Health Care Utilization Outcomes Research Articles

Antenatal Healthcare Utilization and Maternal Health Outcomes in Rural African Setting: Evidence from Tanzania

Antenatal Healthcare Utilization and Maternal Health Outcomes in Rural African Setting: Evidence from Tanzania

End-of-life (EOL) outcomes and healthcare utilization for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who received immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI).

560 Background: ICI is standard of care treatment for advanced HCC. EOL outcomes for patients with HCC who receive ICI prior to death are unknown. We examine relationships between EOL outcomes, healthcare utilization, and receipt of ICI for patients with advanced HCC referred to our tertiary center. Methods: Patients with advanced HCC evaluated at our center on or after January 1, 2020 and who died by March 29, 2024 were included. Patients were identified using diagnostic codes for liver cancer and HCC, and subsequently verified by manual review of the electronic health record. Demographic data, Child-Pugh (CP) status, and treatment history were collected. Primary EOL outcomes include: documentation of advance directives and goals of care (GOC) conversations, location of death, palliative care referral, hospice referral, days in hospice, and code status. Secondary healthcare utilization outcomes include: systemic therapy receipt, emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalization, and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions within 14, 30, and 90 days of death. Outcomes were stratified by ICI or non-ICI as last therapy received and p-values were derived using Pearson’s chi-square test for equality of proportions. Results: Of 221 evaluated patients, 71 died and met criteria for analysis. Baseline characteristics include mean age 64.1 years, 70.8% male, 71.8% received systemic treatment (median 1 line, range [1-7]), 54.1% CPA, 37.5% CPB, and 8.3% CPC at the time of last treatment. No statistically significant differences in primary EOL outcomes were detected when stratified by receipt of ICI or non-ICI as last therapy. Median days enrolled in hospice were not statistically significant between groups (24.5 days [non-ICI] vs 10 days [ICI]; p = 0.39). A higher proportion of patients who received ICI as last therapy had increased healthcare utilization across all outcomes (see Table). Conclusions: Patients with advanced HCC receiving ICI as their last treatment before death compared to those receiving non-ICI had similar EOL outcomes but higher healthcare utilization. This may be due to increased real-world use of ICI in CPB patients. Further investigation into risk stratification to predict high healthcare utilizers could guide decision-making and conversations around ongoing use of ICI, particularly near the EOL. Healthcare utilization outcomes stratified by receipt of ICI. Outcome Before Death n = 71 90 days 30 days 14 days Therapy within Total: Last therapy ICI 33/71 (46.5%)69.7% 18/71 (25.4%)66.7% 6/71 (8.5%)33.3% ED visit Total: Last therapy ICI 29/71 (40.8%)58.6% 27/71 (38.0%)55.6% 22/71 (30.1%)59.1% Hospitalization Total: Last therapy ICI 32/71 (45.1%)59.4% 30/71 (42.3%)56.6% 29/71 (40.8%)58.6% ICU admission Total: Last therapy ICI 6/71 (8.5%)66.7% 6/71 (8.5%)66.7% 6/71 (8.5%)66.7%

Socioeconomic disparities and trends in the utilization of regional and neuraxial anesthesia for pediatric femur fracture repair.

Pediatric femur fractures often necessitate surgical intervention, with pain management being critical for both immediate and long-term outcomes. Peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) and neuraxial techniques are effective in providing targeted pain relief while minimizing systemic opioid exposure. Despite their benefits, the utilization of these anesthesia techniques in pediatric orthopedic surgeries is limited, particularly among socioeconomically disadvantaged patients. This study aims to evaluate the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and the use of regional and neuraxial anesthesia in pediatric femur fracture repairs, focusing on healthcare resource utilization (HRU) outcomes such as hospital length of stay (LOS), total hospital charges, and discharge disposition. Using the 2016-2020 NIS database, we identified 43,605 pediatric patients who underwent femur fracture repair. Only 1 % received PNB, and 0.1 % received spinal block (SB). Our analysis revealed that PNB was less likely to be administered to patients from lower SES backgrounds, those with subtrochanteric fractures, or those requiring delayed repair. Conversely, PNB was associated with reduced HRU, while SB was linked to increased HRU. The findings underscore significant disparities in the application of regional anesthesia, influenced by socioeconomic factors. Our study highlights the need for standardized guidelines and interventions to address these disparities, ensuring equitable access to effective pain management techniques in pediatric orthopedic care. Further research is warranted to understand the barriers to the utilization of PNB and to develop strategies to enhance its adoption, particularly among underserved populations.

