Cost of Care for Newborns With Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in a State Medicaid Program.

Importance: Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a medical condition among neonates experiencing substance withdrawal due to the mother's substance use during pregnancy. While previous studies suggest that the overall incidence and annual costs of NAS are increasing, to date, the long-term costs have yet to be demonstrated in Medicaid populations. Objective: To examine the demographic differences and long-term costs of care for neonates diagnosed with vs not diagnosed with NAS. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study used claims data from the Alabama Medicaid Agency for neonates born to Medicaid-eligible mothers between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2020. Data were analyzed in June 2022. Exposure: A diagnosis of NAS within 30 days of birth. Main Outcomes and Measures: Rate of NAS by demographic and birth characteristics, long-term costs attributable to NAS status and demographic and birth characteristics, and distribution of this expenditure over the enrollment period. Results: A total of 346 259 neonates with Medicaid eligibility were born during the study period (mean [SD] gestational age, 38.4 [2.2] weeks; 50.5%, male), 4027 (1.2%) of whom had an NAS diagnosis within 30 days of birth. A larger percentage of neonates with an NAS diagnosis were male (52.7%) than in the group without NAS (50.5%). Neonates with NAS also weighed less at birth (mean difference, -212.0 g; 95% CI, -231.1 to -192.8 g) and had older mothers (mean difference, 3.4 years; 95% CI, 2.6-4.2 years). An NAS diagnosis had an estimated additional cost of $17 921 (95% CI, $14 830-$21 012) over the enrollment period, and this cost was not evenly distributed over that period. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of neonates born into the Alabama Medicaid population, those with an NAS diagnosis had a different demographic profile and a higher cost to state Medicaid agencies than those without NAS. These findings warrant further effort to reduce the occurrence of NAS.

Acute Organophosphate Poisoning Case Review With Consideration of Off-Gassing During Postmortem Examination.

ABSTRACT: Although self-harm via ingestion of organophosphorus compounds is relatively common in the developing world, it is rare in the United States. This article reviews the signs and symptoms associated with acute organophosphate poisoning and highlights the effects of organophosphate off-gassing during postmortem examinations to increase awareness of this potentially dangerous workplace exposure.Paramedics responded to a 42-year-old man with pulseless electrical activity. Spontaneous circulation was restored after aggressive resuscitation. Before loss of consciousness, the patient exhibited diaphoresis, vomiting, and diarrhea. Upon admission, the patient had a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 3. Significant laboratory values included a pH of 6.8, p co2 of 72 mm Hg, and lactic acid of 21.8 mmol/L. Electrocardiography suggested inferior ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Electroencephalogram revealed severe cerebral dysfunction. The patient died shortly thereafter.Scene investigation revealed suicidal ideations, which included a snapshot of a bottle containing granular sediment associated with statements that he had imbibed fertilizer. During the postmortem examination, the decedent exuded a petroleum-like odor. In addition, autopsy personnel developed symptoms consistent with organophosphate exposure.A reported history of suspected organophosphate exposure in a decedent should prompt increased safety practices to avoid potential harm to autopsy personnel.

Characterization of prostanoids response to Bordetella pertussis antigen BscF and Tdap in LPS-challenged monocytes.

Prostanoids are potent inflammatory mediators that play a regulatory role in the innate immune activation of the adaptive immune response to determine the duration of protection against infection. We aim to quantify the modulation of prostanoids profiles in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated THP-1 cells treated with the novel pertussis antigen BscF. We compared the effect with pertussis antigens present in the current Tdap vaccine to understand the immunomodulatory effect that might contribute to the diminished Tdap vaccine effectiveness. The inflammatory challenge with LPS induced a robust elevation of most prostanoid family members compared to the control treatment. Treatment with BscF and Tdap significantly reduced the LPS-stimulated elevation of prostaglandins (PGs) D2, E2, and F2α, as well as thromboxane (TX) A2 levels. An opposite trend was observed for PGI2, as both antigens accelerated the LPS-stimulated upregulation. Further, we quantified cyclooxygenases (COXs) that catalyze the biosynthesis of prostanoids and found that both antigens significantly reduced LPS-stimulated COX-1 and COX-2, demonstrating that the waning of acellular pertussis vaccines' protective immunity may be due to other downstream enzymes not related to COXs. Our present study validates the potential role of BscF as an adjuvant, resulting in the next-generation pertussis vaccine discovery.

Modulation of Inflammatory Signaling Molecules in Bordetella pertussis Antigen-Challenged Human Monocytes in Presence of Adrenergic Agonists.

