Cost-effectiveness of a Digital Health Intervention for Acute Myocardial Infarction Recovery.

BACKGROUND: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a common cause of hospital admissions, readmissions, and mortality worldwide. Digital health interventions (DHIs) that promote self-management, adherence to guideline-directed therapy, and cardiovascular risk reduction may improve health outcomes in this population. The "Corrie" DHI consists of a smartphone application, smartwatch, and wireless blood pressure monitor to support medication tracking, education, vital signs monitoring, and care coordination. We aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of this DHI plus standard of care in reducing 30-day readmissions among AMI patients in comparison to standard of care alone. METHODS: A Markov model was used to explore cost-effectiveness from the hospital perspective. The time horizon of the analysis was 1 year, with 30-day cycles, using inflation-adjusted cost data with no discount rate. Currencies were quantified in US dollars, and effectiveness was measured in quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). The results were interpreted as an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio at a threshold of $100,000 per QALY. Univariate sensitivity and multivariate probabilistic sensitivity analyses tested model uncertainty. RESULTS: The DHI reduced costs and increased QALYs on average, dominating standard of care in 99.7% of simulations in the probabilistic analysis. Based on the assumption that the DHI costs $2750 per patient, use of the DHI leads to a cost-savings of $7274 per patient compared with standard of care alone. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that this DHI is cost-saving through the reduction of risk for all-cause readmission following AMI. DHIs that promote improved adherence with guideline-based health care can reduce hospital readmissions and associated costs.

Digital Health Interventions for Cardiac Rehabilitation: Systematic Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. Despite strong evidence supporting the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation (CR), over 80% of eligible patients do not participate in CR. Digital health technologies (ie, the delivery of care using the internet, wearable devices, and mobile apps) have the potential to address the challenges associated with traditional facility-based CR programs, but little is known about the comprehensiveness of these interventions to serve as digital approaches to CR. Overall, there is a lack of a systematic evaluation of the current literature on digital interventions for CR. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic literature review is to provide an in-depth analysis of the potential of digital health technologies to address the challenges associated with traditional CR. Through this review, we aim to summarize the current literature on digital interventions for CR, identify the key components of CR that have been successfully addressed through digital interventions, and describe the gaps in research that need to be addressed for sustainable and scalable digital CR interventions. METHODS: Our strategy for identifying the primary literature pertaining to CR with digital solutions (defined as technology employed to deliver remote care beyond the use of the telephone) included a consultation with an expert in the field of digital CR and searches of the PubMed (MEDLINE), Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases for original studies published from January 1990 to October 2018. RESULTS: Our search returned 31 eligible studies, of which 22 were randomized controlled trials. The reviewed CR interventions primarily targeted physical activity counseling (31/31, 100%), baseline assessment (30/31, 97%), and exercise training (27/31, 87%). The most commonly used modalities were smartphones or mobile devices (20/31, 65%), web-based portals (18/31, 58%), and email-SMS (11/31, 35%). Approximately one-third of the studies addressed the CR core components of nutrition counseling, psychological management, and weight management. In contrast, less than a third of the studies addressed other CR core components, including the management of lipids, diabetes, smoking cessation, and blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Digital technologies have the potential to increase access and participation in CR by mitigating the challenges associated with traditional, facility-based CR. However, previously evaluated interventions primarily focused on physical activity counseling and exercise training. Thus, further research is required with more comprehensive CR interventions and long-term follow-up to understand the clinical impact of digital interventions.

Exploring Patient Motivations and Impact of Asian Blepharoplasty.

