Leadership and achieving a vision--how does a profession lead a nation?

The author examines the role of leadership in achieving a new vision for health promotion. Leadership challenges and threats, and contemporary views on leadership are reviewed to frame the opportunity available to the health promotion profession to change national health policy. He concludes by describing the actions every professional can take to play a leadership role in helping to achieve the new vision articulated in this special issue.     

Chronic Kidney Disease Identification in a High-Risk Urban Population: Does Automated eGFR Reporting Make a Difference?

Whether automated estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) reporting for patients is associated with improved provider recognition of chronic kidney disease (CKD), as measured by diagnostic coding of CKD in those with laboratory evidence of the disease, has not been explored in a poor, ethnically diverse, high-risk urban patient population. A retrospective cohort of 237 adult patients (≥20 years) with incident CKD (≥1 eGFR ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m², followed by ≥2 eGFRs <60 ml/min/1.73 m² ≥3 months apart)—pre- or postautomated eGFR reporting—was identified within the San Francisco Department of Public Health Community Health Network (January 2005–July 2009). Patients were considered coded if any ICD-9-CM diagnostic codes for CKD (585.x), other kidney disease (580.x–581.x, 586.x), or diabetes (250.4) or hypertension (403.x, 404.x) CKD were present in the medical record within 6 months of incident CKD. Multivariable logistic regression was used to obtain adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for CKD coding. We found that, pre-eGFR reporting, 42.5 % of incident CKD patients were coded for CKD. Female gender, increased age, and non-Black race were associated with lower serum creatinine and lower prevalence of coding but comparable eGFR. Prevalence of coding was not statistically significantly higher overall (49.6 %, P = 0.27) or in subgroups after the institution of automated eGFR reporting. However, gaps in coding by age and gender were narrowed post-eGFR, even after adjustment for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics: 47.9 % of those <65 and 30.3 % of those ≥65 were coded pre-eGFR, compared to 49.0 % and 52.0 % post-eGFR (OR = 0.43 and 1.16); similarly, 53.2 % of males and 25.4 % of females were coded pre-eGFR compared to 52.8 % and 44.0 % post-eGFR (OR 0.28 vs. 0.64). Blacks were more likely to be coded in the post-eGFR period: OR = 1.08 and 1.43 (P_interaction > 0.05). Automated eGFR reporting may help improve CKD recognition, but it is not sufficient to resolve underidentification of CKD by safety net providers.     

Disease management: old wine in new bottles?

Disease management is a holistic, patient-focused approach to the treatment of disease across the spectrum of healthcare delivery. In its current form, disease management was created in response to the societal and economic burden that chronic illness contributes. There has recently been rapid growth in the development of disease management programs and sponsors are widespread within the industry, with the largest increase in independent vendors. Although growth has been substantial, the hurdles these programs have encountered have kept them from reaching their full potential. The challenges that exist include clinical, financial, and regulatory issues, and these challenges have significant meaning to healthcare managers. In deciding whether to develop or enhance programs, executives must consider their capability of outcomes measurement, their provider relationships, and the arrangements for program implementation. Ultimately, if programs provide improved health and quality of life for participants, cost savings will follow.     

Kaposi's Sarcoma: Why a ‘Homosexual Disease’?

The relationship of homosexuality to the current epidemic may provide important clues elucidating the underlying viral and immunologic mechanisms of oncogenesis.     

Would increasing access to recreational places promote healthier weights and a healthier nation?

Addressing gaps in evidence on causal associations, this study tested the hypothesis that better access to recreational places close to home helps people to maintain lower body mass index (BMI) using a retrospective longitudinal study design and up to 6 years of data for the same individuals (1,522,803 men and 183,618 women). Participants were military veterans aged 20–64 who received healthcare through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in 2009–2014 and lived in a metropolitan area. Although there were cross-sectional associations, we found no longitudinal evidence that access to parks and fitness facilities was associated with BMI for either men or women in the full sample or in subgroups of residential movers and stayers. Our findings suggest that simply increasing the number of parks and fitness facilities may not be enough to achieve needed population-level reductions in weight.