P-30. Herpes Zoster Burden among US Adults with Immunocompromising or Comorbid Conditions: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract Background Prior to and since the availability of herpes zoster (HZ) vaccines, the burden of HZ has been summarized across select US patient populations, including those with comorbidities, autoimmune disorders (AID), or immunocompromising (IC) conditions. However, these studies tended to focus on disease incidence, lacked comparisons across multiple conditions, and generally did not include healthcare utilization and cost outcomes associated with HZ. Consequently, this study sought to summarize HZ burden in terms of epidemiology, health outcomes, health care resource utilization and costs, and humanistic impact among those with AID, IC conditions, or comorbidities in the US.Table.Incremental Health Care Costs for Patients with Herpes Zoster among Adults with AID, IC, or Common Comorbid ConditionsAID = autoimmune disorders; CI = confidence interval;IC = immunocompromising , USD ($) = United States dollar; NR = not reported; PPPM = per patient per month; PPPQ = per patient per quarter (3-month period); PPPY = per patient per year Methods This systematic literature review involved 3 separate searches to identify studies published since 2012 reporting on the epidemiology, economic burden, and humanistic burden of HZ in US adults with AID, IC conditions, or common comorbidities. Methods followed those recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration and involved searches within Embase, MEDLINE, proceedings from relevant conferences (2021 to 2023), and the CDC website. Study selection was carried out by 2 independent reviewers and data were extracted from the included studies by 1 reviewer and validated by a second reviewer.Figure 1.PRISMA Flow Diagram: Epidemiological Study SelectionSLR = systematic literature review Results The final review included 51 epidemiological studies (Figure 1), 18 economic analyses (Figure 2), and no publications on humanistic burden. Extensive evidence on HZ incidence was observed across 26 individual AID, IC, or common conditions, with the highest rates among those with hematological malignancies or stem cell transplant recipients. Limited evidence on HZ-related mortality or the prevalence of other HZ-related complications was observed in AID and IC populations. Economic burden of HZ varied considerably by underlying condition(s) (Table) with the majority of incremental costs and resource utilization observed within the first month following HZ diagnosis, primarily driven by inpatient care.Figure 2.PRISMA Diagram: Economic Study SelectionSLR = systematic literature review Conclusion HZ burden is considerable among adults with AID, IC, and/or common comorbid conditions. The observed risk for and burden of HZ reinforces the need to expand vaccination coverage among adults in these patient populations. FUNDING: GSK (VEO-000677) Disclosures Justin Gatwood, PhD, MPH, AstraZeneca: Grant/Research Support|Genentech: Advisor/Consultant|GSK: Employment|GSK: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company)|Merck & Co.: Advisor/Consultant|Merck & Co.: Grant/Research Support Sophie Dodman, BSc, Evidera (part of Thermo Fisher): Employee Aiswarya Shree, MSc, Evidera (part of Thermo Fisher): Employee Bhanu Inuganti, MSc, Evidera (part of Thermo Fisher): Employee Carol A. Forbes, PhD, Evidera (part of Thermo Fisher): Employee|Evidera (part of Thermo Fisher): Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Nikita Stempniewicz, MSc, GSK: Employment|GSK: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company)

Health and Health Care Utilization Outcomes for Individuals With Traumatic Brain Injury: A 1-Year Longitudinal Study.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result in new onset of comorbidities and limited studies suggest health care utilization following TBI may be high. Setting, Participants, Mean Measures, and Design: This study used 2018 and 2019 MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters data to examine differences in longitudinal health outcomes (health care utilization and new diagnoses) by various demographic factors (age, sex, U.S. region, intent/mechanism of injury, urbanicity, and insurance status) among individuals with and without a TBI in the year following an index health care encounter. Results show that within 1 year of the initial encounter, a higher percentage of patients with TBI versus without TBI had at least one outpatient visit (96.7% vs 86.1%), emergency department (ED) visit (28.5% vs 13.1%), or hospital admission (6.4% vs 2.6%). Both children (33.8% vs 23.4%) and adults (43.8% vs 31.4%) who sustained a TBI had a higher percentage of new diagnoses within 1 year compared to the non-TBI group. Additionally, individuals with a TBI had greater health care utilization across all types of health care settings (outpatient and inpatient), visits (ED visits and hospital admissions), and across all demographic factors (P <.001). These results may inform future research around the development of systems of care to improve longer-term outcomes in individuals with TBI.

