Depression Quality of Care: Measuring Quality over Time Using VA Electronic Medical Record Data.

BACKGROUND: The Veterans Health Administration (VA) has invested substantially in evidence-based mental health care. Yet no electronic performance measures for assessing the level at which the population of Veterans with depression receive appropriate care have proven robust enough to support rigorous evaluation of the VA's depression initiatives. OBJECTIVE: Our objectives were to develop prototype longitudinal electronic population-based measures of depression care quality, validate the measures using expert panel judgment by VA and non-VA experts, and examine detection, follow-up and treatment rates over a decade (2000-2010). We describe our development methodology and the challenges to creating measures that capture the longitudinal course of clinical care from detection to treatment. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Data come from the National Patient Care Database and Pharmacy Benefits Management Database for primary care patients from 1999 to 2011, from nine Veteran Integrated Service Networks. MEASURES: We developed four population-based quality metrics for depression care that incorporate a 6-month look back and 1-year follow-up: detection of a new episode of depression, 84 and 180 day follow-up, and minimum appropriate treatment 1-year post detection. Expert panel techniques were used to evaluate the measure development methodology and results. Key challenges to creating valid longitudinal measures are discussed. KEY RESULTS: Over the decade, the rates for detection of new episodes of depression remained stable at 7-8 %. Follow-up at 84 and 180 days were 37 % and 45 % in 2000 and increased to 56 % and 63 % by 2010. Minimum appropriate treatment remained relatively stable over the decade (82-84 %). CONCLUSIONS: The development of valid longitudinal, population-based quality measures for depression care is a complex process with numerous challenges. If the full spectrum of care from detection to follow-up and treatment is not captured, performance measures could actually mask the clinical areas in need of quality improvement efforts.

A Smartphone App to Monitor Mood Symptoms in Bipolar Disorder: Development and Usability Study.

BACKGROUND: There is considerable scientific interest in finding new and innovative ways to capture rapid fluctuations in functioning within individuals with bipolar disorder (BD), a severe, recurrent mental disorder associated with frequent shifts in symptoms and functioning. The use of smartphones can provide valid and real-world tools for use in measurement-based care and could be used to inform more personalized treatment options for this group, which can improve standard of care. OBJECTIVE: We examined the feasibility and usability of a smartphone to capture daily fluctuations in mood within BD and to relate daily self-rated mood to smartphone use behaviors indicative of psychomotor activity or symptoms of the illness. METHODS: Participants were 26 individuals with BD and 12 healthy control individuals who were recruited from the Prechter Longitudinal Study of BD. All were given a smartphone with a custom-built app and prompted twice a day to complete questions of mood for 28 days. The app automatically and unobtrusively collected phone usage data. A poststudy satisfaction survey was also completed. RESULTS: Our sample showed a very high adherence rate to the daily momentary assessments (91% of the 58 prompts completed). Multivariate mixed effect models showed that an increase in rapid thoughts over time was associated with a decrease in outgoing text messages (ß=-.02; P=.04), and an increase in impulsivity self-ratings was related to a decrease in total call duration (ß=-.29; P=.02). Participants generally reported positive experiences using the smartphone and completing daily prompts. CONCLUSIONS: Use of mobile technology shows promise as a way to collect important clinical information that can be used to inform treatment decision making and monitor outcomes in a manner that is not overly burdensome to the patient or providers, highlighting its potential use in measurement-based care.

Identification of population characteristics through implementation of the Comprehensive Diabetic Retinopathy Program.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of blindness in working-age adults. Characteristics of patients with diabetes presenting to a retina subspecialty clinic have not been adequately studied, limiting our ability to risk stratify patients with diabetic retinopathy. Our goal is to describe an innovative program that collects structured, longitudinal data on patients with diabetes in a retina clinic, and identifies population characteristics to define patient risk stratification. METHODS: Demographics, body-mass index, blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c, smoking history, diabetes type, diabetes duration, kidney disease history, and diagnosis codes were collected on all patients with diabetes at the Kellogg Eye Center retina clinic. A mixed effects negative binomial regression was then performed to assess visit frequency as a function of these variables. Visit frequency was used as a marker for cost of care. A subgroup of patients was surveyed about knowledge of diabetes management goals and barriers to better self-management. RESULTS: There were 2916 patients in the cohort with 1014 in the subgroup. The cohort was predominantly Caucasian (74.5%), with a mean age of 64 years (range 13-99) and a relatively even distribution of sex (53.2% men). The mean maximum hemoglobin A1c was 8.0% (range 4.3-15.7%), and 57.1% had a diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy. Patients averaged 3.9 visits (range 1-27) during the 18-month study period. Blood pressure and duration of diabetes were positively associated with visit frequency (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, respectively). Of the surveyed patients, 87.6% knew their goal hemoglobin A1c, while only 45.9% identified the correct blood pressure goal. The most common reported barrier to better self-management was "it's just not working" (47.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of this program enables the creation of a longitudinal dataset on patients with diabetes. Resulting data can be used to improve quality of care provided to patients at a retina clinic. The findings suggest considerable healthcare resources are being directed to a small patient population. This enhanced understanding of characteristics of patients with diabetes will improve efforts to preserve vision and utilize health system resources efficiently.

