Veterans Affairs Health Research Articles

Factors Associated With Influenza Vaccination in a National Veteran Cohort

IntroductionOnly 53% of American adults receive influenza vaccination, and disparities in vaccination exist amongst particular racial and ethnic groups. This study determines how race, ethnicity, sex, and rurality are associated with influenza vaccination adherence in a national Veteran Health Affairs Administration (VHA) cohort. MethodsWe examined differences in documented influenza vaccinations for the 2019-2020 influenza season among VHA patients in a retrospective cohort study using VHA administrative electronic health record data. We used logistic regression to model receipt of influenza vaccination in association with race, ethnicity, sex, and rurality while controlling for clinical diagnoses, demographics, and ambulatory care utilization. We also stratified the models by sex and rurality. ResultsAmong 5,943,918 veterans, 48.6% received influenza vaccination. Unadjusted comparisons showed those who were vaccinated were more likely to be white, male sex, and older. Similar proportions of unvaccinated and unvaccinated veterans were from rural settings. In adjusted models, Black race was most strongly associated with decreased vaccination (AOR=0.69, [0.69-0.70]), and American Indian/Alaskan Native race also had reduced odds of vaccination (AOR=0.94 [0.92-0.95]) compared to White race. Female veterans had increased odds of vaccination (AOR=1.20; [1.19-1.20]) compared to men. Rurality (AOR=0.97 [0.96-0.97]) was associated with a small decreased odds of vaccination compared to urban. In stratified models, Black veterans were less likely to receive influenza vaccination regardless of sex and rurality compared to White veterans. American Indian/Alaska Native female veterans had equal odds of vaccination as compared to White female veterans, while American Indian/Alaska Native male veterans had reduced odds of vaccination compared to White male veterans. ConclusionsDuring the 2019-2020 influenza season, Black and American Indian/Alaskan Native veterans had lower odds of vaccination. Despite the VHA's universal approach to healthcare, racial disparities still exist in preventive care.

Pharmacist Use of a Population Management Dashboard for Safe Anticoagulant Prescribing: Evaluation of a Nationwide Implementation Effort.

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have complex dosing regimens and are often incorrectly prescribed. We evaluated a nationwide DOAC population management dashboard rollout whose purpose includes pharmacist review and correction of off-label dosing prescriptions. Using data from Veterans Health Affairs, we identified all patients prescribed DOACs for atrial fibrillation or venous thromboembolism between August 2015 and December 2019. Sites were grouped on the basis of the timing of moderate-high usage of the DOAC population management tool dashboard. Effectiveness was defined as the monthly rate of off-label DOAC prescribing and the rate of clinical adverse events (bleeding, composite of stroke or venous thromboembolism). Implementation was evaluated as the percentage of off-label DOAC prescriptions changed within 7 days. Among the 128 652 patients receiving DOAC therapy at 123 centers, between 6.9% and 8.6% had off-label DOAC prescriptions. Adoption of the DOAC population management tool dashboard before July 2018 was associated with a decline in off-label dosing prescriptions (8.7%-7.6%). Only 1 group demonstrated a significant reduction in monthly rates of bleeding following implementation. All sites experienced a reduction in the composite of venous thromboembolism or stroke following dashboard adoption. There was no difference in the implementation outcome of DOAC prescription change within 7 days in any of the adoption groups. Early adoption of the DOAC population management tool dashboard was associated with decreased rates of off-label DOAC dosing prescription and reduced bleeding. Following adoption of the DOAC population management tool dashboard, all sites experienced reductions in venous thromboembolism and stroke events.

Tumor suppressor genes (TSG), treatment, and survival in de novo metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.