Improved healthcare utilization and economic outcomes of chronic subdural hematoma treatment with middle meningeal artery embolization compared to conventional surgical drainage.

Middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) emerges as an alternative to conventional surgical drainage (CSD) for chronic subdural hematomas (cSDH). Several studies have suggested that MMAE improves the cost efficacy of cSDH treatment. However, further comprehensive analyses of the outcomes and healthcare costs of MMAE are necessary. Merative MarketScan Research Database from 2017-2022 was used to compare demographics, reoperation rates, complications, healthcare utilization, and payments of patients being treated with CSD, CSD and adjunctive MMAE, or standalone MMAE for cSDH or nontraumatic subdural hemorrhage. From 2017-2022, there were 2108 patients who underwent CSD (n = 2015), or CSD+MMAE (n = 23) or MMAE only (n = 70). The median age of the surgical group was 61 years (IQR 53-73 years), the surgery plus MMAE was 67 years (56-77 years) and the MMAE group was 65 years (55-77 years). Median hospital days were significantly longer for the CSD (6 (IQR 5-7) days) and CSD + MMAE (7 (IQR 6-7) days) groups compared to MMAE only (0 days(IQR 0-1)(p < 0.0001). Median index hospitalization payments were significantly higher for the CSD+MMAE group ($74,568) compared to both CSD ($39,658) (p = 0.003) and MMAE groups ($22,286) (p < 0.0001). The total median payments at six-month follow-up for the CSD group were higher compared to CSD+MMAE ($11494 vs $7300, p = 0.0017) but not compared to MMAE only ($10,680, p = 0.08). The reduced complications, infection rate, hospital utilization, and costs observed in this study support MMAE as a promising treatment option in the arsenal for cSDH management.

Homelessness and Birth Outcomes in the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, 2016-2020.

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of homelessness shortly before or during pregnancy and describe differences in maternal characteristics and adverse birth outcomes between people reporting homelessness and not reporting homelessness. We used 2016-2020 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) data from 31 sites to estimate the prevalence of self-reported homelessness during the 12 months before giving birth. We used logistic regression models to evaluate the association between homelessness and adverse birth outcomes, specifically small for gestational age (SGA), low birth weight (LBW), and preterm birth (PTB). Of 138,603 respondents, 4,045 reported homelessness, representing 2.4% of weighted respondents. Respondents reporting homelessness differed from respondents who did not report homelessness in maternal demographic characteristics, health conditions, behavioral and environmental risk factors, and adequacy of prenatal care. In unadjusted models, homelessness was associated with higher prevalences of SGA, LBW, and PTB (PR 1.38, 95% CI 1.21-1.57; PR 1.73, 95% CI 1.56-1.91; PR 1.42, 95% CI 1.25-1.61; respectively). After adjusting for maternal age, race and ethnicity, education, BMI, and cigarette smoking, prevalence ratios were attenuated and no longer significant. Although homelessness was not independently associated with adverse birth outcomes in adjusted models, people reporting homelessness before or during pregnancy represent a group at increased risk of inadequate health care utilization and adverse birth outcomes due to other underlying demographic and social factors. Health care providers can play a critical role in identifying if patients may be experiencing homelessness and facilitating connections to social support.

Non-communicable diseases and their associations with outpatient services utilisation: insight from a population-based survey in Malaysia

ObjectivesMultimorbidity has been recognised as a global public health issue, and individuals with multimorbidity have been found to have high healthcare utilisation. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of...

