Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center Research Articles

Diabetes Basic Training Program: Empowering Veterans for Wellness.

Diabetes impacts 1 in 4 patients in the Veterans Health Administration and is associated with serious negative health consequences in addition to high health care system utilization and cost. The Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center developed Diabetes Basic Training, a 9-week intervention that blends medical consultation with group support and training in self-management strategies for enhancing patient motivation and empowerment. Diabetes Basic Training combined 3 monthly shared medical appointments and 6 Diabetes Self-Management Program sessions led in part by trained peers with diabetes. Diabetes Self-Management Program sessions focus on educating patients on diabetes and self-management tools and encourage active practice in building self-management skills and confidence. During shared medical appointments, a clinical psychologist or psychology postdoctoral fellow skilled in motivational interviewing facilitated the group to enhance patient motivation and empowerment for improved diabetes self-management. This novel program combined 2 types of group appointments to provide veterans with access to health care professionals and education on diabetes self-management. Preliminary results suggest the need for larger studies and that these programs may be beneficial in a veteran population.

Endovascular Therapy for Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Proposed Algorithm.

Endovascular Therapy for Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Proposed Algorithm.

Impact of Pharmacy-Directed Medication Management for Patients Experiencing Falls in a Veterans Affairs Community Living Center.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze medication interventions prior to and following implementation of the Pharmacy Medication Related Falls Risk Assessment consult service in an older adult population. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: This study involved patients admitted to the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center's (VAMC) Community Living Center (CLC), an institutional practice setting. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS: Any patient who experienced a fall while admitted to the CLC during fiscal years 2013 or 2018 was considered for inclusion. Patients were excluded if falls were not evaluated by a provider, the patient expired within 10 days after falling, or falls in fiscal year 2018 that did not have a pharmacy consult placed. Fifty falls from each fiscal year were selected. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary endpoint encompassed the number of pharmacy medication interventions made within 10 days postfall, with a secondary endpoint evaluating subsequent falls within 30 days of initial event. RESULTS: Following consult implementation, a larger number of pharmacist recommendations (40 vs. 123) and subsequent interventions (accepted recommendations) within ten days postfall (12 vs. 49) were completed. There were 14 subsequent falls within 30 days of the initial event for both fiscal years. A larger percentage of falls and patients experiencing falls from each fiscal year did not receive previous medication interventions. CONCLUSION: Consult implementation increased the number of pharmacist recommendations and subsequent interventions for patients within ten days postfall, reducing the risk of adverse effects, drug-drug interactions, subsequent falls, and polypharmacy.

Evaluation of the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center Hospital-in-Home Program.

To examine hospital readmissions, costs, mortality, and nursing home admissions of veterans who received Hospital-in-Home (HIH) services. Retrospective cohort study. Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). Study cohort included veterans who received HIH services as an alternative to inpatient care between October 1, 2012, and November 30, 2015, and non-HIH veterans who were hospitalized for similar conditions in the Cincinnati VAMC during the same period. We identified 138 veterans who used HIH services and 694 non-HIH veterans. HIH veterans received hospital-equivalent care at home. Non-HIH veterans received traditional inpatient services in the Cincinnati VAMC. Total costs of care for treating an acute episode (HIH services vs inpatient) and likelihood of hospital readmission, death, or nursing home admission within 30 days of discharge from HIH services or hospitalization. Average per person costs were $7,792 for HIH services and $10,960 for traditional inpatient care (P<0.001). HIH veterans were less likely to use a nursing home within 30 days of discharge (3.1%) than non-HIH veterans (12.6%) (P<0.001). Thirty-day readmission rates and mortality were not statistically different between HIH and non-HIH veterans. The substitutive HIH model implemented in the Cincinnati VAMC delivered acute services in veterans' homes at lower cost and with lower likelihood of postdischarge nursing home use. Broader implementation of this innovative delivery model may benefit older adults in need of care while reducing healthcare system costs.

