Restarting Warfarin vs Direct Oral Anticoagulants After Major Gastrointestinal Bleeding and Associated Outcomes in Atrial Fibrillation: A Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Limited data exist on the management of anticoagulation after hospitalization for gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) and the risks of recurrent GIB and thromboembolism in patients who are prescribed warfarin vs direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of recurrent GIB and thromboembolism with resumption of anticoagulation after GIB. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of adults with atrial fibrillation prescribed warfarin or DOACs and subsequently hospitalized for GIB. We used claims data from IBM MarketScan Databases from January 2008 through December 2017. Multivariable time-varying regression was used to determine the risks of recurrent GIB and thromboembolism within 6 months of the index hospitalization. RESULTS: There were 2991 patients hospitalized for GIB on anticoagulants (warfarin, n = 1872; rivaroxaban, n = 676; dabigatran, n = 293; and apixaban, n = 250). Of warfarin users, 46% (n = 869) resumed warfarin after discharge compared with 43% (n = 483) of DOAC users who resumed DOACs. In the regression analysis modeling time-varying coefficients for anticoagulant use, warfarin resumption was associated with an increased risk of recurrent GIB (hazard ratio [HR], 2.12; 95% CI, 1.43-3.14; P = .0002) compared with no anticoagulant resumption, whereas there was no association with DOAC resumption and recurrent bleeding (HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 0.81-2.52; P = .22). Rivaroxaban was the only individual DOAC that was associated with recurrent GIB (HR, 2.73; 95% CI, 1.43-5.20; P = .002). Both warfarin (HR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.39-0.96; P = .033) and DOAC (HR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.28-0.98; P = .044) resumption as a class was associated with a decreased risk of thromboembolism. CONCLUSIONS: Either warfarin or DOAC resumption after hospitalization for GIB was associated with a decreased risk of thromboembolism, whereas warfarin and rivaroxaban resumption were associated with an increased risk of recurrent GIB.

Impact of diabetes group visits on patient clinical and self-reported outcomes in community health centers.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes group visits (GVs) are a promising way to deliver high quality care but have been understudied in community health centers (CHCs), across multiple sites, or with a focus on patient-centered outcomes. METHODS: We trained staff and healthcare providers from six CHCs across five Midwestern states to implement a 6-month GV program at their sites. We assessed the impact of diabetes GVs on patient clinical and self-reported outcomes and processes of care compared to patients receiving usual care at these sites during the same period using a prospective controlled study design. RESULTS: CHCs enrolled 51 adult patients with diabetes with glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) ≥ 8% for the GV intervention and conducted chart review of 72 patients receiving usual care. We analyzed A1C at baseline, 6, and 12 months, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), blood pressure, and patient-reported outcomes. GV patients had a larger decrease in A1C from baseline to 6 months (-1.04%, 95% CI: -1.64, -0.44) and 12 months (-1.76, 95% CI: -2.44, -1.07) compared to usual care; there was no change in blood pressure or LDL. GV patients had higher odds of receiving a flu vaccination, foot exam, eye exam, and lipid panel in the past year compared to usual care but not a dental exam, urine microalbumin test, or blood pressure check. For GV patients, diabetes distress decreased, diabetes-related quality of life improved, and self-reported frequency of healthy eating and checking blood sugar increased from baseline to 6 months, but there was no change in exercise or medication adherence. CONCLUSIONS: A diabetes GV intervention improved blood glucose levels, self-care behaviors, diabetes distress, and processes of care among adults with elevated A1Cs compared to patients receiving usual care. Future studies are needed to assess the sustainability of clinical improvements and costs of the GV model in CHCs.

