Houston Methodist cardiovascular learning health system (CVD-LHS) registry: Methods for development and implementation of an automated electronic medical record-based registry using an informatics framework approach.

Objectives: To investigate the potential value and feasibility of creating a listing system-wide registry of patients with at-risk and established Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) within a large healthcare system using automated data extraction methods to systematically identify burden, determinants, and the spectrum of at-risk patients to inform population health management. Additionally, the Houston Methodist Cardiovascular Disease Learning Health System (HM CVD-LHS) registry intends to create high-quality data-driven analytical insights to assess, track, and promote cardiovascular research and care. Methods: We conducted a retrospective multi-center, cohort analysis of adult patients who were seen in the outpatient settings of a large healthcare system between June 2016 - December 2022 to create an EMR-based registry. A common framework was developed to automatically extract clinical data from the EMR and then integrate it with the social determinants of health information retrieved from external sources. Microsoft's SQL Server Management Studio was used for creating multiple Extract-Transform-Load scripts and stored procedures for collecting, cleaning, storing, monitoring, reviewing, auto-updating, validating, and reporting the data based on the registry goals. Results: A real-time, programmatically deidentified, auto-updated EMR-based HM CVD-LHS registry was developed with ∼450 variables stored in multiple tables each containing information related to patient's demographics, encounters, diagnoses, vitals, labs, medication use, and comorbidities. Out of 1,171,768 adult individuals in the registry, 113,022 (9.6%) ASCVD patients were identified between June 2016 and December 2022 (mean age was 69.2 ± 12.2 years, with 55% Men and 15% Black individuals). Further, multi-level groupings of patients with laboratory test results and medication use have been analyzed for evaluating the outcomes of interest. Conclusions: HM CVD-LHS registry database was developed successfully providing the listing registry of patients with established ASCVD and those at risk. This approach empowers knowledge inference and provides support for efforts to move away from manual patient chart abstraction by suggesting that a common registry framework with a concurrent design of data collection tools and reporting rapidly extracting useful structured clinical data from EMRs for creating patient or specialty population registries.

Deployment of a Digital Advance Care Planning Platform at an Accountable Care Organization.

BACKGROUND: Advance care planning (ACP), a process of sharing one's values and preferences for future medical treatments, can improve quality of life, reduce loved ones' anxiety, and decrease unwanted medical utilization and costs. Despite benefits to patients and health care systems, ACP uptake often remains low, due partially to lack of knowledge and difficulty initiating discussions. Digital tools may help reduce these barriers to entry. METHODS: We retrospectively examined data from pilot deployment of Koda Health patient-facing ACP among Houston Methodist Coordinated Care patients, for quality improvement (QI) purposes. Patients referred by nurse navigators could access Koda's digital platform, complete ACP, and share the legal documentation generated. Analyzed measures include usage rates and ACP-related decisions within the platform. RESULTS: Of eligible patients (n = 203), 52.7% voluntarily completed their plan. Engagement and completion rates were similar across demographics. Patients indicated majority preference (66.4%) toward spending the last days of life at home. Most patients indicated wanting no life-support intervention if quality of life became unacceptable (51 to 71% across 4 treatments). Life-support decisions were similar between demographic categories, excepting CPR and dialysis, wherein a greater portion of Black patients than White patients preferred at least trial intervention, rather than none. CONCLUSIONS: As an observational QI analysis, limitations include bounded geographical reach and lack of data on ACP impacts to subsequent health care utilization, which future studies will address. Findings suggest that digital health tools like Koda can effectively facilitate equitable ACP access and may help support health systems and providers in offering comprehensive ACP.

INTRAVITREAL ANTI-VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR PHARMACEUTICAL UTILIZATION AND FINANCIAL IMPACT IN A VALUE-BASED CARE PROGRAM.

PURPOSE: To investigate trends and the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the utilization of intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) pharmaceuticals in an accountable care organization (ACO). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services beneficiary claims for all patients in the Houston Methodist Coordinated Care ACO registry during the years 2018, 2019, and 2020. RESULTS: Across the 3 years studied, a mean of 708 patients received anti-VEGF injections per year. The percentage of patients who received anti-VEGF injections decreased in each sequential year, with a steeper decline during the COVID-19 pandemic in the year 2020 (decrease by 0.4% from 2019 to 2020, P < 0.001; decrease by 0.2% from 2018 to 2019, P = 0.1453). The percentage of patients receiving bevacizumab of the total number of patients receiving any anti-VEGF treatment decreased (bevacizumab decreased by 6% from 2019 to 2020, P = 0.0174; decreased by 7% from 2018 to 2019, P = 0.0074). The COVID-19 pandemic did not seem to correlate with a change in the distribution of the specific anti-VEGF injection used. CONCLUSION: Despite the lower price which may correlate with value-based care, bevacizumab was the least used anti-VEGF treatment. COVID-19 correlated with a larger decrease in the utilization of all three anti-VEGF drugs.

