An Institutional Approach to Equity and Improvement in Child Health Outcomes.

Pediatric health inequities are pervasive. Approaches by health care institutions to address inequities often, and increasingly, focus on social needs screening without linked, robust responses. Even when actions in pursuit of health equity do occur within health care institutions, efforts occur in isolation from each other, standing in the way of cross-learning and innovation. Learning network methods hold promise when institutions are confronted with complex, multidimensional challenges. Equity-oriented learning networks may therefore accelerate action to address complex factors that contribute to inequitable pediatric health outcomes, enabling rapid learning along the way. We established an institutional Health Equity Network (HEN) in pursuit of excellent and equitable health outcomes for children and adolescents in our region. The HEN supports action teams seeking to eliminate pediatric health inequities in their clinical settings. Teams deploy targeted interventions to meet patients' and families' needs, addressing both medical and social factors affecting health and wellbeing. The primary, shared HEN measure is the equity gap in hospitalization rates between Black patients and all other patients. The HEN currently has 10 action teams and promotes rapid learning and scaling of interventions via monthly "action period calls" and "solutions labs" focused on successes, challenges, and potential common solutions (eg, scaling of existing medical-legal partnership to subspecialty clinics). In this Advocacy Case Study, we detail the design, implementation, and early outcomes from the HEN, our equity-oriented learning network.

Evaluating the Effects of Food Deserts and Food Swamps in an Urban Burn Patient Population.

Poverty is a known risk factor for burn injury and is associated with residency in food deserts and food swamps. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of residency in food deserts and food swamps and to investigate the relationship between food environment, comorbidities, and wound healing in patients with burns. We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients with burns aged ≥ 18 seen in the emergency department or admitted to the burn service at an American Burn Association-verified urban academic center between January 2016 and January 2022. Patient GeoIDs were used to classify residency in food deserts and food swamps, and comorbidities and demographics were recorded. A subset of patients with <20% total body surface area burns who underwent single-operation split-thickness skin grafting was identified for wound healing analysis. A total of 3063 patients were included, with 206 in the heal time analysis. In total, 2490 (81.3%) lived in food swamps and 96 (3.1%) lived in food deserts. Diabetes, hypertension, and tobacco smoking were more prevalent in food swamps than in food deserts or good access areas. While there was no significant effect of the food environment on wound healing, diabetes was associated with longer healing times. Most patients with burns reside in food swamps, which are associated with a higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and smoking. The food environment was not significantly associated with wound healing. Not having diabetes was associated with a shorter time for wound healing.

Periodontal treatment and subsequent clinical outcomes and medical care costs: A retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Periodontitis is a common oral disease associated with coronary artery disease (CAD), cerebrovascular disease (CBVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). We studied if periodontitis treatment improves clinical outcomes and reduces medical care costs in patients with CAD, CBVD or T2D. METHODS: We used clinic records and claims data from a health care system to identify patients with periodontitis and CAD, CBVD or T2D, and to assess periodontal treatments, hospitalizations, medical costs (total, inpatient, outpatient, pharmacy), glycated hemoglobin, cardiovascular events, and death following concurrent disease diagnoses. We compared clinical outcomes according to receipt of periodontal treatment and/or maintenance care in the follow-up period, and care costs according to treatment status within one year following concurrent disease diagnoses, while adjusting for covariates. The data were analyzed in 2019-21. RESULTS: We identified 9,503 individuals, 4,057 of whom were in the CAD cohort; 3,247 in the CBVD cohort; and 4,879 in the T2D cohort. Patients who were selected and elected to receive treatment and maintenance care were less likely to be hospitalized than untreated individuals (CAD: OR = 0.71 (95% CI: 0.55, 0.92); CBVD: OR = 0.73 (0.56, 0.94); T2D: OR = 0.80 (0.64, 0.99)). Selection to treatment and/or maintenance care was not significantly associated with cardiovascular events, mortality, or glycated hemoglobin change. Total care costs did not differ significantly between treated and untreated groups over 4 years. Treated patients experienced lower inpatient costs but higher pharmacy costs. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with periodontitis and CAD, CBVD or T2D who were selected and elected to undergo periodontal treatment or maintenance care had lower rates of hospitalizations, but did not differ significantly from untreated individuals in terms of clinical outcomes or total medical care costs.