To date, patient motivations for Asian blepharoplasty and the surgery's impact on quality of life have not been quantified. Here, we employed structured interviews and a web-based survey to better characterize patient motivations for Asian blepharoplasty and the impact of Asian blepharoplasty on self-reported domains of happiness, self-esteem, attractiveness, social life, and professional life. Structured interviews were conducted to inform a web-based survey regarding Asian blepharoplasty. Survey respondents used visual analog scales to rate their satisfaction with their eye shape, motivations for undergoing Asian blepharoplasty, and perceived outcomes after surgery. A total of 315 participants (mean 25.7 [18-58] years) of East or Southeast Asian descent were included. 185 participants expressed no desire for Asian blepharoplasty, 76 expressed some desire, and 54 had already undergone surgery. There were statistically significant differences regarding baseline satisfaction, perceived social limitation, and perceived professional limitations regarding eye shape (p < 0.0001). The Looking Glass Self index (comprised of media exposure, low self-esteem, and negative stereotypes related to eye shape) is negatively associated with preoperative satisfaction with eye shape (rho = -0.29, p < 0.01). The desire for social-professional advancement and the Looking Glass Self index significantly predict self-reported improvements in professional and social life, respectively (both p < 0.01). Asian blepharoplasty may be driven by functional, social, or economic patient motivations. Some patients may see Asian blepharoplasty as a potential solution for sociological concerns. These expectations should be further explored in physician-patient discussions regarding candidacy for surgery and establishing expectations for postoperative outcomes.

Clinical Utility of Noninvasive Method to Measure Specific Gravity in the Pediatric Population.

BACKGROUND: Clinicians rely on any combination of signs and symptoms, clinical scores, or invasive procedures to assess the hydration status in children. Noninvasive tests to evaluate for dehydration in the pediatric population are appealing. OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study is to assess the utility of measuring specific gravity of tears compared to specific gravity of urine and the clinical assessment of dehydration. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort convenience sample study, in a pediatric emergency department at a tertiary care children's hospital. We approached parents/guardians of children aged 6 months to 4 years undergoing transurethral catheterization for evaluation of urinary tract infection for enrollment. We collected tears and urine for measurement of tear specific gravity (TSG) and urine specific gravity (USG), respectively. Treating physicians completed dehydration assessment forms to assess for hydration status. RESULTS: Among the 60 participants included, the mean TSG was 1.0183 (SD = 0.007); the mean USG was 1.0186 (SD = 0.0083). TSG and USG were positively correlated with each other (Pearson Correlation = 0.423, p = 0.001). Clinical dehydration scores ranged from 0 to 3, with 87% assigned a score of 0, by physician assessment. Mean number of episodes of vomiting and diarrhea in a 24-hour period were 2.2 (SD = 3.9) and 1.5 (SD = 3.2), respectively. Sixty-two percent of parents reported decreased oral intake. CONCLUSION: TSG measurements yielded similar results compared with USG. Further studies are needed to determine if TSG can be used as a noninvasive method of dehydration assessment in children.

A Biologic With Otologic Consequences: Analysis of Hearing Loss and Teprotumumab Using the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate otologic adverse reactions (OARs), including hearing loss (OARs-HL) among patients taking teprotumumab, a new biologic approved for the treatment of active thyroid eye disease, using publicly available pharmacovigilance reporting data. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective database review. METHODS: The Food and Drug Administration Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS) was queried for cases involving teprotumumab from 2020Q1 to 2023Q1. Patient demographics and adverse reactions (OAR and OAR-HL) were evaluated. Logistic regression was used to predict OAR and OAR-HL, and disproportionality analysis was performed using OpenVigil. RESULTS: A total of 2,109 teprotumumab-AR cases were reported, of which 296 (14.05%; mean age 55.46 yr) were OARs. Of these, 149 (7.06%) reported OAR-HL and 194 (9.20%) reported other OAR (e.g., tinnitus, ear discomfort, vertigo), with 47 (2.23%) reporting both. Disproportionality analysis showed a reported odds ratio (ROR) for OARs-HL of 44.33 (95% confidence interval [CI], 37.40-52.55; p < 0.001). Age was associated with RORs of 1.02 (95% CI, 1.01-1.04) and 1.04 (95% CI, 1.02-1.07) for developing OARs and specifically OARs-HL, respectively (p < 0.01). Age 50 and 65 years and older were associated with RORs of 2.54 (95% CI, 1.16-6.38) and 3.36 (95% CI, 1.75-6.53), respectively, for OARs-HL (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study using FAERS data suggests an increased risk of OARs, specifically hearing loss, associated with teprotumumab. Increasing age was a significant predictor of OARs. Audiometric counseling and evaluation should be considered with teprotumumab therapy in Graves' orbitopathy patients, especially in older patients.