Impact of Early Video Capsule Endoscopy on Hospitalization and Post-hospitalization Outcomes: A Propensity Score-Matching Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) has become the accepted evaluation of choice for patients with suspected small bowel bleeding. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of early as compared to delayed inpatient VCE on post-index hospitalization readmission rates. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study using medical claims from the IBM® Marketscan® Commercial Database from January 1, 2004, through September 30, 2018, including adult patients that underwent an inpatient VCE. Early VCE was defined as occurring on days 0, 1, or 2 of the index hospitalizations, whereas delayed VCE was performed on days 3-7. Propensity matching was performed to create an analytic cohort, and outcomes were assessed using logistic regression. RESULTS: Following propensity score matching, 607 patients undergoing early VCE were matched 1:1 with 607 patients undergoing delayed VCE. The median patient age was 65 (IQR: 56-78) years, and 560 (37.9%) of the included patients were female. The mean time to VCE was 1.6 (± 0.6) days for the early VCE group and 4.0 (± 1.2) days from admission for delayed VCE. In unadjusted comparisons, we found no significant difference between early VCE and delayed VCE with respect to 90-day all-cause readmission (18.6% vs. 17.0%, P = 0.5) or 90-day rebleeding risk (10.5% vs. 8.7%, P = 0.331). Patients undergoing an early VCE had a shorter hospital LOS and less total hospitalization charges. CONCLUSION: Early as compared to delayed inpatient VCE was associated with a reduction in index hospitalization resource utilization. No differences were found with respect to reductions in readmissions or rebleeding events.

The Productivity Requirements of Implementing a Medical Scribe Program.

BACKGROUND: Economic analyses of medical scribes have been limited to individual, specialty-specific clinics. OBJECTIVE: To determine the number of additional patient visits various specialties would need to recover the costs of implementing scribes in their practice at 1 year. DESIGN: Modeling study based on 2015 data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. Scribe costs were based on literature review and a third-party contractor model. Revenue was calculated from direct visit billing, CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) billing, and data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. DATA SOURCES: 2015 data from CMS and the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. TARGET POPULATION: Health care providers. TIME HORIZON: 1 year. PERSPECTIVE: Office-based clinic. OUTCOME MEASURES: The number of additional patient visits a physician must have to recover the costs of a scribe program at 1 year. RESULTS OF BASE-CASE ANALYSIS: An average of 1.34 additional new patient visits per day (295 per year) were required to recover scribe costs (range, 0.89 [cardiology] to 1.80 [orthopedic surgery] new patient visits per day). For returning patients, an average of 2.15 additional visits per day (472 per year) were required (range, 1.65 [cardiology] to 2.78 [orthopedic surgery] returning visits per day). The addition of 2 new patient (or 3 returning) visits per day was profitable for all specialties. RESULTS OF SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS: Results were not sensitive to most inputs, with the exception of hourly scribe cost and inclusion of CPT revenue. LIMITATION: Use of Medicare data and failure to account for indirect costs, downstream revenue, or changes in documentation quality. CONCLUSION: For all specialties, modest increases in productivity due to scribes may allow physicians to see more patients and offset scribe costs, making scribe programs revenue-neutral. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: University of Chicago Medicine's Center for Healthcare Delivery Science and Innovation and the Bucksbaum Institute.

Moral Elevation, Physician Role Models, and Selected Markers of Professional Identity Formation and Well-Being: A Secondary Analysis from Two National Surveys.

OBJECTIVES: Moral elevation is the underlying emotion that arises when witnessing admirable acts, and it is theorized to be the psychological mechanism driving the impact that positive clinical role models have on medical students' professional identity formation (eg, growth in professional virtues, higher sense of meaning, and well-being). This proof-of-concept study explores the development of the Moral Elevation Scale in Medicine by testing the association of moral elevation with various markers of professional identity formation. METHODS: A secondary data analysis of two nationally representative samples of 960 medical students and 2000 physicians was performed. Respondents completed validated measures of moral elevation as well as markers of professional identity formation, including patient-centered virtues (empathic compassion, interpersonal generosity, mindfulness) and measures of well-being (life meaning, life satisfaction, spirituality, burnout). RESULTS: The study obtained adjusted response rates of 56.2% (1047/1863, physician survey) and 48.7% (448/919, student survey). The national estimates for mean moral elevation in medical students and physicians are 4.34/5.00 and 4.22/5.00, respectively. In medical students and physicians, high moral elevation was associated with higher empathic compassion (student odds ratio [OR] 1.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.67; physician OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.23-1.65) and, similarly, generosity. In addition, higher moral elevation in the physician cohort was associated with greater life meaning (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.25-3.32) and similarly spirituality. CONCLUSIONS: In medical students and practicing physicians, self-reported experiences of high moral elevation with physician role models were associated with higher self-reported measures of patient-centered virtues, spirituality, and life meaning. Our Moral Elevation Scale in Medicine demonstrates preliminary promise as a measure to assess environmental precursors needed for virtue development in professional identity formation, but further reliability and validity testing of this measure is needed.

