IMPORTANCE: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes (hereafter referred to as the partnership) was established to improve the ...quality of care for patients with dementia, measured by the rate of antipsychotic prescribing. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of the partnership with trends in prescribing of antipsychotic and other psychotropic medication among older adults in long-term care. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This interrupted time-series analysis of a 20% Medicare sample from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2014, was conducted among 637 426 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries in long-term care with Part D coverage. Data analysis was conducted from May 1, 2017, to January 9, 2018. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Quarterly prevalence of use of antipsychotic and nonantipsychotic psychotropic medications (antidepressants, mood stabilizers eg, valproic acid and carbamazepine, benzodiazepines, and other anxiolytics or sedative-hypnotics). RESULTS: Among the 637 426 individuals in the study (446 538 women and 190 888 men; mean SD age at entering nursing home, 79.3 12.1 years), psychotropic use was declining before initiation of the partnership with the exception of mood stabilizers. In the first quarter of 2009, a total of 31 056 of 145 841 patients (21.3%) were prescribed antipsychotics, which declined at a quarterly rate of –0.53% (95% CI, –0.63% to –0.44%; P < .001) until the start of the partnership. At that point, the quarterly rate of decline decreased to –0.29% (95% CI, –0.39% to –0.20%; P < .001), a postpartnership slowing of 0.24% per quarter (95% CI, 0.09%-0.39%; P = .003). The use of mood stabilizers was growing before initiation of the partnership and then accelerated after initiation of the partnership (rate, 0.22%; 95% CI, 0.18%-0.25%; P < .001; rate change, 0.14%; 95% CI, 0.10%-0.18%; P < .001), reaching 71 492 of 355 716 patients (20.1%) by the final quarter of 2014. Antidepressants were the most commonly prescribed medication overall: in the beginning of 2009, a total of 75 841 of 145 841 patients (52.0%) were prescribed antidepressants. As with antipsychotics, antidepressant use declined both before and after initiation of the partnership, but the decrease slowed (rate change, 0.34%; 95% CI, 0.18%-0.50%; P < .001). Findings were similar when limited to patients with dementia. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Prescribing of psychotropic medications to patients in long-term care has declined, although the partnership did not accelerate this decrease. However, the use of mood stabilizers, possibly as a substitute for antipsychotics, increased and accelerated after initiation of the partnership in both long-term care residents overall and in those with dementia. Measuring use of antipsychotics alone may be an inadequate proxy for quality of care and may have contributed to a shift in prescribing to alternative medications with a poorer risk-benefit balance.
Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are universal and associated with multiple negative outcomes. This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluated the effect of using the ...WeCareAdvisor, an innovative web-based tool developed to enable family caregivers to assess, manage, and track BPSD.
This RCT enrolled 57 dementia family caregivers from community and clinical settings in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Baltimore, Maryland. Participants were randomly assigned to immediate use of the WeCareAdvisor tool (WCA, n = 27) or a Waitlist control group (n = 30) that received the tool after a one-month waiting period. Outcomes for the caregiver and the person they were caring for were assessed at baseline (T0) and one-month followup for both the WCA (T1) and Waitlist control (T2) groups.
Caregiver mean age was 65.9 ± 14.0 years old. About half (49%) were spouses. Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups except for mean caregiver confidence which was higher in the control group (WCA 35.0 ± 10.0 vs. Waitlist control 39.7 ± 6.9, p = 0.04). There were no significant differences between the WCA and control groups in characteristics of the person with dementia. After their one-month of tool use (T1), WCA caregivers showed significant within group improvement in caregiver distress (- 6.08 ± 6.31 points, t = - 4.82, p < 0.0001) and behavioral frequency (- 3.60 ± 5.05, t = - 3.56, p = 0.002), severity (- 3.24 ± 3.87, t = - 4.19, p = 0.0003) and total behavioral score (- 6.80 ± 10.73, t = - 3.17, p = 004). In the same timeframe, Waitlist control caregivers showed a significant decrease in confidence (- 6.40 ± 10.30, t = - 3.40, p = 0.002). The WCA group showed greater improvement in distress compared to the Waitlist group (T0-T1; t = - 2.49, p = 0.02), which remained significant after adjusting for site and baseline distress. There were no significant between-group differences in caregiver confidence or other secondary outcomes. After their one month of tool use (T2), the Waitlist group also showed significant improvement in caregiver distress (- 3.72 ± 7.53, t = - 2.66, p = 0.013), stress (- 0.41 ± 1.02, t = - 2.19, p = 0.037), confidence (4.38 ± 5.17, t = 4.56, p < 0.0001), burden (- 2.76 ± 7.26, t = - 2.05, p = 0.05), negative communication (- 1.48 ± 2.96, t = - 2.70, p = 0.012) and behavioral frequency (- 1.86 ± 4.58, t = - 2.19, p = 0.037); distress remained significant after adjustment.
