Acute Kidney Injury in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients: A Nationwide Comparative Analysis.

Rationale & Objective: About 25%-40% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may have extraintestinal manifestations, mainly involving the liver, skin, and joints. Kidney involvement in patients with IBD has been reported, but there are no estimates of its prevalence in population-based studies in the United States. We compared the frequency of acute kidney injury (AKI) among hospitalizations with IBD with that among hospitalizations with collagen vascular diseases and hospitalizations with neither condition. Study Design: Retrospective, population-based cohort study. Setting & Participants: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project-Nationwide Inpatient Sample database. Outcomes: AKI and AKI requiring dialysis. Analytical Approach: Regression models were used to compare the occurrence of AKI among groups. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was applied to balance groups on covariates. Results: The final sample comprised 5,735,804 hospitalizations, including 57,121 with IBD, 159,930 with collagen vascular diseases, and 5,518,753 with neither IBD nor collagen vascular diseases. AKI was observed in 13%, 15%, and 12.2% of hospitalizations with IBD, collagen vascular diseases, and the general population, respectively. When adjusting for demographic, hospital, and clinical characteristics using inverse probability of treatment weighting, hospitalizations with IBD had higher odds of being diagnosed with AKI than both those with collagen vascular diseases (odds ratio [OR], 1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27-1.38) and the general population (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.23-1.31) and also had higher odds of being diagnosed with AKI requiring dialysis than those with collagen vascular diseases (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.31-1.94) or than the general population (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.25-1.68). Limitations: Cross-sectional analysis, underreporting of International Classification of Diseases codes, and analyses relevant to in-hospital stays only. Conclusions: The prevalence and risk of AKI among hospitalizations with IBD is greater than that of hospitalizations with collagen vascular diseases and the general population. Coexisting kidney disease should be considered among patients with a known diagnosis of IBD.

As a nephrologist, we have evaluated many patients with inflammatory bowel disease with various forms of kidney disease, both inflammatory and noninflammatory. Based on a multitude of factors, we have always wondered if there are shared immune mechanisms between the gut and kidney that could explain the underlying inflammation in both organs. In addition, based on recent studies of other autoimmune/inflammatory diseases, there is growing interest in the role of the gut microbiome (microorganisms that reside in our gut) and its influence on the immune system as well as how both the altered microbiome and immune system affect the kidneys. As a first step, we wanted to understand if some forms of kidney disease are more prevalent in patients with inflammatory bowel disease than in the general population, which possibly suggests a shared pathogenesis.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Health Care Experiences for Veterans Receiving VA Community Care from 2016 to 2021.

BACKGROUND: Prior research documented racial and ethnic disparities in health care experiences within the Veterans Health Administration (VA). Little is known about such differences in VA-funded community care programs, through which a growing number of Veterans receive health care. Community care is available to Veterans when care is not available through the VA, nearby, or in a timely manner. OBJECTIVE: To examine differences in Veterans' experiences with VA-funded community care by race and ethnicity and assess changes in these experiences from 2016 to 2021. DESIGN: Observational analyses of Veterans' ratings of community care experiences by self-reported race and ethnicity. We used linear and logistic regressions to estimate racial and ethnic differences in community care experiences, sequentially adjusting for demographic, health, insurance, and socioeconomic factors. PARTICIPANTS: Respondents to the 2016-2021 VA Survey of Healthcare Experiences of Patients-Community Care Survey. MEASURES: Care ratings in nine domains. KEY RESULTS: The sample of 231,869 respondents included 24,306 Black Veterans (mean [SD] age 56.5 [12.9] years, 77.5% male) and 16,490 Hispanic Veterans (mean [SD] age 54.6 [15.9] years, 85.3% male). In adjusted analyses pooled across study years, Black and Hispanic Veterans reported significantly lower ratings than their White and non-Hispanic counterparts in five of nine domains (overall rating of community providers, scheduling a recent appointment, provider communication, non-appointment access, and billing), with adjusted differences ranging from - 0.04 to - 0.13 standard deviations (SDs) of domain scores. Black and Hispanic Veterans reported higher ratings with eligibility determination and scheduling initial appointments than their White and non-Hispanic counterparts, and Black Veterans reported higher ratings of care coordination, with adjusted differences of 0.05 to 0.21 SDs. Care ratings improved from 2016 to 2021, but differences between racial and ethnic groups persisted. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified small but persistent racial and ethnic differences in Veterans' experiences with VA-funded community care, with Black and Hispanic Veterans reporting lower ratings in five domains and, respectively, higher ratings in three and two domains. Interventions to improve Black and Hispanic Veterans' patient experience could advance equity in VA community care.