Febrile Neutropenia Syndromes in Children: Risk Factors and Outcomes of Primary, Prolonged, and Recurrent Fever.

BACKGROUND: The approach to recurrent febrile neutropenia (FN) in children with cancer has not been sufficiently addressed and was cited as a research gap in the International Pediatric Fever and Neutropenia (IPFNP) Guideline 2017. METHODS: Retrospective medical record review for all pediatric cancer patients with a diagnosis of FN was performed. Variables were collected at 2 different time sets (at day 1 and day 4 of presentation). Three FN syndromes have been defined based on the duration and time course of the fever: (1) primary: fever resolved before 96 hours and did not follow with recurrent fever; (2) prolonged fever: episodes failing to defervesce after at least 96 hours of antibacterial therapy; (3) recurrent fever: a new episode of fever >72 hours after resolution of the initial fever when a patient remained neutropenic and on antibiotics or if a fever developed within 1 week after antibiotic discontinuation. These entities were compared with define risk factors and adverse outcomes associated with recurrent fever. RESULTS: A total of 633 FN episodes (FNEs) were identified in 268 patients. Each FNE was classified as primary (n=453, 71.5%), prolonged (n=119, 18.7%), or recurrent (n=61, 9.7%). In multivariable analysis, acute myelogenous leukemia (odds ratio [OR]=4.6, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.95-7.24), allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) (OR=4.9, 95% CI: 2.61-7.35), absolute lymphocyte count <300/mm3 (OR=3.8, 95% CI: 1.30-5.02), prior neutropenia of ≥10 days, (OR=3.95, 95% CI: 1.70-5.93) and hypotension (OR=3.65, 95% CI: 1.30-5.86) on day 1 of presentation were all associated with an increased risk of recurrent fever when compared with primary fever. In subset analysis for only the high-risk FN group, hypotension (OR=3.2, 95% CI: 1.80-4.96), prior neutropenia ≥10 days (OR=2.55, 95% CI: 1.40-6.22), and absolute lymphocyte count <300/mm3 at presentation (OR=2.6, P=0.03, 95% CI: 2.65-7.12) were associated with an increased risk of recurrent fever when compared with high-risk FN not developing recurrent fever. Allogeneic SCT (OR=5.9, 95% CI: 2.65-7.12) and prior neutropenia ≥10 days (OR=2.11, 95% CI: 1.25-9.32) were significantly associated with recurrent fever when compared with prolonged fever. Invasive fungal disease was a more common etiology with recurrent fever compared with primary and prolonged fever (P=0.001 and 0.01, respectively). Recurrent fever episodes were more likely to be admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (OR=3, 95% CI: 1.27-6.23) and had a higher 30-day mortality (OR=8, 95% CI: 1.87-71.85) when compared with primary fever. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of risk factors for recurrent fever may enable the early detection infection-related complications of this high-risk group, and possible improved approaches to treatment resulting in decreased morbidity and mortality.

Impact of a medical scribe on clinical efficiency and quality in an academic general internal medicine practice.

