Telerheumatology: The VA Experience.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to characterize the correlation between diagnoses made during telerheumatology and face-to-face visits and to document patients' satisfaction with telerheumatology visits. METHODS: This quality assurance study of the use of telerheumatology evaluated new patients referred to a Veterans Affairs rheumatology clinic. Patients were seen at a community clinic by a nurse practitioner with a rheumatologist participating in the encounter via telelink. All of the patients had a second face-to-face visit with the same rheumatologist. Diagnoses made during telerheumatology and face-to-face visits were compared. Patients' satisfaction with telerheumatology was ascertained. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients were included in the study. Initially, 23 were diagnosed as having an inflammatory or rheumatic condition; 15 were subsequently confirmed at the face-to-face visits. All of the patients with inflammatory, rheumatic conditions were identified at the telerheumatology visits. The overall correlation was 79% between the telerheumatology and face-to-face visits. Among patients with inflammatory, rheumatic conditions, 66% preferred a face-to-face visit compared with 41% among those without such conditions (not significant). Immediately after the telerheumatology visit, all of the patients gave a 10 out of 10 rating for satisfaction. During the subsequent telephone survey, 30 remained highly satisfied with the telemedicine encounter (10 out of 10 rating). CONCLUSIONS: Telerheumatology at the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs was well received by patients; provided an accurate diagnosis of noninflammatory, nonrheumatic conditions; and may be appropriate for screening and prioritizing patients for in-person rheumatology clinics.

Water vapor therapy and polymyalgia rheumatica: Coincidental?

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory rheumatic condition characterized by pain and stiffness around the shoulders and hip girdles, an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or C-reactive protein (CRP) and a dramatic response to corticosteroids. It is usually seen in adults aged over 50 years; about 30% also have giant cell arteritis. Its etiology is unknown. A 72-year-old male received water vapor therapy, a novel, minimally invasive therapy for benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH). On postoperative day 1, he developed severe shoulder pain and weakness, with difficulty with lifting his arms above his head, and hip pain and weakness, with difficulty getting out of a bed or chair. Laboratory results showed elevated ESR and CRP, but a normal creatine kinase level. The patient received low-dose prednisone and had prompt symptom relief. This case illustrates that a diagnosis of PMR after water vapor therapy can be easily overlooked.

The impact of race/ethnicity on preoperative time to hip stabilization procedure after hip fracture.

BACKGROUND: We sought to examine the preoperative time for hip stabilization procedure among Hispanics, non-Hispanic blacks (blacks) and non-Hispanic whites (whites). METHODS: This was a secondary data analysis using Medicare claims data. Our analysis included 40,321 patients admitted for hip fracture hospitalization from 2001-2005. Our primary analysis was generalized linear modeling, and our dependent variable was preoperative time. Our independent variable was race/ethnicity (Hispanics, blacks versus whites), and covariates were age, gender, income, type of hip fracture and comorbidities. RESULTS: Bivariate analyses showed that both Hispanics and blacks experienced a longer preoperative time (P < 0.01). The average (mean) of days to surgery was 1.2 for whites, 1.6 for blacks and 1.7 for Hispanics. The delayed preoperative time among Hispanics and blacks persisted after adjusting for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: The delayed preoperative time among minorities suggests the need to closely monitor care among minorities with hip fracture to determine how to best address their developing needs.

Differential racial/ethnic patterns in substance use initiation among young, low-income women.

BACKGROUND: Accumulating research suggests that the gateway hypothesis of substance use may not apply equally across different race/ethnicity groups. OBJECTIVES: The current study examines racial and ethnic differences in patterns of initiation of licit and illicit substance use. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 696 low-income women between the ages of 18 and 31 who sought gynecological care between December, 2001 and May, 2003 in southeast Texas. RESULTS: Overall, White women fit the classic profile of drug use initiation patterns, with those initiating tobacco and beer/wine at earlier ages being more likely to use illicit drugs. Conversely, African-American and Hispanic women initiated tobacco and beer/wine at much later ages than White women, but they were as likely to use illicit drugs. CONCLUSIONS: To be optimally effective, prevention efforts may need to be tailored to fit the race/ethnicity of the audience. Further studies are suggested to investigate specific risk factors related to substance use initiation by race/ethnicity.

Disparities in utilization of outpatient rehabilitative care following hip fracture hospitalization with respect to race and ethnicity.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the prevalence of discharge home to self-care after hip fracture hospitalization among the elderly in 3 racial groups: whites, Hispanics, and blacks. DESIGN: Secondary data analysis. SETTING: US hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=34,203) aged 65 and older with Medicare insurance discharged after hip fracture hospitalization between 2001 and 2005. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Discharge home to self-care. RESULTS: Bivariate analyses showed higher rates of discharge home to self-care among minorities, 16.4% for Hispanics, 8.7% for blacks, and 5.9% for whites. Hispanics had 3-fold higher odds of being discharged home to self-care, and blacks had about 50% higher odds of being discharged home to self-care after adjusting for age, sex, Klabunde's comorbidity index, income, year of admission, type of hip fracture, surgical stabilization procedure, and length of hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: The higher rate of discharge home to self-care among minorities underscores the risk of suboptimal outpatient rehabilitative care among minorities with hip fracture.