187 Background: The standard of care for metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) has changed substantially in less than a decade. For patients with suitable functional status, combination therapy is recommended. A diverse molecular landscape of mHSPC exists, however molecular findings have yet to inform treatment in mHSPC. Outcomes for patients vary according to baseline molecular features and patients with mutations of tumor suppressor genes (TSG) have worse survival. We sought to examine the impact of TSG alterations on overall survival (OS) for men with de novo mHSPC. Methods: We identified patients diagnosed with de-novo mHSPC from July 2017-December 2021 within the Veterans Health Affairs. Alterations in TSG including TP53, PTEN, and RB1 were determined from National Precision Oncology Program (NPOP) testing collected at any time and all alterations were included. Only patients who survived 4 months and treated within 4 months of diagnosis were included. Treatments included androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) alone, docetaxel, or androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPI). Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard models to assess the association between TSG and age, BMI, weight change in the year prior to mHSPC, Charlson comorbidity index, PSA at diagnosis, Black race, treatments for mHSPC, and OS. Results: We identified 2808 veterans with de novo mHSPC and 915 (32.6%) had NPOP data available. Patients with NPOP data were younger (mean age 71.4 vs. 75.2 years, p<0.001) and had longer OS than veterans without testing (43.7 months vs. 31.0, p<0.001). TSG alterations were found in 475 of 915 veterans (51.9%) and included 344 TP53 (37.6%), 206 PTEN (22.5%) and 50 RB1 (5.5%). Veterans with TSG had shorter OS compared to no TSG, median OS 48.5 months without TSG vs 37.7 with 1 or more TSG (p<0.001). Each TSG alteration was associated with mortality, TP53 adjusted Hazard Ratio (aHR) and 95% confidence interval 1.68 (1.35-2.09), PTEN aHR 1.33 (1.02-1.73), RB1 aHR 1.51 (1.01-2.26). ADT alone was given in 354 veterans (38.7%), docetaxel in 139 (15.2%), and ARPI in 422 (46.1%). In veterans with one or more TSG neither docetaxel nor ARPI therapy was associated with OS in unadjusted or adjusted analyses compared to ADT alone (Table). Conclusions: TSG alterations were associated with shorter survival in de novo mHSPC in veterans with molecular testing. In this real-world observational study, treatment intensification with docetaxel or ARPI in veterans with TSG was not associated with improved overall survival. [Table: see text]

Association of body-mass index (BMI) with age, PSA, and survival in metastatic prostate cancer.

96 Background: Increased body-mass index (BMI) is associated with increased prostate cancer incidence and death. However, an ‘obesity paradox’ exists where patients with BMI have longer survival once diagnosed with cancer. We investigated the influence of BMI on overall survival of veterans with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Methods: Two cohorts were identified in the US Veterans Health Affairs. The mHSPC cohort included patients diagnosed with de-novo mHSPC from 2011-2021. The mCRPC cohort was treated with abiraterone or enzalutamide from May 2011 to June 2017. We determined BMI at time of treatment and weight loss during the one year prior. BMI was categorized as ≤20, >20-25, >25-30 or >30 kg/m2. We used Kruskal-Wallis testing for ordinal variables and Cox hazard models to assess the association between BMI, age, Charlson comorbidity index, PSA level at diagnosis, Black race, weight loss, and survival. Results: We identified 5019 veterans with mHSPC and 8159 with mCRPC. Mean BMI was 27.2 (SD 5.9) in mHSPC and 28.2 (SD 5.8) in mCRPC. Mean age was 75.7 years (SD 9.8) in mHSPC and mean age of 74.6 (SD 9.3) in mCRPC. Median overall survival was 25.6 months (95% CI 24.6-26.6) in mHSPC and 20.5 months (95% CI 19.9-21.1) in mCRPC. There were significant differences in age, Black race, and PSA at diagnosis across BMI strata with BMI>30 having the youngest age, lowest percentage of Black race, lowest PSA, and longest survival in mHSPC and mCRPC (see Table). In unadjusted analyses, veterans with BMI>30 had lowest risk of death with Hazard Ratio (HR) 0.66 (95% CI 0.60-0.71) in mHSPC and 0.60 (95% CI 0.56-0.64) in mCRPC compared to BMI>20-25. In adjusted analyses, veterans with BMI>30 had lowest risk of death with adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.89 (95% CI 0.81-0.97) in mHSPC and HR 0.77 (95% CI 0.72-0.83) in mCRPC compared to BMI>20-25. Conclusions: Increased BMI is associated with younger age at diagnosis, lower PSA, and longer survival in both mHSPC and mCRPC. Further studies between BMI and prostate cancer are warranted to understand these complex interactions. [Table: see text]

Addressing the SUD training gap: Two pilot feasibility studies in the Department of Veteran's Affairs Health Care System

