Integrated Health Care Delivery System Research Articles

A Novel Large Scale Integrated Telemonitoring Program for COVID-19.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has forced health care systems to rethink the optimal delivery of health care services and has dramatically increased demand for general medicine providers (internal medicine, family medicine, emergency medicine), while simultaneously reducing demand for many subspecialty services. At Kaiser Permanente, we implemented a program wherein health care providers drawn from multiple disciplines perform daily telemedicine check-ins on COVID-19 patients, allowing us to both maintain social distancing and make use of providers in specialties who otherwise may have had lower in-clinic volumes. Methods: Kaiser Permanente patients testing positive for COVID-19 between March and October 2020 were referred to our program. Physicians and nurses (RNs) were invited to participate in our program and were trained using Microsoft Teams™ meetings. Patients receive daily phone calls by a physician or RN. Select patients receive portable pulse oximeter devices based on standardized criteria incorporating age and comorbidities. When patients are determined to be clinically stable, they are discharged back to their primary care physician for ongoing management. Results: Descriptive results for the virtual home care program (VHCP) are reported through October 2020, though these results do not represent a planned statistical analysis. Forty-two percent of the patients were male, 43% were black, and 30% were Hispanic. The most common comorbidities of patients in our program were obesity (body mass index >30 kg/m2; 35%), followed by hypertension (32%) and diabetes mellitus (19%). Then, 8.2% of patients ultimately required hospital admission. Mortality rate for patients in our program was 1.33%. Discussion: Our program was able to provide virtual care for thousands of COVID-19 positive Kaiser members in the Washington, DC, and Baltimore Metro regions. We did so by utilizing physicians and RNs from specialties experiencing a decrease in clinic volume attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic. The experiences of our program may be valuable to clinicians wishing to establish similar programs of their own.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Early and Continued Breastfeeding: Findings from an Integrated Health Care Delivery System.

Purpose: To examine whether adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with breastfeeding behaviors. Methods: Women in three Kaiser Permanente Northern California medical centers were screened for ACEs during standard prenatal care (N = 926). Multivariable binary and multinomial logistic regression was used to test whether ACEs (count and type) were associated with early breastfeeding at the 2-week newborn pediatric visit and continued breastfeeding at the 2-month pediatric visit, adjusting for covariates. Results: Overall, 58.2% of women reported 0 ACEs, 19.2% reported 1 ACE, and 22.6% reported 2+ ACEs. Two weeks postpartum, 92.2% reported any breastfeeding (62.9% exclusive, 29.4% mixed breastfeeding/formula). Compared with women with 0 ACEs, those with 2+ ACEs had increased odds of any breastfeeding (odds ratio [OR] = 2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3-5.6) and exclusive breastfeeding 2 weeks postpartum (OR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.4-6.3). Among those who breastfed 2 weeks postpartum, 86.4% reported continued breastfeeding (57.5% exclusive, 28.9% mixed breastfeeding/formula) 2 months postpartum. ACE count was not associated with continued breastfeeding 2 months postpartum. Individual ACEs were not related to breastfeeding outcomes, with the exception that living with someone who went to jail or prison was associated with lower odds of continued breastfeeding 2 months postpartum. Conclusions: ACE count was associated with greater early breastfeeding, but not continued breastfeeding, among women screened for ACEs as part of standard prenatal care. Results reiterate the need to educate and assist all women to meet their breastfeeding goals, regardless of ACE score.

Closing the gap: Identification and management of familial hypercholesterolemia in an integrated healthcare delivery system

BackgroundFamilial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder that causes markedly elevated risk for early onset coronary artery disease. Despite availability of effective therapy, only 5–10% of affected individuals worldwide are diagnosed. ObjectiveTo develop and evaluate a novel approach for identifying and managing patients with FH in a large integrated health system with a diverse patient population, using inexpensive methods. MethodsUsing Make Early Diagnosis/Prevent Early Death (MEDPED) criteria, we created a method for identifying patients at high risk for FH within the Kaiser Permanente Northern California electronic medical record. This led to a pragmatic workflow for contacting patients, establishing a diagnosis in a dedicated FH clinic, and initiating management. We prospectively collected data on the first 100 patients to assess implementation effectiveness. ResultsNinety-three (93.0%, 95%CI: 86.1%–97.1%) of the first 100 evaluated patients were diagnosed with FH (median age = 38 years) of whom only 5% were previously recognized; 48% were taking no lipid-lowering therapy, and 7% had acute coronary symptoms. 82 underwent successful genetic testing of whom 55 (67.1%; 95%CI: 55.8%–77.1%) had a pathogenic mutation. Following clinic evaluation, 83 of 85 (97.6%) medication-eligible patients were prescribed combination lipid-lowering therapy. 20 family members in the healthcare system were diagnosed with FH through cascade testing. ConclusionsThis novel approach was effective for identifying and managing patients with undiagnosed FH. Care gaps in providing appropriate lipid-lowering therapy were successfully addressed. Further development and dissemination of integrated approaches to FH care are warranted.