Epidemiology of Medicare abuse: the example of power wheelchairs.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of neighborhood ethnic composition on power wheelchair prescriptions. DESIGN: The 5% noncancer sample of Medicare recipients in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked database, from 1994 to 2001. SETTING: SEER regions. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals covered by Medicare living in SEER regions without a cancer diagnosis. MEASUREMENTS: Individual characteristics (age, sex, ethnicity, justifying diagnosis, and comorbidity), primary diagnoses, neighborhood characteristics (percentage black, percentage Hispanic, percentage with <12 years education, and median income), and SEER region. RESULTS: The rate of power wheelchair prescriptions was 33 times greater in 2001 than in 1994, with a shift over time from justifying diagnoses more closely tied to mobility impairment, such as strokes, to less-specific medical diagnoses, such as osteoarthritis. In multilevel, multivariate analyses, individuals living in neighborhoods with higher percentages of blacks or Hispanics were more likely to receive power wheelchairs (odds ratios=1.09 for each 10% increase in black residents and 1.23 for each 10% increase in Hispanic residents) after controlling for ethnicity and other characteristics at the individual level. CONCLUSION: These results support allegations that marketers promoting power wheelchairs have specifically targeted minority neighborhoods.

Functional outcome after stroke in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: To compare outcomes following stroke rehabilitation among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) versus patients with neither RA nor SLE (non-RA/SLE). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis using a national database of patients with stroke admitted to inpatient rehabilitation between 1994 and 2001. Primary outcomes were discharge disposition and functional status, rated by the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) Instrument, at discharge and at followup. The independent variable was RA or SLE. Covariates were age, sex, race/ethnicity, admission FIM ratings, additional comorbidities (none, 1-3, and >3), type of stroke, and length of stay. RESULTS: We studied 47,853 patients with stroke, 368 with RA, and 119 with SLE. Discharge dispositions were similar for patients with RA and non-RA/SLE (81% discharged home). At discharge, the average FIM rating for patients with RA was 85.8, compared with 87.8 for non-RA/SLE patients. At followup, the average FIM rating for patients with RA was 95.9, compared with 99.6 for non-RA/SLE patients. RA was associated with lower FIM ratings at discharge and followup in multivariate analyses. SLE was associated with younger age (17.5 years). However, patients with SLE had similar discharge dispositions and FIM ratings to non-RA/SLE patients. CONCLUSION: RA was associated with lower functional status ratings at discharge and followup. Outpatient therapy for patients with RA may reduce long-term assistance. Patients with SLE were younger, but had similar functional outcomes to patients without RA/SLE, suggesting early morbidity from stroke among patients with SLE.

Discharge setting for patients with hip fracture: trends from 2001 to 2005.

OBJECTIVES: To examine recent trends in discharge disposition after hospitalization for hip fracture. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study using data from the 5% random sample of Medicare claims data from 2001 to 2005 that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services makes available for research purposes. SETTING: Inpatient medical rehabilitation pre- and postimplementation of prospective payment (2001-2005). PARTICIPANTS: Forty-four thousand six hundred eighty-four Medicare patients. MEASURES: Postacute discharge setting (home, inpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing facility, and long-term care nursing home/hospital/hospice). RESULTS: Bivariate analyses showed that discharge from acute care to inpatient rehabilitation increased from 12.2% in 2001 to 23.9% in 2005. The odds of discharge to inpatient medical rehabilitation were 2.26 (95% confidence interval=2.09-2.45) greater in 2005 than in 2001 after adjustment for patient characteristics (age, sex, and race or ethnicity), admitting diagnoses, type of treatment (internal fixation vs arthroplasty), and length of stay. CONCLUSION: The move from fee for service to prospective payment for postacute services for persons with hip fracture was associated with greater use of inpatient medical rehabilitation. Further research is necessary to confirm the trend in discharge setting and determine whether it is related to changes in reimbursement for postacute care.

Factors that impact decision making among rheumatologists in the initiation of treatment for hypertension in rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Increased risks of morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular (CV) events are reported in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recent reviews recommend aggressive treatment of modifiable CV risk factors, including systemic hypertension (HTN). OBJECTIVES: We examined possible contributory factors influencing HTN treatment among RA patients by rheumatologists. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional 36-item survey of randomly chosen rheumatologists from the American College of Rheumatology directory collecting the rheumatologists' demographics, practice, and perceptions regarding HTN treatment in their RA patients. Our response variable was initiation of HTN treatment. Independent variables were derived from responses to the survey, and data were analyzed using bivariate analysis and logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 938 rheumatologists surveyed, 285 (30%) responded, 236 were subsequently analyzed. Respondents' mean age was 52.8 years; 75% were male and most were white (83%). Respondents reported routinely screening for HTN (92.8%), and initiating treatment for HTN (31%) in RA patients. Rheumatologists who believed that their RA patients did not have adequate visits with their primary care providers (PCP) were 2.2 times as likely to initiate treatment for HTN (41.1% vs. 24.3%; P = 0.006). Conversely, 33% of rheumatologists who did not routinely initiate treatment for HTN in their RA patients also did not believe patient access to PCP care was adequate. No associations were observed between initiation of HTN treatment and physician demographic or practice items. CONCLUSION: The need for more effective minimization of CV risks in RA patients should prompt rheumatologists to consider a revision of routine practice standards to include treatment of uncontrolled HTN or promotion of improved communication with their PCPs.

