Michigan Health System Research Articles

Web Exclusive. Annals for Hospitalists Inpatient Notes - How I Treat-Catheter-Related Deep Venous Thrombosis.

Web Exclusives21 May 2019Annals for Hospitalists Inpatient Notes - How I Treat—Catheter-Related Deep Venous ThrombosisVineet Chopra, MD, MScVineet Chopra, MD, MScUniversity of Michigan Health System and Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan (V.C.)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/M19-1172 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail With growing use of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs), upper-extremity deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is becoming more common. In a study of hospitalized medical patients, upper-extremity DVT accounted for half of all hospital-onset cases and most of these events were associated with PICCs (1). In a systematic review and meta-analysis, these catheters were found to be associated with a 2.5-fold risk for thrombosis compared with other central venous catheters. Of note, risk for DVT with PICCs was greater in patients with cancer and those with critical illness (2). Because hospitalists often care for and treat patients with PICCs and because ...

Life and expectations post-kidney transplant: a qualitative analysis of patient responses

BackgroundThe effect of a kidney transplant on a recipient extends beyond the restoration of kidney function. However, there is limited qualitative analysis of recipient perspectives on life following transplantation, particularly in the United States. To understand the full patient experience, it is necessary to understand recipient views on life adjustments after kidney transplantation, medical management, and quality of life. This could lead to improvements in recipient care and sense of well-being.MethodsWe conducted a paper-based survey from March 23 to October 1, 2015 of 476 kidney transplant recipients at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We analyzed their open-ended responses using qualitative research methods. This is a companion analysis to a previous quantitative report on the closed-ended responses to that survey.ResultsCommon themes relating to changes following transplantation included: improvements in quality of life, a return to normalcy, better health and more energy. Concerns included: duration of graft survival, fears about one day returning to dialysis or needing to undergo another kidney transplant, comorbidities, future quality of life, and the cost and quality of their healthcare. Many recipients were grateful for their transplant, but some were anxious about the burdens transplantation placed on their loved ones.ConclusionsWhile most recipients reported meaningful improvements in health and lifestyle after kidney transplantation, a minority of participants experienced declines in energy or health status. Worries about how long the transplant will function, future health, and cost and quality of healthcare are prevalent. Future research could study the effects of providing additional information, programs, and interventions following transplantation that target these concerns. This may better prepare and support kidney recipients and lead to improvements in the patient experience.

Platelet Activation Is Induced <i>via</i> Myeloperoxidase Production and Anti-Myeloperoxidase Antibodies Primed by Thrombin

In addition to their central role in hemostasis and thrombosis, platelets involve in inflammatory responses. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCAs) directed to myeloperoxidase (MPO-ANCAs) are the main serological markers of ANCA-associated vasculitis. The current study demonstrated that MPO-ANCAs caused normal human platelets to activate, primed by low doses of thrombin. Purified immunoglobulin G, MPO-ANCAs and their F(ab')2 fragments evidently increased the CD62P expression of platelets compared with controls. The existence of MPO in platelets was confirmed with mass spectrometry technology, after analyzing the F(ab')2 fragment pull-downed proteins. After thrombin priming, platelets not only expressed MPO on the surface with an activation-dependent manner, but also released the enzyme to extracellular space. These effects markedly enhanced the activation of platelets. Additionally, there was no apparently increased CD62P-expression on platelets in MPO-ANCAs group compared with controls when adding MPO inhibitor, proving that primed platelets have ANCA antigen at their surfaces interacting with the autoantibodies. These findings suggest a previously unappreciated character for platelets as immune cells and the autoantibodies-induced activation in an acute inflammatory disease. Funding: This study was supported by the grant from the National Key Research and Development Program (No. 2016YFC0906102), three grants from the National Natural Science Fundation of China (No. 81870478, 81425008 and 81621092) and the grant of University of Michigan Health System and Peking University Health Sciences Center Joint Institute for Translational and Clinical Research, and Program of Changjiang Scholar (BMU2017CJ002). Declaration of Interest: All the authors declared no competing interests. Ethical Approval: The study was in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the ethics committees of Peking University First Hospital.

