Caregiver Values and Preferences Related to Surgical Decision-making for Children with Medical Complexity.

OBJECTIVE: To uncover the values and preferences of the caregivers for children with medical complexity (CMC), using the test case of surgical treatment decision-making for pediatric neuromuscular scoliosis (NMS) that will inform the future development of a decision support tool in this population. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a qualitative study of semi-structured interviews of English- and Spanish-speaking caregivers of children with NMS from two geographically distinct children's hospitals. We used purposive sampling of language and treatment options selected to capture diverse experiences. Analysis was based on grounded theory with synthesized caregiver values and preferences themes. RESULTS: From 47 participants, we completed 41 interviews (9 in Spanish). Caregivers had a mean age of 43.2 years, were mostly White (66%), and had children with a mean age of 15.6. 64% chose surgery. The following values and preferences were important to many caregivers: reducing scoliosis-related pain, minimizing mobility limitations to optimize socio-emotional quality of life, limiting the impact of comorbidities on overall quality of life, information provided by peer support, the uncertainty of outcomes due to underlying comorbidities, and the uncertainty related to the anticipated progression of their child's scoliosis curve. Caregivers experienced immense uncertainty related to treatment outcomes due to their child's comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers of CMC may benefit from decision support that includes both values clarification exercises to help caregivers identify what of the many possible values and preferences are important to them and novel methods to communicate uncertainty in the care of CMC.

Association between high-risk extracranial carotid plaque and covert brain infarctions and cerebral microbleeds.

PURPOSE: Covert brain infarctions (CBIs) and cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) represent subclinical sequelae of ischemic and hemorrhagic cerebral small vessel disease, respectively. In addition to thromboembolic stroke, carotid atherosclerosis has been associated with downstream vascular brain injury, including inflammation and small vessel disease. The specific plaque features responsible for this are unknown. We aimed to determine the association of specific vulnerable carotid plaque features to CBIs and CMBs to better understand the relation of large and small vessel disease in a single-center retrospective observational study. METHODS: Intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) and plaque ulceration were recorded on carotid MRA and total, cortical, and lacunar CBIs and CMBs were recorded on brain MR in 349 patients (698 carotid arteries). Multivariable Poisson regression was performed to relate plaque features to CBIs and CMBs. Within-subject analysis in those with unilateral IPH and ulceration was performed with Poisson regression. RESULTS: Both IPH and plaque ulceration were associated with total CBI (prevalence ratios (PR) 3.33, 95% CI: 2.16-5.15 and 1.91, 95% CI: 1.21-3.00, respectively), after adjusting for stenosis, demographic, and vascular risk factors. In subjects with unilateral IPH, PR was 2.83, 95% CI: 1.76-4.55, for CBI in the ipsilateral hemisphere after adjusting for stenosis. Among those with unilateral ulceration, PR was 1.82, 95% CI: 1.18-2.81, for total CBI ipsilateral to ulceration after adjusting for stenosis. No statistically significant association was seen with CMBs. CONCLUSION: Both IPH and plaque ulceration are associated with total, cortical, and lacunar type CBIs but not CMBs suggesting that advanced atherosclerosis contributes predominantly to ischemic markers of subclinical vascular injury.

His bundle pacing shows similar ventricular electrical activation as sinus: selective and nonselective His pacing indistinguishable.

