Predictive modeling of initiation and delayed mental health contact for depression.

BACKGROUND: Depression is prevalent among Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Veterans, yet rates of Veteran mental health care utilization remain modest. The current study examined: factors in electronic health records (EHR) associated with lack of treatment initiation and treatment delay; the accuracy of regression and machine learning models to predict initiation of treatment. METHODS: We obtained data from the VA Corporate Data Warehouse (CDW). EHR data were extracted for 127,423 Veterans who deployed to Iraq/Afghanistan after 9/11 with a positive depression screen and a first depression diagnosis between 2001 and 2021. We also obtained 12-month pre-diagnosis and post-diagnosis patient data. Retrospective cohort analysis was employed to test if predictors can reliably differentiate patients who initiated, delayed, or received no mental health treatment associated with their depression diagnosis. RESULTS: 108,457 Veterans with depression, initiated depression-related care (55,492 Veterans delayed treatment beyond one month). Those who were male, without VA disability benefits, with a mild depression diagnosis, and had a history of psychotherapy were less likely to initiate treatment. Among those who initiated care, those with single and mild depression episodes at baseline, with either PTSD or who lacked comorbidities were more likely to delay treatment for depression. A history of mental health treatment, of an anxiety disorder, and a positive depression screen were each related to faster treatment initiation. Classification of patients was modest (ROC AUC = 0.59 95%CI = 0.586-0.602; machine learning F-measure = 0.46). CONCLUSIONS: Having VA disability benefits was the strongest predictor of treatment initiation after a depression diagnosis and a history of mental health treatment was the strongest predictor of delayed initiation of treatment. The complexity of the relationship between VA benefits and history of mental health care with treatment initiation after a depression diagnosis is further discussed. Modest classification accuracy with currently known predictors suggests the need to identify additional predictors of successful depression management.

Associations of prenatal maternal depressive symptoms with cord blood glucocorticoids and child hair cortisol levels in the project viva and the generation R cohorts: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies have reported conflicting results regarding the association of prenatal maternal depression with offspring cortisol levels. We examined associations of high levels of prenatal depressive symptoms with child cortisol biomarkers. METHODS: In Project Viva (n = 925, Massachusetts USA), mothers reported their depressive symptoms using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) during pregnancy, cord blood glucocorticoids were measured at delivery, and child hair cortisol levels were measured in mid-childhood (mean (SD) age: 7.8 (0.8) years) and early adolescence (mean (SD) age: 13.2 (0.9) years). In the Generation R Study (n = 1644, Rotterdam, The Netherlands), mothers reported depressive symptoms using the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) during pregnancy, and child hair cortisol was measured at a mean (SD) age of 6.0 (0.5) years. We used cutoffs of ≥ 13 for the EPDS and > 0.75 for the BSI to indicate high levels of prenatal depressive symptoms. We used multivariable linear regression models adjusted for child sex and age (at outcome), and maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, education, social support from friends/family, pregnancy smoking status, marital status, and household income to assess associations separately in each cohort. We also meta-analyzed childhood hair cortisol results from both cohorts. RESULTS: 8.0% and 5.1% of women respectively experienced high levels of prenatal depressive symptoms in Project Viva and the Generation R Study. We found no associations between high levels of maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy and child cortisol biomarkers in either cohort. CONCLUSIONS: The present study does not find support for the direct link between high levels of maternal depressive symptoms and offspring cortisol levels.

Postoperative Endothelial Cell Density Is Associated with Late Endothelial Graft Failure after Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty.