Blood Pressure Is Associated with Receiving Intravitreal Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment in Patients with Diabetes.

PURPOSE: Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections are used commonly in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy (DR), but the need for treatment and frequency of administration vary considerably among patients. There is no way to predict which patients will require treatment and how frequently injections will be needed. This study aimed to identify factors associated with receiving anti-VEGF injections and the number of treatments received in an 18-month period in patients with diabetes. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Two thousand nine hundred sixteen patients with diabetes treated at the Kellogg Eye Center Retina Clinic from June 1, 2016, through December 31, 2017. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed with institutional review board approval using data collected from diabetic patients treated at the retina clinic at the Kellogg Eye Center. Logistic regression was used to identify demographic and medical factors associated with receiving at least 1 injection. Negative binomial regression was used to model the number of anti-VEGF injections. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Receiving at least 1 anti-VEGF injection and the number of anti-VEGF injections received during the study period. RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure and a diagnosis of DR were associated significantly with receiving an injection. A history of kidney disease was associated positively with the number of injections received. Type 1 diabetes was associated negatively with receiving an injection and the number of injections. Current hemoglobin A1c level was not associated with either receiving an injection or the number of injections. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated blood pressure is associated significantly with the need for treatment with anti-VEGF injections in patients with diabetes, and a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes is associated negatively with both receiving treatment and the number of injections. Of note, current glycemic control is not associated significantly with either outcome measure. To our knowledge, these associations have not been previously reported, and imply that factors that confer risk for DR development may not be the same that confer risk for treatment.

The Influence of Sleep Disordered Breathing on Weight Loss in a National Weight Management Program.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) on weight loss in overweight/obese veterans enrolled in MOVE!, a nationally implemented behavioral weight management program delivered by the National Veterans Health Administration health system. METHODS: This observational study evaluated weight loss by SDB status in overweight/obese veterans enrolled in MOVE! from May 2008-February 2012 who had at least two MOVE! visits, baseline weight, and at least one follow-up weight (n = 84,770). SDB was defined by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. Primary outcome was weight change (lb) from MOVE! enrollment to 6- and 12-mo assessments. Weight change over time was modeled with repeated-measures analyses. RESULTS: SDB was diagnosed in one-third of the cohort (n = 28,269). At baseline, veterans with SDB weighed 29 [48] lb more than those without SDB (P < 0.001). On average, veterans attended eight MOVE! visits. Weight loss patterns over time were statistically different between veterans with and without SDB (P < 0.001); veterans with SDB lost less weight (-2.5 [0.1] lb) compared to those without SDB (-3.3 [0.1] lb; P = 0.001) at 6 months. At 12 mo, veterans with SDB continued to lose weight whereas veterans without SDB started to re-gain weight. CONCLUSIONS: Veterans with sleep disordered breathing (SDB) had significantly less weight loss over time than veterans without SDB. SDB should be considered in the development and implementation of weight loss programs due to its high prevalence and negative effect on health.

Correlates of Emergency Department Use by Individuals With Bipolar Disorder Enrolled in a Collaborative Care Implementation Study.

OBJECTIVE: The study assessed correlates of emergency department use among participants in a collaborative care program for bipolar disorder. METHODS: Community-based clinics from two states implemented Life Goals-Collaborative Care (LG-CC), an evidence-based model that includes self-management sessions and care management contacts. Logistic regression determined participant factors associated with emergency department use between six and 12 months after LG-CC implementation. RESULTS: Of 219 participants with baseline and 12-month data, 24% reported at least one emergency department visit. Participants with a recent homelessness history (odds ratio [OR]=3.76, p=.01) or five or more care management contacts (OR=2.62, p=.05) had a higher probability of visiting an emergency department, after the analyses were adjusted for demographic and clinical factors, including physical health score and hospitalization history. CONCLUSIONS: Participants in a collaborative care program who had a history of homelessness were more likely to use the emergency department, suggesting a greater need for more intensive care coordination.