His bundle pacing utilizes the His-Purkinje system to produce more physiological activation compared with traditional pacing therapies, but differences in electrical activation between pacing techniques are not yet quantified in terms of activation pattern. Furthermore, clinicians distinguish between selective and nonselective His pacing, but measurable differences in electrical activation remain to be seen. Hearts isolated from seven dogs were perfused using the Langendorff method. Electrograms were recorded using two 64-electrode basket catheters in the ventricles and a 128-electrode sock situated around the ventricles during sinus rhythm (right atrial pacing), right ventricular (RV) pacing, biventricular cardiac resynchronization therapy (biV-CRT), selective His pacing (selective capture of the His bundle), and nonselective His pacing (capture of nearby myocardium and His bundle). Activation maps were generated from these electrograms. Total activation time (TAT) was measured from the activation maps, and QRS duration was measured from a one-lead pseudo-ECG. Results showed that TAT, QRS duration, and activation sequence were most similar between sinus, selective, and nonselective His pacing. Bland-Altman analyses showed highest levels of similarity between all combinations of sinus, selective, and nonselective His pacing. RV and biV-CRT activation patterns were distinct from sinus and had significantly longer TAT and QRS duration. Cumulative activation graphs were most similar between sinus, selective, and nonselective His pacing. In conclusion, selective pacing and nonselective His bundle pacing are more similar to sinus compared with RV and biV-CRT pacing. Furthermore, selective pacing and nonselective His bundle pacing are not significantly different electrically.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our high-density epicardial and endocardial electrical mapping study demonstrated that selective pacing and nonselective His bundle pacing are more electrically similar to sinus rhythm compared with right ventricular and biventricular cardiac resynchronization therapy pacing. Furthermore, small differences between selective and nonselective His bundle pacing, specifically a wider QRS in nonselective His pacing, do not translate into significant differences in the global activation pattern.

A clinical counseling tool predicting supernumerary embryos after a fresh IVF cycle.

PURPOSE: To identify factors predictive of having supernumerary embryos in a fresh IVF cycle and create a prediction model for clinical counseling. METHODS: We utilized a multivariable Poisson regression to identify predictive factors and then entered these into a logistic regression model, calculating a risk index for each significant variable. The final model was tested using a receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: A total of 60,616 fresh transfer cycles were reported to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology in 2014. Of these, 47.17% produced supernumerary embryos. A multivariate Poisson regression identified factors predictive of having supernumerary embryos, with age and AMH being the most predictive. Clinical prediction models were developed with acceptable and excellent discrimination. 23.5% of our cohort did not achieve a live birth following their fresh transfer and had excess embryos cryopreserved for future attempts. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that in a minority of fresh IVF cycles in the USA, the fresh transfer is not successful, and there are excess embryos cryopreserved for future use. The likelihood of excess embryos beyond those that would be transferred can be predicted with satisfactory precision prior to initiation of the cycle and with improved precision after fresh embryo transfer. Providing patients with a realistic estimate of their chances of having excess embryos at an initial IVF consult especially those with suspected poor prognosis can be beneficial in determining whether to proceed with multiple embryo banking cycles as opposed to proceeding with a fresh transfer, and whether to opt for an enhanced embryo selection technique such as preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A).

Aging impairs mouse skeletal muscle macrophage polarization and muscle-specific abundance during recovery from disuse.

Impaired recovery of aged muscle following a disuse event is an unresolved issue facing the older adult population. Although investigations in young animals have suggested that rapid regrowth of skeletal muscle following a disuse event entails a coordinated involvement of skeletal muscle macrophages, this phenomenon has not yet been thoroughly tested as an explanation for impaired muscle recovery in aging. To examine this hypothesis, young (4-5 mo) and old (24-26 mo) male mice were examined as controls following 2 wk of hindlimb unloading (HU) and following 4 (RL4) and 7 (RL7) days of reloading after HU. Muscles were harvested to assess muscle weight, myofiber-specifc cross-sectional area, and skeletal muscle macrophages via immunofluorescence. Flow cytometry was used on gastrocnemius and soleus muscle (at RL4) single-cell suspensions to immunophenotype skeletal muscle macrophages. Our data demonstrated impaired muscle regrowth in aged compared with young mice following disuse, which was characterized by divergent muscle macrophage polarization patterns and muscle-specifc macrophage abundance. During reloading, young mice exhibited the classical increase in M1-like (MHC II+CD206-) macrophages that preceeded the increase in percentage of M2-like macrophages (MHC II-CD206+); however, old mice did not demonstrate this pattern. Also, at RL4, the soleus demonstrated reduced macrophage abundance with aging. Together, these data suggest that dysregulated macrophage phenotype patterns in aged muscle during recovery from disuse may be related to impaired muscle growth. Further investigation is needed to determine whether the dysregulated macrophage response in the old during regrowth from disuse is related to a reduced ability to recruit or activate specific immune cells.

Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography and Right Ventricular Failure After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether intraoperative measures of right ventricular (RV) function using transesophageal echocardiography are associated with subsequent RV failure after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. DESIGN: Retrospective, nonrandomized, observational study. SETTING: Single tertiary-level, university-affiliated hospital. PARTICIPANTS: The study comprised 100 patients with systolic heart failure undergoing elective LVAD implantation. INTERVENTIONS: Transesophageal echocardiographic images before and after cardiopulmonary bypass were analyzed to quantify RV function using tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), tricuspid annular systolic velocity (S'), fractional area change (FAC), RV global longitudinal strain, and RV free wall strain. A chart review was performed to determine which patients subsequently developed RV failure (right ventricular assist device placement or prolonged inotrope requirement ≥14 days). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Nineteen patients (19%) subsequently developed RV failure. Postbypass FAC was the only measure of RV function that distinguished between the RV failure and non-RV failure groups (21.2% v 26.5%; p = 0.04). The sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve of an abnormal RV FAC (<35%) for RV failure after LVAD implantation were 84%, 20%, and 0.52, respectively. No other intraoperative measure of RV function was associated with subsequent RV failure. RV failure increased ventilator time, intensive care unit and hospital length of stay, and mortality. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative measures of RV function such as tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, tricuspid annular systolic velocity, and RV strain were not associated with RV failure after LVAD implantation. Decreased postbypass FAC was significantly associated with RV failure but showed poor discrimination.

Understanding Depressive Symptoms and Psychosocial Stressors on Twitter: A Corpus-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: With a lifetime prevalence of 16.2%, major depressive disorder is the fifth biggest contributor to the disease burden in the United States. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study, building on previous work qualitatively analyzing depression-related Twitter data, was to describe the development of a comprehensive annotation scheme (ie, coding scheme) for manually annotating Twitter data with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Edition 5 (DSM 5) major depressive symptoms (eg, depressed mood, weight change, psychomotor agitation, or retardation) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Edition IV (DSM-IV) psychosocial stressors (eg, educational problems, problems with primary support group, housing problems). METHODS: Using this annotation scheme, we developed an annotated corpus, Depressive Symptom and Psychosocial Stressors Acquired Depression, the SAD corpus, consisting of 9300 tweets randomly sampled from the Twitter application programming interface (API) using depression-related keywords (eg, depressed, gloomy, grief). An analysis of our annotated corpus yielded several key results. RESULTS: First, 72.09% (6829/9473) of tweets containing relevant keywords were nonindicative of depressive symptoms (eg, "we're in for a new economic depression"). Second, the most prevalent symptoms in our dataset were depressed mood and fatigue or loss of energy. Third, less than 2% of tweets contained more than one depression related category (eg, diminished ability to think or concentrate, depressed mood). Finally, we found very high positive correlations between some depression-related symptoms in our annotated dataset (eg, fatigue or loss of energy and educational problems; educational problems and diminished ability to think). CONCLUSIONS: We successfully developed an annotation scheme and an annotated corpus, the SAD corpus, consisting of 9300 tweets randomly-selected from the Twitter application programming interface using depression-related keywords. Our analyses suggest that keyword queries alone might not be suitable for public health monitoring because context can change the meaning of keyword in a statement. However, postprocessing approaches could be useful for reducing the noise and improving the signal needed to detect depression symptoms using social media.

Changes in Oral Anticoagulant Treatment Rates in Atrial Fibrillation before and after the Introduction of Direct Oral Anticoagulants.

BACKGROUND: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have the potential to improve stroke prevention among atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. We sought to determine if oral anticoagulation (OAC) treatment rates have increased since the approval of DOACs. METHODS: We identified 6,688 patients with AF at an academic medical center from January 2008 to June 2015. We examined OAC prescription rates over time and according to CHA2DS2VASc score using multivariable Poisson regression models, with an interaction term between risk score and year of AF diagnosis. RESULTS: Among 6,688 AF patients, 78% had CHA2DS2VASc scores ≥2, 51.6% of whom received an OAC prescription within 90 days of diagnosis. The OAC prescription rate was 47.8% in the pre-DOAC era and peaked at 56.4% in 2014. Relative to the pre-DOAC era, prescription rates increased in 2012 and leveled off thereafter. The prescription rate for the highest risk group was 58.5%, compared with 45.0% in patients with a CHA2DS2VASc score of 2 (p < 0.01). In the adjusted analysis, prescription rates were higher for the higher risk group (adjusted relative risk 1.24 for CHA2DS2VASc score 7-9 vs. 2, 95% CI 1.09-1.40). CONCLUSIONS: OAC treatment rates have increased since DOAC introduction, but substantial treatment gaps remain, specifically among the higher risk patients.

