Cost-effectiveness of goal-directed and outcome-based financial incentives for weight loss in low-income populations: the FIReWoRk randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The Financial Incentives for Weight Reduction (FIReWoRk) clinical trial showed that financial incentive weight-loss strategies designed using behavioral economics were more effective than provision of weight-management resources only. We now evaluate cost-effectiveness. METHODS: Cost-effectiveness analysis of a multisite randomized trial enrolling 668 participants with obesity living in low-income neighborhoods. Participants were randomized to (1) goal-directed incentives (targeting behavioral goals), (2) outcome-based incentives (targeting weight-loss), and (3) resources only, which were provided to all participants and included a 1-year commercial weight-loss program membership, wearable activity monitor, food journal, and digital scale. We assessed program costs, time costs, quality of life, weight, and incremental cost-effectiveness in dollars-per-kilogram lost. RESULTS: Mean program costs at 12 months, based on weight loss program attendance, physical activity participation, food diary use, self-monitoring of weight, and incentive payments was $1271 in the goal-directed group, $1194 in the outcome-based group, and $834 in the resources-only group (difference, $437 [95% CI, 398 to 462] and $360 [95% CI, 341-363] for goal-directed or outcome-based vs resources-only, respectively; difference, $77 [95% CI, 58-130] for goal-directed vs outcome-based group). Quality of life did not differ significantly between the groups, but weight loss was substantially greater in the incentive groups (difference, 2.34 kg [95% CI, 0.53-4.14] and 1.79 kg [95% CI, -0.14 to 3.72] for goal-directed or outcome-based vs resources only, respectively; difference, 0.54 kg [95% CI, -1.29 to 2.38] for goal-directed vs outcome-based). Cost-effectiveness of incentive strategies based on program costs was $189/kg lost in the goal-directed group (95% CI, $124/kg to $383/kg) and $186/kg lost in the outcome-based group (95% CI, $113/kg to $530/kg). CONCLUSIONS: Goal-directed and outcome-based financial incentives were cost-effective strategies for helping low-income individuals with obesity lose weight. Their incremental cost per kilogram lost were comparable to other weight loss interventions.

Development of an online calculator for the prediction of seizure freedom following pediatric hemispherectomy using the Hemispherectomy Outcome Prediction Scale (HOPS).

OBJECTIVES: Although hemispheric surgeries are among the most effective procedures for drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) in the pediatric population, there is a large variability in seizure outcomes at the group level. A recently developed HOPS score provides individualized estimation of likelihood of seizure freedom to complement clinical judgement. The objective of this study was to develop a freely accessible online calculator that accurately predicts the probability of seizure freedom for any patient at 1-, 2-, and 5-years post-hemispherectomy. METHODS: Retrospective data of all pediatric patients with DRE and seizure outcome data from the original Hemispherectomy Outcome Prediction Scale (HOPS) study were included. The primary outcome of interest was time-to-seizure recurrence. A multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression model was developed to predict the likelihood of post-hemispheric surgery seizure freedom at three time points (1-, 2- and 5- years) based on a combination of variables identified by clinical judgment and inferential statistics predictive of the primary outcome. The final model from this study was encoded in a publicly accessible online calculator on the International Network for Epilepsy Surgery and Treatment (iNEST) website (https://hops-calculator.com/). RESULTS: The selected variables for inclusion in the final model included the five original HOPS variables (age at seizure onset, etiologic substrate, seizure semiology, prior non-hemispheric resective surgery, and contralateral fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography [FDG-PET] hypometabolism) and three additional variables (age at surgery, history of infantile spasms, and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] lesion). Predictors of shorter time-to-seizure recurrence included younger age at seizure onset, prior resective surgery, generalized seizure semiology, FDG-PET hypometabolism contralateral to the side of surgery, contralateral MRI lesion, non-lesional MRI, non-stroke etiologies, and a history of infantile spasms. The area under the curve (AUC) of the final model was 73.0%. SIGNIFICANCE: Online calculators are useful, cost-free tools that can assist physicians in risk estimation and inform joint decision-making processes with patients and families, potentially leading to greater satisfaction. Although the HOPS data was validated in the original analysis, the authors encourage external validation of this new calculator.

The 3 Wishes Program Improves Families' Experience of Emotional and Spiritual Support at the End of Life.