PURPOSE: To determine whether preoperative endothelial cell density (ECD) and postoperative ECD after Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) are associated with late endothelial graft failure (LEGF) in the Cornea Preservation Time Study (CPTS). DESIGN: Cohort study within a multicenter, randomized clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1007 individuals (1223 study eyes), mean age 70 years, undergoing DSAEK for Fuchs' dystrophy (94% of eyes) or pseudophakic or aphakic corneal edema (PACE) (6% of eyes) and followed for up to 5 years. METHODS: Central ECD was determined by a central image analysis reading center. Preoperative ECD was determined for 1209 eyes that did not fail and 14 eyes that experienced LEGF. The ECD at 6 and 12 months after DSAEK, the change in ECD from preoperative to 6 and 12 months, surgeon-reported operative complications, and postoperative graft dislocation were investigated for an association with LEGFs unrelated to other postoperative events. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess associations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Late endothelial graft failure and its associations with pre- and postoperative ECD and operative complications. RESULTS: The cumulative probability of LEGF was 1.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.8%-2.4%). Median (interquartile range [IQR]) preoperative ECDs were similar for eyes with LEGF (2523; 2367-3161) cells/mm2) and eyes without failure (2727; 2508-2973) cells/mm2) (P = 0.34). The ECD at 6 months was associated with LEGF (P < 0.001) in time-to-event analyses, whereas preoperative ECD was not (P = 0.55). The cumulative incidence (95% CI) of LEGF was 6.5% (3.0%, 14.0%) for 97 grafts with a 6-month ECD less than 1200 cells/mm2, 0.3% (0.0%, 2.4%) for 310 grafts with a 6-month ECD between 1200 and 2000 cells/mm2, and 0.6% (0.1%, 2.7%) for 589 grafts with a 6-month ECD greater than 2000 cells/mm2. In multivariable analyses, ECD at 6 months and operative complications were both associated with LEGF (P = 0.002 and P = 0.01, respectively), whereas graft dislocation was not (P = 0.61). CONCLUSIONS: In eyes undergoing DSAEK, preoperative ECD is unrelated to LEGF, whereas lower ECD at 6 months is associated with LEGF. Early endothelial cell loss after DSAEK and intraoperative complications should be minimized to improve graft survival.

Mental health treatment utilization patterns among 108,457 Afghanistan and Iraq veterans with depression.

People with depression often underutilize mental health care. This study was conceived as a first step toward a clinical decision support tool that helps identify patients who are at higher risk of underutilizing care. The primary goals were to (a) describe treatment utilization patterns, early termination, and return to care; (b) identify factors associated with early termination of treatment; and (c) evaluate the accuracy of regression models to predict early termination. These goals were evaluated in a retrospective cohort analysis of 108,457 U.S. veterans who received care from the Veterans Health Administration between 2001 and 2021. Our final sample was 16.5% female with an average age of 34.5. Veterans were included if they had a depression diagnosis, a positive depression screen, and received general health care services at least a year before and after their depression diagnosis. Using treatment quality guidelines, the threshold for treatment underutilization was defined as receiving fewer than four psychotherapy sessions or less than 84 days of antidepressants. Over one fifth of veterans (21.6%) received less than the minimally recommended care for depression. The odds of underutilizing treatment increased with lack of Veterans Administration benefits, male gender, racial/ethnic minority status, and having received mental health treatment in the past (adjusted OR > 1.1). Posttraumatic stress disorder comorbidity correlated with increased depression treatment utilization (adjusted OR < .9). Models with demographic and clinical information from medical records performed modestly in classifying patients who underutilized depression treatment (area under the curve = 0.595, 95% CI [0.588, 0.603]). Most veterans in this cohort received at least the minimum recommended treatment for depression. To improve the prediction of underutilization, patient factors associated with treatment underutilization likely need to be supplemented by additional clinical information. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and women's fertility outcomes in a Singaporean population-based preconception cohort.

OBJECTIVES: Experimental models have demonstrated a link between exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and decreased fertility and fecundability; however, human studies are scarce. We assessed the associations between preconception plasma PFAS concentrations and fertility outcomes in women. METHODS: In a case-control study nested within the population-based Singapore Preconception Study of Long-Term Maternal and Child Outcomes (S-PRESTO), we measured PFAS in plasma collected in 2015-2017 from 382 women of reproductive age trying to conceive. Using Cox proportional hazards regression (fecundability ratios [FRs]) and logistic regression (odds ratios [ORs]) models, we assessed the associations of individual PFAS with time-to-pregnancy (TTP), and the likelihoods of clinical pregnancy and live birth, respectively, over one year of follow-up, adjusting for analytical batch, age, education, ethnicity, and parity. We used Bayesian weighted quantile sum (BWQS) regression to assess the associations of the PFAS mixture with fertility outcomes. RESULTS: We found a 5-10 % reduction in fecundability per quartile increase of exposure to individual PFAS (FRs [95 % CIs] for clinical pregnancy = 0.90 [0.82, 0.98] for PFDA; 0.88 [0.79, 0.99] for PFOS; 0.95 [0.86, 1.06] for PFOA; 0.92 [0.84, 1.00] for PFHpA). We observed similar decreased odds of clinical pregnancy (ORs [95 % CIs] = 0.74 [0.56, 0.98] for PFDA; 0.76 [0.53, 1.09] for PFOS; 0.83 [0.59, 1.17] for PFOA; 0.92 [0.70, 1.22] for PFHpA) and live birth per quartile increases of individual PFAS and the PFAS mixture (ORs [95 % CIs] = 0.61 [0.37, 1.02] for clinical pregnancy, and 0.66 [0.40, 1.07] for live birth). Within the PFAS mixture, PFDA followed by PFOS, PFOA, and PFHpA were the biggest contributors to these associations. We found no evidence of association for PFHxS, PFNA, and PFHpS and the fertility outcomes examined. CONCLUSIONS: Higher PFAS exposures may be associated with decreased fertility in women. The potential impact of ubiquitous PFAS exposures on infertility mechanisms requires further investigation.

