Vascular Disease Odds Ratio Research Articles

Visualizing complex healthcare disparities: proof of concept for representing a cyclical continuum of care model for a retrospective cohort of patients with musculoskeletal infections

BackgroundCare continuum models (also known as care cascade models) are used by researchers and health system planners to identify potential gaps or disparities in healthcare, but these models have limited applications to complex or chronic clinical conditions. Cyclical continuum models that integrate more complex clinical information and that are displayed using circular data visualization tools may help to overcome these limitations. We performed proof-of-concept cyclical continuum modeling for one such group of conditions—musculoskeletal infections—and assessed for racial and ethnic disparities across the complex care process related to these infections.MethodsCyclical continuum modeling was performed in a diverse, retrospective cohort of 1648 patients with musculoskeletal infections, including osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, and/or infectious myositis, in the University of New Mexico Health System. Logistic regression was used to estimate the relative odds of each element or outcome of care in the continuum. Results were visualized using circularized, map-like images depicting the continuum of care.ResultsRacial and ethnic disparities differed at various phases in the care process. Hispanic/Latinx patients had evidence of healthcare disparities across the continuum, including diabetes mellitus [odds ratio (OR) 2.04, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.61, 2.60 compared to a white non-Hispanic reference category]; osteomyelitis (OR 1.28, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.63); and amputation (OR 1.48; 95% CI: 1.10, 2.00). Native American patients had evidence of disparities early in the continuum (diabetes mellitus OR 3.59, 95% CI: 2.63, 4.89; peripheral vascular disease OR 2.50; 95% CI: 1.45, 4.30; osteomyelitis OR 1.43; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.95) yet lower odds of later-stage complications (amputation OR 1.02; 95% CI: 0.69, 1.52). African American/Black non-Hispanic patients had higher odds of primary risk factors (diabetes mellitus OR 2.70; 95% CI: 1.41, 5.19; peripheral vascular disease OR 4.96; 95% CI: 2.06, 11.94) and later-stage outcomes (amputation OR 2.74; 95% CI: 1.38, 5.45) but not intervening, secondary risk factors (osteomyelitis OR 0.79; 95% CI: 0.42, 1.48).ConclusionsBy identifying different structural and clinical barriers to care that may be experienced by groups of patients interacting with the healthcare system, cyclical continuum modeling may be useful for the study of healthcare disparities.

How does provider and patient awareness of high-risk status for lower-extremity amputation influence foot-care practice?

To assess whether patients with diabetes at high risk for lower extremity amputation received more intensive medical care or self-care instruction and to determine the association between foot care and risk of lower-extremity amputation. Patients with diabetes were seen at he Seattle Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) between October 1984 and April 1987; 67 patients were seen for initial non-traumatic amputation, and 236 consecutive control subjects were seen for non-traumatic but medically necessary surgery unrelated to diabetes. Data collection included patient interview and medical record review. High-risk status, defined as presence of peripheral neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease, or or prior foot ulcer, was temporally fixed at 2 years before study enrollment. Peripheral neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease, and prior foot ulcer were independently associated with risk of lower-extremity amputation: peripheral neuropathy odds ratio (OR) = 1.4 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7-2.7), peripheral vascular disease OR = 2.6 (95% CI 1.5-4.5), and prior foot ulcer OR = 10.9 (95% CI 4.6-25.5). Patients with a prior foot ulcer were significantly more likely to have seen a podiatrist and to have received outpatient diabetes education at the Seattle VAMC; their providers were more likely to prescribe clipping toenails, regular foot washing, and elevating feet during the day (chi 1(2) for proportions P < 0.05). However, for patients with a history of peripheral neuropathy or peripheral vascular disease, there was no statistically significant increase in medical care (podiatry visits, outpatient diabetes education) or self-care instruction (clip nails, elevate feet, or self-monitor blood glucose) compared with patients without either of these two conditions (chi 1(2) for proportions P > 0.20). When clinicians were aware of a patient's very elevated risk for lower-extremity amputation (evidenced by prior history of foot ulcer), they were more likely to prescribe preventive foot-care behaviors, but awareness of other risk factors (peripheral neuropathy or peripheral vascular disease) did not necessarily increase preventive care. Physicians and patients should receive periodic education and reinforcement of diabetes management skills to modify care delivered to individuals at highest risk for lower-extremity amputation.