Comparison of Direct Oral Anticoagulants Versus Warfarin in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Bioprosthetic Heart Valves

There are limited data regarding direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for stroke prevention in patients with bioprosthetic heart valves (BHVs) and atrial fibrillation (AF). The objectives of this study were to evaluate the ambulatory utilization of DOACs and to compare the effectiveness and safety of DOACs versus warfarin in patients with AF and BHVs. We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a large integrated health care delivery system in California. Patients with BHVs and AF treated with warfarin, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, or apixaban between September 12, 2011 and June 18, 2020 were identified. Inverse probability of treatment-weighted comparative effectiveness and safety of DOACs compared with warfarin were determined. Use of DOACs gradually increased since 2011, with a significant upward in trend after a stay-at-home order related to COVID-19. Among 2,672 adults with BHVs and AF who met the inclusion criteria, 439 were exposed to a DOAC and 2233 were exposed to warfarin. For the primary effectiveness outcome of ischemic stroke, systemic embolism and transient ischemic attack, no significant association was observed between use of DOACs compared with warfarin (HR 1.19, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.48, p = 0.11). Use of DOACs was associated with lower risk of the primary safety outcome of intracranial hemorrhage, gastrointestinal bleeding, and other bleed (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.85, p < 0.001). Results were consistent across multiple subgroups in the sensitivity analyses. These findings support the use of DOACs for AF in patients with BHVs.

Disclosure of New Type 2 Diabetes Diagnoses to Younger Adults: a Qualitative Study.

BackgroundAdults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at a younger age are at increased risk for poor outcomes. Yet, little is known about the early experiences of these individuals, starting with communication of the diagnosis. Addressing this knowledge gap is important as this initial interaction may shape subsequent disease-related perceptions and self-management.ObjectiveWe examined diagnosis disclosure experiences and initial reactions among younger adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.ParticipantsPurposive sample of adult members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California, an integrated healthcare delivery system, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes before age 45 years.ApproachWe conducted six focus groups between November 2017 and May 2018. Transcribed audio recordings were coded by two coders using thematic analysis.Key ResultsParticipants (n = 41) were 38.4 (± 5.8) years of age; 10 self-identified as Latinx, 12 as Black, 12 as White, and 7 as multiple or other races. We identified variation in diagnosis disclosure experiences, centered on four key domains: (1) participants’ sense of preparedness for diagnosis (ranging from expectant to surprised); (2) disclosure setting (including in-person, via phone, via secure message, or via review of results online); (3) perceived provider tone (from nonchalant, to overly fear-centered, to supportive); and (4) participants’ emotional reactions to receiving the diagnosis (including acceptance, denial, guilt, and/or fear, rooted in personal and family experience).ConclusionsFor younger adults, the experience of receiving a diabetes diagnosis varies greatly. Given the long-term consequences of inadequately managed diabetes and the need for early disease control, effective initial disclosure represents an opportunity to optimize initial care. Our results suggest several opportunities to improve the type 2 diabetes disclosure experience: (1) providing pre-test counseling, (2) identifying patient-preferred settings for receiving the news, and (3) developing initial care strategies that acknowledge and address the emotional distress triggered by this life-altering, chronic disease diagnosis.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11606-020-06481-y.

Norovirus and Other Viral Causes of Medically Attended Acute Gastroenteritis Across the Age Spectrum: Results from the Medically Attended Acute Gastroenteritis Study in the United States.

Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) causes a substantial burden in the United States, but its etiology frequently remains undetermined. Active surveillance within an integrated healthcare delivery system was used to estimate the prevalence and incidence of medically attended norovirus, rotavirus, sapovirus, and astrovirus. Active surveillance was conducted among all enrolled members of Kaiser Permanente Northwest during July 2014-June 2016. An age-stratified, representative sample of AGE-associated medical encounters were recruited to provide a stool specimen to be tested for norovirus, rotavirus, sapovirus, and astrovirus. Medically attended AGE (MAAGE) encounters for a patient occurring within 30 days were grouped into 1 episode, and all-cause MAAGE incidence was calculated. Pathogen- and healthcare setting-specific incidence estimates were calculated using age-stratified bootstrapping. The overall incidence of MAAGE was 40.6 episodes per 1000 person-years (PY), with most episodes requiring no more than outpatient care. Norovirus was the most frequently detected pathogen, with an incidence of 5.5 medically attended episodes per 1000 PY. Incidence of norovirus MAAGE was highest among children aged < 5 years (20.4 episodes per 1000 PY), followed by adults aged ≥ 65 years (4.5 episodes per 1000 PY). Other study pathogens showed similar patterns by age, but lower overall incidence (sapovirus: 2.4 per 1000 PY; astrovirus: 1.3 per 1000 PY; rotavirus: 0.5 per 1000 PY). Viral enteropathogens, particularly norovirus, are important contributors to MAAGE, especially among children < 5 years of age. The present findings underline the importance of judicious antibiotics use for pediatric AGE and suggest that an effective norovirus vaccine could substantially reduce MAAGE.

Contemporary Reevaluation of Race and Ethnicity With Outcomes in Heart Failure.

BackgroundVariation in outcomes by race/ethnicity in adults with heart failure (HF) has been previously observed. Identifying factors contributing to these variations could help target interventions. We evaluated the association of race/ethnicity with HF outcomes and potentially contributing factors within a contemporary HF cohort.Methods and ResultsWe identified members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California, a large integrated healthcare delivery system, who were diagnosed with HF between 2012 and 2016 and had at least 1 year of prior continuous membership and left ventricular ejection fraction data. We used Cox regression with time‐dependent covariates to evaluate the association of self‐identified race/ethnicity with HF or all‐cause hospitalization and all‐cause death, with backward selection for potential explanatory variables. Among 34 621 patients with HF, compared with White patients, Black patients had a higher rate of HF hospitalization (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.28; 95% CI, 1.18–1.38) but a lower rate of death (adjusted HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.72–0.85). In contrast, Asian/Pacific Islander patients had similar rates of HF hospitalization, but lower rates of all‐cause hospitalization (adjusted HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.85–0.93) and death (adjusted HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.69–0.80). Hispanic patients also had a lower rate of death (adjusted HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.80–0.91). Sensitivity analyses showed that effect sizes for Black patients were larger among patients with reduced ejection fraction.ConclusionsIn a contemporary and diverse population with HF, Black patients experienced a higher rate of HF hospitalization and a lower rate of death compared with White patients. In contrast, selected outcomes for Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic patients were more favorable compared with White patients. The observed differences were not explained by measured potentially modifiable factors, including pharmacological treatment. Future research is needed to identify explanatory mechanisms underlying ongoing racial/ethnic variation to target potential interventions.

Doctors of chiropractic working with or within integrated healthcare delivery systems: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionBack and neck pain are the leading causes of disability worldwide. Doctors of chiropractic (DCs) are trained to manage these common conditions and can provide non-pharmacological treatment aligned with international...

Patterns of Care and Treatment Outcomes for Outpatient Daptomycin-Containing Regimens in Osteomyelitis.

Use of daptomycin at doses ≥ 6 mg/kg for treatment of osteomyelitis is increasing in clinical practice; unfortunately, limited data are available to guide optimal dosing and duration. The objective of this study was to assess daptomycin dosing and duration regimens for osteomyelitis treatment. This was a retrospective, multi-site, cohort study conducted in an integrated healthcare delivery system. Nonpregnant patients ≥ 18 years of age with osteomyelitis diagnosed between November 1, 2003 and June 30, 2011, ≥ 2 weeks outpatient daptomycin therapy, and ≥ 1 month of follow-up were included. Daptomycin doses < 6 mg/kg and ≥ 6 mg/kg at durations of < 6 weeks and ≥ 6 weeks were examined with univariate and multivariate analyses to assess treatment success and all-cause mortality. A total of 247 patients were included, with 39 (15.8%), 37 (15.0%), 107 (43.3%), and 64 (25.9%) receiving < 6 mg/kg and ≥ 6 weeks, < 6 mg/kg and < 6 weeks, ≥ 6 mg/kg and ≥ 6 weeks, and ≥ 6 mg/kg and < 6 weeks of daptomycin therapy, respectively. Patients had a mean age of 58 years and had received prior vancomycin therapy (65.6%). Patients receiving < 6 weeks of therapy were less likely to experience treatment success compared with ≥ 6 weeks (41.5% vs 25.3%, adjusted odds ratio = 0.55; 95% confidence interval = 0.31-0.98) independent of duration. There were no differences across groups in mortality after adjustment. In a diverse clinical population, daptomycin for treatment of osteomyelitis of 6 weeks or longer duration was associated with success independent of dose. This finding supports longer treatment with daptomycin as a first-line agent in antimicrobial stewardship initiatives.