BscF is a type III secretion system (T3SS) needle protein from Bordetella pertussis and has previously been shown to induce a sufficient Th1 and Th17 response in human monocytes and mice as a prerequisite for long-lasting protective immunity against pertussis infection. In our current study, we aim to compare the modulation of inflammatory signaling molecules as a direct measure of the immune response to the B. pertussis antigens BscF and Tdap in the presence or absence of the adrenergic receptor agonists phenylephrine (PE) or isoproterenol (ISO) to observe differences that may contribute to the diminished protective immunity of the current acellular pertussis (aP) vaccine, Tdap. Stimulation of human monocyte THP-1 cells with LPS, BscF, and Tdap induced a robust elevation of CCL20, CXCL10, PGE2, and PGF2α among most chemokine and prostanoid members when compared with the control treatment. Treatment with the adrenergic agonist PE or ISO significantly enhanced the BscF- and Tdap-stimulated modulation of CCL20 and CXCL10 but not PGE2 and PGF2α, suggesting that adrenergic modulation of pertussis antigen responses might be a new therapeutic strategy to improve the longevity of pertussis immunity. Stimulation of THP-1 cells with BscF alone initiated significant expression of CXCL10 and PGF2α but not when Tdap was used, suggesting that BscF might be an important pertussis antigen for next-generation pertussis vaccines or when combined with the current aP vaccine. Our data offer opportunities for designing new therapeutic approaches against pertussis infection.

Health Care Utilization and Medicaid Spending in Children with Type 1 Diabetes in the Alabama Medicaid Program.

There are limited data on health service use and cost in low-income children with type 1 diabetes. This study examined the pattern of use and cost of health care services among low-income children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the state of Alabama Medicaid program. The authors performed descriptive analysis and examined factors that influence cost and health service utilization. Results showed that 5638 children with type 1 diabetes were enrolled in the Medicaid program over 7 years. Direct medical costs for patients with type 1 diabetes increased at a rate substantially higher than total Medicaid spending. White children with type 1 diabetes were found to have significantly higher Medicaid spending and service utilization than Black children with type 1 diabetes, while Hispanic children had the lowest costs. Further, older children with type 1 diabetes were found to have significantly higher Medicaid spending and service utilization than younger children with type 1 diabetes.

Interdisciplinary speed dating augments diabetes self-management education and support to improve health outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if a novel interdisciplinary "speed-dating" clinic augments Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES). METHODS: Adult patients with diabetes attended a DSMES class. Two weeks later patients attended an interdisciplinary clinic utilizing a "speed-dating" format during which they progressed through 5 stations hosted by different healthcare disciplines at 30-minute increments: physician, pharmacist, nurse/dietitian, case manager, and psychologist. Shared decision-making was utilized to identify mutually agreeable recommendations. Change in clinical outcomes were compared for DSMES-only attenders versus Dual-attendees; utilization of emergency department and hospital services were measured 12 months before and after attending the Speed Dating clinic. This analysis represents patients attending the program during 2016. RESULTS: Sixty-nine attended the DSMES class, 40 of whom followed-up in the "speed-dating" clinic (58% return rate). Attending the Speed Dating clinic improved A1C (p = 0.003) and LDL-C (p = 0.003) compared to the DSMES class alone. Comparatively, after attending the speed-dating clinic, patients had fewer emergency department (p = 0.366) and hospital admissions (p = 0.036), and shorter lengths of hospital stay (p = 0.030). CONCLUSIONS: The interdisciplinary "speed-dating" approach improved diabetes outcomes beyond DSMES alone and reduced utilization of hospital services. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Patients should attend DSMES but also participate in an Interdisciplinary Speed Dating follow-up to further improve outcomes.

Comparison of 3 risk factor-based screening tools for the identification of prediabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To compare risk factor-based screening tools for identifying prediabetes. METHODS: Participants in an employer-based wellness program were tested for glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) at a regularly scheduled appointment, and prediabetes risk factor information was collected. The likelihood of having prediabetes and the need for laboratory testing were determined based on 3 risk factor-based screening tools: the Prediabetes Screening Test (PST), Prediabetes Risk Test (PRT), and 2016 American Diabetes Association guidelines (ADA2016). The results from the screening tools were compared with those of the A1C test. The predictive ability of the PST, PRT, and ADA2016 were compared using logistic regression. Results were validated with data from a secondary population. RESULTS: Of the 3 risk factor-based tools examined, the PRT demonstrated the best combination of sensitivity and specificity for identifying prediabetes. From July 2016 to March 2017, 740 beneficiaries of an employer-sponsored wellness program had their A1C tested and provided risk factor information. The population prevalence of prediabetes was 9.3%. Analysis of a second independent population with a prediabetes prevalence of more than 50% of confirmed PRT's superiority despite differences in the calculated sensitivity and specificity for each population. CONCLUSION: Because PRT predicts prediabetes better than PST or ADA2016, it should be used preferentially.

