Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND:Although related, the precise mechanisms linking obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are unclear. Platelets are mediators of CVD risk and thrombosis and prior studies suggested associations of OSA and platelet activity. The aim of this study is to assess the link between OSA, platelet activity, and CVD-related risk factors. METHODS AND RESULTS/RESULTS:=0.002). No associations were detected in nonaspirin users (n=417). CONCLUSIONS:No associations were detected between OSA and platelet aggregation in a community sample. Our finding that OSA associates with increased platelet aggregation in the aspirin group, most of whom use it for primary prevention of CVD, suggests that platelet aggregation may mediate the adverse impact of OSA on vascular health in individuals with existing CVD risk, supporting further investigation.

Good adherence to antipsychotic therapy helps prevent relapses in First Episode Psychosis (FEP). We used data from the FEP-CAUSAL Collaboration, an international consortium of observational cohorts to emulate a target trial comparing antipsychotics with treatment discontinuation as the primary outcome. Other outcomes included all-cause hospitalization. We benchmarked our results to estimates from EUFEST, a randomized trial conducted in the 2000s. We included 1097 patients with a psychotic disorder and less than 2 years since psychosis onset. Inverse probability weighting was used to control for confounding. The estimated 12-month risks of discontinuation for aripiprazole, first-generation agents, olanzapine, paliperidone, quetiapine, and risperidone (95% CI) were: 61.5% (52.5-70.6), 73.5% (60.5-84.9), 76.8% (67.2-85.3), 58.4% (40.4-77.4), 76.5% (62.1-88.5), and 74.4% (67.0-81.2) respectively. Compared with aripiprazole, the 12-month risk differences (95% CI) were -15.3% (-30.0, 0.0) for olanzapine, -12.8% (-25.7, -1.0) for risperidone, and 3.0% (-21.5, 30.8) for paliperidone. The 12-month risks of hospitalization were similar between agents. Our estimates support use of aripiprazole and paliperidone as first-line therapies for FEP. Benchmarking yielded similar results for discontinuation and absolute risks of hospitalization as in the original trial, suggesting that data from the FEP-CAUSAL Collaboration data sufficed to approximately remove confounding for these clinical questions.

OBJECTIVE:Although some studies have observed an association between birthweight and cardiovascular disease in adulthood, fewer have investigated whether birthweight is linked to cardiovascular health in early childhood. This study assesses the association between birthweight and cardiovascular outcomes in children 6 years of age. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:Birthweight, blood pressure (BP), and markers of arterial stiffness in children, including brachial artery distensibility and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), were obtained from 324 participants in The Infant Development and the Environment Study, a prospective multisite pregnancy cohort. Birthweight was converted into sex-specific birthweight-for-gestational-age (bw/ga) z -scores based on the INTERGROWTH-21st standard. Following 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, SBP and DBP were transformed into sex, age, and height-specific z -scores. Associations between birthweight and cardiovascular outcomes were assessed using nested multivariable linear regression models among the overall and sex-stratified samples. RESULTS:Among the overall sample, bw/ga z -score was positively associated with cfPWV [b = 0.11 m/s, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.01 m/s, 0.21 m/s] in crude and adjusted models. No associations between birthweight and cardiovascular outcomes were detected among the sex-stratified analyses. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Overall, birthweight was not related to cardiovascular outcomes in children 6 years old. However, infants born with a higher birthweight may be at risk for higher cfPWV in childhood. Early intervention in pregnant people at risk of delivering high birthweight infants may be warranted if results are replicated.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:Housing insecurity is associated with adverse effects on child growth and development cross-sectionally; less is known about its cumulative, long-term effects. This study describes longitudinal experiences of housing insecurity during childhood from infancy (age 1 year) to adolescence (age 15 years) and examines their associations with adolescent health outcomes. METHODS:Using data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, we created a composite measure of housing insecurity using 5 indicators (eg, skipping a rent or mortgage payment, eviction) for participants at ages 1, 3, 5, 9, and 15 years. We used group-based trajectory modeling to identify distinct patterns of housing insecurity, sociodemographic predictors of these patterns, and how these patterns relate to adolescent health outcomes. RESULTS:We identified 3 trajectories of housing insecurity from infancy to adolescence: secure, moderately insecure, and highly insecure. Adolescents who experienced moderately and highly insecure housing had decreased odds of excellent health (adjusted odds ratio, 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69-0.95; adjusted odds ratio, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.50-0.92, respectively) and more depressive symptoms (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02-1.08; 1.13; 95% CI, 1.08-1.19, respectively) than adolescents with secure housing. Adolescents who experienced highly insecure housing reported significantly higher anxiety symptoms (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.003-1.113). CONCLUSIONS:Housing insecurity starting in infancy was associated with poorer adolescent health outcomes. These longitudinal patterns emphasize the need for novel screening mechanisms to identify housing insecurity when it emerges, as well as policies to prevent housing insecurity and its associated health outcomes.

