Prevalence Of Clinical Risk Factors Research Articles

Variation in Outpatient Postpartum Care Use in the United States: A Latent Class Analysis.

Despite efforts to improve postpartum health care in the United States, little is known about patterns of postpartum care beyond routine postpartum visit attendance. This study aimed to describe variation in outpatient postpartum care patterns. In this longitudinal cohort study of national commercial claims data, we used latent class analysis to identify subgroups of patients (classes) with similar outpatient postpartum care patterns (defined by the number of preventive, problem, and emergency department outpatient visits in the 60days after birth). We also compared classes in terms of maternal sociodemographics and clinical characteristics measured at childbirth, as well as total health spending and rates of adverse events (all-cause hospitalizations and severe maternal morbidity) measured from childbirth to the late postpartum period (61-365days after birth). The study cohort included 250,048 patients hospitalized for childbirth in 2016. We identified six classes with distinct outpatient postpartum care patterns in the 60days after birth, which we classified into three broad groups: no care (class 1 [32.4% of the total sample]); preventive care only (class 2 [18.3%]); and problem care (classes 3-6 [49.3%]). The prevalence of clinical risk factors at childbirth increased progressively from class 1 to class 6; for example, 6.7% of class 1 patients had any chronic disease compared with 15.5% of class 5 patients. Severe maternal morbidity was highest among the high problem care classes (classes 5 and 6): 1.5% of class 6 patients experienced severe maternal morbidity in the postpartum period and 0.5% in the late postpartum period, compared with less than 0.1% of patients in classes 1 and2. Efforts to redesign and measure postpartum care should reflect the current heterogeneity in care patterns and clinical risks in the postpartum population.

Mortality risk among patients undergoing exercise versus pharmacologic myocardial perfusion imaging: A propensity-based comparison

Background:The increased risk associated with pharmacologic versus exercise testing is obscured by the higher prevalence of clinical risk factors among pharmacologic patients. Thus, we assessed comparative mortality in a large risk factor-matched group of exercise versus pharmacologic patients undergoing stress/rest SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). Methods:39,179 patients undergoing stress/rest SPECT-MPI were followed for 13.3 ± 5.0 years for all-cause mortality (ACM). We applied propensity-matching to create pharmacologic and exercise groups with similar risk profiles. Results:In comparison to exercise patients, pharmacologic patients had an increased risk-adjusted hazard ratio for ACM for each level of ischemia: increased by 3.8-fold (95%CI 3.5-4.1) among nonischemic patients, 2.5-fold (95%CI 2.0-3.2) among mildly ischemic patients, and 2.6-fold (95%CI 2.1-3.3) among moderate/severe ischemic patients. Similar findings were observed among a propensity-matched cohort of 10,113 exercise and 10,113 pharmacologic patients as well as in an additional cohort that also excluded patients with noncardiac co-morbidities. ConclusionsPatients requiring pharmacologic stress testing manifest substantially heightened clinical risk at each level of myocardial ischemia and even when myocardial ischemia is absent. These findings suggest the need to study the pathophysiological drivers of increased risk in association with pharmacologic testing and to convey this risk in clinical reports.

Analysis of the prevalence of clinical risk factors of osteoporotic fractures among urban and rural populations of the Russian Federation (according to the epidemiological study ESSE-RF-2)

Analysis of the prevalence of clinical risk factors of osteoporotic fractures among urban and rural populations of the Russian Federation (according to the epidemiological study ESSE-RF-2)

The epidemiology of osteoporosis in Italian postmenopausal women according to the National Bone Health Alliance (NBHA) diagnostic criteria: a multicenter cohort study.

