Spatial Disparities: The Role of Nativity in Neighborhood Exposure to Alcohol and Tobacco Retailers.

Studies of retail environment, one of the social determinants of health, document racial/ethnic disparities in exposure to alcohol and tobacco (A and T) retailers, but have largely overlooked nativity. We examined associations between A and T retailer density and rates of foreign-born Latinx and foreign-born Asian residents in California census tracts (N = 7888), using spatial regressions and controlling for population and ecological confounders (e.g., population density, zoning, residential instability, urbanicity). Socio-demographic data came from the American Community Survey (2012-2016); census tract density of A and T retailers came from geocoded addresses from state license data for off-sale alcohol distributors and purchased data on tobacco retailers from a commercial provider. Models predicting A and T tract retailer density showed that the rate of foreign-born Latinx residents was associated with higher tobacco retailer density but lower alcohol retailer density, and demonstrate no significant associations between rate of foreign-born Asian residents tobacco and alcohol retail density. Retail environment could contribute to observed declines in immigrant health over time in the US and across generations.

Trends of vascular surgery procedures in Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome represent two connective tissue vascular diseases requiring unique consideration in their vascular surgical care. A comprehensive national review encompassing all hospitalizations for the Marfan Syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome patient population is lacking. METHODS: The National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample from 2010 to 2014 was reviewed for all inpatient vascular surgery procedures including those with a diagnosis of Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. National estimates of vascular surgery rates were generated from provided weights. Patient demographics, procedure type, and outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: There were 3103 Marfan syndrome and 476 Ehlers-Danlos syndrome vascular procedures identified as well as 3,895,381 vascular procedures in the remainder of population (control group). The percent of aortic procedures from all vascular procedures in Marfan syndrome (23.5%) and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (23.5%) were 2.5-fold higher than controls (9.1%), p < 0.0001. Open aortic aneurysm repair was also significantly greater in both Marfan syndrome (16.8%) and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (11.2%) compared to controls (4.4%), p < 0.0001. Endovascular aortic repair (p < 0.2302) was similar among the groups. Marfan syndrome (7.7%) and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (5.1%) had more thoracic endovascular aortic repair performed than controls (0.7%), p < 0.0001. Percutaneous procedures were fewer in Marfan syndrome (6.3%) than controls (31.3%) and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (26.3%), p < 0.0001, while repair of peripheral arteries was greater in Marfan syndrome (5.9%) and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (4.1%) than controls (1.5%), p < 0.0001. For total aortic procedures, the mean age of aortic procedures was 68.2 years in controls vs 45.8 years in Marfan syndrome and 55.3 years in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, p < 0.0001. Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome had fewer comorbidities overall, while controls had significantly higher rates of coronary artery disease (controls 39.9% vs Marfan syndrome 8.3% and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome 13.0%, p < 0.0001), peripheral vascular disease (controls 34.5% vs Marfan syndrome 4.2% and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome 8.7%, p < 0.0001), and diabetes (controls 20.6% vs Marfan syndrome 6.6 and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome 4.4%, p < 0.0001). Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome had higher overall complication rate (65.5% and 52.2%) compared to controls (44.6%), p < 0.0001. Postoperative hemorrhage was more likely in Marfan syndrome (42.9%) and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (39.1%) than controls (22.2%), p < 0.0001. Increased respiratory failure was noted in Marfan syndrome (20.2%) vs controls (10.7%) and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (8.7%), p = .0003. Finally, length of stay was increased in Marfan syndrome 12.5 days vs Ehlers-Danlos syndrome 7.4 days and controls 7.2 days (p < 0.0001) as well as a higher median costs of index hospitalization in Marfan syndrome ($57,084 vs Ehlers-Danlos syndrome $22,032 and controls $26,520, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with Marfan syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome differ from other patients undergoing vascular surgical procedures, with a significantly higher proportion of aortic procedures including open aneurysm repair and thoracic endovascular aortic repair. While they are younger with fewer comorbidities, due to the unique pathogenesis of their underlying connective tissue disorder, there is an overall higher rate of procedural complications and increased length of stay and cost for Marfan syndrome patients undergoing aortic surgery.

A telephone call 1 week after hospitalization can identify risk factors for vascular surgery readmission.

OBJECTIVE: Compared with other populations, patients who undergo vascular surgery have higher 30-day hospital readmission rates of up to 25%. Postdischarge telephone call assessments have demonstrated utility in patients with significant medical comorbidities and traditionally high readmission rates. Therefore, we hypothesized that a 1-week postdischarge telephone call evaluation can identify risk factors for readmission among vascular surgery patients. METHODS: Patients who underwent a vascular surgery procedure during a 1-year period by a single vascular surgeon at one hospital received a postdischarge telephone call questionnaire to review postoperative pain, surgical site, constitutional symptoms, and follow-up arrangement. The primary outcome measure was frequency of postoperative symptoms as collected on the telephone call questionnaire. The secondary outcome measure was 30-day hospital readmission rates. RESULTS: Among 167 patients, 131 (78%) received a telephone call after discharge. Calls identified pain relieved by prescription medication (odds ratio, 6.67; confidence interval, 0.82-53.81; P = .05) and continued dressing application (odds ratio, 9.55; confidence interval, 0.54-166.6; P = .04) as risk factors for 30-day readmission. The 30-day readmission was not statistically different in patients who were successfully and not successfully contacted with a postdischarge telephone call (8% and 17%, respectively; P = .37). CONCLUSIONS: Vascular surgery patients are at higher risk of 30-day readmission than are patients in other surgical subspecialties. For the majority of patients, implementing a 1-week postdischarge telephone call for short-term follow-up evaluation is feasible and can help identify potential risk factors for hospital readmission within 30 days.