Assessing Pictograph Recognition: A Comparison of Crowdsourcing and Traditional Survey Approaches.

BACKGROUND: Compared to traditional methods of participant recruitment, online crowdsourcing platforms provide a fast and low-cost alternative. Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is a large and well-known crowdsourcing service. It has developed into the leading platform for crowdsourcing recruitment. OBJECTIVE: To explore the application of online crowdsourcing for health informatics research, specifically the testing of medical pictographs. METHODS: A set of pictographs created for cardiovascular hospital discharge instructions was tested for recognition. This set of illustrations (n=486) was first tested through an in-person survey in a hospital setting (n=150) and then using online MTurk participants (n=150). We analyzed these survey results to determine their comparability. RESULTS: Both the demographics and the pictograph recognition rates of online participants were different from those of the in-person participants. In the multivariable linear regression model comparing the 2 groups, the MTurk group scored significantly higher than the hospital sample after adjusting for potential demographic characteristics (adjusted mean difference 0.18, 95% CI 0.08-0.28, P<.001). The adjusted mean ratings were 2.95 (95% CI 2.89-3.02) for the in-person hospital sample and 3.14 (95% CI 3.07-3.20) for the online MTurk sample on a 4-point Likert scale (1=totally incorrect, 4=totally correct). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that crowdsourcing is a viable complement to traditional in-person surveys, but it cannot replace them.

In vivo human time-exposure study of orally dosed commercial silver nanoparticles.

Human biodistribution, bioprocessing and possible toxicity of nanoscale silver receive increasing health assessment. We prospectively studied commercial 10- and 32-ppm nanoscale silver particle solutions in a single-blind, controlled, cross-over, intent-to-treat, design. Healthy subjects (n=60) underwent metabolic, blood counts, urinalysis, sputum induction, and chest and abdomen magnetic resonance imaging. Silver serum and urine content were determined. No clinically important changes in metabolic, hematologic, or urinalysis measures were identified. No morphological changes were detected in the lungs, heart or abdominal organs. No significant changes were noted in pulmonary reactive oxygen species or pro-inflammatory cytokine generation. In vivo oral exposure to these commercial nanoscale silver particle solutions does not prompt clinically important changes in human metabolic, hematologic, urine, physical findings or imaging morphology. Further study of increasing time exposure and dosing of silver nanoparticulate silver, and observation of additional organ systems are warranted to assert human toxicity thresholds. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR: In this study, the effects of commercially available nanoparticles were studied in healthy volunteers, concluding no detectable toxicity with the utilized comprehensive assays and tests. As the authors rightfully state, further studies are definitely warranted. Studies like this are much needed for the more widespread application of nanomedicine.

Developing 60-Day Readmission Risk Score among Home Healthcare Patients with Heart Failure.

Heart failure (HF) readmissions are common, costly, and often preventable. Despite the implementation of HF programs across clinical settings, rehospitalization is still common. Efforts to identify risk factors for 60-day rehospitalization among HF patients exist, but risk scoring has not been utilized in home healthcare. The purpose of this study was to develop a 60-day rehospitalization risk score for home care patients with HF. This study is a secondary data analysis of a retrospective cross-sectional dataset that was composed of data using the Outcome Assessment Information Set (OASIS)-C version for patients with HF. We computed the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to use as a confounder. The risk score was computed from the final logistic regression model regression coefficients. The median age was 78 years old, 45.4% were male, and 81.0% were White. We identified 10 significant risk factors including CCI score. The risk score achieved a c-statistic of 0.70 in this patient sample. This risk score could prove useful in clinical practice for guiding attention and decision-making for personalized care of patients with unrecognized or under-treated health needs.

