WITHDRAWN: Anticoagulants or antiplatelet therapy for non-rheumatic atrial fibrillation and flutter.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) carries a high risk of stroke and other thromboembolic events. Appropriate use of drugs to prevent thromboembolism in patients with AF involves comparing the patient's risk of stroke to the risk of hemorrhage from medication use. OBJECTIVES: To quantify risk of stroke, major hemorrhage and death from using medications that have been rigorously evaluated for prevention of thromboembolism in AF. SEARCH STRATEGY: Articles were identified through the Cochrane Collaboration's CENTRAL database and MEDLINE until December 1999. SELECTION CRITERIA: Included Randomized controlled trials of drugs to prevent thromboembolism in adults with non-postoperative AF. Excluded RCTS of patients with rheumatic valvular disease. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data were abstracted by two reviewers. Odds ratios from all qualitatively similar studies were combined, with weighting by study size, to yield aggregate odds ratios for stroke, major hemorrhage, and death for each drug. MAIN RESULTS: Fourteen articles were included in this review. Warfarin was more efficacious than placebo for primary stroke prevention {aggregate odds ratio (OR) of stroke=0.30 [95% Confidence Interval (C.I.) 0.19,0.48]}, with moderate evidence of more major bleeding { OR= 1.90 [95% C.I. 0.89,4.04].}. Aspirin was inconclusively more efficacious than placebo for stroke prevention {OR=0.68 [95% C.I. 0.29,1.57]}, with inconclusive evidence regarding more major bleeds {OR=0.81[95% C.I. 0.37,1.78]}. For primary prevention, assuming a baseline risk of 45 strokes per 1000 patient-years, warfarin could prevent 30 strokes at the expense of only 6 additional major bleeds. Aspirin could prevent 17 strokes, without increasing major hemorrhage. In direct comparison, there was moderate evidence for fewer strokes among patients on warfarin than on aspirin {aggregate OR=0.64[95% C.I. 0.43,0.96]}, with only suggestive evidence for more major hemorrhage {OR =1.58 [95% C.I. 0.76,3.27]}. However, in younger patients, with a mean age of 65 years, the absolute reduction in stroke rate with warfarin compared to aspirin was low (5.5 per 1000 person-years) compared to an older group (15 per 1000 person-years). Low-dose warfarin or low-dose warfarin with aspirin was less efficacious for stroke prevention than adjusted-dose warfarin. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The evidence strongly supports warfarin in AF for patients at average or greater risk of stroke, although clearly there is a risk of hemorrhage. Although not definitively supported by the evidence, aspirin may prove to be useful for stroke prevention in sub-groups with a low risk of stroke, with less risk of hemorrhage than with warfarin. Further studies are needed of low- molecular weight heparin and aspirin in lower risk patients.

Outpatient-based bone marrow transplantation for hematologic malignancies: cost saving or cost shifting?

PURPOSE: To determine whether a shift in care from an inpatient-based to an outpatient-based bone marrow transplantation (BMT) program decreased charges to payers without increasing clinical complications or out-of-pocket costs to patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This nonrandomized prospective cohort study compared clinical and economic outcomes for 132 consecutive BMT patients with hematologic malignancies who received either inpatient- or outpatient-based BMT care. RESULTS: Seventeen of 132 BMT patients underwent outpatient-based BMT. Compared with the inpatient-based group, the outpatient-based group had a markedly lower mean number of inpatient hospital days (22 v 47; P <.001) and decreased mean inpatient facility charges ($61,059 less per patient; P <.0001) but had higher mean outpatient facility charges ($49,732 higher; P <. 0001). Total professional fees were similar for the groups. The mean total charge to payers was only 7% less ($12,652; P =.21) for outpatient-based BMT than for inpatient-based BMT, but total charge was 34% less for outpatient compared with inpatient BMT ($54,240; P = 0.056) in a subset of patients who had a standard rather than high risk of treatment failure. There was no significant difference between groups in out-of-pocket costs for transportation, lodging, meals, home nursing, household assistance, child care, medication expenses, or unreimbursed medical bills. There also was no significant difference between groups in reported income lost, involuntary unemployment, or months of disability. The two groups had similar rates of major complications, including death, significant acute graft-versus-host disease, and veno-occlusive disease of the liver. CONCLUSION: Increased use of outpatient-based BMT should produce substantial cost savings for payers without adverse effects on patients for those patients who do not have a high risk of treatment failure.