1529. Sexually-Transmitted Infection Testing and Positivity among Adults Receiving HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis within an Integrated Health Care Delivery System in the United States

BackgroundThe goal of this project was to assess the frequency of sexually-transmitted infection (STI) testing and positivity among adult individuals initiating HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) within Kaiser Permanente Northwest (KPNW).MethodsWe identified KPNW members, 18 years of age and older, who initiated PrEP (tenofovir+emtricitabine) between January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2018. Using data elements abstracted from the electronic health record system, we assessed demographic characteristics of those initiating PrEP and the rate of testing and positivity for HIV, chlamydia (CT) and gonorrhea (GC) and syphilis within a window around 120 days after PrEP initiation.ResultsOverall, 685 members initiated PrEP during our study period, 661 (96.5%) of whom were male. Mean and median ages were 38 and 36 years, respectively, with those 25-34 years of age comprising the highest proportion (241; 35.2%). The 460 PrEP initiators (67.2% of total) who continued use beyond 120 days were significantly older than those who discontinued use (39 vs. 36 years, p=0.0008). Among continuous users, 78.3% were tested for CT+GC and 83.9% were tested for syphilis roughly 120 days post-initiation, with positivity proportions of 6.9%, 6.7%, and 2.3%, respectively. Among those discontinuing, 39.6% were tested for CT+GC and 37.3% were tested for syphilis, with positivity proportions of 10.1%, 9.0%, and 2.4%, respectively. HIV testing was completed for 87.4% of continuous PrEP users and 40.9% of those who discontinued use; and we identified a total of three individuals who tested positive for HIV, all among the latter group. Manual chart review of these individuals confirmed that HIV exposure and infection occurred after PrEP discontinuation.ConclusionWe found high rates of STI testing among individuals receiving PrEP, in accordance with recommendations. Our findings of a lower STI prevalence among PrEP users is encouraging, although further work is required to assess the impact of differential testing rates and age between those who continue and discontinue PrEP use as well as reasons for PrEP discontinuation. Regular testing remains an important part of comprehensive PrEP care management and should continue to be encouraged to identify and treat STI among those at high risk for disease.Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

177. Safety of Measles and Pertussis-containing Vaccines in School-age Children Previously Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders

BackgroundSome parents, especially those of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), are uncertain about the safety of childhood immunization. We compared rates of fever, febrile seizure and emergency room (ER) visits following measles and pertussis-containing vaccines recommended between ages 4–6 years among children with and without ASD. MethodsThe study included children who were born between 1995–2012, aged 4–7 years at vaccination, and members of six integrated healthcare delivery systems within the Vaccine Safety Datalink. Children with ASD were defined based on receipt of two separate International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 or 10 codes. Outcomes (fever, febrile seizures, and ER visits) were identified in electronic health records. To minimize confounding by unmeasured factors related both to avoidance of vaccination and to outcomes of interest, we compared rates of each outcome between children with and without ASD, in risk and control intervals, by estimating the difference-in-differences on a log scale (i.e. the ratio of rate ratios) using logistic regressions. We also conducted risk interval analyses comparing rates of outcomes in risk intervals and control intervals within each group.ResultsThe study included 14,947 children with ASD and 1,650,041 children without ASD. After measles or pertussis-containing vaccination, there were no differences in association between the two groups for fever or ER visits (Table). There were no febrile seizures identified among children with ASD. Within the ASD group, rates of fever, seizure or ER visits did not differ significantly between the risk and control intervals after vaccination. However, among the non-ASD group, measles and pertussis-containing vaccines were associated with higher rates of fever and seizure in risk intervals compared to controls intervals. Pertussis-containing vaccines were associated with increased risk of ER visits in risk interval compared to control interval (Table).ConclusionWe found no difference in the risk of fever, and ER visits comparing children with autism to children without autism after measles or pertussis-containing vaccines. The study provides some reassurance that these vaccines are not less safe in children with ASD.Disclosures Lei Qian, PhD, GlaxoSmithKlein (Research Grant or Support) Nicola P. Klein, MD, PhD, GSK group of companies (Research Grant or Support)Merck (Grant/Research Support)Pfizer (Grant/Research Support)Protein Science (now SP) (Grant/Research Support)Sanofi Pasteur (Grant/Research Support)

Comparison of dementia risk after age 50 between individuals with and without HIV infection.