Therapeutic paralysis in Veterans with COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common disorder of Veterans that causes significant morbidity and mortality. To measure Veterans' perceptions about COPD, the effect of COPD on their lives and health, and their needs for improved health, we performed a postal survey. 3263 Veterans with a diagnosis of COPD who received care at the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center in 2008 were stratified into quintiles by Veterans Health Administration-associated COPD healthcare cost and uniformly sampled. 493 of 1000 surveys (49%) were completed and returned. COPD had different effects on respondents in top and bottom quintiles (highest and lowest COPD-related cost) for: knowledge of COPD diagnosis (89% vs. 73%, p = 0.03); activities affected by breathing, including work (69% vs. 45%), recreation (85% vs. 62%), change in living arrangements (36% vs 16%), and increased need for help (54% vs. 25%) (p < 0.05 for all comparisons); emotional effect of respiratory symptoms, including depression (53% vs. 30%), fear (41% vs. 15%), and helplessness (49% vs. 24%) (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). 91% of Veterans were prescribed inhalers and one-quarter had difficulties using them. 25% of Veterans did nothing when they had symptoms of an exacerbation. COPD has profound effects on Veterans' breathing related activities and generates many negative emotions. Primary care providers are critical in conveying the diagnosis of COPD and providing information about the disease and its management. Veterans with COPD adhere poorly to their medications, and report little instruction about COPD or its management.

Provider Recognition and Response to Echocardiographic Findings Indicating Pulmonary Hypertension in the Veterans Affairs Medical Center Population

PH occurs alone or in association with many disorders. Many patients with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) findings suggesting PH never receive additional evaluation. Patient characteristics and echocardiographic data associated with increased recognition of PH have not been fully evaluated. We evaluated TTE reports at the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center from 2005 to 2006 retrospectively for findings highly indicative of PH: Estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) ≥40 mmHg, increased right atrial or right ventricular (RV) size, or reduced RV function. Only patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥50% and no known diagnosis of PH were included. Patient characteristics, TTE findings, provider recognition rates, and subsequent referral for additional evaluation were assessed. A total of 227 of 3,960 (5.7%) TTE reports revealed findings indicating possible PH. Providers acknowledged possible PH in 53 (23.4%) reports. Recognized PH was predicted by increased RV size (odds ratio (OR) = 5.07, P < 0.001), increased right atrial dimension (OR = 6.45, P < 0.001), decreased RV function (OR = 8.86, P < 0.001), and increased PAP (OR = 1.04 corresponding to each unit increase of PAP, P < 0.01). Patients with comorbid obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), interstitial lung disease, and dyspnea were also more likely to be recognized (OR = 3.63, P = 0.021; OR = 10.98, P = 0.004; OR = 2.39, P = 0.007, respectively). The 12-month mortality rate for recognized patients, 11.3% (7/53), was lower than for unrecognized patients, 25.3% (44/174; P = 0.03). Providers recognized less than one in four patients with echocardiographic evidence suggesting PH. Echocardiography reports revealing higher PAP and right heart dilation and dysfunction are associated with increased acknowledgement of possible PH.

Cigarette Smokers Have Reduced Risk for PostDural Puncture Headache

Background: Although headache is the most common complication of dural puncture, knowledge gaps remain about patient-related risks. Data are lacking on the role, if any, of tobacco smoking, race, anxiety, depression, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in conferring risk for post-dural puncture headache (PDPH). Objective: To determine the influence of tobacco smoking, race, anxiety, depressed mood, and PTSD on the risk for PDPH. Study Design: Retrospective chart review, single site. Methods: We determined the incidence of significant PDPH according to age, sex, race, smoking status, and psychiatric diagnosis in 153 consecutive research patients at the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center who had continuous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sampling performed after using a largebore (17 gauge) Tuohy needle to place a 20-gauge polyamide catheter in the lumbar spinal canal. Results: Thirty-nine subjects (25.5%) had significant PDPH, defined as requiring an epidural blood patch for therapy (an average of 4 days post-procedure). Greater age was associated with a decreased risk of PDPH (P = 0.008); subjects over the age of 40 had the lowest incidence (15.7%). Women and men had a 31.4% and 23.7% incidence of PDPH, respectively; these were not significantly different (P = 0.38). Neither were rates of PDPH in Caucasians (28.0%) and AfricanAmericans (15.6%) significantly different (P = 0.18). Healthy controls had a higher incidence of PDPH than patients with PTSD (P = 0.032). Smokers had a lower incidence of PDPH than nonsmokers, 13.7% vs. 34.1% (P = 0.009). Limitations: This was not a prospective study, rather a retrospective chart review. Conclusion: Most notably, smokers had a considerably reduced rate of PDPH in comparison with non-smokers. This information could be a useful addition to the clinical assessment of relative risk for PDPH. Further research into the mechanisms by which tobacco smoking may inhibit PDPH, such as nicotine stimulation of dopamine neurotransmission or alterations in coagulation, appears warranted. Key words: Anxiety, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), epidural blood patch, headache, lumbar puncture, pain, post-dural puncture headache, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), race, tobacco, Tuohy needle