Dental implant failures in Utah and US veteran cohorts.

INTRODUCTION: Approximately, 5.5 million dental implants are estimated to be surgically placed in the United States yearly, with an anticipated long-term failure rate ranging from 3% to 10%. At the Salt Lake City Dental Clinic within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VHA), specific protocols have been established to mandate that clinicians present every dental implant case for review by a committee. To understand the effectiveness of this approach, a comparative data analysis was undertaken to compare local dental implant failure data against national VHA data. METHODS: Leveraging electronic health records of veterans spanning from 2000 to 2021, we gathered procedural records related to dental implant placement or failure, demographic information, and medical history for individuals who received dental care at various dental clinics within the nationwide VHA network. Subsequently, statistical analyses were conducted using mixed-effects Poisson regression models with cluster-robust standard errors. Incident rate ratios (IRRs) for Utah-specific and nationwide cohorts were ascertained. RESULTS: The Utah VHA dental clinical data showed that there was a slightly lower prevalence of implant failure at 6.7% compared to the national cohort, which had a rate of 6.9%. The implant level failure rates were also low, with 4.20 (confidence interval [CI]: 3.68, 4.81) per 1000 implant placements per year for Utah cohorts. The adjusted IRR indicated a relative 16% reduction in risk among Utah Veterans (IRR 0.84, 95% CI [0.76-0.92]; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The stringent protocols in place at Salt Lake City, which integrate evidence-based practices and expert opinion for evaluating patient suitability for dental implant placement and subsequent care, contributed to the reduced risk among Utah Dental Clinic veterans pool compared to veterans of other states.

Cognitive impairment in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 and short duration myalgic encephalomyelitis patients is mediated by orthostatic hemodynamic changes.

Introduction: Cognitive impairment is experienced by people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). Patients report difficulty remembering, concentrating, and making decisions. Our objective was to determine whether orthostatic hemodynamic changes were causally linked to cognitive impairment in these diseases. Methods: This prospective, observational cohort study enrolled PASC, ME/CFS, and healthy controls. All participants underwent clinical evaluation and assessment that included brief cognitive testing before and after an orthostatic challenge. Cognitive testing measured cognitive efficiency which is defined as the speed and accuracy of subject's total correct responses per minute. General linear mixed models were used to analyze hemodynamics and cognitive efficiency during the orthostatic challenge. Additionally, mediation analysis was used to determine if hemodynamic instability induced during the orthostatic challenge mediated the relationship between disease status and cognitive impairment. Results: Of the 276 participants enrolled, 256 were included in this study (34 PASC, 71 < 4 year duration ME/CFS, 69 > 10 year ME/CFS duration, and 82 healthy controls). Compared to healthy controls, the disease cohorts had significantly lower cognitive efficiency scores immediately following the orthostatic challenge. Cognitive efficiency remained low for the >10 year ME/CFS 2 and 7 days after orthostatic challenge. Narrow pulse pressure less than 25% of systolic pressure occurred at 4 and 5 min into the orthostatic challenge for the PASC and ME/CFS cohorts, respectively. Abnormally narrow pulse pressure was associated with slowed information processing in PASC patients compared to healthy controls (-1.5, p = 0.04). Furthermore, increased heart rate during the orthostatic challenge was associated with a decreased procedural reaction time in PASC and < 4 year ME/CFS patients who were 40 to 65 years of age. Discussion: For PASC patients, both their disease state and hemodynamic changes during orthostatic challenge were associated with slower reaction time and decreased response accuracy during cognitive testing. Reduced cognitive efficiency in <4 year ME/CFS patients was associated with higher heart rate in response to orthostatic stress. Hemodynamic changes did not correlate with cognitive impairment for >10 year ME/CFS patients, but cognitive impairment remained. These findings underscore the need for early diagnosis to mitigate direct hemodynamic and other physiological effects on symptoms of cognitive impairment.

Association of Preeclampsia With Incident Stroke in Later Life Among Women in the Framingham Heart Study.

