Association of Continuity of Care With Health Care Utilization and Expenditures Among Patients Discharged Home After Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association of prestroke continuity of care (COC) with postdischarge health care utilization and expenditures. STUDY POPULATION: The study population included 2233 patients with a diagnosis of stroke or a transient ischemic attack hospitalized in one of 41 hospitals in North Carolina between March 2016 and July 2019 and discharged directly home from acute care. METHODS: COC was assessed from linked Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Medicare claims using the Modified, Modified Continuity Index. Logistic regressions and 2-part models were used to examine the association of prestroke primary care COC with postdischarge health care utilization and expenditures. RESULTS: Relative to patients in the first (lowest) COC quartile, patients in the second and third COC quartiles were more likely [21% (95% CI: 8.5%, 33.5%) and 33% (95% CI: 20.5%, 46.1%), respectively] to have an ambulatory care visit within 14 days. Patients in the highest COC quartile were more likely to visit a primary care provider but less likely to see a stroke specialist. Highest as compared with lowest primary care COC quartile was associated with $45 lower (95% CI: $14, $76) average expenditure for ambulatory care visits within 30 days postdischarge. Patients in the highest, as compared with the lowest, primary care COC quartile were 36% less likely (95% CI: 8%, 64%) to be readmitted within 30 days postdischarge and spent $340 less (95% CI: $2, $678) on unplanned readmissions. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the importance of primary care COC received before stroke hospitalization to postdischarge care and expenditures.

Association of Plasma Aß42/Aß40 Ratio and Late-Onset Epilepsy: Results From the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between plasma ß-amyloid (Aß), specifically the ratio of 2 Aß peptides (the Aß42/Aß40 ratio, which correlates with increased accumulation of Aß in the CNS), and late-onset epilepsy (LOE). METHODS: We used Medicare fee-for-service claims codes from 1991 to 2018 to identify cases of LOE among 1,424 Black and White men and women enrolled in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study cohort. The Aß42/Aß40 ratio was calculated from plasma samples collected from ARIC participants in 1993-1995 (age 50-71 years) and 2011-2013 (age 67-90 years). We used survival analysis accounting for the competing risk of death to determine the relationship between late-life plasma Aß42/Aß40, and its change from midlife to late life, and the subsequent development of epilepsy. We adjusted for demographics, the apolipoprotein e4 genotype, and comorbidities, including stroke, dementia, and head injury. A low plasma ratio of 2 Aß peptides, the Aß42/Aß40 ratio, correlates with low CSF Aß42/Aß40 and with increased accumulation of Aß in the CNS. RESULTS: Decrease in plasma Aß42/Aß40 ratio from midlife to late life, but not an isolated measurement of Aß42/Aß40, was associated with development of epilepsy in later life. For every 50% reduction in Aß42/Aß40, there was a 2-fold increase in risk of epilepsy (adjusted subhazard ratio 2.30, 95% CI 1.27-4.17). DISCUSSION: A reduction in plasma Aß42/Aß40 is associated with an increased risk of subsequent epilepsy. Our observations provide a further validation of the link between Aß, hyperexcitable states, and LOE.

Postacute Expenditures Among Patients Discharged Home After Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack: The COMprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services (COMPASS) Trial.

OBJECTIVES: The COMPASS (COMprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services) pragmatic trial cluster-randomized 40 hospitals in North Carolina to the COMPASS transitional care (TC) postacute care intervention or usual care. We estimated the difference in healthcare expenditures postdischarge for patients enrolled in the COMPASS-TC model of care compared with usual care. METHODS: We linked data for patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack enrolled in the COMPASS trial with administrative claims from Medicare fee-for-service (n = 2262), Medicaid (n = 341), and a large private insurer (n = 234). The primary outcome was 90-day total expenditures, analyzed separately by payer. Secondary outcomes were total expenditures 30- and 365-days postdischarge and, among Medicare beneficiaries, expenditures by point of service. In addition to intent-to-treat analysis, we conducted a per-protocol analysis to compare Medicare patients who received the intervention with those who did not, using randomization status as an instrumental variable. RESULTS: We found no statistically significant difference in total 90-day postacute expenditures between intervention and usual care; the results were consistent across payers. Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in the COMPASS intervention arm had higher 90-day hospital readmission expenditures ($682, 95% CI $60-$1305), 30-day emergency department expenditures ($132, 95% CI $13-$252), and 30-day ambulatory care expenditures ($67, 95% CI $38-$96) compared with usual care. The per-protocol analysis did not yield a significant difference in 90-day postacute care expenditures for Medicare COMPASS patients. CONCLUSIONS: The COMPASS-TC model did not significantly change patients' total healthcare expenditures for up to 1 year postdischarge.

