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INTRODUCTION: To better understand the development of the growing opioid crisis in the early 21st century, the authors studied trends in substance use disorder among 46,132,211 emergency department (ED) visit discharges in California between 2006 and 2011. METHODS: Utilizing the California State Emergency Department Database, the authors identified substance use based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes. Tabular and multivariable analysis methods were applied. ED visits were considered clustered at the level of patient. RESULTS: The authors observed a notable increase in substance use prevalence from 7.32 ± 6.07 to 12.21 ± 9.35 per 1000 ED visits. Nonopioid substance use was more prevalent among individuals aged ≤ 50 years old. Opioid use disorder (OUD) was associated with a higher mortality rate in the ED. In 2011, OUD was significantly higher among American Indians visiting the ED. A multivariable analysis revealed that OUD was an independent predictor for increased ED visits after controlling for demographic factors. DISCUSSION: Despite an overall decrease in mortality rate, opioid-related ED visits showed a higher mortality rate, underscoring the grave consequences of OUD. Nonopioid substance use was prevalent among younger age groups, suggesting a need for age-specific interventions. A major finding was the elevated OUD among American Indians, indicating persistent health disparities impacting this demographic. OUD was an independent risk factor for excess ED visits, which could strain health care systems. The authors suggest strategies like nonopioid pain management, community-level programs, and bridging ED with outpatient treatment facilities to mitigate the opioid crisis and ED overutilization. CONCLUSION: These findings advocate for tailored public health strategies, addressing the underlying disparities to combat the opioid epidemic effectively.

Introduction Methods Results Conclusion The shared risk profiles for cancer and heart disease suggest many individuals with cancer may have an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). ICDs can have dramatic cancer end‐of‐life care implications including painful and distressing shocks. ICD prevalence and association with aggressive end‐of‐life care among individuals with breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancer was evaluated using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results‐Medicare dataset.A total of 37,306 Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥66 years with stage 3 or 4 cancer who died between 2005 and 2016 were identified. ICD prevalence, ICD‐related care utilization that might present opportunities to discuss end‐of‐life implications and association with aggressive end‐of‐life care (>1 emergency department visit, intensive care unit admission, >1 hospitalization, terminal hospitalization, chemotherapy, and invasive or life‐extending procedures) in the last month of life was assessed using multivariable logistic regression.Among cancer decedents, 6% had an ICD. More individuals with an ICD (31%) died in the hospital than individuals without an ICD (25%; p < .001). Half (46%) of individuals with an ICD had device programming or interrogation visits that could be an opportunity for device discussion. In adjusted models, ICD presence was associated with higher odds of every indicator of aggressive end‐of‐life care other than chemotherapy.Many older cancer decedents in the United States had an ICD, and those with ICDs received more aggressive care at the end of life. Results suggest there are opportunities to discuss ICD and goals of care, raise awareness and encourage shared decision‐making for this population to ensure goal‐concordant care, and improve end‐of‐life care quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective Method Results Discussion Our understanding of the impact of eating disorders (ED) treatment in Autistic people remains elusive. Research has begun to explore ED treatment outcomes and experiences in this population, however current understandings are poorly integrated. The current review therefore sought to explore the impact of ED treatment on Autistic people and those with higher Autistic traits.A convergent, segregated approach was used, independently evaluating quantitative then qualitative studies before integrating findings into a coherent narrative synthesis.Autistic people and people with higher Autistic traits report poorer experiences of treatment and may be at increased risk of inpatient admission and prolonged inpatient treatment, possibly explained by difficulties with treatment timeframes and a lack of autism‐informed support. Both groups reported similar improvements in ED symptoms and BMI. Higher rates of psychosocial difficulties pre‐and post‐treatment were reported in those with higher Autistic traits, and emotion‐focused interventions were felt to be particularly relevant to Autistic presentations of EDs. Concerns were reported as to how well aligned group‐based programs and cognitive‐based interventions are for Autistic individuals and those reporting higher Autistic traits.Future research in diagnosed autism samples is urgently needed to develop a more robust understanding of Autistic outcomes and experiences. Review findings demonstrate the need for increased understanding of ED presentations and the possible need for treatment adaptations, for Autistic people or those with higher Autistic traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is limited evaluation of approaches to identify patients with new onset bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) when using administrative datasets. Using the Massachusetts All-Payer Claims Database (APCD), we identified individuals with a 2016 diagnosis of bipolar disorder with mania and examined patterns of psychiatric and medical care over the preceding 48 months. Among 4806 individuals aged 15–35 years with a 2016 BPAD with mania diagnosis, 3066 had 48 months of historical APCD data, and of those, 75 % involved information from ≥2 payors. After excluding individuals with historical BPAD or mania diagnoses, there were 583 individuals whose 2016 BPAD with mania diagnosis appeared to be new (i.e., 34 new diagnoses per 100,000 individuals aged 15–35 years). Most individuals received medical care, e.g., 98 % had outpatient visits, 76 % had Emergency Department (ED) visits, and 50 % had mental health-related ED visits during the 48 months prior to their first mania diagnosis. One-third (37.2 %) had a depressive episode before their initial BPAD with mania diagnosis. Study was conducted in one state among insured individuals. We used administrative data, which permits evaluation of large populations but lacks rigorous, well-validated claims-based definitions for BPAD. There could be diagnostic uncertainty during illness course, and clinicians may differ in their diagnostic thresholds. Careful examination of multiple years of patient history spanning all payors is essential for identifying new onset BPAD diagnoses presenting with mania, which in turn is critical to estimating population rates of new disease and understanding the early course of disease. • The rate of new mania diagnoses was 34 per 100,000 individuals. • 97.6 % with new mania had ≥1 outpatient visits in the 48 months prior to diagnosis. • 76.3 % had ED visits, 50.1 % had mental health-related ED visits during that time. • 37.2 % had a depressive episode in the 48 months prior to a new mania diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among young people aged 15–29 worldwide. Young people often present to emergency departments (EDs) with self-harm and suicide-related behaviors. The period following discharge from the ED is recognized as one of elevated risk for both repeated self-harm and suicide. During this critical time, suicide prevention aftercare services are recommended. Despite their increased popularity, evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of these models is very limited. Methods: Using a hybrid effectiveness-implementation type I design, this evaluation will assess the effectiveness and implementation of a suicide prevention aftercare (Hospital Outreach Post-suicidal Engagement; HOPE) service designed to reduce risk of self-harm and suicide in young people aged 12–25 who are referred to the service following an ED presentation for self-harm or suicide attempt. Two complementing theoretical frameworks will guide this evaluation, specifically the design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation of results. The RE-AIM evaluation framework will be used to assess Reach, Effectiveness (including cost-effectiveness), Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance of the HOPE aftercare service. The PRISM implementation framework will be used to assess multi-level contextual factors hypothesized to affect the RE-AIM outcomes. Several data sources will be used to assess the changes in primary and secondary outcomes from baseline to post–intervention, and at follow-up, including user and provider self-report surveys, semi-structured interviews, and routinely collected hospital data. An historical control study will also be conducted using data from the Self-Harm Monitoring System for Victoria to examine the impact of the service on rates of self-harm and suicide-related presentations to ED, and compare trends prior to and following commencement of the HOPE aftercare service. In addition, dynamic systems modelling will be used to assess the future scalability of the service. Discussion: Findings from this evaluation will determine the effectiveness, including cost-effectiveness, of the HOPE aftercare service and describe the implementation context. They will inform the future development and sustainability of this and other similar services across Australia and internationally. Trial registration: This trial was prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) on the 19th December 2023 (Registration number ACTRN12623001332617). We do not foresee any amendments to this protocol however, if any unforeseen modifications are required, they will be submitted to ANZCTR. Trial sponsor: Orygen, 35 Poplar Road, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIntroductionObjectiveMethodsResultsConclusionAsthma is common, affecting up to 8% of adults in the United States. Several studies have shown an association between poorer diet and asthma. Despite the prevalence of fast-food consumption in the Western diet, research examining fast food consumption and asthma is limited.This study aimed to examine the association between fast food consumption and asthma-related emergency room visits among adults with asthma in California from 2011-2016.This cross-sectional study focused on 11,561 adults with asthma in California. Publicly available data from the California Health Interview Survey was used. The independent variable included fast food consumption, and the dependent variable was emergency room visits due to asthma. This study used logistic regression models and controlled for sex, race, self-reported overall health, BMI, and current smoking status. Survey weights were applied to ensure the analysis represented the general population.Consumption of fast food ≥3 times per week was associated with increased odds of emergency room visits for asthma among adults with asthma in California (unadjusted model: OR = 1.64 CI: 1.13-2.40, p = 0.01; adjusted model: ORadj =1.53, CI: 1.03-2.26, p = 0.03).Our findings suggest that high consumption of fast food among adults with asthma may result in higher odds of asthma-related emergency room visits. Thus, decreasing fast food consumption may benefit adults with asthma by reducing emergency room visits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ocular emergencies (OE) include ocular trauma, infections, retinal detachment, and uveitis. Due to the limited number of studies describing ocular emergencies requiring Emergency Department (ED) visits in Saudi Arabia, there is a need for further studies addressing this topic. Therefore, this study aimed to assess and describe the incidence, clinical presentation, and causes of ocular-related ED visits at a tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. Medical records were reviewed for all patients (all age groups) patients presenting at the ED from 1 January 2019 to 31 October 2023 where data for patients with any ocular emergency was extracted using an Excel sheet. Data analysis was performed using RStudio (R version 4.3.1). Baseline information was described using frequencies and proportions. Types of Ocular emergencies were described using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes and presented using frequencies and proportions. The distribution of ocular emergencies across months and age groups was expressed using chart figures. Results: A total of 15,321 ocular-related ED visits were included in this study. Almost 51% of patients were males. The mean age at diagnosis was 25.5 ± 22.1 years. More than half of the patients (51.0%) were diagnosed during childhood (<18 years), while proportions of older ages declined gradually. Average presentations of ocular emergencies in a single month ranged from 200 to 400. Conjunctival disorders including conjunctivitis (29.8%) were the most frequent ocular emergencies. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that ocular emergencies are more prevalent in younger patients (aged <18 years), more commonly due to conjunctivitis. This highlights the need for policymakers to assess the causes of such emergency in this population and implement prevention strategies. Moreover, an average of 200 to 400 emergency visits per month are ocular-related. This finding could help policymakers understand the burden of ocular emergencies on the ED and the pressure that could add to the ED staff to provide appropriate care for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Methods Results Significance This study was undertaken to determine whether admission to dedicated seizure monitoring units (SMUs) result in reduced health care use (HCU).This was a retrospective open cohort study covering the years 2010–2018 of patients residing in Alberta, Canada, who were referred to the Calgary Comprehensive Epilepsy Program and admitted to a level 4 SMU. Patients were required to have ≥3 years pre‐ and postadmission follow‐up. The outcome was the change in trajectory of composite HCU (primary care, specialist outpatient visits, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations) for the 3 years prior to and 3 years following SMU admission using the point of admission as the “index date.” Secondary outcomes were HCU limited to specific settings. We excluded the first 30 days following the point of admission to mitigate the confounding admission would have on the postadmission HCU trajectory. We used adjusted restricted maximum likelihood linear and nonlinear effects models to determine trajectories expressed as Canadian dollars.A total of 315 of 600 (53%) patients met eligibility criteria. Mean age was 40 years (SD = 17.4), 176 (56%) were female, 220 (70%) had focal epilepsy, and 60 (19%) had functional seizures or physiologic seizure mimics without epilepsy as adjudicated by the attending physician at the point of discharge. Mean per person health care costs increased by CAD$341.28 (95% confidence interval [CI] = −25.17 to 707.74) for each successive 6‐month interval prior to SMU admission (p = .07). Following admission, mean per person costs decreased by CAD$802.34 (95% CI = 699.62–905.06, p < .001) for each successive 6‐month interval up to 3 years postdischarge. Similar trends were noted for primary and specialist care, emergency department, admitted care, and when nonlinear models were applied.Admission to an SMU is associated with significant and enduring declines in HCU. Each 6‐months following discharge overall HCU declined by a mean of CAD$802.34 and acute inpatient, emergency department, and outpatient physician interactions declined by 25%, 26%, and 18% respectively. Comprehensive epilepsy care not only reduces morbidity and mortality but also reduces cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aim Design Methods Results Conclusions Reporting Method Patient and Public Contribution Although there has been a significant amount of research on nurse workloads in hospital environments, there has been a lack of comprehensive investigation of the workload of triage nurses. This study assesses the workload fluctuations of triage nurses in various emergency departments in the same region and examines how workload varies based on emergency department visit volumes and seasonal fluctuations.The study is a retrospective, multicentre, observational study from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2023, in seven Italian emergency departments, gathering information on all patients who went through the triage process.We documented the number of nurses present throughout each shift and adjusted the data to account for the number of patients attended to by each triage nurse per shift. The EDs were classified into high‐inflow, medium‐inflow and low‐inflow categories according to the annual number of patients they served.The study included 1,223,331 emergency department triage assessments. During daytime shifts, triage nurses in high‐inflow emergency departments assessed a median of 74 patients, while those in medium‐inflow and low‐inflow emergency departments assessed 63 and 32 patients, respectively. During nighttime shifts, triage nurses in high‐inflow emergency departments assessed 26 patients, compared to 14 in medium‐inflow and 5 in low‐inflow emergency departments. Significant seasonal fluctuations in the workload of triage nurses were observed.This study reveals substantial disparities in the number of patients triage nurses assess, which vary according to emergency department patient inflow volumes and seasonal factors. The findings emphasise the need for more standardised and equitable workload distribution among triage nurses. Future research should aim to establish a systematic nurse staffing model for triage to ensure manageable workloads and maintain patient safety.The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology was used.No patient or public contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aims Methods and results Conclusion Psychological distress is prevalent among heart failure (HF) patients, yet its impact on healthcare expenditure and utilization remains understudied. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of psychological distress in HF patients and its impact on healthcare expenditure and utilization.We analysed data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey from January 2016 to December 2021, focusing on adults diagnosed with HF. We assessed the prevalence of psychological distress using the Kessler 6 (K6) questionnaire and examined its association with healthcare utilization and expenditures through multivariate regression models, adjusting for relevant covariates. Among 10 681 886 HF patients, 6.8% experienced psychological distress. The mean age was 69.9 years, and 50% were female. Multivariable analysis revealed significant associations between psychological distress and smoking (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.87), Charlson comorbidity index ≥3 (aOR 3.05), and sleep disorders (aOR 2.82). Protective factors included exercise (aOR 0.40), higher education (aOR 0.89) and higher income levels (middle‐income: aOR 0.19, high‐income: aOR 0.20). HF patients with psychological distress incurred significantly higher annual total expenses ($14 709, p < 0.01), with inpatient costs ($6014, p = 0.02) and office‐based expenses ($3993, p = 0.04) being notably elevated. Additionally, these patients exhibited more frequent annual emergency room visits (0.07 visits, p < 0.01), hospital discharges (0.2 discharges, p = 0.01), and nights spent in the hospital (1.4 nights, p < 0.01).Psychological distress in HF patients is associated with significantly higher medical expenditure and healthcare utilization. These findings underscore the need for integrated care approaches and present possible areas for intervention to address this significant healthcare burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBackgroundMethodsResultsConclusionsThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the health screening procedure for home-dwelling older adults in reducing emergency department visits and associated costs.Data were derived from health screenings from 2020 to 2021 for 75-year-old home-dwelling residents of Western Finland. The study compared emergency department visits and associated costs between older adults who participated in the health screening (intervention group) and those who did not (non-intervention group). For each older adult, three non-intervention controls were matched according to age, sex, health screening year and wellbeing service county. Emergency department visits and International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 codes from one year before to two years after health screening were analyzed.In the non-intervention group, a 19% increase in emergency visit rates was seen (457–564 per 1000 person-years), while the intervention group showed a 67% decrease (165–23). Annual costs for the non-intervention group increased from 148 euros (€) to €183, a mean ratio increase of 1.24 per person-year (range 1.08–1.40). In contrast, the intervention group’s costs decreased from €53 to €8, a mean reduction ratio of 0.15 per person-year (range 0.10–0.71). The intervention group had lower frequency of visits for respiratory and circulatory diseases but higher for digestive and metabolic diseases, unlike the non-intervention group.The implementation of the health screening is an effective strategy for reducing both the frequency of emergency department visits and associated costs in home-dwelling older adults in good condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the management of splenic flexure volvulus in an 84-year-old male patient through laparoscopic colopexy. The patient had a history of tubulovillous adenoma of the sigmoid colon and multiple ED visits for bowel obstruction. The decision for laparoscopic colopexy was made based on CT imaging and laparoscopy findings, indicating a highly mobile splenic flexure and redundant transverse colon. [Extracted from the article]

Objective Methods Results Conclusions To assess the impact of the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine roll‐out on an ED. Primary outcomes are ED length of stay (LOS), investigation ordering and costs. Secondary measures are compliance with the Thrombosis and Haemostasis Society of Australia and New Zealand (THANZ) Vaccine‐Induced Thrombotic Thrombocytopaenia Syndrome (VITT) guidelines.This retrospective observational study examined a level 5 ED in Sydney, Australia. Triages mentioning the AZ vaccine between 7 July 2021 and 8 November 2021 were reviewed. Cases were limited to a single day of the week. Researchers reviewed clinical notes to identify patients that presented due to AZ vaccine concern and abstracted relevant data. Costings were calculated using an ED activity‐based funding algorithm.One thousand three hundred and fifty cases were identified, with 167 analysed (12%) and 97 presented (7%). Median LOS was 195 min (IQR: 152–232 min, 95% CI [184, 217]). Median age was 43 years (IQR: 35–65 years, 95% CI [44, 51]). Median Australian Triage Category was 4. Ninety‐eight percent were discharged directly home. Ninety‐four percent underwent pathology and 41% radiology. Compliance with the THANZ guidelines was 16%. No findings were related to VITT. AZ vaccine concern contributed 12% of August ED caseload. Over the 16‐week study period a cost of AUD$486 747.99 was extrapolated.A high number of young, low acuity patients presented to the ED with AZ vaccine concerns and were associated with financial and workload implications. The quantity of ED presentations appears to be associated with vaccine administration rates. There was poor compliance with the THANZ guidelines, and they appear to have contributed to the high volume of investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions Clinical Relevance The healthcare industry increasingly values high‐quality and personalized care. Patients with heart failure (HF) receiving home health care (HHC) often experience hospitalizations due to worsening symptoms and comorbidities. Therefore, close symptom monitoring and timely intervention based on risk prediction could help HHC clinicians prevent emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. This study