In this pilot RCT, WCA use resulted in a significant decrease in caregiver distress. Future research will identify whether longer use of WCA can impact other caregiver and behavioral outcomes.
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT02420535 (Date of registry: 4/20/2015, prior to the start of the clinical trial).
IMPORTANCE: Community-dwelling older adults with dementia have a high prevalence of psychotropic and opioid use. In these patients, central nervous system (CNS)–active polypharmacy may increase the ...risk for impaired cognition, fall-related injury, and death. OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent of CNS-active polypharmacy among community-dwelling older adults with dementia in the US. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional analysis of all community-dwelling older adults with dementia (identified by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification or International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision diagnosis codes; N = 1 159 968) and traditional Medicare coverage from 2015 to 2017. Medication exposure was estimated using prescription fills between October 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018. EXPOSURES: Part D coverage during the observation year (January 1-December 31, 2018). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was the prevalence of CNS-active polypharmacy in 2018, defined as exposure to 3 or more medications for longer than 30 days consecutively from the following classes: antidepressants, antipsychotics, antiepileptics, benzodiazepines, nonbenzodiazepine benzodiazepine receptor agonist hypnotics, and opioids. Among those who met the criterion for polypharmacy, duration of exposure, number of distinct medications and classes prescribed, common class combinations, and the most commonly used CNS-active medications also were determined. RESULTS: The study included 1 159 968 older adults with dementia (median age, 83.0 years interquartile range {IQR}, 77.0-88.6 years; 65.2% were female), of whom 13.9% (n = 161 412) met the criterion for CNS-active polypharmacy (32 139 610 polypharmacy-days of exposure). Those with CNS-active polypharmacy had a median age of 79.4 years (IQR, 74.0-85.5 years) and 71.2% were female. Among those who met the criterion for CNS-active polypharmacy, the median number of polypharmacy-days was 193 (IQR, 88-315 polypharmacy-days). Of those with CNS-active polypharmacy, 57.8% were exposed for longer than 180 days and 6.8% for 365 days; 29.4% were exposed to 5 or more medications and 5.2% were exposed to 5 or more medication classes. Ninety-two percent of polypharmacy-days included an antidepressant, 47.1% included an antipsychotic, and 40.7% included a benzodiazepine. The most common medication class combination included an antidepressant, an antiepileptic, and an antipsychotic (12.9% of polypharmacy-days). Gabapentin was the most common medication and was associated with 33.0% of polypharmacy-days. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this cross-sectional analysis of Medicare claims data, 13.9% of older adults with dementia in 2018 filled prescriptions consistent with CNS-active polypharmacy. The lack of information on prescribing indications limits judgments about clinical appropriateness of medication combinations for individual patients.
The Michigan Hand Questionnaire is one of the most widely used hand-specific surveys that measure health status relevant to patients with acute and chronic hand disorders. However, item redundancy ...exists in the original version, and an abbreviated survey could minimize responder burden and offer broader applicability.
Patients (n = 422) with four specific hand conditions--rheumatoid arthritis (n = 162), thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis (n = 31), carpal tunnel syndrome (n = 97), and distal radius fracture (n = 132)--completed the Michigan Hand Questionnaire at two time points. Correlation analysis identified two items from each of six domains (i.e., function, activities of daily living, work, pain, aesthetics, and satisfaction). The Brief Michigan Hand Questionnaire score was calculated as the sum of the responses to the 12 items. Psychometric analysis was performed to describe the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Brief Michigan Hand Questionnaire.
The Brief Michigan Hand Questionnaire includes 12 items that were highly correlated with the summary Michigan Hand Questionnaire score (r = 0.99, p < 0.001). The Brief Michigan Hand Questionnaire scores were highly correlated between the two time periods (r = 0.78, p < 0.001) and by disease type. Responsiveness of the Brief Michigan Hand Questionnaire was high for all diseases and similar to that of the original Michigan Hand Questionnaire.
