An Exploratory Correlational Study in the Use of Mobile Technology Among Adult Kidney Transplant Recipients.

INTRODUCTION: Rapidly growing use of mobile technology provides a platform for self-management of care support for those with chronic conditions. Few studies have explored the characteristics or access patterns of kidney transplant recipients who use mHealth applications (apps) for self-management of care. RESEARCH QUESTIONS: The primary aim of this study was to describe demographics, use, barriers, and perceptions of mobile apps for self-management of care among adult kidney transplants recipients. The secondary aim was to compare blood urea nitrogen, glomerular filtration rate, and number of hospitalizations among mHealth app users, other app users, and non-app users. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was used to administer the Mobile Application Use among Kidney Transplant Recipients Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, χ2 statistics, and analysis of variance were used for the primary aim and linear regression was used for the secondary aim. RESULTS: The sample included mostly African American males (n = 123, 75.5%) with a mean age of 50 (13.2) years. Knowledge was the greatest barrier reported by the non-app users (mHealth app users 9%, other app users 12%, non-app users, 49%, P < .001). Significantly fewer hospitalizations were found in the mHealth app users compared to other app users (regression coefficient b = -1.2, standard error [SE] = 0.5) and non-app users ( b = -0.9, SE = 0.6), adjusting for patient demographic and clinical characteristics. DISCUSSION: Findings suggest a relationship may exist between mHealth app use and a decrease in the number of hospitalizations following kidney transplantation.

Comparing Comorbidity Indices to Predict Post-Acute Rehabilitation Outcomes in Older Adults.

OBJECTIVE: Compare 5 comorbidity indices to predict community discharge and functional status following post-acute rehabilitation. DESIGN: This was a retrospective study of Medicare beneficiaries with stroke, lower-extremity fracture, and joint replacement discharged from inpatient rehabilitation in 2011 (N = 105,275). Community discharge and self-care, mobility, and cognitive function were compared using the Charlson, Elixhauser, Tier, Functional Comorbidity, and Hierarchical Condition Category comorbidity indices. RESULTS: Of the patients, 64.4% were female, and 84.6% were non-Hispanic white. Mean age was 79.3 (SD, 7.5) years. Base regression models including sociodemographic and clinical variables explained 56.6%, 42.2%, and 23.0% of the variance (R) for discharge self-care; 47.4%, 30.9%, and 18.6% for mobility; and 62.0%, 55.3%, and 37.3% for cognition across the 3 impairment groups. R values for self-care, mobility, and cognition increased by 0.2% to 3.3% when the comorbidity indices were added to the models. The base model C statistics for community discharge were 0.58 (stroke), 0.61 (fracture), and 0.62 (joint replacement). The C statistics increased more than 25% with the addition of discharge functional status to the base model. Adding the comorbidity indices individually to the base model resulted in C-statistic increases of 1% to 2%. CONCLUSION: Comorbidity indices were poor predictors of community discharge and functional status in Medicare beneficiaries receiving inpatient rehabilitation.

Examining the Association Between Comorbidity Indexes and Functional Status in Hospitalized Medicare Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries.

BACKGROUND: Medicare data from acute hospitals do not contain information on functional status. This lack of information limits the ability to conduct rehabilitation-related health services research. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between 5 comorbidity indexes derived from acute care claims data and functional status assessed at admission to an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF). Comorbidity indexes included tier comorbidity, Functional Comorbidity Index (FCI), Charlson Comorbidity Index, Elixhauser Comorbidity Index, and Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC). DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study. METHODS: Medicare beneficiaries with stroke, lower extremity joint replacement, and lower extremity fracture discharged to an IRF in 2011 were studied (N=105,441). Data from the beneficiary summary file, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR) file, and Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility-Patient Assessment Instrument (IRF-PAI) file were linked. Inpatient rehabilitation facility admission functional status was used as a proxy for acute hospital discharge functional status. Separate linear regression models for each impairment group were developed to assess the relationships between the comorbidity indexes and functional status. Base models included age, sex, race/ethnicity, disability, dual eligibility, and length of stay. Subsequent models included individual comorbidity indexes. Values of variance explained (R(2)) with each comorbidity index were compared. RESULTS: Base models explained 7.7% of the variance in motor function ratings for stroke, 3.8% for joint replacement, and 7.3% for fracture. The R(2) increased marginally when comorbidity indexes were added to base models for stroke, joint replacement, and fracture: Charlson Comorbidity Index (0.4%, 0.5%, 0.3%), tier comorbidity (0.2%, 0.6%, 0.5%), FCI (0.4%, 1.2%, 1.6%), Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (1.2%, 1.9%, 3.5%), and HCC (2.2%, 2.1%, 2.8%). LIMITATION: Patients from 3 impairment categories were included in the sample. CONCLUSIONS: The 5 comorbidity indexes contributed little to predicting functional status. The indexes examined were not useful as proxies for functional status in the acute settings studied.