The study was aimed at evaluating the prevalence of osteoporosis, defined by BMD and the National Bone Health Alliance (NBHA) criteria, and the prevalence of clinical risk factors for fractures in Italian postmenopausal women. This is a cross-sectional, multicenter, cohort study evaluating 3247 postmenopausal women aged ≥50 and older in different areas of Italy in the period 2012-2014. All the participants were evaluated as far as anthropometrics; questionnaires for FRAX® and DeFRA calculation were administered and bone mineral density was measured at lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip by DXA. The prevalence of osteoporosis, as assessed by BMD and NBHA criteria was 36.6 and 57%, respectively. Mean±SD values of FRAX® and DeFRA were: 10.2±7.3 and 11±9.4 for major fractures, and 3.3±4.9 and 3.9±5.9 for hip fractures, respectively. Among clinical risk factors for fracture, the presence of previous fracture, particularly non-spine/non-hip fracture, parental history of hip fracture and current smoking were the most commonly observed. Our study showed that more that the half of postmenopausal women aged 50 and older in Italy has osteoporosis on the basis of the NBHA criteria. There is a relevant high risk of femur fracture, as assessed by the FRAX® and DeFRA and previous fracture, parental history of hip fracture and current smoking are the most common risk factors. The data should be considered particularly in relation to the need to increase prevention strategies on modifiable risk factors and therapeutic intervention.

Distribution of clinical risk factors for fracture in a Brussels cohort of postmenopausal women: The FRISBEE study and comparison with other major cohort studies

ObjectivesThe estimation of fracture risk using clinical risk factors (CRFs) is of primary concern in osteoporosis management, but only some risk factors have been thoroughly evaluated and incorporated in predictive models. We have launched a large prospective study, the ‘Fracture Risk Brussels Epidemiological Enquiry’ (FRISBEE), to develop a new predictive model for osteoporotic fractures. The aims of this report are to describe the methodology of the FRISBEE study and to compare the distribution of CRFs in our cohort with those reported in other large studies. Study designFRISBEE is a new study that prospectively evaluates a cohort of 3560 post-menopausal women (aged 60–85 years) followed yearly for the occurrence of fragility fractures. Multiple validated CRFs, densitometry (DXA) values and intake of medication were systematically registered at baseline. The distribution of the FRISBEE CRFs has been compared with the distributions of CRFs in the cohorts used to develop the FRAX® model as well as in more recent cohorts. For these recent cohorts, we focused on CRFs not included in FRAX®. ResultsThe most frequently encountered CRFs used in FRAX® were a prior fragility fracture (27.1%) and a parental history of hip fracture (13.4%). The prevalence of some CRFs not integrated in FRAX® was relatively high, such as the use of proton pump inhibitors (20.8%) and a history of fall(s) (19.7%). The prevalence of many CRFs was quite variable between cohorts; for example, the prevalence of ‘personal prior fragility fracture’ ranged from 9% to 51%. ConclusionWe found considerable heterogeneity in the prevalence of CRFs between cohort studies. The impact of these differences on the predictive value of a particular CRF is unknown. We will construct a predictive model calibrated to the Belgian population. More importantly, the FRISBEE study should allow us to determine the predictive value of newly recognized CRFs in addition to the FRAX® algorithm to reliably estimate fracture risk.

American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons–Endorsed Comorbidity Coding for Total Joint Arthroplasty: How Often Did We Hit the Mark With International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision?

BackgroundInitiatives led by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) have indicated a number of clinical risk factors associated with total joint arthroplasty that might reflect the complexity of contemporary hip and knee care. This study sought to examine the prevalence of specific International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9), coding with respect to an AAHKS-endorsed list of comorbidity codes. MethodsAn administrative data set from an academic arthroplasty referral center was analyzed in an attempt to measure the prevalence of clinical risk factors (ICD-9) endorsed by AAHKS. Total, partial, and revision joint arthroplasty procedures from January 1, 2012, to April 27, 2015, were included. Demographic data, along with diagnosis and procedural coding data, were collected and analyzed. ResultsResults analysis found a number of poorly coded variables. The following variables were omitted in the data: narcotic use, worker's compensation status, previous intra-articular infection, previous open reduction and internal fixation knee, and depression/psychiatric disease. Likewise, there was a discrepancy between the rate of ICD coding for obesity and body mass index measurements and categorization recorded in the clinic. ConclusionFrom this single-center study, there remain opportunities for coding to adequately reflect the comorbidities and complexities of patients undergoing arthroplasty.