Importance: Contemporary research suggests an association between preeclampsia and later-life stroke among women. To our knowledge, no research to date has accounted for the time-varying nature of shared risk factors for preeclampsia and later-life stroke incidence. Objective: To assess the relative risk of incident stroke in later life among women with and without a history of preeclampsia after accounting for time-varying covariates. Design, Setting, and Participants: This population-based cohort study was a secondary analysis of data from the Framingham Heart Study, which was conducted from 1948 to 2016. Women were included in the analysis if they were stroke free at enrollment and had a minimum of 3 study visits and 1 pregnancy before menopause, hysterectomy, or age 45 years. Data on vascular risk factors, history of preeclampsia, and stroke incidence were collected biannually. Participants were followed up until incident stroke or censorship from the study. Marginal structural models were used to evaluate the relative risk of incident stroke among participants with and without a history of preeclampsia after accounting for time-varying covariates. Data were analyzed from May 2019 to December 2020. Exposures: Presence or absence of preeclampsia among women with 1 or more pregnancies. Main Outcomes and Measures: Incident stroke in later life. Results: A total of 1435 women (mean [SD] age, 44.4 [7.7] years at the beginning of the study; 100% White) with 41 422 person-years of follow-up were included in the analytic sample. Of those, 169 women had a history of preeclampsia, and 231 women experienced strokes during follow-up. At baseline, women with preeclampsia were more likely to be younger, to be receiving cholesterol-lowering medications, to have lower cholesterol and higher diastolic blood pressure, and to currently smoke. The association between preeclampsia and stroke in the marginal structural model was only evident when adjustment was made for all vascular risk factors over the life course, which indicated that women with a history of preeclampsia had a higher risk of stroke in later life compared with women without a history of preeclampsia (relative risk, 3.79; 95% CI, 1.24-11.60). Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this cohort study suggest that preeclampsia may be a risk factor for later-life stroke among women after adjustment for time-varying vascular and demographic factors. Future research is warranted to fully explore the mediation of this association by midlife vascular risk factors.

21-gene recurrence score testing utilization among older women from different races: A population-based study.

OBJECTIVES: The influence of older age at diagnosis in combination with race/ethnicity on utilization and results of the 21-gene recurrence score (RS) assay for breast cancer (BC) patients is not fully understood. Our objectives were to evaluate the utilization of RS among older women with BC, the likelihood of a high-risk RS, and factors associated with breast cancer-specific mortality (BCSM) among older patients across different races. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We utilized the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Results (SEER) database with linked RS results to evaluate women with estrogen receptor-positive BC diagnosed 2004-2015. Multivariable logistic regression was used to describe the differences in utilization of RS testing and the association of high-risk RS according to patient characteristics. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze factors associated with BCSM. RESULTS: We found that 20.4% (109,244/536,555) of all women ≥18 and 14.3% (33,584/235,171) of women ≥65 underwent RS testing. Non-whites had lower odds of RS testing at younger ages whereas among women ≥65 there was no significant difference. After taking into account stage and grade, being ≥65 reduced the odds of high-risk RS in all races except American Indian/Alaskan Native. Age ≥ 65 was independently associated with increased hazard BCSM. Among women ≥65 with high-risk RS, chemotherapy was associated with lower hazard of BCSM in all races. CONCLUSIONS: Older women are less likely to be tested for RS, but also less likely to have high-risk RS. Older women with high-risk RS, when given chemotherapy have reduced BCSM across all races.