Hospital Readmission Following Discharge From Inpatient Rehabilitation for Older Adults With Debility.

BACKGROUND: Debility accounts for 10% of inpatient rehabilitation cases among Medicare beneficiaries. Debility has the highest 30-day readmission rate among 6 impairment groups most commonly admitted to inpatient rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine rates, temporal distribution, and factors associated with hospital readmission for patients with debility up to 90 days following discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using records for 45,424 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries with debility discharged to community from 1,199 facilities during 2006-2009. METHODS: Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios for readmission. Schoenfeld residuals were examined to identify covariate-time interactions. Factor-time interactions were included in the full model for Functional Independence Measure (FIM) discharge motor functional status, comorbidity tier, and chronic pulmonary disease. Most prevalent reasons for readmission were summarized by Medicare severity diagnosis related groups. RESULTS: Hospital readmission rates for patients with debility were 19% for 30 days and 34% for 90 days. The highest readmission count occurred on day 3 after discharge, and 56% of readmissions occurred within 30 days. A higher FIM discharge motor rating was associated with lower hazard for readmissions prior to 60 days (30-day hazard ratio=0.987; 95% confidence interval=0.986, 0.989). Comorbidities with hazard ratios >1.0 included comorbidity tier and 11 Elixhauser conditions, 3 of which (heart failure, renal failure, and chronic pulmonary disease) were among the most prevalent reasons for readmission. LIMITATIONS: Analysis of Medicare data permitted only use of variables reported for administrative purposes. Comorbidity data were analyzed only for inpatient diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: One-third of patients were readmitted to acute hospitals within 90 days following rehabilitation for debility. Protective effect of greater motor function was diminished by 60 days after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.

Variation among Primary Care Physicians in the Use of Imaging for Older Patients with Acute Low Back Pain.

BACKGROUND: Diagnostic imaging is not recommended in the evaluation and management of non-specific acute low back pain. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the variation among primary care providers (PCPs) in the use of diagnostic imaging for older patients with non-specific acute low back pain. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Retrospective cohort study using 100 % Texas Medicare claims data. We identified 145,320 patients aged 66 years and older with non-specific acute low back pain during the period January 1, 2007, through November 30, 2011, cared for by 3297 PCPs. MAIN MEASURES: We tracked whether each patient received lumbar imaging (radiography, computed tomography [CT], or magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) within 4 weeks of the initial visit. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to estimate physician-level variation in imaging use. KEY RESULTS: Among patients, 27.2 % received radiography and 11.1 % received CT or MRI within 4 weeks of the initial visit for low back pain. PCPs varied substantially in the use of imaging. The average rate of radiography within 4 weeks was 53.9 % for PCPs in the highest decile, compared to 6.1 % for PCPs in the lowest decile. The average rates of CT/MRI within 4 weeks were 18.5 % vs. 3.2 % for PCPs in the highest and lowest deciles, respectively. The specific physician seen by a patient accounted for 25 % of the variability in whether imaging was performed, while only 0.44 % of the variance was due to measured patient characteristics and 1.4 % to known physician characteristics. Use of imaging by individual physicians was stable over time. CONCLUSIONS: PCPs vary substantially in the use of imaging for non-specific acute low back pain. Provider-level measures can be employed to provide feedback to physicians in an effort to modify imaging use.

Coadministration of co-trimoxazole with sulfonylureas: hypoglycemia events and pattern of use.