Transesophageal pacing studies reduce readmission but prolong initial admission in infants with supraventricular tachycardia: A cost-comparison analysis.

Background: Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a common arrhythmia. Infants with SVT are often admitted to initiate antiarrhythmics. Transesophageal pacing (TEP) studies can be used to guide therapy prior to discharge. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of TEP studies on length of stay (LOS), readmission, and cost in infants with SVT. Methods: This was a 2-site retrospective review of infants with SVT. One site (Center TEPS) utilized TEP studies in all patients. The other (Center NOTEP) did not. Patients with structural heart disease, patients with gestational age <34 weeks, and patients diagnosed after 6 months were excluded. At Center TEPS, repeat TEP studies were performed after titration of medication until SVT was not inducible. Primary endpoints were LOS and readmission for breakthrough SVT within 31 days of discharge. Hospital reimbursement data were utilized for cost-effectiveness analysis. Results: The cohort included 131 patients, 59 in Center TEPS and 72 in Center NOTEP. One patient was readmitted in Center TEPS vs 17 in Center NOTEP (1.6% vs 23.6%; P ≤ .001). Median LOS was longer for Center TEPS at 118.0 (interquartile range [IQR] 74.0-189.5) hours vs Center NOTEP at 66.9 (IQR 45.5-118.3) hours (P = .001). Twenty-one patients had multiple TEP studies. Median length of readmission for Center NOTEP was 65 (IQR 41-101) hours. Including readmission costs, utilization of TEP studies resulted in a probability-weighted cost of $45,531 per patient compared with $31,087 per patient without TEP studies. Conclusion: Utilization of TEP studies was associated with decreased readmission rates but longer LOS and greater cost compared with SVT management without TEP studies.

Association of an Automated Blood Pressure Measurement Quality Improvement Program With Terminal Digit Preference and Recorded Mean Blood Pressure in 11 Clinics.

Importance: Terminal digit preference has been shown to be associated with inaccurate blood pressure (BP) recording. Objective: To evaluate whether converting from manual BP measurement with aneroid sphygmomanometers to automated BP measurement was associated with terminal digit preference, mean levels of recorded BP, and the rate at which hypertension was diagnosed. Design, Setting, and Participants: This quality improvement study was conducted from May 9, 2021, to March 24, 2022, using interrupted time series analysis of medical record data from 11 primary care clinics in a single health care system from April 2008 to April 2015. The study population was patients aged 18 to 75 years who had their BP measured and recorded at least once during the study period. Exposures: Manual BP measurement before April 2012 vs automated BP measurement with the Omron HEM-907XL monitor from May 2012 to April 2015. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was the distribution of terminal digits and mean systolic BP (SBP) values obtained during 4 years of manual measurement vs 3 years of automated measurement, assessed using a generalized linear mixed regression model with a random intercept for clinic and adjusted for seasonal fluctuations and patient demographic and clinical characteristics. Results: The study included 1 541 227 BP measurements from 225 504 unique patients during the entire study period, with 849 978 BP measurements from 165 137 patients (mean [SD] age, 47.1 [15.2] years; 58.2% female) during the manual measurement period and 691 249 measurements from 149 080 patients (mean [SD] age, 48.4 [15.3] years; 56.3% female) during the automated measurement period. With manual measurement, 32.8% of SBP terminal digits were 0 (20% was the expected value because nursing staff was instructed to record BP to the nearest even digit). This proportion decreased to 12.4% during the automated measurement period (expected value, 10%) when both even and odd digits were to be recorded. After automated measurement was implemented, the mean SBP estimated with statistical modeling increased by 5.09 mm Hg (95% CI, 4.98-5.19 mm Hg). Fewer BP values recorded during the automated than the manual measurement period were below 140/90 mm Hg (69.9% vs 84.3%; difference, -14.5%; 95% CI, -14.6% to -14.3%) and below 130/80 mm Hg (42.1% vs 60.0%; difference, -17.9%; 95% CI, -18.0% to -17.7%). The proportion of patients with a diagnosis of hypertension was 4.3 percentage points higher (23.4% vs 19.1%) during the automated measurement period. Conclusions and Relevance: In this quality improvement study, automated BP measurement was associated with decreased terminal digit preference and significantly higher mean BP levels. The method of BP measurement was also associated with the rate at which hypertension was diagnosed. These findings may have implications for pay-for-performance programs, which may create an incentive to record BP levels that meet a particular goal and a disincentive to adopt automated measurement of BP.

