Association between opioid therapy trajectories and potential opioid-related adverse health events.

PURPOSE: We identified associations between membership in seven group-based trajectories based on supply of filled opioid prescriptions and potential opioid-related adverse health events over a 720-day window. METHODS: We identified two veteran cohorts with chronic non-cancer pain who initiated treatment with long-term opioid therapy between 2008 and 2015, excluding those with prior substance use disorder (n = 373 941) or non-SUD, opioid-related adverse outcome (n = 405 631) diagnoses. Outcomes of interest included opioid use disorder, non-opioid drug use disorder, and alcohol use disorder for the first cohort; or accidents resulting in wounds or injuries, self-inflicted injuries, opioid-related accidents and overdoses, alcohol and non-opioid drug-related accidents and overdoses, and violence-related injuries for the second cohort. Using a cross-sectional design, Veterans were followed until the specific outcome of interest was diagnosed, they died, the study ended, or they were lost to follow up. Accelerated failure time models were estimated for each outcome. RESULTS: Membership in persistent moderate days covered and persistent modest days covered trajectories was associated with decreased risk of opioid use disorder (Moderate: θ = 0.59, 95%CI:0.54, 0.64; Modest: θ = 0.54, 95%CI:0.50, 0.59) and opioid overdose (Moderate: θ = 0.67,95%CI: 0.57, 0.79; Modest: θ = 0.72, 95%CI:0.61, 0.85) versus higher-utilizing persistent users. Rapid discontinuation was associated with decreased risk of opioid use disorder (θ = 0.86, 95% CI:0.77, 0.95) and opioid overdose (θ = 0.54, 95%CI:0.41, 0.71), but increased risk of alcohol use disorder (θ = 1.07, 95%CI:1.00, 1.15) and other substance use disorders. Delayed discontinuation or delayed reduction was associated with increased risk for most opioid related adverse health events. CONCLUSION: Persistent use trajectories with low levels of opioid utilization were associated with lower risks of potential opioid-related adverse health events.

Evaluation of the national implementation of the VA Diffusion of Excellence Initiative on Advance Care Planning via Group Visits: protocol for a quality improvement evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, system leaders, service line managers, researchers, and program evaluators hire specifically dedicated implementation staff to ensure that a healthcare quality improvement effort can "go to scale." However, little is known about the impact of hiring dedicated staff and whether funded positions, amid a host of other delivered implementation strategies, are the main difference among sites with and without funding used to execute the program, on implementation effectiveness and cost outcomes. METHODS/DESIGN: In this mixed methods program evaluation, we will determine the impact of funding staff positions to implement, sustain, and spread a program, Advance Care Planning (ACP) via Group Visits (ACP-GV), nationally across the entire United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system. In ACP-GV, veterans, their families, and trained clinical staff with expertise in ACP meet in a group setting to engage in discussions about ACP and the benefits to veterans and their trusted others of having an advance directive (AD) in place. To determine the impact of the ACP-GV National Program, we will use a propensity score-matched control design to compare ACP-GV and non-ACP-GV sites on the proportion of ACP discussions in VHA facilities. To account for variation in funding status, we will document and compare funded and unfunded sites on the effectiveness of implementation strategies (individual and combinations) used by sites in the National Program on ACP discussion and AD completion rates across the VHA. In order to determine the fiscal impact of the National Program and to help inform future dissemination across VHA, we will use a budget impact analysis. Finally, we will purposively select, recruit, and interview key stakeholders, who are clinicians and clinical managers in the VHA who offer ACP discussions to veterans, to identify the characteristics of high-performing (e.g., high rates or sustainers) and innovative sites (e.g., unique local program design or implementation of ACP) to inform sustainability and further spread. DISCUSSION: As an observational evaluation, this protocol will contribute to our understanding of implementation science and practice by examining the natural variation in implementation and spread of ACP-GV with or without funded staff positions.

Management of new hyperglycemia in patients prescribed antipsychotics.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the extent to which patients found to have clinically significant hyperglycemia after beginning a new antipsychotic receive guideline concordant management. METHODS: This retrospective cohort analysis (N=403) used U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs databases and multivariable logistic regression models to examine the association of patient characteristics with the likelihood of receiving recommended management. RESULTS: Overall, 63% of patients (N=254) received at least one type of management action within 30 days of identification of hyperglycemia. A primary care encounter was the most common action. Weight management program encounter, nutrition encounter, diabetes clinic encounter, and change in antipsychotic medications were underutilized interventions. Counseling related to weight management, nutrition, and diabetes that occurred during other visits with providers was not measured. Older patients and female patients were less likely to receive timely management. Preexisting comorbidities inconsistently influenced management practices. CONCLUSIONS: Timely hyperglycemia management actions were not recorded in administrative data for a sizable minority of patients. Further research is needed to determine the full extent of appropriate management actions in this context.

Effect of rural residence on use of VHA mental health care among OEF/OIF veterans.