Development and validation of a radiological diagnosis model for hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) may be useful for diagnosing hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Here, we develop and validate a radiological diagnosis model and model-based points score.Patients with interstitial lung disease seen at the University of Michigan Health System (derivation cohort) or enrolling in the Lung Tissue Research Consortium (validation cohort) were included. A thin-section, inspiratory HRCT scan was required. Thoracic radiologists documented radiological features.The derivation cohort comprised 356 subjects (33.9% hypersensitivity pneumonitis) and the validation cohort comprised 424 subjects (15.5% hypersensitivity pneumonitis). An age-, sex- and smoking status-adjusted logistic regression model identified extent of mosaic attenuation or air trapping greater than that of reticulation ("MA-AT>Reticulation"; OR 6.20, 95% CI 3.53-10.90; p<0.0001) and diffuse axial disease distribution (OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.31-4.16; p=0.004) as hypersensitivity pneumonitis predictors (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.814). A model-based score >2 (1 point for axial distribution, 2 points for "MA-AT>Reticulation") has specificity 90% and positive predictive value (PPV) 74% in the derivation cohort and specificity 96% and PPV 44% in the validation cohort. Similar model performance is seen with population restriction to those reporting no exposure (score >2: specificity 91%).When radiological mosaic attenuation or air trapping are more extensive than reticulation and disease has diffuse axial distribution, hypersensitivity pneumonitis specificity is high and false diagnosis risk low (<10%), but PPV is diminished in a low-prevalence setting.

Discussion: Plastic Surgery Complications from Medical Tourism Treated in a U.S. Academic Medical Center.

Ann Arbor, Mich. From the Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School. Received for publication October 11, 2017; accepted November 1, 2017. Disclosure:The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this Discussion or of the associated article. Kevin C. Chung, M.D., M.S., Section of Plastic Surgery, University of Michigan Health System, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, 2130 Taubman Center, SPC 5340, Ann Arbor, Mich. 48109-5340, [email protected]

(337) - Chronic overlapping pain conditions: computable phenotypes, comorbidities, and pharmacological treatments

Over 100,000 million Americans suffer with chronic pain. Sometimes, the same individual may have several different chronic pain diagnoses. It is possible that in certain individuals, a common pain mechanism can lead to pain manifesting in different bodily regions. Collectively, such diagnostic entities sharing a common pain mechanism had been referred to as chronic overlapping pain conditions (COPCs). Traditionally, pain treatments targeted peripheral nociceptive inputs associated with the bodily region where the pain was experienced; but treatment for COPCs may best target the central nervous system (CNS) where the malfunction is suspected of occurring. In addition to pain, depression and obesity are highly prevalent comorbidities for COPCs. This study aims to identify the prevalence of these comorbidities within increasing COPCs as well as the prescription of opioids versus more targeted centrally acting agents. Data was gathered through an administrative database, Data Direct, from the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS) using ICD-10 codes of the clinical phenotypes for each COPC. For most conditions, positive correlations were seen between increasing COPCs and the prevalence of depression, obesity and opioid prescription. Moreover, the percentage of patients prescribed opioids was higher than those prescribed CNS-acting drugs. These findings further emphasize the clinical under-recognition of COPCs as centralized pain states. Knowledge of the psychological comorbidities of chronic pain and implementation of guideline-based therapies may be crucial in achieving better outcomes for COPCs.

In Memoriam — Neil E. Green, MD

*Department of Orthopaedic Surgery University Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI †Department of Pediatric Orthopaedics Monroe Carrell Jr Children’s Hospital, Vanderbilt University Medical Center Reprints: Robert N. Hensinger, MD, Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery 1540 E. Hospital Drive, SPC 4241 Ann Arbor, MI 48109-4241. Email: [email protected].

Impact of Pharmacist-Conducted Comprehensive Medication Reviews for Older Adult Patients to Reduce Medication Related Problems.