A comparison of dementia diagnoses and cognitive function measures in Medicare claims and the Minimum Data Set.

BACKGROUND: Gold standard dementia assessments are rarely available in large real-world datasets, leaving researchers to choose among methods with imperfect but acceptable accuracy to identify nursing home (NH) residents with dementia. In healthcare claims, options include claims-based diagnosis algorithms, diagnosis indicators, and cognitive function measures in the Minimum Data Set (MDS), but few studies have compared these. We evaluated the proportion of NH residents identified with possible dementia and concordance of these three. METHODS: Using a 20% random sample of 2018-2019 Medicare beneficiaries, we identified MDS admission assessments for non-skilled NH stays among individuals with continuous enrollment in Medicare Parts A, B, and D. Dementia was identified using: (1) Chronic Conditions Warehouse (CCW) claims-based algorithm for Alzheimer's disease and non-Alzheimer's dementia; (2) MDS active diagnosis indicators for Alzheimer's disease and non-Alzheimer's dementias; and (3) the MDS Cognitive Function Scale (CFS) (at least mild cognitive impairment). We compared the proportion of admissions with evidence of possible dementia using each criterion and calculated the sensitivity, specificity, and agreement of the CCW claims definition and MDS indicators for identifying any impairment on the CFS. RESULTS: Among 346,013 non-SNF NH admissions between 2018 and 2019, 57.2% met criteria for at least one definition (44.7% CFS, 40.7% CCW algorithm, 26.0% MDS indicators). The MDS CFS uniquely identified the greatest proportion with evidence of dementia. The CCW claims algorithm had 63.7% sensitivity and 78.1% specificity for identifying any cognitive impairment on the CFS. Active diagnosis indicators from the MDS had lower sensitivity (47.0%), but higher specificity (91.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Claims- and MDS-based methods for identifying NH residents with possible dementia have only partial overlap in the cohorts they identify, and neither is an obvious gold standard. Future studies should seek to determine whether additional functional assessments from the MDS or prescriptions can improve identification of possible dementia in this population.

Care cascades following low-value cervical cancer screening in dually enrolled Veterans.

BACKGROUND: Veterans dually enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration (VA) and Medicare commonly experience downstream services as part of a care cascade after an initial low-value service. Our objective was to characterize the frequency and cost of low-value cervical cancer screening and subsequent care cascades among Veterans dually enrolled in VA and Medicare. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used VA and Medicare administrative data from fiscal years 2015 to 2019. The study cohort was comprised of female Veterans aged >65 years and at low risk of cervical cancer who were dually enrolled in VA and Medicare. Within this cohort, we compared differences in the rates and costs of cascade services related to low-value cervical cancer screening for Veterans who received and did not receive screening in FY2018, adjusting for baseline patient- and facility-level covariates using inverse probability of treatment weighting. RESULTS: Among 20,972 cohort-eligible Veterans, 494 (2.4%) underwent low-value cervical cancer screening with 301 (60.9%) initial screens occurring in VA and 193 (39%) occurring in Medicare. Veterans who were screened experienced an additional 26.7 (95% CI, 16.4-37.0) cascade services per 100 Veterans compared to those who were not screened, contributing to $2919.4 (95% CI, -265 to 6104.7) per 100 Veterans in excess costs. Care cascades consisted predominantly of subsequent cervical cancer screening procedures and related outpatient visits with low rates of invasive procedures and occurred in both VA and Medicare. CONCLUSIONS: Veterans dually enrolled in VA and Medicare commonly receive related downstream tests and visits as part of care cascades following low-value cervical cancer screening. Our findings demonstrate that to fully capture the extent to which individuals are subject to low-value care, it is important to examine downstream care stemming from initial low-value services across all systems from which individuals receive care.

Validating claims-based definitions for deprescribing: Bridging the gap between clinical and administrative data.

BACKGROUND: Limited research has evaluated the validity of claims-based definitions for deprescribing. OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the validity of claims-based definitions of deprescribing against electronic health records (EHRs) for deprescribing of benzodiazepines (BZDs) after a fall-related hospitalization. METHODS: We used a novel data linkage between Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) and Part D with our health system's EHR. We identified patients aged ≥66 years with a fall-related hospitalization, continuous enrollment in Medicare FFS and Part D for 6 months pre- and post-hospitalization, and ≥2 BZD fills in the 6 months pre-hospitalization. Using a standardized EHR abstraction tool, we adjudicated deprescribing for a sub-sample with a fall-related hospitalization at UNC. We evaluated the validity of claims-based deprescribing definitions (e.g., gaps in supply, dosage reductions) versus chart review using sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: Among 257 patients in the overall sample, 44% were aged 66-74 years, 35% had Medicare low-income subsidy, 79% were female. Among claims-based definitions using gaps in supply, the prevalence of BZD deprescribing ranged from 8.2% (no refills) to 36.6% (30-day gap). When incorporating dosage, the prevalence ranged from 55.3% to 65.8%. Among the validation sub-sample (n = 47), approximately one-third had BZDs deprescribed in the EHR. Compared to EHR, gaps in supply from claims had good sensitivity, but poor specificity. Incorporating dosage increased sensitivity, but worsened specificity. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity of claims-based definitions for deprescribing of BZDs was low; however, the specificity of a 90-day gap was >90%. Replication in other EHRs and for other low-value medications is needed to guide future deprescribing research.

