Category: Health Services/Population Health

Introduction: The financial burden linked to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with chest pain on the healthcare system is considerable. Angina and non-obstructive coronary artery disease (ANOCA) are common, associated with adverse cardiovascular events, and may lead to repeat testing or hospitalizations. Diagnostic certainty can be achieved in patients with ANOCA using coronary reactivity […]

Introduction: Studies have shown the negative physical, psychosocial, and health system outcomes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. These outcomes have impacted screening, treatment, symptom management, and survivorship of breast cancer survivors. Understanding associations between breast cancer survivorship and COVID-19 outcomes is important to developing care guidelines to improve outcomes. The study goal of this reported […]

Introduction: The proliferation of illicit fentanyl and its analogues in the “third wave” of the opioid crisis has led to record overdose deaths disproportionately impacting Black individuals in the U.S.. Despite recent racialized shifts in opioid availability, little research has examined how the spatial epidemiology of opioid overdose death may have also shifted. This research […]

Introduction: Understanding factors affecting survival outcomes and quality of life is important in advising patients on treatment options for bladder cancer. We investigated whether the bladder cancer characteristics have any effect on the Health-Related Quality-of-Life (HRQoL) measures in older bladder cancer patients. This analysis improved the understanding and expectation management of these patients when making […]

Introduction: Chronic opioid use reduces fertility by suppressing the hypothalamic pituitary axis. The effect of medication to treat opioid use disorder (MOUD) on women’s fertility is understudied. Using national administrative claims, we identify the impact of MOUD on odds of conception in women with OUD. Methods: We conducted a retrospective case-crossover study using Merative™ MarketScan® […]

Introduction: In October 2018, the allocation policy for adult orthotopic heart transplant (OHTx) in the United States was changed, with the goal of reducing waitlist mortality and providing broader sharing of donor organs within the United States. The aim of this study was to assess the association of this policy change with changes in access […]

Introduction: As of 2023, over 46 million Americans met DSM-5 criteria for a past year substance use disorder. Research shows that substance use disorders are chronic. However, traditional treatment approaches rely on isolated, brief treatment episodes. Recovery care models offer alternative approaches emphasizing long-term support. One promising intervention is the Recovery Oriented System of Care […]

Introduction: For chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, heart failure, cancer, diabetes, and depression, more than half of these patients with prescribed medications fail to comply or refill doses as agreed with their doctor. Non-adherence to medication has contributed to increased healthcare utilization by chronic disease patients, high hospital readmission rates, and preventable medical […]

Introduction: Parkinson’s Disease is one the most common neurodegenerative diseases, affecting millions of people worldwide. Having a combination of motor and non-motor symptoms, people with Parkinson’s Disease (PwP) are often dependent on their informal care partners (CP) to carry out vital functions. While the effect of PwP and CP characteristics on caregiver burden and outcomes […]

Introduction: The Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced (BPCI-A) program is an alternative payment model (APM) which seeks to reduce spending and improve coordination of care for Medicare beneficiaries. The first model year of this program offered 32 clinical conditions from which participants could choose to enroll. It is unknown the extent to which BPCI-A […]