Effectiveness and Feasibility of Telehealth-Based Dietary Interventions Targeting Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Telehealth-based dietary interventions were recommended for cardiovascular disease (CVD) management during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, data regarding their effectiveness and feasibility are limited. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine (1) the effectiveness of telehealth-based dietary interventions in improving clinical CVD risk factors and (2) the feasibility of these interventions among individuals with CVD. METHODS: To conduct this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 2 investigators searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases based on predetermined search terms and included English-language RCTs published between January 2000 and July 2022. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was used to assess RCT quality. To evaluate intervention effectiveness, weight, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, or blood glucose were compared postintervention in telehealth and usual care (UC) groups. Feasibility was determined through the number of participants retained in intervention and UC groups. Pooled data for each CVD outcome were analyzed using a random effects model. Mean difference (MD), standardized MD, or risk ratio were calculated using R software. RESULTS: A total of 13 RCTs with 3013 participants were included in the analysis to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of telehealth-based dietary interventions among individuals with CVD. Participants had a mean age of 61.0 (SD 3.7) years, and 18.5% (n=559) were women. Approximately one-third of RCTs were conducted in the United States (n=4, 31%). Included studies used telephone, app, text, audio-visual media, or website-based interventions. Of the 13 included studies, 3 were of high quality, 9 were of moderate quality, and only 1 was of low quality. Pooled estimates showed systolic blood pressure (MD -2.74, 95% CI -4.93 to -0.56) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (standardized MD -0.11, 95% CI -0.19 to -0.03) to be significantly improved among individuals with CVD as a result of telehealth-based dietary interventions compared to UC. No significant difference in effectiveness was detected for weight, BMI, and levels of diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides between telehealth-based dietary interventions and UC among those with CVD. There was no significant difference between the feasibility of telehealth-based dietary interventions versus UC. Significant I2 indicated moderate to considerable heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: Telehealth-based dietary interventions show promise in addressing CVD risk factors.

Association of Life's Simple 7 and ideal cardiovascular health in American Indians/Alaska Natives.

OBJECTIVE: American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) are an understudied population at high risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs); little is known about contextual factors contributing to CVDs in AI/ANs. This study examined the association of Life's Simple 7 (LS7) factors and social determinants of health (SDH) with CVD outcomes in a nationally representative sample of AI/ANs. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 8497 AI/ANs using 2017 Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance Survey data. Individual LS7 factors were summarised as ideal and poor levels. Coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction and stroke were defined as CVD outcomes. Healthcare access measures represented SDH. Logistic regression analyses examined associations of LS7 factors and SDH with CVD outcomes. Population attributable fractions (PAFs) quantified individual contributions of LS7 factors to CVD outcomes. RESULTS: N=1,297 (15%) participants with CVD outcomes were identified. Smoking, physical inactivity, diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia were LS7 factors associated with CVD outcomes. Hypertension was the largest contributor to CVD (aPAF 42%; 95% CI 37% to 51%), followed by hyperlipidaemia (aPAF 27%; 95% CI 17% to 36%) and diabetes (aPAF 18%; 95% CI 7% to 23%). Compared with individuals with poor LS7 levels, participants with ideal levels showed 80% lower odds of CVD outcomes (aOR 0.20; 95% CI 0.16 to 0.25). Access to health insurance (aOR 1.43, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.89) and a regular care provider (aOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.24 to 1.76) were associated with CVD outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Effective interventions are needed to address SDH and attain ideal LS7 factors to improve cardiovascular health among AI/ANs.

Non-visible disease, the hidden disruptive experiences of chronic illness in adversity.

Objective: This study's principal aim was to describe the lived reality for people with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and other chronic health conditions, who live in economically deprived neighbourhoods in a city in North West England. Methodology: This is a qualitative, exploratory study based on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with participants experiencing compromised cardiovascular health, conducted in August 2017. The study sample comprised 14 adults (3 females) aged 54 to 76. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis, and the biographical disruption concept was used as theoretical reference to explore the results. Wider health inequalities literature supplemented the individual experiences of chronic illness. Results: Four main themes were developed from the data: (1) chronic illness as a disruptive experience; (2) struggling for money; (3) lifestyle and health risks; and (4) reflections on current inequalities. The varied nature of participants' narratives about their chronic illness indicated that the experience of biographical disruption depends on the wider socioeconomic and cultural factors of the individual. Discussion: This study suggests that biographical disruption theory combined with health inequalities contexts highlights the role of hidden suffering and enhances the understanding of chronic illness experiences and thus informs clinical management, service and public health planning.

Factors Associated with Inpatient Hospital (Re)admissions in Medicare Beneficiaries in Need of Food Assistance.