To compare risk of dementia after age 50 by HIV status among individuals in a primary care setting. Observational cohort study; participants were identified from 2013 to 2017 and followed through 2019. Participants were people with HIV (PWH) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and demographically similar people without HIV (PWOH), all at least 50 years old and with no prior diagnosis of dementia. The study setting was Kaiser Permanente Northern California, an integrated healthcare delivery system in the United States. Incident dementia diagnoses and baseline data on sociodemographics, smoking, alcohol use, other substance use, and clinical factors were gathered from the electronic health record. Cumulative proportion of incident dementia by HIV status was assessed using Kaplan--Meier curves. Unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios for incident dementia by HIV status were generated using Cox proportional hazards models with age as the time scale. The study included 5381 PWH and 119 022 PWOH (average age at baseline: 57 and 58 years, respectively). Incident dementia was diagnosed in 117 PWH and 2427 PWOH. By age 80, 25.8% of PWH and 13.8% of PWOH had been diagnosed with dementia, corresponding with an unadjusted hazard ratio of 1.98 (95% CI 1.64-2.39). After adjustment for sociodemographic, substance use, and clinical factors, including frequency of outpatient visits, the risk of dementia among PWH remained elevated (vs. PWOH, adjusted hazard ratio = 1.58, 95% CI 1.31-1.92). Compared with PWOH, PWH were at 58% higher risk for dementia despite HIV treatment with ART. Research is needed to investigate the potential benefits of targeted risk factor management or earlier cognitive screening in this population.

Use of Latent Class Analysis and k-Means Clustering to Identify Complex Patient Profiles

Medically complex patients are a heterogeneous group that contribute to a substantial proportion of health care costs. Coordinated efforts to improve care and reduce costs for this patient population have had limited success to date. To define distinct patient clinical profiles among the most medically complex patients through clinical interpretation of analytically derived patient clusters. This cohort study analyzed the most medically complex patients within Kaiser Permanente Northern California, a large integrated health care delivery system, based on comorbidity score, prior emergency department admissions, and predicted likelihood of hospitalization, from July 18, 2018, to July 15, 2019. From a starting point of over 5000 clinical variables, we used both clinical judgment and analytic methods to reduce to the 97 most informative covariates. Patients were then grouped using 2 methods (latent class analysis, generalized low-rank models, with k-means clustering). Results were interpreted by a panel of clinical stakeholders to define clinically meaningful patient profiles. Complex patient profiles, 1-year health care utilization, and mortality outcomes by profile. The analysis included 104 869 individuals representing 3.3% of the adult population (mean [SD] age, 70.7 [14.5] years; 52.4% women; 39% non-White race/ethnicity). Latent class analysis resulted in a 7-class solution. Stakeholders defined the following complex patient profiles (prevalence): high acuity (9.4%), older patients with cardiovascular complications (15.9%), frail elderly (12.5%), pain management (12.3%), psychiatric illness (12.0%), cancer treatment (7.6%), and less engaged (27%). Patients in these groups had significantly different 1-year mortality rates (ranging from 3.0% for psychiatric illness profile to 23.4% for frail elderly profile; risk ratio, 7.9 [95% CI, 7.1-8.8], P < .001). Repeating the analysis using k-means clustering resulted in qualitatively similar groupings. Each clinical profile suggested a distinct collaborative care strategy to optimize management. The findings suggest that highly medically complex patient populations may be categorized into distinct patient profiles that are amenable to varying strategies for resource allocation and coordinated care interventions.