BACKGROUND: Coadministration of co-trimoxazole with sulfonylureas is reported to increase the risk of hypoglycemia. METHODS: We identified a cohort of Medicare beneficiaries aged 66 years or older who took glyburide or glipizide for diabetes from a 5% national sample of Medicare Part D claims data in 2008 (n = 34,239). We tracked each participant's claims during 2008-2010 for a co-trimoxazole prescription and subsequent emergency room visits for hypoglycemia. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression modeling were used to evaluate hypoglycemia-related emergency room visits after coadministration of co-trimoxazole with sulfonylureas and its utilization patterns in older adults with diabetes. RESULTS: Sulfonylureas users prescribed co-trimoxazole had a significant higher risk of emergency room visits for hypoglycemia, compared with those prescribed noninteracting antibiotics (odds ratio = 3.89, 95% confidence interval = 2.29-6.60 for glipizide and odds ratio = 3.78, 95% confidence interval = 1.81-7.90 for glyburide with co-trimoxazole, using amoxicillin as the reference). Co-trimoxazole was prescribed to 16.9% of those taking glyburide or glipizide during 2008-2010, varying from 4.0% to 35.9% across U.S. hospital referral regions. Patients with polypharmacy and with more prescribers were more likely to receive co-trimoxazole. Patients with an identifiable primary care physician had 20% lower odds of receiving a co-trimoxazole prescription. Hospital referral regions with more PCPs had lower rates of coadministration of the two drugs (r = -.26, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Coadministration of co-trimoxazole with sulfonylureas is associated with increased risk of hypoglycemia, compared with noninteracting antibiotics. Such coadministration is prevalent among older diabetic patients in the United States, especially in patients without an identifiable primary care physician.

Hypoglycemia after antimicrobial drug prescription for older patients using sulfonylureas.

IMPORTANCE: Certain antimicrobial drugs interact with sulfonylureas to increase the risk of hypoglycemia. OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk of hypoglycemia and associated costs in older patients prescribed glipizide or glyburide who fill a prescription for an antimicrobial drug. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a retrospective cohort study of Texas Medicare claims from 2006 to 2009 for patients 66 years or older who were prescribed glipizide or glyburide and who also filled a prescription for 1 of the 16 antimicrobials most commonly prescribed for this population. METHODS: We assessed hypoglycemia events and associated Medicare costs in patients prescribed 1 of 7 antimicrobial agents thought to interact with sulfonylureas, using noninteracting antimicrobials as a comparison. We used a repeated measure logistic regression, controlling for age, sex, ethnicity, Medicaid eligibility, comorbidity, prior emergency department visits for hypoglycemia, prior hospitalizations for any cause, nursing home residence, and indication for the antimicrobial. We estimated odds of hypoglycemia, number needed to harm, deaths during hospitalization for hypoglycemia, and Medicare costs for hypoglycemia treatment. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Any hospitalization or emergency department visit owing to hypoglycemia within 14 days of antimicrobial exposure. RESULTS: In multivariable analyses controlling for patient characteristics and indication for antimicrobial drug use, clarithromycin (odds ratio [OR], 3.96 [95% CI, 2.42-6.49]), levofloxacin (OR, 2.60 [95% CI, 2.18-3.10]), sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (OR, 2.56 [95% CI, 2.12-3.10]), metronidazole (OR, 2.11 [95% CI, 1.28-3.47]), and ciprofloxacin (OR, 1.62 [95% CI, 1.33-1.97]) were associated with higher rates of hypoglycemia compared with a panel of noninteracting antimicrobials. The number needed to harm ranged from 71 for clarithromycin to 334 for ciprofloxacin. Patient factors associated with hypoglycemia included older age, female sex, black or Hispanic race/ethnicity, higher comorbidity, and prior hypoglycemic episode. In 2009, 28.3% of patients prescribed a sulfonylurea filled a prescription for 1 of these 5 antimicrobials, which were associated with 13.2% of all hypoglycemia events in patients taking sulfonylureas. The treatment of subsequent hypoglycemia adds $30.54 in additional Medicare costs to each prescription of 1 of those 5 antimicrobials given to patients taking sulfonylureas. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Prescription of interacting antimicrobial drugs to patients on sulfonylureas is very common, and is associated with substantial morbidity and increased costs.

Potential overuse of screening mammography and its association with access to primary care.