Sex Differences in Weight Loss among Veterans with Serious Mental Illness: Observational Study of a National Weight Management Program.

PURPOSE: Obesity disproportionately burdens individuals with serious mental illness (SMI), especially women. This observational study investigated whether there were sex differences in weight loss and program participation among veterans with SMI enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) MOVE! weight management program. PROCEDURES: Participants were identified from a national cohort of 148,254 veterans enrolled in MOVE! during fiscal years 2008 through 2012 who attended two or more sessions within 12 months of enrollment. The cohort included those with International Classification of Disease, 9th Edition, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) diagnoses for SMI, age less than 70 years, and weight data at baseline and one or more follow-up timepoints within approximately 1 year of enrollment (n = 8,943 men; n = 2,245 women). Linear mixed models assessed associations of sex with 6- and 12-month weight change from baseline, adjusting for demographic- and site-level variables. FINDINGS: Both sexes averaged 6.4 (standard deviation, 4.6) sessions within 12 months; however, women with and without SMI participated at rates double their respective proportion rates among all VHA users. Participants averaged statistically significant weight loss at 6 months (men, -2.5 lb [95% CI, -2.8 to -2.1]; women, -2.4 lb [95% CI, -3.1 to -1.7]) and 12 months (men, -2.5 lb [95% CI, -2.8 to -2.2]; women, -2.9 lb [95% CI, -3.6 to -2.2]), but no sex-based difference in absolute weight loss at either timepoint. Slightly more women achieved 5% or greater (clinically significant) weight loss at the 12-month follow-up than did men (25.7% vs. 23.0%; p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Women with SMI participated in MOVE! at rates equivalent to or greater than men with SMI, with comparable weight loss. More women were Black, single, had bipolar and posttraumatic stress disorder, and higher service-connected disability, suggesting areas for program customization.

National evaluation of obesity screening and treatment among veterans with and without mental health disorders.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine whether obesity screening and weight management program participation and outcomes are equitable for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) and depressive disorder (DD) compared to those without SMI/DD in Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the largest integrated US health system, which requires obesity screening and offers weight management to all in need. METHODS: We used chart-reviewed, clinical and administrative VHA data from fiscal years 2010-2012 to estimate obesity screening and participation in the VHA's weight management program (MOVE!) across groups. Six- and 12-month weight changes in MOVE! participants were estimated using linear mixed models adjusted for confounders. RESULTS: Compared to individuals without SMI/DD, individuals with SMI or DD were less frequently screened for obesity (94%-94.7% vs. 95.7%) but had greater participation in MOVE! (10.1%-10.4% vs. 7.4%). MOVE! participants with SMI or DD lost approximately 1 lb less at 6 months. At 12 months, average weight loss for individuals with SMI or neither SMI/DD was comparable (-3.5 and -3.3 lb, respectively), but individuals with DD lost less weight (mean=-2.7 lb). CONCLUSIONS: Disparities in obesity screening and treatment outcomes across mental health diagnosis groups were modest. However, participation in MOVE! was low for every group, which limits population impact.

SMI life goals: description of a randomized trial of a collaborative care model to improve outcomes for persons with serious mental illness.

BACKGROUND: Persons with serious mental illnesses (SMI) are more likely to die earlier than the general population, primarily due to increased medical burden, particularly from cardiovascular disease (CVD). Life Goals Collaborative Care (LG-CC) is designed to improve health outcomes in SMI through self-management, care management, and provider support. This single-blind randomized controlled effectiveness study will determine whether patients with SMI receiving LG-CC compared to usual care (UC) experience improved physical health in 12 months. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with SMI and at least one CVD risk factor receiving care at a VA mental health clinic were randomized to LG-CC or UC. LG-CC included five self-management sessions covering mental health symptom management reinforced through health behavior change, care coordination and health monitoring via a registry, and provider feedback. The primary outcome is change in physical health-related quality of life score (VR-12) from baseline to 12 months. Secondary outcomes include changes in mental health-related quality of life, CVD risk factors (blood pressure, BMI), and physical activity from baseline to 12 months later. RESULTS: Out of 304 enrolled, 139 were randomized to LG-CC and 145 to UC. Among patients completing baseline assessments (N = 284); the mean age was 55.2 (SD = 10.9; range 28-75 years), 15.6% were women, the majority (62%) were diagnosed with depression, and the majority (63%) were diagnosed with hypertension or were overweight (BMI mean ± SD = 33.3 ± 6.3). Baseline VR-12 physical health component score was below population norms (50.0 ± SD = 10) at 33.4 ± 11.0. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this trial may inform initiatives to improve physical health for SMI patient populations.