Clinician and Family Caregiver Perspectives on Deprescribing Chronic Disease Medications in Older Nursing Home Residents Near the End of Life.

INTRODUCTION: Nursing home (NH) residents with limited life expectancy (LLE) who are intensely treated for hyperlipidemia, hypertension, or diabetes may benefit from deprescribing. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to describe NH clinician and family caregiver perspectives on key influences on deprescribing decisions for chronic disease medications in NH residents near the end of life. METHODS: We recruited family caregivers of veterans who recently died in a Veterans Affairs (VA) NH, known as community living centers (CLCs), and CLC healthcare clinicians (physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, registered nurses). Respondents completed semi-structured interviews about their experiences with deprescribing statin, antihypertensive, and antidiabetic medications for residents near end of life. We conducted thematic analysis of interview transcripts to identify key themes regarding influences on deprescribing decisions. RESULTS: Thirteen family caregivers and 13 clinicians completed interviews. Key themes included (1) clinicians and caregivers both prefer to minimize drug burden; (2) clinical factors strongly influence deprescribing of chronic disease medications, with differences in how clinicians and caregivers weigh specific factors; (3) caregivers trust and rely on clinicians to make deprescribing decisions; (4) clinicians perceive caregiver involvement and buy-in as essential to deprescribing decisions, which requires time and effort to obtain; and (5) clinicians perceive conflicting care from other clinicians as a barrier to deprescribing. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest a need for efforts to encourage communication with and education for family caregivers of residents with LLE about deprescribing, and to foster better collaboration among clinicians in CLC and non-CLC settings.

Screening for Elder Abuse in the Veterans Health Administration: Varied Approaches Across a National Health System.

BACKGROUND: Elder abuse (EA) is common and has devastating health consequences yet is rarely detected by healthcare professionals. While EA screening tools exist, little is known about if and how these tools are implemented in real-world clinical settings. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has experience screening for, and resources to respond to, other forms of interpersonal violence and may provide valuable insights into approaches for EA screening. OBJECTIVE: Describe EA screening practices across a national integrated healthcare system serving a large population of older adults at risk for EA. DESIGN: Survey of all 139 VHA medical centers from January to August 2021. PARTICIPANTS: Surveys were completed by the Social Work Chief, or delegate, at each site. MAIN MEASURES: The survey assessed the presence and characteristics of EA-specific screening practices as well as general abuse/neglect screening conducted with patients of all ages, including older adults. Follow-up emails were sent to sites that reported screening requesting additional details not included in the initial survey. KEY RESULTS: Overall, 130 sites (94%) responded. Among respondents, 5 (4%) reported screening older adults for EA using a previously published tool, while 6 (5%) reported screening for EA with an unstudied or locally developed tool. Forty-eight percent reported screening patients of all ages for general abuse/neglect using unstudied questions/tools, and 44% reported no EA screening at their site. Characteristics of screening programs (e.g., frequency, clinical setting, provider type) varied widely between sites, as did respondents' understanding of the definition of screening. CONCLUSIONS: High variability in screening practices for abuse/neglect and lack of EA-specific screening in a system that has successfully deployed other standardized screening approaches present an important opportunity to standardize and improve EA detection practices. Lessons learned in VHA could help advance the evidence base for EA screening more broadly to increase overall detection rates for EA nationally.

Deprescribing bisphosphonates for older adults with dementia: perspectives of caregivers.