Epidemiological correlates of diabetic neuropathy. Report from Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications Study.

The natural history of diabetic neuropathy and its risk factors are not well understood, apart from the recognition that prevalence increases with duration and, in many studies, degree of glycemia. The role of potential risk factors was therefore evaluated in a cross-sectional analysis from the baseline examination of the Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications Study. We present results from the first 400 subjects seen at baseline examination. Neuropathy was determined by a trained internist with a standardized examination and was defined as the presence of at least two of three criteria: abnormal sensory or motor signs, symptoms consistent with neuropathy, and decreased tendon reflexes. The prevalence of neuropathy in this cohort was 34% (18%, 18-29 yr old, 58% greater than or equal to 30 yr old) with no difference by sex. By focusing on subjects greater than or equal to 18 yr old, all significant univariate variables (e.g., duration, glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1]) were analyzed in 3 multiple logistic regression models: all subjects greater than or equal to 18 yr old and separating the same subjects into two groups based on age (18-29 and greater than or equal to 30 yr). Duration, HbA1, smoking status, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were found to be associated with neuropathy in the models for the greater than or equal to 18-yr-old group and the greater than or equal to 30-yr-old group. In the 18- to 29-yr-old group, duration, HbA1, and hypertension status were found to be significantly associated with neuropathy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Variation in utilization of procedures for treatment of peripheral arterial disease. A look at patient characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: To examine associations between demographic characteristics and use of interventional procedures in patients with peripheral arterial disease. DESIGN: Case series drawn from a statewide hospital discharge database. SETTING: Nonfederal acute-care hospitals in Maryland. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: A total of 7080 cases of angioplasty, bypass surgery, or amputation for lower-extremity peripheral arterial disease in 1988 through 1989. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Use of angioplasty, bypass surgery, and lower-extremity amputation. RESULTS: A total of 1185 angioplasties, 4005 bypass operations, and 1890 amputations were identified. Population-based annual rates showed that angioplasty use peaked at about 70 per 100,000 at the age of 65 to 74 years, bypass surgery use peaked at more than 250 per 100,000 at 75 to 84 years of age, and amputation use peaked at about 225 per 100,000 at 85 years of age and older. The age-adjusted likelihood of having a procedure for peripheral arterial disease was 1.7 times higher in men than in women and 1.6 times higher in blacks than in whites. Compared with patients who had angioplasty or bypass surgery, patients who had amputations were more likely to be more than 65 years old, to be black (odds ratio, 2.5), to have Medicaid or no insurance (odds ratio, 1.7), to have diabetes mellitus (odds ratio, 3.0), and not to have hypertension (odds ratio, 3.1). Compared with patients who had bypass surgery, patients who had angioplasty were more likely to be under 65 years old, to be white (odds ratio, 1.7), and not to have diabetes mellitus (odds ratio, 1.3). CONCLUSION: Patient race is associated with differences in the frequency with which angioplasty, bypass surgery, and amputation are performed for peripheral arterial disease, and insurance status is associated with the likelihood of having amputation.

The duration of Holter monitoring in patients with syncope. Is 24 hours enough?

To determine the incremental yield of ambulatory monitoring in the evaluation of syncope, three serial 24-hour Holter recordings were obtained in a consecutive series of 95 patients with syncope, the cause of which was not explained by history, physical examination, or 12-lead electrocardiogram. The mean age of patients was 61 years and 41% were men. Major electrocardiographic abnormalities were found in 26 patients (27%), including unsustained ventricular tachycardia (19 patients), pauses of at least 2 seconds (8 patients), profound bradycardia (1 patient), and complete heart block (1 patient). The first 24-hour Holter recording had at least one major abnormality in 14 patients (15%) (95% confidence interval, 8.3% to 23.4%). Of the 81 patients without a major abnormality on the first Holter recording, the second Holter recording had major abnormalities in 9 (11%) (95% confidence interval, 5.1% to 20.0%). Of the 72 patients without a major abnormality on the first two Holter recordings, only 3 patients (4.2%) had a major abnormality on the third Holter recording (95% confidence interval, 0.8% to 11.7%). Four factors were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of a major abnormality on 72 hours of monitoring: age above 65 years (relative risk, 2.2), male gender (relative risk, 2.0), history of heart disease (relative risk, 2.2), and an initial nonsinus rhythm (relative risk, 3.5). These results suggest that 24 hours of Holter monitoring is not enough to identify all potentially important arrhythmias in patients with syncope. Monitoring may need to be extended to 48 hours if the first 24-hour Holter recording is normal.