A Retrospective Comparative Study to Analyze Epidemiological Characteristics of Deaths with Covid–19 in 1st and 2nd Wave at AIIMS Raipur

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic's rapid spread and the absence of standardized treatment have exacerbated the public health challenge. This retrospective, comparative study aims to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 deaths during the first and second waves at AIIMS Raipur, focusing on demographic shifts, healthcare utilization, and clinical outcomes. Materials and Methods: The study population comprised all COVID-19 deaths during the first and second waves, with a sample size of 120 deaths for each wave. Data were collected from patient records, focusing on demographic, clinical, and treatment parameters. Statistical analysis utilized SPSS, employing descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The study revealed a demographic shift towards the 40-60 age group in the second wave, with significant differences in systolic blood pressure and D-dimer levels between the waves. No significant association was found between selected demographic characteristics and survival time after intubation. Statistical analysis indicated significant epidemiological distinctions between the waves, with a notable reduction in patients seeking initial treatment outside AIIMS in the second wave. Conclusions: The research highlights significant epidemiological shifts and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 fatalities between the first and second waves at AIIMS Raipur. The findings suggest a need for adaptive treatment protocols and informed public health policies to manage the evolving pandemic. Future research should focus on broader demographic studies and longitudinal tracking to inform healthcare planning and interventions.

Frailty and Long-Term Health Care Utilization After Elective General and Vascular Surgery

Surgical quality improvement efforts have largely focused on 30-day outcomes, such as readmissions and complications. Surgery may have a sustained impact on the health and quality of life of patients considered frail, yet data are lacking on the long-term health care utilization of patients with frailty following surgery. To examine the independent association of preoperative frailty on long-term health care utilization (up to 24 months) following surgery. This retrospective, observational cohort study included patients undergoing elective general and vascular surgery performed in the Veterans Affairs (VA) Surgical Quality Improvement Program with study entry from October 1, 2013, to September 30, 2018. Patients were followed up for 24 months. Patients with nursing home visits prior to surgery, emergent cases, and in-hospital deaths were excluded. Data analysis was conducted from September 2022 to May 2024. Preoperative frailty as assessed by the Risk Analysis Index (RAI-A) score: robust, less than 20; normal, 20 to 29; frail, 30 to 39; and very frail, 40 or more. The primary outcome was health care utilization through 24 months, defined as inpatient admissions, outpatient visits, emergency department (ED) visits, and nursing home or rehabilitation services collected via Corporate Data Warehouse and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services data. χ2 Tests and analysis of variance were used to assess preoperative frailty status, and a Cox proportional hazards model was used to calculate the adjusted association of preoperative frailty on each postdischarge health care utilization outcome. This study identified 183 343 elective general (80.5%) and vascular (19.5%) procedures (mean [SD] age, 62 [12.7] years; 12 915 females [7.0%]; 28 671 Black patients [16.0]; 138 323 White patients [77.3%]; 94 451 Medicare enrollees [51.5%]) with mean (SD) RAI-A score of 22.2 (7.0). After adjustment for baseline characteristics and preoperative use of health care services, frailty was associated with higher inpatient admissions (frail: hazard ratio [HR], 1.75; 95% CI, 1.70-1.79; very frail: HR, 2.33; 95% CI, 2.25-2.42), ED visits (frail: HR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.36-1.41; very frail: HR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.65-1.75), and nursing home or rehabilitation encounters (frail: HR, 4.97; 95% CI, 4.36-5.67; very frail: HR, 7.44; 95% CI, 6.34-8.73). For patients considered frail and very frail, health care utilization was higher after surgery and remained significant through 24 months for all outcomes (using piecewise Cox proportional hazards modeling). In this study, frailty was a significant risk factor for high long-term health care utilization after surgery. This may have quality of life implications for patients and policy implications for health care systems and payers.

Contralateral THA More Than 1 Year Apart: Do PROMs and Healthcare Utilization Differ After Each Surgery?