IMPORTANCE/UNASSIGNED:Randomized clinical trials have shown that sacubitril-valsartan reduces the risks of mortality and hospitalization in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), but patients with kidney failure requiring dialysis were excluded. OBJECTIVE/UNASSIGNED:To investigate the comparative effectiveness of sacubitril-valsartan vs angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEIs or ARBs) in patients with HFrEF requiring hemodialysis. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS/UNASSIGNED:This retrospective, 1:1 propensity score-matched comparative effectiveness study included patients who were 18 years or older with HFrEF, enrolled in Medicare Parts A, B, and D, and survived at least 90 days receiving in-center hemodialysis from July 8, 2015, to December 31, 2020. Patients were excluded for less than 180 days of continuous Medicare Parts A, B, and D primary payer coverage or prior dispensing of sacubitril-valsartan. Data analysis was conducted from September 23, 2023, to June 25, 2024. EXPOSURES/UNASSIGNED:New use of sacubitril-valsartan vs new or continued use of ACEIs or ARBs. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES/UNASSIGNED:The associations between initiation of sacubitril-valsartan therapy and all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, all-cause hospitalization, and HF hospitalization were assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression models in a propensity score-matched sample. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:Participants included 1:1 matched pairs of 1434 sacubitril-valsartan users and 1434 ACEI or ARB users (mean [SD] age, 64 [13] years). Of the 2868 matched participants, 996 (65%) were male; 987 (34%) were Black or African American and 1677 (58%) were White; and median dialysis vintage was 3.8 (IQR, 1.8-6.3) years. The median follow-up was 0.9 (IQR, 0.4-1.7) years. Sacubitril-valsartan (vs ACEI or ARB) therapy was associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.82 [95% CI, 0.73-0.92]) and all-cause hospitalization (HR, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.79-0.93]) but not cardiovascular mortality (HR, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.86-1.19]) or HF hospitalization (HR, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.82-1.02]). There was a decrease in hyperkalemia (HR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.62-0.81]) and no difference in hypotension (HR, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.83-1.19]). Only 195 participants (14%) ever received the maximum combination dose of sacubitril (97 mg twice daily) and valsartan (103 mg twice daily). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE/UNASSIGNED:In this comparative effectiveness study of patients with HFrEF requiring hemodialysis, sacubitril-valsartan therapy was associated with beneficial effects in all-cause mortality and all-cause hospitalization.

In goals of care conversations and through the care trajectory, to avoid insensitive or discriminatory care, it is vital clinicians recognize lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+ patients' values and wishes. In clinical settings, implicit bias operating within unconscious awareness may challenge the commitment to equitable care, negatively affecting patient outcomes. In this composite case, during a conversation with a social worker/nurse team, a cisgender woman repeatedly expressed her wishes for her female partner to be her decision maker instead of her biological family. The conversation stalled during the patient's attempts to identify her partner as her most valued and trusted person. Interviewer follow-up responses based on motivational interviewing techniques, which do not include strategies for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+ interactions, inaccurately reflected the patient's needs. Two ethical issues emerged, (1) autonomy and (2) beneficence. Clinicians should approach all patients using nongendered language, and allow patients to self-identify and decide which people are in their support system. Lack of inclusivity training has significant potential to affect the patient experience and decrease clinician/patient trust. Clinicians should not assume the decision maker is a cisgender, heterosexual partner or a biological family member. When patients speak about their partners, it is imperative clinicians use the patient's language and not avoid or redirect responses.

IN BRIEF/UNASSIGNED:Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth demonstrate low utilization of fertility preservation before medical and surgical gender-affirming interventions. However, a significant number of TGD youth have goals for parenthood and/or recognize that their attitude toward future family-building goals may change over time. In this narrative review, we conclude that TGD young people should have ongoing opportunities to discuss their family-building goals and options for fertility preservation. Validated decision tools can help facilitate these discussions. ABSTRACT/UNASSIGNED:The number of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth seeking care continues to increase, necessitating comprehensive counseling about potential long-term effects of gender-affirming medical interventions on fertility. The objective of this narrative review was to examine fertility-related knowledge, attitudes, and decision-making (including factors influencing decisions, decision regret, and decision tools) among TGD youth. We searched PubMed, PsycInfo, and Google Scholar for original, peer-reviewed research investigating TGD youth attitudes and knowledge of fertility and fertility preservation, perspectives on fertility counseling and fertility preservation decision-making, as well as fertility-related decision tools. We reviewed 106 studies; eight were included in this narrative review. Four studies assessed TGD youth knowledge and attitudes of fertility and fertility preservation, three examined perspectives on fertility counseling and fertility preservation decision-making, and three discussed development of decision tools. Key findings were that: (1) many TGD youth are aware of potential fertility-related impacts of gender-affirming treatments, but there are still unmet informational needs, (2) some TGD youth report an interest in future biological parenthood, and of those who are not currently interested in biological parenthood, many acknowledge their desires may change over time, (3) ongoing discussions about fertility and fertility preservation are critical, and (4) decision tools are in development. In conclusion, TGD youth and their caregivers should receive ongoing, comprehensive fertility counseling and decision tools may be helpful to facilitate these discussions and decisions in each youth's gender-affirming care journey.

We characterized comorbidity profiles and cardiometabolic risk factors among older adults with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) in New York City using an intersectionality approach. Electronic health record data were obtained from the INSIGHT Clinical Research Network on 367,901 New York City residents aged 50 years or older with MCCs. Comorbidity profiles were heterogeneous. The most common profile across sex and racial and ethnic groups was co-occurring hypertension and hyperlipidemia; prevalence of these 2 conditions differed across groups (4.7%-7.3% co-occurrence alone, 65.1%-88.0% with other conditions). Significant sex and racial and ethnic differences were observed, which may reflect accumulated disparities in risk factors and health care access across the life course.