Unfavorable social determinants of health are associated with higher burden of financial toxicity among patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in the US: findings from the National Health Interview Survey.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is a major cause of financial toxicity, defined as excess financial strain from healthcare, in the US. Identifying factors that put patients at greatest risk can help inform more targeted and cost-effective interventions. Specific social determinants of health (SDOH) such as income are associated with a higher risk of experiencing financial toxicity from healthcare, however, the associations between more comprehensive measures of cumulative social disadvantage and financial toxicity from healthcare are poorly understood. METHODS: Using the National Health Interview Survey (2013-17), we assessed patients with self-reported ASCVD. We identified 34 discrete SDOH items, across 6 domains: economic stability, education, food poverty, neighborhood conditions, social context, and health systems. To capture the cumulative effect of SDOH, an aggregate score was computed as their sum, and divided into quartiles, the highest (quartile 4) containing the most unfavorable scores. Financial toxicity included presence of: difficulty paying medical bills, and/or delayed/foregone care due to cost, and/or cost-related medication non-adherence. RESULTS: Approximately 37% of study participants reported experiencing financial toxicity from healthcare, with a prevalence of 15% among those in SDOH Q1 vs 68% in SDOH Q4. In fully-adjusted regression analyses, individuals in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quartiles of the aggregate SDOH score had 1.90 (95% CI 1.60, 2.26), 3.66 (95% CI 3.11, 4.35), and 8.18 (95% CI 6.83, 9.79) higher odds of reporting any financial toxicity from healthcare, when compared with participants in the 1st quartile. The associations were consistent in age-stratified analyses, and were also present in analyses restricted to non-economic SDOH domains and to 7 upstream SDOH features. CONCLUSIONS: An unfavorable SDOH profile was strongly and independently associated with subjective financial toxicity from healthcare. This analysis provides further evidence to support policies and interventions aimed at screening for prevalent financial toxicity and for high financial toxicity risk among socially vulnerable groups.

Race, Racism, and Cardiovascular Health: Applying a Social Determinants of Health Framework to Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Cardiovascular Disease.

Health care in the United States has seen many great innovations and successes in the past decades. However, to this day, the color of a person's skin determines-to a considerable degree-his/her prospects of wellness; risk of disease, and death; and the quality of care received. Disparities in cardiovascular disease (CVD)-the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally-are one of the starkest reminders of social injustices, and racial inequities, which continue to plague our society. People of color-including Black, Hispanic, American Indian, Asian, and others-experience varying degrees of social disadvantage that puts these groups at increased risk of CVD and poor disease outcomes, including mortality. Racial/ethnic disparities in CVD, while documented extensively, have not been examined from a broad, upstream, social determinants of health lens. In this review, we apply a comprehensive social determinants of health framework to better understand how structural racism increases individual and cumulative social determinants of health burden for historically underserved racial and ethnic groups, and increases their risk of CVD. We analyze the link between race, racism, and CVD, including major pathways and structural barriers to cardiovascular health, using 5 distinct social determinants of health domains: economic stability; neighborhood and physical environment; education; community and social context; and healthcare system. We conclude with a set of research and policy recommendations to inform future work in the field, and move a step closer to health equity.

Disparities in COVID-19 hospitalizations and mortality among black and Hispanic patients: cross-sectional analysis from the greater Houston metropolitan area.