aims to (1) describe important variables associated with a higher risk of ED visits and hospitalizations in HF patients receiving HHC; (2) map data requirements of a clinical decision support (CDS) tool to the exchangeable data standard for integrating a CDS tool into the care of patients with HF; (3) outline a pipeline for developing a real‐time artificial intelligence (AI)‐based CDS tool.We used patient data from a large HHC organization in the Northeastern US to determine the factors that can predict ED visits and hospitalizations among patients with HF in HHC (9362 patients in 12,223 care episodes). We examined vital signs, HHC visit details (e.g., the purpose of the visit), and clinical note–derived variables. The study identified critical factors that can predict ED visits and hospitalizations and used these findings to suggest a practical CDS tool for nurses. The tool's proposed design includes a system that can analyze data quickly to offer timely advice to healthcare clinicians.Our research showed that the length of time since a patient was admitted to HHC and how recently they have shown symptoms of HF were significant factors predicting an adverse event. Additionally, we found this information from the last few HHC visits before the occurrence of an ED visit or hospitalization were particularly important in the prediction. One hundred percent of clinical demographic profiles from the Outcome and Assessment Information Set variables were mapped to the exchangeable data standard, while natural language processing–driven variables couldn't be mapped due to their nature, as they are generated from unstructured data. The suggested CDS tool alerts nurses about newly emerging or rising risks, helping them make informed decisions.This study discusses the creation of a time‐series risk prediction model and its potential CDS applications within HHC, aiming to enhance patient outcomes, streamline resource utilization, and improve the quality of care for individuals with HF.This study provides a detailed plan for a CDS tool that uses the latest AI technology designed to aid nurses in their day‐to‐day HHC service. Our proposed CDS tool includes an alert system that serves as a guard rail to prevent ED visits and hospitalizations. This tool can potentially improve how nurses make decisions and improve patient outcomes by providing early warnings about ED visits and hospitalizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Opioid use is non-trivial in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and arthritis, and options are limited for pain management. We aimed to determine the impacts of chronic opioid use on acute care utilization in children with both IBD and arthritis in United States. Methods: Participants less than 18 years of age with IBD and arthritis, with at least one year of continuous enrollment (no interruption of insurance for at least 1 year) and at least one pharmacy claim in the Truven Health MarketScan Claims and Encounter Database, were included in the study. The primary exposure was chronic opioid use. Chronic opioid users were matched to non-exposed controls. The primary outcome was acute healthcare utilization (total number of emergency department visits and hospitalizations within 12–24 months after the index date). The association between acute care utilization and chronic opioid use was assessed using a multivariable negative binomial regression model. Results: 480 children with IBD and arthritis met inclusion criteria, out of which 59 (12.3%) met the criteria for chronic opioid exposure, and 46 of them had at least one year of follow-up. IRR (incidence rate ratio) of acute healthcare use for patients exposed to chronic opioid use was 1.7 higher than controls. Additionally, public insurance and having a chronic pain condition were independently and significantly associated with greater acute healthcare use. Conclusion: Chronic opioid use was significantly associated with greater acute health care utilization in children with IBD and arthritis than matched unexposed controls. Future investigation is warranted to determine if preferential use of non-opioid therapy for pain control can reduce acute healthcare costs in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Points: Question: Among low-income individuals, how does a cash benefit affect use of the emergency department and outpatient care? Findings: In this study of 2880 randomized participants, there were significantly fewer emergency department visits among those assigned to receive a monthly cash benefit compared with the control group (217.1 vs 317.5 emergency department visits per 1000 persons), including fewer emergency department visits leading to hospital admission and fewer emergency department visits related to behavioral health and substance use. There were more outpatient visits to subspecialists, particularly for individuals without a car. Meaning: Cash benefits changed patterns of health care utilization in ways that suggest policies to alleviate poverty may improve health and access to health care. Importance: Poverty is associated with greater barriers to health care and worse health outcomes, but it remains unclear whether income support can improve health. Objective: To examine the effect of cash benefits on health care utilization and health. Design, Setting, and Participants: The City of Chelsea, Massachusetts, a low-income community near Boston, randomly assigned individuals by lottery to receive cash benefits. Participants' medical records were linked across multiple health systems. Outcomes were assessed during the intervention period from November 24, 2020, to August 31, 2021. Intervention: Cash benefits via debit card of up to $400 per month for 9 months. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was emergency department visits. Secondary outcomes included specific types of emergency department visits, outpatient use overall and by specialty, COVID-19 vaccination, and biomarkers such as cholesterol levels. Results: Among 2880 individuals who applied for the lottery, mean age was 45.1 years and 77% were female. The 1746 participants randomized to receive the cash benefits had significantly fewer emergency department visits compared with the control group (217.1 vs 317.5 emergency department visits per 1000 persons; adjusted difference, −87.0 per 1000 persons [95% CI, −160.2 to −13.8]). This included reductions in emergency department visits related to behavioral health (−21.6 visits per 1000 persons [95% CI, −40.2 to −3.1]) and substance use (−12.8 visits per 1000 persons [95% CI, −25.0 to −0.6]) as well as those that resulted in a hospitalization (−27.3 visits per 1000 persons [95% CI, −53.6 to −1.1]). The cash benefit had no statistically significant effect on total outpatient visits (424.3 visits per 1000 persons [95% CI, −118.6 to 967.2]), visits to primary care (−90.4 visits per 1000 persons [95% CI, −308.1 to 127.2]), or outpatient behavioral health (83.5 visits per 1000 persons [95% CI, −182.9 to 349.9]). Outpatient visits to other subspecialties were higher in the cash benefit group compared with the control group (303.1 visits per 1000 persons [95% CI, 32.9 to 573.2]), particularly for individuals without a car. The cash benefit had no statistically significant effect on COVID-19 vaccination, blood pressure, body weight, glycated hemoglobin, or cholesterol level. Conclusions and Relevance: In this randomized study, individuals who received a cash benefit had significantly fewer emergency department visits, including those related to behavioral health and substance use, fewer admissions to the hospital from the emergency department, and increased use of outpatient subspecialty care. Study results suggest that policies that seek to alleviate poverty by providing income support may have important benefits for health and access to care. This randomized study uses electronic health record data to investigate how a monthly cash benefit delivered to low-income individuals affects emergency department and outpatient care utilization in a low-income US city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although suspicions of cancer may be raised in patients who visit the emergency department, little is known about emergency department use before a cancer diagnosis. We sought to describe emergency department use among patients in Ontario within the 90 days before confirmed cancer diagnosis and to evaluate factors associated with this emergency department use. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, population-based study of patients aged 18 years or older who had a confirmed cancer diagnosis in Ontario from 2014 to 2021 using linked administrative databases. The primary outcome was any emergency department visit within 90 days before the cancer diagnosis date. We used multivariable logistic regression to evaluate factors associated with emergency department use, such as demographics (e.g., age, sex, rurality, Ontario Health region, indicators of marginalization), comorbidities, previous emergency department visits and hospital admissions, continuity of primary care, type of cancer, and year of cancer diagnosis. Results: We included 651 071 patients with cancer. Of these, 229 683 (35.3%) had an emergency department visit within 90 days before diagnosis, 51.4% of whom were admitted to hospital from the emergency department. Factors associated with increased odds of emergency department use before cancer diagnosis included rurality (odds ratio [OR] 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13–1.17), residence in northern Ontario (North East region OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.10–1.17 and North West region OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.21–1.32, v. Toronto region), and living in the most marginalized areas (material resources OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.35–1.40 and housing OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.06–1.11, v. least marginalized quintile). We observed significant variation in emergency department use by cancer type, with high odds of emergency department use among patients with intracranial, pancreatic, liver or gallbladder, or thoracic cancer. Interpretation: Emergency department use is common before cancer diagnosis, with about one-third of patients with cancer in Ontario using the emergency department before diagnosis. Understanding why patients visit the emergency department before cancer diagnosis is important, particularly for patients who live in rural or marginalized areas, or those who have specific cancer types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Study setting and design Data sources and analytic sample Principal findings Conclusions This study aimed to compare imputation approaches to identify the likely undocumented patient population in electronic health record (EHRs). EHR are a promising source of information on undocumented immigrants' medical needs and care utilization, but there is no verified way to identify immigration status in the data. Different approaches to approximating immigration status in EHR introduce unique biases, which in turn has major implications on our understanding of undocumented immigrant patients.We used a dataset of all emergency department (ED) visits from 2016 to 2019 in the Los Angeles Department of Health Services (LADHS) merged across patient medical records, demographic data, and claims data. We included all ED visits from our patient groups of interest and limited to patients at or over the age of 18 years at the time of their ED visit and excluded empty encounter records (n = 1,106,086 ED encounters).We created three patient groups: (1) US‐born, (2) foreign‐born documented, and (3) undocumented using two different imputation approaches: a logical approach versus statistical assignment. We compared predicted probabilities for two outcomes: an ED visit related to a behavioral health (BH) disorder and inpatient admission/transfer to another facility.Both approaches provide comparable estimates among the three patient groups for ED encounters for a BH disorder and inpatient admission/transfer to another facility. Undocumented immigrants are less likely to have a BH diagnosis in the ED and are less likely to be admitted or transferred compared to the US‐born.Researchers should consider expanding EHR with administrative data when