Little is known about caregivers' perspectives on deprescribing bisphosphonates for older adults with dementia. Caregivers agreed that fracture prevention was important for maintaining functional independence but acknowledged that changing goals of care may justify deprescribing. Conversations grounded in "what matters most" can align fracture prevention treatment with goals of care. PURPOSE: The long-term fracture prevention benefits of bisphosphonates may begin to be overshadowed by the potential burden of adverse effects and polypharmacy for older adults living with dementia as the disease progresses. We characterized factors that influence caregiver decision-making for continuing versus deprescribing bisphosphonates for persons living with dementia. METHODS: We conducted 11 interviews with family or informal caregivers of older adults living with dementia in the community or in long-term care who had been treated with bisphosphonates. Interviews focused on experiences caring for someone who has experienced a fracture, perceived benefits and harms of bisphosphonates, and experiences with deprescribing. Analyses were conducted using a qualitative framework methodology guided by the Health Belief Model. RESULTS: Most caregivers were male (n = 8), younger than 65 (n = 8) and were an adult child caregiver (n = 8). Three caregivers were Black and five were Latino/a. Attempts to maintain functional independence despite high likelihood of falls was frequently discussed as contributing to fracture risk, in this population. Many caregivers perceived fracture prevention treatment as important, while several noted that it may become less important near the end of life. Perceived benefits of fracture prevention treatment for persons with dementia included improved quality of life and maintaining independence. Although most indicated that bisphosphonates were well tolerated, gastrointestinal adverse effects, preference for fewer treatments, and dementia-related behaviors that interfere with medication administration may be reasons for deprescribing. CONCLUSION: Conversations grounded in caregiver experiences and "what matters most" may help optimize fracture prevention treatment for older adults with dementia.

Vaccine patterns among patients diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome and matched counterparts in a Medicare supplemental population, 2000-2020.

Some vaccines have a small risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by paralysis if untreated. The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) guidelines do not consider GBS a precaution for future vaccines unless GBS developed within six weeks after a tetanus-toxoid-containing vaccine or influenza vaccine. Our goal was to describe vaccine patterns before and after GBS diagnosis. We matched each of 709 patients diagnosed with GBS from 2002 to 2020 with Medicare supplemental insurance to 10 counterparts without GBS (1:10) on age and sex. Propensity score-based weighting balanced covariates between groups, and we estimated weighted mean cumulative counts (wMCC) of vaccines/person before and after GBS diagnosis. Among patients with GBS, 7% were diagnosed within 42 days after a vaccine. Prior to GBS diagnosis, the wMCC of vaccines per person was similar between GBS cases and matched counterparts, but after two years of follow-up, GBS patients received 21 fewer vaccines/100 people than counterparts (wMCC difference -0.21 vaccines/person, 95% CI -0.24 to -0.18); GBS patients received 16 vaccines/100 people while matched counterparts received 36/100. Vaccine use was reduced following GBS diagnosis despite no ACIP precaution for most (93%) patients in this study. The observed drop in vaccines after GBS diagnosis indicates a disconnect between clinical practice and current recommendations.

Reduction of Sleep Medications via a Combined Digital Insomnia and Pharmacist-Led Deprescribing Intervention: Protocol for a Feasibility Trial.

BACKGROUND: Chronic insomnia is one of the most common health problems among veterans and negatively impacts their health, function, and quality of life. Although cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the first-line recommended treatment, sedative-hypnotic medications remain the most common. Sedative-hypnotics, however, have mixed effectiveness, are frequently prescribed longer than recommended, and are associated with numerous risks and adverse effects that negatively impact veteran function. Meeting the treatment needs of veterans impacted by insomnia requires delivering gold standard behavioral care, like CBT-I, and the reduction of sedative-hypnotics through innovative methods. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this feasibility clinical trial is to test a digital CBT-I approach combined with deprescribing to improve the success of sedative-hypnotic reduction among veterans. The intervention combines Noctem Health Clinician Operated Assistive Sleep Technology (COAST), an effective and efficient, scalable, and adaptable digital platform to deliver CBT-I, with clinical pharmacy practitioner (CPP)-led deprescribing of sedative-hypnotic medications. METHODS: In this nonrandomized single-group clinical trial, 50 veterans will be recruited and enrolled to receive CBT-I delivered via Noctem COAST and CPP-led deprescribing for up to 12 weeks. Assessments will occur at baseline, posttreatment, and 3-month follow-up. The aims are to (1) assess the feasibility of recruiting veterans with chronic sedative-hypnotic use to participate in the combined intervention, (2) evaluate veterans' acceptability and usability of the COAST platform, and (3) measure changes in veterans' sleep, sedative-hypnotic use, and function at baseline, posttreatment, and 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: The institutional review board approved the study in October 2021 and the trial was initiated in May 2022. Recruitment and data collection began in September 2022 and is anticipated to be completed in April 2024. Aim 1 will be measured by tracking the response to a mail-centric recruitment approach using electronic medical records to identify potentially eligible veterans based on sedative-hypnotic use. Aim 2 will be measured using the Post-Study System Usability Questionnaire, assessing overall usability as well as system usefulness, information quality, and interface quality. Aim 3 will use the Insomnia Severity Index and sleep diaries to measure change in insomnia outcomes, the Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Profile to measure change in physical function, anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, participation in social roles, pain, cognitive function, and self-reported sedative-hypnotic use to measure change in dose and frequency of use. CONCLUSIONS: Findings will inform the utility of a combined digital CBT-I and CPP-led deprescribing intervention and the development of an adequately powered clinical trial to test the effectiveness in a diverse sample of veterans. Further, findings will help inform potential new approaches to deliver care and improve access to care for veterans with insomnia, many of whom use sedative-hypnotics that may be ineffective and increase the risk for negative outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05027438; https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05027438. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/47636.