BACKGROUND: The end-of-life (EOL) experience in the intensive care unit (ICU) is emotionally challenging, and there are opportunities for improvement. The 3 Wishes Program (3WP) promotes the dignity of dying patients and their families by eliciting and implementing wishes at the EOL. AIM: To assess whether the 3WP is associated with improved ratings of EOL care. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: In the 3WP, clinicians elicit and fulfill simple wishes for dying patients and their families. SETTING: 2-hospital academic healthcare system. PARTICIPANTS: Dying patients in the ICU and their families. PROGRAM EVALUATION: A modified Bereaved Family Survey (BFS), a validated tool for measuring EOL care quality, was completed by families of ICU decedents approximately 3 months after death. We compared patients whose care involved the 3WP to those who did not using three BFS-derived measures: Respectful Care and Communication (5 questions), Emotional and Spiritual Support (3 questions), and the BFS-Performance Measure (BFS-PM, a single-item global measure of care). RESULTS: Of 314 completed surveys, 117 were for patients whose care included the 3WP. Bereaved families of 3WP patients rated the Emotional and Spiritual Support factor significantly higher (7.5 vs. 6.0, p = 0.003, adjusted p = 0.001) than those who did not receive the 3WP. The Respectful Care and Communication factor and BFS-PM were no different between groups. DISCUSSION: The 3WP is a low-cost intervention that may be a feasible strategy for improving the EOL experience.

Telephone Outreach Enhances Recruitment of Underrepresented Seriously Ill Patients for an Advance Care Planning Pragmatic Trial.

BACKGROUND: Patients experiencing systemic patterns of disadvantage, such as racial/ethnic minorities and those with limited English proficiency, are underrepresented in research. This is particularly true for large pragmatic trials of potentially sensitive research topics, such as advance care planning (ACP). It is unclear how phone outreach may affect research participation by underrepresented individuals. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of phone outreach, in addition to standard mail survey recruitment, in a population-based ACP pragmatic trial at three academic health systems in California. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study PATIENTS: Primary care patients with serious illness were mailed a survey in their preferred language. Patients who did not initially respond by mail received up to three reminder phone calls with the option of survey completion by phone. MAIN MEASURES: Effect of phone outreach on survey response rate associated with respondent demographic characteristics (e.g., Social Vulnerability Index [SVI], range 0 (low) to 1 (high)). RESULTS: Across the health systems, 5998 seriously ill patients were mailed surveys. We obtained completed surveys from 1215 patients (20% response rate); 787 (65%) responded after mail alone and 428 (35%) participated only after phone outreach. Patients recruited after phone outreach compared to mail alone were more socially vulnerable (SVI 0.41 v 0.35, P < 0.001), were more likely to report being a racial/ethnic minority (35% v 28%, P = 0.006), and non-English speaking (16% v 10%, P = 0.005). Age and gender did not differ significantly. The inclusion of phone outreach resulted in a sample that better represented the baseline population than mail alone in racial/ethnic minority (28% mail alone, 30% including phone outreach, 36% baseline population), non-English language preference (10%, 12%, 15%, respectively), and SVI (0.35, 0.37, 0.38, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Phone outreach for a population-based survey in a pragmatic trial concerning a potentially sensitive topic significantly enhanced recruitment of underrepresented seriously ill patients.

Single mRNA detection of Wnt signaling pathway in the human limbus.

Limbal epithelial stem/progenitor cells (LSCs) are adult stem cells located at the limbus, tightly regulated by their close microenvironment. It has been shown that Wnt signaling pathway is crucial for LSCs regulation. Previous differential gene profiling studies confirmed the preferential expression of specific Wnt ligands (WNT2, WNT6, WNT11, WNT16) and Wnt inhibitors (DKK1, SFRP5, WIF1, FRZB) in the limbal region compared to the cornea. Among all frizzled receptors, frizzled7 (Fzd7) was found to be preferentially expressed in the basal limbal epithelium. However, the exact localization of Wnt signaling molecules-producing cells in the limbus remains unknown. The current study aims to evaluate the in situ spatial expression of these 4 Wnt ligands, 4 Wnt inhibitors, and Fzd7. Wnt ligands, DKK1, and Fzd7 expression were scattered within the limbal epithelium, at a higher abundance in the basal layer than the superficial layer. SFRP5 expression was diffuse among the limbal epithelium, whereas WIF1 and FRZB expression was clustered at the basal limbal epithelial layer corresponding to the areas of high levels of Fzd7 expression. Quantitation of the fluorescence intensity showed that all 4 Wnt ligands, 3 Wnt inhibitors (WIF1, DKK1, FRZB), and Fzd7 were highly expressed at the basal layer of the limbus, then in a decreasing gradient toward the superficial layer (P < 0.05). The expression levels of all 4 Wnt ligands, FRZB, and Fzd7 in the basal epithelial layer were higher in the limbus than the central cornea (P < 0.05). All 4 Wnt ligands, 4 Wnt inhibitors, and Fzd7 were also highly expressed in the limbal stroma immediately below the epithelium but not in the corneal stroma (P < 0.05). In addition, Fzd7 had a preferential expression in the superior limbus compared to other limbal quadrants (P < 0.05). Taken together, the unique expression patterns of the Wnt molecules in the limbus suggests the involvement of both paracrine and autocrine effects in LSCs regulation, and a fine balance between Wnt activators and inhibitors to govern LSC fate.