IntroductionSubstance use disorders (SUDs) are an ongoing public health crisis in the United States. A large body of research indicates an urgent need for increased training in SUD research and treatment for trainees in mental health service disciplines. The VA Health Care System is well positioned, as the largest trainer and employer of health service psychologists and other mental health professionals, to address the SUD training gap and serve as a leader in training the upcoming health care workforce. MethodTo this end, we conducted two pilot studies to (1) examine the feasibility of implementing supplemental SUD training for VA health service trainees, among current VA mental health service providers in psychology, social work, and medical care (N = 37) and (2) the efficacy of a single 2-hour interdisciplinary SUD training seminar for VA health service trainees in mental health (N = 13). The training seminar consisted of several components including lecture, facilitated discussion, and role play, aimed at increasing trainee self-efficacy in assessing and diagnosing SUDs. ResultsFindings suggest that current providers are supportive of supplemental SUD training for VA trainees and believe that such training is beneficial for those wishing to pursue a career within the VA Health Care System. Additionally, results suggest that a single session didactic seminar improved trainees' self-reported efficacy in the assessment and referral of veterans diagnosed with SUDs. ConclusionsOverall, the above studies support additional feasibility investigations that would pave the way for successful implementation of widespread SUD training programs across the VA Health Care System and beyond. Successful implementation would then serve to reduce the increasingly critical SUD provider shortage, thus leading to significant public health gains.

Abstract 12959: Association of Gender-Affirming Hormone Treatment With Metabolic Syndrome in Transgender Patients Compared With Cis-Gender Patients

Background: The long-term effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is an area of priority in transgender (TG) health research. Also, there is a great gap in our understanding of sex hormone and sex chromosomes and their role in Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and therefore atherosclerosis risk. Hypothesis: sex hormones, (estradiol and Testosterone) affect the development of MetS and therefore heart disease. Methods: Using International Classification of Diseases ninth and tenth codes for gender dysphoria from the Veteran Health Affairs national data, we identified 284 transfeminine (TF) and 79 transmasculine (TM) patients with documented received GAHT initiation date (index date=ID) and MetS components data. GAHT consists of estradiol in TF and testosterone in TM individuals.TG individuals were matched to 252 cis-male (CM) and 111 cis-female (CF) referents. MetS z-scores were calculated as: where . In the longitudinal analyses, time (years) was computed from the ID (“Time 0”) with negative and positive values indicating pre- and post ID period, respectively. The mean MetS z-scores were compared among TG and cis-gender groups over time using a repeated measures analysis of variance model. Results: The mean age of cohort was 41, 84% non-Hispanic White and 9% non-Hispanic Black.Table 1 shows MetS z-score significantly changed overtime (p<0.001) and differed across groups (p<0.05). Fig 1 shows the changes in adjusted (year and group) MetS z-scores with locally estimated scatterplot smoothing curves. The data indicate that estrogen and testosterone may have different effects on metabolic status. hormones Conclusion: Sex hormones play an important role in the MetS development sex difference.

Identifying predictors of the amount of veteran participation in cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in the Veterans Affairs health care system.

Insomnia is a prevalent and negatively impactful disorder among veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has committed significant resources to the development and dissemination of training related to cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), the recommended first-line intervention for chronic insomnia disorder. It has been established that VA clinicians can be effectively trained to deliver high fidelity CBT-I and that treatment results in significant improvements in insomnia. However, there is a paucity of research examining rates and predictors of veterans' participation in CBT-I in routine VA clinical care. In this study, we conducted a secondary analysis of data from VA electronic health records (EHR) to determine individual predisposing, enabling, and need factors associated with CBT-I participation. The sample included veterans who had at least one CBT-I templated note from the VA mid-Atlantic region of the United States (VISN4) between 2015 and 2019 in their chart (N = 2,801). CBT-I participation was defined by number of CBT-I templated notes occurring within a 6-month period from the initial note. Findings indicated that veterans most often completed only one session of CBT-I and, on average, completed approximately three sessions. Results from multinomial logistic regression identified significant associations of race, the presence of comorbid mental health disorders, rurality, presence of insomnia diagnosis, and insomnia medication with CBT-I participation; associations varied depending on how CBT-I participation was defined. More work is needed to better understand factors contributing to participation and reasons for completion and noncompletion of CBT-I. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Maximizing Veterans Health Affairs Community Hospice Collaborations: Review of Perceived Resource Needs to Support Veterans at End of Life.

Within the United States, approximately 330 000 military veterans die annually, but only 5% of deaths occur in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities. To help provide end-of-life care for veterans, the VHA built community partnerships with community hospice and palliative care (HPC) organizations. Veterans experience unique psychosocial factors making it vital to ensure HPC organizations have access to veteran-specific knowledge and resources to reduce suffering. To better understand the strengths and limitations of these partnerships, community HPC staff (N = 483) responded to quantitative and qualitative survey questions developed using an access to care theory for veterans. Survey responses demonstrated variable perceptions of access to VHA care and resources. Respondents reported excellent experiences (44%) and relationships with their local facility (50%) and had a reliable contact who provided needed assistance (92%). Thematic analysis identified a need for VHA care and barriers to access, which were associated with technical characteristics, and geographical and cultural issues. These findings can help inform future research and policy regarding access to VHA resources for end-of-life care for veterans in the community and guide resource development for community HPC providers.