BACKGROUND: Cancer screening in individuals with limited life expectancy increases the risk of diagnosis and treatment of cancer that otherwise would not have become clinically apparent. OBJECTIVE: To estimate screening mammography use in women with limited life expectancy, its geographic variation, and association with access to primary care and mammographic resources. METHODS: We assessed screening mammography use in 2008-2009 in 106,737 women aged 66 years or older with an estimated life expectancy of <7 years using a 5% national sample of Medicare beneficiaries. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate the screening mammography utilization, by access to primary care. RESULTS: Among women with a life expectancy of <7 years, 28.5% received screening mammography during 2008-2009. The screening rates were 34.6% versus 20.5% for women with and without an identifiable primary care physician, respectively. The screening rates were higher among women who saw >1 generalist physician and who had more visits to generalist physicians. There was substantial geographic variation across the United States, with an average rate of 39.5% in the hospital referral regions (HRRs) in the top decile of screening versus 19.5% in the HRRs in the bottom decile. The screening rates were higher among HRRs with more primary care physicians (r=0.14, P=0.02), mammography facilities (r=0.12, P=0.04), and radiologists (r=0.22, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Substantial proportions of women with limited life expectancy receive screening mammography. Results presented sound a cautionary note that greater access to primary care and mammographic resources is also associated with higher overuse.

Limited life expectancy among a subgroup of medicare beneficiaries receiving screening colonoscopies.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Life expectancy is an important consideration when assessing appropriateness of preventive programs for older individuals. Most studies on this subject have used age cutoffs as a proxy for life expectancy. We analyzed patterns of utilization of screening colonoscopy in Medicare enrollees by using estimated life expectancy. METHODS: We used a 5% random national sample of Medicare claims data to identify average-risk patients who underwent screening colonoscopies from 2008 to 2010. Colonoscopies were considered to be screening colonoscopies in the absence of diagnoses for nonscreening indications, which were based on either colonoscopies or any claims in the preceding 3 months. We estimated life expectancies by using a model that combined age, sex, and comorbidity. Among patients who underwent screening colonoscopies, we calculated the percentage of those with life expectancies <10 years. RESULTS: Among the 57,597 Medicare beneficiaries 66 years old or older who received at least 1 screening colonoscopy, 24.8% had an estimated life expectancy of <10 years. There was a significant positive association between total Medicare per capita costs in hospital referral regions and the proportion of patients with limited life expectancies (<10 years) at the time of screening colonoscopy (R = 0.25; P < .001, Pearson correlation test). In a multivariable analysis, men were substantially more likely than women to have limited life expectancy at the time of screening colonoscopy (odds ratio, 2.25; 95% confidence interval, 2.16-2.34). CONCLUSIONS: Nearly 25% of Medicare beneficiaries, especially men, had life expectancies <10 years at the time of screening colonoscopies. Life expectancy should therefore be incorporated in decision-making for preventive services.

Predicting life expectancy for community-dwelling older adults from Medicare claims data.

Estimates of life expectancy are useful in assessing whether different prevention strategies are appropriate in different populations. We developed sex-specific Cox proportional-hazard models that use Medicare claims data to predict life expectancy and risk of death at up to 10 years for older adults. We identified a cohort of Medicare beneficiaries 66-90 years of age from the 5% Medicare claims data in 2000 (n = 1,137,311) and tracked each subject's vital status until December 31, 2009. Subjects were split randomly into training and validation samples. Models were developed from the training sample and validated by comparison of predicted to actual survival in the validation sample. The C statistics for the models including predictors of age and Elixhauser comorbidities were 0.76-0.79 for men and women for prediction of death at the 1-, 5-, 7-, and 10-year follow-up periods. More than 80% of subjects with <25% risk of death at 5, 7, and 10 years survived longer than the chosen cutoff years. More than 80% of subjects with ≥75% risk of death at 5, 7, and 10 years died by those cutoff years. The models overestimated the risk of death at 1 year for the high-risk groups. Sex-specific models that use age and Elixhauser comorbidities can accurately predict patient life expectancy and risk of death at 5-10 years.

Complications and continuation of intrauterine device use among commercially insured teenagers.