Association of socioeconomic status with arterial stiffness in older African American and White adults: The ARIC study cohort.

Objective: To examine the cross-sectional associations of individual measures of SES-educational attainment and household income-and the joint effects of SES with PWV, as well as the SES-race interaction, in a cohort of older African American and White adults. Methods: Data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study were used to evaluate the cross-sectional associations of individual and joint SES [education and income] and carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), a subclinical marker of arterial stiffness, and the interaction of SES and race using adjusted multivariable linear regression models in a cohort of 3342 men and women aged 67-89 years free of CVD in 2011-2013. Results: Participants were 64% female, 23% African American, mean cfPWV (12.3±3.5-African American and 11.6±3.9-White participants). Post-graduate education compared to less than high school was significantly associated with lower cfPWV (less stiffness) in African American (ß = -1.28 m/s; 95% CI, -1.97, -0.59) but not in White (ß = -0.69 m/s; 95% CI, -1.39, 0.01) participants. Income ≥$50K as compared to <$25K, was associated with lower cfPWV both in African American (ß = -0.82 m/s; 95% CI, -1.42, -0.22) and White (ß = -0.76 m/s; 95% CI, -1.19, -0.32) participants. The interaction of race and individual measures of SES on cfPWV in African American and White adults were not statistically significant (p-value >0.10). Conclusions: Higher SES was cross-sectionally associated with lower arterial stiffness in this cohort; the data did not support differences by race. Prospective studies of SES and cfPWV are needed to efficiently compare larger racially and regionally diverse populations with a wider range of socioeconomic profiles to better identify subgroup CVD risk.

Post-acute Ambulatory Care Service Use Among Patients Discharged Home After Stroke or TIA: The Cluster-randomized COMPASS Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We examined transitional care management within 90 days and 1 year following discharge home among acute stroke and transient ischemic attack patients from the Comprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services (COMPASS) Study, a cluster-randomized pragmatic trial of early supported discharge conducted in 41 hospitals (40 hospital units) in North Carolina, United States. METHODS: Data for 2262 of the total 6024 (37.6%; 1069 intervention and 1193 usual care) COMPASS patients were linked with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services fee-for-service Medicare claims. Time to the first ambulatory care visit was examined using Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for patient characteristics not included in the randomization protocol. RESULTS: Only 6% of the patients [mean (SD) age 74.9 (10.2) years, 52.1% women, 80.3% White)] did not have an ambulatory care visit within 90 days postdischarge. Mean time (SD) to first ambulatory care visit was 12.0 (26.0) and 16.3 (35.1) days in intervention and usual care arms, respectively, with the majority of visits in both study arms to primary care providers. The COMPASS intervention resulted in a 27% greater use of ambulatory care services within 1 year postdischarge, relative to usual care [HR=1.27 (95% CI: 1.14-1.41)]. The use of transitional care billing codes was significantly greater in the intervention arm as compared with usual care [OR=1.87 (95% CI: 1.54-2.27)]. DISCUSSION: The COMPASS intervention, which was aimed at improving stroke post-acute care, was associated with an increase in the use of ambulatory care services by stroke and transient ischemic attack patients discharged home and an increased use of transitional care billing codes by ambulatory providers.

Associations between estimated and measured carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity in older Black and White adults: the atherosclerosis risk in communities (ARIC) study.

