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Beyond medication prescription as performance measures: optimal secondary prevention medication dosing after acute myocardial infarction
Arnold, Suzanne V; Spertus, John A; Masoudi, Frederick A; Daugherty, Stacie L; Maddox, Thomas M; Li, Yan; Dodson, John A; Chan, Paul S
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the prescribing patterns of medications quantified by the performance measures for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). BACKGROUND: Current performance measures for AMI are designed to improve quality by quantifying the use of evidence-based treatments. However, these measures only assess medication prescription. Whether patients receive optimal dosing of secondary prevention medications at the time of and after discharge after AMI is unknown. METHODS: We assessed treatment doses of beta-blockers, statins, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI)/angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) at discharge and 12 months after AMI among 6,748 patients from 31 hospitals enrolled in 2 U.S. registries (2003 to 2008). Prescribed doses were categorized as none, low (<50% target [defined from seminal clinical trials]), moderate (50% to 74% target), or goal (>/= 75% target). Patients with contraindications were excluded from analyses for that medication. RESULTS: Most eligible patients (>87%) were prescribed some dose of each medication at discharge, although only 1 in 3 patients were prescribed these medications at goal doses. Of patients not discharged on goal doses, up-titration during follow-up occurred infrequently (approximately 25% of patients for each medication). At 12 months, goal doses of beta-blockers, statins, and ACEI/ARBs were achieved in only 12%, 26%, and 32% of eligible patients, respectively. After multivariable adjustment, prescription of goal dose at discharge was strongly associated with being at goal dose at follow-up: beta-blockers, adjusted odds ratio (OR): 6.08 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.70 to 10.01); statins, adjusted OR: 8.22 (95% CI: 6.20 to 10.90); ACEI/ARBs, adjusted OR: 5.80 (95% CI: 2.56 to 13.16); p < 0.001 for each. CONCLUSIONS: Although nearly all patients after an AMI are discharged on appropriate secondary prevention medications, dose increases occur infrequently, and most patients are prescribed doses below those with proven efficacy in clinical trials. Integration of dose intensity into performance measures might help improve the use of optimal medical therapy after AMI.
PMCID:3819453
PMID: 23973701
ISSN: 0735-1097
CID: 1127192
Patient preferences for deactivation of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators [Letter]
Dodson, John A; Fried, Terri R; Van Ness, Peter H; Goldstein, Nathan E; Lampert, Rachel
PMCID:4017938
PMID: 23358714
ISSN: 2168-6106
CID: 1127202
Cognitive impairment in older adults with heart failure: prevalence, documentation, and impact on outcomes
Dodson, John A; Truong, Tuyet-Trinh N; Towle, Virginia R; Kerins, Gerard; Chaudhry, Sarwat I
BACKGROUND: Despite the fact that 80% of patients with heart failure are aged more than 65 years, recognition of cognitive impairment by physicians in this population has received relatively little attention. The current study evaluated physician documentation (as a measure of recognition) of cognitive impairment at the time of discharge in a cohort of older adults hospitalized for heart failure. METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study of older adults hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of heart failure. Cognitive status was evaluated with the Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination at the time of hospitalization. A score of 21 to 24 was used to indicate mild cognitive impairment, and a score of =20 was used to indicate moderate to severe impairment. To evaluate physician documentation of cognitive impairment, we used a standardized form with a targeted keyword strategy to review hospital discharge summaries. We calculated the proportion of patients with cognitive impairment documented as such by physicians and compared characteristics between groups with and without documented cognitive impairment. We then analyzed the association of cognitive impairment and documentation of cognitive impairment with 6-month mortality or readmission using Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS: A total of 282 patients completed the cognitive assessment. Their mean age was 80 years of age, 18.8% were nonwhite, and 53.2% were female. Cognitive impairment was present in 132 of 282 patients (46.8% overall; 25.2% mild, 21.6% moderate-severe). Among those with cognitive impairment, 30 of 132 (22.7%) were documented as such by physicians. Compared with patients whose cognitive impairment was documented by physicians, those whose impairment was not documented were younger (81.3 vs 85.2 years, P<.05) and had less severe impairment (median Mini-Mental State Examination score 22.0 vs 18.0, P<.01). After multivariable adjustment, patients whose cognitive impairment was not documented were significantly more likely to experience 6-month mortality or hospital readmission than patients without cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive impairment is common in older adults hospitalized for heart failure, yet it is frequently not documented by physicians. Implementation of strategies to improve recognition and documentation of cognitive impairment may improve the care of these patients, particularly at the time of hospital discharge.
