Abuse-deterrent formulations and opioid-related harms in North Carolina, 2010-2018.

Abuse-deterrent formulations of opioid analgesics (ADFs) were introduced to reduce opioid-related harms among pain patients, but post-marketing study results have been mixed. However, these studies may be subject to bias from selection criteria, comparator choice, and potential confounding by "indication," highlighting the need for thorough study design considerations. In a sample of privately insured patients prescribed ADF or non-ADF extended-release/long-acting (ER/LA) opioids in North Carolina, we implemented a version of the prevalent new-user design to evaluate the relationship between ADFs and opioid use disorder (OUD, n=235) and opioid overdose (n=18) through six months of follow-up using inverse probability-weighted cumulative incidence functions and Fine-Gray models. The weighted hazard [HRw] of opioid overdose among patients initiating ADFs was 0.87 (95% CI: 0.23, 3.24) times as high as among patients who initiated, restarted, or continued non-ADF ER/LA opioids. We observed a short-term benefit of ADFs for incident OUD (HRw=0.58; 95% CI: 0.35, 0.93) compared to non-ADF ER/LA opioids in the first six weeks of follow-up, but this benefit disappeared later in follow-up (HRw=1.30; 0.86, 1.95). In summary, our findings add to the expanding body of evidence that there is no clear long-term reduction in harm from ADF opioids among patients in outpatient use.

Matching study design to prescribing intention: The prevalent new-user design for studying abuse-deterrent formulations of opioids.

PURPOSE: In drug studies, research designs requiring no prior exposure to certain drug classes may restrict important populations. Since abuse-deterrent formulations (ADF) of opioids are routinely prescribed after other opioids, choice of study design, identification of appropriate comparators, and addressing confounding by "indication" are important considerations in ADF post-marketing studies. METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study using claims data (2006-2018) from a North Carolina private insurer [NC claims] and Merative MarketScan [MarketScan], we identified patients (18-64 years old) initiating ADF or non-ADF extended-release/long-acting (ER/LA) opioids. We compared patient characteristics and described opioid treatment history between treatment groups, classifying patients as traditional (no opioid claims during prior six-month washout period) or prevalent new users. RESULTS: We identified 8415 (NC claims) and 147 978 (MarketScan) ADF, and 10 114 (NC claims) and 232 028 (MarketScan) non-ADF ER/LA opioid initiators. Most had prior opioid exposure (ranging 64%-74%), and key clinical differences included higher prevalence of recent acute or chronic pain and surgery among patients initiating ADFs compared to non-ADF ER/LA initiators. Concurrent immediate-release opioid prescriptions at initiation were more common in prevalent new users than traditional new users. CONCLUSIONS: Careful consideration of the study design, comparator choice, and confounding by "indication" is crucial when examining ADF opioid use-related outcomes.

Predictors of postoperative opioid use in ventral and incisional hernia repair.

BACKGROUND: One in two ventral and incisional hernia repair (VIHR) patients have preoperative opioid prescription within a year before procedure. The study's aim was to investigate risk factors of increased postoperative prescription filling in patients with or without preoperative opioid prescription. METHODS: VIHR cases from 2013 to 2017 were reviewed. State prescription drug monitoring program data were linked to patient records. The primary endpoint was cumulative opioid dose dispensed through post-discharge day 45. Morphine milligram equivalent (MME) was used for uniform comparison. RESULTS: 205 patients were included in the study (average age 53.5 years; 50.7% female). Over 35% met criteria for preoperative opioid use. Preoperative opioid tolerance, superficial wound infection, current smoking status, and any dispensed opioids within 45 days of admission were independent predictors for increased postoperative opioid utilization (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Preoperative opioid use during 45-day pre-admission correlated strongly with postoperative prescription filling in VIHR patients, and several independent risk factors were identified.

Deep Neural Networks for Fine-Grained Surveillance of Overdose Mortality.

Surveillance of drug overdose deaths relies on death certificates for identification of the substances that caused death. Drugs and drug classes can be identified through the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), codes present on death certificates. However, ICD-10 codes do not always provide high levels of specificity in drug identification. To achieve more fine-grained identification of substances on death certificate, the free-text cause-of-death section, completed by the medical certifier, must be analyzed. Current methods for analyzing free-text death certificates rely solely on lookup tables for identifying specific substances, which must be frequently updated and maintained. To improve identification of drugs on death certificates, a deep-learning named-entity recognition model was developed, utilizing data from the Kentucky Drug Overdose Fatality Surveillance System (2014-2019), which achieved an F1-score of 99.13%. This model can identify new drug misspellings and novel substances that are not present on current surveillance lookup tables, enhancing the surveillance of drug overdose deaths.

