Variations in structural support site failure patterns by prolapse size on stress 3D MRI.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Our objective was to develop a standardized measurement system to evaluate structural support site failures among women with anterior vaginal wall-predominant prolapse according to increasing prolapse size using stress three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Ninety-one women with anterior vaginal wall-predominant prolapse and uterus in situ who had undergone research stress 3D MRI were included for analysis. The vaginal wall length and width, apex and paravaginal locations, urogenital hiatus diameter, and prolapse size were measured at maximal Valsalva on MRI. Subject measurements were compared to established measurements in 30 normal controls without prolapse using a standardized z-score measurement system. A z-score greater than 1.28, or the 90th percentile in controls, was considered abnormal. The frequency and severity of structural support site failure was analyzed based on tertiles of prolapse size. RESULTS: Substantial variability in support site failure pattern and severity was identified, even between women with the same stage and similar size prolapse. Overall, the most common failed support sites were straining hiatal diameter (91%) and paravaginal location (92%), followed by apical location (82%). Impairment severity z-score was highest for hiatal diameter (3.56) and lowest for vaginal width (1.40). An increase in impairment severity z-score was observed with increasing prolapse size among all support sites across all three prolapse size tertiles (p < 0.01 for all). CONCLUSIONS: We identified substantial variation in support site failure patterns among women with different degrees of anterior vaginal wall prolapse using a novel standardized framework that quantifies the number, severity, and location of structural support site failures.

Utilization Impact of Cost-Sharing Elimination for Preventive Care Services: A Rapid Review.

Consumer cost-sharing has been shown to diminish utilization of preventive services. Recent efforts, including provisions within the Affordable Care Act, have sought to increase use of preventive care through elimination of cost-sharing for clinically indicated services. We conducted a rapid review of the literature to determine the impact of cost-share elimination on utilization of preventive services. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL Complete databases as well as in grey literature. A total of 35 articles were included in qualitative synthesis and findings were summarized for three clinical service categories: cancer screenings, contraceptives, and additional services. Impacts of cost-sharing elimination varied depending on clinical service, with a majority of findings showing increases in use. Studies that included socioeconomic status reported that those who were financially vulnerable incurred substantial increases in utilization. Future investigations on additional clinical services are warranted as is research to better elucidate populations who most benefit from cost-sharing elimination.

Expanding coverage for essential care during COVID-19.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic will exacerbate the financial situations of the millions of Americans who struggle to afford their medical care, but policy solutions are available to quickly mitigate this problem.

Letter--Assessing the Effectiveness of V-BID Implementations.

DISCLOSURES: No outside funding supported the writing of this letter. Fendrick discloses consulting relationships with AbbVie, Amgen, Centivo, Community Oncology Association, Department of Defense, EmblemHealth, Exact Sciences, Freedman Health, Health at Scale Technologies, Health Management Associates, Lilly, MedZed, Penguin Pay, Risalto, Sempre Health, State of Minnesota, Wellth, and Zansors and also discloses a research relationship with AHRQ, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Gary and Mary West Health Policy Center, Laura & John Arnold Foundation, National Pharmaceutical Council, PCORI, PhRMA, RWJ Foundation, and State of Michigan/CMS. Shrosbree has nothing to disclose.