Introduction: Aortic stiffness offers important insight into vascular aging and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The referent measure of aortic stiffness is carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV). cfPWV can be estimated (ePWV) from age and mean arterial pressure. Few studies have directly compared the association of ePWV to measured cfPWV, particularly in non-White adults. Moreover, whether ePWV and cfPWV correlate similarly with CVD risk remains unexplored. Aim: (1) To estimate the strength of the agreement between ePWV and cfPWV in both Black and White older adults; and (2) to compare the associations of ePWV and cfPWV with CVD risk factors and determine whether these associations were consistent across races. Methods and Results: We evaluated 4478 [75.2 (SD 5.0) years] Black and White older adults in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. cfPWV was measured using an automated pulse waveform analyzer. ePWV was derived from an equation based on age and mean arterial pressure. Association and agreement between the two measurements were determined using Pearson's correlation coefficient (r), standard error of estimate (SEE), and Bland-Altman analysis. Associations between traditional risk factors with ePWV and cfPWV were evaluated using linear mixed regression models. We observed weak correlations between ePWV and cfPWV within White adults (r = 0.36) and Black adults (r = 0.31). The mean bias for Bland-Altman analysis was low at -0.17 m/s (95%CI: -0.25 to -0.09). However, the inspection of the Bland-Altman plots indicated systematic bias (P < 0.001), which was consistent across race strata. The SEE, or typical absolute error, was 2.8 m/s suggesting high variability across measures. In models adjusted for sex, prevalent diabetes, the number of prevalent cardiovascular diseases, and medication count, both cfPWV and ePWV were positively associated with heart rate, triglycerides, and fasting glucose, and negatively associated with body mass index (BMI) and smoking status in White adults (P < 0.05). cfPWV and ePWV were not associated with heart rate, triglycerides, and fasting glucose in Black adults, while both measures were negatively associated with BMI in Black adults. Conclusions: Findings suggest a weak association between ePWV and cfPWV in older White and Black adults from ARIC. There were similar weak associations between CVD risk factors with ePWV and cfPWV in White adults with subtle differences in associations in Black adults.

Skilled Nursing and Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Use by Medicare Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries Discharged Home After a Stroke: Findings From the COMPASS Trial.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of a comprehensive transitional care model on the use of skilled nursing facility (SNF) and inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) care in the 12 months after acute care discharge home following stroke; and to identify predictors of experiencing a SNF or IRF admission following discharge home after stroke. DESIGN: Cluster randomized pragmatic trial SETTING: Forty-one acute care hospitals in North Carolina. PARTICIPANTS: 2262 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries with transient ischemic attack or stroke discharged home. The sample was 80.3% White and 52.1% female, with a mean (SD) age of 74.9 (10.2) years and a mean ± SD National Institutes of Health stroke scale score of 2.3 (3.7). INTERVENTION: Comprehensive transitional care model (COMPASS-TC), which consisted of a 2-day follow-up phone call from the postacute care coordinator and 14-day in-person visit with the postacute care coordinator and advanced practice provider. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Time to first SNF or IRF and SNF or IRF admission (yes/no) in the 12 months following discharge home. All analyses utilized multivariable mixed models including a hospital-specific random effect to account for the non-independence of measures within hospital. Intent to treat analyses using Cox proportional hazards regression assessed the effect of COMPASS-TC on time to SNF/IRF admission. Logistic regression was used to identify clinical and non-clinical predictors of SNF/IRF admission. RESULTS: Only 34% of patients in the intervention arm received COMPASS-TC per protocol. COMPASS-TC was not associated with a reduced hazard of a SNF/ IRF admission in the 12 months post-discharge (hazard ratio, 1.20, with a range of 0.95-1.52) compared to usual care. This estimate was robust to additional covariate adjustment (hazard ratio, 1.23) (0.93-1.64). Both clinical and non-clinical factors (ie, insurance, geography) were predictors of SNF/IRF use. CONCLUSIONS: COMPASS-TC was not consistently incorporated into real-world clinical practice. The use of a comprehensive transitional care model for patients discharged home after stroke was not associated with SNF or IRF admissions in a 12-month follow-up period. Non-clinical factors predictive of SNF/IRF use suggest potential issues with access to this type of care.