BACKGROUND: Scribes have been proposed as an intervention to decrease physician electronic health record (EHR) workload and improve clinical quality. We aimed to assess the impact of a scribe on clinical efficiency and quality in an academic internal medicine practice. METHODS: Six faculty physicians worked with one scribe at an urban academic general internal medicine clinic April through June 2017. Patient visits during the 3 months prior to intervention (baseline, n = 789), unscribed visits during the intervention (concurrent control, n = 605), and scribed visits (n = 579) were included in the study. Clinical efficiency outcomes included time to close encounter, patient time in clinic, and number of visits per clinic session. Quality outcomes included EHR note quality, rates of medication and immunization review, population of patient instructions, reconciliation of outside information, and completion of preventative health recommendations. RESULTS: Median time to close encounter (IQR) was lower for scribed visits [0.4 (4.8) days] compared to baseline and unscribed visits [1.2 (5.9) and 2.9 (5.4) days, both p < 0.001]. Scribed notes were more likely to have a clear history of present illness (HPI) [OR = 7.30 (2.35-22.7), p = 0.001] and sufficient HPI information [OR = 2.21 (1.13-4.35), p = 0.02] compared to unscribed notes. Physicians were more likely to review the medication list during scribed vs. baseline visits [OR = 1.70 (1.22-2.35), p = 0.002]. No differences were found in the number of visits per clinic session, patient time in clinic, completion of preventative health recommendations, or other outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Working with a scribe in an academic internal medicine practice was associated with more timely documentation.

Early Colonoscopy for Diverticular Bleeding Does Not Reduce Risk of Postdischarge Recurrent Bleeding: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Colonoscopy within 24 hours (early colonoscopy) is recommended for patients with colonic diverticular bleeding, but it is unclear if this strategy improves postdischarge outcomes. We aimed to determine whether early colonoscopy is associated with decreased risk of rebleeding and hospital re-admission within 30 days. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study using Marketscan (Truven Health Analytics, Inc, Ann Arbor, MI), a nationwide insurance claims database. From January 2004 through September 2015, patients with a primary diagnosis of diverticular bleeding who underwent inpatient colonoscopy were included. We used propensity score matching to account for differences between recipients of early vs delayed colonoscopy. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine the association between early colonoscopy and rebleeding or hospital re-admission within 30 days of discharge. RESULTS: In total, 20,010 patients underwent colonoscopy for diverticular bleeding; 11,690 underwent early colonoscopy. After propensity matching, 8320 pairs of patients were analyzed. In the matched analysis, higher proportions of patients who received early colonoscopy underwent additional colonoscopies (73%), compared with patients who did not receive early colonoscopy (4%) (P < .0001), but lower proportions received endoscopic interventions (3% vs 8%; P < .0001). On multivariable analysis, early colonoscopy (odds ratio [OR], 1.34; 95% CI, 1.08-1.66; P = .007), transfusion requirement (OR, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.88-2.83; P < .0001), and baseline chronic kidney disease (OR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.49-3.04; P < .0001) were associated with increased risk of rebleeding within 30 days. Early colonoscopy (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.02-1.36; P = .03), endoscopic intervention (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.03-1.81; P = .03), transfusion requirement (OR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.88-2.51; P < .0001), coronary artery disease (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.06-1.51; P = .009), and chronic kidney disease (OR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.54-2.54; P < .0001) were associated with increased re-admission to the hospital within 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: In a propensity-matched analysis, we associated early colonoscopy with increased risk of rebleeding events and hospital re-admissions. However, these observations might be due to confounding factors.

The Impact of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansion on Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis and Treatment: A National Survey of Physicians.

In 2014, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provided funding for states to expand Medicaid coverage to include citizens who earned up to 138% of the federal poverty line. We sought to ascertain whether physicians practicing in Medicaid expansion states reported an increase in Medicaid or newly insured patients with type 2 diabetes in their panels, compared to physicians practicing in non-expansion states. We conducted a 55-question cross-sectional survey of 356 physicians providing outpatient care for adults with type 2 diabetes. We used adjusted multivariate logistic regression analyses to compare responses from physicians who practiced in expansion versus non-expansion states regarding whether they observed an increase since 2014 in (1) the number of Medicaid or newly insured patients with diabetes and (2) the number of additional newly or previously diagnosed patients who were newly receiving care, in their panels, adjusting for physician, practice, and patient-level characteristics, weighted for the U.S. physician population. 41% of eligible recipients responded. 64.2% of physicians who practice in an expansion state report an increase in Medicaid or newly insured patients with diabetes compared with 46.1% who practice in non-expansion states (p = 0.05; Table 2). Compared with physicians who practice in non-expansion states, physicians who practice in Medicaid expansion states are more likely to report an increase in the number of Medicaid or newly insured patients with diabetes in their practice since 2014. The increased access associated with the Medicaid expansion may improve long-term outcomes for patients with type 2 diabetes.