Severity of posttraumatic stress disorder, type 2 diabetes outcomes and all-cause mortality: A retrospective cohort study

BackgroundSome evidence suggests patients with comorbid PTSD and type 2 diabetes (T2D) have worse T2D outcomes than those with T2D alone. However, there is no evidence regarding PTSD severity and risk for starting insulin, hyperglycemia, microvascular complications, and all-cause mortality. MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, Veterans Health Affairs (VHA) medical record data from fiscal year (FY) 2012 to FY2022 were used to identify eligible patients (n = 23,161) who had a PTSD diagnosis, ≥1 PTSD Checklist score, controlled T2D (HbA1c ≤ 7.5) without microvascular complications at baseline. PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) scores defined mild, moderate, and severe PTSD. Competing risk and survival models estimated the association between PTSD severity and T2D outcomes before and after controlling for confounding. ResultsMost (70%) patients were ≥ 50 years of age, 88% were male, 64.2% were of white race and 17.1% had mild, 67.4% moderate and 15.5% severe PTSD. After control for confounding, as compared to mild PTSD, moderate (HR = 1.05; 95% CI:1.01–1.11) and severe PTSD (HR = 1.15; 95%CI:1.07–1.23) were significantly associated with increased risk for microvascular complication. Hyperarousal was associated with a 42% lower risk of starting insulin. Negative mood was associated with a 16% increased risk for any microvascular complication. Severe PTSD was associated with a lower risk for all-cause mortality (HR = 0.76; 95%CI:0.63–0.91). ConclusionsPatients with comorbid PTSD and T2D have an increased risk for microvascular complications. However, they have lower mortality risk perhaps due to more health care use and earlier chronic disease detection. PTSD screening among patients with T2D may be warranted.

Oritavancin vs Standard of Care for Treatment of Nonendovascular Gram-Positive Bloodstream Infections.

Data is limited comparing oritavancin (ORT) to the standard-of-care (SOC) for the treatment gram-positive blood stream infections (BSI). This was a retrospective study of all patients in the Veteran's Affairs Health Care System treated with at least 1 dose of oritavancin or at least 5 days of vancomycin, daptomycin, ceftaroline, ampicillin, ampicillin-sulbactam, nafcillin, oxacillin, or cefazolin for a documented gram-positive BSI from 1 January 2015 to 30 June 2021. Patients with polymicrobial blood cultures or positive cultures from other sites were included if the organisms were sensitive to the incident antimicrobial; no concomitant antimicrobials could be used once the incident agent was started. Individuals were also excluded if they were diagnosed with endocarditis, had a neutrophil count 96-hours of treatment before the incident antimicrobial was started.The primary composite outcome was clinical failure, defined as all-cause mortality within 30-days from the end of therapy, or blood cultures positive for the incident organisms ≥72 hours after administration of the first dose and ≤30 days after the administration of the final dose of the study antimicrobial, or any drug or line-related readmissions within 30-days of hospital discharge. Two hundred-forty patients were identified for screening with 96 meeting criteria (27 in ORT and 69 in SOC groups). Baseline characteristics were generally balanced between groups except more patients in the ORT group received >96-hours of treatment before the incident antimicrobial was started (70.3% (19/27) vs 13.04% 9/69); P < .001). The pathogen most prevalent was methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) (ORT 33.3% (9/27) vs SOC 46.4% (32/69)). Clinical failure occurred in 7.4% (2/27) in the ORT group and 17.4% (12/69) in SOC (P = .34). No components of the primary outcome were significantly different between groups, but AKI did occur more commonly in the SOC group (27.5% (19/69) vs 3.7% (1/27); P = .01). ORT appears to be a safe and effective option when directly compared to the SOC for non-endocarditis BSIs.

Myocardial Infarction Across COVID-19 Pandemic Phases: Insights From the Veterans Health Affairs System.