Measuring diabetic neuropathy. Assessment and comparison of clinical examination and quantitative sensory testing.

The need for a standardized and valid means of assessing diabetic neuropathy has been increasingly recognized. To identify potential components of such an assessment, interobserver variation (neurologist and internist) of a standard neurologic examination and the comparability of this examination with vibratory and thermal sensitivity testing was studied. The study population comprised the first 100 participants in a neuropathy substudy of 25- to 34-yr-old subjects with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus taking part in a cohort follow-up study. Symptoms of dysesthesias, paresthesias, and burning, aching, or stabbing pain revealed good interobserver agreement. Signs of neuropathy, more prevalent in the great toe than index finger, showed poor interobserver agreement for vibration, but fair interobserver agreement for touch and pinprick. Mean quantitative sensory thresholds differed significantly by clinical category of abnormal vibratory and pinprick sensations. Threshold testing showed twice the prevalence of abnormality compared with clinical examination. It is concluded that components of the clinical examination can be identified that, along with quantitative sensory-threshold testing, may provide a satisfactory core assessment for use both in epidemiologic studies and incorporation into more in-depth protocols required for clinical research and practice. The clinical relevance of the greater prevalence of abnormalities on threshold testing will be established by long-term follow-up.

Atypical nemaline myopathy with temporomandibular ankylosis.

A young girl who initially presented with jaw hypomobility at age 4 years subsequently developed signs of a slowly progressive myopathy. Rods were found in all sampled muscles, and were associated with fibrous contractures in the temporomandibular joint muscles. Rods in fibers undergoing necrosis displayed a pattern of degradation that was almost identical to the pattern induced by calcium-activated neutral protease in vitro. It appears that this patient had nemaline myopathy, atypical in both clinical presentation and pathologic lesions.

National survey of Clerkship Directors in Internal Medicine on the competencies that should be addressed in the medicine core clerkship.

PURPOSE: To prioritize competencies that should be addressed in the medicine core clerkship, assess factors influencing this prioritization, and estimate the percentage of clerkship time that should be devoted to inpatient versus outpatient care. METHODS: A national survey of the Clerkship Directors in Internal Medicine (CDIM) was used. Using explicit criteria, respondents assigned priority scores, on a 1 to 5 scale, to 17 general competencies and 60 disease-specific clinical competencies pertinent to care of adult patients in inpatient. ambulatory, intensive care, and emergency settings. RESULTS: Ninety-three (75%) of 124 CDIM members responded. The highest mean priority scores were assigned to 6 general competencies: case presentation skills (4.65), diagnostic decision-making (4.64), history and physical diagnosis (4.61), test interpretation (4.47), communication with patients (4.35), and therapeutic decision-making (4.12). Disease-specific clinical competency areas receiving the highest mean priority scores were: hypertension (4.57), coronary disease (4.53), diabetes mellitus (4.45), heart failure (4.42), pneumonia (4.39), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (4.26), acid-base/electrolyte disorders (4.19), and acute chest pain (4.08). Priorities for general competencies were moderately correlated with importance to the practice of general internists (mean Spearman rho 0.49) and with importance to students pursuing careers outside internal medicine (mean Spearman rho 0.45), but only weakly correlated with the adequacy with which a competency was addressed in other parts of the curriculum. Respondents' mean recommended allocation of clerkship time was: 52% inpatient, 33% ambulatory care, 8% intensive care, and 7% emergency medicine. This time allocation did not differ by any characteristics of respondents. CONCLUSION: There is consensus among medicine clerkship directors that the medicine core clerkship should emphasize fundamental competencies and devote at least one third of the time to clinical competencies pertinent to ambulatory care.

U.S. nephrologists' attitudes towards renal transplantation: results from a national survey.