OBJECTIVE: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has worked to increase availability of mental health treatment for rural veterans. The objective was to understand the impact of rural residence on screening for, diagnosis of, and treatment for depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) using VHA care. METHODS: A cohort of veterans from a five-state region was identified whose first VHA clinic visit occurred between January 1, 2008, and March 17, 2009. The cohort was retrospectively followed for three months to identify a cohort who used VHA care at least twice. RESULTS: The sample included 4,782 OEF/OIF veterans known to be using VHA care; mean age was 31 years (range 18-64); most were male (88%). Screening rates were 85% for depression and 84% for PTSD. Compared with veterans in small or isolated rural towns, those in urban areas were less likely to be diagnosed as having PTSD (odds ratio [OR]=.79, 95% confidence interval [CI]=.66-.95, p<.05) and less likely to receive psychotropic medications (OR=.52, CI=.33-.79, p<.01) or psychotherapy (OR=.61, CI=.40-.94, p<.05) for PTSD. Veterans living in urban areas were also less likely to receive antidepressants (OR=.56, CI=.32-.98, p<.05) or psychotherapy (OR=.61, CI=.40-.93, p<.05) for treatment of depression. CONCLUSIONS: Among veterans who used VHA care at least twice, those living in urban areas were less likely than those living in rural areas to receive diagnoses of and treatment for PTSD and depression.

Monitoring for metabolic side effects among outpatients with dementia receiving antipsychotics.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined monitoring for metabolic side effects among older outpatients with dementia starting a new antipsychotic. METHODS: In a retrospective cohort analysis of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs data, monitoring, as recommended by the American Diabetes Association and the American Psychiatric Association, was examined between October 1, 2005, and September 30, 2011. The sample included outpatients aged ≥60 years with dementia but without a psychotic disorder (N=3,903) and outpatients with a psychotic disorder but without dementia (N=5,779) who were prescribed a new antipsychotic. Because dementia patients differed from psychosis patients in all observed patient characteristics, especially age, metabolic monitoring of dementia patients was compared with a propensity score-matched sample of outpatients with psychosis (1,576 matched pairs). RESULTS: At baseline (±30 days from the index prescription), 68% of the matched dementia patients were weighed, compared with 63.7% of the matched psychosis patients (odds ratio [OR]=1.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.03-1.48). Monitoring for glucose or glycosylated hemoglobin (HBA1c) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was not significantly different between the groups: glucose or HBA1c, 41% versus 44%; LDL, 24% versus 27%. At three months (±30 days), metabolic monitoring for all three parameters was significantly lower for the dementia group: weight, OR=.86, CI=.75-.99; glucose or HBA1c, OR=.83, CI=.71-.97; and LDL, OR=.69, CI=.57-.85. CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring rates for metabolic side effects were low for both dementia and psychosis groups, with lower rates for dementia patients at follow-up compared with matched psychosis patients. Quality improvement efforts are needed to improve monitoring, especially for patients with dementia.

Monitoring veterans for metabolic side effects when prescribing antipsychotics.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined practices for monitoring metabolic side effects of antipsychotics at 32 Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities. METHODS: This retrospective cohort analysis included outpatients receiving a new antipsychotic prescription from April 2008 through March 2009 in Veterans Integrated Service Networks 18­22 (N=12,009). Data from national and regional VA data sources were used to examine the extent to which weight, glucose (or hemoglobin A1c), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were monitored within 30 days of the new prescription (baseline) and 60­120 days thereafter, consistent with American Diabetes and American Psychiatric Association consensus recommendations. Repeated-measures analysis using the generalized estimating equation for binary variables examined the association of patient characteristics with likelihood of monitoring. RESULTS: Monitoring of the three metabolic parameters was significantly greater at baseline than at follow-up (p<.001). Weight was the most frequently monitored parameter. Having a diagnosis of diabetes or dyslipidemia was significantly associated with greater monitoring rates. Although monitoring rates did not vary significantly by psychiatric diagnosis, patients without a psychiatric diagnosis were less likely to be monitored than those with schizophrenia. Compared with patients taking antipsychotics with the lowest metabolic risk, those taking high-risk antipsychotics were more likely to have weight monitored at baseline (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=1.20), whereas patients prescribed medium-risk antipsychotics were more likely to be monitored at baseline for glucose (AOR=1.12) and LDL (AOR=1.11). CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to improve monitoring of antipsychotics' metabolic side effects are needed and should be applied for all patients regardless of diagnosis.

Periodic leg movements predict total sleep time in persons with cognitive impairment and sleep disturbance.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine if periodic leg movements predict total sleep time at night in elders with cognitive impairment and sleep disturbance. DESIGN: Descriptive cross-sectional secondary analysis using data from an observational study and baseline data from a randomized, controlled clinical trial. SETTINGS: Private homes, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and two persons with a mean age of 81.8 years, cognitive impairment, and sleep disturbance. INTERVENTION: N/A. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: We measured sleep variables using 1 night of attended polysomnography in each participant's usual sleep setting. We assessed 10 characteristics associated with sleep disturbance (periodic leg movement index, time in bed, apnea-hypopnea index, oxygen saturation nadir, age, sex, living arrangement, cognitive status, painful conditions, and depression) with multiple linear regression analyses to determine the predictors of total sleep time. Of the 102 participants, 56.9% were men, and 64.7% lived in nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Their mean Mini-Mental State Examination score was 17.3. In addition, 21.6% had 1 or more painful conditions, and 45.1% were diagnosed with depression. Participants' mean periodic leg movement index was 17.3 with 34 (33.3%) having a periodic leg movement index greater than 15. Time in bed at night exceeded 8 hours, yet participants averaged only 5.5 hours of sleep. They had a mean apnea-hypopnea index of 18.3, with a mean oxygen saturation nadir of 86.4%. Periodic leg movement index, time in bed, and age explained 43.6% of the variance in total sleep time. CONCLUSIONS: Frequent periodic leg movements, less time in bed, and older age are associated with less sleep at night in this population.