Effect of change in coding rules on recording diabetes in hospital administrative datasets

AimDuring 2008–2011 Australian Coding Standards mandated a causal relationship between diabetes and inpatient care as a criterion for recording diabetes as a comorbidity in hospital administrative datasets. We aim to measure the effect of the causality mandate on recorded diabetes and associated inter-hospital variations.MethodFor patients with diabetes, all admissions between 2004 and 2013 to all New South Wales acute public hospitals were investigated. Poisson mixed models were employed to derive adjusted rates and variations.ResultsThe non-recorded diabetes incidence rate was 20.7%. The causality mandate increased the incidence rate four fold during the change period, 2008–2011, compared to the pre- or post-change periods (32.5% vs 8.4% and 6.9%). The inter-hospital variation was also higher, with twice the difference in the non-recorded rate between hospitals with the highest and lowest rates (50% vs 24% and 27% risk gap). The variation decreased during the change period (29%), while the rate continued to rise (53%). Admission characteristics accounted for over 44% of the variation compared with at most two per cent attributable to patient or hospital characteristics. Contributing characteristics explained less of the variation within the change period compared to pre- or post-change (46% vs 58% and 53%). Hospital relative performance was not constant over time.ConclusionThe causality mandate substantially increased the non-recorded diabetes rate and associated inter-hospital variation. Longitudinal accumulation of clinical information at the patient level, and the development of appropriate adoption protocols to achieve comprehensive and timely implementation of coding changes are essential to supporting the integrity of hospital administrative datasets.     

Increased all-cause mortality with psychotropic medication in Parkinson's disease and controls: A national register-based study

AimUse of medication and polypharmacy is common as the population ages and its disease burden increases. We evaluated the association of antidepressants, benzodiazepines, antipsychotics and combinations of psychotropic drugs with all-cause mortality in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and a matched group without PD.MethodWe identified 5861 PD patients and 31,395 control subjects matched by age, gender and marital status, and obtained register data on medication use and vital status between 1997 and 2007.ResultsAll-cause mortality was significantly higher with the use of most groups of psychotropic medication in PD patients and controls. Hazard ratios were as follows for the medication types: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or serotonin-noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors, PD HR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.04−1.36; Control HR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.64−1.91; benzodiazepines, PD HR = 1.17, 95% CI = 0.99−1.38; Control HR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.29−1.51; benzodiazepine-like drugs, PD HR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.11−1.59; Control HR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.18−1.37; first-generation antipsychotics, PD HR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.42−2.53; Control HR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.82−2.47; second-generation antipsychotics, PD HR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.20−1.76; Control HR = 2.00, 95% CI 1.66−2.43; and combinations of these drugs compared with non-medicated PD patients and controls. Discontinuation of medication was associated with decreased mortality in both groups.ConclusionsThe use of psychotropic medication in the elderly is associated with increased mortality, independent of concurrent neurodegeneration due to PD. Confounding by indication may partly explain the higher hazard ratios in medicated controls compared with medicated PD patients. Our findings indicate that neurodegeneration should not be a separate contraindication per se for the use of psychotropic drug in patients with PD, but its use should be based on careful clinical evaluation and follow-up.     

Individual and county level predictors of asthma related emergency department visits among children on Medicaid: A multilevel approach

Objective: Disparities in asthma outcomes are well documented in the United States. Interventions to promote equity in asthma outcomes could target factors at the individual and community levels. The objective of this analysis was to understand the effect of individual (race, gender, age, and preventive inhaler use) and county-level factors (demographic, socioeconomic, health care, air-quality) on asthma emergency department (ED) visits among Medicaid-enrolled children. This was a retrospective cohort study of Medicaid-enrolled children with asthma in 29 states in 2009. Multilevel regression models of asthma ED visits were constructed utilizing individual-level variables (race, gender, age, and preventive inhaler use) from the Medicaid enrollment file and county-level variables reflecting population and health system characteristics from the Area Resource File (ARF). County-level measures of air quality were obtained from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data. Results: The primary modifiable risk factor at the individual level was found to be the ratio of long-term controller medications to total asthma medications. County-level factors accounted for roughly 6% of the variance in the asthma ED visit risk. Increasing county-level racial segregation (OR=1.04, 95% CI=1.01-1.08) was associated with increasing risk of asthma ED visits. Greater supply of pulmonary physicians at the county level (OR=0.81, 95% CI=0.68-0.97) was associated with a reduction in risk of asthma ED visits. Conclusions: At the patient care level, proper use of controller medications is the factor most amenable to intervention. There is also a societal imperative to address negative social determinants, such as residential segregation.     