BACKGROUND: Renal transplantation is the optimal treatment for persons with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). A shortage of kidneys in the U.S. has focused increasing attention on the process by which kidneys are allocated. A national survey was undertaken to determine the relative importance of both clinical and nonclinical factors in the recommendation for renal transplantation by U.S. nephrologists. METHODS: We conducted a national random survey of 271 U.S. nephrologists using hypothetical patient scenarios to determine their recommendation for renal transplantation based on demographic, clinical, and social factors. Specifically, eight unique patient scenarios were randomly distributed to each survey respondent. RESULTS: According to responding nephrologists (response rate 53%), females were less likely than males to be recommended for renal transplantation [adjusted odds ratio (OR)=0.41; confidence interval (CI) 0.21, 0.79; for whites]. Asian males were less likely than white males to be recommended for transplantation (OR=0.46, CI 0.24, 0.91). Black-white differences in rates of recommendation were not found. Other factors associated with low rates of recommendation for renal transplantation included history of noncompliance (OR=0.17, CI 0.13, 0.23), <25% cardiac ejection fraction (OR=0.15, CI 0.10, 0.21), HIV infection (OR=0.01, CI 0.00, 0.01), and being >200 lbs (OR=0.73, CI 0.56, 0.95). CONCLUSIONS: Female gender, and Asian but not black race, were associated with a decreased likelihood that nephrologists would recommend renal transplantation for patients with end stage renal disease. The well-documented black-white disparities in use of renal transplantation may be due to unaccounted for factors or may arise at a subsequent step in the transplantation process.

Long-term prognosis of patients undergoing electrophysiologic studies for syncope of unknown origin.

Long-term prognosis was determined in 70 patients with unexplained syncope who underwent electrophysiologic testing between April 1981 and April 1986. The electrophysiologic study had positive results in 37 patients--31 with ventricular tachycardia, 3 with supraventricular tachycardia and 3 with abnormal conduction. There was no significant difference in the 3-year actuarial recurrence rate between the positive and negative outcomes (32 vs 24%, respectively). At 3 years, patients with positive outcomes had higher rates of sudden death than patients with negative results (48 vs 9%, respectively, p less than 0.002). The 3-year total mortality rate was also markedly higher in patients with positive results than among those with negative outcomes (61 vs 15%, respectively, p less than 0.001). Multivariate analyses showed mortality to be independently associated with unsustained ventricular tachycardia on prolonged electrocardiographic monitoring. It was concluded that patients with electrophysiologically positive results had high rates of sudden death and total mortality that have not been previously well recognized.

Developing a health-related quality-of-life measure for end-stage renal disease: The CHOICE Health Experience Questionnaire.

The Choices for Healthy Outcomes in Caring for End-Stage Renal Disease ([ESRD] CHOICE) Study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of alternative dialysis prescriptions. As part of CHOICE, we developed an instrument for measuring health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for patients with ESRD that would complement the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Survey (SF-36) and be sensitive to differences in dialysis modality (hemodialysis [HD] and peritoneal dialysis [PD]) and dialysis dose. The selection of HRQOL domains to be included was based on: (1) a structured literature review of 47 articles describing 53 different instruments; (2) content analysis of five focus groups with HD and PD patients, nephrologists, and other providers; (3) a survey of 110 dialysis providers about features of different modalities that affect patient HRQOL; and (4) a semistructured survey of 25 patients with ESRD on the effects of dialysis on functioning and HRQOL. To help prioritize domains and items identified by these methods, a representative sample of 136 dialysis patients rated each item for frequency and bother. A panel of nephrologists provided advice about the salience of items to modality or dose. Items and scales were selected with a preference for existing measures tested in patients with ESRD and were tested for reliability and validity. The first four steps yielded 22 HRQOL domains that included 96 items: 8 generic domains in the SF-36 (health perceptions, physical, social, physical and emotional role function, pain, mental health, and energy); 8 additional generic domains (cognitive functioning, sexual functioning, sleep, work, recreation, travel, finances, and general quality of life); and 6 ESRD-specific domains (diet, freedom, time, body image, dialysis access [catheters and/or vascular], and symptoms). New items were developed or adapted to assess ESRD-specific domains. Scales for these items showed adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha > 0.70, except for time [alpha = 0.57] and quality of life [alpha = 0.68]), as well as convergent and discriminant construct validity in a sample of 928 patients. The final questionnaire included 21 domains (time was deleted) and 83 items. We have designed a patient-centered instrument, the CHOICE Health Experience Questionnaire, that addresses domains that may be sensitive to differences in dialysis modality and dose and shows evidence for reliability and validity as a measure of HRQOL in ESRD.