Steroid Efficacy on Audiologic Recovery in Patients With Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Vestibular Schwannoma: A Retrospective Review.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study are to (i) estimate the incidence of vestibular schwannoma (VS) among patients in an integrated healthcare system who present for evaluation of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and (ii) evaluate the efficacy of empiric steroid therapy on audiologic recovery among SSNHL patients ultimately diagnosed with VS. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients presenting with SSNHL in 2021 at a multicenter integrated healthcare system serving over 4 million members. Patient demographics, audiometric data, VS diagnosis, therapeutic steroid intervention, and data regarding treatment response were recorded. A clinically significant audiometric improvement was defined as (i) an increase of 15% in word recognition score, (ii) a decrease of 15 dB in four-frequency pure-tone average (PTA) using frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz, or (iii) a PTA of <20 dB on follow-up audiogram. RESULTS: Six hundred fifty-eight patients were reviewed, of which 309 (56.0% male; mean, 57.5 years) met the inclusion criteria with audiometric data and magnetic resonance imaging data. Ten patients (70.0% male; mean, 51.3 years) were found to have VS. Of these, five patients received oral steroid therapy alone, and five had combination therapy (oral + intratympanic steroid injections). No patients received intratympanic steroid therapy alone. Median PTA improvement with steroid therapy was 3.1-dB hearing loss, and median word recognition score improvement was 16.5%. Six of 10 patients demonstrated clinically significant audiometric improvement with steroid therapy. CONCLUSION: This study represents the largest US-based study showcasing the prevalence of VS in patients originally presenting with SSNHL. It also reinforces previous findings that VS does not preclude trials of steroid therapy.

Heart rate trajectories in patients recovering from acute myocardial infarction: A longitudinal analysis of Apple Watch heart rate recordings.

Background: Using mobile health, vital signs such as heart rate (HR) can be used to assess a patient's recovery process from acute events including acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Objective: We aimed to characterize clinical correlates associated with HR change in the subacute period among patients recovering from AMI. Methods: HR measurements were collected from 91 patients (4447 HR recordings) enrolled in the MiCORE study using the Apple Watch and Corrie smartphone application. Mixed regression models were used to estimate the associations of patient-level characteristics during hospital admission with HR changes over 30 days postdischarge. Results: The mean daily HR at admission was 78.0 beats per minute (bpm) (95% confidence interval 76.1 to 79.8), declining 0.2 bpm/day (-0.3 to -0.1) under a linear model of HR change. History of coronary artery bypass graft, history of depression, or being discharged on anticoagulants was associated with a higher admission HR. Having a history of hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), or hyperlipidemia was associated with a slower decrease in HR over time, but not with HR during admission. Conclusion: While a declining HR was observed in AMI patients over 30 days postdischarge, patients with hypertension, T2DM, or hyperlipidemia showed a slower decrease in HR relative to their counterparts. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using wearables to model the recovery process of patients with AMI and represents a first step in helping pinpoint patients vulnerable to decompensation.