Real-world clinical burden and economic assessment associated with hyperkalaemia in a large integrated healthcare system: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hyperkalaemia (HK) is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition. Both acute and chronic conditions may alter potassium homeostasis. Our aim is to describe HK incidence, clinical outcomes, and associated resource use within a large, integrated healthcare system. METHODS: Adult patients seen at Intermountain Healthcare facilities with a serum potassium (sK) result between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2018 were retrospectively studied. Descriptive assessment of a population with detected HK, defined by any sK > 5.0 mmol/L and HK frequency and severity to associated resource use and characteristics of HK predictors were made. Multivariable Cox hazard regression was used to evaluate HK to outcomes. RESULTS: Of 1,208,815 patients included, 13% had HK. Compared to no-HK, HK patients were older (60 ± 18 vs 43 ± 18 years, P < 0.001), male (51% vs 41%, P < 0.001), and had greater disease burden (Charlson Comorbidity Index 3.5 ± 2.8 vs 1.7 ± 1.4, P < 0.001). At 3 years, more HK patients experienced major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) (19 vs 3%, P < 0.001), persisting post-adjustment (multivariable hazard ratio = 1.60, P < 0.001). They incurred higher costs for emergency department services ($552 ± 7,574 vs $207 ± 1,930, P < 0.001) and inpatient stays ($10,956 ± 93,026 vs $1,477 ± 21,423, P < 0.001). HyperK Risk Scores for the derivation and validation cohorts were: 44% low-risk, 45% moderate-risk, 11% high-risk. Strongest HK predictors were renal failure, dialysis, aldosterone blockers, diabetes, and smoking. CONCLUSION: Within this large system, HK was associated with a large clinical burden, affecting over 1 in 10 patients; HK was also associated with increased 3-year MACE risk and higher medical costs. Although risk worsened with more severe or persistently recurring HK, even mild or intermittent HK episodes were associated with significantly greater adverse clinical outcomes and medical costs. The HyperK Score predicted patients who may benefit from closer management to reduce HK risk and associated costs. It should be remembered that our assumptions are valid only for detected HK and not HK per se.

Economics and outcomes of sotalol in-patient dosing approaches in patients with atrial fibrillation.