Formal literature review of quality-of-life instruments used in end-stage renal disease.

Although quality-of-life assessment is an important complement to conventional clinical evaluation, there are limited opportunities for researchers in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) to examine evidence for a range of quality-of-life measures. To better understand how quality of life has been conceptualized, measured, and evaluated for ESRD, we conducted a structured literature review. Eligible articles were identified from a MEDLINE search, expert input, and review of references from eligible articles. A standardized instrument was created for article review and included type of measure, instrument development process, study sample characteristics, quality-of-life domains, and reliability and validity testing. From 436 citations, 78 articles were eligible for final review, and of those, 47 articles contained evidence of reliability or validity testing. Within this set, there were 113 uses of 53 different instruments: 82% were generic and 18% were disease specific. Only 32% defined quality of life. The most frequently assessed domains were depression (41%), social functioning (32%), positive affect (30%), and role functioning (27%). Testing was completed for test-retest reliability (20%), interrater reliability (13%), internal consistency (22%), content validity (24%), construct validity (41%), criterion validity (55%), and responsiveness (59%). Few articles measuring quality of life in ESRD defined quality-of-life domains or adequately described instrument development and testing. Generic measures, such as the Sickness Impact Profile, and disease-specific measures, such as the Kidney Disease Questionnaire, had been tested more thoroughly than others. Standardized reporting and more rigorous testing could help researchers make informed choices about instruments that would best serve their own and their patients' needs.

US nephrologists' recommendation of dialysis modality: results of a national survey.

Selection of a dialysis modality for persons with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) has important lifestyle and occupational implications. The factors affecting modality choice remain unclear, resulting in a low rate of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in the United States compared with other countries. A national survey of 271 US nephrologists was conducted from June 1997 to June 1998 to assess the relative importance of nonclinical and clinical factors related to dialysis modality selection for patients with ESRD. Hypothetical patient scenarios were randomly assigned to nephrologists to determine their recommendation for dialytic therapy based on patient demographic, clinical, and social factors. US nephrologists were more likely to recommend PD for men with ESRD compared with women (39% versus 33%; P: < 0.05; adjusted odds ratio, 1.44; 95% confidence interval, 1.15 to 1.80), as well as for patients with good compliance (adjusted odds ratio, 11.80; 95% confidence interval, 9.29 to 15.01), weight less than 200 lb (adjusted odds ratio, 2.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.8 to 2.9), residual renal function (adjusted odds ratio, 2.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.71 to 2.70), absence of diabetes (adjusted odds ratio, 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.6 to 2.5), and living with family (adjusted odds ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.4 to 2.1). Nephrologists in practice for 11 or more years were less likely to recommend PD. The association of male sex with PD therapy suggests a potential bias or sensitivity to women's perception of body image. Race was not associated with PD recommendations after controlling for other demographic and clinical characteristics. Because the incident US ESRD population is increasingly characterized by factors associated with not selecting PD (diabetes, obesity, malnourishment, living alone, and substance abuse problems), our results suggest that PD use may decrease over time.

Comparison of a supplemented Rose Questionnaire to exercise thallium testing in men and women.

The Rose Questionnaire has had high specificity and variable sensitivity when compared to physician identification of the symptom complex of angina pectoris. We assessed the accuracy of a supplemented Rose Questionnaire in a series of 198 patients by comparing the Questionnaire to exercise thallium test evidence of coronary artery disease. The Rose diagnosis of angina had 26% sensitivity, 79% specificity, 42% positive predictive value, and 65% negative predictive value. The Rose diagnosis of myocardial infarction had 26% sensitivity and 90% specificity. The Rose diagnosis of angina or infarction yielded a sensitivity of 44%, specificity of 72%, positive predictive value of 67%, and negative predictive value of 50%. Supplemental questions designed to identify atypical ischemic pain led to increased sensitivity of up to 68% that was offset by decreased specificity. While the Questionnaire's sensitivity for coronary disease was greater for women than men (57 vs 40%), the overall accuracy was the same because specificity was lower (63 vs 80%).