PMCID:3553506
PMID: 23331439
ISSN: 0002-9343
CID: 1127212
Outcomes for mitral valve surgery among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries, 1999 to 2008
Dodson, John A; Wang, Yun; Desai, Mayur M; Barreto-Filho, Jose Augusto; Sugeng, Lissa; Hashim, Sabet W; Krumholz, Harlan M
BACKGROUND: Mitral valve surgery in older adults carries with it substantial morbidity and mortality risks, yet there are a paucity of national surveillance data. Therefore, we sought to determine trends in hospitalization rate, readmission, and mortality among Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) patients undergoing mitral valve surgery. METHODS AND RESULTS: Inpatient Medicare standard analytic files were used to identify 100% of FFS patients aged >/= 65 years who underwent mitral valve surgery between 1999 and 2008. We constructed a denominator file from Medicare administrative data to report hospitalization rates for mitral valve surgery (total and isolated) per 100 000 beneficiary-years. For isolated mitral valve surgery, 30-day readmission, 30-day mortality, and 1-year mortality outcomes were ascertained through corresponding inpatient and vital status files, and risk-standardized rates were calculated adjusting for age, sex, race, and comorbidities. During 1999 to 2008, the overall rate of mitral valve surgery per 100K beneficiary-years declined (56/100K to 51/100K), and the proportion of patients undergoing mitral valve repair (versus replacement) increased (24.7% to 46.9%, P<0.001). For isolated mitral valve surgery, there were significant declines in risk-adjusted 30-day mortality (8.1% to 4.2%, P<0.001 for trend) and 1-year mortality (15.3% to 9.2%, P=0.003 for trend) and a slight decline in risk-adjusted 30-day readmission (23.0% to 21.0%, P=0.035 for trend) over the study period. Mortality rates decreased in all age, sex, and race subgroups, and among patients undergoing mitral valve repair or replacement, but remained higher among patients aged >/= 85 years, women, and nonwhites. CONCLUSIONS: Between 1999 and 2008, outcomes after isolated mitral valve surgery significantly improved among Medicare FFS patients. Disparities among demographic subgroups indicate potential areas for quality improvement.
PMCID:3400109
PMID: 22576847
ISSN: 1941-7713
CID: 1127022
Bleeding-avoidance strategies and outcomes in patients >/=80 years of age with ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (from the NCDR CathPCI Registry)
Dodson, John A; Wang, Yongfei; Chaudhry, Sarwat I; Curtis, Jeptha P
The purpose of our study was to evaluate the use of bleeding-avoidance strategies (BAS) and risk-adjusted bleeding over time in patients >/=80 years of age undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. We analyzed data from the CathPCI Registry from July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2009. Patients were included if they were >/=80 years old, presented with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, and underwent primary PCI. We evaluated trends in use of BAS (direct thrombin inhibitors, vascular closure devices, and radial access) and risk-adjusted bleeding over time. Of 10,469 patients >/=80 years old undergoing primary PCI, 1,002, (9.6%) developed a bleeding complication. Use of direct thrombin inhibitors and vascular closure devices increased over time (12.8% to 24.9% and 29.2% to 32.7%, p <0.01 and <0.05 for trends, respectively). Radial access was extremely uncommon (<1%) and did not change over the course of the study. In multivariable analyses, use of BAS was associated with lower bleeding. However, over the course of the study period, overall risk-adjusted bleeding did not decrease significantly (9.9% to 9.4%, p = 0.14 for trend). In conclusion, patients >/=80 years old undergoing primary PCI are at high risk of bleeding, and despite significant increases in use of BAS, the overall rate of bleeding complications remains high.
PMCID:3666171
PMID: 22475362
ISSN: 0002-9149
CID: 1127162
Physical function and independence 1 year after myocardial infarction: observations from the Translational Research Investigating Underlying disparities in recovery from acute Myocardial infarction: Patients' Health status registry
Dodson, John A; Arnold, Suzanne V; Reid, Kimberly J; Gill, Thomas M; Rich, Michael W; Masoudi, Frederick A; Spertus, John A; Krumholz, Harlan M; Alexander, Karen P
BACKGROUND: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may contribute to health status declines including "independence loss" and "physical function decline." Despite the importance of these outcomes for prognosis and quality of life, their incidence and predictors have not been well described. METHODS: We studied 2,002 patients with AMI enrolled across 24 sites in the TRIUMPH registry who completed assessments of independence and physical function at the time of AMI and 1 year later. Independence was evaluated by the EuroQol-5D (mobility, self-care, and usual activities), and physical function was assessed with the Short Form-12 physical component score. Declines in >/=1 level on EuroQol-5D and >5 points in PCS were considered clinically significant changes. Hierarchical, multivariable, modified Poisson regression models accounting for within-site variability were used to identify predictors of independence loss and physical function decline. RESULTS: One-year post AMI, 43.0% of patients experienced health status declines: 12.8% independence loss alone, 15.2% physical function decline alone, and 15.0% both. After adjustment, variables that predicted independence loss included female sex, nonwhite race, unmarried status, uninsured status, end-stage renal disease, and depression. Variables that predicted physical function decline were uninsured status, lack of cardiac rehabilitation referral, and absence of pre-AMI angina. Age was not predictive of either outcome after adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: >40% of patients experience independence loss or physical function decline 1 year after AMI. These changes are distinct but can occur simultaneously. Although some risk factors are not modifiable, others suggest potential targets for strategies to preserve patients' health status.