Older adults are demanding increased healthcare attention with regards to prescription use due in large part to highly complex medication regimens. As patients age, medications often have a more pronounced effect on older adults, negatively impacting patient safety and increasing healthcare costs. Comprehensive medication reviews (CMRs) optimize medications for elderly patients and help to avoid inappropriate medication use. Previous literature has shown that such CMRs can successfully identify and reduce the number of medication-related problems and improve acute healthcare utilization. The purpose of this pharmacy resident research study is to examine the impact of pharmacist-conducted geriatric medication reviews to reduce medication-related problems within a leading community health system in southwest Michigan. Furthermore, the study examines type of pharmacist interventions made during medication reviews, acute healthcare utilization, and physician assessment of the pharmacist’s value. The study was conducted as a retrospective post-hoc analysis on ambulatory patients who received a CMR by a pharmacist at a primary care practice. Inclusion criteria included patients over 65 years of age with concurrent use of at least five medications who were a recent recipient of a CMR. Exclusion criteria included patients with renal failure, or those with multiple providers involved in primary care. The primary outcome was the difference in number of medication-related problems, as defined by the START and STOPP Criteria (Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment/Screening Tool of Older Persons’ Prescriptions). Secondary outcomes included hospitalizations, emergency department visits, number and type of pharmacist interventions, acceptance rate of pharmacist recommendations, and assessment of the pharmacist’s value by clinic providers. There were a total of 26 patients that received a comprehensive medication review from the pharmacist and were compared to a control group, patients that did not receive a CMR. The average patient age for both groups was 76 years old. A total of 11 medication-related problems in the intervention group patients were identified compared with 24 medication-related problems in the control group (p-value 0.002). Pharmacist-led comprehensive medication reviews were associated with a statistically significant different in the number of medication-related problems as defined by the START and STOPP criteria.

The Physical Activity Daily (PAD) Trial: The rationale and design of a randomized controlled trial evaluating an internet walking program to improve maximal walking distance among patients with peripheral arterial disease

BackgroundDespite established guidelines for regular walking as a first line therapy for adults with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), most patients do not walk routinely. This paper presents the design specifications for a randomized clinical trial to examine the effectiveness of an internet-based walking program compared to a telephone intervention, or the combination (internet-based with telephone counseling) for promotion of regular walking in patients with PAD. MethodsSedentary adults with documented lower extremity PAD are being recruited from the University of Michigan Health System and the surrounding area. Participants are randomized to one of four arms in a 2×2 factorial design: 1) telephone counseling to promote walking, 2) an internet-based walking program with tailored step-count goals, 3) the combination of telephone counseling with the internet-based walking program, or 4) waitlist control. Participants receive a 4-month intervention phase, after which all participants are followed for an additional 8months to assess long-term adherence to regular walking. Outcomes are assessed at baseline, 4 and 12months. The primary outcome is walking distance assessed through a standardized treadmill protocol. Additional outcomes include change in step-counts measured with a commercial activity tracker, pain-free walking distance, and changes in health-related quality of life from baseline to follow-up. ConclusionFinding effective and feasible programs to promote walking among PAD patients is warranted. This study will add to current evidence regarding use of internet based programs with and without telephone counseling to promote regular walking in this population.

Readmissions for Recurrent Sepsis: New or Relapsed Infection?

Sepsis hospitalizations are frequently followed by hospital readmissions, often for recurrent sepsis. However, it is unclear how often sepsis readmissions are for relapsed/recrudescent versus new infections. The aim of this study was to assess the extent to which 90-day readmissions for recurrent sepsis are due to infection of the same site and same pathogen as the initial episode. Retrospective cohort study. University of Michigan Health System. All hospitalizations (May 15, 2013 to May 14, 2015) with a principal International Classification of Diseases, Ninth revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis of septicemia (038.x), severe sepsis (995.92), or septic shock (785.52), as well as all subsequent hospitalizations and sepsis readmissions within 90 days. We determined organism and site of sepsis through manual chart abstraction. None. We identified 472 readmissions within 90 days of sepsis, of which 137 (29.1%) were for sepsis. In sepsis readmissions, the site and organisms were most commonly urinary (29.2%), gastrointestinal (20.4%), Gram negative (29.9%), Gram positive (16.8%), and culture negative (30.7%). Ninety-four readmissions (68.6%) were for infection at the same site as initial sepsis hospitalization. Nineteen percent of readmissions were confirmed to be same site and same organism. However, accounting for the uncertainty from culture-negative sepsis, as many as 53.2% of readmissions could plausibly due to infections with both the same organism and same site. Of the patients readmitted with sepsis within 90 days, two thirds had infection at the same site as their initial admission. Just 19% had infection confirmed to be from the same site and organism as the initial sepsis hospitalization. Half of readmissions were definitively for new infections, whereas an additional 34% were unclear since cultures were negative in one of the hospitalizations.