Patients who undergo a second THA at least 1 year after the first one may experience different recovery courses after each THA. It is unknown what the clinically relevant improvements and healthcare utilization are after each THA in patients undergoing contralateral THA > 1 year apart. (1) Do patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) differ at baseline and 1 year after THA for the first and second hip arthroplasty? (2) Does the likelihood of achieving minimum clinically important difference (MCID) and patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) thresholds differ for the first and second hip arthroplasty? (3) Does utilization of healthcare within 90 days of THA, using discharge disposition, length of stay (LOS), and 90-day readmission risk as proxies, differ between the first and second hip arthroplasty? Between January 2016 and December 2021, a total of 14,023 primary THAs for hip osteoarthritis were performed at a large tertiary academic center, and data from each were longitudinally maintained in an institutional database. In this retrospective study, we excluded nonelective (n = 265), simultaneous bilateral (n = 89), staged bilateral < 1 year apart (n = 1856), unilateral THAs (n = 7541), and those who were lost prior to the minimum study follow-up of 1 year or had incomplete data sets (n =3618), leaving 654 contralateral THAs > 1 year apart (327 patients) for analysis here. The median (range) patient age was 64 years (26 to 88) at the time of the first THA and 66 years (27 to 88) at the second THA. The mean (IQR) time from first THA to second THA was 696 days (488 to 1008). In all, 62% (204 of 327) of patients were women, and 89% (286 of 321) were White. The median (range) BMI was 29 kg/m2 (first THA 16 to 60, second THA 18 to 56) at both THAs. PROMs were obtained preoperatively and at 1 year after each of the THAs and included Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score pain (HOOS-pain), physical function (HOOS-PS), and joint replacement (HOOS-JR) scores, as well as the Veterans Rand 12-Item Health Survey mental component summary score. Each was scored from 0 to 100, with higher scores representing better patient perceived outcomes. A distribution-based method was used to calculate the MCID thresholds (HOOS-pain 8.35, HOOS-PS 9.47, and HOOS-JR 7.76), while an anchor-based method was utilized for the PASS thresholds (HOOS-pain 80.6, HOOS-PS 83.6, and HOOS-JR 83.6). Healthcare utilization outcomes included discharge disposition, LOS, and 90-day readmission rates. Patients had slightly lower baseline PROM scores in all HOOS subdomains before the first THA compared with the second THA (median HOOS-pain 38 versus 42, p < 0.001; HOOS-PS 54 versus 58, p < 0.001; HOOS-JR 43 versus 47, p < 0.001). The difference between baseline and 1-year postoperative scores was slightly larger in all HOOS subdomains after the first THA (median HOOS-pain difference 52 versus 50, p < 0.001; HOOS-PS difference 38 versus 31, p < 0.001; HOOS-JR difference 42 versus 39, p < 0.001). There was no difference in the percentage of patients achieving the MCID in HOOS-pain (97% versus 97%; p = 0.93), HOOS-PS (92% versus 88%; p = 0.17), and HOOS-JR (96% versus 94%; p = 0.18) between the first and second THAs. Although there was also no difference in the percentage of patients achieving PASS thresholds in HOOS-pain (81% versus 77%; p = 0.11), HOOS-PS (82% versus 79%; p = 0.055), and HOOS-JR (71% versus 71%; p = 0.39) between the first and second THAs, considerably fewer patients were reaching the PASS threshold in both THAs. After the second THA, slightly more patients were discharged home (95% versus 91%; p = 0.03) and had a very slightly shorter LOS (1.28 versus 1.35 days; p < 0.001). There was no difference in 90-day readmission rates between the first and second THA (4% versus 5%; p = 0.84). In patients undergoing contralateral THA > 1 year apart, baseline PROMs were slightly worse before the first THA, and improvements were slightly greater compared with the second THA, although these differences were likely not clinically significant. Clinically meaningful improvements, based on MCID and PASS thresholds, were similar at 1 year for both THAs, yet 20% to 25% of patients reported inadequate pain relief after both surgeries. Healthcare utilization was also comparable between both procedures. Surgeons can use these findings to counsel patients on the likely similar outcomes following both their THAs. Future studies should explore factors contributing to inadequate pain relief and identify strategies to improve patient outcomes after both THAs.Level of Evidence Level III, therapeutic study.