INTRODUCTION: There exists variability in the administration of in-patient sotalol therapy for symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). The impact of this variability on patient in-hospital and 30-day posthospitalization costs and outcomes is not known. Also, the cost impact of intravenous sotalol, which can accelerate drug loading to therapeutic levels, is unknown. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-three AF patients admitted for oral sotalol initiation at an Intermountain Healthcare Hospital from January 2017 to December 2018 were included. Patient and dosing characteristics were described descriptively and the impact of dosing schedule was correlated with daily hospital costs/clinical outcomes during the index hospitalization and for 30 days. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reimbursement for 3-day sotalol initiation is $9263.51. Projections of cost savings were made considering a 1-day load using intravenous sotalol that costs $2500.00 to administer. RESULTS: The average age was 70.3 ± 12.3 years and 60.2% were male with comorbidities of hypertension (83%), diabetes (36%), and coronary artery disease (53%). The mean ejection fraction was 59.9 ± 7.8% and the median corrected QT interval was 453.7 ± 37.6 ms before sotalol dosing. No ventricular arrhythmias developed, but bradycardia (<60 bpm) was observed in 37.6% of patients. The average length of stay was 3.9 ± 4.6 (median: 2.2) days. Postdischarge outcomes and rehospitalization rates stratified by length of stay were similar. The cost per day was estimated at $2931.55 (1. $2931.55, 2. $5863.10, 3. $8794.65, 4. $11 726.20). CONCLUSIONS: In-patient oral sotalol dosing is markedly variable and results in the potential of both cost gain and loss to a hospital. In consideration of estimated costs, there is the potential for $871.55 cost savings compared to a 2-day oral load and $3803.10 compared to a 3-day oral load.

Simplifying the ISCHEMIA trial algorithm for clinical practice: Identifying left main coronary artery disease using coronary artery calcium scans.

BACKGROUND: Several recent trials have evaluated invasive versus medical therapy for stable ischemic heart disease. Importantly, patients with significant left main coronary stenosis (LMCS) were excluded from these trials. In the ISCHEMIA trial, these patients were identified by a coronary CT angiogram (CCTA), which adds time, expense, and contrast exposure. We tested whether a coronary artery calcium scan (CACS), a simpler, less expensive test, could replace CCTA to exclude significant LMCS. METHODS: We hypothesized that patients with ≥50% LMCS would have a LM CACS score > 0. As a corollary, we postulated that a LM CACS = 0 would exclude patients with LMCS. To test this, we searched Intermountain Healthcare's electronic medical records database for all adult patients who had undergone non-contrast cardiac CT for quantitative CACS scoring prior to invasive coronary angiography (ICA). Patients aged <50 and those with a heart transplant were excluded. Cases with incomplete (qualitative) angiographic reports for LMCS and those with incomplete or discrepant LM CACS results were reviewed and reassessed blinded to CACS or ICA findings, respectively. RESULTS: Among 669 candidate patients with CACS followed by ICA, 36 qualifying patients were identified who had a quantitative CACS score and LMCS ≥ 50%. Their age averaged 71.8 years, and 81% were men. Angiographic LMCS averaged 72% (range 50%-99%). Median time between CACS and ICA was 6 days. Total CACS score averaged 2,383 Agatston Units (AU), range 571-6,636. LM CACS score averaged 197 AU, range 31-610. Importantly, no LMCS patient had a LM CACS score of 0 vs 57% (362/633) of non-LMCS controls (P < .00001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the hypothesis that an easily administered, inexpensive, low radiation CACS can identify a large subset of patients with a very low risk of LMCS who would not have the need for routine CCTA. Using CACS to exclude LMCS may efficiently allow for safe implementation of an initial medical therapy strategy of patients with stable ischemic heart disease in clinical practice. These promising results deserve validation in larger data sets.

Predicting biomarkers in intact older adults and those with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment, and mild Alzheimer's Disease using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status.

INTRODUCTION: The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) has been associated, to varying degrees, with commonly used biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Given the ease of RBANS administration as a screening tool for clinical trials and other applications, a better understanding of how RBANS performance is associated with presence of APOE ε4 allele[s], cerebral amyloid burden, and hippocampal volume is warranted. METHOD: One hundred twenty-one older adults who were classified as intact, amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment, or mild AD underwent cognitive assessment with the RBANS, genetic analysis, and quantitative brain imaging. APOE ε4 carrier status, 18F-Flutemetamol composite standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR), and hippocampal volume were each regressed on demographic variables and RBANS Total Scale score, Index scores, and subtest scores. RESULTS: Lower RBANS Total Scale score or Delayed Memory Index (DMI) predicted the presence of APOE ε4 allele[s], higher cerebral amyloid burden, and lower hippocampal volumes. DMI was a slightly better predictor than Total Scale score for most AD biomarkers. No demographic variables consistently contributed to these models. CONCLUSIONS: The RBANS - DMI in particular - is sensitive to AD pathology. As such, it could be used as a predictive tool, particularly in clinical drug trials to enrich samples prior to less accessible AD biomarker investigation.