Polypharmacy in US Medicare beneficiaries with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody vasculitis.

BACKGROUND: Treatment requirements of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody vasculitis (AV) and high comorbidity burden among patients with AV may lead to higher potential for polypharmacy and its associated adverse outcomes, including adverse drug events, nonadherence, drug-drug interactions, and higher costs. Medication burden and risk factors associated with polypharmacy in patients with AV have not been well-characterized. OBJECTIVE: To characterize medication burden and examine prevalence of and risk factors for polypharmacy in the first year after diagnosis with AV. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using 2015-2017 Medicare claims to identify incident cases of AV. We counted the number of unique generic products dispensed to patients in each of the 4 quarters after diagnosis and categorized medication count as high (≥10 medications), moderate (5-9 medications), or minimal or no polypharmacy (<5 medications). We used multinomial logistic regression to examine associations of predisposing, enabling, and medical need factors with having high or moderate polypharmacy. RESULTS: In 1,239 Medicare beneficiaries with AV, high or moderate polypharmacy was most common in the first quarter after diagnosis (83.7%), with 43.2% taking 5 - 9 medications and 40.5% taking at least 10. The odds of high polypharmacy were greater in all quarters for patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis compared with granulomatosis with polyangiitis, ranging from 2.02 (95% CI = 1.18 - 3.46) in the third quarter to 2.96 (95% CI = 1.64-5.33) in the second quarter. Older age, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, obesity, a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index score, coverage with Medicaid/Part D low-income subsidy, and living in areas with low education or persistent poverty were risk factors for high or moderate polypharmacy. CONCLUSIONS: Medicare beneficiaries with newly diagnosed AV experienced a high medication burden, with more than 40% taking at least 10 medications and the highest rates among those with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis. Patients with AV may benefit from medication therapy management interventions to manage complex drug regimens and reduce risks associated with polypharmacy. DISCLOSURES: Dr Derebail receives personal fees from Travere Therapeutics, Pfizer, Bayer, Forma Therapeutics, UpToDate, outside of the submitted work. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or the Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr Thorpe receives royalties from SAGE Publishing for activities unrelated to the submitted work. This research is supported by internal funds from the University of North Carolina, as well as the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under award number R21AI160606 (PI: C. Thorpe).

Prescriber Perspectives and Experiences with Deprescribing Versus Continuing Bisphosphonates in Older Nursing Home Residents with Dementia.

BACKGROUND: Few guidelines address fracture prevention medication use in nursing home (NH) residents with dementia. OBJECTIVE: We sought to identify factors that influence prescriber decision-making for deprescribing of bisphosphonates for older NH residents with dementia. METHODS: We conducted 12 semi-structured interviews with prescribers who care for older adults with dementia in NHs. MAIN MEASURES: Interview prompts addressed experiences treating fractures, benefits, and harms of bisphosphonates, and experiences with deprescribing. Coding was guided by the social-ecological framework including patient-level (intrapersonal) and external (interpersonal, system, community, and policy) influences. RESULTS: Most prescribers were physicians (83%); 75% were female and 75% were White. Most (75%) spent less than half of their clinical effort in NHs and half were in the first decade of practice. Among patient-level influences, prescribers uniformly agreed that a prior bisphosphonate treatment course of several years, emergence of adverse effects, and changing goals of care or limited life expectancy were compelling reasons to deprescribe. External influences were frequently discussed as barriers to deprescribing. At the interpersonal level, prescribers noted that family/informal caregivers are diverse in their involvement in decision-making, and frequently concerned about the adverse effects of bisphosphonates, but perceive deprescribing as "withdrawing care." At the health system level, prescribers felt that frequent transitions make it difficult to determine duration of prior treatment and to implement deprescribing. At the policy level, prescribers highlighted the lack of guidelines addressing residents with limited mobility and dementia or criteria for deprescribing, including uncertainty in the setting of prior fractures and lack of bone densitometry in NHs. CONCLUSION: Systems-level barriers to evaluating bone densitometry and treatment history in NHs may impede person-centered decision-making for fracture prevention. Further research is needed to evaluate the residual benefits of bisphosphonates in medically complex residents with limited mobility and dementia to inform recommendations for deprescribing versus continued use.

