Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to identify rates and predictors of obesity counseling performed by outpatient psychiatrists in the United States. METHODS: The 2005-2010 National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys provided data from 7,309 outpatient psychiatry visits. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between patient, visit, and practice characteristics and outcomes. RESULTS: Most (81%) visits occurred in a private practice setting. Nine percent (N=657) of visits included measurement of patient body mass index (BMI); 30% of these visits were with patients who met the obesity criterion (BMI >/=30.0 kg/m2). Among visits with obese patients, 16% included exercise counseling, 22% included weight reduction counseling, and 24% included diet or nutrition counseling. Patients with obesity were more likely than patients without obesity to receive diet or nutrition counseling (p<.05) and weight reduction counseling (p<.05), but not exercise counseling. Black patients were significantly less likely to receive any form of counseling (p<.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant need to improve psychiatrists' obesity counseling.

Despite a high prevalence of mental health problems in older, HIV+ adults (aged ≥ 50), few studies have examined the relationship between perceived social support and mental health burdens in this group. In a clinic-based sample of 100 adults, 23% and 29% met criteria for one and more than one mental health burden, respectively. In multivariable binary logistic models, perceived receipt of positive and emotional social support as well as overall support was inversely associated with the presence of mental health burdens. There is a need for additional investigation of how social support can help mitigate mental health burdens among HIV+ older adults.

BACKGROUND:The cost of diabetes care accounts for a significant proportion of healthcare expenditures. Cost models based on updated incident complication rates and associated costs are needed to improve financial planning and quality assessment across the U.S. healthcare system. We developed a cost model using published data to estimate the direct medical costs of incident diabetes-related complications in a U.S. population of adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS:A systematic literature review of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and TRIP databases was conducted on studies reporting the incidence and/or cost of diabetes-related complications (cardiovascular disease, neuropathy, nephropathy, ophthalmological disease, and acute metabolic events). A total of 54 studies met eligibility criteria. A baseline model was constructed for a U.S. population with type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus and used to determine the expected costs of managing such a population over 1-, 3-, and 5-year time horizons. RESULTS:The most costly incident complications in a population of 10,000 adults with diabetes were (1) congestive heart failure (CHF): annual expected cost of $7,320,287, 5-year expected cost of $50,697,865; (2) end-stage renal disease (ESRD): annual expected cost of $4,225,384, 5-year expected cost of $13,211,204; and (3) gangrene: annual expected cost of $2,844,381, 5-year expected cost of $17,200,417. CONCLUSIONS:This cost model estimates the direct healthcare costs of incident diabetes-related complications in a U.S. adult population with diabetes and provides a benchmark for evaluating the cost-effectiveness and potential leakage within a care delivery network.

CONTEXT: Ventricular assist devices (VADs) have been shown to improve survival and overall quality of life, but there are limited data on pain control and functional status in this patient population. OBJECTIVES: This study examined changes in pain, functional status, and quality of life over time in VAD patients. METHODS: Patients were enrolled in this prospective cohort study before or as early after VAD implant as possible and then followed for up to 48 weeks. The Brief Pain Inventory was used to assess pain. The Katz Independent Activities of Daily Living questionnaire was used to assess functional status. The Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire, a 23-item questionnaire covering five domains (physical function, symptoms, social function, self-efficacy, and quality of life), was used to assess quality of life and health status. RESULTS: Eighty-seven patients were enrolled at four medical centers. The median Brief Pain Inventory severity score was 2.8 (interquartile range 0.5-5.0) before implantation and 0.0 (interquartile range 0.0-5.3) 48 weeks after implantation (P = 0.0009). Katz Independent Activities of Daily Living summary scores also demonstrated significant improvement over time (P < 0.0001). Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire summary scales demonstrated significant improvement with time (P < 0.0016). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that patients with VADs experienced improved pain, functional status, and quality of life over time. These data may be useful to help patients make decisions when they are considering undergoing VAD implantation.