A data-driven approach to predict daily risk of Clostridium difficile infection at two large academic health centers

Abstract Background An estimated 293,300 healthcare-associated cases of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) occur annually in the United States. Prior research on risk-prediction models for CDI have focused on a small number of risk factors with the goal of developing a model that works well across hospitals. We hypothesize that risk factors are, in part, hospital-specific. We applied a generalizable machine learning approach to discovering, or “learning”, hospital-specific risk-stratification models using electronic health record (EHR) data collected during the course of patient care from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the University of Michigan Health System (UM). Methods We utilized EHR data from 115,958 adult inpatient admissions from 2012–2014 (MGH) and 258,050 adult inpatient admissions from 2010–2016 (UM) (Fig 1). We extracted patient demographics, admission details, patient history, and daily hospitalization details, resulting in 2,964 and 4,739 features in the MGH and UM models, respectively. We used L2 regularized logistic regression to learn the models and measured the discriminative performance of the models on a year of held-out data from each hospital. Results The MGH and UM models achieved AUROCs of 0.74 (CI: 0.73–0.75) and 0.77 (CI: 0.75–0.80), respectively. The relative importance of risk factors varied significantly across hospitals. In particular, in-hospital locations appeared in the set of top risk factors at one hospital and in the set of protective factors at the other. On average, both models were able to predict CDI five days in advance of clinical diagnosis (Fig 2). Conclusion We used EHR data to generate a daily estimate of the risk of CDI for each inpatient hospitalization. We applied a generalizable data-driven approach to existing data from two large institutions with different patient populations and different data formats and content. In contrast to approaches that focus on learning models that apply generally across hospitals, our proposed approach yields risk stratification models tailored to an institution’s EHR system and patient population. In turn, these hospital-specific models could allow for earlier and more accurate identification of high-risk patients. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Assessing Residents' Competency at Baseline: How Much Does the Medical School Matter?

Although there is some consensus about the competencies needed to enter residency, the actual skills of graduating medical students may not meet expectations. In addition, little is known about the association between undergraduate medical education and clinical performance at entry into and during residency. We explored the association between medical school of origin and clinical performance using a multi-station objective structured clinical examination for incoming residents at the University of Michigan Health System. Prior to assuming clinical duties, all first-year residents at the University of Michigan Health System participate in the Postgraduate Orientation Assessment (POA). This assesses competencies needed during the first months of residency. Performance data for 1795 residents were collected between 2002 and 2012. We estimated POA variance by medical school using linear mixed models. Medical school predicted the following amounts of variance in performance-data gathering scores: 1.67% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.36-2.93); assessment scores: 4.93% (95% CI 1.84-6.00); teamwork scores: 0.80% (95% CI 0.00-1.82); communication scores: 2.37% (95% CI 0.66-3.83); and overall POA scores: 4.19% (95% CI 1.59-5.35). The results show that residents' medical school of origin is weakly associated with clinical competency, highlighting a potential source of variability in undergraduate medical education. The practical significance of these findings needs further evaluation.

Interview With Sharon L. Smith, PhD, RN

Sharon L. Smith, PhD, RN is director, professional development & education, Department of Nursing Services, at University of Michigan Health System and adjunct assistant professor, University of Michigan School of Nursing, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The Content Validity of a Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Patient-Reported Outcome Measure.