Association of Head Injury With Late-Onset Epilepsy: Results From the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Cohort.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Late-onset epilepsy (LOE; i.e., epilepsy starting in later adulthood) affects a significant number of individuals. Head injury is also a risk factor for acquired epilepsy, but the degree to which prior head injury may contribute to LOE is less well understood. Our objective was to determine the association between head injury and subsequent development of LOE. METHODS: Included were 8,872 participants enrolled in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study with continuous Centers for Medicare Services fee-for-service (FFS) coverage (55.1% women, 21.6% Black). We identified head injuries through 2018 from linked Medicare fee for service claims for inpatient/emergency department care, active surveillance of hospitalizations, and participant self-report. LOE cases through 2018 were identified from linked Medicare FFS claims. We used Cox proportional hazards models to evaluate associations of head injury with LOE, adjusting for demographic, cardiovascular, and lifestyle factors. RESULTS: The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for developing LOE after a history of head injury was 1.88 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.44-2.43). There was evidence for dose-response associations with greater risk for LOE with increasing number of prior head injuries (HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.01-1.88 for 1 prior head injury and HR 3.55, 95% CI 2.51-5.02 for 2+ prior head injuries, compared to no head injuries) and with more severe head injury (HR 2.53, 95% CI 1.83-3.49 for mild injury and HR 4.90, 95% CI 3.15-7.64 for moderate/severe injury, compared to no head injuries). Associations with LOE were significant for head injuries sustained at older age (age ≥67 years: HR 4.01, 95% CI 2.91-5.54), but not for head injuries sustained at younger age (age < 67 years: HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.68-1.41). DISCUSSION: Head injury was associated with increased risk of developing LOE, particularly when head injuries were sustained at an older age, and there was evidence for higher risk for LOE after a greater number of prior head injuries and after more severe head injuries. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class I evidence that an increased risk of late-onset epilepsy is associated with head injury and that this risk increases further with multiple and more severe head injuries.

Disparities by sex in P2Y12 inhibitor therapy duration, or differences in the balance of ischaemic-benefit and bleeding-risk clinical outcomes in older women versus comparable men following acute myocardial infarction? A P2Y12 inhibitor new user retrospective cohort analysis of US Medicare claims data.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if comparable older women and men received different durations of P2Y12 inhibitor therapy following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and if therapy duration differences were justified by differences in ischaemic benefits and/or bleeding risks. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING: 20% sample of 2007-2015 US Medicare fee-for-service administrative claims data. PARTICIPANTS: ≥66-year-old P2Y12 inhibitor new users following 2008-2013 AMI hospitalisation (N=30 613). Older women compared to older men with similar predicted risks of study outcomes. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome: P2Y12 inhibitor duration (modelled as risk of therapy discontinuation). SECONDARY OUTCOMES: clinical events while on P2Y12 inhibitor therapy, including (1) death/hospice admission, (2) composite of ischaemic events (AMI/stroke/revascularisation) and (3) hospitalised bleeds. Cause-specific risks and relative risks (RRs) estimated using Aalen-Johansen cumulative incidence curves and bootstrapped 95% CIs. RESULTS: 10 486 women matched to 10 486 men with comparable predicted risks of all 4 study outcomes. No difference in treatment discontinuation was observed at 12 months (women 31.2% risk; men 30.9% risk; RR 1.01; 95% CI 0.97 to 1.05), but women were more likely than men to discontinue therapy at 24 months (54.4% and 52.9% risk, respectively; RR 1.03; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.05). Among patients who did not discontinue P2Y12 inhibitor therapy, women had lower 24-month risks of ischaemic outcomes than men (13.1% and 14.7%, respectively; RR 0.90; 95% CI 0.84 to 0.96), potentially lower 24-month risks of death/hospice admission (5.0% and 5.5%, respectively; RR 0.91; 95% CI 0.82 to 1.02), but women and men both had 2.5% 24-month bleeding risks (RR 0.98; 95% CI 0.82 to 1.14). CONCLUSIONS: Risks for death/hospice and ischaemic events were lower among women still taking a P2Y12 inhibitor than comparable men, with no difference in bleeding risks. Shorter P2Y12 inhibitor durations in older women than comparable men observed between 12 and 24 months post-AMI may reflect a disparity that is not justified by differences in clinical need.