OBJECTIVE: Many U.S. health care providers remain reluctant to prescribe intrauterine devices (IUDs) to teenagers as a result of concerns about serious complications. This study examined whether 15-19-year-old IUD users were more likely to experience complications, failure, or early discontinuation than adult users aged 20-24 years and 25-44 years and whether there were differences in these outcomes between users of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine systems and copper IUDs. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using health insurance claims obtained from a private insurance company of 90,489 women who had an IUD inserted between 2002 and 2009. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds of experiencing complications, method failure, or early discontinuation within 12 months of insertion by age group and type of IUD inserted. RESULTS: Serious complications, including ectopic pregnancy and pelvic inflammatory disease, occurred in less than 1% of patients regardless of age or IUD type. Women aged 15-19 years were more likely than those aged 25-44 years to have a claim for dysmenorrhea (odds ratio [OR] 1.4, confidence interval [CI] 1.1-1.6), amenorrhea (OR 1.3, CI 1.1-1.5), or normal pregnancy (OR 1.4, CI 1.1-1.8). Overall, early discontinuation did not differ between teenagers and women aged 25-44 years (13% compared with 11%, P>.05). However, use of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system was associated with fewer complications and less early discontinuation than the copper IUD in all age groups. CONCLUSIONS: The IUD is as appropriate for teenagers to use as it is for older women, with serious complications occurring infrequently in all groups. The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system may be a better choice than the copper IUD as a result of lower odds of complications, discontinuation, and failure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Refining physician quality indicators for screening mammography in older women: distinguishing appropriate use from overuse.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the feasibility of refining physician quality indicators of screening mammography use based on patient life expectancy. DESIGN: Retrospective population-based cohort study. SETTING: Texas. PARTICIPANTS: Three thousand five hundred ninety-five usual care providers (UCPs) with at least 10 female patients aged 67 and older on January 1, 2008, with an estimated life expectancy of 7 years or more (222,584 women) and at least 10 women with an estimated life expectancy of less than 7 years (90,903 women), based on age and comorbidity. MEASUREMENTS: Screening mammography use in 2008-09 by each provider in each population. RESULTS: The average adjusted mammography screening rates for UCPs were 31.1% for women with a life expectancy of less than 7 years and 55.2% for women with a life expectancy of 7 years or longer. For women with limited life expectancy, 3.7% of UCPs had significantly lower and 9.2% had significantly higher than average adjusted mammography screening rates. For women with longer life expectancy, 16.7% of UCPs had significantly lower and 19.7% had significantly higher than average rates. UCP adjusted screening rates were stable over time (2006-07 vs 2008-09, correlation coefficient (r) = 0.65, P < .001). There was a strong correlation between UCP screening rates for their female patients with a life expectancy of less than 7 years and 7 years or longer (r = 0.67, P < .001). Most physician characteristics associated with higher screening rates (e.g., being female and foreign trained) in women with longer life expectancy were also associated with higher screening rates in women with limited life expectancy. CONCLUSION: Providers with high mammography screening rates for women with longer life expectancy also tend to screen women with limited life expectancy. Quality indicators for screening practice can be improved by distinguishing appropriate use from overuse based on patient life expectancy.

Completion of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine series among males with private insurance between 2006 and 2009.

Little is known about initiation and completion among males who received the HPV vaccine on an off-label basis before 2009. This study utilized administrative claims data from a private insurance company to examine completion of the 3 dose HPV series among 514 males who initiated the vaccine between 2006 and May of 2009. Frequencies of HPV vaccination were examined and multivariate logistic regression estimated the odds of completing the entire series within 365 days of initiation. We found that only 21% of male initiators completed all 3 vaccine doses within 12 months and completion decreased over time. Series completion did not vary significantly by provider type. These findings suggest that difficulties may be encountered in fully vaccinating enough males to achieve adequate herd immunity in the future.

Completion of the human papillomavirus vaccine series among insured females between 2006 and 2009.

BACKGROUND: Completion of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in a large percentage of young females is an important goal to prevent anogenital cancers associated with HPV. The current study examined whether the percentage of insured women who complete the vaccine series has changed across time, and how provider type and age at initiation affects rates of completion. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used administrative data from a private insurance company. The study included 271,976 females in whom the HPV vaccine series was initiated and who had been continuously enrolled in their respective insurance plan for 365 days after vaccine initiation. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the odds of completing the vaccine series within 365 days after initiation. RESULTS: Females aged 13 years to 18 years, 19 years to 26 years, and ≥ 27 years were found to be less likely than those ages 9 years to 12 years to complete their HPV vaccine series. Obstetricians/gynecologists were more likely to administer vaccines to completers than pediatricians, whereas clinics, nurses, family care practitioners, and specialists were less likely to administer initial vaccines to completers compared with pediatricians. The results of the current study also found that females aged 9 years to 12 years and 13 years to 18 years had lower odds of completing the HPV vaccine series for each subsequent year compared with those aged 19 years to 26 years and ≥ 27 years. CONCLUSIONS: Among insured females in the United States, the percentage of females who complete the HPV vaccine series is dropping over time, especially among younger females, who are specifically targeted to receive the vaccine. Physicians need to stress the importance of completing all 3 vaccinations to their patients.