Bisphosphonate Treatment Beyond 5 Years and Hip Fracture Risk in Older Women

Clinical trials have demonstrated the antifracture efficacy of bisphosphonate drugs for the first 3 to 5 years of therapy. However, the efficacy of continuing bisphosphonate for as long as 10 years is uncertain. To examine the association of discontinuing bisphosphonate at study entry, discontinuing at 2 years, and continuing for 5 additional years with the risk of hip fracture among women who had completed 5 years of bisphosphonate treatment at study entry. This cohort study included women who were members of Kaiser Permanente Northern and Southern California, 2 integrated health care delivery systems, and who had initiated oral bisphosphonate and completed 5 years of treatment by January 1, 2002, to September 30, 2014. Data analysis was conducted from January 2018 to August 2020. Discontinuation of bisphosphonate at study entry (within a 6-month grace period), discontinuation at 2 years (within a 6-month grace period), and continuation for 5 additional years. The outcome was hip fracture determined by principal hospital discharge diagnoses. Demographic, clinical, and pharmacological data were ascertained from electronic health records. Among 29 685 women (median [interquartile range] age, 71 [64-77] years; 17 778 [60%] non-Hispanic White individuals), 507 incident hip fractures were identified. Compared with bisphosphonate discontinuation at study entry, there were no differences in the cumulative incidence (ie, risk) of hip fracture if women remained on therapy for 2 additional years (5-year risk difference [RD], -2.2 per 1000 individuals; 95% CI, -20.3 to 15.9 per 1000 individuals) or if women continued therapy for 5 additional years (5-year RD, 3.8 per 1000 individuals; 95% CI, -7.4 to 15.0 per 1000 individuals). While 5-year differences in hip fracture risk comparing continuation for 5 additional years with discontinuation at 2 additional years were not statistically significant (5-year RD, 6.0 per 1000 individuals; 95% CI, -9.9 to 22.0 per 1000 individuals), interim hip fracture risk appeared lower if women discontinued after 2 additional years (3-year RD, 2.8 per 1000 individuals; 95% CI, 1.3 to 4.3 per 1000 individuals; 4-year RD, 9.3 per 1000 individuals; 95% CI, 6.3 to 12.3 per 1000 individuals) but not without a 6-month grace period to define discontinuation. In this study of women treated with bisphosphonate for 5 years, hip fracture risk did not differ if they discontinued treatment compared with continuing treatment for 5 additional years. If women continued for 2 additional years and then discontinued, their risk appeared lower than continuing for 5 additional years. Discontinuation at other times and fracture rates during intervening years should be further studied.

Identifying Ectopic Pregnancy in a Large Integrated Health Care Delivery System: Algorithm Validation.

BackgroundSurveillance of ectopic pregnancy (EP) using electronic databases is important. To our knowledge, no published study has assessed the validity of EP case ascertainment using electronic health records.ObjectiveWe aimed to assess the validity of an enhanced version of a previously validated algorithm, which used a combination of encounters with EP-related diagnostic/procedure codes and methotrexate injections.MethodsMedical records of 500 women aged 15-44 years with membership at Kaiser Permanente Southern and Northern California between 2009 and 2018 and a potential EP were randomly selected for chart review, and true cases were identified. The enhanced algorithm included diagnostic/procedure codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, used telephone appointment visits, and excluded cases with only abdominal EP diagnosis codes. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and overall performance (Youden index and F-score) of the algorithm were evaluated and compared to the validated algorithm.ResultsThere were 334 true positive and 166 true negative EP cases with available records. True positive and true negative EP cases did not differ significantly according to maternal age, race/ethnicity, and smoking status. EP cases with only one encounter and non-tubal EPs were more likely to be misclassified. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of the enhanced algorithm for EP were 97.6%, 84.9%, 92.9%, and 94.6%, respectively. The Youden index and F-score were 82.5% and 95.2%, respectively. The sensitivity and NPV were lower for the previously published algorithm at 94.3% and 88.1%, respectively. The sensitivity of surgical procedure codes from electronic chart abstraction to correctly identify surgical management was 91.9%. The overall accuracy, defined as the percentage of EP cases with correct management (surgical, medical, and unclassified) identified by electronic chart abstraction, was 92.3%.ConclusionsThe performance of the enhanced algorithm for EP case ascertainment in integrated health care databases is adequate to allow for use in future epidemiological studies. Use of this algorithm will likely result in better capture of true EP cases than the previously validated algorithm.