Project on the Good Physician: Further Evidence for the Validity of a Moral Intuitionist Model of Virtuous Caring.

THEORY: In the Project on the Good Physician, the authors propose a moral intuitionist model of virtuous caring that places the virtues of Mindfulness, Empathic Compassion, and Generosity at the heart of medical character education. HYPOTHESES: Hypothesis 1a: The virtues of Mindfulness, Empathic Compassion, and Generosity will be positively associated with one another (convergent validity). Hypothesis 1b: The virtues of Mindfulness and Empathic Compassion will explain variance in the action-related virtue of Generosity beyond that predicted by Big Five personality traits alone (discriminant validity). Hypothesis 1c: Virtuous students will experience greater well-being ("flourishing"), as measured by four indices of well-being: life meaning, life satisfaction, vocational identity, and vocational calling (predictive validity). Hypothesis 1d: Students who self-report higher levels of the virtues will be nominated by their peers for the Gold Humanism Award (predictive validity). Hypothesis 2a-2c: Neuroticism and Burnout will be positively associated with each other and inversely associated with measures of virtue and well-being. METHOD: The authors used data from a 2011 nationally representative sample of U.S. medical students (n = 499) in which medical virtues (Mindfulness, Empathic Compassion, and Generosity) were measured using scales adapted from existing instruments with validity evidence. RESULTS: Supporting the predictive validity of the model, virtuous students were recognized by their peers to be exemplary doctors, and they were more likely to have higher ratings on measures of student well-being. Supporting the discriminant validity of the model, virtues predicted prosocial behavior (Generosity) more than personality traits alone, and students higher in the virtue of Mindfulness were less likely to be high in Neuroticism and Burnout. CONCLUSIONS: Data from this descriptive-correlational study offered additional support for the validity of the moral intuitionist model of virtuous caring. Applied to medical character education, medical school programs should consider designing educational experiences that intentionally emphasize the cultivation of virtue.

Personality Traits Are Associated with Academic Achievement in Medical School: A Nationally Representative Study.

OBJECTIVE: This nationally representative study sought to identify personality traits that are associated with academic achievement in medical school. METHODS: Third-year medical students, who completed an initial questionnaire in January 2011, were mailed a second questionnaire several months later during their fourth year. Controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and burnout, the authors used multivariate logistic regressions to determine whether Big Five personality traits were associated with receiving honors/highest grade in clinical clerkships, failing a course or rotation, and being selected for the Alpha Omega Alpha or Gold Humanism Honor Society. RESULTS: The adjusted response rates for the two surveys were 61 (n = 564/919) and 84% (n = 474/564). The personality trait conscientiousness predicted obtaining honors/highest grade in all clinical clerkships. In contrast, students high in neuroticism were less likely to do well in most specialties. Students with higher conscientiousness were more likely to be inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, while students high in openness or agreeableness traits were more likely to be inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Burnout was not associated with any clinical performance measures. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests the importance of personality traits, particularly conscientiousness, in predicting success during the clinical years of medical school. Medical educators should consider a nuanced examination of personality traits and other non-cognitive factors, particularly for psychiatry.

Project on the Good Physician: A Proposal for a Moral Intuitionist Model of Virtuous Caring.