Background Cardiovascular procedural treatments were deferred at scale during the COVID-19 pandemic, with unclear impact on patients presenting with non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Methods and Results In a retrospective cohort study of all patients diagnosed with NSTEMI in the US Veterans Affairs Healthcare System from January 1, 2019 to October 30, 2022 (n=67 125), procedural treatments and outcomes were compared between the prepandemic period and 6 unique pandemic phases: (1) acute phase, (2) community spread, (3) first peak, (4) post vaccine, (5) second peak, and (6) recovery. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to assess the association between pandemic phases and 30-day mortality. NSTEMI volumes dropped significantly with the pandemic onset (62.7% of prepandemic peak) and did not revert to prepandemic levels in subsequent phases, even after vaccine availability. Percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting volumes declined proportionally. Compared with the prepandemic period, patients with NSTEMI experienced higher 30-day mortality during Phases 2 and 3, even after adjustment for COVID-19-positive status, demographics, baseline comorbidities, and receipt of procedural treatment (adjusted odds ratio for Phases 2 and 3 combined, 1.26 [95% CI, 1.13-1.43], P<0.01). Patients receiving Veterans Affairs-paid community care had a higher adjusted risk of 30-day mortality compared with those at Veterans Affairs hospitals across all 6 pandemic phases. Conclusions Higher mortality after NSTEMI occurred during the initial spread and first peak of the pandemic but resolved before the second, higher peak-suggesting effective adaptation of care delivery but a costly delay to implementation. Investigation into the vulnerabilities of the early pandemic spread are vital to informing future resource-constrained practices.

Effect of a Peer Health Coaching Intervention on Clinical Outcomes Among US Veterans With Cardiovascular Risks

Although cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the US, CVD risk factors remain suboptimally controlled. To test the effectiveness of a home-visit, peer health coaching intervention to improve health outcomes for veterans with multiple CVD risks. This 2-group, unblinded randomized clinical trial, called Vet-COACH (Veteran Peer Coaches Optimizing and Advancing Cardiac Health), used a novel geographic-based method to recruit a racially diverse population of veterans with low income. These veterans were enrolled at the Seattle or American Lake Veterans Health Affairs primary care clinics in Washington state. Veterans with a diagnosis of hypertension with at least 1 blood pressure reading of 150/90 mm Hg or higher in the past year, and 1 other CVD risk factor (current smoker, overweight or obesity, and/or hyperlipidemia), who resided in Census tracts with the highest prevalence of hypertension were eligible to participate. Participants were randomized to the intervention group (n = 134) or control group (n = 130). An intention-to-treat analysis was performed from May 2017 to October 2021. Participants in the intervention group received peer health coaching for 12 months with mandatory and optional educational materials, an automatic blood pressure monitor, a scale, a pill organizer, and healthy nutrition tools. Participants in the control group received usual care plus educational materials. The primary outcome was a change in systolic blood pressure (SBP) from baseline to 12-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes included change in health-related quality of life (HRQOL; measured using the 12-item Short Form survey's Mental Component Summary and Physical Component Summary scores), Framingham Risk Score, and overall CVD risk and health care use (hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and outpatient visits). The 264 participants who were randomized (mean [SD] age of 60.6 [9.7] years) were predominantly male (229 [87%]) and 73 (28%) were Black individuals and 103 (44%) reported low annual income (<$40 000 per year). Seven peer health coaches were recruited. No difference was found in change in SBP between the intervention and control groups (-3.32 [95% CI, -6.88 to 0.23] mm Hg vs -0.40 [95% CI, -4.20 to 3.39] mm Hg; adjusted difference in differences, -2.05 [95% CI, -7.00 to 2.55] mm Hg; P = .40). Participants in the intervention vs control group reported greater improvements in mental HRQOL scores (2.19 [95% CI, 0.26-4.12] points vs -1.01 [95% CI, -2.91 to 0.88] points; adjusted difference in differences, 3.64 [95% CI, 0.66-6.63] points; P = .02). No difference was found in physical HRQOL scores, Framingham Risk Scores, and overall CVD risk or health care use. This trial found that, although the peer health coaching program did not significantly decrease SBP, participants who received the intervention reported better mental HRQOL compared with the control group. The results suggest that a peer-support model that is integrated into primary care can create opportunities for well-being improvements beyond blood pressure control. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02697422.

Systemic Adverse Events Among Patients With Diabetes Treated With Intravitreal Anti–Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Injections