studying the undocumented patient population and may prefer a logical approach to estimate immigration status. Researchers who rely on payer status alone (i.e., restricted Medicaid) as a proxy for undocumented immigrants in EHR should consider how this may bias their results. As Medicaid expands for undocumented immigrants, statistical assignment may become the preferred method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Methods and results Conclusions Heart failure (HF) is a leading cause of hospitalization, and sex differences in care have been described. We assessed sex‐specific clinical outcomes and healthcare resource utilization following hospitalization for HF.This was an exploratory analysis of patients hospitalized for HF across 10 Canadian hospitals in the Patient‐Centered Care Transitions in HF (PACT‐HF) cluster‐randomized trial. The primary outcome was all‐cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included all‐cause readmissions, HF readmissions, emergency department (ED) visits, and healthcare resource utilization. Outcomes were obtained via linkages with administrative datasets. Among 4441 patients discharged alive, 50.7% were female. By 5 years, 63.6% and 65.5% of male and female patients, respectively, had died (p = 0.19); 85.4% and 84.4%, respectively, were readmitted (p = 0.35); and 72.2% and 70.9%, respectively, received ED care without hospitalization (p = 0.34). There were no sex differences in mean [SD] number of all‐cause readmissions (males, 2.8 [7.8] and females, 3.0 [8.4], p = 0.54), HF readmissions (males, 0.9 [3.6] and females, 0.9 [4.5], p = 0.80), or ED visits (males, 1.8 [11.3] and females, 1.5 [6.0], p = 0.24) per person. There were no sex differences in mean [SD] annual direct healthcare cost per patient (males, $80 334 [116 762] versus females, $81 010 [112 625], p = 0.90), but males received more specialist, multidisciplinary HF clinic, haemodialysis, and day surgical care, and females received more home visits, continuing/convalescent care, and long‐term care. Annualized clinical events were highest in first year following index discharge in both males and females.Among people discharged alive after hospitalization for HF, there were no sex differences in total and annual deaths, readmissions, and ED visits, or in total direct healthcare costs. Despite similar risk profiles, males received relatively more specialist care and day surgical procedures, and females received more supportive care.Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02112227. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The use of androgen biosynthesis and second-generation androgen receptor inhibitors for advanced prostate cancer is increasing. Because these therapies alter the androgen pathway, they have been associated with cardiometabolic and neurocognitive toxicities. Although their safety profiles have been assessed in clinical trials, real-world data are limited. Methods A 20% sample of national Medicare claims was used to perform a retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries with advanced prostate cancer treated with androgen biosynthesis (ie, abiraterone) and second-generation androgen receptor inhibitors between 2012 and 2019. Outcomes were assessed after the first fill of either class of drug for the 12-month period after starting therapy. The primary outcome was a hospital admission or emergency department visit for a cardiometabolic event. Secondary outcomes included neurocognitive events and fractures. Multivariable regression was used to assess the association between the class of drug and occurrence of an adverse event. Results There were 3488 (60%) men started on an androgen biosynthesis inhibitor and 2361 (40%) started on an androgen receptor inhibitor for the first time. Cardiometabolic adverse events were more common in men managed with androgen biosynthesis inhibitor (9.2% vs 7.5%, P  = .027). No difference between androgen biosynthesis and androgen receptor inhibitors was observed for neurocognitive events (3.3% vs 3.4%, respectively; P  = .71) or fractures (4.2% vs 3.6%, respectively; P  = .26). Conclusions Men with advanced prostate cancer initiating an androgen biosynthesis inhibitor for the first time more commonly had cardiometabolic events than those started on androgen receptor inhibitors. Neurocognitive events and fractures did not differ by drug class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COPD is a major public health problem due to its high morbidity and mortality. The evolution of COPD is marked by the occurrence of acute exacerbations (AECOPD). One of the major causes of AECOPD is non-adherence treatment. Telemedicine is an accessible educational tool that can help physicians to provide continuous, accessible educational support and monitoring for patients with COPD. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the impact of therapeutic education via phone-based telemedicine on ED visits and/or hospitalizations for AECOPD. Methods: This is a randomized controlled trial carried out in the emergency department (ED) of Fattouma Bourguiba Monastir over a period of 7 consecutive months, including patients admitted with a final diagnosis of AECOPD. Patients were randomly assigned to receive standard care (STD) or weekly phone-based telemonitoring (TLM). Outcomes (exacerbation and the need for hospitalization for AECOPD) were assessed at a 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-up after being discharged from the hospital. Results: We included 163 patients (57 patients in the TLM group and 106 patients in the STD group). The mean age of the study population was 66.5 ± 12.5 years. The TLM group exhibited a significantly lower risk of ED visits for AECOPD compared to the STD group, with an odds ratio of 0.13 (95% CI: 0.04–0.40) and a p-value ≤ 0.001. Additionally, the TLM group had a notably lower hospitalization rate for AECOPD compared to the control group (15.8% vs. 44.3%, respectively), with an odds ratio of 0.23 (95% CI: 0.10–0.52) and a p-value < 0.001. The all-cause death rate was also lower in the TLM group at the 6-month follow-up. Conclusions: Telemedicine represents an innovative approach that could improve the management of patients with COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology published oral abstracts on various cancer care topics, including health disparities, telehealth interventions, and cultural competency. The research aimed to address disparities in cancer care and promote equity for diverse populations. A study in Australia explored pain management for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with cancer, emphasizing the importance of culturally safe care and involving family and community in decision-making. Healthcare professionals highlighted challenges in providing care for patients with brain tumour-related cognitive impairment, emphasizing the need for ongoing education and individualized support. A symposium in London will discuss the integration of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare, focusing on personalized treatment optimization and the transformative potential of AI in revolutionizing healthcare practices. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction Most post-9/11 Veterans have completed at least 1 combat deployment—a known factor associated with adverse health outcomes. Such Veterans are known to have unmet health care needs, and the emergency department (ED) may serve as a safety net, yet little is known about whether combat status is associated with more frequent ED use. We sought to evaluate the relationship between combat status and frequency of ED use among post-9/11 Veterans and assess the most common reasons for ED visits. Materials and Methods This retrospective cohort study consisted of post-9/11 Veterans who enrolled in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) care between fiscal years (FYs) 2005 and 2015. Data were obtained from the VA Corporate Data Warehouse. Incidence rates for ED visits for combat and non-combat Veterans were compared from FY 2010 to 2019 using zero-inflated negative binomial regression. The most frequent reasons for ED visits were determined using International Classification of Diseases codes. This study was approved by the Stanford Institutional Review Board. Results Among 1.3 million Veterans included in analyses, 70.4% had deployed to a combat zone. The mean (SD) age of our cohort was 32.6 (5.0) years and 83.5% of Veterans were male. After controlling for other factors, combat Veterans had 1.84 times the rate of ED visits compared to non-combat Veterans (95% CI, 1.83-1.85). Only combat Veterans had a mental health-related ED visit (suicidal ideations) among the top 3 reasons for ED presentation. Conclusions Those who deployed to a combat zone had a significantly higher rate of ED use compared to those who did not. Further, mental health-related ED diagnoses appeared to be more prevalent in combat Veterans. These findings highlight the unique health care needs faced by combat Veterans and emphasize the importance of tailored interventions and support services for this specific population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Young adults with serious mental illness (SMI) have poor physical health and high Emergency Department (ED) and hospital utilization. Integrating primary care into community mental health care may be an important form of early intervention. Methods: Adjusted multivariable regressions assessed changes in self‐reported annual primary care, ED and hospital utilization for 83 young adults with SMI enrolled in integrated care. Results: Participants' mean annual per person utilization changed significantly as follows: primary care visits, from 1.8 to 3.6, p <.001; medical ED visits, from 1.0 to 0.6, p <.01; psychiatric ED visits from 0.6 to 0.2, p <.001; medical inpatient days, from 1.2 to 0.1, p <.001 and psychiatric inpatient days, from 6.3 to 2.6, p <.001. Conclusions: Young adults with SMI receiving integrated care increased primary care and reduced ED and inpatient utilization. Future controlled research is warranted to further assess integrated care for young adults with SMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the implementation of a mixed virtual and in‐person brief intervention for young people, aged 12–25 years, presenting to a large urban mental health service in crisis with suicidal ideation and/or self‐harm. Methods: A pragmatic, real‐world evaluation was conducted on the Youth Brief Intervention Service between June 2021 (inception) and October 2022. Service users were offered four sessions over an approximate one‐month period. Sessions focused on distress tolerance, safety plans and support systems. Implementation outcomes related to service uptake, retention, fidelity of the model and service user experience. Effectiveness outcomes were measured pre‐post and included mental health‐related hospital service utilization (primary outcome), functioning, mental health status, self‐harm, suicidal ideation and quality of life. Results: Of the 136 young people referred to the Youth Brief Intervention Service, 99 were accepted with 17 disengaging before the first session. Eighty percent of people who commenced, completed the package of care. Young persons' and parent/carers experience of service was high (97% and 88%, respectively). Mental health‐related emergency department presentations and inpatient days decreased from 3 months pre‐intake to 3 months post‐intake (42 vs. 7 presentations, X2 = 25.3, p <.001; 11 vs. 0 inpatient days, X2 = 9.1, p =.01). There were significant improvements in mental health status, days engaging in self‐harm, general health and functioning and quality of life. Conclusions: The Youth Brief Intervention Service is feasible, acceptable, subjectively beneficial and coincided with less mental health‐related emergency department presentations and inpatient days, and improved mental health status and behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the impact of the implementation of legally sanctioned supervised consumption sites (SCS) in the Canadian province of Ontario on opioid‐related deaths, emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalisations at the public health unit (PHU) level. Methods: Monthly rates per 100,000 population of opioid‐related deaths, ED visits and hospitalisations