Viewing behavior and related clinical characteristics in a population of children with visual impairments in the Netherlands

Children with visual impairments are very heterogeneous in terms of the extent of visual and developmental etiology. The aim of the present study was to investigate a possible correlation between prevalence of clinical risk factors of visual processing impairments and characteristics of viewing behavior. We tested 149 children with visual information processing impairments (90 boys, 59 girls; mean age (SD)=7.3 (3.3)) and 127 children without visual impairments (63 boys and 64 girls, mean age (SD)=7.9 (2.8)). Visual processing impairments were classified based on the time it took to complete orienting responses to various visual stimuli (form, contrast, motion detection, motion coherence, color and a cartoon). Within the risk group, children were divided into a fast, medium or slow group based on the response times to a highly salient stimulus. The relationship between group specific response times and clinical risk factors was assessed. The fast responding children in the risk group were significantly slower than children in the control group. Within the risk group, the prevalence of cerebral visual impairment, brain damage and intellectual disabilities was significantly higher in slow responding children compared to faster responding children. The presence of nystagmus, perceptual dysfunctions, mean visual acuity and mean age did not significantly differ between the subgroups. Orienting responses are related to risk factors for visual processing impairments known to be prevalent in visual rehabilitation practice. The proposed method may contribute to assessing the effectiveness of visual information processing in children.

PMS8 Prevalence of Clinical Risk Factors for Fractures in the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study

PMS8 Prevalence of Clinical Risk Factors for Fractures in the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study

Modifiable cardiovascular risk factors among adults in Aleppo, Syria

This report provides the first comprehensive and standardized assessment of the distribution of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in Syria, where such data are still scarce. A population-based household survey was conducted in Aleppo (population >2.5 million), involving 1,168 subjects ≥25 years old (47.7% men; mean age 44.7 ± 12.7 years). Information about socio-demographics, personal behavior, and other CVD risk factors was collected. Anthropometric measurements and fasting blood samples were obtained. The prevalence of clinical risk factors of CVD (ClinRFs) was 45.6% for hypertension, 43.2% for obesity, 21.9% for hypercholesterolemia and 15.6% for diabetes. The prevalence of behavioral risk factors (BehRFs) was 82.3% for physical inactivity, 39.0% for smoking, and 33.4% for unhealthy diet. All ClinRFs increased with age, while gender was associated only with obesity and smoking. Education was associated with obesity and diabetes (P < 0.05 for all). Adults in Syria have some of the world's highest prevalence of CVD risk factors. Unhealthy behaviors and social norms unfavorable to women may explain some of such risk profiles.

Implementation of osteoporosis guidelines: a survey of five large fracture liaison services in the Netherlands

SummaryImplementation of case findings according to guidelines for osteoporosis in fracture patients presenting at a Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) was evaluated. Despite one guideline, all FLSs differed in the performance of patient selection and prevalence of clinical risk factors (CRFs) indicating the need for more concrete and standardised guidelines.IntroductionThe aim of the study was to evaluate the implementation of case findings according to guidelines for osteoporosis in fracture patients presenting at FLSs in the Netherlands.MethodsFive FLSs were contacted to participate in this prospective study. Patients older than 50 years with a recent clinical fracture who were able and were willing to participate in fracture risk evaluation were included. Performance was evaluated by criteria for patient recruitment, patient characteristics, nurse time, evaluated clinical risk factors (CRFs), bone mineral density (BMD) and laboratory testing and results of CRFs and BMD are presented. Differences between FLSs were analysed for performance (by chi-square and Student’s t test) and for prevalence of CRFs (by relative risks (RR)).ResultsAll FLSs had a dedicated nurse spending 0.9 to 1.7 h per patient. During 39 to 58 months follow-up, 7,199 patients were evaluated (15 to 47 patients/centre/month; mean age, 67 years; 77% women). Major differences were found between FLSs in the performance of patient recruitment, evaluation of CRFs, BMD and laboratory testing, varying between 0% and 100%. The prevalence of CRFs and osteoporosis varied significantly between FLSs (RR between 1.7 and 37.0, depending on the risk factor).ConclusionAll five participating FLSs with a dedicated fracture nurse differed in the performance of patient selection, CRFs and in the prevalence of CRFs, indicating the need for more concrete and standardised guidelines to organise evaluation of patients at the time of fracture in daily practice.