BACKGROUND: Disparate racial/ethnic burdens of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may be attributable to higher susceptibility to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or to factors such as differences in hospitalization and care provision. METHODS: In our cross-sectional analysis of lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases from a tertiary, eight-hospital healthcare system across greater Houston, multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to evaluate hospitalization and mortality odds for non-Hispanic Blacks (NHBs) vs. non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs) and Hispanics vs. non-Hispanics. RESULTS: Between March 3rd and July 18th, 2020, 70,496 individuals were tested for SARS-CoV-2; 12,084 (17.1%) tested positive, of whom 3536 (29.3%) were hospitalized. Among positive cases, NHBs and Hispanics were significantly younger than NHWs and Hispanics, respectively (mean age NHBs vs. NHWs: 46.0 vs. 51.7 years; p < 0.001 and Hispanic vs. non-Hispanic: 44.0 vs. 48.7 years; p < 0.001). Despite younger age, NHBs (vs. NHWs) had a higher prevalence of diabetes (25.2% vs. 17.6%; p < 0.001), hypertension (47.7% vs. 43.1%; p < 0.001), and chronic kidney disease (5.0% vs. 3.3%; p = 0.001). Both minority groups resided in lower median income (median income [USD]; NHBs vs. NHWs: 63,489 vs. 75,793; p < 0.001, Hispanic vs. non-Hispanic: 59,104 vs. 68,318; p < 0.001) and higher population density areas (median population density [per square mile]; NHBs vs. NHWs: 3257 vs. 2742; p < 0.001, Hispanic vs. non-Hispanic: 3381 vs. 2884; p < 0.001). In fully adjusted models, NHBs (vs. NHWs) and Hispanics (vs. non-Hispanic) had higher likelihoods of hospitalization, aOR (95% CI): 1.42 (1.24-1.63) and 1.61 (1.46-1.78), respectively. No differences were observed in intensive care unit (ICU) utilization or treatment parameters. Models adjusted for demographics, vital signs, laboratory parameters, hospital complications, and ICU admission vital signs demonstrated non-significantly lower likelihoods of in-hospital mortality among NHBs and Hispanic patients, aOR (95% CI): 0.65 (0.40-1.03) and 0.89 (0.59-1.31), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our data did not demonstrate racial and ethnic differences in care provision and hospital outcomes. Higher susceptibility of racial and ethnic minorities to SARS-CoV-2 and subsequent hospitalization may be driven primarily by social determinants.

Social Determinants of Adherence to COVID-19 Risk Mitigation Measures Among Adults With Cardiovascular Disease.

BACKGROUND: Social determinants of health (SDOH) may limit the practice of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk mitigation guidelines with health implications for individuals with underlying cardiovascular disease (CVD). Population-based evidence of the association between SDOH and practicing such mitigation strategies in adults with CVD is lacking. We used the National Opinion Research Center's COVID-19 Household Impact Survey conducted between April and June 2020 to evaluate sociodemographic disparities in adherence to COVID-19 risk mitigation measures in a sample of respondents with underlying CVD representing 18 geographic areas of the United States. METHODS: CVD status was ascertained by self-reported history of receiving heart disease, heart attack, or stroke diagnosis. We built de novo, a cumulative index of SDOH burden using education, insurance, economic stability, 30-day food security, urbanicity, neighborhood quality, and integration. We described the practice of measures under the broad strategies of personal protection (mask, hand hygiene, and physical distancing), social distancing (avoiding crowds, restaurants, social activities, and high-risk contact), and work flexibility (work from home, canceling/postponing work). We reported prevalence ratios and 95% CIs for the association between SDOH burden (quartiles of cumulative indices) and practicing these measures adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, comorbidity, and interview wave. RESULTS: Two thousand thirty-six of 25 269 (7.0%) adults, representing 8.69 million in 18 geographic areas of the United States, reported underlying CVD. Compared with the least SDOH burden, fewer individuals with the greatest SDOH burden practiced all personal protection (75.6% versus 89.0%) and social distancing measures (41.9% versus 58.9%) and had any flexible work schedule (26.2% versus 41.4%). These associations remained statistically significant after full adjustment: personal protection (prevalence ratio, 0.83 [95% CI, 0.73-0.96]; P=0.009), social distancing (prevalence ratio, 0.69 [95% CI, 0.51-0.94]; P=0.018), and work flexibility (prevalence ratio, 0.53 [95% CI, 0.36-0.79]; P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: SDOH burden is associated with lower COVID-19 risk mitigation practices in the CVD population. Identifying and prioritizing individuals whose medical vulnerability is compounded by social adversity may optimize emerging preventive efforts, including vaccination guidelines.

Sex differences in susceptibility, severity, and outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019: Cross-sectional analysis from a diverse US metropolitan area.