Remote blood pressure monitoring in women at risk of or with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Remote blood pressure monitoring refers to an organized framework that either allows clinicians to review home-based blood pressure readings and institute management, or provide participants with clear instructions for contacting care teams when blood pressure readings are out of prespecified targets. With widespread uptake of telemonitoring and mobile health in recent years, such models of care have been increasingly described in the literature. This study aimed to review remote blood pressure monitoring in pregnant and postpartum women who are at high-risk for or have an established diagnosis of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and its effect on maternal and fetal outcomes, healthcare utilization and psychosocial outcomes. PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and CINAHL databases were searched electronically in June 2024 to their inception. Included studies compared remote blood pressure monitoring with standard care. Remote blood pressure monitoring was pre-defined as any framework for measuring blood pressure remotely in pregnancy, with organized review by clinicians. Published full-text and study abstracts describing randomized controlled trials and observational studies were included. The study population was pregnant women at high-risk for developing pre-eclampsia or postpartum (<6 weeks) women with an established diagnosis of a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. Remote blood pressure monitoring undertaken in the antenatal and postnatal periods were analyzed separately. This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Screening of records and data extraction were independently performed. Data were extracted and analyzed using Review Manager software (version 5.4; Cochrane Collaboration, Copenhagen, Denmark). Risk of bias and quality assessment was performed independently using the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies-of Interventions (ROBINS-I) assessment tool and the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB2) tool. A total of 18 studies with 28 094 patients were included. Antenatal remote blood pressure monitoring reduces antenatal outpatient visits, antenatal hospital admissions for any cause, and antenatal hospital admissions specifically for hypertension. Importantly, there was no increase in adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, including the likelihood of cesarean section deliveries or induction of labor due to hypertension, composite maternal outcome, growth restriction, neonatal intensive care unit admissions, gestational age at delivery and the composite fetal outcome. Psychosocial outcomes were also not significantly different between the remote blood pressure monitoring and usual care groups. Postpartum remote blood pressure monitoring in women with an established hypertensive disorder of pregnancy led to greater compliance with blood pressure follow-up within 10 days, with no increase in unscheduled hypertension-related presentations, postpartum readmissions or outpatient antihypertensive prescription. Utilizing a model of remote blood pressure monitoring which incorporates organized review and management by clinicians, may reduce antenatal outpatient visits and admissions, without increasing adverse fetal and maternal outcomes, in pregnant women who require frequent monitoring of their blood pressure. In postpartum women with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, remote blood pressure monitoring can improve guideline recommended follow-up within 10 days. However, the meta-analysis was hampered by study heterogeneity and a paucity of high-quality evidence. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the findings of this review and provide recommendations.

Nonuse of Contraception at Conception Due to Partner Objection and Pregnancy-Related Health Care Utilization, Postpartum Health, and Infant Birth Outcomes.

Objective: Reproductive coercion has been associated with adverse reproductive health experiences. This study examined the relationship between nonuse of contraception due to partner objection, one aspect of reproductive coercion, and selected pregnancy-related outcomes. Methods: We used 2016-2020 data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System in 22 jurisdictions to assess the prevalence of nonuse of contraception due to a partner objection by select characteristics among individuals with a recent live birth who reported an unintended pregnancy. We calculated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) to understand associations with health care utilization, postpartum behaviors and experiences, postpartum contraceptive use, and infant birth outcomes. Results: Among people with a recent live birth in the study jurisdictions (n = 29,071), approximately 5% reported nonuse of contraception due to a partner objection and unintended pregnancy. This experience was associated with lower prevalence of attending a health care visit before pregnancy (aPR 0.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.7-0.9), first trimester prenatal care, and attending a postpartum checkup (aPR 0.7, 95% CI 0.6-0.9 for both). Higher prevalence was observed for postpartum depressive symptoms (aPR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.6) and partner objecting to using birth control postpartum (aPR 2.8, 95% CI 2.1-3.9). Conclusions: Nonuse of contraception due to a partner objection at conception was associated with poor mental health and lower health care utilization around the time of pregnancy. Prevention efforts may include strategies that ensure provider screening for intimate partner violence, and evidence-based approaches that teach about healthy relationships, enhance self-efficacy, and address underlying drivers of violence.

The Impact of Hypothyroidism on Cardiovascular-Related Healthcare Utilization in the US Population With Diabetes.

Suboptimal treatment of hypothyroidism (HT) is associated with adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes, for which patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are at increased risk. This study aimed to compare CVD-related healthcare utilization in DM patients with and without HT in the US population. Participant data were collected from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) over 10 years (2011-2020). Medical conditions were identified by ICD-9/ICD-10 codes associated with expenditures. Healthcare utilization outcomes included number of emergency, hospital, and outpatient visits associated with coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA), or heart failure; prescriptions related to CVD; and number of visits to specialty providers. A propensity score-based fine stratification matching approach was used to balance sociodemographic covariates to determine the relative risk (RR) contributed by HT on CVD-related care utilization. A total of 15 580 adult participants with DM were identified, of whom 11.9% had treated HT. In the weighted analysis, a significantly greater proportion of participants with HT had CAD and stroke/TIA-associated visits compared to those without HT (respectively, 22.4% vs 17.8%, P = .002; and 7.3% vs 5.4%, P = .020). In the matched analysis, participants with HT were more likely to see a specialist (cardiology, endocrinology, and nephrology). Participants with HT were more likely to be treated with cholesterol-lowering medications, beta-blockers, and diuretics. HT as a comorbidity with DM was associated with increased healthcare utilization related to CVD, specifically visits associated with stroke/TIA, increased use of specialty care, and greater utilization of CVD-related medications.