Cannabinoid Poisoning-Related Emergency Department Visits and Inpatient Hospitalizations in Kentucky, 2017 to 2019.

Background and objectives: Cannabis is the most used federally illicit substance. Due to widespread medicinal use and state-level legalization, public perceptions of cannabis have shifted toward the assumption that cannabis is safe. However, cannabinoids can cause adverse medical complications that may lead people to seek treatment. This study characterized cannabinoid poisoning-related medical encounters, poisoning involving cannabinoids and other psychoactive substances, and cannabinoid poisoning-related cardiac complications. Methods: Administrative billing data for emergency department visits and inpatient hospitalizations in acute care facilities with a discharge date from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019 were used to characterize cannabinoid poisoning events in Kentucky, identified by ICD-10-CM diagnosis code T40.7X. Results: There were 1,490 encounters of cannabinoid poisoning; patients were primarily non-Hispanic White males, ages 15-44, who had Medicaid and lived in a metropolitan area. Of those, 31.21% involved poisoning with a second psychoactive substance, primarily stimulants and/or opioids, and 17.72% experienced a cardiac complication. Cannabinoid-polydrug poisoning was associated with inpatient treatment (χ2=199.18, p < 0.001) and cardiac complications (χ2=4.58, p < 0.001). Discussion and Conclusions: These results are consistent with other state-level data. Patients who were diagnosed with cannabis-polydrug poisoning, compared to cannabis alone poisoning, had greater odds of hospital admission and cardiac complications, and longer length of hospital stays. Scientific Significance: The health risks of cannabinoid use must be more broadly recognized, while timely and accurate data need to be shared to guide policies on cannabis access. Future research on cannabinoid poisoning should consider the involvement of other psychoactive drugs.

Accuracy and validity of reported opioid prescription days' supply.

PURPOSE: The primary objective of this study was to estimate the percentage of opioid analgesic (OA) prescriptions dispensed by Kentucky independent pharmacies with correctly entered days' supply in the state prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) system in 2019. METHODS: Using a two-stage cluster design, pharmacies were sampled with probabilities proportional to the volume of dispensed OAs; 100 random OA prescriptions were sampled from PDMP records submitted by each pharmacy. Following recruitment, demographic information and hard-copy prescription data for sampled records were abstracted on-site. Days' supply was independently calculated by two pharmacists using a standard formula with disagreements adjudicated blindly by a third pharmacist. Adjudicated days' supply was compared with that submitted to the PDMP and classified as accurate/inaccurate. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample and a multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess the relationship between accuracy and prescription/practice-related factors. RESULTS: A total of 1281 OA prescriptions were reviewed at 13 participating pharmacies. Accuracy of reported OA days' supply was 89.85%, (95% CI: 86.90, 92.80). Factors associated with accuracy were presence of special instructions from the prescriber (OR 3.13 [95% CI: 1.43, 6.82]), presence of 'as-needed' directions (OR 0.29 [95% CI: 0.18, 0.47]), and billing to a third-party payer (OR 1.43 [95% CI: 1.01, 2.02]). CONCLUSIONS: Accuracy of OA days' supply reported to the state PDMP was found to be moderately high. Certain prescription-related factors influence accuracy and should be accounted for in future studies. Patterns, including opioid 'split-billing' were identified and may impact validity of PDMP and administrative claims studies.

Kentucky pharmacists' experiences in dispensing abuse-deterrent opioid analgesics.

BACKGROUND: Despite pharmaceutical industry promise and enthusiasm, abuse-deterrent formulation (ADF) opioid use is relatively low. While some barriers to use have been addressed through state laws and policy, pharmacists' experiences with and opinions of ADF opioids are unclear. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate pharmacists' perceptions of dispensing ADFs. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey of community pharmacists licensed and practicing in Kentucky conducted in late 2019. The survey asked about perception, experience dispensing, and insurance coverage of 5 ADF opioids available at the time. RESULTS: Most respondents (421/629, 67.9%) were familiar or very familiar with ADFs, and 63.1% agreed that all opioids should meet U.S. Food and Drug Administration standards for abuse deterrence. Aside from OxyContin, most ADF opioid formations were not stocked (range: 46.7%-73.6%). Third-party payer claims were occasionally or almost always rejected for most ADFs (range: 56.3%-75.4%). Contrary to intended mechanism of deterrence, ADFs were rated as the least effective strategy to reduce opioid misuse/abuse, with over half (51.2%) of respondents believing ADFs were not effective or somewhat effective. ADFs were rated as effective or very effective at reducing opioid abuse by swallowing intact by 37.4% of respondents. CONCLUSION: Pharmacists are familiar with ADFs but do not dispense them frequently. Pharmacists appear skeptical about the effectiveness of ADFs but support policies that could increase ADF uptake.