Hospital Readmissions and Mortality Among Fee-for-Service Medicare Patients With Minor Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack: Findings From the COMPASS Cluster-Randomized Pragmatic Trial.

Background Mortality and hospital readmission rates may reflect the quality of acute and postacute stroke care. Our aim was to investigate if, compared with usual care (UC), the COMPASS-TC (Comprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services Transitional Care) intervention (INV) resulted in lower all-cause and stroke-specific readmissions and mortality among patients with minor stroke and transient ischemic attack discharged from 40 diverse North Carolina hospitals from 2016 to 2018. Methods and Results Using Medicare fee-for-service claims linked with COMPASS cluster-randomized trial data, we performed intention-to-treat analyses for 30-day, 90-day, and 1-year unplanned all-cause and stroke-specific readmissions and all-cause mortality between INV and UC groups, with 90-day unplanned all-cause readmissions as the primary outcome. Effect estimates were determined via mixed logistic or Cox proportional hazards regression models adjusted for age, sex, race, stroke severity, stroke diagnosis, and documented history of stroke. The final analysis cohort included 1069 INV and 1193 UC patients (median age 74 years, 80% White, 52% women, 40% with transient ischemic attack) with median length of hospital stay of 2 days. The risk of unplanned all-cause readmission was similar between INV versus UC at 30 (9.9% versus 8.7%) and 90 days (19.9% versus 18.9%), respectively. No significant differences between randomization groups were seen in 1-year all-cause readmissions, stroke-specific readmissions, or mortality. Conclusions In this pragmatic trial of patients with complex minor stroke/transient ischemic attack, there was no difference in the risk of readmission or mortality with COMPASS-TC relative to UC. Our study could not conclusively determine the reason for the lack of effectiveness of the INV. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02588664.

Collaborative Cohort of Cohorts for COVID-19 Research (C4R) Study: Study Design.

The Collaborative Cohort of Cohorts for COVID-19 Research (C4R) is a national prospective study of adults at risk for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) comprising 14 established United States (US) prospective cohort studies. For decades, C4R cohorts have collected extensive data on clinical and subclinical diseases and their risk factors, including behavior, cognition, biomarkers, and social determinants of health. C4R will link this pre-COVID phenotyping to information on SARS-CoV-2 infection and acute and post-acute COVID-related illness. C4R is largely population-based, has an age range of 18-108 years, and broadly reflects the racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic diversity of the US. C4R is ascertaining severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and COVID-19 illness using standardized questionnaires, ascertainment of COVID-related hospitalizations and deaths, and a SARS-CoV-2 serosurvey via dried blood spots. Master protocols leverage existing robust retention rates for telephone and in-person examinations, and high-quality events surveillance. Extensive pre-pandemic data minimize referral, survival, and recall bias. Data are being harmonized with research-quality phenotyping unmatched by clinical and survey-based studies; these will be pooled and shared widely to expedite collaboration and scientific findings. This unique resource will allow evaluation of risk and resilience factors for COVID-19 severity and outcomes, including post-acute sequelae, and assessment of the social and behavioral impact of the pandemic on long-term trajectories of health and aging.

The Cost of Implementing and Sustaining the COMprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services Model.

BACKGROUND: The COMprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services (COMPASS) model, a transitional care intervention for stroke patients discharged home, was tested against status quo postacute stroke care in a cluster-randomized trial in 40 hospitals in North Carolina. This study examined the hospital-level costs associated with implementing and sustaining COMPASS. METHODS: Using an activity-based costing survey, we estimated hospital-level resource costs spent on COMPASS-related activities during approximately 1 year. We identified hospitals that were actively engaged in COMPASS during the year before the survey and collected resource cost estimates from 22 hospitals. We used median wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and COMPASS enrollment data to estimate the hospital-level costs per COMPASS enrollee. RESULTS: Between November 2017 and March 2019, 1582 patients received the COMPASS intervention across the 22 hospitals included in this analysis. Average annual hospital-level COMPASS costs were $2861 per patient (25th percentile: $735; 75th percentile: $3,475). Having 10% higher stroke patient volume was associated with 5.1% lower COMPASS costs per patient (P=0.016). About half (N=10) of hospitals reported postacute clinic visits as their highest-cost activity, while a third (N=7) reported case ascertainment (ie, identifying eligible patients) as their highest-cost activity. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the costs of implementing COMPASS varied across hospitals. On average, hospitals with higher stroke volume and higher enrollment reported lower costs per patient. Based on average costs of COMPASS and readmissions for stroke patients, COMPASS could lower net costs if the model is able to prevent about 6 readmissions per year.