Prevalence of clinical risk factors and a 10-year probability of a major osteoporosis-related fracture in elderly people in Belarus

Prevalence of clinical risk factors and a 10-year probability of a major osteoporosis-related fracture in elderly people in Belarus

FRAX ® and its applications in health economics—Cost-effectiveness and intervention thresholds using bazedoxifene in a Swedish setting as an example

Background An important aspect of cost-effectiveness analysis of osteoporosis is to accurately model the fracture risk and mortality related to the patient groups in the analysis. The estimation of fracture risk is based on a number of factors, such as the level of general risk of the normal population, the effect of treatment and the prevalence of clinical risk factors (CRFs) for fracture. Fracture risk has traditionally been calculated with risk adjustments based on age, bone mineral density and prior vertebral fracture. The treatment effect has been derived from clinical trials and, in the absence of subgroup analyses, the same efficacy has been assumed irrespective of the fracture risk of the population. The FRAX ® tool enables the estimation of risk based on a wider range of risk factors, and treatment efficacy that is dependent on the level of risk in the analyzed population. The objective was to describe the implementation of the FRAX ® algorithms into health economic osteoporosis models and to highlight how it differs from traditional risk assessment. Methods The selective estrogen receptor modulator, bazedoxifene, was evaluated in a Swedish setting with traditional and FRAX ®-based risk assessment in a previously developed Markov model that included fractures and thromboembolic events, and also was adapted to accommodate risk-dependent efficacy, which is available for bazedoxifene. Results The traditional approach gave lower ICERs at ages up to 60 years compared to the FRAX ® method when only considering age, BMD and prior fracture. At 70 years and older and when adding more CRFs with the FRAX ® approach, the FRAX ® ICER decreased and fell below the traditional approach. The risk dependant efficacy was the main reason for lower ICERs with FRAX ® in women at higher risk of fracture. Discussion FRAX ® applied in cost-effectiveness analyses is a more granular method for the estimation of fracture risk, mortality and efficacy compared to previous approaches that can also improve case finding. Furthermore, it facilitates the estimation of cost-effectiveness for various types of patients with different combinations of CRFs, which more closely matches patients in clinical practice.

The Epidemiology of Atrial Fibrillation in Elderly Persons: The Tip of the Iceberg

Atrial fibrillation is the most common clinically relevant arrhythmia and preferentially afflicts elderly persons, especially persons aged >/=75 years, with associated complications of ischemic stroke and other adverse outcomes. More than 2.2 million Americans currently have atrial fibrillation, and this number is expected to increase by at least 2.5-fold over the next 50 years. With the aging of the US and international populations, as well as the rising prevalence of clinical risk factors, the incidence and prevalence of atrial fibrillation are rising rapidly. While improved adherence to existing risk-based therapies can reduce thromboembolic complications in elderly persons, additional research is needed to determine novel approaches to prevent the initial development of atrial fibrillation in order to decrease the individual and public health burden of this condition.

Assessing the health of future physicians: an opportunity for preventive education.

Research shows that physicians who model prevention are more likely to encourage preventive behaviors in their patients. Therefore, understanding the health of medical students ought to provide insight into the development of health promotion programs that influence the way these future physicians practice medicine. A university-based General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) provides a venue well suited to the health assessment and education of medical students. This research explores the utility of a GCRC in a program measuring the prevalence of clinical risk factors and related health behaviors in first-year medical students. A 6-year cross-sectional study of first-year medical students measured clinical and behavioral variables associated with metabolic syndrome. Statistical testing was used to determine the prevalence of risk factors and the influence of gender in these variables. This group of medical students displayed better health indicators than did the general young adult population; however a small proportion of medical students exhibited early risk factors for chronic disease. There were significant gender differences in mean values for clinical risk factors, with males displaying higher cardiovascular risk overall. Males and females demonstrated significant differences in dietary intake and exercise programs. A GCRC can be used to provide a health assessment of medical students. Moreover, some students may benefit from health promotion programs incorporated into medical school curricula. This study provides a foundation for further research on the health of future physicians and the development of health promotion programs for this population. It also begins to explore the use of a GCRC as a teaching resource for medical students.

Compliance with a protocol for intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis against neonatal group B streptococcal sepsis in women with clinical risk factors.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of clinical risk factors (CRF) for neonatal sepsis in laboring women and to evaluate clinician compliance with a CRF-based protocol for intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP). A retrospective chart audit was undertaken at a district hospital (A) and a tertiary obstetric hospital (B) in Sydney, Australia between 1996 and 1998, to determine compliance with IAP in women with defined CRF. Eighty-five (12%) women at Hospital A and 117 (19%) at Hospital B had one or more CRF. Overall compliance rates with the IAP protocols were 65 and 50% at Hospitals A and B respectively, but varied according to maternal, obstetric and sepsis-related risk factors. We postulate that differences between the hospitals were related to protocol implementation. Compliance with a CRF-based protocol was lower than previously reported. Improvements in protocol development, implementation and maintenance are required to enhance compliance with IAP based on CRF.