Use of a Computerized Algorithm to Evaluate the Proportion and Causes of Potentially Preventable Readmissions Among Patients Discharged to Skilled Nursing Facilities

ObjectivesOlder patients discharged to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) for post-acute care are at high risk for hospital readmission. Yet, as in the community setting, some readmissions may be preventable with optimal transitional care. This study examined the proportion of 30-day hospital readmissions from SNFs that could be considered potentially preventable readmissions (PPRs) and evaluated the reasons for these readmissions. DesignRetrospective cohort study. Setting and ParticipantsPost-acute practice of an integrated health care delivery system serving 11 SNFs in the US Midwest. Patients discharged from the hospital to an SNF and subsequently readmitted to the hospital within 30 days from January 1, 2009, through November 31, 2016. MethodsA computerized algorithm evaluated the relationship between initial and repeat hospitalizations to determine whether the repeat hospitalization was a PPR. We assessed for changes in PPR rates across the system over the study period and evaluated the readmission categories to identify the most prevalent PPR categories. ResultsOf 11,976 discharges to SNFs for post-acute care among 8041 patients over the study period, 16.6% resulted in rehospitalization within 30 days, and 64.8% of these rehospitalizations were considered PPRs. Annual proportion of PPRs ranged from 58.2% to 66.4% [mean (standard deviation) 0.65 (0.03); 95% confidence interval CI 0.63-0.67; P = .36], with no discernable trend. Nearly one-half (46.2%) of all 30-day readmissions were classified as potentially preventable medical readmissions related to recurrence or continuation of the reason for initial admission or to complications from the initial hospitalization. Conclusions and ImplicationsFor this cohort of patients discharged to SNFs, a computerized algorithm categorized a large proportion of 30-day hospital readmissions as potentially preventable, with nearly one-half of those linked to the reason for the initial hospitalization. These findings indicate the importance of improvement in postdischarge transitional care for patients discharged to SNFs.

Abstract 16062: Hypoglycemia and Risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ascvd) in Patients With Diabetes

Introduction: Studies evaluating the relationship of severe hypoglycemia (SH) with the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events are limited by size, confounding and inconsistent outcome definitions. The aim of this study was to assess the association of SH, as defined by hypoglycemia-related hospital utilization, with risk of ASCVD. Methods: We conducted an observational cohort study of adults with diabetes with or without established ASCVD (as of 1/1/2014). All subjects were members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California, an integrated health care delivery system. Baseline was determined by the date of the first hypoglycemia-related utilization (primary diagnosis of hypoglycemia in the emergency department or principal diagnosis in the hospital) during 1/1/2013 - 12/31/2013. Baseline for those without SH, was a randomly assigned date in 2013. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were specified to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for SH in adjusted models of time to incident ASCVD events. This outcome was defined as a composite of nonfatal myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or coronary heart disease death through 12/31/2017. Results: Among 233,696 eligible individuals, mean age was 63.6 years, 47.6% were women, and mean follow-up was 3.8 years. There were 2,179 episodes of SH. Age-sex-race adjusted risk of ASCVD among those with SH versus those without was HR 2.59 (95% CI 2.3-2.9). When additionally adjusted for prior ASCVD, the HR was still more than double, HR 2.32 (95% CI 2.1-2.6). In a fully saturated model with additional adjustments for diabetes type, diabetes duration, HbA1c, GFR, Charlson score, insulin use, sulfonylureas, and quartiles of neighborhood deprivation, SH was associated with a 30% increased risk (HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.16-1.5). The substantial attenuation in risk after more comprehensive adjustment suggests that patients at higher risk of SH are likely at higher risk of ASCVD. Conclusions: In a large, diverse and contemporary cohort of patients with diabetes, SH as defined by hypoglycemia-related hospital utilization is associated with greater risk of ASCVD. Increased awareness in recognizing this risk and vigilance in care for this higher risk population is warranted.

Abstract 15657: Influenza Vaccination and All-cause Mortality Among Adults With Heart Failure in an Integrated Healthcare Delivery System, 2009-2018