The impact of rheumatoid arthritis on rehabilitation outcomes after lower extremity arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Medical rehabilitation after lower extremity arthroplasty is an integral part of recovery and a critical step in returning to independent mobility. We hypothesized that rehabilitation may take longer for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) versus osteoarthritis (OA) because joint pain, swelling, and deformities are generally worse among persons with RA. OBJECTIVES: To determine the impact of RA on length of rehabilitation stay and rehabilitation functional status gain after arthroplasty. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis using a national registry of US medical rehabilitation inpatients admitted after a lower extremity arthroplasty between 1994 and 2001. Sample included 1361 patients with RA and 26,096 patients with OA. The main outcome measure was functional status gain as assessed by the functional independence measure (FIM). Our primary analytic method was linear regression. Covariates were age, gender, race/ethnicity, other comorbidity, admission FIM, and site of arthroplasty. RESULTS: Mean length of stay for patients with RA was 11.3 +/- 7.1 days (mean +/- standard deviation) versus 10.3 +/- 6.5 days for those with OA. Mean weekly gain was 18.6 +/- 12.1 for patients with RA versus 20.6 +/- 12.0 for those with OA. After adjusting for covariates, RA was associated with longer stay (0.7 day) and lower FIM gain (2.6). CONCLUSIONS: RA was associated with longer length of rehabilitation stay and lower FIM gain in patients with lower extremity arthroplasty. Such patients may require additional monitoring to ensure sufficient rehabilitation.

Impact of osteoarthritis on rehabilitation for persons with hip fracture.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of osteoarthritis (OA) on length of rehabilitation stay, Functional Independence Measure (FIM Instrument) ratings at discharge and followup, functional gain, and percentage of patients discharged home. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis using a national registry of US medical rehabilitation inpatients. We obtained standardized data for all patients admitted after a hip fracture between 1994 and 2001. Our primary analytical method was multiple regression analysis. Outcome variables were length of stay, FIM Instrument ratings at discharge and followup, functional gain, and percentage of patients discharged home. The predictor variable was the presence of OA. Covariates were age, sex, race/ethnicity, other comorbidity, admission FIM ratings, total hip replacement, and time to followup. RESULTS: We studied 1,953 patients with OA and 11,441 patients without OA admitted to inpatient rehabilitation facilities after hip fracture. Mean +/- SD length of stay for patients with OA was 18.1 +/- 10.0 days versus 16.5 +/- 8.9 days for those without OA (P < 0.01). After adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, comorbidity, admission FIM ratings, and total hip replacement, OA was associated with a longer rehabilitation stay (1.4 days; P < 0.01) and slightly higher discharge FIM ratings; however, OA was not associated with lower weekly rehabilitation gain, followup FIM ratings, and percentage discharged home. CONCLUSION: Persons with hip fracture and OA had longer inpatient rehabilitation length of stay than persons without OA, but there were similarities in weekly rehabilitation gain and percentage discharged home.

Impact of osteoarthritis on the rehabilitation of patients following a stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if functional gain for patients following stroke rehabilitation is adversely affected by osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted using data collected between 1994 and 2001 from a large national registry of US rehabilitation inpatients. Outcome variables were functional status (the Functional Independence Measure [FIM Instrument]) at discharge and followup, FIM gain during and after rehabilitation, length of stay, and discharge setting. The primary predictor variable was the presence of OA. Covariates were age, sex, race, other comorbidities, type of stroke, length of stay, and time to followup. Analysis was by multivariable regression. RESULTS: Data from 3,094 patients with OA and 44,943 patients without OA admitted following a stroke to inpatient rehabilitation facilities were analyzed. In unadjusted analyses, OA was associated with significantly higher FIM ratings than patients without OA at admission (mean +/- SD 65.7 +/- 19.2 versus 63.1 +/- 20.5; P < 0.001) and discharge (mean +/- SD 89.2 +/- 21.8 versus 87.7 +/- 23.0; P < 0.001), but with lower FIM ratings at followup (mean +/- SD 97.7 +/- 24.7 versus 99.7 +/- 24.9; P < 0.001). In multivariate analyses, adjusting for potential confounders, OA was associated with a 1.62-day increase in length of stay (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.15, 2.08) and a 1.37 smaller improvement in FIM scores between admission and followup (95% CI 0.62, 2.12). This smaller increase in FIM instrument score was caused by less improvement in FIM after discharge. CONCLUSION: OA impairs recovery from stroke. This is compensated for by longer length of stay for inpatient medical rehabilitation. Reimbursement systems may need to consider the impact of OA as a comorbid condition in patients receiving stroke rehabilitation.