THEORY: In the Project on the Good Physician, the authors endeavor to advance medical character education by proposing and testing a moral intuitionist model of virtuous caring that may be applicable to physician training. This model proposes that the moral intuition to care/harm motivates students to extend care to those in need. HYPOTHESES: Hypothesis 1: Medical students will report stronger preferences for the intuition to Care/harm over other moral intuitions in clinical decision making. Hypothesis 2: Care/harm will have the strongest correlation with Generosity than the other moral intuitions. Hypothesis 3: There will be positive associations between Care/harm and the caring virtues (Mindfulness, Empathic Compassion, and Generosity). Hypotheses 4-5: The virtue of Empathic Compassion (or Mindfulness) will moderate the relationship between Care/harm and Generosity. Hypotheses 6-7: Neuroticism (or Burnout) will negatively moderate the association between Care/harm and Generosity (or between Empathic Compassion and Generosity). METHOD: The authors used data from a 2011 nationally representative sample of U.S. medical students (N = 500) to test the relationship between the moral intuition to Care/harm and physician caring virtues. Moral intuitions were assessed using the Moral Foundations Questionnaire, whereas physician virtues were measured using scales adapted from validated constructs. RESULTS: The authors found that students reported stronger preferences for the intuition to Care/harm over the four other moral intuitions. Each moral foundation was weakly but significantly correlated with Generosity, yet Care/harm had the strongest correlation among them. Neuroticism and Burnout did not weaken the link between Care/harm and the virtues. CONCLUSIONS: Data from the descriptive-correlational study reported here offer preliminary support for the construct validity of an educational model that targets the moral intuitions. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications of a moral intuitionist approach for medical character education and offers three hypotheses for future empirical research.

The effect of sex and age on the comorbidity burden of OSA: an observational analysis from a large nationwide US health claims database.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a highly prevalent condition but studies exploring the burden of OSA-associated comorbidities have been limited by small sample sizes with underrepresentation of women.We queried the Truven Health MarketScan Research Databases 2003-2012, which is a collection of health insurance claims for working adults and retirees with employer-sponsored health insurance. Adults with a diagnostic code for OSA with at least 12 months of follow-up from the index date of OSA diagnosis were compared to a matched random sample. Comorbidities were assessed using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition, codes. A logistic regression model was constructed to test the independent association between OSA and comorbidities.Our cohort included 1,704,905 patients with OSA and 1,704,417 matched controls. All comorbidities were significantly more prevalent in OSA patients. Type 2 diabetes and ischaemic heart disease were more prevalent in men but hypertension and depression were more prevalent in women with OSA. In contrast, the sex differences in the prevalence of congestive heart failure, arrhythmias and stroke were less pronounced. The prevalence of comorbidities increased with age but the effect of age varied based on the specific comorbidity. The divergence between OSA and controls was more pronounced after the sixth decade of life for most cardiovascular diseases (i.e.heart failure, ischaemic heart disease, stroke and arrhythmias), while depression exhibited an opposite trend. In a fully adjusted model, the odds of all comorbidities were significantly increased in OSA patients.In a large, nationally representative sample of working and retired people, OSA is strongly associated with significant comorbidities in both men and women with unique sex differences emerging.

Sequence patterns in the resolution of clinical instabilities in community-acquired pneumonia and association with outcomes.

BACKGROUND: In patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), indicators of clinical instability at discharge (fever, tachycardia, tachypnea, hypotension, hypoxia, decreased oral intake and altered mental status) are associated with poor outcomes. It is not known whether the order of indicator stabilization is associated with outcomes. OBJECTIVES: To describe variation in the sequences, including whether and in what order, indicators of clinical instability resolve among patients hospitalized with CAP, and to assess associations between patterns of stabilization and patient-level outcomes. DESIGN/PARTICIPANTS / MAIN MEASURES: Chart review ascertained whether and when indicators stabilized and other data for 1,326 adult CAP patients in six U.S. academic medical centers. The sequences of indicator stabilization were characterized using sequence analysis and grouped using cluster analysis. Associations between sequence patterns and 30-day mortality, length of stay (LOS), and total costs were modeled using regression analysis. KEY RESULTS: We found 986 unique sequences of indicator stabilization. Sequence analysis identified eight clusters of sequences (patterns) derived by the order or speed in which instabilities resolved or remained at discharge and inpatient mortality. Two of the clusters (56% of patients) were characterized by almost complete stabilization prior to discharge alive, but differing in the rank orders of four indicators and time to maximum stabilization. Five other clusters (42% of patients) were characterized by one to three instabilities at discharge with variable orderings of indicator stabilization. In models with fast and almost complete stabilization as the referent, 30-day mortality was lowest in clusters with slow and almost complete stabilization or tachycardia or fever at discharge [OR = 0.73, 95% CI = (0.28-1.92)], and highest in those with hypoxia with instabilities in mental status or oral intake at discharge [OR = 3.99, 95% CI = (1.68-9.50)]. CONCLUSIONS: Sequences of clinical instability resolution exhibit great heterogeneity, yet certain sequence patterns may be associated with differences in days to maximum stabilization, mortality, LOS, and hospital costs.