for PHUs in Ontario between December 2013 and March 2022 were collected. Aggregated and individual analyses of PHUs with one or more SCS were conducted, with PHUs that instituted an SCS being matched to control units that did not. Autoregressive integrated moving average models were used to estimate the impact of SCS implementation on opioid‐related deaths, ED visits and hospitalisations. Results: Twenty‐one legally sanctioned SCS were implemented across nine PHUs in Ontario during the study period. Interrupted time series analyses showed no statistically significant changes in opioid‐related death rates in aggregated analyses of intervention PHUs (increase of 0.02 deaths/100,000 population/month; p = 0.27). Control PHUs saw a significant increase of 0.38 deaths/100,000 population/month; p < 0.001. No statistically significant changes were observed in the rates of opioid‐related ED visits in intervention PHUs (decrease of 0.61 visits/100,000 population/month; p = 0.39) or controls (increase of 0.403 visits; p = 0.76). No statistically significant changes to the rates of opioid‐related hospitalisations were observed in intervention PHUs (0 hospitalisations/100,000 population/month; p = 0.98) or controls (decrease of 0.05 hospitalisations; p = 0.95). Discussion and Conclusions: This study did not find significant mortality or morbidity effects associated with SCS availability at the population level in Ontario. In the context of a highly toxic drug supply, additional interventions will be required to reduce opioid‐related harms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore health care providers' (HCP) experiences related to transitions in care from inpatient rehabilitation to the community for patients with limb loss. Materials and Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews. Participants were eligible if they were HCPs currently working in amputation rehabilitation at a rehabilitation hospital in Ontario, Canada, with at least 1-year experience in this setting, and could speak and understand English. Data were analyzed thematically using the six-step process of the DEPICT model dynamic reading, engaged codebook development, participatory coding, inclusive reviewing and summarizing of categories, collaborative analyzing and translating. Results: Fourteen HCPs from a variety of health care professions participated in this study. Five key themes describe participants' perspectives on the factors impacting patients' transition in care following limb loss. Specifically, participants emphasized patient preparedness, HCP follow-up, finances and funding, patient self-management skills, and psychosocial support as factors that could influence the transition in care. Conclusion: This study identified challenges to transitions in care for people with limb loss. Future research is needed to evaluate solutions to address these challenges in transitions in care. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Suboptimal transitions in care can result in readmission to the hospital, emergency department visits, and increased health care costs. Patient preparedness, follow-up, finances and funding, patient self-management skills, and psychosocial support are perceived to influence transitions in care from inpatient rehabilitation to the community. Improved access to follow-up and supports in the community and improved communication across the continuum of care could improve transitions for people with limb loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Methods Results Conclusion Safer Care Victoria updated a clinical guideline on extreme prematurity in 2020, reducing the threshold for offering resuscitation from 23 to 22 weeks gestation. The zone of parental discretion is the interval of shared decision‐making between parents and doctors regarding resuscitation decisions. It is especially relevant at this periviable gestation. Our study aimed to establish current practices in antenatal counselling and steroid administration at this cusp of viability, and examine the decisions made during the zone of parental discretion.Single centre retrospective cohort study. Sixteen thousand three hundred fifty‐four admissions and emergency department presentations between January 2021 and July 2023 were retrieved from Birthing Outcomes System (BOS) and patient details were imported and manually reviewed on Microsoft Excel, with particular note to the gestation at admission/emergency department presentation and duration of admission. Eighty‐seven patients were identified as present in the hospital between 21 + 0 and 22 + 6 weeks gestation. These 87 scanned records on Clinical Patient Folder (CPF) were then manually reviewed to identify if antenatal counselling occurred during this window. Thirty‐six patients were included who received antenatal counselling between 21 + 0 and 22 + 6 weeks gestation (the remaining patients did not receive antenatal counselling during this window), and relevant data was subsequently extracted from the scanned medical record and analysed using SPSS software (IBM SPSS Statistics 29).Thirty‐six women received antenatal counselling between 21 + 0 and 22 + 6 weeks. 58% decided on full resuscitation and 39% opted for comfort care if their infant was to be born between 22 + 0 and 22 + 6 weeks. All but one baby born premature were exposed to steroids, with 83.3% receiving a full course. Twenty‐eight infants (62.2%) were fully steroid loaded at the time of delivery. In those fully steroid loaded, 31.1% of the time steroids were initiated prior to transfer, 50% of the time deferred until neonatal review and a decision regarding the resuscitation status of the baby, and on one occasion requested by the neonatologist before counselling.Patients at risk for premature birth who attended our hospital at the cusp of viability were generally counselled about the opportunity for resuscitation between 22 + 0 and 22 + 6 weeks gestational age, and offered steroids. Further studies are required to establish whether the content of antenatal counselling, and the timing of steroids, are consistent in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous epidemiological studies have reported a short-term association between ambient temperature and suicide risk. To gain a clearer understanding of this association, it is essential to differentiate the risk factors for intentional self-harm (ISH) from those specifically associated with suicide deaths. Therefore, this study aims to examine whether the association between daily temperature and ISH or suicide deaths differs by age and sex. Between 2014 and 2019, cases of emergency room visits related to ISH and suicide deaths in Seoul were identified. A time-stratified case-crossover design was used to adjust for temporal trends and seasonal variation. A distributed lag nonlinear model was used to analyze the nonlinear and time-delayed effect of ambient temperature on ISH and suicide deaths. Positive associations were observed between temperature and both ISH and suicide deaths. For ISH, the relative risk (RR) was high at 1.17 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03, 1.34) for a temperature of 25.7 °C compared with 14.8 °C. The RR for suicide death was higher than those for ISH, at 1.43 (95% CI: 1.03, 2.00) for a temperature of 33.7 °C. These associations varied by age and sex, with males and females aged 35–64 years showing increased susceptibility to suicide deaths. This study provides detailed evidence that unusually high temperatures, both anomalous and out of season, may trigger suicidal behaviors, including both ISH and suicide deaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The editorial discusses the importance of protecting older adults from influenza hospitalizations through enhanced influenza vaccines. It highlights the challenges of vaccine effectiveness due to various factors and the complexity of evidence landscape. The study by Ferdinands et al. compares different enhanced vaccines' effectiveness in preventing influenza hospitalizations among older adults, finding them to be more effective than standard dose vaccines. The research provides valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners in developing effective influenza vaccination programs for older adults. [Extracted from the article]

OBJECTIVES: Sepsis survivors have greater healthcare use than those surviving hospitalizations for other reasons, yet factors associated with greater healthcare use in this population remain ill-defined. Rural Americans are older, have more chronic illnesses, and face unique barriers to healthcare access, which could affect postsepsis healthcare use. Therefore, we compared healthcare use and expenditures among rural and urban sepsis survivors. We hypothesized that rural survivors would have greater healthcare use and expenditures. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: To test this hypothesis, we used data from 106,189 adult survivors of a sepsis hospitalization included in the IBM MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters database and Medicare Supplemental database between 2013 and 2018. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We identified hospitalizations for severe sepsis and septic shock using the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition (ICD-9) or 1CD-10 codes. We used Metropolitan Statistical Area classifications to categorize rurality. We measured emergency department (ED) visits, inpatient hospitalizations, skilled nursing facility admissions, primary care visits, physical therapy visits, occupational therapy visits, and home healthcare visits for the year following sepsis hospitalizations. We calculated the total expenditures for each of these categories. We compared outcomes between rural and urban patients using multivariable regression and adjusted for covariates. After adjusting for age, sex, comorbidities, admission type, insurance type, U.S. Census Bureau region, employment status, and sepsis severity, those living in rural areas had 17% greater odds of having an ED visit (odds ratio [OR] 1.17; 95% CI, 1.13-1.22; p < 0.001), 9% lower odds of having a primary care visit (OR 0.91; 95% CI, 0.87-0.94; p < 0.001), and 12% lower odds of receiving home healthcare (OR 0.88; 95% CI, 0.84-0.93; p < 0.001). Despite higher levels of ED use and equivalent levels of hospital readmissions, expenditures in these areas were 14% (OR 0.86; 95% CI, 0.80-0.91; p < 0.001) and 9% (OR 0.91; 95% CI, 0.87-0.96; p < 0.001) lower among rural survivors, respectively, suggesting these services may be used for lower-acuity conditions. CONCLUSIONS: In this large cohort study, we report important differences in healthcare use and expenditures between rural and urban sepsis survivors. Future research and policy work is needed to understand how best to optimize sepsis survivorship across the urban-rural continuum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: We compared health care resource utilization (HCRU) and costs for inpatient and outpatient services and dispensed medications in older adults with type 2 diabetes initiating empagliflozin versus dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP-4is). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The study population included U.S. Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries with diabetes (age ≥65 years) initiating empagliflozin or DPP-4is (August 2014 to September 2018). We estimated rate ratios (RRs) for HCRU outcomes using zero-inflated negative binomial regression and per-member per-year (PMPY) cost differences using generalized linear model with gamma distributions, overall and stratified by baseline cardiovascular disease (CVD), after adjusting for 143 baseline covariates using 1:1 propensity score matching. RESULTS: We identified 23,335 matched pairs (mean age 72 years, 51% with baseline CVD). HCRU rates were lower in empagliflozin versus DPP-4i initiators (number of inpatient days, RR 0.89 [95% CI 0.82, 0.97]; number of emergency department [ED] visits, 0.86 [0.82, 0.91]; number of hospitalizations, 0.86 [0.79, 0.93]; number of office visits, 0.96 [0.95, 0.98]). Inpatient cost (−$713 PMPY [95% CI −847, −579), outpatient cost (−$198 PMPY [−272, −124]), and total cost of care (−$1,109 PMPY [−1,478, −739]) were lower for empagliflozin versus DPP-4is, although diabetes medication cost was higher in empagliflozin initiators ($454 PMPY [95% CI 284, 567]). In the CVD subgroup, total cost was lower for empagliflozin initiators (−$2,005 PMPY [−2,451, −1,337]), while the difference was attenuated in the non-CVD subgroup (−$296 PMPY [−740, 148]). CONCLUSIONS: Among older adults with diabetes, empagliflozin was associated with a lower number of inpatient days, hospitalizations, ED visits, and office visits and with lower costs of care compared with DPP-4is, especially in those with history of CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Nationwide, obstetric clinics modified prenatal care to include telehealth visits in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, enabling the opportunity to investigate its impact on patient outcomes. We hypothesized that use of prenatal telehealth visits would increase the number of prenatal visits, decrease the frequency of urgent triage/emergency department (ED) visits, and improve perinatal outcomes. This study aimed to determine the impact of telehealth on number of obstetric prenatal visits and urgent triage/ED visits amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Study Design This is a retrospective cohort of patients from a federally qualified health center in central Texas. Patients with a singleton gestation who delivered after 32 weeks were included. Comparison groups were made between those patients who delivered between May 2020 and December 2020 (presumed modified prenatal visit schedule with in-person and telehealth) and those patients delivering between June 2019 and February 2020 (the traditional care model with in-person visits only). Multivariable linear and logistic regression models were used to estimate differences in the number of prenatal visits and unscheduled triage/ED visits. Results A total of 1,654 patients were identified with 801 (48.4%) patients undergoing modified prenatal care and 853 (51.6%) patients receiving traditional care during the study period. No significant differences were seen in overall prenatal attendance or triage/ED presentations. However, when stratified by parity, multiparous patients undergoing modified prenatal care were less likely to experience an urgent triage/ED presentation (8.7 vs. 12.7%; odds ratio, 1.69; 95% confidence interval, 1.10–2.61). Conclusion When compared with a traditional prenatal visitation cohort prepandemic, patients who received modified telehealth prenatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic had similar prenatal attendance and unscheduled emergency presentations. However, multiparous patients experienced a decreased rate of unscheduled emergency presentations. Supplementing prenatal care with telehealth may provide overall comparable prenatal care delivery. Key Points Use of telehealth has the potential to improve prenatal care. The COVID-19 pandemic allowed for comparison to traditional prenatal care. Multiparous patients had a decreased frequency of ED visits. Similar prenatal attendance was seen between both prenatal models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Identifying healthcare utilization and costs associated with active and passive smoking during pregnancy could help improve health management strategies. Aims and Methods Data are from the Newborn Epigenetics STudy (NEST), a birth cohort enrolled from 2005 to 2011 in Durham and adjacent counties in North Carolina, United States. Participants included those for whom prenatal serum samples were assayed and for whom administrative data were obtainable (N  = 1045). Zero-inflated poisson regression models were used to assess associations between cotinine, adjusted for covariates (eg, race and ethnicity, age at delivery, cohabitation status, and education), and health care utilization outcomes. Generalized linear regression models were used to estimate average total charges. Simulation models were conducted to determine the economic benefits of reducing secondhand smoke and smoking during pregnancy. Results Increasing levels of cotinine were positively associated with parent's number of emergency department (ED) visits (coefficient[b] = 0.0012, standard error [SE] = 0.0002; p  < .001), the number of ICU hours (b = 0.0079, SE = 0.0025; p  = .002), time spent in the ICU (b = 0.0238, SE = 0.0020, p  < .001), and the number of OP visits (b = 0.0003, SE = 0.0001; p  < .001). For infants, higher cotinine levels were associated with higher number of ED (b = 0.0012, SE = 0.0004; p  = .005), ICU (b = 0.0050, SE = 0.001; p  < .001), and OP (b = 0.0006, SE = 0.0002; p  < .001) visits and longer time spent in the ED (b = 0.0025, SE = 0.0003; p  < .001), ICU (b = 0.0005, SE = 0.0001; p  < .001), and IP (b = 0.0020, SE = 0.0002; p  < .001). Simulation results showed that a 5% reduction in smoking would correspond to a potential median cost savings of $150 533 from ED visits of parents and infants. Conclusions Our findings highlight the importance of smoke exposure cessation during pregnancy to reduce health care utilization and costs for both parents and infants. Implications This study reinforces the importance of reducing smoking and secondhand smoke exposure during pregnancy. Focusing on expanding cessation services to this group could help reduce morbidities observed within this population. Furthermore, there is the potential for healthcare cost savings to healthcare systems, especially for those with high delivery numbers. These cost savings are represented by potential reductions in ED, OP, and ICU hours and visits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Cases of appendicitis were identified in the pivotal randomized clinical trial on BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine and reported from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine pharmacovigilance systems. Three cohort studies and two self-controlled case series (SCCS) studies evaluating the association between mRNA vaccines and appendicitis reported discordant results. To address this uncertainty, the present study examines in a large population, with a SCCS design, the association between mRNA (BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273) and, for the first time, viral vector (ChAdOx1-S and Ad26.COV2-S) COVID-19 vaccines and acute appendicitis. Methods: The SCCS study design was used to evaluate the association between COVID-19 vaccination and subsequent onset of acute appendicitis. The study was based on record linkage of health archives through TheShinISS application, a statistical tool that locally processes data from regional health care databases according to ad hoc, study-tailored and common data model. The study population included all vaccinated subjects ≥ 12 years old between 27 December 2020 and 30 September 2021. The acute appendicitis was identified through discharge diagnoses of hospital admissions or emergency department visits. Incident cases were defined as those who experienced a first event of acute appendicitis in the study period, excluding subjects with a diagnosis of appendicitis in the previous 5 years. Exposure was defined as the first or second dose of BNT162b2, mRNA-1273 and ChAdOx1-S and the single dose of Ad26.COV2-S. The risk interval was defined as 42 days from the first or second vaccination dose and divided into pre-specified risk subperiods; the reference period was the observation time outside the risk interval. Relative incidences (RI) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated with the SCCS method 'modified for event-dependent exposures', through unbiased estimating equations. The seasonal component was considered as a time-dependent covariate. Results: In the 42-day risk interval 1285 incident cases of acute appendicitis occurred: 727 cases after the first dose and 558 cases after the second dose. In the main analysis, no increased risks of acute appendicitis were observed in subjects vaccinated with BNT162b, mRNA-1273, ChAdOx1-S and Ad26.COV2-S. The subgroup analyses by sex showed an increased risk in the 14–27 day risk interval, in males after the first dose of mRNA-1273 (RI of 1.71; 95% CI 1.08–2.70, p = 0.02) and in females after the single dose of Ad26.COV2-S (RI of 4.40; 95% CI 1.29–15.01, p = 0.02). Conclusions: There was no evidence of association of BNT162b, ChAdOx1-S, mRNA-1273 and Ad26.COV2-S with acute appendicitis in the general population. The results of the subgroup analyses by sex needs to be considered with caution. The multiplicity issue cannot be excluded being these hypotheses two of several hypotheses tested. In addition, relevant literature on the biological mechanism of the disease and evidence of similar effects with other vaccines or with the same vaccines are still lacking to provide strong support for a conclusion that there is an harmful effect in males and females with mRNA-1273 and Ad26.COV2-S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Home-Based Palliative Care (HPC) interventions have emerged as a promising approach to deliver patient-centered care in familiar surroundings, aligning with patients' preferences and improving quality of life (QOL). This review aimed to systematically assess the impact of HPC interventions on symptom management, QOL, healthcare resource utilization and place of death among patients with severe, progressive illnesses requiring end-of-life care. A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Cochrane, and Scopus databases to identify relevant studies published between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2023. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials and clinical studies evaluating the effectiveness of HPC interventions compared to usual care. Risk of bias assessment was performed using Cochrane tools. Nine publications meeting inclusion criteria were identified. Findings indicate that HPC interventions, delivered by specialized teams or integrated care approaches, significantly improve QOL and increase the likelihood of patients dying at home. Moreover, HPC is associated with reduced healthcare utilization, including fewer hospital admissions, emergency department visits, and shorter hospital stays. No significant differences were observed in symptom management. HPC interventions demonstrate significant benefits in addressing the complex needs of patients with advanced illnesses. These findings underscore the importance of integrating HPC into healthcare systems to optimize outcomes and promote quality end-of-life care. Future research should focus on expanding access to HPC services, enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration, and incorporating patient preferences to further improve care delivery in this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The real‐world benefits of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in the broad type 2 diabetes (T2D) population are not well studied. Our study evaluated the impact of CGM use on health care resource utilization over 12 months in adults with T2D. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort analysis used Optum's de‐identified Market Clarity data of >79 million people to evaluate CGM use in people with T2D who were treated with non‐insulin (NIT), basal insulin (BIT) and prandial insulin therapy (PIT). The primary outcomes were changes in all‐cause hospitalizations, acute diabetes‐related hospitalizations and acute diabetes‐related emergency room visits during the 6‐ and 12‐month post‐index period following transition from blood glucose monitoring to CGM. A pre‐specified subgroup analysis assessed glucose control and medication changes among people with T2D over 1 year. Results: The analysis included 74 679 adults with T2D (NIT; n = 25 269), (BIT; n = 16 264) and (PIT; n = 33 146). Significant reductions in all‐cause hospitalizations, acute diabetes‐related hospitalizations and acute diabetes‐related emergency room visits were observed in the 6‐month post‐index period that were sustained during the 6–12 month post‐index period (NIT, −10.1%, −31.0%, −30.7%; BIT, −13.9%, −47.6%, −28.2%; and PIT, −22.6%, −52.7%, −36.6%, respectively). A subgroup analysis of 6030 people showed mean glycated haemoglobin reductions at approximately 3 months, which were also sustained throughout the post‐index period: NIT, −1.1 (0.05)%; BIT, −1.1 (0.06)%; and PIT, −0.9 (0.04)%, p < 0.0001. Conclusions: CGM use in real‐life across different therapeutic regimens in adults with T2D was associated with reductions in health care resource utilization with improved glucose control over 1 year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To estimate healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and healthcare costs by body mass index (BMI) in a UK cohort and to explore how this varied by defined BMI strata. Materials and Methods: This retrospective open cohort study used Discover, a linked primary and secondary electronic health records database covering 2.7 million individuals. Adults were stratified by BMI as: overweight (25–<30 kg/m2); obesity class I (30–<35 kg/m2); obesity class II (35–<40 kg/m2); or obesity class III (≥40 kg/m2). Cost data, comprising primary care, secondary care (inpatient admissions, outpatient appointments and emergency room visits) and prescriptions, were reported for 2015–2019. Results: Overall, 1 008 101 individuals were overweight, 278 782 had obesity class I; 80 621 had obesity class II, and 42 642 had obesity class III. Healthcare costs and HCRU events per person per year increased over time (2015: £851–£1321 and 10.6–13.4 events; 2019: £1143–£1871 and 11.4–14.9 events), and were higher for each successive BMI group. Groups with chronic kidney disease or cardiovascular disease incurred particularly high costs. In 270 493 individuals with obesity in 2019, more than 72% of total healthcare costs were incurred by the highest cost quintile, which had a higher mean age and more obesity‐related complications (ORCs) than lower cost quintiles. Conclusions: The economic impact of obesity could be alleviated by weight management support based on unmet need, to limit the effects of BMI progression and ORC development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To examine patients with cerebral palsy (CP) undergoing open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for ankle fractures. Method: This was a retrospective study of adult patients undergoing ankle fracture ORIF for closed, isolated ankle fractures identified in between 2010 and 2021 in the Q1 PearlDiver M151 database. Patients with CP were identified with International Classification of Diseases (ICD)‐9 and ICD‐10 codes, and were matched to those without 1:10 on age, sex, and Elixhauser comorbidity index (ECI). Ninety‐day adverse events were assessed with multivariable logistic regression. Results: A total of 148 993 patients with isolated ankle fracture ORIF were identified, of whom 407 (0.27%) had CP. After matching, 3863 without CP were compared to 389 with CP. Patients with CP were at increased odds of: 90‐day urinary tract infection (odds ratios [OR] 6.26), pneumonia (OR 3.50), minor adverse events (OR 3.46), sepsis (OR 3.30), any adverse events (OR 3.04), emergency department visits (OR 2.28), serious adverse events (OR 1.77), and prolonged length of stay more than 4 days (OR 22.44) (p < 0.001 for all). Interpretation: Patients with CP undergoing ORIF for isolated, closed ankle fractures are at increased odds of several 90‐day adverse events and prolonged length of stay compared to matched patients without CP. What this paper adds: Patients with cerebral palsy (CP) undergoing ankle fracture open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) were at increased odds of 90‐day adverse events.Many of the 90‐day adverse events related to previously described comorbidities associated with CP.Patients with CP undergoing ankle fracture ORIF experienced increased rates of prolonged length of stay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective patient-provider communication is a critical component of optimal patient care, but its potential impact on the delivery of healthcare services remains unclear. This study examines the association of patient-provider communication with access to care, healthcare utilization, and financial burden of care. Using the 2013–2021 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey longitudinal data, the level of patient-provider communication was measured across four domains (attentive listening, clear explanation, respectfulness, and time allocation) as a primary independent variable, categorized into low, moderate, and high. A lagged dependent model was employed to examine the associations of patient-provider communication at baseline with subsequent access to care, healthcare utilization, and financial burden of care, controlling for baseline sample characteristics and outcomes measured at the baseline. Analysis was conducted in February 2024. Among 28,955 analytic samples (representing 709,547,678 U.S. adults), 5.3%, 50.2%, and 44.3% reported low, moderate, and high levels of patient-provider communication. Marginalized populations, including racial/ethnic minorities, those with low education and income, and those lacking insurance, were more likely to report low patient-provider communication. Compared with adults with high patient-provider communication, those with low patient-provider communication were more likely to encounter difficulties in accessing medical care (2.6 percentage points; 95% CI: 1.2–3.9), experience delays in obtaining necessary medical care (2.8 percentage points; 1.3–4.4), have emergency room visits (4.2 percentage points; 1.9–6.4), and face difficulties paying medical bills (4.0 percentage points; 2.2–5.8) in the subsequent year. Encouraging effective patient-provider communication is essential for advancing patient-centered care and mitigating health inequities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) are the most common osteoporotic fractures. Only 1/3 of patients with VCFs are clinically diagnosed. In our institution, the Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) was launched in 2017 to improve osteoporosis management for hospitalized patients. (1) To assess osteoporosis awareness among medical providers for emergency department (ED)/hospitalized patients aged 50 or greater; (2) To estimate the rate of FLS consults or referrals to primary care providers (FLS/PCP) by primary teams. A centralized radiology system was used to examine all thoracic and lumbar computed tomography (CT) scans conducted between June 1, 2017 and June 1, 2022. 449 studies were identified with the radiologic impression "compression fracture". 182 studies were excluded after manual chart review. 267 hospitalizations/ED visits with lumbar and/or thoracic spine CT scans were included. Referrals to FLS (26) or PCP (27) were made in 53 cases (~ 20% of the total). In the ED subgroup (131 hospitalizations), only 17 patients had FLS/PCP referrals. The "compression fracture" was mentioned in 227 (85%) discharge notes (any part), while "osteoporosis" was mentioned in only 74 (28%) hospitalizations. A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups when "osteoporosis" was mentioned in the "assessment and plan" section (p = 0.02). Our data show that the overall osteoporosis care for affected patients is suboptimal. Medical providers often overlook the presence of osteoporosis, leading to a lack of consultation with the FLS of referral to PCPs for further evaluation and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary embolism (PE) leads to many emergency department visits annually. Thrombolytic agents, such as alteplase, are currently recommended for massive PE, but genetically modified tenecteplase (TNK) presents advantages. Limited comparative studies exist between TNK and alteplase in PE treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and mortality of TNK compared with alteplase in patients with PE using real-world evidence obtained from a large multicenter registry. Primary outcomes included mortality, intracranial hemorrhage, and blood transfusions. This retrospective cohort study used the TriNetX Global Health Research Network. Patients aged 18 years or older with a PE diagnosis (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification code I26) were included. The following two cohorts were defined: TNK-treated (29 organizations, 266 cases) and alteplase-treated (22,864 cases). Propensity matching controlled for demographic characteristics, anticoagulant use, pre-existing conditions, and vital sign abnormalities associated with PE severity. Patients received TNK or alteplase within 7 days of diagnosis and outcomes were measured at 30 days post thrombolysis. Two hundred eighty-three patients in each cohort were comparable in demographic characteristics and pre-existing conditions. Mortality rates at 30 days post thrombolysis were similar between TNK and alteplase cohorts (19.4% vs 19.8%; risk ratio 0.982; 95% CI 0.704–1.371). Rates of intracerebral hemorrhages and transfusion were too infrequent to analyze. This study found TNK to exhibit a similar mortality rate to alteplase in the treatment of PE with hemodynamic instability. The results necessitate prospective evaluation. Given the cost-effectiveness and ease of administration of TNK, these findings contribute to the ongoing discussion about its adoption as a primary thrombolytic agent for stroke and PE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The integrated practice unit (IPU) aims to improve care for patients with complex medical and social needs through care coordination, medication reconciliation, and connection to community resources. This study examined the effects of IPU enrollment on emergency department (ED) utilization and health care costs among frequent ED utilizers with complex needs. Methods: We extracted electronic health records (EHR) data from patients in a large health care system who had at least four distinct ED visits within any 6‐month period between March 1, 2018, and May 30, 2021. Interrupted time series (ITS) analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of IPU enrollment on monthly ED visits and health care costs. A control group was matched to IPU patients using a propensity score at a 3:1 ratio. Results: We analyzed EHRs of 775 IPU patients with a control group of 2325 patients (mean [±SD] age 43.6 [±17]; 45.8% female; 50.9% White, 42.3% Black). In the single ITS analysis, IPU enrollment was associated with a decrease of 0.24 ED visits (p < 0.001) and a cost reduction of $466.37 (p = 0.040) in the first month, followed by decreases of 0.11 ED visits (p < 0.001) and $417.61 in costs (p < 0.001) each month over the subsequent year. Our main results showed that, compared to the matched control group, IPU patients experienced 0.20 more ED visits (p < 0.001) after their fourth ED visit within 6 months, offset by a reduction of 0.02 visits (p < 0.001) each month over the next year. No significant immediate or sustained increase in costs was observed for IPU‐enrolled patients compared to the control group. Conclusions: This quasi‐experimental study of frequent ED utilizers demonstrated an initial increase in ED visits following IPU enrollment, followed by a reduction in ED utilization over subsequent 12 months without increasing costs, supporting IPU's effectiveness in managing patients with complex needs and limited access to care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Geriatric Emergency Department (ED) Guidelines recommend screening older patients for need for evaluation by geriatric medicine, physical therapy (PT), and occupational therapy (OT), but explicit evidence that geriatric screening changes care compared to physician gestalt is lacking. We assessed changes in multidisciplinary consultation after implementation of standardized geriatric screening in the ED. Methods: Retrospective single‐site observational cohort of older adult ED patients from 2019 to 2023 with three time periods: (1) preimplementation, (2) implementation of geriatric screening, and (3) postimplementation. Geriatric, PT, and OT consultations/referrals were available during all time periods. Descriptive analysis was stratified by disposition: discharged, observation and discharged, observation and hospital admission, and hospital admission. The independent variable was completion of three geriatric screening tools by ED nurses. The dependent variable was consultation and/or referral to geriatrics, PT, and OT. Secondary outcomes were disposition, ED revisits, and 30‐day rehospitalizations. Results: There were 57,775 qualifying ED visits of patients age ≥ 65 years during the time periods: implementation increased geriatric screening from 0.5% to 63.2%; postimplementation, discharge patients who received screening had more consultations/referrals to geriatrics (1.5% vs. 0.4%), PT (7.9% vs. 1.9%), and OT (6.5% vs. 1.2%) compared to unscreened patients. Patients observed and then discharged had more consultations/referrals to geriatrics (15.1% vs. 11.3%), PT (74.1% vs. 64.5%), and OT (65.7% vs. 56.5%). Admitted patients had no change in consultation rates. Geriatric screening was not associated with a change in 7‐day ED revisits for discharged patients but was associated with decreased revisits for patients discharged from observation (11.6% vs. 42.9%, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Geriatric screening was associated with increased consultations/referrals to geriatrics, PT, and OT in the ED and ED observation unit. This suggests that geriatric screening changes ED care for older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Social isolation is commonly experienced by older people and is associated with adverse health outcomes. Little is known about the influence of social isolation on the risk of acute care utilization among people living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. Our objective was to investigate the impact of social isolation on the risk of death, hospitalization, and emergency department (ED) use among people living with MCI or dementia who are followed in our Community Internal Medicine practice at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Research Design and Methods We included people living with MCI or dementia, 55 years and older, who had a clinic visit between June 1, 2019, and June 30, 2021, and who had completed questions about social connections. The risk of death, hospitalization, and ED use was examined by levels of social connection (socially isolated, moderately isolated, moderately integrated, or socially integrated). Results Of 2,320 people included (1,010 with MCI and 1,310 with dementia), 455 (19.6%) were classified as socially isolated and 591 (25.5%) were moderately isolated. Compared with those who were socially integrated, people who were socially isolated were at higher risk of death, hospitalization, and ED visits (p  < .001). Discussion and Implications Social isolation is associated with an increased risk of acute health care utilization and death in people living with MCI or dementia. Interventions to address social isolation in this population are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Research characterizing work‐related injuries and illnesses (WRII) has predominantly focused on inpatients and deaths, despite evidence that 4% of WRII are admitted as inpatients and deaths are less than 0.2% of acute WRII. Our aim is to determine the usefulness of incorporating emergency department (ED) hospital data into current occupational health surveillance systems. Methods: Data on ED and admitted WRII treated in Illinois hospitals from 2017 to 2021 were analyzed. Demographic characteristics, primary diagnosis, procedures undertaken, and unique patient estimates are described. Multivariable logistic regression models were developed to evaluate predictors of treatment in the ED and multivariable median regression models determined associations of total hospital charges. Results: Between 2017 and 2021 there were 488,033 hospital presentations (95.9% nonadmissions) for WRII in Illinois, equating to a crude annual population rate of 1502.1/100,000. Non‐Hispanic Whites (NHW) were disproportionately treated for illnesses, while Hispanic or Latino workers were disproportionately treated for injuries. African‐Americans had the highest rate of ED emergent presentations (incident rate ratio [IRR] = 1.3, ref = NHW) and were less likely to be admitted for emergent presentations (IRR = 0.7, ref = NHW). ED presentations were more likely to be female, present with an injury, and at a rural, versus urban, hospital. Radiological investigations compromised the majority of procedures for nonadmitted patients (n = 403,317), and 94.8% were coded for a body region Conclusion: Between 2017 and 2021 in Illinois, there were nearly 500,000 hospital visits charged to workers' compensation totaling over US$ four billion. ED data provide additional insights into work‐related chronic conditions, health disparities, and the usage of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for WRII. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Information on worker occupation and industry is critical to understanding the occupational risks of heat‐related illness (HRI), yet few syndromic surveillance systems capture these key data elements. This study evaluates the work data reported through Washington syndromic surveillance for its utility in characterizing HRI ED visits by industry and occupation. Methods: Standard industry and occupation codes were assigned to employer name and occupation descriptions reported in Washington ED visit records maintained within the state's syndromic surveillance system, for visits involving HRI in 2020–2022. HRI ED visits involving workplace heat exposure were identified based on discharge diagnoses or on keywords in the triage note or chief complaint fields. HRI ED visits were summarized by patient characteristics, and visit rates were calculated by industry and occupation. Results: Employer name or occupation descriptions were reported in 21.5% of HRI ED records among patients age 16 and older, and in 41.2% of records with mention of heat exposure at work. Twice as many records were classified for industry as for occupation. Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting and transportation and warehousing had the highest rates of HRI ED visits. Specific industries with the highest rates included support activities for agriculture and forestry, the postal service, and fruit and vegetable preserving and specialty food manufacturing. Conclusion: Syndromic surveillance data are a valuable source of occupational health surveillance information when work characteristics are reported, enhancing our understanding of the occupational risks of injuries and illnesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines whether Housing First for homeless families reduces homelessness and use of emergency health services and improves security of tenure and caregivers' mental health. We present the quantitative data from a mixed-methods design. Homeless families with at least one child under 18, residing in Brno, Czechia were recruited for an open-label pragmatic randomized controlled trial. Families were stratified by number of children and randomized by lottery. Fifty treatment families received intensive case management, housing in municipal flats, and a risk-fund. One hundred control families received services as usual. Structured interviews were conducted at baseline, and six and twelve months after move‒in. For statistical analysis, we used a non-parametric Fisher's exact test for binary variables, a Mann–Whitney U test for categorical and continuous variables, and a parametric negative binomial model for count variables. Treatment families had less homelessness (0, 2 months vs. 11 months) in the year after move-in, were twice as likely to have secure tenure, and showed lower psychological distress. The treatment cut annual emergency room visits in half, ambulance use by three fourths, and hospitalizations by two thirds. This intervention led to greater improvements in health outcomes than previous interventions involving families experiencing homelessness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Many patients who are attended by paramedics do not require conveyance to an emergency department (ED). Our study focuses on comparing the characteristics and outcomes of patients who were advised to follow up with a general practitioner (GP) by an attending paramedic with those of patients who were discharged at scene or transported to hospital. Methods: This was a retrospective data linkage cohort study of ambulance, ED, hospital admission, and death records for all adults attended by paramedics in Victoria, Australia between the 1st of January 2015 and 30th of June 2019. Patients were excluded if they presented in cardiac arrest, resided in a residential aged care facility, or were receiving palliative care services. Outcomes of interest included reattendance by ambulance, ED presentation; and, a high acuity outcome which we defined as a patient who (1) presented to ED and received an Australasian Triage Scale of category 1 (Resuscitation) or 2 (Emergency) AND was admitted to a ward OR (2) was admitted to an Intensive Care Unit, Coronary Care Unit or Catheter laboratory (regardless of triage category) OR (3) died. Outcomes of interest were considered within 48-h of initial EMS attendance. Results: A total of 1,777,950 cases were included in the study of which 3.1% were referred to a GP, 9.0% were discharged at scene without a follow-up recommendation, and 87.9% were transported to hospital. Patients referred to a GP were more likely than those discharged at scene to subsequently present to an ED within 48 h of their attendance (5.3% vs 3.8%). However, GP referral was not associated with any change to high acuity outcome (0.3% vs 0.2%) or ambulance reattendance (6.0% vs 6.0%) compared to discharge at scene. The only factors that were associated with ambulance reattendance, ED presentation, and a high acuity outcome were male gender and elevated temperature. Conclusions: Despite increasing low and medium-acuity casework in this EMS system, paramedic referral to a GP is not common practice. Referring a patient to a GP did not reduce the likelihood of patients experiencing a high acuity outcome or recalling an ambulance within 48 h, suggesting opportunity exists to refine paramedic to GP referral practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Although recent evidence suggested that glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1RAs) might reduce the risk of asthma exacerbations, it remains unclear which subpopulations might derive the most benefit from GLP1RA treatment. Objectives: To identify characteristics of patients with asthma that predict who might benefit the most from GLP1RA treatment using real-world data. Methods: We implemented an active-comparator, new-user design analysis using commercially ensured patients 18–65 years of age from MarketScan data for 2007–2019 and identified two cohorts: GLP1RAs versus thiazolidinediones and GLP1RAs versus sulfonylureas. The outcome was acute exacerbation of asthma (hospital admission or emergency department visit for asthma) within 180 days after initiation. We applied iterative causal forest, a novel causal machine learning subgrouping algorithm, to assess heterogeneous treatment effects. In identified subgroups, we predicted propensity score, conducted propensity score trimming, and then estimated adjusted risk differences for the effect of GLP1RAs relative to comparators on asthma exacerbation using inverse probability treatment weighting in the propensity score–trimmed subpopulation. Results: Among 10,989 patients initiating GLP1RAs or thiazolidinediones and 17,088 patients initiating GLP1RAs versus sulfonylurea, GLP1RA initiators had fewer exacerbations, with adjusted risk differences of −0.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], −1.1% to 0.1%) and −1.6% (95% CI, −2.2% to −1.1%), respectively. In the GLP1RA versus sulfonylurea cohort, in which we observed a beneficial effect, our iterative causal forest analysis identified five subgroups with different treatment effects, defined by the number of emergency department visits, the number of prescriptions for short-acting β2-agonists, the number of prescriptions for inhaled steroids and long-acting β-agonists (either combination therapy or concurrent use), and age ≥ 50 years. Among these, patients with two or more emergency department visits during the 12-month baseline period had the largest absolute exacerbation risk reduction, with a decrease of 2.8% for GLP1RAs (95% CI, −4.8% to −0.9%). Conclusions: GLP1RAs demonstrated a beneficial effect on reducing asthma exacerbation relative to sulfonylureas. Patients with asthma with two or more emergency department visits (a proxy for disease severity) benefit most from GLP1RAs. Emergency department visit frequency, the number of maintenance and reliever inhalers, and age might help individualize prediction of the short-term benefit of GLP1RAs on asthma exacerbation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]