Predicting neuroimaging eligibility for extended-window endovascular thrombectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) are effective ischemic stroke treatments in the initial treatment window. In the extended treatment window, these treatments may offer benefit, but CT and MR perfusion may be necessary to determine patient eligibility. Many hospitals do not have access to advanced imaging tools or EVT capability, and further patient care would require transfer to a facility with these capabilities. To assist transfer decisions, the authors developed risk indices that could identify patients eligible for extended-window EVT or tPA. METHODS: The authors retrospectively identified stroke patients who had concurrent CTA and perfusion and evaluated three potential outcomes that would suggest a benefit from patient transfer. The first outcome was large-vessel occlusion (LVO) and target mismatch (TM) in patients 5-23 hours from last known normal (LKN). The second outcome was TM in patients 5-15 hours from LKN with known LVO. The third outcome was TM in patients 4.5-12 hours from LKN. The authors created multivariable models using backward stepping with an α-error criterion of 0.05 and assessed them using C statistics. RESULTS: The final predictors included the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS), and age. The prediction of the first outcome had a C statistic of 0.71 (n = 145), the second outcome had a C statistic of 0.85 (n = 56), and the third outcome had a C statistic of 0.86 (n = 54). With 1 point given for each predictor at different cutoffs, a score of 3 points had probabilities of true positive of 80%, 90%, and 94% for the first, second, and third outcomes, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limited sample size, compared with perfusion-based examinations, the clinical variables identified in this study accurately predicted which stroke patients would have salvageable penumbra (C statistic 71%-86%) in a range of clinical scenarios and treatment cutoffs. This prediction improved (C statistic 85%-86%) when utilized in patients with confirmed LVO or a less stringent tissue mismatch (TM < 1.2) cutoff. Larger patient registries should be used to validate and improve the predictive ability of these models.

Developing and Validating a Model for Detecting Longitudinal Inconsistencies in the Electronic Problem List.

Clinicians from different care settings can distort the problem list from conveying a patient's actual health status, affecting quality and patient safety. To measure this effect, a reference standard was built to derive a problem-list based model. Real-world problem lists were used to derive an ideal categorization cutoff score. The model was tested against patient records to categorize problem lists as either having longitudinal inconsistencies or not. The model was able to successfully categorize these events with ~87% accuracy, ~83% sensitivity, and ~89% specificity. This new model can be used to quantify intervention effects, can be reported in problem list studies, and can be used to measure problem list changes based on policy, workflow, or system changes.

Intensive Care Unit Utilization After Adoption of a Ward-Based High-Flow Nasal Cannula Protocol.

BACKGROUND: Hospitals are increasingly adopting ward-based high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) protocols that allow HFNC treatment of bronchiolitis outside of the intensive care unit (ICU). Our objective was to determine whether adoption of a ward-based HFNC protocol reduces ICU utilization. METHODS: We examined a retrospective cohort of infants aged 3 to 24 months hospitalized with bronchiolitis at hospitals in the Pediatric Health Information System database. The study exposure was adoption of a ward-based HFNC protocol, measured by direct contact with pediatric hospital medicine leaders at each hospital. All analyses utilized an interrupted time series approach. The primary analysis compared outcomes three respiratory seasons before and three respiratory seasons after HFNC adoption, among adopting hospitals. Supplementary analysis 1 mirrored the primary analysis with the exception that the first season after adoption was censored. In supplementary analysis 2, effects among nonadopting hospitals were subtracted from effects measured among adopting hospitals. RESULTS: Of 44 contacted hospitals, 41 replied (93% response rate), of which 18 were categorized as non-adopting hospitals and 12 were categorized as adopting hospitals. Included ward-based HFNC protocols were adopted between the 2010-2011 and 2015-2016 respiratory seasons. The primary analysis included 26,253 bronchiolitis encounters and measured immediate increases in the proportion of patients admitted to the ICU (absolute difference, 3.1%; 95% CI, 2.8%-3.4%) and ICU length of stay (absolute difference, 9.1 days per 100 patients; 95% CI, 5.1-13.2). Both supplementary analyses yielded similar findings. CONCLUSION: Early protocols for ward-based HFNC were paradoxically associated with increased ICU utilization.