Integrating age and comorbidity to assess screening mammography utilization.

BACKGROUND: Most studies use age as a cutoff to evaluate screening mammography utilization, generally examining screening up to age 75 years (the age-cutoff method). However, many experts and guidelines encourage clinicians to consider patient health and/or life expectancy. PURPOSE: To compare the accuracy of estimating screening mammography utilization in older women using the age-cutoff method versus using a method based on the projected life expectancy. METHODS: Two cohorts were selected from female Medicare beneficiaries aged 67-90 years living in Texas in 2001 and 2006. The 2001 cohort (n=716,279) was used to generate life-expectancy estimates by age and comorbidity, which were then applied to the 2006 cohort (n=697,825). Screening mammography utilization during 2006-2007 was measured for the 2006 cohort. Data were collected in 2000-2007 and analyzed in 2011. RESULTS: The screening rate was 52.7% in women aged 67-74 years based on age alone, compared to 53.5% in women in the same age group with a life expectancy of ≥7 years. A large proportion (63.4%) of women aged 75-90 years (n=370,583) had a life expectancy of ≥7 years. Those women had a screening rate of 42.7%. The screening rate was 35.7% in women aged 75-90 years based on age alone, compared to 16.3% in women in the same age group with a life expectancy of <5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Estimating screening mammography utilization among older women can be improved by using projected life expectancy rather than the age-cutoff method.

Predictors of mammography use in older women with disability: the patients' perspectives.

To determine the factors associated with mammography use among Medicare beneficiaries and reasons for nonuse. Cohort of 4610 community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries ≥ 65 years included in the 2004-2005 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey. Regression models evaluated the association of disability with mammography use. Reasons for underuse are described. Women with disability were more likely than women with no disability to report lower mammography use (unadjusted, moderate disability OR = 0.76; 95% CI = 0.64, 0.91; severe disability OR = 0.46; 95% CI = 0.40, 0.54). Lower use was significant for women with severe disability (adjusted, OR = 0.67; 95% CI = 0.54, 0.83) and women with fair-poor self-rated health, no HMO enrollment and ≥ 3 comorbidities. No physician recommendation, no need, dislike/pain during the test and forget it were reasons for underutilization. Mammography use decreases with increasing level of disability. Common reasons for underutilization are no physician recommendation, no need, dislike/pain during the test and forgot it. Screening guidelines should be used to target women with disabilities who can benefit from mammography.

Variation in false-positive rates of mammography reading among 1067 radiologists: a population-based assessment.

BACKGROUND: The accuracy of mammography reading varies among radiologists. We conducted a population-based assessment on radiologist variation in false- positive rates of screening mammography and its associated radiologist characteristics. METHODS: About 27,394 screening mammograms interpreted by 1067 radiologists were identified from a 5% non-cancer sample of Medicare claims during 1998-1999. The data were linked to the American Medical Association Masterfile to obtain radiologist characteristics. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to examine the radiologist variation in false-positive rates of screening mammography and the associated radiologist characteristics. RESULTS: Radiologists varied substantially in the false-positive rates of screening mammography (ranging from 1.5 to 24.1%, adjusting for patient characteristics). A longer time period since graduation is associated with lower false-positive rates (odds ratio [OR] for every 10 years increase: 0.87, 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 0.81-0.94) and female radiologists had higher false-positive rates than male radiologists (OR = 1.25, 95% CI, 1.05-1.49), adjusting for patient and other radiologist characteristics. The unmeasured factors contributed to about 90% of the between-radiologist variance. CONCLUSIONS: Radiologists varied greatly in accuracy of mammography reading. Female and more recently trained radiologists had higher false-positive rates. The variation among radiologists was largely due to unmeasured factors, especially unmeasured radiologist factors. If our results are confirmed in further studies, they suggest that system-level interventions would be required to reduce variation in mammography interpretation.