Hospitalization for Congestive Heart Failure

To determine whether the higher rate of hospitalization among African Americans for congestive heart failure (CHF) could be explained by racial differences in the prevalence of clinical risk factors for CHF. Retrospective cohort study. A large health maintenance organization (HMO). A sample of 64,877 enrollees (27% African American and 73% white) of the Northern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program who took at least one multiphasic health checkup (MHC) at or after the age of 40 years and were free of CHF at that time. First hospitalization with a principal diagnosis of CHF. Among cohort members younger than 60 years at baseline MHC, the age-adjusted risk ratio (RR) (African American/white) for CHF hospitalization was 2.14 for men and 2.73 for women, while for persons 60 years of age and older at MHC, the age-adjusted RR was 1.48 for both sexes. Cox proportional hazards models were used to adjust for risk factors and length of follow-up. In persons aged 60 years and older, the race difference was explained by greater prevalence of hypertension and diabetes in African Americans (RR = 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94 to 1.34 after adjustment for hypertension and diabetes). In those younger than 60 years, findings differed by sex. For men, African-American race was no longer a significant predictor of CHF after adjusting for hypertension, diabetes, left ventricular hypertrophy on electrocardiogram, and body mass index (adjusted RR = 1.16; 95% CI, 0.86 to 1.56). However, among younger women, African Americans continued at increased risk despite adjustment for these variables as well as smoking, plasma cholesterol, renal function, alcohol use, and myocardial infarction (adjusted RR = 1.49; 95% CI, 1.00 to 2.21). In this HMO population, the race differences in first hospitalization for CHF are largely explained by known clinical and behavioral risk factors, although in younger women these risk factors do not completely explain the excess risk among African Americans. These findings highlight the role of hypertension and diabetes in the development of CHF, particularly among African Americans.

Hospitalization for congestive heart failure. Explaining racial differences

<h3>Objective.</h3> —To determine whether the higher rate of hospitalization among African Americans for congestive heart failure (CHF) could be explained by racial differences in the prevalence of clinical risk factors for CHF. <h3>Design.</h3> —Retrospective cohort study. <h3>Setting.</h3> —A large health maintenance organization (HMO). <h3>Patients.</h3> —A sample of 64877 enrollees (27% African American and 73% white) of the Northern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program who took at least one multiphasic health checkup (MHC) at or after the age of 40 years and were free of CHF at that time. <h3>Main Outcome Measures.</h3> —First hospitalization with a principal diagnosis of CHF. <h3>Results.</h3> —Among cohort members younger than 60 years at baseline MHC, the age-adjusted risk ratio (RR) (African American/white) for CHF hospitalization was 2.14 for men and 2.73 for women, while for persons 60 years of age and older at MHC, the age-adjusted RR was 1.48 for both sexes. Cox proportional hazards models were used to adjust for risk factors and length of follow-up. In persons aged 60 years and older, the race difference was explained by greater prevalence of hypertension and diabetes in African Americans (RR=1.12; 95% confidence interval [Cl], 0.94 to 1.34 after adjustment for hypertension and diabetes). In those younger than 60 years, findings differed by sex. For men, African-American race was no longer a significant predictor of CHF after adjusting for hypertension, diabetes, left ventricular hypertrophy on electrocardiogram, and body mass index (adjusted RR=1.16; 95% Cl, 0.86 to 1.56). However, among younger women, African Americans continued at increased risk despite adjustment for these variables as well as smoking, plasma cholesterol, renal function, alcohol use, and myocardial infarction (adjusted RR=1.49; 95% Cl, 1.00 to 2.21). <h3>Conclusions.</h3> —In this HMO population, the race differences in first hospitalization for CHF are largely explained by known clinical and behavioral risk factors, although in younger women these risk factors do not completely explain the excess risk among African Americans. These findings highlight the role of hypertension and diabetes in the development of CHF, particularly among African Americans. (<i>JAMA</i>. 1995;274:1037-1042)