Clinical, Quality of Life, and Health Care Utilization Outcomes of Switching the Administration Route of Antipsychotic Medications Among People With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Using long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic medications can improve the outcomes of patients with schizophrenia, such as reducing symptom severity and hospitalization risk. However, the outcomes of switching from oral to LAI antipsychotic medications are unclear. The purpose of this review is to provide a summary of the clinical, quality of life, and health care utilization outcomes of switching from oral to LAI antipsychotics among patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder. We thoroughly searched the PubMed, Scopus, PsycInfo, and CINAHL databases. To conduct the meta-analysis, we used the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Program. Forty-one articles met our inclusion criteria. After switching to LAIs, symptom severity, the number of rehospitalizations, emergency department visits, and overall health care costs were reduced. Also, social functioning significantly improved. However, no differences were observed in the frequency of outpatient visits. Pharmacy costs were increased between pre- and post-LAI initiation. Our findings support evidence that changing the route of administration of antipsychotic medications from oral to long-acting intramuscular injections can improve the clinical, quality of life, and health care utilization outcomes in people with schizophrenia. Health care practitioners might consider encouraging LAI use earlier during treatment for schizophrenia for better clinical outcomes and to reduce health care utilization associated with treatment.

Association of inpatient and outpatient pediatric palliative care with healthcare utilization and end-of-life outcomes in pediatric oncology.

Pediatric palliative care (PPC) is associated with improved end-of-life (EOL) outcomes. Inpatient and outpatient PPC have unique roles during the disease course. Yet, it is unknown whether the location of PPC receipt (inpatient vs. outpatient) is associated with healthcare utilization and EOL outcomes for pediatric and adolescent and young adult oncology patients. A retrospective single-institution chart review of pediatric patients (age 0-28) with cancer who died between January 2015 and December 2022 was performed to compare EOL outcomes and healthcare utilization metrics among inpatient PPC, any outpatient PPC, and non-PPC recipients. Demographics and clinical factors were analyzed by PPC receipt location. Among 450 patients, 292 (64.9%) received PPC (inpatient only 35%, any outpatient 65%). Patients who died without receiving PPC dropped from 69% to 22% following development of an outpatient PPC clinic (p<.001). In the last 6months, 1month, and last week of life, inpatient PPC recipients spent more days admitted to the hospital and intensive care unit (all p<.001), and had more intensive medical interventions performed (p<.01). Outpatient PPC recipients were less likely to receive intravenous (IV) chemotherapy (p<.01) or intubation (p=.05), and more likely to receive hospice, die at home, and have an outpatient do-not-resuscitate order (all p<.001). PPC receipt substantially increased after the creation of an outpatient PPC clinic, suggesting that outpatient PPC is critical in the provision of PPC to children with cancer. Outpatient PPC was associated with fewer hospital days, IV chemotherapy, and intubation at EOL, while increasing hospice enrollment and home death.

Investigating the Impact of Caregiver Adverse Childhood Experiences Screening and Pediatrician-Led Discussions on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in a Majority-Hispanic Pediatric Primary Care Clinic Setting.

Evidence suggests that screening and provider-led discussions of parental adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may help identify at-risk families and be linked to positive health outcomes in caregivers and their children. However, the direct effect of ACEs screening and discussions on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has yet to be studied. To determine if screening or provider-led discussions of parental ACEs are associated with inadvertent worsening of PTSD symptoms 1 week after screening. Data was obtained as part of a cluster randomized controlled trial to examine the effects of ACEs screening and provider-led discussions on child health care utilization outcomes. Baseline surveys were completed before scheduled infant well child checks (WCCs). Providers were randomized into the standard of care or intervention (discussion) conditions. Intervention providers were trained in delivering brief trauma-informed discussions about the impact of ACEs on parenting during WCCs. Caregivers in a pediatric primary care clinic serving predominantly Hispanic and low socioeconomically resourced families (N=179, 93% female, 87% Hispanic). The Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5), Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and ACEs screening were completed at baseline. PC-PTSD-5 was repeated 1-week after screening. Mixed-effects ordinal logistic regression analysis of PTSD scores from baseline to 1-week postscreening with the full sample showed no significant effect of time [odds ratio (OR)=1.21, P=0.68], group (OR=1.68, P=0.33), or their interaction (OR=0.48, P=0.21). Screening or brief discussion of ACEs with providers trained in trauma-informed care were not associated with worsening PTSD symptoms.