Central Nervous System-Active Prescriptions in Older Veterans: Trends in Prevalence, Prescribers, and High-risk Populations.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the prevalence or chronicity of prescriptions of central nervous system-active (CNS-active) medications in older Veterans. OBJECTIVE: We sought to describe (1) the prevalence and trends in prescription of CNS-active medications in older Veterans over time; (2) variation in prescriptions across high-risk groups; and (3) where the prescription originated (VA or Medicare Part D). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study from 2015 to 2019. PARTICIPANTS: Veterans age ≥ 65 enrolled in the Medicare and the VA residing in Veterans Integrated Service Network 4 (incorporating Pennsylvania and parts of surrounding states). MAIN MEASURES: Drug classes included antipsychotics, gabapentinoids, muscle relaxants, opioids, sedative-hypnotics, and anticholinergics. We described prescribing patterns overall and in three subgroups: Veterans with a diagnosis of dementia, Veterans with high predicted utilization, and frail Veterans. We calculated both prevalence (any fill) and percent of days covered (chronicity) for each drug class, and CNS-active polypharmacy (≥ 2 CNS-active medications) rates in each year in these groups. KEY RESULTS: The sample included 460,142 Veterans and 1,862,544 person-years. While opioid and sedative-hypnotic prevalence decreased, gabapentinoids exhibited the largest increase in both prevalence and percent of days covered. Each subgroup exhibited different patterns of prescribing, but all had double the rates of CNS-active polypharmacy compared to the overall study population. Opioid and sedative-hypnotic prevalence was higher in Medicare Part D prescriptions, but the percent of days covered of nearly all drug classes was higher in VA prescriptions. CONCLUSIONS: The concurrent increase of gabapentinoid prescribing paralleling a decrease in opioid and sedative-hypnotics is a new phenomenon that merits further evaluation of patient safety outcomes. In addition, we found substantial potential opportunities for deprescribing CNS-active medications in high-risk groups. Finally, the increased chronicity of VA prescriptions versus Medicare Part D is novel and should be further evaluated in terms of its mechanism and impact on Medicare-VA dual users.

Variation in Low-Value Service Use Across Veterans Affairs Facilities.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether extensive variation in the use of low-value services exists even within a national integrated delivery system like the Veterans Health Administration (VA). OBJECTIVE: To quantify variation in the use of low-value services across VA facilities and examine associations between facility characteristics and low-value service use. DESIGN: In this retrospective cross-sectional study of VA administrative data, we constructed facility-level rates of low-value service use as the mean count of 29 low-value services per 100 Veterans per year. Adjusted rates were calculated via ordinary least squares regression including covariates for Veteran sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. We quantified the association between adjusted facility-level rates and facility geographic/operational characteristics. PARTICIPANTS: 5,242,301 patients across 139 VA facilities. MAIN MEASURES: Use of 29 low-value services within six domains: cancer screening, diagnostic/preventive testing, preoperative testing, imaging, cardiovascular testing and procedures, and surgery. KEY RESULTS: The mean rate of low-value service use was 20.0 services per 100 patients per year (S.D. 6.1). Rates ranged from 13.9 at the 10th percentile to 27.6 at the 90th percentile (90th/10th percentile ratio 2.0, 95% CI 1.8‒2.3). With adjustment for patient covariates, variation across facilities narrowed (S.D. 5.2, 90th/10th percentile ratio 1.8, 95% CI 1.6‒1.9). Only one facility characteristic was positively associated with low-value service use percent of patients seeing non-VA clinicians via VA Community Care, p < 0.05); none was associated with total low-value service use after adjustment for other facility characteristics. There was extensive variation in low-value service use within categories of facility operational characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Despite extensive variation in the use of low-value services across VA facilities, we observed substantial use of these services across facility operational characteristics and at facilities with lower rates of low-value service use. Thus, system-wide interventions to address low-value services may be more effective than interventions targeted to specific facilities or facility types.