Comparative evaluation of the clinical laboratory-based Intermountain risk score with the Charlson and Elixhauser comorbidity indices for mortality prediction.

BACKGROUND: The Charlson and Elixhauser comorbidity indices are mortality predictors often used in clinical, administrative, and research applications. The Intermountain Mortality Risk Scores (IMRS) are validated mortality predictors that use all factors from the complete blood count and basic metabolic profile. How IMRS, Charlson, and Elixhauser relate to each other is unknown. METHODS: All inpatient admissions except obstetric patients at Intermountain Healthcare's 21 adult care hospitals from 2010-2014 (N = 197,680) were examined in a observational cohort study. The most recent admission was a patient's index encounter. Follow-up to 2018 used hospital death records, Utah death certificates, and the Social Security death master file. Three Charlson versions, 8 Elixhauser versions, and 3 IMRS formulations were evaluated in Cox regression and the one of each that was most predictive was used in dual risk score mortality analyses (in-hospital, 30-day, 1-year, and 5-year mortality). RESULTS: Indices with the strongest mortality associations and selected for dual score study were the age-adjusted Charlson, the van Walraven version of the acute Elixhauser, and the 1-year IMRS. For in-hospital mortality, Charlson (c = 0.719; HR = 4.75, 95% CI = 4.45, 5.07), Elixhauser (c = 0.783; HR = 5.79, CI = 5.41, 6.19), and IMRS (c = 0.821; HR = 17.95, CI = 15.90, 20.26) were significant predictors (p<0.001) in univariate analyses. Dual score analysis of Charlson (HR = 1.79, CI = 1.66, 1.92) with IMRS (HR = 13.10, CI = 11.53, 14.87) and of Elixhauser (HR = 3.00, CI = 2.80, 3.21) with IMRS (HR = 11.42, CI = 10.09, 12.92) found significance for both scores in each model. Results were similar for 30-day, 1-year, and 5-year mortality. CONCLUSIONS: IMRS provided the strongest ability to predict mortality, adding to and attenuating the predictive ability of the Charlson and Elixhauser indices whose mortality associations remained statistically significant. IMRS uses common, standardized, objective laboratory data and should be further evaluated for integration into mortality risk evaluations.

Resource utilisation in paediatric patients with secundum atrial septal defects.

BACKGROUND: There is variation in care of secundum atrial septal defects. Defects <3 mm and patent foramen ovale are not clinically significant. Defects >3 mm are often followed clinically and may require closure. Variation in how these lesions are monitored may result in over-utilisation of routine studies and higher than necessary patient charges. PURPOSE: To determine utilisation patterns for patients with secundum atrial septal defects diagnosed within the first year of life and compare to locally developed optimal utilisation standard to assess charge savings. METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review of patients with secundum atrial septal defects diagnosed within the first year of life. Patients with co-existing cardiac lesions were excluded. Total number of clinic visits, electrocardiograms, and echocardiograms were recorded. Total charge was calculated based on our standard institutional charges. Patients were stratified based on lesion and provider type and then compared to "optimal utilisation" using analysis of variance statistical analysis. RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients were included, 40 had patent foramen ovale (or atrial septal defect <3 mm), 43 had atrial septal defects not requiring intervention and 14 had atrial septal defects requiring intervention. There was a statistically significant difference in mean charge above optimal for these lesions of $1033, $2885, and $5722 (p < 0.02), respectively. There was statistically significant variation of charge among types of provider as well. Average charge savings per patient would be $2530 with total charge savings of $242,472 if the optimal utilisation pathway was followed. CONCLUSION: Using optimal utilisation and decreasing variation could save the patient significant unnecessary charges.