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents are currently the mainstay of treatment for diabetic retinopathy (DR). Although effective, data on their systemic safety remains inconclusive, particularly in high-risk patient groups. To explore the systemic safety of intravitreal anti-VEGF agents among patients with diabetes. This was a retrospective, longitudinal population-based analysis of the Corporate Data Warehouse, a large-scale database of patients within the US Veteran Health Affairs. All patients 18 years and older with type 2 diabetes who were seen at any Veterans Affairs health care facility in the US between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2012, were identified. Data were then extracted on incident systemic adverse events among this patient cohort from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2017. All individuals with diabetes who did and did not receive anti-VEGF injections were included. Patients with a history of prior systemic adverse events and those who received an intravitreal injection between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2012, were excluded. Data were analyzed from October 2019 to March 2023. Anti-VEGF injection. Proportion of patients with any incident systemic adverse event, acute myocardial infarction, cardiovascular disease, or kidney disease at 1-, 3-, and 5-year follow-up. A total of 1 731 782 patients (mean [SD] age, 63.8 [12.3] years; 1 656 589 [95.7%] male) with type 2 diabetes were included. DR was present in 476 013 (27.5%), and 14 022 (0.8%) received anti-VEGF injections. Of the total number of patients with type 2 diabetes, 321 940 (18.6%) developed systemic adverse events between 2013 and 2017. The 5-year cumulative incidence of any systemic adverse event was 37.0% (5187/14 022) in the injection group vs 18.4% (316 753/1 717 760) in the noninjection group (P < .001). Anti-VEGF injections were independently associated with a higher likelihood of developing any systemic adverse event (odds ratio, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.7-1.9) when controlling for age, race, sex, ethnicity, tobacco use, severity of DR, Deyo-Charlson Comorbidity Index score, mean hemoglobin A1c, total number of injections, and statin use. In this study, intravitreal anti-VEGF injections were independently associated with a higher likelihood of systemic adverse events among patients with diabetes.

Trends in diagnosis of de novo metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer in US Veterans, 2002-2021.

10527 Background: The incidence of non-localized prostate cancer in the US has been increasing since 2011. While the etiology of this increase is unknown, improved detection of metastatic disease and changes in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening may be contributing factors. In this retrospective study, we report the frequency and characteristics of veterans with de novo metastatic prostate cancer to understand changes in the diagnosis over time. Methods: The study population consisted of veterans diagnosed with de novo metastatic Hormone Sensitive Prostate Cancer (mHSPC) with a biopsy between 2002 and 2021 in the Veterans Health Affairs Prostate Cancer Data Core were included. All patients had no prior diagnosis of prostate cancer and were classified as SEER stage ‘distant’. We collected the highest PSA within 3 months of diagnosis, age, race, and calculated the Charlson Comorbidity Index. Year of diagnosis was categorized into 5-year periods and differences over tine were assessed by chi-square linear by linear ANOVA test for linearity as appropriate. Results: 15,485 patients were diagnosed with de novo mHSPC between 2002 and 2021. The mean age was 72.9 years and the median PSA was 88.0 ng/mL. There was a 39% increase of the number of patients diagnosed with mHSPC (from 3,274 between 2002-2006 to 4,560 between 2017-2021). Mean age increased from 71.6 years between 2002-2006 to 74.4 between 2017-2021 (p &lt; 0.001). Median PSA decreased from 96.6 ng/mL in 2002-2006 to 80.3 ng/mL in 2006-2021 (p &lt; 0.001). The percentage of patients who were identified as black decreased from 29.8% between 2002-2006 to 25.4% between 2017 and 2021 (p &lt; 0.001). Mean comorbidity index increased from 3.2 between 2002-2006 to 4.5 between 2017-2021 (p &lt; 0.001). BMI increased from 26.2 between 2002-2006 to 27.2 between 2017-2021 (p &lt; 0.001). Median overall survival improved from 26.7 months in 2002-2006 to 31.7 months in 2016-2021 (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: Over a 20-year period, the Veterans diagnosed with prostate cancer were older, with higher comorbidities and with decreased PSA at diagnosis. Additionally, overall survival improved from 26.7 to 31.7 months. The findings of this study are consistent with a reduction in screening and more sensitive imaging modalities to detect metastatic disease combined with changes in the veteran population and improvements in treatment of mHSPC. Further study is warranted to understand these trends over the same time period. [Table: see text]

Understanding veteran barriers to specialty outpatient PTSD clinical care.

Veterans seeking treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) commonly report general and veteran-specific barriers to treatment such as stigma and challenges with navigating the Veterans Health Affairs (VHA) system. This study aimed to characterize barriers endorsed by a national sample of veterans seeking care in VHA PTSD specialty outpatient clinics, as well as to examine the impact of demographics on endorsed barriers. This study included 17,069 veterans referred to PTSD specialty outpatient clinics in the VHA during Fiscal Year 2019. Barriers to care, demographics, clinical concerns, and PTSD symptom severity (PCL-5) were assessed at intake. Veterans (mean age=47.6 years, 83.3% male) endorsed an average of 2.39 barriers. The most commonly endorsed barriers included difficulty interacting with others (37.9%), difficulty being in public (33.8%), work (30.3%), concern for finances (20%), and difficulty getting out of bed (19.5%). A significant minority of veterans (22%) endorsed no barriers. Male sex (23.1%) and White race (23.6%) were associated with a greater likelihood of reporting no barriers. These findings indicate the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing multi-faceted barriers for veterans seeking treatment in PTSD specialty clinics. Findings also highlight the potential importance of tailoring strategies to reduce barriers based on demographic and clinical characteristics such as race, sex, and degree of avoidance. Future research should seek to longitudinally examine the impact of barriers on treatment engagement.