Disparities in Opioid Overdose Death Trends by Race/Ethnicity, 2018-2019, From the HEALing Communities Study.

Objectives. To examine trends in opioid overdose deaths by race/ethnicity from 2018 to 2019 across 67 HEALing Communities Study (HCS) communities in Kentucky, New York, Massachusetts, and Ohio. Methods. We used state death certificate records to calculate opioid overdose death rates per 100 000 adult residents of the 67 HCS communities for 2018 and 2019. We used Poisson regression to calculate the ratio of 2019 to 2018 rates. We compared changes by race/ethnicity by calculating a ratio of rate ratios (RRR) for each racial/ethnic group compared with non-Hispanic White individuals. Results. Opioid overdose death rates were 38.3 and 39.5 per 100 000 for 2018 and 2019, respectively, without a significant change from 2018 to 2019 (rate ratio = 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.98, 1.08). We estimated a 40% increase in opioid overdose death rate for non-Hispanic Black individuals (RRR = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.22, 1.62) relative to non-Hispanic White individuals but no change among other race/ethnicities. Conclusions. Overall opioid overdose death rates have leveled off but have increased among non-Hispanic Black individuals. Public Health Implications. An antiracist public health approach is needed to address the crisis of opioid-related harms. (Am J Public Health. 2021;111(10):1851-1854. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306431).

Validation of ICD-10-CM codes for injuries complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium: a medical record review.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to estimate the positive predictive value (PPV) of International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) codes for injury, poisoning, physical or sexual assault complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (PCP) to capture injury encounters within both hospital and emergency department claims data. METHODS: A medical record review was conducted on a sample (n=157) of inpatient and emergency department claims from one Kentucky healthcare system from 2015 to 2017, with any diagnosis in the ICD-10-CM range O9A.2-O9A.4. Study clinicians reviewed medical records for the sampled cases and used an abstraction form to collect information on documented presence of injury and PCP complications. The study estimated the PPVs and the 95% CIs of O9A.2-O9A.4 codes for (1) capturing injuries and (2) capturing injuries complicating PCP. RESULTS: The estimated PPV for the codes O9A.2-O9A.4 to identify injury in the full sample was 79.6% (95% CI 73.3% to 85.9%) and the PPV for capturing injuries complicating PCP was 72.0% (95% CI 65.0% to 79.0%). The estimated PPV for an inpatient principal diagnosis O9A.2-O9A.4 to capture injuries was 90.7% (95% CI 82.0% to 99.4%) and the PPV for capturing injuries complicating PCP was 88.4% (95% CI 78.4% to 98.4%). The estimated PPV for any mention of O9A.2-O9A.4 in emergency department data to capture injuries was 95.2% (95% CI 90.6% to 99.9%) and the PPV for capturing injuries complicating PCP was 81.0% (95% CI 72.4% to 89.5%). DISCUSSION: The O9A.2-O9A.4 codes captured high percentage true injury cases among pregnant and puerperal women.

Multisite medical record review of emergency department visits for unspecified injury of head following the ICD-10-CM coding transition.

INTRODUCTION: In 2016, a proposed International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition, Clinical Modification surveillance definition for traumatic brain injury (TBI) morbidity was introduced that excluded the unspecified injury of head (S09.90) diagnosis code. This study assessed emergency department (ED) medical records containing S09.90 for evidence of TBI based on medical documentation. METHODS: State health department representatives in Maryland, Kentucky, Colorado and Massachusetts reviewed a target of 385 randomly sampled ED records uniquely assigned the S09.90 diagnosis code (without proposed TBI codes), which were initial medical encounters among state residents discharged home during October 2015-December 2018. Using standardised abstraction procedures, reviewers recorded signs and symptoms of TBI, and head imaging results. A tiered case confirmation strategy was applied that assigned a level of certainty (high, medium, low, none) to each record based on the number and type of symptoms and imaging results present in the record. Positive predictive value (PPV) of S09.90 by level of TBI certainty was calculated by state. RESULTS: Wide variation in PPV of sampled ED records assigned S09.90: 36%-52% had medium or high evidence of TBI, while 48%-64% contained low or no evidence of a TBI. Loss of consciousness was mentioned in 8%-24% of sampled medical records. DISCUSSION: Exclusion of the S09.90 code in surveillance estimates may result in many missed TBI cases; inclusion may result in counting many false positives. Further, missed TBI cases influenced by incidence estimates, based on the TBI surveillance definition, may lead to inadequate allocation of public health resources.