Factors influencing third party payer costs for allogeneic BMT.

To assess how payer costs for allogeneic BMT relate to patient characteristics and clinical complications, a retrospective cohort study of 402 persons undergoing allogeneic BMT between 1980 and 1987 at a university-based BMT center was designed to determine total inpatient payer costs, including hospital and physician costs, and number of days hospitalized during the first 180 days following BMT. The average total inpatient payer cost (in 1990 dollars) during the first 180 days following BMT was $208,410. Inflation-adjusted inpatient payer costs increased from $227,806 in 1980 to $308,545 in 1983, and then decreased to $156,163 by 1987. In multivariate analysis, inpatient payer costs were strongly associated with occurrence of CMV infection (increase of $53,517; p = 0.0001) or acute GVHD (increase of $46,500; p = 0.001), and significantly associated with malignant (versus non-malignant) disease (decrease of $36,633; p = 0.05), even after adjusting for length of survival and year of BMT. Inpatient payer costs were not related to patient age, sex or race. Despite recent reductions in inpatient payer costs for BMT, CMV infection and acute GVHD continue to be associated with tremendous costs to third party payers. Further reductions in the costs of BMT may require improved prevention of CMV infection and GVHD.

Efficacy of immune globulin in preventing complications of bone marrow transplantation: a meta-analysis.

To assess the efficacy of immune globulin in preventing CMV infection, interstitial pneumonia, GVHD and death after BMT, we reviewed and synthesized data from 12 published studies (with 1282 patients) in which immune globulin was used prophylactically in BMT patients, controls were included and clinical outcomes were assessed. Data synthesis indicates that immune globulin significantly reduces fatal CMV infection (odds ratio (OR) 0.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.23-0.99), CMV pneumonia (OR 0.61, CI 0.42-0.89), non-CMV interstitial pneumonia (OR 0.57, CI 0.35-0.95) and total mortality (OR 0.74, CI 0.55-0.99). The reduction in acute GVHD was not quite significant (OR CI 0.45-1.02). Complications decrease with both hyperimmune and conventional immune globulin. For CMV-negative transplant recipients, immune globulin decreases symptomatic CMV infection (OR 0.55, CI 0.31-0.94) and interstitial pneumonia (OR 0.34, CI 0.15-0.77). For CMV-positive recipients, immune globulin prevents interstitial pneumonia (OR 0.45, CI 0.26-0.80) but not symptomatic CMV infection (CI 0.41-2.80). We conclude that immune globulin is efficacious in preventing major complications of BMT in both CMV-negative and CMV-positive recipients.

Atherosclerotic disease in patients undergoing cataract extraction. A nationwide case-control study. The Cataract Patient Outcomes Research Team.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between cataract extraction and atherosclerosis and its complications. DESIGN: A nationwide case-control study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Using a 5% random sample of all Medicare beneficiaries, we analyzed Medicare claims data on 60803 persons 65 years of age and older who underwent cataract extraction in 1986 or 1987 and a control group of 63765 persons matched to the cases for age, race, sex, ZIP code, and reason for Medicare entitlement. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Atherosclerosis and atherosclerosis-related disease and procedures were defined by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, codes or by Health Care Financing Administration Common Procedure Classification System (Current Procedural Terminology) codes. The strength of evidence for atherosclerotic disease was categorized on the basis of the types of bills in the Medicare claims file. RESULTS: Odds of atherosclerosis-related morbidity and procedures were higher for cases than for controls. The association decreased with patient age and was strongest in beneficiaries aged 65 to 69 years (odds ratio, 1.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-1.48). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that there is a weak association between a visually significant cataract requiring surgery and atherosclerosis in the younger elderly.

Variation in ophthalmic testing prior to cataract surgery. Results of a national survey of optometrists. Cataract Patient Outcome Research Team.