A Mobile Health Intervention to Increase Physical Activity in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Supervised exercise training improves outcomes in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The effect of an unsupervised activity intervention has not been tested. RESEARCH QUESTION: Can a text-based mobile health intervention increase step counts in patients with PAH? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We performed a randomized, parallel arm, single-blind clinical trial. We randomized patients to usual care or a text message-based intervention for 12 weeks. The intervention arm received three automated text messages per day with real-time step count updates and encouraging messages rooted in behavioral change theory. Individual step targets increased by 20% every 4 weeks. The primary end point was mean week 12 step counts. Secondary end points included the 6-min walk test, quality of life, right ventricular function, and body composition. RESULTS: Among 42 randomized participants, the change in raw steps between baseline and week 12 was higher in the intervention group (1,409 steps [interquartile range, -32 to 2,220] vs -149 steps [interquartile range, -1,010 to 735]; P = .02), which persisted after adjustment for age, sex, baseline step counts, and functional class (model estimated difference, 1,250 steps; P = .03). The intervention arm took a higher average number of steps on all days between days 9 and 84 (P < .05, all days). There was no difference in week 12 six-minute walk distance. Analysis of secondary end points suggested improvements in the emPHasis-10 score (adjusted change, -4.2; P = .046), a reduction in visceral fat volume (adjusted change, -170 mL; P = .023), and nearly significant improvement in tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (model estimated difference, 1.2 mm; P = .051). INTERPRETATION: This study demonstrated the feasibility of an automated text message-based intervention to increase physical activity in patients with PAH. Additional studies are warranted to examine the effect of the intervention on clinical outcomes. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov; No. NCT03069716; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Digital Health Intervention in Acute Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Thirty-day readmissions among patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) contribute to the US health care burden of preventable complications and costs. Digital health interventions (DHIs) may improve patient health care self-management and outcomes. We aimed to determine if patients with AMI using a DHI have lower 30-day unplanned all-cause readmissions than a historical control. METHODS: This nonrandomized controlled trial with a historical control, conducted at 4 US hospitals from 2015 to 2019, included 1064 patients with AMI (DHI n=200, control n=864). The DHI integrated a smartphone application, smartwatch, and blood pressure monitor to support guideline-directed care during hospitalization and through 30-days post-discharge via (1) medication reminders, (2) vital sign and activity tracking, (3) education, and (4) outpatient care coordination. The Patient Activation Measure assessed patient knowledge, skills, and confidence for health care self-management. All-cause 30-day readmissions were measured through administrative databases. Propensity score-adjusted Cox proportional hazard models estimated hazard ratios of readmission for the DHI group relative to the control group. RESULTS: Following propensity score adjustment, baseline characteristics were well-balanced between the DHI versus control patients (standardized differences <0.07), including a mean age of 59.3 versus 60.1 years, 30% versus 29% Women, 70% versus 70% White, 54% versus 54% with private insurance, 61% versus 60% patients with a non ST-elevation myocardial infarction, and 15% versus 15% with high comorbidity burden. DHI patients were predominantly in the highest levels of patient activation for health care self-management (mean score 71.7±16.6 at 30 days). The DHI group had fewer all-cause 30-day readmissions than the control group (6.5% versus 16.8%, respectively). Adjusting for hospital site and a propensity score inclusive of age, sex, race, AMI type, comorbidities, and 6 additional confounding factors, the DHI group had a 52% lower risk for all-cause 30-day readmissions (hazard ratio, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.26-0.88]). Similar results were obtained in a sensitivity analysis employing propensity matching. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that in patients with AMI, the DHI may be associated with high patient activation for health care self-management and lower risk of all-cause unplanned 30-day readmissions. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03760796.

Normal Gaze Patterns of the Face in Lateral View.

Importance: Current efforts to quantify the attentional distraction of facial deformities have been limited to deformities that are best perceived when the face is in frontal view, and there remains a paucity of knowledge of societal perception of the face in lateral view. To date, no attempts have been made to characterize the fixation patterns of the face in lateral view. Objective: To characterize the fixation patterns and gaze patterns of the face in lateral view. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a prospective randomized controlled trial at an academic tertiary medical center. Eighty participants (mean age 23.6 ± 1.7 years, 52.5% female) gazed freely at 11 images of faces in lateral view for 10 s each as an infrared eye-tracker recorded eye movements in real time. Main Outcomes and Measures: Recorded eye movements are superimposed on the images to visualize areas of interest (AOIs) that attract the most attention. Fixation duration targeted at each AOI is transformed into relative fixation of the entire face and neck. Hotelling's test of variance followed by post hoc t-testing assessed for the significance of fixation differences between the mouth and cheeks. Results: Participants spent an average of 6.0 (95% CI 5.8-6.2) s gazing at the face and neck areas of each image. Of this attention, 2.8 s or 49.8% (45.4-54.2%) was directed toward the eye, followed distantly by the nose (mean, 95% CI) (16.4%, 14.5-18.3%), cheek (12.0%, 11.4-14.5%), neck (4.6%, 3.8-5.4%), and mouth (4.0%, 3.4-4.6%). These differences were found to be significant by Hotelling's analysis and post hoc testing. A student's t-test also indicated observers directed significantly more attention within the eye-nose-cheek triangle [4.6 s or 79.5% (75.6-83.5)] compared with the eye-nose-mouth triangle [4.1 s or 71.2% (66.9-75.5)] (p < 0.001). Conclusions and Relevance: When perceiving novel faces in lateral view, casual observers preferentially directed attention toward the eye, nose, and cheek. These findings suggest that we draw from a slightly different collection of features to build a schema of the sagittal face, which may serve to complement the central triangle and build upon a three-dimensional model of the "normal" human face. Level of Evidence: NA.