Reducing Nonemergent Visits to the Emergency Department in a Veterans Affairs Multistate System

Study ObjectiveThe purpose of this quality improvement study was to reduce nonemergent visits to the emergency department attendance within a multistate Veterans Health Affairs network. MethodsTelephone triage protocols were developed and implemented for registered nurse staff to triage selected calls to a same-day telephonic or video virtual visit with a provider (physician or nurse practitioner). Calls, registered nurse triage dispositions, and provider visit dispositions were tracked for 3 months. ResultsThere were 1606 calls referred by registered nurses for provider visits. Of these, 192 were initially triaged as emergency department dispositions. Of these, 57.3% of calls that would have been referred to the emergency department were resolved via the virtual visit. Thirty-eight percent fewer calls were referred to the emergency department following licensed independent provider visit compared to the registered nurse triage. ConclusionTelephone triage services augmented by virtual provider visits may reduce emergency department disposition rates, resulting in fewer nonemergent patient presentations to the emergency department and reducing unnecessary emergency department overcrowding. Reducing nonemergent attendance to emergency departments can improve outcomes for patients with emergent dispositions.

Survival in Black and non-Black patients with metastatic prostate cancer.

101 Background: In the general population, Black men have greater incidence, lower five-year survival, and higher mortality due to prostate cancer when compared to white men. However, in clinical trials and studies of metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) in the Veterans Health Affairs (VHA) that excluded chemotherapy, Black men have longer overall survival (OS). We sought to analyze outcomes of Black men treated with androgen receptor targeting agents (ARTAs) abiraterone (AA) and enzalutamide (ENZ) in the VHA. Methods: Patients initially treated with AA or ENZ for mCRPC from May 2011 to June 2017 were identified within the VHA. Racial cohorts of Black and non-Black were determined from patient charts. ANOVA, Kaplan-Meier, and Cox proportional hazards modeling were used to assess the association between overall survival and covariates, including treatment, age, Charlson Comorbidity Index, body-mass index, PSA, year of treatment, prior docetaxel therapy, hemoglobin, creatinine clearance, bilirubin, and albumin at start of treatment. Results: Of 11,027 patients treated for mCRPC with ARTAs, 2550 (23.1%) were identified as Black. Black patients were significantly younger (72.6 vs. 75.8 years, p&lt;0.001), had higher median PSA (60.3 vs. 37.0, p&lt;0.001) and higher Charlson comorbidity index (4.5 vs. 3.9, p&lt;0.001) with lower mean BMI (27.7 vs. 28.4, p&lt;0.001) and higher rates of cardiovascular disease (62.0% vs. 59.8%, p=0.044) and diabetes (45.8% vs. 34.1%, p&lt;0.001). Docetaxel was given more frequently to Black veterans both prior to ARTA (24.7% vs. 16.9%, p&lt;0.001) and at any time (43.1% vs. 31.3%, p&lt;0.001). Black men had a median 2.0 months longer OS than non-Black men (22.0 vs. 20.0, p&lt;0.001) and decreased mortality in unadjusted models (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.85-0.94) and multivariable models (aHR 0.76, 95% CI 0.72-0.80). Black veterans had longer OS with ENZ compared to AA (24.5 vs. 21.3 months, p&lt;0.001) and decreased mortality (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.75-0.92) in unadjusted models. However, there was no difference in OS between ENZ and AA in neither multivariable models in all Black men (aHR 0.95, 95% CI 0.85-1.05) nor Black men with cardiovascular disease or diabetes (n=1912, aHR 0.91, 95% CI 0.80-1.03). Conclusions: In the VHA, which provides more equitable access to care, Black men have longer OS with ARTAs compared to non-Black men and increased use of chemotherapy. Importantly, Black men are significantly younger (&gt;3 years) when treated for mCRPC, with higher PSA, and higher rates of comorbid diseases.

Impact of chemotherapy on anxiety, depression, and suicidality amongst testicular cancer survivors.