Frailty predicts referral for elder abuse evaluation in a nationwide healthcare system-Results from a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Elder abuse (EA) is common and has devastating health impacts. Frailty may increase susceptibility to and consequences of EA for older adults, making healthcare system detection more likely, but this relationship has been difficult to study. We examined the association between a recently validated frailty index and referral to social work (SW) for EA evaluation in the Veterans Administration (VA) healthcare system. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study of veterans aged ≥60 years evaluated by SW for suspected EA between 2010 and 2018 (n = 14,723) and controls receiving VA primary care services in the same 60-day window (n = 58,369). We used VA and Medicare claims data to measure frailty (VA Frailty Index) and comorbidity burden (the Elixhauser Comorbidity Index) in the 2 years prior to the index. We used adjusted logistic regression models to examine the association of frailty or comorbidity burden with referral to SW for EA evaluation. We used Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) values to evaluate model fit and likelihood ratio (LR) tests to assess the statistical significance of including frailty and comorbidity in the same model. RESULTS: The sample (n = 73,092) had a mean age 72 years; 14% were Black, and 6% were Hispanic. More cases (67%) than controls (36%) were frail. LR tests comparing the nested models were highly significant (p < 0.001), and AIC values indicated superior model fit when including both frailty and comorbidity in the same model. In a model adjusting for comorbidity and all covariates, pre-frailty (aOR vs. robust 1.7; 95% CI 1.5-1.8) and frailty (aOR vs. robust 3.6; 95% CI 3.3-3.9) were independently associated with referral for EA evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: A claims-based measure of frailty predicted referral to SW for EA evaluation in a national healthcare system, independent of comorbidity burden. Electronic health record measures of frailty may facilitate EA risk assessment and detection for this important but under-recognized phenomenon.

Prevalence and Cost of Care Cascades Following Low-Value Preoperative Electrocardiogram and Chest Radiograph Within the Veterans Health Administration.

BACKGROUND: Low-value care cascades, defined as the receipt of downstream health services potentially related to a low-value service, can result in harm to patients and wasteful healthcare spending, yet have not been characterized within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). OBJECTIVE: To examine if the receipt of low-value preoperative testing is associated with greater utilization and costs of potentially related downstream health services in Veterans undergoing low or intermediate-risk surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study using VHA administrative data from fiscal years 2017-2018 comparing Veterans who underwent low-value preoperative electrocardiogram (EKG) or chest radiograph (CXR) with those who did not. PARTICIPANTS: National cohort of Veterans at low risk of cardiopulmonary disease undergoing low- or intermediate-risk surgery. MAIN MEASURES: Difference in rate of receipt and attributed cost of potential cascade services in Veterans who underwent low-value preoperative testing compared to those who did not KEY RESULTS: Among 635,824 Veterans undergoing low-risk procedures, 7.8% underwent preoperative EKG. Veterans who underwent a preoperative EKG experienced an additional 52.4 (95% CI 47.7-57.2) cascade services per 100 Veterans, resulting in $138.28 (95% CI 126.19-150.37) per Veteran in excess costs. Among 739,005 Veterans undergoing low- or intermediate-risk surgery, 3.9% underwent preoperative CXR. These Veterans experienced an additional 61.9 (95% CI 57.8-66.1) cascade services per 100 Veterans, resulting in $152.08 (95% CI $146.66-157.51) per Veteran in excess costs. For both cohorts, care cascades consisted largely of repeat tests, follow-up imaging, and follow-up visits, with low rates invasive services. CONCLUSIONS: Among a national cohort of Veterans undergoing low- or intermediate-risk surgeries, low-value care cascades following two routine low-value preoperative tests are common, resulting in greater unnecessary care and costs beyond the initial low-value service. These findings may guide de-implementation policies within VHA and other integrated healthcare systems that target those services whose downstream effects are most prevalent and costly.

Anticholinergic co-prescribing in nursing home residents using cholinesterase inhibitors: Potential deprescribing cascade.

BACKGROUND: Polypharmacy may result from inappropriate prescribing of medications to treat adverse drug reactions (ADRs), i.e., "prescribing cascade." A potentially harmful prescribing cascade affecting those with severe dementia can result when anticholinergics are prescribed to manage side effects of cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs). We investigated 1) factors associated with co-prescribing of anticholinergics and ChEIs and 2) whether discontinuation of ChEIs was associated with subsequent discontinuation of anticholinergics-a potentially beneficial reversal or "deprescribing cascade." METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of linked Medicare Part A/B/D claims, Master Beneficiary Summary File, Minimum Data Set, Area Health Resource File, and Nursing Home Compare from 2015 to 2016. Subjects were Medicare beneficiaries residing in nursing homes, ≥65 years old with severe dementia admitted for non-skilled stays, who were prescribed ChEIs. Cross-sectional analysis evaluated factors associated with co-prescribing of anticholinergics with ChEIs. Longitudinal Cox proportional hazards regression examined whether discontinuation of ChEIs was associated with subsequent discontinuation of anticholinergics over a 1-year period. RESULTS: We found 15% of our sample experienced co-prescribing of anticholinergics and ChEIs. Several resident and facility-level factors were associated with co-prescribing anticholinergics. Advancing age, minority race or ethnicity, end-stage renal disease, heart failure, and poor appetite were associated with a decreased likelihood of co-prescribing. Female sex, polypharmacy, and non-geriatric prescriber-type were associated with a higher likelihood of co-prescribing. In longitudinal analyses, we observed that discontinuation of ChEIs was associated with a reduced likelihood (HR 0.58 [95% CI, 0.47-0.71]) of discontinuing any medications with anticholinergic properties, except for bladder antimuscarinics (HR 1.32 [95% CI, 0.83-2.09]). CONCLUSIONS: Younger, healthier older adults with dementia were more likely to experience co-prescribing anticholinergics and ChEIs. Discontinuation of anticholinergics was infrequent. Further research is needed to understand prescribers' ability to recognize and reverse potential prescribing cascades through deprescribing.