Evaluation of behavioral economic strategies to raise influenza vaccination rates across a health system: Results from a randomized clinical trial.

Influenza vaccination rates are low. Working with a large US health system, we evaluated three health system-wide interventions using the electronic health record's patient portal to improve influenza vaccination rates. We performed a two-arm RCT with a nested factorial design within the treatment arm, randomizing patients to usual-care control (no portal interventions) or to one or more portal interventions. We included all patients within this health system during the 2020-2021 influenza vaccination season, which overlapped with the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the patient portal, we simultaneously tested: pre-commitment messages (sent September 2020, asking patients to commit to a vaccination); monthly portal reminders (October - December 2020), direct appointment scheduling (patients could self-schedule influenza vaccination at multiple sites); and pre-appointment reminder messages (sent before scheduled primary care appointments, reminding patients about influenza vaccination). The main outcome measure was receipt of influenza vaccine (10/01/2020-03/31/2021). We randomized 213,773 patients (196,070 adults ≥18 years, 17,703 children). Influenza vaccination rates overall were low (39.0%). Vaccination rates for study arms did not differ: Control (38.9%), pre-commitment vs no pre-commitment (39.2%/38.9%), direct appointment scheduling yes/no (39.1%/39.1%), pre-appointment reminders yes/no (39.1%/39.1%); p > 0.017 for all comparisons (p value cut-off adjusted for multiple comparisons). After adjusting for age, gender, insurance, race, ethnicity, and prior influenza vaccination, none of the interventions increased vaccination rates. We conclude that patient portal interventions to remind patients to receive influenza vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic did not raise influenza immunization rates. More intensive or tailored interventions are needed beyond portal innovations to increase influenza vaccination.

Evaluating the accessibility and value of U.S. ambulatory care among Medicaid expansion states and non-expansion states, 2012-2015.

BACKGROUND: While the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion improved healthcare coverage and access for millions of uninsured Americans, less is known about its effects on the overall accessibility and quality of care across all payers. Rapid volume increases of newly enrolled Medicaid patients might have unintentionally strained accessibility or quality of care. We assessed changes in physician office visits and high- and low-value care associated with Medicaid expansion across all payers. METHODS: Prespecified, quasi-experimental, difference-in-differences analysis pre and post Medicaid expansion (2012-2015) in 8 states that did and 5 that did not choose to expand Medicaid. Physician office visits sampled from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, standardized with U.S. Census population estimates. Outcomes included visit rates per state population and rates of high or low-value service composites of 10 high-value measures and 7 low-value care measures respectively, stratified by year and insurance. RESULTS: We identified approximately 143 million adults utilizing 1.9 billion visits (mean age 56; 60% female) during 2012-2015. Medicaid visits increased in expansion states post-expansion compared to non-expansion states by 16.2 per 100 adults (p = 0.031 95% CI 1.5-31.0). New Medicaid visits increased by 3.1 per 100 adults (95% CI 0.9-5.3, p = 0.007). No changes were observed in Medicare or commercially-insured visit rates. High or low-value care did not change for any insurance type, except high-value care during new Medicaid visits, which increased by 4.3 services per 100 adults (95% CI 1.1-7.5, p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Following Medicaid expansion, the U.S. healthcare system increased access to care and use of high-value services for millions of Medicaid enrollees, without observable reductions in access or quality for those enrolled in other insurance types. Provision of low-value care continued at similar rates post-expansion, informing future federal policies designed to improve the value of care.