Multisite medical record review of emergency department visits for traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: In 2016, the CDC in the USA proposed codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) for identifying traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study estimated positive predictive value (PPV) of TBI for some of these codes. METHODS: Four study sites used emergency department or trauma records from 2015 to 2018 to identify two random samples within each site selected by ICD-10-CM TBI codes for (1) intracranial injury (S06) or (2) skull fracture only (S02.0, S02.1-, S02.8-, S02.91) with no other TBI codes. Using common protocols, reviewers abstracted TBI signs and symptoms and head imaging results that were then used to assign certainty of TBI (none, low, medium, high) to each sampled record. PPVs were estimated as a percentage of records with medium-certainty or high-certainty for TBI and reported with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: PPVs for intracranial injury codes ranged from 82% to 92% across the four samples. PPVs for skull fracture codes were 57% and 61% in the two university/trauma hospitals in each of two states with clinical reviewers, and 82% and 85% in the two states with professional coders reviewing statewide or nearly statewide samples. Margins of error for the 95% CI for all PPVs were under 5%. DISCUSSION: ICD-10-CM codes for traumatic intracranial injury demonstrated high PPVs for capturing true TBI in different healthcare settings. The algorithm for TBI certainty may need refinement, because it yielded moderate-to-high PPVs for records with skull fracture codes that lacked intracranial injury codes.

Characterization of gabapentin use in Kentucky after reclassification as a Schedule V controlled substance.

BACKGROUND: Owing to increasing concern over the potential for gabapentin misuse, gabapentin was reclassified as a schedule V controlled substance in Kentucky (July 2017). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to characterize gabapentin use among Kentucky residents in the first year after its scheduling. METHODS: This study used Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting data (2018). Gabapentin use was defined as having at least 1 dispensed gabapentin prescription, and high-dose gabapentin use was defined as an average daily dose of more than 3600 mg at the patient level. The prevalence of gabapentin use, concurrent use of gabapentin with opioid analgesics (OAs) (gabapentin-OA), and gabapentin with OAs and benzodiazepines (BDZs) (gabapentin-OA-BDZ) were assessed. Estimated prevalence rate ratio and its 95% CI were reported to compare gabapentin use rates across different demographic groups. RESULTS: A total of 16% of all 2018 controlled substance prescriptions were for gabapentin, and approximately 20% of Kentucky residents with controlled substance prescriptions received gabapentin at least once in 2018. The overall prevalence of gabapentin use was 63 per 1000 residents, with the highest rates among residents aged 55-64 years (126.9 per 1000). The prevalence of gabapentin use was higher in females (74.6 per 1000) versus males (50.6 per 1000) and in residents living in the Appalachian region (88.57 per 1000) versus Central (51.78 per 1000) and Delta (66.41 per 1000) regions. Among gabapentin users, 1% were high-dose users; 27.4% and 11.9% received gabapentin-OA or gabapentin-OA-BDZ concurrently, respectively. As the average daily dose increased from less than 900 mg to high-dose, the percentage of concurrent gabapentin-OA use increased from 13.4% to 50.7%. CONCLUSION: Gabapentin is widely prescribed in Kentucky, with higher rates of use observed in females, those older than 55 years and individuals living in the Appalachian region. Concurrent use of gabapentin and OAs is common, especially in those receiving high-dose gabapentin. Future studies are needed to assess the risks associated with gabapentin use.

Validation of ICD-10-CM surveillance codes for traumatic brain injury inpatient hospitalizations.