Association of Progestogens and Venous Thromboembolism Among Women of Reproductive Age.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate associations between use of seven progestogens and incident acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) among women of reproductive age. METHODS: This nested matched case-control study identified women aged 15-49 years from January 1, 2010, through October 8, 2018, in the IBM MarketScan databases, a nationwide sample of private insurance claims in the United States. After exclusions, 21,405 women with incident acute VTE (case group), identified by diagnosis codes, were matched 1:5 by year of birth and index date through risk set sampling to 107,025 women without prior VTE (control group). From lowest to highest systemic dose based on a modified hierarchy, progestogens studied were levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (LNG-IUD), oral norethindrone, etonogestrel implant, oral progesterone, oral medroxyprogesterone acetate, oral norethindrone acetate, and depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA). Conditional logistic regression models adjusted for 16 VTE risk factors were used to estimate odds ratios and 99% CIs for incident acute VTE associated with current progestogen use compared with nonuse. The primary analysis treated each progestogen as a binary exposure. Dose, which varied for oral formulations, and chronicity were explored separately. Significance was set at P <.01 to allow for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: Current use of higher-dose progestogens was significantly associated with increased odds of VTE compared with nonuse (oral norethindrone acetate: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.00, 99% CI 1.96-4.59; DMPA: aOR 2.37, 99% CI 1.95-2.88; and oral medroxyprogesterone acetate: aOR 1.98, 99% CI 1.41-2.80). Current use of other progestogens was not significantly different from nonuse (LNG-IUD, etonogestrel implant, and oral progesterone) or had reduced odds of VTE (oral norethindrone). Sensitivity analyses that assessed misclassification bias supported the primary findings. CONCLUSION: Among reproductive-aged women using one of seven progestogens, only use of norethindrone acetate and medroxyprogesterone acetate-considered higher-dose progestogens-was significantly associated with increased odds of incident acute VTE. The roles of progestogen type, dose, and indication for use warrant further study.

Association of Metformin Use With Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Case-Control Study.

Importance: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of irreversible blindness in older adults, appears to have no effective preventive measures. The common antidiabetic drug metformin has been shown to have protective outcomes in multiple age-associated diseases and may have the potential to protect against the development of AMD. Objective: To determine whether metformin use is associated with reduced odds of developing AMD. Design, Setting, and Participants: This case-control study of patients from a nationwide health insurance claims database included a population-based sample of patients. Those aged 55 years and older with newly diagnosed AMD from January 2008 to December 2017 were defined as cases and matched with control participants. Data analyses were completed from June 2019 to February 2020. Exposures: Dosage of metformin and exposure to other prescribed medications, as identified from outpatient drug claims. Main Outcomes and Measures: Risk of developing AMD. Results: A total of 312 404 affected individuals were included (181 817 women [58.2%]). After matching, 312 376 control participants were included (172 459 women [55.2%]; age range, 55 to 107 years). The case group had a slightly higher percentage of participants with diabetes (81 262 participants [26.0%]) compared with the control group (79 497 participants [25.5%]). Metformin use was associated with reduced odds of developing AMD (odds ratio [OR], 0.94 [95% CI, 0.92-0.96]). This association was dose dependent, with low to moderate doses of metformin showing the greatest potential benefit (dosages over 2 years: 1-270 g, OR, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.88-0.94]; 271-600 g, OR, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.87-0.93]; 601-1080 g, OR, 0.95 [95% CI, 0.92-0.98]). Doses of more than 1080 g of metformin over 2 years did not have reduced odds of developing AMD. Both the reduction in odds ratio and the dose-dependent response were preserved in a cohort consisting only of patients with diabetes. Metformin use was associated with a decreased OR of AMD in patients with diabetes without coexisting diabetic retinopathy (OR, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.91-0.95]) but was a risk factor in patients with diabetic retinopathy (OR, 1.07 [95% CI, 1.01-1.15]). Conclusion and Relevance: In this study, metformin use was associated with reduced odds of developing AMD. This association was dose dependent, with the greatest benefit at low to moderate doses. When looking only at patients with diabetes, we saw a preservation of the dose-dependent decrease in the odds of patients developing AMD. Metformin does not appear to be protective in patients with diabetes and coexisting diabetic retinopathy. This study suggests that metformin may be useful as a preventive therapy for AMD and provides the basis for potential prospective clinical trials.