Preoperative Osteoporosis Is Associated With Increased Health Care Utilization and Compromised Pain and Function Improvement After Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Prospective Cohort Analysis

BackgroundOsteoporosis (OP) has been linked to complications after total hip arthroplasty (THA), but its impact on health care utilization and patient-reported outcomes remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the association between: 1) pre-THA OP and health care utilization as well as patient-reported pain and function outcome measures; and 2) dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan-based T-scores and the aforementioned outcomes. MethodsA retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of primary THA (2015 to 2018) was performed (n = 5,321) from a validated academic institutional database of a large North American tertiary health care system; of which 4,074 (76.6%) completed 1-year follow-up. Outcomes included prolonged length of stay [LOS] > three days, discharge disposition, 90-day readmission, and 1-year reoperation, as well as Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS]) Pain, HOOS-function (PS), and minimal clinically important difference thresholds (MCID), and satisfaction. ResultsThe prevalence of OP pre-THA was 56.9%, of which 39.8% were not prescribed OP medications and 15.3% had a DEXA scan. Compared to those who did not have OP, those who had OP were independently associated with higher odds of prolonged LOS, nonhome discharge, 90-day readmission, and 1-year reoperation (P < 0.005). Furthermore, they had significantly higher odds of failing to achieve MCID (odds ratio: 1.41 (95% confidence interval: 1.06 to 1.89)) for HOOS-PS and satisfaction (odds ratio: 1.5 (95% confidence interval: 1.16 to 1.93)) at one year. Higher T-scores were associated with lower odds of prolonged LOS, nonhome discharge, failure to achieve MCID in HOOS-Pain, and HOOS-PS. ConclusionsOver half of patients had OP; however, only 15.3% of patients had a DEXA scan before THA. Patients who had OP were at higher risk of prolonged LOS, nonhome discharge, 90-day readmission, and 1-year reoperation in addition to poor pain/function improvement and dissatisfaction one year after THA.

Reply to Editorial Comment on “Frailty Among Bladder Augmentation Patients: Health Care Utilization and Perioperative Outcomes”

Reply to Editorial Comment on “Frailty Among Bladder Augmentation Patients: Health Care Utilization and Perioperative Outcomes”

Outcomes After Total Knee Arthroplasty in Patients With a History of Patella Fracture: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

Posttraumatic osteoarthritis is a common indication for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between a history of patella fracture and postoperative complication rates after TKA. Patients diagnosed with a patella fracture before undergoing TKA were identified from a large national database and matched to a control cohort using propensity scoring. Rates of medical complications occurring within 90 days of TKA and surgery-related complications occurring within 1 year of TKA were compared using odds ratios. Healthcare utilization outcomes including 90-day emergency department (ED) presentation, hospital readmission, and total cost were also compared. Compared with a propensity-matched control cohort, TKA patients with a history of patella fracture had a lower incidence of pulmonary embolism (OR 0.74, P = 0.0442) and higher incidences of periprosthetic joint infection (OR 1.68, P < 0.0001), revision surgery (OR 1.84, P < 0.0001), dislocation (OR 1.61, P = 0.026), lysis of adhesions (OR 2.21, P = 0.0082), and wound disruption (OR 1.52, P < 0.0001). A history of patella fracture was also associated with an increased rate of ED presentation (OR 1.08, P = 0.0454) and increased total cost ($14,359 vs. $12,786, P = 0.0003). A history of patella fracture is associated with early surgery-related complications after TKA including periprosthetic joint infection, revision surgery, dislocation, lysis of adhesions, and wound disruption. Healthcare utilization is increased among these patients with higher rates of ED presentation and increased total cost. These findings allow for more accurate risk stratification and counseling of patients. III, Retrospective review.