INTRODUCTION: Sex is increasingly recognized as an important factor in the epidemiology and outcome of many diseases. This also appears to hold for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Evidence from China and Europe has suggested that mortality from COVID-19 infection is higher in men than women, but evidence from US populations is lacking. Utilizing data from a large healthcare provider, we determined if males, as compared to females have a higher likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility, and if among the hospitalized COVID-19 patients, male sex is independently associated with COVID-19 severity and poor in-hospital outcomes. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Using the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from a COVID-19 Surveillance and Outcomes Registry (CURATOR). Data were extracted from Electronic Medical Records (EMR). A total of 96,473 individuals tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in nasopharyngeal swab specimens via Polymerized Chain Reaction (PCR) tests were included. For hospital-based analyses, all patients admitted during the same time-period were included. Of the 96,473 patients tested, 14,992 (15.6%) tested positive, of whom 4,785 (31.9%) were hospitalized and 452 (9.5%) died. Among all patients tested, men were significantly older. The overall SARS-CoV-2 positivity among all tested individuals was 15.5%, and was higher in males as compared to females 17.0% vs. 14.6% [OR 1.20]. This sex difference held after adjusting for age, race, ethnicity, marital status, insurance type, median income, BMI, smoking and 17 comorbidities included in Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) [aOR 1.39]. A higher proportion of males (vs. females) experienced pulmonary (ARDS, hypoxic respiratory failure) and extra-pulmonary (acute renal injury) complications during their hospital course. After adjustment, length of stay (LOS), need for mechanical ventilation, and in-hospital mortality were significantly higher in males as compared to females. CONCLUSIONS: In this analysis of a large US cohort, males were more likely to test positive for COVID-19. In hospitalized patients, males were more likely to have complications, require ICU admission and mechanical ventilation, and had higher mortality than females, independent of age. Sex disparities in COVID-19 vulnerability are present, and emphasize the importance of examining sex-disaggregated data to improve our understanding of the biological processes involved to potentially tailor treatment and risk stratify patients.

Sociodemographic Disparities in Influenza Vaccination Among Adults With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in the United States.

Importance: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains a leading cause of death and disability in the US and worldwide. Influenza vaccination has shown to decrease overall morbidity, mortality, severity of infection, and hospital readmissions among these individuals. However, national estimates of influenza vaccination among individuals with ASCVD in the US are not well studied. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of and sociodemographic disparities in influenza vaccination among a nationally representative sample of individuals with ASCVD. Design, Setting, and Participants: Pooled Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data from 2008 to 2016 were used and included adults 40 years or older with ASCVD. Participants' ASCVD status was ascertained via self-report and/or International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnosis of coronary heart disease, peripheral artery disease, and/or cerebrovascular disease. Analysis began April 2020. Main Outcomes and Measures: Prevalence and characteristics of adults with ASCVD who lacked influenza vaccination during the past year. Covariates including age, sex, race/ethnicity, family income, insurance status, education level, and usual source of care were assessed. Results: Of 131 881 adults, 19 793 (15.7%) had ASCVD, corresponding to 22.8 million US adults annually. A total of 7028 adults with ASCVD (32.7%), representing 7.4 million adults, lacked influenza vaccination. The highest odds of lacking vaccination were observed among individuals aged 40 to 64 years (odds ratio [OR], 2.32; 95% CI, 2.06-2.62), without a usual source of care (OR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.71-2.33), without insurance (OR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.63-2.58), with a lower education level (OR, 1. 25; 95% CI, 1.12-1.40), with a lower income level (OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.01-1.27), and of non-Hispanic Black race/ethnicity (OR, 1.24, 95% CI, 1.10-1.41). A stepwise increase was found in the prevalence and odds of lacking influenza vaccination among individuals with increase in high-risk characteristics. Overall, 1171 individuals (59.7%; 95% CI, 55.8%-63.5%) with 4 or more high-risk characteristics and ASCVD (representing 732 524 US adults annually) reported lack of influenza vaccination (OR, 6.06; 95% CI, 4.88-7.53). Conclusion and Relevance: Despite current recommendations, a large proportion of US adults with established ASCVD lack influenza vaccination, with several sociodemographic subgroups having greater risk. Focused public health initiatives are needed to increase access to influenza vaccinations for high-risk and underserved populations.

Racial and ethnic disparities in SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: analysis of a COVID-19 observational registry for a diverse US metropolitan population.

INTRODUCTION: Data on race and ethnic disparities for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection are limited. We analysed sociodemographic factors associated with higher likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 infection and explore mediating pathways for race and ethnic disparities in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional analysis of the COVID-19 Surveillance and Outcomes Registry, which captures data for a large healthcare system, comprising one central tertiary care hospital, seven large community hospitals and an expansive ambulatory/emergency care network in the Greater Houston area. Nasopharyngeal samples for individuals inclusive of all ages, races, ethnicities and sex were tested for SARS-CoV-2. We analysed sociodemographic (age, sex, race, ethnicity, household income, residence population density) and comorbidity (Charlson Comorbidity Index, hypertension, diabetes, obesity) factors. Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to provide adjusted OR (aOR) and 95% CI for likelihood of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test. Structural equation modelling (SEM) framework was used to explore three mediation pathways (low income, high population density, high comorbidity burden) for the association between non-Hispanic black (NHB) race, Hispanic ethnicity and SARS-CoV-2 infection. RESULTS: Among 20 228 tested individuals, 1551 (7.7%) tested positive. The overall mean (SD) age was 51.1 (19.0) years, 62% were females, 22% were black and 18% were Hispanic. NHB and Hispanic ethnicity were associated with lower socioeconomic status and higher population density residence. In the fully adjusted model, NHB (vs non-Hispanic white; aOR, 2.23, CI 1.90 to 2.60) and Hispanic ethnicity (vs non-Hispanic; aOR, 1.95, CI 1.72 to 2.20) had a higher likelihood of infection. Older individuals and males were also at higher risk of infection. The SEM framework demonstrated a significant indirect effect of NHB and Hispanic ethnicity on SARS-CoV-2 infection mediated via a pathway including residence in densely populated zip code. CONCLUSIONS: There is strong evidence of race and ethnic disparities in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic that are potentially mediated through unique social determinants of health.

Big Data and Digital Solutions: Laying the Foundation for Cardiovascular Population Management CME.

There are huge gaps in evidence-based cardiovascular care at the national, organizational, practice, and provider level that can be attributed to variation in provider attitudes, lack of incentives for positive change and care standardization, and observed uncertainty in clinical decision making. Big data analytics and digital application platforms-such as patient care dashboards, clinical decision support systems, mobile patient engagement applications, and key performance indicators-offer unique opportunities for value-based healthcare delivery and efficient cardiovascular population management. Successful implementation of big data solutions must include a multidisciplinary approach, including investment in big data platforms, harnessing technology to create novel digital applications, developing digital solutions that can inform the actions of clinical and policy decision makers and relevant stakeholders, and optimizing engagement strategies with the public and information-empowered patients.

The Prevalence and Role of Hemoglobin Variants in Biometric Screening of a Multiethnic Population: One Large Health System's Experience.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize and quantitate hemoglobin (Hb) variants discovered during biometric hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) analyses in a large multiethnic population with a focus on the effect of variants on testing method and results. METHODS: In total, 13,913 individuals had their HbA1c measured via ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography. Samples that had a variant Hb detected or HbF fraction more than 25% underwent variant Hb characterization and confirmation by gel electrophoresis. RBC indices were also evaluated for possible concomitant thalassemia. RESULTS: Of the 13,913 individuals evaluated, 524 (3.77%) had an Hb variant. The prevalence of each variant was as follows: HbS trait (n = 396, 2.85%), HbSS disease (n = 4, 0.03%), HbC trait (n = 85, 0.61%), HbCC disease (n = 2, 0.01%), HbSC disease (n = 5, 0.04%), HbE trait (n = 18, 0.13%), HbD or G trait (n = 9, 0.06%), HbS ß-thalassemia + disease (n = 1, 0.01%), hereditary persistence of HbF (n = 2, 0.01%), and HbMontgomery trait (n = 1, 0.01%). Concomitant α-thalassemia was detected in 20 (3.82%) of the 524 individuals with an Hb variant. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents one of the largest epidemiologic investigations into the prevalence of Hb variants in a North American metropolitan, multiethnic workforce and their dependents and reinforces the importance of method selection in populations with Hb variants.

Premature coronary artery disease in systemic lupus erythematosus with extensive reocclusion following coronary artery bypass surgery.

A 21-year-old woman with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presented to the emergency room with a chief complaint of substernal chest pain and palpitations. She had undergone a four-vessel coronary artery bypass graft operation with separate saphenous vein grafts to the left anterior descending (LAD), obtuse marginal (OM) 1 and 2, and distal right coronary arteries (RCA) 8 months prior to admission. The patient underwent angiography of the coronary vessels, which showed severe diffuse disease with a long, 90% narrowing of the vein graft to the LAD and closed vein grafts to OM1 and OM2. The RCA graft showed mild diffuse disease. An intervention was done in which the LAD was stented twice with subsequent TIMI 3 flow. Advances in medical therapy and a better understanding of the disease have contributed to a dramatic improvement in the long-term survival of patients with SLE. However, despite the overall long-term improvement, coronary artery disease remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality with an incidence of approximately nine-fold greater than would be expected for this population.