To test the content validity of a 16-item version of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire-Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (QLQ-CIPN20). . Cross-sectional, prospective, qualitative design. . Six outpatient oncology clinics within the University of Michigan Health System's comprehensive cancer center in Ann Arbor. . 25 adults with multiple myeloma or breast, gynecologic, gastrointestinal, or head and neck malignancies experiencing peripheral neuropathy caused by neurotoxic chemotherapy. . Cognitive interviewing methodology was used to evaluate the content validity of a 16-item version of the QLQ-CIPN20 instrument. . Minor changes were made to three questions to enhance readability. Twelve questions were revised to define unfamiliar terminology, clarify the location of neuropathy, and emphasize important aspects. One question was deleted because of clinical and conceptual redundancy with other items, as well as concerns regarding generalizability and social desirability. . Cognitive interviewing methodology revealed inconsistencies between patients' understanding and researchers' intent, along with points that required clarification to avoid misunderstanding. . Patients' interpretations of the instrument's items were inconsistent with the intended meanings of the questions. One item was dropped and others were revised, resulting in greater consistency in how patients, clinicians, and researchers interpreted the items' meanings and improving the instrument's content validity. Following additional revision and psychometric testing, the QLQ-CIPN20 could evolve into a gold-standard CIPN patient-reported outcome measure.

Influence of smoking on aneurysm recurrence after endovascular treatment of cerebrovascular aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE Smoking is a known risk factor for aneurysm development and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, as well as subsequent vasospasm in both untreated individuals and patients who have undergone surgical clipping of cerebrovascular aneurysms. However, there is a lack of data in the current scientific literature about the long-term effects that smoking has on the integrity of endovascular repairs of cerebral aneurysms. This study was designed to determine if any smoking history increased the risk of poorer outcomes and/or aneurysm recurrence in patients who have had endovascular repair of cerebral aneurysms. METHODS The authors retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients admitted to the University of Michigan Health System from January 1999 to December 2011 with coiled aneurysms and angiography, CT angiography, or MR angiography follow-up. Patients were identified and organized based on many criteria including age, sex, smoking history, aneurysm recurrence, aneurysm location, and Hunt and Hess grade. Analysis was targeted to the patient population with a history of smoking. Bivariate chi-square tests were used to analyze the association between a positive smoking history and documented aneurysm recurrence and were adjusted for potential confounders by fitting multivariate logistic regression models of recurrence. RESULTS A total of 247 patients who had undergone endovascular treatment of 296 documented cerebral aneurysms were included in this study. The recurrence rate among all patients treated with endovascular repair was 24.3%, and the average time to the most recent follow-up imaging studies was 1.62 years. Smokers accounted for 232 aneurysms and were followed up for an average of 1.57 years, with a recurrence rate of 26.3%. Never smokers accounted for the remaining 64 aneurysms and were followed up for an average of 1.82 years, with a recurrence rate of 17.2%. Multivariate analysis revealed that, after controlling for potential confounders, a history of smoking-whether current or former-was associated with a significantly increased risk of aneurysm recurrence. The odds ratios for aneurysm recurrence for current and former smokers were 2.739 (95% CI 1.127-7.095, p = 0.0308) and 2.698 (95% CI 1.078-7.212, p = 0.0395), respectively, compared with never smokers. CONCLUSIONS A positive smoking history is associated with a significantly increased risk of aneurysm recurrence in patients who have undergone endovascular repair of a cerebral aneurysm, compared with the risk in patients who have never smoked.

Body Composition Predicts Survival in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Transarterial Chemoembolization.

PurposeThe prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is often uncertain. We aimed to utilize analytic morphomics, a high-throughput imaging analysis, to assess if body composition is predictive of post-TACE survival.Materials and MethodsWe included patients from a single center (Ann Arbor VA)who had TACE as the primary treatment forHCC and had a pre-treatment computed tomography scans. Univariate analysis and multivariate conditional inference tree analysis were utilized to identify the morphomic characteristics predictive of 1-year survival. Results were validated in an external cohort(University of MichiganHealth System) ofHCC patientswho underwent TACE as their primary treatment.ResultsIn the 75 patients in the derivation cohort, median survival was 439 (interquartile range, 377 to 685) days from receipt of TACE, with 1-year survival of 61%. Visceral fat density (VFD) was the only morphomic factor predictive of overall and 1-year survival (p < 0.001). Patients with VFD above the 56th percentile had a 1-year survival of 39% versus 78% for those below the 56th percentile. VFD also correlated with 1-year survival in the external validation cohort (44% vs. 72%, p < 0.001). In a secondary analysis, patients with higher VFD were significantly more likely to experience hepatic decompensation after TACE (p < 0.001).ConclusionVFD served as an objective predictor of mortality in patients undergoing TACE, possibly through its ability to predict hepatic decompensation. VFD may serve as a radiographic biomarker in predicting TACE outcomes.