Dementia in late-onset epilepsy: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk of dementia after the development of late-onset epilepsy. METHODS: We used data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) cohort study, which started in 1987 to 1989 with 15,792 mostly Black and White men and women from 4 US communities. We identified late-onset epilepsy (LOE; seizures starting at age 67 or later) from linked Medicare claims data. We used a Cox proportional hazards regression model to evaluate associations between LOE and dementia through 2017 as ascertained from neuropsychological testing, interviews, and hospital discharge surveillance, and we used multinomial logistic regression to assess the risk of dementia and mild cognitive impairment in the subset with full neuropsychological assessments available. We adjusted for demographics and vascular and Alzheimer disease risk factors. RESULTS: Of 9,033 ARIC participants with sufficient Medicare coverage data (4,980 [55.1%] female, 1993 [22.1%] Black), 671 met the definition of LOE. Two hundred seventy-nine (41.6%) participants with and 1,408 (16.8%) without LOE developed dementia (p < 0.001). After a diagnosis of LOE, the adjusted hazard ratio for developing subsequent dementia was 3.05 (95% confidence interval 2.65-3.51). The median time to dementia ascertainment after the onset of LOE was 3.66 years (quartile 1-3, 1.28-8.28 years). INTERPRETATION: The risk of incident dementia is substantially elevated in individuals with LOE. Further work is needed to explore causes for the increased risk of dementia in this growing population.

Life-Course Individual and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status and Risk of Dementia in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Neurocognitive Study.

We examined associations of individual- and neighborhood-level life-course (LC) socioeconomic status (SES) with incident dementia in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities cohort. Individual- and neighborhood-level SES were assessed at 3 life epochs (childhood, young adulthood, midlife) via questionnaire (2001-2002) and summarized into LC-SES scores. Dementia was ascertained through 2013 using cognitive exams, telephone interviews, and hospital and death certificate codes. Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios of dementia by LC-SES scores in race-specific models. The analyses included data from 12,599 participants (25% Black) in the United States, with a mean age of 54 years and median follow-up of 24 years. Each standard-deviation greater individual LC-SES score was associated with a 14% (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.81, 0.92) lower risk of dementia in White and 21% (HR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.71, 0.87) lower risk in Black participants. Education was removed from the individual LC-SES score and adjusted for separately to assess economic factors of LC-SES. A standard-deviation greater individual LC-SES score, without education, was associated with a 10% (HR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.84, 0.97) lower dementia risk in White and 15% (HR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.76, 0.96) lower risk in Black participants. Neighborhood LC-SES was not associated with dementia. We found that individual LC-SES is a risk factor for dementia, whereas neighborhood LC-SES was not associated.

Implementation of a billable transitional care model for stroke patients: the COMPASS study.