Wearable cardioverter-defibrillators in pediatric cardiomyopathy: A cost-utility analysis.

BACKGROUND: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the most common cardiomyopathy in children. Patients with severe cardiac dysfunction are thought to be at risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). After diagnosis, a period of medical optimization is recommended before permanent implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation. Wearable cardioverter-defibrillators (WCDs) provide an option for arrhythmia protection as an outpatient during this optimization. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the strategy that optimizes cost and survival during medical optimization of a patient with DCM before ICD placement. METHODS: A Markov state transition model was constructed for the 3 clinical approaches to compare costs, clinical outcomes, and quality of life: (1) "Inpatient," (2) "Home-WCD," and (3) "Home-No WCD." Transitional probabilities, costs, and utility metrics were extracted from the existing literature. Cost-effectiveness was assessed comparing each paradigm's incremental cost-effectiveness ratio against a societal willingness-to-pay threshold of $50,000 per quality-adjusted life year. RESULTS: The cost-utility analysis illustrated that Home-WCD met the willingness-to-pay threshold with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $20,103 per quality-adjusted life year and 4 mortalities prevented per 100 patients as compared with Home-No WCD. One-way sensitivity analyses demonstrated that Home-No WCD became the most cost-effective solution when the probability of SCA fell below 0.2% per week, the probability of SCA survival with a WCD fell below 9.8%, or the probability of SCA survival with Home-No WCD quadrupled from base-case assumptions. CONCLUSION: Based on the existing literature probabilities of SCA in pediatric patients with DCM undergoing medical optimization before ICD implantation, sending a patient home with a WCD may be a cost-effective strategy.

Development of a System to Measure and Improve Outcomes in Congenital Heart Disease: Heart Institute Safety, Quality, and Value Program.

Achieving excellent outcomes for patients with congenital heart disease requires coordinated effort and resources, and a need has developed for a structure that facilitates improvement and measures cardiac centers' progress toward optimal patient care. METHODS: The Heart Institute (HI) at Cincinnati Children's Hospital developed a Safety, Quality and Value (SQV) program to formalize the use of quality improvement (QI) methods with the goal of optimizing patient outcomes, experience, and value. The SQV program adopted a conceptual framework that considers aspects of structure, process, outcome, and value in defining quality metrics, and the program used the Model for Improvement to guide design and implementation of QI interventions. RESULTS: In the first four years since its inception, the SQV program facilitated important improvements in clinical outcomes, cost reductions, and safety. In addition to achieving measurable improvements, the creation of a formal SQV program fostered a culture of transparency and accountability, providing a new structure for how the HI shares clinical data among clinicians, hospital leadership, and the public. CONCLUSION: The creation of an infrastructure to strategically design, implement, and support QI efforts in a clinically busy pediatric acquired and congenital heart institute was successful in meeting its initial aims and is a promising approach and model for other programs.

Prenatal heart block screening in mothers with SSA/SSB autoantibodies: Targeted screening protocol is a cost-effective strategy.

OBJECTIVE: Maternal anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibodies can lead to fetal complete heart block (CHB). Current guidelines recommend weekly echocardiographic screening between 16 and 28 weeks gestation. Given the cost of screening and the rarity of conduction abnormalities in fetuses of mothers with low anti-Ro levels (<50 U/mL), we sought to identify a strategy that optimizes resource utilization. DESIGN: Decision analysis cost-utility modeling was performed for three screening paradigms: "standard screening" (SS) in which mid-gestation mothers are screened weekly, "limited screening" (LS) in which fetal echocardiograms are avoided unless the fetus develops bradycardia, and "targeted screening by maternal antibody level" (TS) in which only high anti-Ro values warrant weekly screening. A systematic review of existing literature and institutional cost data were used to define model inputs. RESULTS: The average cost of LS, TS, and SS was $8566, $11 038, and $23 279, respectively. SS was cost-ineffective with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $322 756 while TS was cost-effective with an ICER of $43 445. CONCLUSION: While the efficacy of fetal intervention for first or second degree AV block remains unclear, this analysis supports utilizing antibody levels to stratify this population for optimized surveillance for CHB. SS is cost-ineffective and results in resource overutilization.