Evaluation of Feedback Systems for the Third-Year Surgical Clerkship

To compare faculty-to-student feedback rates from 2 different data sets: direct observation cards (direct evidence) and end-of-clerkship questionnaires (ECQs, secondary student reporting). We as authors hypothesized that direct evidence from observation cards would yield higher rates of feedback, compared with student-reported ECQs. Data were gathered from 2 consecutive medical classes of the third-year surgical clerkship. Data were analyzed retrospectively. Subjects and authors were blinded during data collection and analysis. University of Michigan Medical School (UMMS) and University of Michigan Health System (UMHS). UMHS is an academic tertiary care center, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Data were gathered from all third-year medical students completing the surgical clerkship from 2012 to 2014. Data were available for 309 students, compared to 313 students who graduated from UMMS during that time. Directly measured rates of feedback showed higher rates of midclerkship feedback (95.43% vs 83.57%, p < 0.05), feedback on an observed history-taking (97.62% vs 84.87%, p < 0.05), and feedback on an observed physical examination (99.67% vs 79.71%, p < 0.05), when compared with the ECQ. These data suggest that solely using ECQs to assess feedback rates may be inadequate. The use of multiple methods to assess feedback may therefore be a prudent choice for surgical clerkships.

Understanding type 2 diabetes mellitus screening practices among primary care physicians: a qualitative chart-stimulated recall study

BackgroundEarly diagnosis and treatment of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) can prevent future health problems, yet many individuals with these conditions are undiagnosed. This could be due, in part, to primary care physicians’ (PCP) screening practices, about which little is known. The objectives of this study were to identify factors that influence PCPs’ decisions to screen patients for T2DM and to characterize their interpretation and communication of screening test results to patients.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured chart-stimulated recall interviews with 20 University of Michigan Health System (UMHS) primary care physicians. PCPs were asked about their recent decisions to screen or not screen 134 purposively sampled non-diabetic patients who met American Diabetes Association criteria for screening for T2DM. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative directed content analysis. Data on patient demographic characteristics and comorbidities were abstracted from the electronic health record.ResultsThe most common reasons PCPs gave for not screening 63 patients for T2DM were knowledge of a previously normal screening test (49%) and a visit for reasons other than a health maintenance examination (48%). The most common reasons PCPs gave for screening 71 patients for T2DM were knowledge of a previously abnormal screening test (49%), and patients’ weight (42%) and age (38%). PCPs correctly interpreted 89% of screening test results and communicated 95% of test results to patients. Among 24 patients found to have prediabetes, PCPs usually (58%) recommended weight loss and increased physical activity but never recommended participation in a Diabetes Prevention Program or use of metformin.ConclusionsPrevious screening test results, visit types, and patients’ weight and age influenced PCPs’ decisions to screen for T2DM. When patients were screened, test results were generally correctly interpreted and consistently communicated. Recommendations to patients with prediabetes could better reflect evidence-based strategies to prevent T2DM.

Evaluation of a pharmacist-led outpatient direct oral anticoagulant service.