Effect of Personalized Messages Sent by a Health System's Patient Portal on Influenza Vaccination Rates: a Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Adult influenza vaccination rates are low. Tailored patient reminders might raise rates. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate impact of a health system's patient portal reminders: (1) tailored to patient characteristics and (2) incorporating behavioral science strategies, on influenza vaccination rates among adults. DESIGN: Pragmatic 6-arm randomized trial across a health system during the 2019-2020 influenza vaccination season. The setting was one large health system-53 adult primary care practices. PARTICIPANTS: All adult patients who used the patient portal within 12 months, stratified by the following: young adults (18-64 years, without diabetes), older adults (≥65 years, without diabetes), and those with diabetes (≥18 years). INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized within strata to either (1) pre-commitment reminder alone (1 message, mid-October), (2) pre-commitment + loss frame messages, (3) pre-commitment + gain frame messages, (4) loss frame messages alone, (5) gain frame messages alone, or (6) standard of care control. Patients in the pre-commitment group were sent a message in mid-October, asking if they planned on getting an influenza vaccination. Patients in loss or gain frame groups were sent up to 3 portal reminders (late October, November, and December, if no documented influenza vaccination in the EHR) about importance and safety of influenza vaccine. MAIN MEASURES: Receipt of 1 influenza vaccine from 10/01/2019 to 03/31/2020. KEY RESULTS: 196,486 patients (145,166 young adults, 29,795 older adults, 21,525 adults with diabetes) were randomized. Influenza vaccination rates were as follows: for young adults 36.8%, for older adults 55.6%, and for diabetics 60.6%. On unadjusted and adjusted (for age, gender, insurance, race, ethnicity, and prior influenza vaccine history) analyses, influenza vaccination rates were not statistically different for any study group versus control. CONCLUSIONS: Patient reminders sent by a health system's patient portal that were tailored to patient demographics (young adults, older adults, diabetes) and that incorporated two behavioral economic messaging strategies (pre-commitment and loss/gain framing) were not effective in raising influenza vaccination rates. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04110314).

Perception of risk and treatment decisions in the management of differentiated thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The recent de-escalation of care for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) has broadened the range of initial treatment options. We examined the association between physicians' perception of risk and their management of DTC. METHODS: Thyroid specialists were surveyed with four clinical vignettes: (1) indeterminate nodule (2) tall cell variant papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), (3) papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (mPTC), and (4) classic PTC. Participants judged the operative risks and likelihood of structural cancer recurrence associated with more versus less aggressive treatments. A logistic mixed effect model was used to predict treatment choice. RESULTS: Among 183 respondents (13.4% response rate), 44% were surgical and 56% medical thyroid specialists. Risk estimates and treatment recommendation varied markedly in each case. Respondents' estimated risk of 10-year cancer recurrence after lobectomy for a 2.0-cm PTC ranged from 1% to 53% (interquartile range [IQR]: 3%-12%), with 66% recommending lobectomy and 34% total thyroidectomy. Respondents' estimated 5-year risk of metastastic disease during active surveillance of an 0.8-cm mPTC ranged from 0% to 95% (IQR: 4%-15%), with 36% choosing active surveillance. Overall, differences in perceived risk reduction explained 10.3% of the observed variance in decision-making. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the variation in thyroid cancer treatment aggressiveness is unrelated to perceived risk of cancer recurrence.

Survival After Severe COVID-19: Long-Term Outcomes of Patients Admitted to an Intensive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the long-term sequelae of severe COVID-19 remains limited, particularly in the United States. OBJECTIVE: To examine long-term outcomes of patients who required intensive care unit (ICU) admission for severe COVID-19. DESIGN, PATIENTS, AND MAIN MEASURES: This is a prospective cohort study of patients who had severe COVID-19 requiring an ICU admission in a two-hospital academic health system in Southern California. Patients discharged alive between 3/21/2020 and 12/31/2020 were surveyed approximately 6 months after discharge to assess health-related quality of life using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®)-29 v2.1, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and loneliness scales. A preference-based health utility score (PROPr) was estimated using 7 PROMIS domain scores. Patients were also asked their attitude about receiving aggressive ICU care. KEY RESULTS: Of 275 patients admitted to the ICU for severe COVID-19, 205 (74.5%) were discharged alive and 132 (64%, median age 59, 46% female) completed surveys a median of 182 days post-discharge. Anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, ability to participate in social activities, pain interference, and cognitive function were not significantly different from the U.S. general population, but physical function (44.2, SD 11.0) was worse. PROPr mean score of 0.46 (SD 0.30, range -0.02 to 0.96 [<0 is worse than dead and 1 represents perfect health]) was slightly lower than the U.S. general population, with an even distribution across the continuum. Poor PROPr was associated with chronic medical conditions and receipt of life-sustaining treatments, but not demographics or social vulnerability. PTSD was suspected in 20% and loneliness in 29% of patients. Ninety-eight percent of patients were glad they received life-saving treatment. CONCLUSION: Most patients who survive severe COVID-19 achieve positive outcomes, with health scores similar to the general population at 6 months post-discharge. However, there is marked heterogeneity in outcomes with a substantial minority reporting severely compromised health.