Health Warnings,Smoking Rules,and Smoking Status: A Cross-National Comparison of Turkey and the United States

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the prevalence of smoking status (i.e., current, former and never) between the United States and Turkey in terms of age and gender, and examine how smoking rules and health warnings are associated with smoking status within and between the two countries. Methods: The study used data from the 2012–2013 National Adult Tobacco Survey (U.S. sample, N = 60,196) and the 2012 Global Adult Tobacco Survey (Turkey sample, N = 9,581). SAS PROC SURVEYLOGISTIC with a weighted variable was used to examine the associations between demographics (age, gender and education), smoking rules, health warnings, and smoking status within and between the two countries. Results: There was an 18% current smoking prevalence among U.S. sample, compared to 27% of the Turkey sample. The U.S. sample had a higher rate of former smoking compared to the Turkey sample (25% vs. 22%). In both countries, being older and male gender predicted former smoking while being younger and female gender predicted never smoking. Having seen a health warning, and not allowing smoking in the vehicle and home positively predicted former and never smoking status. Higher education predicted both smoking statuses in the U.S. only. Conclusions: It is important to work with partners particularly in low- and middle-income countries (e.g., Turkey) to combat the global tobacco epidemic. In both counties, cessation endeavors should emphasize a comprehensive understanding of smoking status in terms of smoking rules in personal spaces and health warnings.     

Family caregivers’ perspectives on medication adherence challenges in older people with dementia: a qualitative study

Abstract

Objectives: To achieve a better understanding of medication non-adherence determinants in older people with dementia from caregivers’ perspectives and possible management solutions to improve medication adherence.

Method: Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 20 caregivers of older people with dementia living in the community. Data was analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis based on Braun and Clarke’s method.

Findings: Four themes emerged: dementia symptoms influence medication adherence, medication increases caregiver burden, lack of self-efficacy, medication aids and technology to enhance medication adherence. Caregivers’ lack of knowledge reduces their self-efficacy in managing medications and increases their burden of care. The majority of caregivers used technology and welcomed its use to assist them with their role.

Conclusion: Caregivers require knowledge and support such as a multifaceted technology based intervention to assist with medication adherence.     

Consequences of non-medical switch among patients with type 2 diabetes

Objective: This study aimed to describe real-world experiences following a non-medical switch among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the United States.

Methods: For this cross-sectional study, patients with T2DM (N?=?451) provided data on demographics, and how a non-medical switch of their anti-hyperglycemic agent (AHA) affected their general health, HbA1c levels and medication management, via an Internet-based survey. Patients self-reported their level of satisfaction with the original medication and emotional reactions to the non-medical switch. Patients who recently experienced a non-medical switch of their AHA(s) (n?=?379) were asked about the consequences of switching and their satisfaction with the switch (vs. the original) medication.

Results: Patients most frequently reported feeling very/extremely frustrated, surprised, upset and angry in reaction to a non-medical switch. Patients were somewhat satisfied with their original medication. Between 20% and 30% of patients reported the non-medical switch had a moderate/major effect on their general health, diabetes, mental well-being and control over their health. The blood glucose levels of recent switchers were somewhat/much worse (20.7%) and medication management was somewhat/much worse (12.9%) on the switch (vs. the original) medication. Some recent switchers reported old symptoms returning (7.7%) and experiencing new side-effects (14.2%).

Conclusions: Approximately one in five patients reported a moderate/major negative impact on their blood glucose level, diabetes, mental well-being, general health and control over their health following a non-medical switch. Findings suggest that a non-medical switch may have unintended negative health consequences and results in considerable burden across multiple domains for a sizeable minority of patients with T2DM.     

互联网远程管理对社区高血压患者治疗依从性影响的研究进展

高血压是严重危害人类健康的慢性病之一，全球范围内有较高的发病率和致死率，且控制率低，尤其在欠发达国家和地区。有效的高血压管理是提高患者治疗依从性和影响血压控制率的关键。随着互联网在全世界的发展，传统基于医生诊室管理高血压患者治疗依从性的模式在发生改变，本文综合探讨了国内外互联网远程管理对高血压患者治疗依从性的影响，分析得出互联网远程管理对高血压患者治疗依从性在健康教育、经济、医患沟通、随访等方面存在优势，但存在使用障碍、数据不准确、研究证据有限、安全性可靠性不能保证等挑战与不足，并提出展望，以期将互联网远程管理更好地应用于社区高血压患者的管理。