The impact of a pharmacist-led direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) service on prescription appropriateness and patient adherence was simultaneously evaluated. In this retrospective analysis, patients age 18 years or older for whom a DOAC was prescribed from September 20, 2013, through December 31, 2014, were identified through electronic medical record review of all DOAC prescriptions within the University of Michigan Health System. Patients had their DOAC therapy managed by a pharmacist-led DOAC service or by their physician (usual care). Primary endpoints included the percentage of patients who had appropriate DOAC therapy prescribed at baseline and at follow-up appointments at 3-6 months. Secondary endpoints included mean medication possession ratios (MPRs). A total of 258 patients were included in the study, with 129 in each group. Patients in the pharmacist-led DOAC service were significantly more likely to have an appropriate combination of DOAC and dosage prescribed for their indication at baseline compared with the usual care group (p = 0.009), a finding that persisted at follow up (p = 0.016). There was no significant difference between groups in the number of patients determined to have an appropriate DOAC prescribed for an approved indication (independent of dose) in the pharmacist-led service (95.3%) versus usual care (93.0%) at baseline. Patients in the pharmacist-led service had a greater mean adjusted MPR compared with the usual care group (p = 0.0014) over a median follow-up period of 248 days. A pharmacist-led DOAC service increased appropriate dosing of DOACs at baseline and follow up as well as patient adherence to therapy.

The relationship between diabetes mellitus and 30-day readmission rates

BackgroundIt is estimated that 9.3% of the population in the United States have diabetes mellitus (DM), 28% of which are undiagnosed. The high prevalence of DM makes it a common comorbid condition in hospitalized patients. In recent years, government agencies and healthcare systems have increasingly focused on 30-day readmission rates to determine the complexity of their patient populations and to improve quality. Thirty-day readmission rates for hospitalized patients with DM are reported to be between 14.4 and 22.7%, much higher than the rate for all hospitalized patients (8.5–13.5%). The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the incidence and causes of 30-day readmission rates for patients with diabetes listed as either the primary reason for the index admission or with diabetes listed as a secondary diagnosis compared to those without DM and (2) evaluate the impact on readmission of two specialized inpatient DM services: the Hyperglycemic Intensive Insulin Program (HIIP) and Endocrine Consults (ENDO).MethodsFor this study, DM was defined as any ICD-9 discharge diagnosis (principal or secondary) of 250.xx. Readmissions were defined as any unscheduled inpatient admission, emergency department (ED) visit, or observation unit stay. We analyzed two separate sets of patient data. The first pilot study was a retrospective chart review of all patients with a principle or secondary admission diagnosis of diabetes admitted to any adult service within the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS) between October 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013. We then did further uncontrolled analysis of the patients with a principal admitting diagnosis of diabetes. The second larger retrospective study included all adults discharged from UMHS between October 1, 2013 and September 30, 2014 with principal or secondary discharge diagnosis of DM (ICD-9-CM: 250.xx).ResultsIn the pilot study of 7763 admissions, the readmission rate was 26% for patients with DM and 22% for patients without DM. In patients with a primary diagnosis of DM on index admission, the most common cause for readmission was DM-related. In the larger study were 37,702 adult inpatient discharges between October 1, 2013 and September 30, 2014. Of these, 20.9% had DM listed as an encounter diagnosis. Rates for all encounters (inpatient, ED and Observation care) were 24.3% in patients with DM compared to 17.7% in those without DM (p < 0.001). The most common cause for readmission in patients with DM as a secondary diagnosis to the index admission was infection-related.During the index hospital stay, only a small proportion of patients with DM (approximately 12%) received any DM service consult. Those who received a DM consult had a higher case mix index compared to those who did not. Despite the higher acuity, there was a lower rate of ED /observation readmission in patients followed by the DM services (6.6% HIIP or ENDO vs. 9.6% no HIIP or ENDO, p = 0.0012), though no difference in the inpatient readmission rates (17.6% HIIP or ENDO vs. 17.4% no HIIP or ENDO, p = 0.89) was noted.ConclusionsPatients with both a primary or secondary diagnosis of DM have higher readmission rates. The reasons for readmission vary; patients with a principal diagnosis of DM have more DM related readmissions and those with secondary diagnosis having more infection-related readmissions. DM services were used in a small proportion of patients and may have contributed to lower DM related ED revisits. Further prospective studies evaluating the role of these services in terms of glucose management, patient education and outpatient follow up on readmission are needed to identify interventions important to reducing readmission rates.