Diabetes Telehealth Solutions: Improving Self-Management Through Remote Initiation of Continuous Glucose Monitoring.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate feasibility of initiating continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) through telehealth as a means of expanding access. Adults with type 1 diabetes (N = 27) or type 2 diabetes using insulin (N = 7) and interest in starting CGM selected a CGM system (Dexcom G6 or Abbott FreeStyle Libre), which they received by mail. CGM was initiated with a certified diabetes care and education specialist providing instruction via videoconference or phone. The primary outcome was days per week of CGM use during the last 4 weeks. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was measured at baseline and 12 weeks. Participant self-reported outcome measures were also evaluated. All 34 participants (mean age, 46 ±â€…18 years; 53% female, 85% white) were using CGM at 12 weeks, with 94% using CGM at least 6 days per week during weeks 9 to 12. Mean HbA1c decreased from 8.3 ±â€…1.6 at baseline to 7.2 ±â€…1.3 at 12 weeks (P < .001) and mean time in range (70-180 mg/dL, 3.9-10.0 mmol/L) increased from an estimated 48% ±â€…18% to 59% ±â€…20% (P < .001), an increase of approximately 2.7 hours/day. Substantial benefits of CGM to quality of life were observed, with reduced diabetes distress, increased satisfaction with glucose monitoring, and fewer perceived technology barriers to management. Remote CGM initiation was successful in achieving sustained use and improving glycemic control after 12 weeks as well as improving quality-of-life indicators. If widely implemented, this telehealth approach could substantially increase the adoption of CGM and potentially improve glycemic control for people with diabetes using insulin.

Factors Associated With Graft Rejection in the Cornea Preservation Time Study.

PURPOSE: To identify factors related to graft rejection following Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) in the Cornea Preservation Time Study (CPTS). DESIGN: Cohort study within a multicenter randomized clinical trial. METHODS: A total of 1330 eyes of 1090 subjects undergoing DSAEK were randomized to receive a donor cornea with preservation time (PT) of 0-7 days (n = 675) or 8-14 days (n = 655) and followed for 3 years. Central endothelial cell density (ECD) was determined by a central image analysis reading center. Multivariable Cox models adjusted for PT, recipient diagnosis, and surgeon effect were used to identify factors associated with rejection. RESULTS: Cumulative probability of definite graft rejection was 3.6% (99% confidence interval 2.5%-5.3%). Younger recipient age was associated with graft rejection (P < .001; hazard ratio: 0.53 [0.33, 0.83] per decade). PT, donor-recipient sex mismatch, recipient diagnosis, recipient race, graft size, discontinuation of topical corticosteroids and immune-modulators, prior immunizations within 3 months, and prior glaucoma surgery were not associated with rejection (P > .01). Among clear grafts with an ECD measurement at baseline and 3 years (n = 913), endothelial cell loss (ECL) was greater in eyes that experienced a rejection episode (n = 27) than in those that did not (n = 886) (48% vs 38%, P = .03). Twelve of 44 eyes (27%) with definite graft rejection subsequently failed, comprising 15% of the 79 failures in the CPTS. CONCLUSIONS: Graft rejection is uncommon after DSAEK and more likely with younger age, in a study cohort mostly > 50 years old. Rejection increases ECL, but it is not a leading cause of DSAEK failure.