A New Hypoxia-Related Prognostic Risk Score (HPRS) Model Was Developed to Indicate Prognosis and Response to Immunotherapy for Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Background: Hypoxia is a typical microenvironmental feature of most solid tumors, affecting a variety of physiological processes. We developed a hypoxia-related prognostic risk score (HPRS) model to reveal tumor microenvironment (TME) and predict prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Methods: LUAD sample expression data were from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression identified hypoxia-related genes (HRGs) to create HPRS. The prognostic value, genetic mutation and TME, and therapeutic response of distinct HPRS groups were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis identified independent factors associated with the prognosis of LUAD. A decision tree based on HPRS and clinicopathological variables was established using the classification system based on decision tree algorithm. A nomogram was constructed with important clinical features and HPRS by the RMS package. Results: A HPRS model with five HRGs was developed and verified in two separate cohorts of GEO. HPRS model divided patients with LUAD into two groups. High HPRS was related to high probability of genetic alterations. HPRS could predict the prognosis, TME, and sensitivity to immunotherapy/chemotherapy of LUAD. The decision tree defined four risk subgroups with significant OS differences. Nomogram with integrated HPRS and clinical features had acceptable accuracy in predicting LUAD prognosis. Conclusions: A HPRS model was developed to evaluate prognosis, genetic alterations, TME, and response to immunotherapy, which may provide theoretical reference for the study of molecular mechanism of hypoxia in LUAD.

Effect of CREST Findings on Carotid Revascularization Practice in the United States.

BACKGROUND: We sought to measure the impact of the Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy versus Stenting Trial (CREST) findings on clinical practice by studying trends in carotid artery stenting (CAS) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) utilization before and after publication of CREST in a large US multihospital database. METHODS: The Premier Perspective Database was used to identify inpatient CEA and CAS procedures performed from January 2006 to March 2013. Patients were subclassified by age (<70/≥70 years) and presentation (symptomatic/asymptomatic). CEA and CAS volumes were compared before and after the publication of CREST (July 2010) using an interrupted time series model. RESULTS: A total of 121,157 CEA and 18,503 CAS procedures performed at 445 medical centers were identified. There was no significant change observed in the overall number of CEA procedures performed after CREST publication relative to the pre-existing trend (P = .08); however, there was a significant increase in the overall number of CAS procedures performed (delta of 40 cases, P = .0179) in patients aged younger than 70 years (delta of 24 cases, P = .0008), 70 years or older (delta of 25 cases, P = .0047), and asymptomatic patients (delta of 39 cases, P = .0159). The overall percentage of CEA procedures performed in relation to all revascularization procedures was significantly lower after CREST publication overall (delta, -1.5%; P = .041) for patients aged younger than 70 years (delta, -2.4%; P < .0001) and asymptomatic patients (delta, -1.5%; P = .035). CONCLUSIONS: In this large sample of US hospitals, performance of CAS significantly increased after the publication of the CREST study.

Evaluating the structure of the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) survey from the patient's perspective.

BACKGROUND: The Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) survey is a widely used instrument to assess the patient experience with healthcare delivery. PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate the factorial structure of PACIC from the patient perspective. METHODS: A postal survey was mailed to 4,796 randomly selected adults with diabetes from 34 primary care clinics. Internal consistencies of PACIC subscales were assessed by Cronhach's α. Factorial structure was evaluated by confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses. RESULTS: Based on responses of 2,055 patients (43% response rate), exploratory factor analysis discerned a 4-factor, not 5-factor, model dominated by patient evaluation of healthcare services (explaining 74% of the variance). The other 3 factors addressed patient involvement (goal setting, participating in the healthcare team) and social support for self-management. CONCLUSIONS: The underlying factorial structure of PACIC, which reflects the patient perspective, is dynamic, patient-centered, and differs from the original 5-factor model that was more aligned with views of healthcare delivery stakeholders.

Impact of the 2009 US Preventive Services Task Force guidelines on screening mammography rates on women in their 40s.

BACKGROUND: The 2009 US Preventive Services Task Force breast cancer screening update recommended against routine screening mammography for women aged 40-49; confusion and release of conflicting guidelines followed. We examined the impact of the USPSTF update on population-level screening mammography rates in women ages 40-49. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We conducted a retrospective, interrupted time-series analysis using a nationally representative, privately-insured population from 1/1/2006-12/31/2011. Women ages 40-64 enrolled for ≥ 1 month were included. The primary outcome was receipt of screening mammography, identified using administrative claims-based algorithms. Time-series regression models were estimated to determine the effect of the guideline change on screening mammography rates. 5.5 million women ages 40-64 were included. A 1.8 per 1,000 women (p = 0.003) decrease in monthly screening mammography rates for 40-49 year-old women was observed two months following the guideline change; no initial effect was seen for 50-64 year-old women. However, two years following the guideline change, a slight increase in screening mammography rates above expected was observed in both age groups. CONCLUSIONS: We detected a modest initial drop in screening mammography rates in women ages 40-49 immediately after the 2009 USPSTF guideline followed by an increase in screening rates. Unfavorable public reactions and release of conflicting statements may have tempered the initial impact. Renewal of the screening debate may have brought mammography to the forefront of women's minds, contributing to the observed increase in mammography rates two years after the guideline change. This pattern is unlikely to reflect informed choice and underscores the need for improved translation of evidence-based care and guidelines into practice.