Objective: Using inpatient data from a 1,160-bed health system, we assessed the positive predictive value (PPV) of ICD-10-CM (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification) codes included in a traumatic brain injury (TBI) surveillance definition proposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2016. Methods: A random sample of 196 records with ICD-10-CM TBI codes was reviewed. The PPVs for the ICD-10-CM codes' ability to capture true TBI cases were calculated as the percentage of records with confirmed clinical provider-documented TBI and reported with 95% confidence intervals [95%CIs]. Results: The estimated overall PPV was 74% [67.9%, 80.1%] when the codes were listed in any diagnostic field, but 91.5% [86.2%, 96.8%] when listed as the principal diagnosis. S06 codes (intracranial injury) had an overall PPV of 80.2% [74.3%, 86.1%] and 96.9% [93.3%, 100%] when listed as the principal diagnosis. S02.0-.1 codes (vault/base skull fractures) in any position without co-existing S06 codes had a PPV of 15.8% [0%, 33.2%]. Conclusions: Intracranial injury codes (S06) in any diagnostic position had a very high estimated PPV. Further research is needed to determine the utility of other codes included in the CDC proposed definition for TBI surveillance.

Establishment of a comprehensive drug overdose fatality surveillance system in Kentucky to inform drug overdose prevention policies, interventions and best practices.

BACKGROUND: According to the National Center for Health Statistics, Kentucky had the third highest drug overdose fatality rate in the nation in 2015 at 29.9 drug overdose fatalities per 100 000 population. OBJECTIVE: The elevated drug overdose fatality rate necessitated the development and implementation of a comprehensive multisource drug overdose fatality surveillance system (DOFSS). METHODS: DOFSS stakeholder work group members and data sources were identified, and memorandums of understanding were established. The following data sources were used to establish DOFSS: (1) death certificates; (2) autopsy reports; (3) toxicology result reports; (4) coroner reports; and (5) Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting (KASPER) (prescription drug monitoring programme) data. Drug overdose poisonings were defined using Injury Surveillance Workgroup 7 definitions. Analyses were performed to investigate possible drug overdose-related health disparities for disabled drug overdose decedents and to characterise gabapentin in drug overdose deaths. RESULTS: DOFSS identified 2106 drug overdose poisoning fatalities in Kentucky for 2013-2014. Identification of specific drugs involved in drug overdose deaths increased from 75.8% using a single data source to 97.5% using multiple data sources. Disabled drug overdose decedents were significantly more likely to have an active prescription for drugs identified in their system compared with the non-disabled drug overdose decedents. Toxicology data showed increased gabapentin involvement in drug overdose deaths from 2.9% in 2013 to 17% in 2014. Alprazolam was found most often in combination with gabapentin (41%), along with various other benzodiazepines and prescription opioids. CONCLUSIONS: A comprehensive multisource DOFSS improved drug overdose fatality surveillance by increasing completeness of data and data quality. DOFSS is a model that can be considered by other states to enhance their efforts in tracking drug overdose fatalities, identifying new and emerging trends, and informing policies and best practices, to address and reduce drug overdoses.

Newborn Congenital Malformations Associated With Prenatal Exposure to Drugs in Kentucky, 2009-2013.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined associations between prenatal drug exposures and congenital organ system malformation diagnoses in newborns (at birth) and infants (hospitalizations after birth up to 30 days of age) in Kentucky. METHODS: Data were obtained from Kentucky inpatient hospitalization records for newborns and for infants from 2009 to 2013. Prenatal drug exposures and congenital anomalies were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes for prenatal drug exposures (760.70-760.79; 304; 779.5) and congenital anomalies (740-759). Descriptive analyses and logistic regression were performed. RESULTS: Neonatal abstinence syndrome was the most frequent prenatal drug exposure-related diagnosis in newborns (1%). Cardiac and circulatory malformation diagnoses were significantly elevated in newborns prenatally exposed to drugs compared with cardiac and circulatory malformation diagnoses in newborns with no prenatal drug exposures (P < 0.0001); genital and urinary anomalies also were significantly elevated among newborns with prenatal drug exposures (P < 0.05). Newborns and infants diagnosed as having congenital malformations who were prenatally exposed to drugs had significantly extended hospitalization stays and higher total hospitalization charges compared with newborns and infants diagnosed as having congenital malformations who were not prenatally exposed to drugs (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Further research is needed to identify specific risk factors (eg, drug classes, tobacco) and toxicities (eg, intake amount, frequency of intake, drug metabolism) associated with congenital malformation diagnoses following prenatal exposure to drugs.

Healthcare Industry Injuries by Patient Contact Status in Kentucky, 2012-2014.