Objectively measuring social attention of thyroid neck scars and transoral surgery using eye tracking.

OBJECTIVE: Measure the social attention of thyroid neck scars and transoral surgery using eye tracking. METHODS: Observers viewed images of patients with thyroid neck scars, control patients with no scars, and patients who underwent transoral thyroidectomy as an eye-tracking monitor recorded their eye movements. Hotelling's multivariate analysis, followed by planned posthypothesis testing, were used to compare fixation times for the central triangle (CT), peripheral face, and neck between the three groups. To assess if these gaze patterns would normalize with transoral surgery, a two-sample t test was done to assess for differences in neck fixations between control and transoral patients and between transoral and traditional thyroidectomy. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty participants completed the eye-tracking experiment (mean age 24.3 years, 65 females). Observers directed the majority of their attention to the CT in both control and scar patients. Observers paid more attention to the neck (103.72 ms, P < .0001, 95% confidence interval [CI] [55, 152] ms) and less to the peripheral face (115.50 ms, P = .01, 95% CI [19, 211] ms) in patients with neck scars than in control patients. Furthermore, transoral surgery eliminated this attentional distraction wherein there was no difference in the fixation time to the neck (-39.198 ms P = .16, 95% CI [-93.978, 15.5816] ms) between controls and those who underwent transoral surgery. CONCLUSION: Observers directed their gaze away from the face and toward the neck in patients with thyroid neck scars. Furthermore, this distraction was eliminated with tranoral surgery. These findings shed light onto the altered observer perceptions of patients with thyroid neck scars. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 129:2789-2794, 2019.

Association Between the Use of Social Media and Photograph Editing Applications, Self-esteem, and Cosmetic Surgery Acceptance.

IMPORTANCE: Social media platforms and photograph (photo) editing applications are increasingly popular sources of inspiration for individuals interested in cosmetic surgery. However, the specific associations between social media and photo editing application use and perceptions of cosmetic surgery remain unknown. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether self-esteem and the use of social media and photo editing applications are associated with cosmetic surgery attitudes. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A population-based survey study was conducted from July 1 to September 19, 2018. The web-based survey was administered through online platforms to 252 participants. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Each participant's self-esteem was measured using the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (scores range from 0-30; higher scores indicate higher self-esteem) and the Contingencies of Self-worth Scale (scores range from 1-7; higher scores indicate higher self-worth). Cosmetic surgery attitude was measured using the Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Scale (scores range from 1-7; higher scores indicate higher acceptance of cosmetic surgery). Unpaired, 2-tailed t tests were used to assess the significance of self-esteem and cosmetic surgery attitude score differences among users of various social media and photo editing applications. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the association between social media investment and cosmetic surgery attitudes. RESULTS: Of the 252 participants, 184 (73.0%) were women, 134 (53.2%) reported themselves to be white, and the mean age was 24.7 (range, 18-55) years. Scores on the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale from users and nonusers across applications were compared, with lower self-esteem scores noted in participants who reported using YouTube (difference in scores, -1.56; 95% CI, -3.01 to -0.10), WhatsApp (difference in scores, -1.47; 95% CI, -2.78 to -0.17), VSCO (difference in scores, -3.20; 95% CI, -4.98 to -1.42), and Photoshop (difference in scores, -2.92; 95% CI, -5.65 to -0.19). Comparison of self-esteem scores for participants who reported using other social media and photo editing applications yielded no significant differences. Social media investment had a positive association with consideration of cosmetic surgery (R, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.04-0.66). A higher overall score on the Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Scale was noted in users of Tinder (difference in means, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.34-1.23), Snapchat (difference in means, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.07 to 0.71), and/or Snapchat photo filters (difference in means, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.16-0.72). Increased consideration of cosmetic surgery but not overall acceptance of surgery was noted in users of VSCO (difference in means, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.32-1.35) and Instagram photo filters (difference in means, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.01-0.76) compared with nonusers. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This study's findings suggest that the use of certain social media and photo editing applications may be associated with increased acceptance of cosmetic surgery. These findings can help guide future patient-physician discussions regarding cosmetic surgery perceptions, which vary by social media or photo editing application use. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA.