The Use and Concurrent Use of Side Effect Controlling Medications Among Women on Aromatase Inhibitors.

Background: Women on aromatase inhibitors (AIs) as part of their breast cancer treatment often experience difficult to control side effects. Although there are several medications to manage the side effects of AI therapy, many of them are associated with their own risk, particularly sedation. The objective of this study was to describe the prescribing practices for side effect managing (SE) medications among women with breast cancer on AI therapy and to assess for combinations of medications that may present a clinical risk to patients. Methods: Retrospective data analysis using Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare data of all women aged 66-90 years with stage I-III hormone positive breast cancer diagnosed between 2008 and 2014 who initiated AI therapy within 12 months of their diagnosis. We determined the percentage of patients prescribed an SE medication in the 12 months prior and in the 24 months after the initiation of AI therapy. We calculated the number of prescriptions and the number of days of overlapping (i.e., >1 SE) prescriptions, and examined predictors of overlapping prescriptions. Results: The use of SE medications was pervasive and increased after initiation of AI therapy. The most commonly prescribed medications were opiates (55.1%), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (22.6%), benzodiazepines (18.4%), tramadol (17.7%) and gabapentin (14.6%). In total 15.5% of patients had overlapping prescriptions; among those, 36.2% had three overlapping prescriptions. Prior use was the strongest predictor of overlapping prescriptions with an odds ratio of 7.9 (95% confidence interval: 7.17-8.77). Conclusion: Among women on AI therapy, the use of SE medications is common and many have overlapping prescriptions raising concern for potential harm from polypharmacy.

Severe-to-fatal head injuries in motor vehicle impacts.

Severe-to-fatal head injuries in motor vehicle environments were analyzed using the United States Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network database for the years 1997-2006. Medical evaluations included details and photographs of injury, and on-scene, trauma bay, emergency room, intensive care unit, radiological, operating room, in-patient, and rehabilitation records. Data were synthesized on a case-by-case basis. X-rays, computed tomography scans, and magnetic resonance images were reviewed along with field evaluations of scene and photographs for the analyses of brain injuries and skull fractures. Injuries to the parenchyma, arteries, brainstem, cerebellum, cerebrum, and loss of consciousness were included. In addition to the analyses of severe-to-fatal (AIS4+) injuries, cervical spine, face, and scalp trauma were used to determine the potential for head contact. Fatalities and survivors were compared using nonparametric tests and confidence intervals for medians. Results were categorized based on the mode of impact with a focus on head contact. Out of the 3178 medical cases and 169 occupants sustaining head injuries, 132 adults were in frontal (54), side (75), and rear (3) crashes. Head contact locations are presented for each mode. A majority of cases clustered around the mid-size anthropometry and normal body mass index (BMI). Injuries occurred at change in velocities (DeltaV) representative of US regulations. Statistically significant differences in DeltaV between fatalities and survivors were found for side but not for frontal impacts. Independent of the impact mode and survivorship, contact locations were found to be superior to the center of gravity of the head, suggesting a greater role for angular than translational head kinematics. However, contact locations were biased to the impact mode: anterior aspects of the frontal bone and face were involved in frontal impacts while temporal-parietal regions were involved in side impacts. Because head injuries occur at regulatory DeltaV in modern vehicles and angular accelerations are not directly incorporated in crashworthiness standards, these findings from the largest dataset in literature, offer a field-based rationale for including rotational kinematics in injury assessments. In addition, it may be necessary to develop injury criteria and evaluate dummy biofidelity based on contact locations as this parameter depended on the impact mode. The current field-based analysis has identified the importance of both angular acceleration and contact location in head injury assessment and mitigation.

Prolonging the return visit interval in primary care.

PURPOSE: Extending the scheduled return visit interval has been suggested as one means to improve clinic access to the provider. However, prolonging the return visit interval may affect quality of care if prevention measures and chronic disease management receive less attention as clinic visits become less frequent. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a comprehensive education program could encourage providers to lengthen their return visit interval without compromising performance on key quality indicators. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study monitoring scheduling and performance data of primary care providers at the Milwaukee Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Following collection of baseline data (January through June 1999), providers were encouraged to lengthen the return visit interval while increasing reliance on nurses and other clinic staff for interim management of chronic disease. Provider-specific feedback of return visit interval and performance data was utilized to motivate behavioral change. Scheduling and clinical data were abstracted from random medical record audits performed at baseline and from July through December in the years 2000 and 2001. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline period, the percent of patients scheduled > or =6 months was significantly increased among staff providers and medicine residents at 2 years (Staff providers: 31% vs. 62%, P <0.001; Medicine residents: 22 vs. 44%, P <0.001). Colorectal screening, pneumonia immunizations, and achievement of therapeutic goals for diabetes, hypertension, and lipid disorders significantly improved at 2 years compared with baseline measurements. CONCLUSIONS: Educational interventions can successfully retrain providers to extend the return visit interval and reduce the scheduling of routine and perhaps unnecessary appointments. This can be accomplished without compromising important performance monitors for diabetes, lipid disorders, hypertension, and prevention.

Economic expansion is a major determinant of physician supply and utilization.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between levels of economic development and the supply and utilization of physicians. DATA SOURCES: Data were obtained from the American Medical Association, American Osteopathic Assocation, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Bureau of Health Professions, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Census Bureau, Health Care Financing Administration, and historical sources. STUDY DESIGN: Economic development, expressed as real per capita gross domestic product (GDP) or personal income, was correlated with per capita health care labor and physician supply within countries and states over periods of time spanning 25-70 years and across countries, states, and metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) at multiple points in time over periods of up to 30 years. Longitudinal data were analyzed in four complementary ways: (1) simple univariate regressions; (2) regressions in which temporal trends were partialled out; (3) time series comparing percentage differences across segments of time; and (4) a bivariate Granger causality test. Cross-sectional data were assessed at multiple time points by means of univariate regression analyses. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Under each analytic scenario, physician supply correlated with differences in GDP or personal income. Longitudinal correlations were associated with temporal lags of approximately 5 years for health employment and 10 years for changes in physician supply. The magnitude of changes in per capita physician supply in the United States was equivalent to differences of approximately 0.75 percent for each 1.0 percent difference in GDP. The greatest effects of economic expansion were on the medical specialties, whereas the surgical and hospital-based specialties were affected to a lesser degree, and levels of economic expansion had little influence on family/general practice. CONCLUSIONS: Economic expansion has a strong, lagged relationship with changes in physician supply. This suggests that economic projections could serve as a gauge for projecting the future utilization of physician services.

Objective testing and quality-of-life evaluation in surgical candidates with chronic rhinosinusitis.

BACKGROUND: Discordance has been reported between patient symptoms and objective measures of disease in chronic sinusitis, such as radiographic evaluation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between presurgical objective studies and presurgical quality of life (QOL). This work was designed as a cross-sectional study of 90 consecutive patients presenting to a tertiary rhinology practice for surgical management of sinonasal disease. METHODS: QOL assessment was performed using disease-specific instruments (Chronic Sinusitis Survey and Rhinosinusitis Disability Index). Computed tomography (CT) scans were scored according to the Lund-Mackay CT scoring system and endoscopy evaluation was scored by the system proposed by Lund and Kennedy. RESULTS: Ninety surgical candidates were enrolled and included in the analysis. Correlation between the QOL total scores and subscale scores was excellent (r = 0.39; p = 0.0001) as was the correlation between CT and endoscopy scores (r = 0.59; p = 0.0001). In contrast, correlation between QOL and objective measures was poor. These results were not significantly influenced by subgroup analysis by diagnosis, comorbidity, and other patient factors. CONCLUSION: Preoperative objective measures of CRS disease show little, if any, correlation with disease-specific QOL measures in surgical candidates. It is likely that CT and endoscopy are measuring a different aspect of CRS disease than the QOL measures. In addition, it is possible that preoperative QOL, either alone or in combination with CT and endoscopy, may prove important in selecting patients most likely to benefit from surgery.

Sexual health after spinal cord injury: a longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVES: To clarify sexuality issues after spinal cord injury (SCI) and to identify the appropriate timing of sexual health interventions. DESIGN: Longitudinal analysis of the survey responses of persons with SCI at 4 intervals between initial inpatient rehabilitation and 18 months postdischarge. SETTING: Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems inpatient center and home-based setting. PATIENTS: A volunteer sample of 40 individuals (32 men, 8 women) from a consecutive population of persons with recent SCI admitted for initial inpatient rehabilitation. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Responses to the Sexual Health Needs Survey. RESULTS: By 6 months postdischarge, individuals in the study group had made the significant changes in sexual activity and sexual interest that they would achieve during the study period. The respondents' greatest concerns remained their partners' and their own sexual satisfaction. A more realistic recognition of decline in their sexual activity, function, and interest corresponded with more requests for sexual health interventions during the interval from inpatient rehabilitation and 6 months postdischarge. CONCLUSIONS: The interval between inpatient rehabilitation to 6 months postdischarge appeared to be the critical period for function and realization about sexuality. Readily accessible sexual health interventions at about 6 months after inpatient rehabilitation and the inclusion of sexual partners in the intervention process appear warranted.

Does breast tumor location influence success of sentinel lymph node biopsy?

BACKGROUND: Controversy exists regarding the influence of sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping technique or patient variables on the success rate of SLN mapping. We undertook a prospective study in a single institution series to evaluate multiple variables that could adversely affect SLN identification rates. STUDY DESIGN: Data were collected on 174 patients who underwent 177 SLN mapping procedures followed by axillary dissection from October 1996 through January 2000. Patient demographics, body mass index (BMI), biopsy method, tumor size, palpability, and location were recorded. SLNs were identified by blue dye only (n = 31), Tc-99m sulfur colloid only (n = 34), or combined techniques (n = 112). Data were analyzed by logistic regression analysis and expressed as the probability of failure to map the SLN. RESULTS: SLNs were identified successfully in 150 of 177 procedures (85%) with a false negative rate of 3.7%. Mapping success reached 93% using combination blue dye and isotope. Variables found to adversely affect SLN mapping success and the odds ratio of failure (OR) included lower inner quadrant (LIQ) location (OR 35.6), blue dye only (OR 42.4), BMI >30 and upper outer quadrant (UOQ) location (OR 14.6), and nonpalpable UIQ location (OR 25). LIQ location adversely affects mapping success independent of technique, tumor size, or obesity. Obesity and nonpalpability were adverse factors when tumors were located in the UOQ and UIQ, respectively. Age, biopsy technique, and tumor diameter did not affect SLN mapping success. CONCLUSIONS: SLN mapping success is influenced by technique and tumor location, with best results achieved using combined techniques and for lesions located in quadrants other than the LIQ. Obesity and tumor palpability influence success in the context of tumor location.

Intracranial hemorrhage in children younger than 3 years: prediction of intent.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether certain computed tomographic imaging patterns in infants and young children with intracranial hemorrhage help predict intentional compared with unintentional injuries. DESIGN: Retrospective consecutive case series over a 10-year period. PATIENTS: Two hundred ninety-three children younger than 3 years with intracranial hemorrhage. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The sensitivity and specificity of computed tomographic imaging patterns for intentional head injury. SETTING: Regional pediatric medical center. RESULTS: Four variables used in the multiple logistic regression analysis for predicting intentional head injury were statistically significant (P<.05): subdural hematoma located over the cerebral convexities, hematoma within the interhemispheric subdural space, hygroma (nonhemic subdural fluid) with intracranial hemorrhage, and absence of a skull fracture with intracranial hemorrhage. The prediction model for the diagnosis of intentional head trauma using combinations of these 4 variables and a.45 probability cutoff point indicated a sensitivity of 84% (95% confidence interval, 78%-90%) and a specificity of 83% (95% confidence interval, 74%-89%). CONCLUSION: Computed tomographic imaging patterns of intracranial hemorrhage in children younger than 3 years help predict whether the injury was intentional.

Economic and demographic trends signal an impending physician shortage.

It is widely believed that the United States is producing too many physicians. We have approached this issue by developing a new model for workforce planning based on assessments of the macrotrends that underlie the supply and use of physician services. These trends include economic expansion, population growth, physicians' work effort, and the provision of services by nonphysician clinicians. Contrary to earlier predictions, this model projects that the United States soon will have a shortage of physicians and that if the pace of medical education remains unchanged, the shortage will become more severe. A dialogue focused on that eventuality is imperative.