Rationale of family medicine physicians in effectively identifying patients with chronic hyperglycemia through point-of-care hemoglobin A1C screenings.

PURPOSE: Many patients are unknowingly living with chronic hyperglycemia, possibly due to low screening rates. We aimed to correlate detection of unidentified chronic hyperglycemia to practitioner reported rationale for conducting diabetes screening. METHODS: Physicians screened patients via a point-of-care A1C tests and recorded corresponding rationales. Elevated outcomes (A1C ≥ 5.7%) were correlated to recorded rationales, frequency of repeat screenings, documented diagnoses, and therapeutic actions taken as a result of elevated A1C. RESULTS: Nearly one-half (45%) of selected patients were unknowingly living with chronic hyperglycemia, having an average A1C of 7.92% for outcomes ≥6.5%. Most commonly recorded rationales were overweight status (71%), high-risk ethnicity (58%), and age > 45 years (48%); previously recorded A1C result of ≥5.7% (χ2 16.02, p < 0.001) and hypertension diagnosis (χ2 10.37, p = 0.0013) showed statistically significant correlation with elevated A1C outcomes. A1C results ≥6.5% versus 5.7-6.5% more frequently prompted repeat screenings (77% vs 20%), ICD-10 code documentation (91% vs 28%), lifestyle modification recommendations (78% vs 35%), and drug therapy initiation (78% vs 9%). CONCLUSIONS: Reported rationales were largely impacted by visual inspections of age, race, and weight, and prediabetic A1C values garnered less attention compared to higher values. Utilization of POC A1C screening followed by conformational repeat testing is a practical approach to improve diagnostic rates and initiation of care for diabetes.

Description of a pharmacist-led diabetes prevention service within an employer-based wellness program.

OBJECTIVES: To describe a pharmacist-led diabetes prevention service piloted within an employer-based wellness program. PRACTICE DESCRIPTION: A pharmacist-led ambulatory care clinic within a school of pharmacy that provides wellness services to university employees. PRACTICE INNOVATION: Implementation of a diabetes prevention service using opportunistic A1C screening within a biometric screening program. Patients with a prediabetes-level A1C from July 2016 to March 2019 were invited to participate in the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP). EVALUATION: Comparison of baseline characteristics of participants with normal and elevated A1C. Evaluation of participation in the NDPP and changes in clinical values at the subsequent biometric screening appointment for individuals with a prediabetes-level AlC. RESULTS: A1C testing of 740 individuals identified 69 participants (9.3%) with a prediabetes-level A1C and 7 (1.0%) with a diabetes-level A1C. Compared with those with a normal A1C (< 5.7%), participants with an elevated A1C were more likely to be older, nonwhite, obese, and physically inactive, to have a sibling with diabetes, higher random blood sugar (RBS), lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and more likely to have hypertension. Twelve patients participated in the NDPP, although most attended only 1 session. Attenders had a significantly lower baseline weight and body mass index (BMI). There were no significant differences in the changes in A1C, BMI, weight, RBS, or HDL between attenders and nonattenders approximately 1 year later. CONCLUSION: This pilot demonstrated that opportunistic A1C testing could be incorporated into an ambulatory care clinic within a pharmacist-led employer-based wellness program. Uptake and retention of the NDPP were poor. Barriers to NDPP participation need to be investigated and addressed to improve service impact.

Systematic Diabetes Screening Using Point-of-Care HbA1c Testing Facilitates Identification of Prediabetes.

This prospective longitudinal study compares diabetes screenings between standard practices vs systematically offered point-of-care (POC) hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) tests in patients aged 45 years or older. Systematically screened participants (n = 164) identified 63% (n = 104) with unknown hyperglycemia and 53% (n = 88) in prediabetes. The standard practice (n = 324) screened 22% (n = 73), most commonly by blood glucose (96%); 8% (n = 6) and 33% (n = 24) were found to have diabetes and prediabetes, respectively. The association between screening outcome and screening method was statistically significant (P = 0.005) in favor of HbA1C HbA1c may be the most effective method to identify patients unknowingly living in hyperglycemia. Point-of-care tests further facilitate screening evaluation in a timely and feasible fashion.