Little is known about pathways underlying inpatient hospital (re)admissions in older adults unable to meet basic needs. This study examined the factors associated with (re)admissions in a sample of low-income older Medicare beneficiaries in need of food assistance in Georgia in 2008 (N = 892, mean age 75.4 ± 8.8 years, 30.3% Black, 68.5% female). About 35.3% of the sample experienced 1 + hospital (re)admissions. (Re)admissions were significantly more likely in individuals who requested Older Americans Act Nutrition Program Home Delivered Meals services (OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.4, 3.8), had more outpatient emergency room visits (1 visit: OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.4, 3.1; 2+ visits: OR 3.6; 95% CI 2.4, 5.4), and experienced greater multimorbidity (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4, 3.1). Support for home and community-based services may be critical in reducing potentially avoidable inpatient hospital (re)admissions.

Food insecurity and medication adherence in low-income older Medicare beneficiaries with type 2 diabetes.

Little is known about diabetes management among low-income older Americans. This study used statewide self-administered survey and Medicare claims data to examine the relationships of food insecurity and medication (re)fill adherence in a sample of Medicare Part D beneficiaries with type 2 diabetes in need of food assistance in Georgia in 2008 (n = 243, mean age 74.2 ± 7.8 years, 27.2% African American, 77.4% female). (Re)fill adherence to oral hypoglycemics was measured as Proportion of Days Covered. Food insecurity was assessed using a six-item validated standard measure. About 54% of the sample were food insecure. About 28% of the diabetic sample did not (re)fill any diabetes medication and over 80% had at least one diabetes complication. Food insecure participants showed comparable (re)fill adherence to food secure participants. However, 57% of food insecure participants were nonadherent to oral hypoglycemics. Underlying basic needs must be addressed to improve diabetes management in this population.

Medication (re)fill adherence measures derived from pharmacy claims data in older Americans: a review of the literature.

Medication nonadherence is a significant public health problem that affects the health and well-being of older Americans while burdening the US healthcare system. Pharmacy claims data have gained importance in deriving objective medication (re)fill adherence measures; however, little is known about application of such measures in older Americans. The objective of this study was to assess the types and characteristics of pharmacy claims-derived medication (re)fill adherence measures used in older Americans. A comprehensive literature search strategy was employed to identify all articles using pharmacy claims data to measure (re)fill adherence to prescription medications in older Americans aged 65+ years. Included were articles reporting original research studies conducted and published in the USA in English between 1 January 2000 and 1 November 2012. The basic search used multiple key terms indicating adherence, combined with the term "medication" and the term "pharmacy claims or administrative claims." Due to the variety of measure names used in the literature, a more specific search was added to repeat the basic search for 29 previously used medication (re)fill adherence measure names. Articles identified through the database search were manually reviewed to select only articles meeting the inclusion criteria. The search resulted in a total of 36 articles. Information on medication (re)fill measurements were extracted and summarized. The 36 articles used 20 differently named measures under the three main concepts: medication adherence, persistence, and discontinuation. Measures of medication adherence cumulatively assessed the proportion of time at which medications were (not) filled over a predefined observation period (e.g., medication possession ratio). Measures of medication persistence assessed the continuity of medication filling over a specified time period, while medication discontinuation measures focused on termination of medication (re)fills. Overall, almost two thirds of all identified articles used a single medication (re)fill adherence measure. Among them, 77 % used a medication possession measure. The term "medication possession ratio" (MPR) was used most frequently (65 %), followed by the "proportion of days covered" (PDC; 30 %). No single measure can be generally recommended for the use in older Americans. The challenges in using pharmacy claims-based medication (re)fill adherence measures in older Americans include a lack of consensus terminology and algorithms among measures of the same concepts, insufficient transparency of individual measure operationalization, and inadequate consideration of unique characteristics of the older population, such as temporary nursing home care. Although medication (re)fill adherence measures may be well suited for measuring medication adherence in older Americans, little guidance is available on how to use them in this population. Further efforts need to be given to the development and standardization of pharmacy claims-based medication (re)fill measures that are specifically tailored toward use in older Americans.

Persistent food insecurity is associated with higher levels of cost-related medication nonadherence in low-income older adults.

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between changes in food insecurity (FI) and cost-related medication nonadherence (CRN) among Older Americans Act Nutrition Program participants and wait-listed individuals in Georgia. This study used data collected from 3 waves of self-administered mail surveys conducted 4 months apart in 2008 and 2009 (n = 664, mean age 74.6 ± 8.9 years, 71.5% female, 31.0% African American). FI was assessed by using a validated 6-item U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module. Practice of 5 CRN behaviors was evaluated. Changes in FI and CRN were determined based on ≥ 2 repeated measures. Participants with persistent FI and CRN were more likely to be younger, low-income, and in poorer health. After controlling for potential confounders, persistently food insecure individuals and those who became food insecure showed 8.2 (95% CI: 5.4-12.5) times and 5.3 (95% CI: 3.2-8.8) times increased odds of reporting higher levels of CRN than persistently food secure individuals.