BACKGROUND: The COMprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services (COMPASS) pragmatic trial compared the effectiveness of comprehensive transitional care (COMPASS-TC) versus usual care among stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients discharged home from North Carolina hospitals. We evaluated implementation of COMPASS-TC in 20 hospitals randomized to the intervention using the RE-AIM framework. METHODS: We evaluated hospital-level Adoption of COMPASS-TC; patient Reach (meeting transitional care management requirements of timely telephone and face-to-face follow-up); Implementation using hospital quality measures (concurrent enrollment, two-day telephone follow-up, 14-day clinic visit scheduling); and hospital-level sustainability (Maintenance). Effectiveness compared 90-day physical function (Stroke Impact Scale-16), between patients receiving COMPASS-TC versus not. Associations between hospital and patient characteristics with Implementation and Reach measures were estimated with mixed logistic regression models. RESULTS: Adoption: Of 95 eligible hospitals, 41 (43%) participated in the trial. Of the 20 hospitals randomized to the intervention, 19 (95%) initiated COMPASS-TC. Reach: A total of 24% (656/2751) of patients enrolled received a billable TC intervention, ranging from 6 to 66% across hospitals. IMPLEMENTATION: Of eligible patients enrolled, 75.9% received two-day calls (or two attempts) and 77.5% were scheduled/offered clinic visits. Most completed visits (78% of 975) occurred within 14 days. Effectiveness: Physical function was better among patients who attended a 14-day visit versus those who did not (adjusted mean difference: 3.84, 95% CI 1.42-6.27, p = 0.002). Maintenance: Of the 19 adopting hospitals, 14 (74%) sustained COMPASS-TC. CONCLUSIONS: COMPASS-TC implementation varied widely. The greatest challenge was reaching patients because of system difficulties maintaining consistent delivery of follow-up visits and patient preferences to pursue alternate post-acute care. Receiving COMPASS-TC was associated with better functional status. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT02588664. Registered 28 October 2015.

Longitudinal Associations Between Income Changes and Incident Cardiovascular Disease: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

Importance: Higher income is associated with lower incident cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, there is limited research on the association between changes in income and incident CVD. Objective: To examine the association between change in household income and subsequent risk of CVD. Design, Setting, and Participants: The Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities (ARIC) study is an ongoing, prospective cohort of 15 792 community-dwelling men and women, of mostly black or white race, from 4 centers in the United States (Jackson, Mississippi; Washington County, Maryland; suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Forsyth County, North Carolina), beginning in 1987. For our analysis, participants were followed up until December 31, 2016. Exposures: Participants were categorized based on whether their household income dropped by more than 50% (income drop), remained unchanged/changed less than 50% (income unchanged), or increased by more than 50% (income rise) over a mean (SD) period of approximately 6 (0.3) years between ARIC visit 1 (1987-1989) and visit 3 (1993-1995). Main Outcomes and Measures: Our primary outcome was incidence of CVD after ARIC visit 3, including myocardial infarction (MI), fatal coronary heart disease, heart failure (HF), or stroke during a mean (SD) of 17 (7) years. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic variables, health behaviors, and CVD biomarkers. Results: Of the 8989 included participants (mean [SD] age at enrollment was 53 [6] years, 1820 participants were black [20%], and 3835 participants were men [43%]), 900 participants (10%) experienced an income drop, 6284 participants (70%) had incomes that remained relatively unchanged, and 1805 participants (20%) experienced an income rise. After full adjustment, those with an income drop experienced significantly higher risk of incident CVD compared with those whose incomes remained relatively unchanged (hazard ratio, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.03-1.32). Those with an income rise experienced significantly lower risk of incident CVD compared with those whose incomes remained relatively unchanged (hazard ratio, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.77-0.96). Conclusions and Relevance: Income drop over 6 years was associated with higher risk of subsequent incident CVD over 17 years, while income rise over 6 years was associated with lower risk of subsequent incident CVD over 17 years. Health professionals should have greater awareness of the influence of income change on the health of their patients.

Meeting Medicare requirements for transitional care: Do stroke care and policy align?