Assessment of Care Cascades Following Low-Value Prostate-Specific Antigen Testing Among Veterans Dually Enrolled in the US Veterans Health Administration and Medicare Systems.

Importance: Older US veterans commonly receive health care outside of the US Veterans Health Administration (VHA) through Medicare, which may increase receipt of low-value care and subsequent care cascades. Objective: To characterize the frequency, cost, and source of low-value prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and subsequent care cascades among veterans dually enrolled in the VHA and Medicare and to determine whether receiving a PSA test through the VHA vs Medicare is associated with more downstream services. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study used VHA and Medicare administrative data from fiscal years (FYs) 2017 to 2018. The study cohort consisted of male US veterans dually enrolled in the VHA and Medicare who were aged 75 years or older without a history of prostate cancer, elevated PSA, prostatectomy, radiation therapy, androgen deprivation therapy, or a urology visit. Data were analyzed from December 15, 2020, to October 20, 2022. Exposures: Receipt of low-value PSA testing. Main Outcomes and Measures: Differences in the use and cost of cascade services occurring 6 months after receipt of a low-value PSA test were assessed for veterans who underwent low-value PSA testing in the VHA and Medicare compared with those who did not, adjusted for patient- and facility-level covariates. Results: This study included 300 393 male US veterans at risk of undergoing low-value PSA testing. They had a mean (SD) age of 82.6 (5.6) years, and the majority (264 411 [88.0%]) were non-Hispanic White. Of these veterans, 36 459 (12.1%) received a low-value PSA test through the VHA, which was associated with 31.2 (95% CI, 29.2 to 33.2) additional cascade services per 100 veterans and an additional $24.5 (95% CI, $20.8 to $28.1) per veteran compared with the control group. In the same cohort, 17 981 veterans (5.9%) received a PSA test through Medicare, which was associated with 39.3 (95% CI, 37.2 to 41.3) additional cascade services per 100 veterans and an additional $35.9 (95% CI, $31.7 to $40.1) per veteran compared with the control group. When compared directly, veterans who received a PSA test through Medicare experienced 9.9 (95% CI, 9.7 to 10.1) additional cascade services per 100 veterans compared with those who underwent testing within the VHA. Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this cohort study suggest that US veterans dually enrolled in the VHA and Medicare commonly experienced low-value PSA testing and subsequent care cascades through both systems in FYs 2017 and 2018. Care cascades occurred more frequently through Medicare compared with the VHA. These findings suggest that low-value PSA testing has substantial downstream implications for patients and may be especially challenging to measure when care occurs in multiple health care systems.

Controversies in Osteoporosis Treatment of Nursing Home Residents.

Osteoporotic fractures are a common and serious health problem for older adults living in nursing homes (NHs). Risk of fracture increases with age and dementia status, yet gaps in evidence result in controversies around when to start and stop treatment for osteoporosis in NH residents, particularly those who have high fracture risk but have limited life expectancy. In this article, we discuss these areas of controversy. We provide an overview of current guidelines that explicitly address osteoporosis treatment strategies for NH residents, review the evidence for osteoporosis medications in NH residents, and use these sources to suggest practical recommendations for clinical practice and for research. Three published guidelines (from the United States, Canada, and Australia) and several studies provide the current basis for clinical decisions about osteoporosis treatment for NH residents. Practical approaches may include broad use of vitamin D and selective use of osteoporosis medication based on risks, benefits, and goals of care. Clinicians still lack strong evidence to guide treatment of NH residents with advanced dementia, multimorbidity, or severe mobility impairment. Future priorities for research include identifying optimal approaches to risk stratification and prevention strategies for NH residents and evaluating the risk-benefit profile of pharmacologic treatments for osteoporosis NH residents across key clinical strata. In the absence of such evidence, decisions for initiating and continuing treatment should reflect a patient-centered approach that incorporates life expectancy, goals of care, and the potential burden of treatment.