Efficacy and safety of eco-friendly inhalers: focus on combination ipratropium bromide and albuterol in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BackgroundChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and its treatment is critical to improve quality of life, reduce symptoms, and diminish the frequency of COPD exacerbations. Due to the harmful environmental effects of pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) containing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), newer systems for delivering respiratory medications have been developed.MethodsA search of the literature in the PubMed database was undertaken using the keywords “COPD,” “albuterol,” “ipratropium bromide,” and “Respimat® Soft Mist Inhaler™”; pertinent references within the identified citations were included. The environmental effect of CFC-pMDIs, the invention of the Respimat® Soft Mist Inhaler™ (SMI) (Boehringer Ingelheim, Ingelheim, Germany), and its use to deliver the combination of albuterol and ipratropium bromide for the treatment of COPD were reviewed.ResultsThe adverse environmental effects of CFC-pMDIs stimulated the invention of novel delivery systems including the Respimat SMI. This review presents its development, internal mechanism, and use to deliver the combination of albuterol and ipratropium bromide.ConclusionCFC-pMDIs contributed to the depletion of the ozone layer and the surge in disorders caused by harmful ultraviolet B radiation. The banning of CFCs spurred the development of novel delivery systems for respiratory medications. The Respimat SMI is an innovative device that produces a vapor of inhalable droplets with reduced velocity and prolonged aerosol duration that enhance deposition within the lower airway and is associated with improved patient satisfaction. Clinical trials have demonstrated that the Respimat SMI can achieve effects equivalent to pMDIs but with lower medication doses. The long-term safety and efficacy remain to be determined. The Respimat SMI delivery device is a novel, efficient, and well-received system for the delivery of aerosolized albuterol and ipratropium bromide to patients with COPD; however, the presence of longer-acting, less frequently dosed respiratory medications provide patients and providers with other therapeutic options.

Clinical Characteristics, Comorbidities, and Response to Treatment of Veterans With Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 2005-2007

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder that is associated with significant morbidity. Veterans may be at an elevated risk for OSA because of increased prevalence of factors associated with the development and progression of OSA. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical characteristics, comorbidities, polysomnographic findings, and response to treatment of veterans with OSA. We performed a retrospective chart review of 596 patients undergoing polysomnography at the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center from February 2005 through December 2007. We assessed potential correlations of clinical data with polysomnography findings and response to treatment. Polysomnography demonstrated OSA in 76% of patients; 30% had mild OSA, 23% moderate OSA, and 47% severe OSA. Increasing body mass index, neck circumference, Epworth Sleepiness Scale score, hypertension, congestive heart failure, and type 2 diabetes correlated with increasing OSA severity. Positive airway pressure treatment was initiated in 81% of veterans with OSA, but only 59% reported good adherence to this treatment method. Of the patients reporting good adherence, a greater proportion of those with severe OSA (27%) than with mild or moderate disease (0%-12%) reported an excellent response to treatment. The prevalence of metabolic and cardiovascular comorbidities increased with increasing OSA severity. Only 59% of treated patients reported good adherence to treatment with positive airway pressure, and response to treatment correlated with OSA severity.

HbA1c for the Diagnosis of Diabetes and Prediabetes: Is It Time for a Mid-Course Correction?

For article see page 5289 This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Merit Award 5I01CX000121-02), the Ursich Family Award, and the Michigan Diabetes Research and Training Center (National Institutes of Health Grant DK020572). Disclosure Summary: R.M.C. has served as a consultant for Roche Diagnostics. S.H. and W.H.H. have nothing to declare. Abbreviations: FPG, Fasting plasma glucose; HbA1c, hemoglobin A1c; RBC, red blood cell.

Validation of the name Pneumocystis wakefieldiae

ADDENDUM When the name Pneumocystis wakefieldiae was proposed by us (Cushion et al 2004), we designated as type cryopreserved samples deposited at both the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, without indicating which was the holotype. Unfortunately this contravention of Art. 37.6 of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (Greuter et al 2000) invalidated the name as a botanical (i.e. fungal) name. In addition, Art. 37.3 could be invoked because of some ambiguity in the number of isolates resulting from the pending ATCC number. We explicitly designate the holotype and location of deposit to validate the name.