OBJECTIVE: This study (1) describes transitional care for stroke patients discharged home from hospitals, (2) compares hospitals' standards of transitional care with core transitional care management (TCM) components recognized by Medicare, and (3) examines the association of policy and hospital specialty designations with TCM implementation. METHODS: Hospitals participating in the Comprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services (COMPASS) Study provided data on their hospital, stroke patient population, and standards of transitional care. Hospital-reported transitional care strategies were compared with the federal TCM definition (2-day follow-up, 14-day visit, non-face-to-face services). We examined the associations of TCM billing, stroke center certification, and Magnet nursing excellence designation with TCM implementation. RESULTS: Transitional care varied widely among 41 hospitals in North Carolina and no one strategy was universally applied or provided across hospitals. One third of hospitals met the TCM definition (37% provided telephone follow-up, 76% provided face-to-face provider follow-up, all provided a type of non-face-to-face support). There were no differences between groups (TCM met/not met) in hospital characteristics or transitional care resources and processes. Stroke center certification, Magnet designation, and use of TCM billing codes were not different for hospitals that did and did not meet the TCM definition. CONCLUSIONS: There was substantial variation in the provision of strategies supporting stroke patients' transition home from the hospital. Supportive stroke care transitions are essential when more than 50% of stroke patients are discharged home and more than half experience moderate to severe strokes. More research is needed to identify drivers of TCM uptake. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: NCT02588664.

Twenty Year Trends and Sex Differences in Young Adults Hospitalized With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Sex differences are known to exist in the management of older patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Few studies have examined the incidence and risk factors of AMI among young patients, or whether clinical management differs by sex. METHODS: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Surveillance study conducts hospital surveillance of AMI in 4 US communities (MD, MN, MS, and NC). AMI was classified by physician review, using a validated algorithm. Medications and procedures were abstracted from the medical record. Our study population was limited to young patients aged 35 to 54 years. RESULTS: From 1995 to 2014, 28 732 weighted hospitalizations for AMI were sampled among patients aged 35 to 74 years. Of these, 8737 (30%) were young. The annual incidence of AMI hospitalizations increased for young women but decreased for young men. The overall proportion of AMI admissions attributable to young patients steadily increased, from 27% in 1995 to 1999 to 32% in 2010 to 2014 ( P for trend=0.002), with the largest increase observed in young women. History of hypertension (59% to 73%, P for trend<0.0001) and diabetes mellitus (25% to 35%, P for trend<0.0001) also increased among young AMI patients. Compared to young men, young women presenting with AMI were more often black and had a greater comorbidity burden. In adjusted analyses, young women had a lower probability of receiving lipid-lowering therapies (relative risk [RR]=0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80-0.94), nonaspirin antiplatelets (RR=0.83; 95% CI, 0.75-0.91), beta blockers (RR=0.96; 95% CI, 0.91-0.99), coronary angiography (RR=0.93; 95% CI, 0.86-0.99) and coronary revascularization (RR = 0.79; 95% CI, 0.71-0.87). However, 1-year all-cause mortality was comparable for women versus men (HR=1.10; 95% CI, 0.83-1.45). CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of AMI hospitalizations attributable to young patients increased from 1995 to 2014 and was especially pronounced among women. History of hypertension and diabetes among young patients admitted with AMI increased over time as well. Compared with young men, young women presenting with AMI had a lower likelihood of receiving guideline-based AMI therapies. A better understanding of factors underlying these changes is needed to improve care of young patients with AMI.

Socioeconomic status and access to care and the incidence of a heart failure diagnosis in the inpatient and outpatient settings.

PURPOSE: Despite well-documented associations of socioeconomic status with incident heart failure (HF) hospitalization, little information exists on the relationship of socioeconomic status with HF diagnosed in the outpatient (OP) setting. METHODS: We used Poisson models to examine the association of area-level indicators of educational attainment, poverty, living situation, and density of primary care physicians with incident HF diagnosed in the inpatient (IP) and OP settings among a cohort of Medicare beneficiaries (n = 109,756; 2001-2013). RESULTS: The age-standardized rate of HF incidence was 35.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 35.1-36.5) and 13.9 (95% CI, 13.5-14.4) cases per 1000 person-years in IP and OP settings, respectively. The incidence rate differences (IRDs) per 1000 person-years in both settings suggested greater incidence of HF in high- compared to low-poverty areas (IP IRD = 4.47 [95% CI, 3.29-5.65], OP IRD = 1.41 [95% CI, 0.61-2.22]) and in low- compared to high-education areas (IP IRD = 3.73 [95% CI, 2.63-4.82], OP IRD = 1.72 [95% CI, 0.97-2.47]). CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight the role of area-level social determinants of health in the incidence of HF in both the IP and OP settings. These findings may have implications for HF prevention policies.