The 12-item Brief Michigan Hand Questionnaire is an efficient and versatile outcomes instrument specific to hand disability that retains the psychometric properties of the original Michigan Hand Questionnaire. The Brief Michigan Hand Questionnaire is an important tool with which to measure patient outcomes and the quality of care in hand surgery.
Diagnostic, I.(Figure is included in full-text article.).
Aims
To understand the role of comorbid substance use disorders (SUDs), or polysubstance use, in the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD), this study compared patients with OUD only to those with ...additional SUDs and examined association with OUD treatment receipt.
Design, setting and participants
Retrospective national cohort study of Veterans diagnosed with OUD (n = 65 741) receiving care from the US Veterans Health Administration (VHA) in fiscal year (FY) 2017.
Measurements
Patient characteristics were compared among those diagnosed with OUD only versus those with one other SUD (OUD + 1 SUD) and with multiple SUDs (OUD + ≥ 2 SUDs). The study examined the relationship between comorbid SUDs and receipt of buprenorphine, methadone and SUD outpatient treatment during 1‐year follow‐up, adjusting for patient demographic characteristics and clinical conditions.
Findings
Among the 65 741 Veterans with OUD in FY 2017, 41.2% had OUD only, 22.9% had OUD + 1 SUD and 35.9% had OUD + ≥ 2 SUDs. Common comorbid SUDs included alcohol use disorder (41.3%), cocaine/stimulant use disorder (30.0%) and cannabis use disorder (22.4%). Adjusting for patient characteristics, patients with OUD + 1 SUD adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.82–0.93 and patients with OUD +≥ 2 SUDs (aOR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.61–0.69) had lower odds of receiving buprenorphine compared with OUD only patients. There were also lower odds of receiving methadone for patients with OUD + 1 SUD (aOR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.86–0.97)and for those with OUD + ≥2 SUDs (aOR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.74–0.84). Patients with OUD + 1 SUD (aOR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.77–1.93) and patients with OUD + ≥2 SUDs (aOR = 3.25, 95% CI = 3.103.41) were much more likely to have a SUD clinic visit.
Conclusions
The majority of Veterans in the US Veterans Health Administration diagnosed with opioid use disorder appeared to have at least one comorbid substance use disorder and many have multiple substance use disorders. Despite the higher likelihood of a substance use disorder clinic visit, having a non‐opioid substance use disorder is associated with lower likelihood of buprenorphine treatment, suggesting the importance of addressing polysubstance use within efforts to expand treatment for opioid use disorder.
BACKGROUND:Distal radial fractures affect an estimated 80,000 elderly Americans each year. Although the use of internal fixation for the treatment of distal radial fractures is becoming increasingly ...common, there have been no population-based studies to explore the dissemination of this technique. The aims of our study were to determine the current use of internal fixation for the treatment of distal radial fractures in the Medicare population and to examine regional variations and other factors that influence use of this treatment. We hypothesized that internal fixation of distal radial fractures would be used less commonly in male and black populations compared with other populations because the prevalence of osteoporosis is lower in these populations, and that use of internal fixation would be correlated with the percentage of the patients who were treated by a hand surgeon in a particular region.
METHODS:We performed an analysis of complete 2007 Medicare data to determine the percentage of distal radial fractures that were treated with internal fixation in each hospital referral region. We then analyzed the association of patient and physician factors with the type of fracture treatment received, both nationally and within each hospital referral region.
RESULTS:We identified 85,924 Medicare beneficiaries with a closed distal radial fracture who met the inclusion criteria, and 17.0% of these patients were treated with internal fixation. Fractures were significantly less likely to be treated with internal fixation in men than in women (odds ratio, 0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.80 to 0.89) and in black patients than in white patients (odds ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.65 to 0.85). Patients were more likely to be treated with internal fixation rather than with another treatment if they were treated by a hand surgeon than if they were treated by an orthopaedic surgeon who was not a hand surgeon (odds ratio, 2.49; 95% confidence interval, 2.29 to 2.70). Use of internal fixation ranged from 4.6% to 42.1% (nearly a ten-fold difference) among hospital referral regions. The percentage of patients treated with internal fixation within a hospital referral region was positively correlated with the percentage of patients in that region who were treated by a hand surgeon (correlation coefficient, 0.34; p < 0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS:The use of internal fixation for the treatment of a distal radial fracture differs widely among geographical regions and patient populations. Such variations highlight the need for improved comparative-effectiveness data to guide the treatment of this fracture.