Arachidonic acid metabolism and inflammatory biomarkers associated with exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been associated with systemic inflammation, yet what mechanisms regulate PAHs' inflammatory effects are less understood. This study evaluated the change of arachidonic acid (ARA) metabolites and inflammatory biomarkers in response to increased exposure to PAHs among 26 non-smoking healthy travelers from Los Angeles to Beijing. Traveling from Los Angeles to Beijing significantly increased urinary metabolites of dibenzofuran (800%), fluorene (568%), phenanthrene (277%), and pyrene (176%), accompanied with increased C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, IL-8, and IL-10, and decreased MCP-1, sCD40L, and sCD62P levels in the blood. Meanwhile, the travel increased the levels of ARA lipoxygenase metabolites that were positively associated with a panel of pro-inflammatory biomarkers. Concentrations of cytochrome P450 metabolite were also increased in Beijing and were negatively associated with sCD62P levels. In contrast, concentrations of ARA cyclooxygenase metabolites were decreased in Beijing and were negatively associated with anti-inflammatory IL-10 levels. Changes in both inflammatory biomarkers and ARA metabolites were reversed 4-7 weeks after participants returned to Los Angeles and were associated with urinary PAH metabolites, but not with other exposures such as secondhand smoke, stress, or diet. These results suggested possible roles of ARA metabolic alteration in PAHs-associated inflammatory effects.

Trends in Adjuvant External Beam Radiation Therapy for Nonanaplastic Thyroid Cancer in California, 2003-2017.

BACKGROUND: External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) is rarely used to treat patients with differentiated or medullary thyroid cancer. Although EBRT is generally administered to patients with high-risk or unresectable diseases, neither its indications for the use nor the associated outcomes are well-defined. We used a statewide cohort to assess the trends in EBRT use and postradiation outcomes in California. METHODS: A population-based study of patients within the California Cancer Registry who underwent EBRT after surgery for nonanaplastic thyroid cancer (2003-2017) was conducted. The primary outcome was the annual utilization rate of EBRT. The secondary outcomes included Kaplan-Meier analysis for cause-specific survival and identifying factors associated with improved survival after EBRT. RESULTS: Among the 57 607 patients with nonanaplastic thyroid cancer from 2003 to 2017, 344 (0.6%) patients received EBRT. EBRT was utilized in 0.4% of papillary, 1.1% of follicular, and 7.7% of medullary thyroid cancers in California. Overall, 99 (28.8%) patients treated with EBRT died of thyroid cancer. The 10-year cause-specific survival of all patients with thyroid cancer after EBRT was 61.5% (95% CI: 54.8%-69.1%) and that of patients without distant disease was 80.3% (95% CI: 73.5%-87.8%). The survival outcomes varied by tumor size, histology, disease stage, patient age at diagnosis, and the presence of extrathyroidal extension (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The use of adjuvant EBRT for nonanaplastic thyroid cancer remained stable and low in California from 2003 to 2017. The comparative efficacy of EBRT was not discernible in this study, but disease control appeared durable in select patients. Well-controlled observational studies and/or prospective studies are needed to better define which patients benefit from EBRT.

Comparison of Preoperative Alpha-blockade for Resection of Paraganglioma and Pheochromocytoma.

OBJECTIVE: Phenoxybenzamine (nonselective, noncompetitive alpha-blocker) is the preferred drug for preoperative treatment of pheochromocytoma, but doxazosin (selective, competitive alpha-blocker) may be equally effective. We compared the efficacy of doxazosin vs phenoxybenzamine. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of patients undergoing pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma resection by randomizing pretreatment with phenoxybenzamine or doxazosin at a single tertiary referral center. The high cost of phenoxybenzamine led to high crossover to doxazosin. Randomization was halted, and a consecutive historical cohort of phenoxybenzamine patients was included for a case-control study design. The efficacy of alpha-blockade was assessed with preinduction infusion of incremental doses of phenylephrine. The primary outcomes were mortality, cardiovascular complications, and intensive care unit admission. The secondary outcomes were hemodynamic instability index (proportion of operation outside of hemodynamic goals), adequacy of blockade by the phenylephrine titration test, and drug costs. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients were prospectively enrolled (doxazosin, n = 20; phenoxybenzamine, n = 4), and 15 historical patients treated with phenoxybenzamine were added (total phenoxybenzamine, n = 19). No major cardiovascular complications occurred in either group. The phenylephrine dose-response curves showed less blood pressure rise in the phenoxybenzamine than in the doxazosin group (linear regression coefficient = 0.008 vs 0.018, P = .01), suggesting better alpha-blockade in the phenoxybenzamine group. The median hemodynamic instability index was 14% vs 13% in the phenoxybenzamine and doxazosin groups, respectively (P = .56). The median highest daily cost of phenoxybenzamine was $442.20 compared to $5.06 for doxazosin. CONCLUSION: Phenoxybenzamine may blunt intraoperative hypertension better than doxazosin, but this difference did not translate to fewer cardiovascular complications and is offset by a considerably increased cost.