OBJECTIVE: To assess variation in optometrists' use of ophthalmic tests in the evaluation of patients being considered for cataract surgery who have no history of other eye disease. DESIGN/PARTICIPANTS: National survey of a systematic sample of practicing members of the American Optometric Association (St Louis, Mo), who had referred at least one patient to an ophthalmologist for consideration of cataract surgery in 1991. RESULTS: Ninety-two of 130 eligible responding optometrists reported that they routinely performed preoperative testing on patients being considered for cataract surgery. Of these 92 optometrists, 91 (99%) frequently or always performed refraction, and 82 (89%) frequently or always performed a dilated fundus examination in their evaluation of patients being considered for cataract surgery who had no history of other eye disease. None of these 92 optometrists reported using B-scan ultrasonography or electroretinograms frequently or always, and few used A-scan ultrasonography or visual evoked responses frequently or always. A substantial percentage frequently or always used formal visual field testing (47%), formal color vision testing (40%), fundus photography (24%), potential acuity measurement (25%), glare testing (23%), contrast sensitivity testing (19%), and specular microscopy (14%), while 11% to 81% of optometrists never performed these tests on such patients. More recent graduation from optometry school was associated with a decreased frequency of use of potential acuity measurement and contrast sensitivity testing and with an increased use of dilated fundus examinations. CONCLUSION: There is a substantial variation in optometrists self-reported use of a number of ophthalmic tests in the preoperative evaluation of patients being considered for cataract surgery who have no history of other eye disease.

Preoperative functional expectations and postoperative outcomes among patients undergoing first eye cataract surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the relationship between patients' preoperative expectations regarding the outcome of cataract surgery and actual postoperative experience. METHODS: A longitudinal study of 772 patients undergoing first eye cataract surgery recruited from 75 ophthalmology practices in three metropolitan areas was conducted. Prior to surgery and approximately 4 months after surgery, a detailed interview was conducted that included general and vision-specific health status measures (including the Visual Function 12-Item Scale [VF-12]), patient-reported level of trouble and satisfaction with vision, and questions addressing patients' preoperative expectations regarding the outcomes of surgery. In addition, detailed clinical data were collected preoperatively and postoperatively. A total of 552 patients had only single eye cataract surgery by 4 months postoperatively and are included in this analysis. RESULTS: Patients' preoperative expectations regarding the impact of cataract surgery were very high and were unrelated to their demographic or ocular characteristics. The preoperative VF-12 score, however, was positively correlated with expected postoperative VF-12 score (Spearman correlation, .45, P < .001). Only 61% of patients achieved or surpassed their expected level of postoperative functioning. The difference between expected and actual postoperative VF-12 scores was not associated with patients' demographic characteristics or provider-related variables. Older patients (> 75 years) and patients with ocular comorbidity had a larger difference between expected and actual postoperative functioning than younger patients and those without ocular comorbidity. CONCLUSION: Expectations regarding visual functioning after cataract surgery are very high, and in most cases such expectations are fulfilled. In selected cases, more comprehensive counseling may reduce the discrepancy between expectations and actual outcomes of cataract surgery.

Cataract surgical techniques. Preferences and underlying beliefs.

To characterize the intraoperative procedures employed by cataract surgeons in the United States and the beliefs underlying the practices, a standardized questionnaire was sent to a systematic random sample of members of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 1992. Of 667 surveyed ophthalmologists, 550 completed the questionnaire (response rate, 82.5%). Phacoemulsification was used for more than 75% of routine cataract surgery by 46% of respondents, whereas standard extracapsular surgery was used for more than 75% of routine cataract surgery by 41% of respondents. Preferential use of phacoemulsification was independently associated with more recent graduation from medical school and higher reported annual surgical volume. Continuous tear capsulotomy was employed by 52% of ophthalmologists. Preference for this technique was independently associated with both the use of phacoemulsification and higher annual surgical volume. Seventy-one percent of respondents used retrobulbar anesthesia, whereas 28% used peribulbar anesthesia. Use of peribulbar anesthesia was independently associated with both greater surgical volume and performance of surgery in an ambulatory surgical center. Beliefs regarding comparative safety and effectiveness were reported to influence surgeons' preferences strongly among all of the competing techniques studied. Those performing phacoemulsification, in comparison with those performing extracapsular cataract extraction, reported that the expectation of reduced astigmatism and shorter recovery time strongly influenced their choice of procedure. Variation in preferred intraoperative techniques is substantial for cataract surgery and the beliefs that underlie the preferences. Such variation highlights the need to determine which techniques maximize patient outcomes and are most cost-effective.