418 Background: Chemotherapy for testicular cancer (TC) is highly effective yet associated with significant consequences on long-term health-related quality of life. We evaluate the impact of chemotherapy on anxiety, depression, and suicidality amongst TC survivors. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of US veterans diagnosed with TC in the Veterans Health Affairs database from 1990-2016. Patients with non-primary germ cell tumor histologies were excluded. Baseline disease characteristics and treatment received were ascertained from the VA Central Cancer Registry. Anxiety or depression was a composite endpoint comprised of diagnosis codes for anxiety, depression, or administration of medications used to treat these diagnoses. Incident suicidality was defined as a diagnosis code for suicidal ideation. Time to event was defined as time from diagnosis to event or censor at the time of last follow-up. Rates of outcomes were reported through cumulative incidences. Associations with outcomes and receipt of chemotherapy were assessed through multivariable Cox regression models. Results: In total, 1684 patients (1174 seminoma, 510 nonseminoma) were included in the cohort. Median age at diagnosis in the cohort was 40 years old. Median follow up time was 7.67 years for surviving patients. 1506 (89.4%) patients were white, 114 (6.8%) were African American, and 64 (3.8%) were another or unknown race. There were 1066 (63.3%) stage I patients, 191 (11.3%) stage II, 198 (11.8%) stage III, and 229 (13.6%) unknown stage patients. 579 (34.4%) patients received chemotherapy. At the time of diagnosis, 104 (6.2%) patients already experienced anxiety or depression. At 10 years, cumulative incidence of the diagnosis of anxiety or depression as 44.1% in the entire cohort. At 10 years, cumulative incidence of the diagnosis of suicidality was 5.5%. On multivariable Cox regression, factors associated with a higher risk of anxiety or depression were older age at diagnosis (Hazard Ratio (HR): 1.11 per standard deviation increase, p=0.01), being unemployed (HR: 1.25, p=0.01), and receipt of chemotherapy (HR: 1.43, p&lt;0.001). Race, stage, alcohol or tobacco use and seminoma type were nonsignificant. Factors associated with increased risks of suicidality were being unemployed (HR: 2.00, p=0.01) and not being married (HR: 2.50, p=0.001). Stage, age, race, alcohol and tobacco use, seminoma type, and receipt of chemotherapy were not significantly associated with suicidality. Conclusions: Psychosocial morbidity is high among TC survivors. Despite being effective and necessary for maintaining excellent oncologic outcomes, chemotherapy appears to increase the rates of psychosocial morbidity. Socioeconomic risk factors, including employment and marriage, may also impact psychosocial health. Clinicians should be proactive in identifying support systems for TC survivors.

Post-COVID-19 Syndrome Clinical Pathway for the US Veterans Health Administration.

The Department of Veterans Health Affairs (VHA) has launched 22 multispecialty post-COVID-19 clinics across the US for the growing number of veterans experiencing long-term sequelae after acute COVID-19 infection. While evidence-based treatments for this syndrome are under investigation, there is a critical need to establish and disseminate clinical pathways (CPWs) based on knowledge and experience gained in those clinics. This VHA CPW is intended to guide primary care clinicians who care for patients experiencing dyspnea and/or cough during post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS), which includes symptoms and abnormalities persisting or present beyond 12 weeks of the onset of acute COVID-19. This effort will help guide and standardize the care of veterans across the VHA, improve health outcomes, and effectively utilize health care resources. This article summarizes our stepwise diagnostic approach for patients presenting with PCS dyspnea and/or cough in primary care; it also highlights teleconsultation and telerehabilitation as opportunities to reach those in rural areas or with transportation barriers and improve reach for specialized services.

ADULT TETANUS, DIPHTHERIA, AND PERTUSSIS VACCINATION AND INCIDENT DEMENTIA

Abstract Adult vaccinations may reduce risk for dementia. We determined whether tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap) vaccination is associated with lower risk for dementia. Analysis conducted with Veterans Health Affairs (VHA) administrative medical record data and replicated in private sector medical claims data. Patients were ≥65 years of age and free of dementia for 2 years prior to index date. Tdap vaccination in 2011 or 2012. Follow-up through 2018. Controls had no Tdap vaccination for the duration of follow-up. After controlling for confounding, patients with, compared to without Tdap vaccination, had a significantly lower risk for dementia in both cohorts (VHA: HR=0.58; 95%CI:0.54 - 0.63 and MarketScan: HR=0.58; 95%CI:0.48 - 0.70). Results were replicated in two cohorts with different clinical and sociodemographic characteristics. Several vaccine types are linked to decreased dementia risk, suggesting that these associations are due to nonspecific effects on inflammation rather than vaccine-induced pathogen-specific protective effects.