Prediction of Long-Term Incidence of Chronic Cardiovascular and Cardiopulmonary Diseases in Primary Care Patients for Population Health Monitoring: The Intermountain Chronic Disease Model (ICHRON).

OBJECTIVE: To apply the practical parsimonious modeling method of the Intermountain Mortality Risk Score in a primary care environment to predict chronic disease (ChrD) onset. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Primary care patients free of ChrD (women: n=98,711; men: n=45,543) were evaluated to develop (70% [n=95,882] of patients) and validate (the other 30% [n=48,372]) the sex-specific Intermountain Chronic Disease Risk Score (ICHRON) if seen initially between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2005. The sex-specific ICHRON was composed of comprehensive metabolic profile and complete blood count components and age. The primary outcome was the first diagnosis of coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, diabetes, renal failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, peripheral vascular disease, or dementia within 3 years of baseline. RESULTS: At 3 years, 9.0% of men (mean age, 44±16 years) and 6.6% of women (mean age, 42±16 years) received a diagnosis of ChrD. In the derivation population, C-statistics were 0.783 (95% CI, 0.774-0.791) for men and 0.774 (95% CI, 0.767-0.781) for women. In the validation population, C-statistics were 0.774 (95% CI, 0.762-0.786) for men and 0.762 (95% CI, 0.752-0.772) for women. Evaluation of 10-year outcomes for ICHRON and analysis of its association with each outcome individually at 3 years revealed similar predictive ability. CONCLUSION: An augmented intelligence clinical decision tool for primary care, ICHRON, is developed using common laboratory parameters, which provides good discrimination of ChrD risk at 3 and 10 years.

Longitudinal Health Care Cost in Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome Palliation.

Management of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is resource intensive. Heath care systems are pressured to provide value to patients by improving outcomes while decreasing costs. A single-center retrospective cohort of infants with HLHS who underwent Norwood procedure or hybrid Norwood from 2004 to 2014 and survived to first outpatient follow up were studied. The primary outcome was total cost through 12 months with a sub-analysis of patients with 60 months of data. Costs were calculated using internal cost accounting system and reported by cost center. Of the 152 HLHS patients identified, 69 met inclusion criteria. Stage I hospitalization (n = 69), with a median length of stay 34 days [interquartile range (IQR) 24-58 days], resulted in a median cost of $203,817 (IQR $136,236-272,453). Of survivors at 12 months (n = 55), the median cost was $369,393 (IQR $216,289-594,038) generated in part by a median of 67 (40-126 days) hospitalized days during that year. A subgroup analysis of patients who reached 60 months of age (n = 29) demonstrated a median total cost of $391,812 (IQR $293,801-577,443) and a median of 74 lifetime hospitalized days (IQR 58-116 days). High cost centers included intensive care (41%), non-ICU hospital (17%), operative services (11%), catheterization lab (9%), and pharmacy (9%). Using multiple regression analysis, significant drivers of cost included reoperation, length of hospitalization, low birthweight, and use of ECMO. Costs related to HLHS management are driven both by care-related complications such as surgical re-intervention and patient factors such as low birth weight.