To quantify the impact of split-dose regimen on endoscopists' compliance with guideline recommendations for timing of repeat colonoscopy in patients with normal colonoscopy or 1-2 small polyps (< 10 ...mm).
A retrospective chart review of all endoscopy reports was undertaken in average-risk individuals > 50 years old with a normal screening colonoscopy and 1-2 small polyps. Data were abstracted from two time periods, pre and post-split-dose bowel preparation institution. Main outcome measurements were recommendation for timing of repeat colonoscopy and bowel preparation quality. Bivariate analysis by
tests and Student's
-tests were performed to assess differences between the two cohorts. Multivariable logistic regression was used with guideline consistent recommendations as the dependent variables and an indicator for 2011 cohort as the primary predictor.
Four thousand two hundred and twenty-five patients were included in the study; 47.0% (1987) prior to the institution of split dose bowel preparation, and 53.0% (2238) after the institution of split dose bowel preparation. Overall, 82.2% (
= 3472) of the colonoscopies were compliant with guideline recommendations, with a small but significantly increased compliance rate in year 2011 (83.7%) compared to year 2009 (80.4%,
= 0.005), corresponding to an unadjusted odds ratio of 1.25 (95%CI: 1.07-1.47;
= 0.005). Colonoscopies with either "Adequate" or "Excellent" had increased from 30.6% in year 2009 to 39.6% in year 2011 (
< 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in poor/inadequate category of bowel preparation as there was a mild increase from 4.6% in year 2009 to 5.1% in year 2011 (
= 0.50).
Split-dose bowel regimen increases endoscopists' compliance to guidelines in average-risk patients with normal colonoscopy or 1-2 small polyps.
This 2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR) for neonatal life support includes evidence from 7 ...systematic reviews, 3 scoping reviews, and 12 evidence updates. The Neonatal Life Support Task Force generally determined by consensus the type of evidence evaluation to perform; the topics for the evidence updates followed consultation with International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation member resuscitation councils. The 2020 CoSTRs for neonatal life support are published either as new statements or, if appropriate, reiterations of existing statements when the task force found they remained valid.Evidence review topics of particular interest include the use of suction in the presence of both clear and meconium-stained amniotic fluid, sustained inflations for initiation of positive-pressure ventilation, initial oxygen concentrations for initiation of resuscitation in both preterm and term infants, use of epinephrine (adrenaline) when ventilation and compressions fail to stabilize the newborn infant, appropriate routes of drug delivery during resuscitation, and consideration of when it is appropriate to redirect resuscitation efforts after significant efforts have failed.All sections of the Neonatal Resuscitation Algorithm are addressed, from preparation through to postresuscitation care. This document now forms the basis for ongoing evidence evaluation and reevaluation, which will be triggered as further evidence is published.Over 140 million babies are born annually worldwide (https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/births-and-deaths-projected-to-2100). If up to 5% receive positive-pressure ventilation, this evidence evaluation is relevant to more than 7 million newborn infants every year. However, in terms of early care of the newborn infant, some of the topics addressed are relevant to every single baby born.
Abstract Background We assessed whether key constructs of the interpersonal theory of suicide were associated with suicidal ideation in depressed US Veterans. Methods 443 patients of the Veterans ...Health Administration diagnosed with a depressive disorder completed the Beck Depression Inventory, Interpersonal Support Evaluation List, and Beck Hopelessness Scale, from which we derived measures of burdensomeness, belongingness, and hopelessness consistent with the interpersonal theory of suicide. Measures of active and passive suicidal ideation were constructed from the Beck Suicide Scale and Beck Depression Inventory obtained at baseline and 3-months follow-up. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of passive and active suicidal ideation while adjusting for demographic characteristics and somatic-affective symptoms of depression (e.g., anhedonia, insomnia). Results Burdensomeness and hopelessness were significantly associated with passive suicidal ideation at baseline and 3 months follow-up, but belongingness and the interaction between belongingness and burdensomeness were not significant predictors as proposed by the interpersonal theory of suicide. Somatic-affective depressive symptoms, but not any of the main effects predicted by the interpersonal theory of suicide or their interactions, were associated with active suicidal ideation at baseline. No factors were consistently associated with active suicidal ideation at 3 months follow-up. Limitations The measure of burdensomeness used in this study only partially represents the construct described by the interpersonal theory of suicide. Conclusion We found little support for the predictions of the interpersonal theory of suicide. Hopelessness appears to be an important determinant of passive suicidal ideation, while somatic-affective depression symptoms may be a key contributor to active suicidal ideation.
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