OBJECTIVES: The healthcare industry continues to have a high number of reported injuries. The purpose of this study was to characterize healthcare industry injuries by patient contact status, identify the occupations associated with healthcare injuries by patient contact status, and determine healthcare injury rates by occupation to gain a better understanding of healthcare industry-compensated injuries and better target safety practices and programs in the healthcare industry. METHODS: Kentucky healthcare industry workers' compensation first reports of injuries from calendar years 2012-2014 were categorized into injuries involved in direct patient contact versus injuries without direct patient contact using narrative text analysis. Injury numbers and rates were calculated for a number of data variables. RESULTS: Healthcare injuries without direct patient contact (55% of all first reports of injuries) occurred more frequently among older workers (45 years old and older [51%]), in "other" occupations such as housekeeping and maintenance (28%), and as a result of falls/slips/trips (39%) and sprains/tears (38%). In contrast, a higher percentage of healthcare injuries involving direct patient contact occurred among workers younger than 35 years (48%), in healthcare support occupations (50%), and resulting from sprains/tears (66%) and lifting/handling (52%), compared with those without direct patient contact. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study can better target the need for new and/or additional specific workplace safety training, especially in the healthcare support and nursing occupations with and without patient contact.

Concurrent alcohol and medication poisoning hospital admissions among older rural and urban residents.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol and medication interactions are projected to increase due to the growth of older adults that are unsafely consuming alcohol and medications. Plus, aging adults who reside in rural areas are at the highest risk of experiencing medication interactions. OBJECTIVE: Estimate concurrent alcohol and medication (alcohol/medication) hospitalizations in adults 50+ years, comparing age groups and rural/urban regions. METHODS: Kentucky nonfederal, acute care inpatient hospital discharge electronic records for individuals aged 50+ years from 2001 to 2012 were examined. Rate differences were estimated across age and regional strata. Differences in the underlying principal diagnosis, intent, and medications were also examined. RESULTS: There were 2168 concurrent alcohol/medication hospitalizations among 50+ year olds identified. There was a 187% increase in alcohol/medication hospitalizations from 2001 (n = 104) to 2012 (n = 299). The per capita alcohol/medication hospitalization rate increased from 8.91 (per 100,000) in 2001 to 19.98 (per 100,000) in 2012, a 124% increase. The characteristics of the hospitalizations included 75% principal diagnosis as medication poisoning, self-harm as the primary intent (55%) in 50-64-year olds, and unintentional intent (41%) in 65+ adults. Benzodiazepines were most often involved in the poisonings (36.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent alcohol/medication hospitalizations in Kentucky are increasing among aging adults. Greater increases in rural areas and the 65+ aged adults were seen, although there were also higher alcohol/medication hospitalizations in urban and 50-64 aged adults. These findings indicate the need for public-health prevention and clinical intervention to better educate and manage alcohol consuming older adults on safe medication and alcohol practices.

Work-related concussion surveillance.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to use multiple state-based data sources (emergency department [ED] visits, hospital discharge [HD] data, and workers' compensation [WC] data) to estimate the 2011 work-related concussion injury rate in Kentucky. METHODS: Deterministic data linkages between the 2011 WC data and ED/HD data were performed. Annual crude rates of work-related concussions per 100,000 employed civilians age 16 years or older were reported. RESULTS: Using the three data sources, the 2011 work-related concussion crude rate was 31.8/100,000, higher for men (38.8/100,000) than for women (24.1/100,000). The use of WC data alone resulted in an estimated rate of only 11.7/100,000. ED data utilization alone resulted in a rate of 21.7/100,000. CONCLUSION: This study's primary recommendation is to use WC, ED, and HD data on a routine basis as part of multiple data source surveillance for work-related concussion injuries.

Patterns of pneumoconiosis mortality in Kentucky: Analysis of death certificate data.

BACKGROUND: Mortality rates associated with total pneumoconiosis, including coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP), have remained elevated. METHODS: 2003-2013 pneumoconiosis mortality data obtained from National Center for Health Statistics and 2011-2013 Kentucky death certificates were analyzed. RESULTS: Total pneumoconiosis mortality rates showed significant linear decreases in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and the U.S. from 2003 to 2013; Pennsylvania and Kentucky had comparable rates in 2003 but while Pennsylvania rates significantly decreased ∼3.0 deaths/million annually, Kentucky rates decreased only 0.5/million annually. Kentucky and Pennsylvania CWP fatality rates were also comparable in 2003 but while Pennsylvania rates decreased 82% over the study period, Kentucky rates decreased only 26%. Kentucky pneumoconiosis deaths primarily occurred in white Appalachian males in-hospital. Diseases leading to pneumoconiosis death were largely respiratory and cardiovascular, with autopsies rarely performed. CONCLUSIONS: Coal worker environmental exposure protection should be enhanced and pneumoconiosis surveillance improvements, including enhanced management of comorbid conditions like COPD, should be considered.