either of the two Timed Up-and-Go studies. Poorer Rapid Pace Walk scores were associated with decreased driving ability in two studies and with reduced driving exposure in one study, but not associated with driving ability, crashes, citations, or cessation in the remaining five Rapid Pace Walk studies. CONCLUSIONS: The Timed Up-and-Go test measure appears not to be a useful measure of physical functioning for the driving outcomes included here. The Rapid Pace Walk may be useful in studies of driving ability and exposure. More driving studies should consider using the Short Physical Performance Battery to determine if it may be useful as a risk factor assessment for identifying individuals at risk of certain driving outcomes.