Reducing Electrolyte Testing in Hospitalized Children by Using Quality Improvement Methods.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite studies indicating a high rate of overuse, electrolyte testing remains common in pediatric inpatient care. Frequently repeated electrolyte tests often return normal results and can lead to patient harm and increased cost. We aimed to reduce electrolyte testing within a hospital medicine service by >25% within 6 months. METHODS: We conducted an improvement project in which we targeted 6 hospital medicine teams at a large academic children's hospital system by using the Model for Improvement. Interventions included standardizing communication about the electrolyte testing plan and education about the costs and risks associated with overuse of electrolyte testing. Our primary outcome measure was the number of electrolyte tests per patient day. Secondary measures included testing charges and usage rates of specific high-charge panels. We tracked medical emergency team calls and readmission rates as balancing measures. RESULTS: The mean baseline rate of electrolyte testing was 2.0 laboratory draws per 10 patient days, and this rate decreased by 35% after 1 month of initial educational interventions to 1.3 electrolyte laboratory draws per 10 patient days. This change has been sustained for 9 months and could save an estimated $292 000 in patient-level charges over the course of a year. Use of our highest-charge electrolyte panel decreased from 67% to 22% of testing. No change in rates of medical emergency team calls or readmission were found. CONCLUSIONS: Our improvement intervention was associated with significant and rapid reduction in electrolyte testing and has not been associated with unintended adverse events.

Cost of Unnecessary Testing in the Evaluation of Pediatric Syncope.

Syncope is a common and a typically benign clinical problem in children and adolescents. The majority of tests ordered in otherwise healthy pediatric patients presenting with syncope have low diagnostic yield. This study quantifies testing and corresponding patient charges in a group of pediatric patients presenting for outpatient evaluation for syncope. Patients seen between 3/2011 and 4/2013 in the multi-disciplinary Syncope Clinic at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center were enrolled in a registry which was reviewed for patient information. The electronic medical record was used to determine which syncope patients underwent cardiac (electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, or exercise testing) or neurologic (head CT/MRI or electroencephalogram) testing within the interval from 3 months before to 3 months after the Syncope Clinic visit. Testing charges were obtained through hospital billing records. 442 patients were included for analysis; 91% were Caucasian; 65.6% were female; median age was 15.1 years (8.1-21.2 years). Cardiac and neurologic testing was common in this population. While some testing was performed during the Syncope Clinic visit, 46% of the testing occurred before or after the visit. A total of $1.1 million was charged to payers for cardiac and neurological testing with an average total charge of $2488 per patient. Despite the typically benign etiology of pediatric syncope, patients often have expensive and unnecessary cardiac and/or neurologic testing. Reducing or eliminating this unnecessary testing could have a significant impact on healthcare costs, especially as the economics of healthcare shift to more capitated systems.

Assessment of Growth 6 Years after the Norwood Procedure.

At 6 years of age, patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome had mean age-adjusted z-scores for weight and height below the normative population, and body mass index was similar to the normative population. Males had the greatest increase in z-scores for body mass index. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00115934.

The Effect of Skinfold on the Assessment of the Mean Power Frequency at the Fatigue Threshold.

The purpose of this study was to determine if the amount of subcutaneous tissue over the quadriceps affects the assessment of mean power frequency at the fatigue threshold (MPFFT). It was hypothesized that greater skinfold values will result in lower power outputs associated to the MPFFT. Fourteen adults (Mean ± SD age = 20.7 ± 0.99; body weight = 72.8 ± 12.6 kg) performed an incremental cycle ergometry test to exhaustion while surface electromyographic (EMG) signals were measured from the vastus lateralis. The skinfold thickness of each leg was taken prior to the test, and skinfold thicknesses were separated into a larger and a smaller groups. The independent t-test showed a significant difference (p = 0.01) between the power outputs associated to the MPFFT of groups with high (Mean ± SD 130.4 ± 34.5 W) versus low skinfold (212.5 ± 61.2 W) values. The results suggested that higher subcutaneous fat may have affected the assessment of MPFFT during cycle ergometry.