Treatment Outcome of an Outpatient Treatment Program for Dually-Diagnosed Veterans: The Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center

The Dual Diagnosis Clinic at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center is an integrated treatment program for veterans who have an Axis I psychiatric illness in addition to a substance dependence problem. With a high staff-to-patient ratio and an individualized approach, the DOC treats many dual diagnosis patients effectively. To demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach. an outcome study was conducted looking at the psychiatric emergency room visits, hospitalization rates, and the average length of stay for 557 DOC patients. Patients were divided into two groups: those who completed the assessment period, and those who did not. Equal periods of time before and after this assessment period were studied. Those who completed were more likely to have had fewer psychiatric emergency room visits (p<0.000001) after the assessment period than before when compared to dropouts. The engaged group had the same or more hospital admissions after the assessment period than before, while the dropout group had fewer. This suggests that there is a significant disorder of engagement for the dual diagnosis populations, and that the first impact of successful treatment is engagement.

Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Deteriorating Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

To evaluate the effectiveness of simple clinical variables and radionuclide ventriculogram in separating those patients with isolated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from those with COPD and coexisting left ventricular dysfunction (LVD). Retrospective record review of 77 patients with increasing dyspnea, defined as recent deterioration in exercise tolerance, new use of corticosteroids, or recent hospital admission for COPD; referred to the outpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program at the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center from July 1987 to October 1992. Outpatient medical clinic. Veterans who were referred to the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program. History and physical findings, pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gases, distance achieved in a 12-min walk, dyspnea score, electrocardiogram, chest radiograph, and radionuclide multigated ventriculography. Twenty-five of 77 patients evaluated in the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program for increasing dyspnea were functionally more limited (12-min walk 10.4 vs 13.9 laps; MRC score 2.68 vs 2.06; p < 0.05) and had left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) (left ventricular ejection fraction < 40%) associated with wall motion abnormalities on radionuclide ventriculogram. Careful standard clinical evaluation did not separate those patients with COPD from those with both COPD and LVD. LVD was found in 32% of patients with COPD presenting with symptomatic deterioration. Since the therapeutic approach to these two disorders differs, the identification of patients with LVD is important. Prospective studies are needed to identify the most cost-effective approach to this problem of coexisting disease and to evaluate the benefit from therapy.

Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia

Even with the availability of highly effective drugs that can prevent Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), this infection continues to be the greatest single defining illness of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Despite significant progress over the last decade in our knowledge about the diagnosis and treatment of this infection, the fact that so much of the basic biology and epidemiology of P. carinii remains unknown continues to be a source of frustration to scientists working with this parasite. Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia, edited by Peter D. Walzer, M.D., Chief of the Infectious Diseases Section of the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center, documents both the recent progress in our knowledge as well as the continued frustration (based principally on our inability to culture the organism) that this new knowledge has come so haltingly and at such high cost.The volume contains 31 chapters written by leading authorities on PCP.It is divided into six parts: basic biology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment and prevention.

Natural History of Claudicants with Critical Hemodynamic Indices

We reviewed the records of approximately 1,500 patients seen in the Vascular Laboratory of the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center from 1980 to 1987 and identified 23 patients (25 limbs) who met all of the following criteria: 1) an ankle/brachial index less than or equal to 0.35; 2) an ankle or transmetatarsal pulse volume recording less than or equal to 3 mm in amplitude; and 3) no history of ischemic rest pain or gangrene. These patients were followed in the Vascular Laboratory for periods ranging from 11 to 127 months (mean 45.2 months). The study was terminated in March 1991 or when revascularization or amputation was required for limb-threatening symptoms or if the patient expired. Thirteen extremities (52%) showed no progression to limb-threatening symptoms. Claudication actually improved in three, remained unchanged in eight, and progressed in two. Twelve (48%) extremities developed limb-threatening conditions, with rest pain occurring in three, ischemic ulceration in six and gangrene in three. Eight of these limbs underwent revascularization and only one ultimately required major amputation. Another extremity presented with extensive gangrene and underwent a primary above-knee amputation. Three other patients did not undergo revascularization because of death in one and refusal in two others. Patients with intermittent claudication who have critical hemodynamic indices are at much greater risk for developing symptomatic limb-threatening ischemia. Close follow-up is mandatory since nearly half of these patients will eventually require operation for limb salvage. Patients who are unlikely to comply with a regular follow-up program may be considered for early revascularization to prevent complications of limb-threatening ischemia.