PMCID:3359897
PMID: 22607856
ISSN: 0002-8703
CID: 1127182
Physiologic determinants of mitral inflow pattern using a computer simulation: insights into Doppler echocardiography in diverse phenotypes
Dodson, John A; Horn, Evelyn M; Dickstein, Marc; Ferber, Paul; King, Donald L; Burkhoff, Daniel; Maurer, Mathew S
BACKGROUND: Although echo Doppler recordings of mitral inflow patterns are often employed clinically to identify "diastolic dysfunction," abnormal flow profiles may be seen in a diverse set of disorders in which the specific physiologic determinants are not well defined. METHODS: We used a validated cardiovascular simulation model to assess the effects of four hemodynamic parameters on Doppler measures of LV filling: (1) total blood volume, (2) diastolic stiffness (LV Beta), (3) systemic vascular resistance (SVR), and (4) pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). In each simulation, we calculated instantaneous flow through the mitral valve as a function of time. RESULTS: Increases in blood volume led to an increase in the E:A ratio and a decrease in deceleration time (DT), such that for every 100 mL of volume, DT decreased by approximately 3 ms. Increases in LV Beta increased the E:A ratio and decreased DT such that for every 0.005 mmHg/mL increase in LV Beta, DT decreased by approximately 8 ms. While changes in SVR did not significantly alter the Doppler pattern, increases in PVR effected a prolongation of DT and an impaired relaxation E:A pattern. Increasing blood volume and LV Beta simultaneously was additive, while increasing PVR attenuated the effect of increasing volume on the E:A ratio. CONCLUSIONS: Computer simulations demonstrate that both blood volume and LV stiffness significantly impact the mitral inflow profile indicating that both filling pressure and intrinsic properties of the ventricle are contributors. These data confirm that there are multiple determinants of the Doppler mitral inflow pattern and suggest a new approach toward understanding complex physiologic interactions.
PMID: 19207994
ISSN: 0742-2822
CID: 1127012
Primary care clinicians evaluate integrated and referral models of behavioral health care for older adults: results from a multisite effectiveness trial (PRISM-e)
Gallo, Joseph J; Zubritsky, Cynthia; Maxwell, James; Nazar, Michael; Bogner, Hillary R; Quijano, Louise M; Syropoulos, Heidi J; Cheal, Karen L; Chen, Hongtu; Sanchez, Herman; Dodson, John; Levkoff, Sue E
BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that integrated behavioral health services for older adults in primary care improves health outcomes. No study, however, has asked the opinions of clinicians whose patients actually experienced integrated rather than enhanced referral care for depression and other conditions. METHOD: The Primary Care Research in Substance Abuse and Mental Health for the Elderly (PRISM-E) study was a randomized trial comparing integrated behavioral health care with enhanced referral care in primary care settings across the United States. Primary care clinicians at each participating site were asked whether integrated or enhanced referral care was preferred across a variety of components of care. Managers also completed questionnaires related to the process of care at each site. RESULTS: Almost all primary care clinicians (n = 127) stated that integrated care led to better communication between primary care clinicians and mental health specialists (93%), less stigma for patients (93%), and better coordination of mental and physical care (92%). Fewer thought that integrated care led to better management of depression (64%), anxiety (76%), or alcohol problems (66%). At sites in which the clinicians were rated as participating in mental health care, integrated care was highly rated as improving communication between specialists in mental health and primary care. CONCLUSIONS: Among primary care clinicians who cared for patients that received integrated care or enhanced referral care, integrated care was preferred for many aspects of mental health care.
PMCID:1466686
PMID: 15335128
ISSN: 1544-1709
CID: 1127002
STUDENTJAMA. Medical student care of indigent populations
Dodson, John A; Keller, Allen S
PMID: 14709588
ISSN: 1538-3598
CID: 42624