Background: Vaccinations prevent respiratory infections in heart failure (HF) patients, leading to less HF decompensation. Given a growing interest around influenza vaccination and mortality reduction, we examined the association between influenza vaccination and all-cause mortality among members with HF in Kaiser Permanente Southern California. Methods: We identified members with HF by ICD-9/10 diagnosis codes prior to September 1 each year from 2009-2017. The first flu vaccination in each season (September 1-May 31) was recorded. Vaccinated/unvaccinated members were matched 1:1 on age, sex, and ejection fraction. Matched pairs were followed from the vaccinated member’s vaccination date through the end of the season for mortality, with the last date of follow-up on May 31, 2018. Frequency of healthcare utilization in the year before each season was compared between vaccinated and unvaccinated members. We calculated unadjusted and utilization-adjusted rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between vaccination and mortality. Results: Between 2009-2018, influenza vaccination among HF members increased from 74.8% to 80.3% and the number of vaccinated and unvaccinated matched pairs increased to 4,451 through the 2017-2018 season. The proportions of vaccinated and unvaccinated members with ≥ 1 prior inpatient visit and ≥1 prior emergency department (ED) visit were similar (46.2% vs 44.6% and 34.3% vs 32.6%, respectively). More unvaccinated than vaccinated members had ≥ 5 outpatient visits (41.9% vs 28.1%). After adjustment for inpatient, outpatient and ED visits, vaccinated members had between a 16% and 36% lower mortality rate across all seasons (RR 0.64 [95% CI 0.55, 0.75] in 2013-2014 and RR 0.84 [95% CI 0.73, 0.96] in 2017-2018). (Table) Conclusion: Influenza vaccination was likely associated with a lower mortality rate among HF patients. Future work will examine the potential confounding by comorbidities and treatments.

Abstract 17062: Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in South Asians by Statin Use: Insights From a Large Integrated Healthcare Delivery System

Introduction: South Asian ethnicity is associated with increased atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk and has been identified as a “risk enhancer” in the 2018 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Management of Blood Cholesterol. Hypothesis: An increased use of statins has been recommended since implementation of the 2013 ACC/ AHA Pooled Cohort Equation (PCE); however, the impact of statins on ASCVD outcomes in South Asians is not well understood. We aim to identify the accuracy of 10-year ASCVD risk prediction by the PCE, based on statin use, in a South Asian cohort. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of members within Kaiser Permanente Northern California without existing ASCVD, age range 30-70, for whom lipid panel, ethnic data, and 10-year follow up were available. ASCVD events were defined as acute myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and cardiovascular death. The cohort was stratified by statin use: never, at baseline and follow-up and only during follow-up. Predicted probability of ASCVD, using the PCE were calculated and compared to the observed for each ASCVD risk category: low &lt;5.0%, borderline 5.0-7.5%, intermediate 7.5-&lt;20.0%, and high &gt;=20.0%. Results: A total of 1,835 South Asian patients were included. ASCVD risk was underestimated by the PCE across all risk categories and statin groups. The greatest disparity was seen in the low-risk ASCVD risk group; entire cohort: 1.8 vs 4.9%, p&lt;0.0001; on statin at baseline and follow-up: 2.58 vs 8.43%, p&lt;0.0001; on statin during follow-up only: 2.18 vs 7.77%, p&lt;0.0001; and never on statin: 1.37 vs 2.09%, p=0.1175 (Figure 1). The absolute risk difference in ASCVD outcomes between the cohort never on statins to those on statins during follow up was 0.73%, 3.31%, and 6.67% in the borderline, intermediate, and high-risk groups, respectively. Conclusions: In a large, community-based South Asian cohort, the PCE underestimated risk in South Asians, who were taking statins, in the low ASCVD risk category.

Isotretinoin and Risk of Cardiovascular Events in Adults with Acne: A Population-based Retrospective Cohort Study

Background Case reports have suggested isotretinoin exposure may be associated with adverse cardiac events. There are limited data where the cardiovascular safety of isotretinoin is systematically evaluated. Objective The aim of this study was to determine the strength of association between isotretinoin exposure and adverse cardiovascular events. Methods This was a population-based retrospective cohort study within an integrated healthcare delivery system. Adults ≥ 18 years of age with acne between 2009 and 2018 were included. Exposure to isotretinoin was identified using pharmacy records, and propensity score 1:1 matching was performed. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular outcomes, including acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and all-cause death. Results The cohort consisted of 12,140 adults (10.5%) exposed to isotretinoin and 103,126 adults who were never exposed. Mean follow-up was 7.1 ± 2.9 years. After propensity score 1:1 matching, 23,844 patients were included. The rates of the composite cardiovascular outcomes were 0.47 versus 0.48 per 1000 person-years in the isotretinoin and non-exposed groups, respectively. No significant association was observed between isotretinoin treatment and the composite cardiovascular outcomes (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.62-1.58), all-cause mortality (adjusted HR 1.10, 95% CI 0.62-1.95), acute myocardial infarction (adjusted HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.33-3.09), congestive heart failure (adjusted HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.14-1.40), or atrial fibrillation (adjusted HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.12-1.65). Conclusions Among adult patients with acne, no association was found between exposure to isotretinoin and an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Physicians should not be discouraged from prescribing isotretinoin out of concern for cardiovascular effects.