Comparison of As-Needed and Scheduled Posthospitalization Follow-up for Children Hospitalized for Bronchiolitis: The Bronchiolitis Follow-up Intervention Trial (BeneFIT) Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Posthospitalization follow-up visits are prescribed frequently for children with bronchiolitis. The rationale for this practice is unclear, but prior work has indicated that families value these visits for the reassurance provided. The overall risks and benefits of scheduled visits have not been evaluated. Objective: To assess whether an as-needed posthospitalization follow-up visit is noninferior to a scheduled posthospitalization follow-up visit with respect to reducing anxiety among parents of children hospitalized for bronchiolitis. Design, Setting, and Participants: This open-label, noninferiority randomized clinical trial, performed between January 1, 2018, and April 31, 2019, assessed children younger than 24 months of age hospitalized for bronchiolitis at 2 children's hospitals (Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Palo Alto, California) and 2 community hospitals (Intermountain Riverton Hospital, Riverton, Utah, and Packard El Camino Hospital, Mountain View, California). Data analysis was performed in an intention-to-treat manner. Interventions: Randomization (1:1) to a scheduled (n = 151) vs an as-needed (n = 153) posthospitalization follow-up visit. Main Outcome and Measures: The primary outcome was parental anxiety 7 days after hospital discharge, measured using the anxiety portion of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, which ranged from 0 to 28 points, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety. Fourteen prespecified secondary outcomes were assessed. Results: Among 304 children randomized (median age, 8 months; interquartile range, 3-14 months; 179 [59%] male), the primary outcome was available for 269 patients (88%). A total of 106 children (81%) in the scheduled follow-up group attended a scheduled posthospitalization visit compared with 26 children (19%) in the as-needed group (absolute difference, 62%; 95% CI, 53%-71%). The mean (SD) 7-day parental anxiety score was 3.9 (3.5) among the as-needed posthospitalization follow-up group and 4.2 (3.5) among the scheduled group (absolute difference, -0.3 points; 95% CI, -1.0 to 0.4 points), with the upper bound of the 95% CI within the prespecified noninferiority margin of 1.1 points. Aside from a decreased mean number of clinic visits (absolute difference, -0.6 visits per patient; 95% CI, -0.4 to -0.8 visits per patient) among the as-needed group, there were no significant between-group differences in secondary outcomes, including readmissions (any hospital readmission before symptom resolution: absolute difference, -1.6%; 95% CI, -5.7% to 2.5%) and symptom duration (time from discharge to cough resolution: absolute difference, -0.6 days; 95% CI, -2.4 to 1.2 days; time from discharge to child reported "back to normal": absolute difference, -0.8 days; 95% CI, -2.7 to 1.0 days; and time from discharge to symptom resolution: absolute difference, -0.6 days; 95% CI, -2.5 to 1.3 days). Conclusions and Relevance: Among parents of children hospitalized for bronchiolitis, an as-needed posthospitalization follow-up visit is noninferior to a scheduled posthospitalization follow-up visit with respect to reducing parental anxiety. These findings support as-needed follow-up as an effective posthospitalization follow-up strategy. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03354325.

Day of Illness and Outcomes in Bronchiolitis Hospitalizations.

BACKGROUND: Bronchiolitis is often described to follow an expected clinical trajectory, with a peak in severity between days 3 and 5. This predicted trajectory may influence anticipatory guidance and clinical decision-making. We aimed to determine the association between day of illness at admission and outcomes, including hospital length of stay, receipt of positive-pressure ventilation, and total cough duration. METHODS: We compiled data from 2 multicenter prospective studies involving bronchiolitis hospitalizations in patients <2 years. Patients were excluded for complex conditions. We assessed total cough duration via weekly postdischarge phone calls. We used mixed-effects multivariable regression models to test associations between day of illness and outcomes, with adjustment for age, sex, insurance (government versus nongovernment), race, and ethnicity. RESULTS: The median (interquartile range) day of illness at admission for 746 patients was 4 (2-5) days. Day of illness at admission was not associated with length of stay (coefficient 0.01 days, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.05 to 0.08 days), positive-pressure ventilation (adjusted odds ratio: 1.0, 95% CI: 0.9 to 1.1), or total cough duration (coefficient 0.33 days, 95% CI: -0.01 to 0.67 days). Additionally, there was no significant difference in day of illness at discharge in readmitted versus nonreadmitted patients (5.9 vs 6.4 days, P = .54). The median cough duration postdischarge was 6 days, with 65 (14.3%) patients experiencing cough for 14+ days. CONCLUSIONS: We found no associations between day of illness at admission and outcomes in bronchiolitis hospitalizations. Practitioners should exercise caution when making clinical decisions or providing anticipatory guidance based on symptom duration.