Population-based analysis of inpatient vascular procedures and predicting future workload and implications for training.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the trend in inpatient vascular procedures in the United States over the past decade and predict the future demand for vascular surgeons. METHODS: The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample was queried to determine the weighted national estimates of inpatient vascular procedures performed on adult patients (age ≥ 18) between 1997 and 2008. Using population estimates from the United States Census Bureau, the per capita rates of inpatient procedures were calculated for age-specific groups (18-64 years, 65-84 years, and ≥ 85 years). The change in per capita rates over the past decade along with population forecasts were used to predict future workload. RESULTS: There was a net increase of 22% from 971,046 inpatient vascular procedures for all adults in 1997 to 1,188,332 in 2008. During the same time period, the adult population increased by 16% from 198 to 230 million. The age-stratified per capita rates of all vascular procedures were +21% for age 18 to 64; -4% for age 65 to 84; and +18% for age ≥ 85. This resulted in a net increase of 5% (490 to 515 procedures per 100,000 capita) in the per capita rate for all adults. Based on the assumption that trends in age-specific rates remain constant, there is a predicted inpatient workload increase (compared to 2008) of 18% by 2015, 34% by 2020, and 72% by 2030. The vascular workload is predicted to more than double by the year 2040. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a conservative approach of using a population-based analysis of only inpatient procedures, there is a dramatic increase in the predicted vascular workload for the future. The vascular surgery training process will need to adapt to ensure an adequate number of fellowship-trained vascular surgeons is available to provide quality vascular care in the future.

Type II endoleak after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: a conservative approach with selective intervention is safe and cost-effective.

OBJECTIVES: The conservative versus therapeutic approach to type II endoleak after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (EVAR) has been controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and cost-effectiveness of the conservative approach of embolizing type II endoleak only when persistent for more than 6 months and associated with aneurysm sac growth of 5 mm or more. METHODS: Data for 486 consecutive patients who underwent EVAR were analyzed for incidence and outcome of type II endoleaks. Spiral computed tomography (CT) scans were reviewed, and patient outcome was evaluated at either office visit or telephone contact. Patients with new or late-appearing type II endoleak were evaluated with spiral CT at 6-month intervals to evaluate both persistence of the endoleak and size of the aneurysm sac. Persistent (>or=6 months) type II endoleak and aneurysm sac growth of 5 mm or greater were treated with either translumbar glue or coil embolization of the lumbar source, or transarterial coil embolization of the inferior mesenteric artery. RESULTS: Type II endoleaks were detected in 90 (18.5%) patients. With a mean follow-up of 21.7 +/- 16 months, only 35 (7.2%) patients had type II endoleak that persisted for 6 months or longer. Aneurysm sac enlargement was noted in 5 patients, representing 1% of the total series. All 5 patients underwent successful translumbar sac embolization (n = 4) or transarterial inferior mesenteric artery embolization (n = 4) at a mean follow-up of 18.2 +/- 8.0 months, with no recurrence or aneurysm sac growth. No patient with treated or untreated type II endoleak has had rupture of the aneurysm. The mean global cost for treatment of persistent type II endoleak associated with aneurysm sac growth was US dollars 6695.50 (hospital cost plus physician reimbursement). Treatment in the 30 patients with persistent type II endoleak but no aneurysm sac growth would have represented an additional cost of US dollars 200000 or more. The presence or absence of a type II endoleak did not affect survival (78% vs 73%) at 48 months. CONCLUSIONS: Selective intervention to treat type II endoleak that persists for 6 months and is associated with aneurysm enlargement seems to be both safe and cost-effective. Longer follow-up will determine whether this conservative approach to management of type II endoleak is the standard of care.

Laser hair reduction in the hirsute patient: a critical assessment.

Hirsutism affects 5-10% of unselected women, depending on ethnicity and definition. The past two decades have seen the development of lasers for the removal of unwanted hair, using selective destruction of the hair follicle without damage to adjacent tissues. Selective photothermolysis relies on the absorption of a brief radiation pulse by specific pigmented targets, which generates and confines the heat to that selected target. In general, laser hair removal is most successful in patients with lighter skin colours and dark coloured hairs. Some studies have documented the results of laser hair removal in a controlled setting, although few have extended their observations beyond 1 year. In general, treatment with the ruby, alexandrite or diode lasers, or the use of intense pulsed light results in similar success rates, although these are somewhat lower for the neodymium:Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet (nd:YAG) laser. Overall, laser hair removal should not be considered 'permanent', at least when considering the current data available. Repeated therapies are necessary, although complete alopoecia is rarely achieved and it is unclear at what point the maximum benefit is achieved from multiple therapies. While larger prospective, controlled, blinded and uniform studies are still needed, laser hair removal appears to be a useful adjuvant in the treatment of the hirsute patient.