Trends in US Ambulatory Care Patterns During the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2019-2021.

Importance: Following reductions in US ambulatory care early in the pandemic, it remains unclear whether care consistently returned to expected rates across insurance types and services. Objective: To assess whether patients with Medicaid or Medicare-Medicaid dual eligibility had significantly lower than expected return to use of ambulatory care rates than patients with commercial, Medicare Advantage, or Medicare fee-for-service insurance. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this retrospective cohort study examining ambulatory care service patterns from January 1, 2019, through February 28, 2021, claims data from multiple US payers were combined using the Milliman MedInsight research database. Using a difference-in-differences design, the extent to which utilization during the pandemic differed from expected rates had the pandemic not occurred was estimated. Changes in utilization rates between January and February 2020 and each subsequent 2-month time frame during the pandemic were compared with the changes in the corresponding months from the year prior. Age- and sex-adjusted Poisson regression models of monthly utilization counts were used, offsetting for total patient-months and stratifying by service and insurance type. Exposures: Patients with Medicaid or Medicare-Medicaid dual eligibility compared with patients with commercial, Medicare Advantage, or Medicare fee-for-service insurance, respectively. Main Outcomes and Measures: Utilization rates per 100 people for 6 services: emergency department, office and urgent care, behavioral health, screening colonoscopies, screening mammograms, and contraception counseling or HIV screening. Results: More than 14.5 million US adults were included (mean age, 52.7 years; 54.9% women). In the March-April 2020 time frame, the combined use of 6 ambulatory services declined to 67.0% (95% CI, 66.9%-67.1%) of expected rates, but returned to 96.7% (95% CI, 96.6%-96.8%) of expected rates by the November-December 2020 time frame. During the second COVID-19 wave in the January-February 2021 time frame, overall utilization again declined to 86.2% (95% CI, 86.1%-86.3%) of expected rates, with colonoscopy remaining at 65.0% (95% CI, 64.1%-65.9%) and mammography at 79.2% (95% CI, 78.5%-79.8%) of expected rates. By the January-February 2021 time frame, overall utilization returned to expected rates as follows: patients with Medicaid at 78.4% (95% CI, 78.2%-78.7%), Medicare-Medicaid dual eligibility at 73.3% (95% CI, 72.8%-73.8%), commercial at 90.7% (95% CI, 90.5%-90.9%), Medicare Advantage at 83.2% (95% CI, 81.7%-82.2%), and Medicare fee-for-service at 82.0% (95% CI, 81.7%-82.2%; P < .001; comparing return to expected utilization rates among patients with Medicaid and Medicare-Medicaid dual eligibility, respectively, with each of the other insurance types). Conclusions and Relevance: Between March 2020 and February 2021, aggregate use of 6 ambulatory care services increased after the preceding decrease in utilization that followed the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the rate of increase in use of these ambulatory care services was significantly lower for participants with Medicaid or Medicare-Medicaid dual eligibility than for those insured by commercial, Medicare Advantage, or Medicare fee-for-service.

Longitudinal Assessment of Quality of Life Following Molecular Testing for Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules.

BACKGROUND: Molecular testing can refine the risk of malignancy in cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules and can reduce the need for diagnostic thyroidectomy. However, quality of life (QOL) in patients mananged with molecular testing is not well studied. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the QOL of patients undergoing surveillance after a benign molecular test result, or thyroidectomy after a suspicious molecular test result. METHODS: This prospective longitudinal follow-up of the Effectiveness of Molecular Testing Techniques for Diagnosis of Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules randomized trial utilized the Thyroid-Related Patient-Reported Outcome, 39-item version (ThyPro-39) to assess the QOL of patients with indeterminate cytology on thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. All patients underwent molecular testing at the time of initial FNA. A mixed-effect model was used to determine changes in QOL over time. RESULTS: Of 252 eligible patients, 174 completed the assessment (69% response rate). Molecular test results included 72% (n = 124) benign and 28% (n = 50) suspicious. ThyPro-39 scores of benign molecular test patients were unchanged from baseline (following initial FNA and molecular test results) to 18 months of ultrasound surveillance. Baseline symptoms of goiter, anxiety, and depression were more severe for patients with suspicious compared with benign molecular test results. At a median of 8 months after thyroidectomy, suspicious molecular test patients reported improved symptoms of goiter, anxiety, and depression. CONCLUSION: A benign molecular test provides sustained QOL throughout ultrasound surveillance, without worsening anxiety or depression relating to the risk of malignancy. Definitive surgery results in improvement of QOL in patients with suspicious molecular tests.

Recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone versus thyroid hormone withdrawal preparation for radioiodine ablation in differentiated thyroid cancer in children, adolescents and young adults.

OBJECTIVE: Recombinant human TSH (rhTSH) is commonly used to prepare patients for postoperative radioiodine (I-131) ablation after surgery for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). In adults, rhTSH is associated with equivalent oncologic efficacy in comparison to thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW), but its use has not been well studied in children. We aimed to measure time to disease progression after rhTSH stimulation vs. THW in paediatric patients under the age of 21 with DTC following total thyroidectomy. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study (March 2001-July 2018). PATIENTS: Sixteen children and adolescents (75% female, median age, 17.4 years) who received rhTSH were compared to 29 historical controls (72% female, median age, 18.5 years) prepared with THW, followed for a median of 2.4 years (range, 0.5-14). MEASUREMENTS: Stimulated serum TSH concentrations prior to I-131 ablation and time to disease progression, as determined by a component outcome variable encompassing both structural and biochemical disease persistence/recurrence. RESULTS: No differences were observed in tumour characteristics and I-131 dose (median 2.3 [1.8-2.90] mCi/kg rhTSH) between groups. Patients who received rhTSH achieved a similar median stimulated TSH level (163 [127-184] mU/L), compared to those who underwent THW (136 [94.5-197] mU/L; p = .20). Both groups exhibited similar time to progression (p = .13) and disease persistence/recurrence rates (rhTSH 31% vs. THW 59%, p = .14). CONCLUSION: In this cohort of children and adolescents with DTC, we observed similar time to disease progression among those who received rhTSH or underwent THW prior to postoperative I-131 ablation.

Reducing Emergency Department Visits Among Patients With Diabetes by Embedding Clinical Pharmacists in the Primary Care Teams.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacists are effective at improving control of cardiovascular risk factors, but it less clear whether these improvements translate into less emergency department (ED) use and fewer hospitalizations. The UCMyRx program embed pharmacists in primary care. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine if the integration of pharmacists into primary care was associated with lower ED and hospital use for patients with diabetes. DESIGN: This was a quasi-experimental study with a comparator group. SUBJECTS: The analytic sample included patients with diabetes with uncontrolled cardiovascular risk factors (A1C >9%, blood pressure >140/90 mm Hg, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol >130 mg/dL) who had 1 or more visits in either a UCMyRx (648 patients, 14 practices) or usual care practice (1944 patients, 14 practices). MEASURES: Our outcomes were ED and hospitalization rates as measured before and after the consultations between UCMyRx and usual care. Our predictor variable was the pharmacist consultation. Poisson generalized estimating equations model was used to estimate the adjusted predicted change in utilization before and after the pharmacist consultation. The Average Treatment Effect on the Treated was estimated. RESULTS: In models adjusted, the adjusted mean predicted number of emergency department visits/month during the year before the consultation was 0.09 among UCMyRx patients. During the year after initiating the care with the pharmacists, this rate decreased to an adjusted mean monthly rate of 0.07, with an Average Treatment Effect on the Treated=0.021 (P=0.035), a predicted reduction of 21% in emergency department visits associated with the clinical pharmacist consults. There was a nonsignificant predicted 3.2% reduction in hospitalizations over time for patients in the UCMyRx program. CONCLUSION: Clinical pharmacists are an important addition to clinical care teams in primary care practices and significantly decreased utilization of the ED among patients with poorly controlled diabetes.