Comparative effectiveness of unruptured cerebral aneurysm therapies: propensity score analysis of clipping versus coiling.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Endovascular therapy has increasingly become the most common treatment for unruptured cerebral aneurysms in the United States. We evaluated a national, multi-hospital database to examine recent utilization trends and compare periprocedural outcomes between clipping and coiling treatments of unruptured aneurysms. METHODS: The Premier Perspective database was used to identify patients hospitalized between 2006 to 2011 for unruptured cerebral aneurysm who underwent clipping or coiling therapy. A logistic propensity score was generated for each patient using relevant patient, procedure, and hospital variables, representing the probability of receiving clipping. Covariate balance was assessed using conditional logistic regression. Following propensity score adjustment using 1:1 matching methods, the risk of in-hospital mortality and morbidity was compared between clipping and coiling cohorts. RESULTS: A total of 4899 unruptured aneurysm patients (1388 clipping, 3551 coiling) treated at 120 hospitals were identified. Following propensity score adjustment, clipping patients had a similar likelihood of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR], 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49-4.44; P=0.47) but a significantly higher likelihood of unfavorable outcomes, including discharge to long-term care (OR, 4.78; 95% CI, 3.51-6.58; P<0.0001), ischemic complications (OR, 3.42; 95% CI, 2.39-4.99; P<0.0001), hemorrhagic complications (OR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.33-3.57; P<0.0001), postoperative neurological complications (OR, 3.39; 95% CI, 2.25-5.22; P<0.0001), and ventriculostomy (OR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.01-4.61; P=0.0320) compared with coiling patients. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients treated for unruptured intracranial aneurysms in a large sample of hospitals in the United States, clipping was associated with similar mortality risk but significantly higher periprocedural morbidity risk compared with coiling.

Patient characteristics of provider survey respondents: no evidence of nonresponse bias.

Surveys of physicians are an important tool to assess opinions and self-reported behaviors of this policy-relevant population. However, this population is notoriously difficult to survey and plagued with low and falling response rates. In order to evaluate the potential import of response rate, we examine the presence of nonresponse bias in a survey of physicians providing diabetes care that achieved a 36% response rate. Unlike other studies examining differences in individual characteristics for responding and nonresponding physicians, we also assess differences with respect to aggregate patient demographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics. We are unable to demonstrate nonresponse bias, even with what could be construed as a relative low response rate. Nonetheless as the threat of nonresponse bias can never be completely assuaged, we believe that it should be monitored as a matter of course in physician surveys and offer a new dimension by which it can be evaluated.

State Medicaid programs did not make use of prior authorization to promote safer prescribing after rosiglitazone warning.

State Medicaid programs use preferred drug lists to help limit prescribing of high-cost drugs and, at the same time, to free providers from having to obtain prior authorization for a given prescription. We examined the impact of the Food and Drug Administration's May 2007 safety warning regarding rosiglitazone (Avandia), a diabetes drug found to raise the risk of heart attacks, on the drug's availability on state Medicaid preferred drug lists and on the prescribing of diabetes medications more generally for Medicaid beneficiaries. Nearly all state Medicaid programs covered rosiglitazone as a preferred drug, requiring no prior authorization, with minimal change after the safety warning. At the same time, the safety warning was associated with a greater-than-expected decline in rosiglitazone prescribing among states providing coverage as a preferred drug. This suggests that providers reacted to the safety warning by reducing prescriptions. However, Medicaid programs that did provide coverage of rosiglitazone as a preferred drug still exhibited prescribing rates that were three to five times greater than rates in programs that did not provide coverage without prior authorization. We conclude that state Medicaid programs missed important opportunities to promote safer, more effective prescribing in the wake of the 2007 safety warning about rosiglitazone by making full use of preferred drug lists and prior authorization programs.

Mayo Clinic employees responded to new requirements for cost sharing by reducing possibly unneeded health services use.

Some health plans have experimented with increasing consumer cost sharing, on the theory that consumers will use less unnecessary health care if they are expected to bear some of the financial responsibility for it. However, it is unclear whether the resulting decrease in use is sustained beyond one or two years. In 2004 Mayo Clinic's self-funded health plan increased cost sharing for its employees and their dependents for specialty care visits (adding a $25 copayment to the high-premium option) and other services such as imaging, testing, and outpatient procedures (adding 10 or 20 percent coinsurance, depending on the option). The plan also removed all cost sharing for visits to primary care providers and for preventive services such as colorectal screening and mammography. The result was large decreases in the use of diagnostic testing and outpatient procedures that were sustained for four years, and an immediate decrease in the use of imaging that later rebounded (possibly to levels below the expected trend). Beneficiaries decreased visits to specialists but did not make greater use of primary care services. These results suggest that implementing relatively low levels of cost sharing can lead to a long-term decrease in utilization.