Persistent Opioid Usage After Urologic Intervention and the Impact of Tramadol.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if patients who receive tramadol are as likely to develop persistent usage compared to other opioids after urologic surgery and procedures. METHODS: We identified adults 18 to 64 years old who underwent a urologic procedure in the years 2014 to 2017 using the Truven MarketScan database and subsequently filled an opioid prescription within two weeks of discharge. Patients were excluded if they had any previous opioid prescriptions in the year before surgery. A multivariate logistic regression model was constructed to estimate influence of type of opioid on discharge and various comorbidities on persistent use to determine if persistent use was related to the choice of discharge opioid. We also compared these rates to a 1:3 comorbidities matched, non-surgical cohort of patients from the general population. RESULTS: Overall, 115,687 patients were included. After 1 year, 14.8% of the urologic surgery cohort had persistent opioid usage compared to 10.8% in the opioid naïve matched non-surgical cohort (OR = 1.37; 95% CI 1.35-1.39). Discharge with tramadol was associated with a higher odd of persistent usage compared to class II opioids controlling for type of urologic surgery, age, gender, and pain related comorbidities (OR = 1.23 95% CI 1.13-1.35). The odds of persistent usage varied slightly by type of urologic procedure, but all were higher than matched non-surgical cohort. CONCLUSION: Patients developed persistent opiate usage after urologic surgery compared to a comorbidity matched non-surgical cohort. In this model, tramadol specifically was associated with higher odds of novel persistent opioid usage compared to other opioids. Urologists should not consider tramadol to be a safer choice with regard to developing persistent usage and consider prospective validation of these results.

Medical Assistant Protocol Improves Disparities in Depression Screening Rates.

INTRODUCTION: Depression is a prevalent condition for which screening rates remain low and disparities in screening exist. This study examines the impacts of a medical assistant screening protocol on the rates of depression screening, overall and by sociodemographic groups, in a primary care setting. METHODS: Between September 2016 and August 2018, a quasi-experimental study of adult primary care visits was conducted at an urban academic clinic to ascertain the change in the rates of completion of the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 after the implementation of a medical assistant protocol (intervention) versus that of physician-only screening (control arm). Analyses were conducted between April 2019 and April 2020 and used interrupted time-series models with generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: A total of 45,157 visits by 21,377 unique patients were included. Overall, screening increased from 18% (physician-only screening) to 57% (medical assistant protocol) (p<0.0001). Screening increased for all measured demographics. With physician screening, depression screening was less likely to occur at visits by women (than at visits by men; OR=0.91, 95% CI=0.85, 0.98) and at visits by Black/African American patients (than at visits by White; OR=0.91, 95% CI=0.84, 0.99). However, with the medical assistant protocol, depression screening was more likely to occur at visits by women (than at visits by men; OR=1.07, 95% CI=1.0002, 1.14) and at visits by Black/African American patients (than at visits by White; OR=1.11, 95% CI=1.02, 1.20). In addition, age-related disparities were mitigated for visits by patients aged 40-64 and ≥65 years (e.g., age ≥65 years: physician, OR=0.66, 95% CI=0.59, 0.73; medical assistant protocol, OR=0.78, 95% CI=0.71, 0.85), compared with visits by patients aged 18-39 years. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a medical assistant protocol in a primary care setting may significantly increase depression screening rates while mitigating or removing sociodemographic disparities.