Comparison of the real-world effectiveness of vertical versus lateral functional hemispherotomy techniques for pediatric drug-resistant epilepsy: A post hoc analysis of the HOPS study.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine whether the vertical parasagittal approach or the lateral peri-insular/peri-Sylvian approach to hemispheric surgery is the superior technique in achieving long-term seizure freedom. METHODS: We conducted a post hoc subgroup analysis of the HOPS (Hemispheric Surgery Outcome Prediction Scale) study, an international, multicenter, retrospective cohort study that identified predictors of seizure freedom through logistic regression modeling. Only patients undergoing vertical parasagittal, lateral peri-insular/peri-Sylvian, or lateral trans-Sylvian hemispherotomy were included in this post hoc analysis. Differences in seizure freedom rates were assessed using a time-to-event method and calculated using the Kaplan-Meier survival method. RESULTS: Data for 672 participants across 23 centers were collected on the specific hemispherotomy approach. Of these, 72 (10.7%) underwent vertical parasagittal hemispherotomy and 600 (89.3%) underwent lateral peri-insular/peri-Sylvian or trans-Sylvian hemispherotomy. Seizure freedom was obtained in 62.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 53.5%-70.2%) of the entire cohort at 10-year follow-up. Seizure freedom was 88.8% (95% CI = 78.9%-94.3%) at 1-year follow-up and persisted at 85.5% (95% CI = 74.7%-92.0%) across 5- and 10-year follow-up in the vertical subgroup. In contrast, seizure freedom decreased from 89.2% (95% CI = 86.3%-91.5%) at 1-year to 72.1% (95% CI = 66.9%-76.7%) at 5-year to 57.2% (95% CI = 46.6%-66.4%) at 10-year follow-up for the lateral subgroup. Log-rank test found that vertical hemispherotomy was associated with durable seizure-free progression compared to the lateral approach (p = .01). Patients undergoing the lateral hemispherotomy technique had a shorter time-to-seizure recurrence (hazard ratio = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.08-6.04, p = .03) and increased seizure recurrence odds (odds ratio = 3.67, 95% CI = 1.05-12.86, p = .04) compared to those undergoing the vertical hemispherotomy technique. SIGNIFICANCE: This pilot study demonstrated more durable seizure freedom of the vertical technique compared to lateral hemispherotomy techniques. Further studies, such as prospective expertise-based observational studies or a randomized clinical trial, are required to determine whether a vertical approach to hemispheric surgery provides superior long-term seizure outcomes.

Hemispherectomy Outcome Prediction Scale: Development and validation of a seizure freedom prediction tool.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a model to predict seizure freedom in children undergoing cerebral hemispheric surgery for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy. METHODS: We analyzed 1267 hemispheric surgeries performed in pediatric participants across 32 centers and 12 countries to identify predictors of seizure freedom at 3 months after surgery. A multivariate logistic regression model was developed based on 70% of the dataset (training set) and validated on 30% of the dataset (validation set). Missing data were handled using multiple imputation techniques. RESULTS: Overall, 817 of 1237 (66%) hemispheric surgeries led to seizure freedom (median follow-up = 24 months), and 1050 of 1237 (85%) were seizure-free at 12 months after surgery. A simple regression model containing age at seizure onset, presence of generalized seizure semiology, presence of contralateral 18-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose-positron emission tomography hypometabolism, etiologic substrate, and previous nonhemispheric resective surgery is predictive of seizure freedom (area under the curve = .72). A Hemispheric Surgery Outcome Prediction Scale (HOPS) score was devised that can be used to predict seizure freedom. SIGNIFICANCE: Children most likely to benefit from hemispheric surgery can be selected and counseled through the implementation of a scale derived from a multiple regression model. Importantly, children who are unlikely to experience seizure control can be spared from the complications and deficits associated with this surgery. The HOPS score is likely to help physicians in clinical decision-making.

Changes in microarchitecture of atherosclerotic calcification assessed by 18F-NaF PET and CT after a progressive exercise regimen in hyperlipidemic mice.

BACKGROUND: Despite the association of physical activity with improved cardiovascular outcomes and the association of high coronary artery calcification (CAC) scores with poor prognosis, elite endurance athletes have increased CAC. Yet, they nevertheless have better cardiovascular survival. We hypothesized that exercise may transform vascular calcium deposits to a more stable morphology. METHODS: To test this, hyperlipidemic mice (Apoe-/-) with baseline aortic calcification were separated into 2 groups (n = 9/group) with control mice allowed to move ad-lib while the exercise group underwent a progressive treadmill regimen for 9 weeks. All mice underwent blood collections and in vivo 18F-NaF µPET/µCT imaging both at the start and end of the exercise regimen. At euthanasia, aortic root specimens were obtained for histomorphometry. RESULTS: Results showed that, while aortic calcification progressed similarly in both groups based on µCT, the fold change in 18F-NaF density was significantly less in the exercise group. Histomorphometric analysis of the aortic root calcium deposits showed that the exercised mice had a lower mineral surface area index than the control group. The exercise regimen also raised serum PTH levels twofold. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that weeks-long progressive exercise alters the microarchitecture of atherosclerotic calcium deposits by reducing mineral surface growth, potentially favoring plaque stability.