Is surgery getting safer? National trends in operative mortality1,2 1No competing interests declared. 2The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Government.

2002 ◽  
Vol 195 (2) ◽  
pp. 219-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip P Goodney ◽  
Andrea E Siewers ◽  
Therese A Stukel ◽  
F.Lee Lucas ◽  
David E Wennberg ◽  
...  
SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A420-A421
Author(s):  
A M May ◽  
K Gandotra ◽  
G E Jaskiw

Abstract Introduction Serious mental illness (SMI) is associated with excess morbidity and mortality irrespective of healthcare access. Adherence differences may contribute to this health disparity. In those with sleep disorders, adherence to positive airway pressure (PAP) can improve health outcomes. We hypothesized that SMI is associated with lower PAP adherence. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, 5047 veterans receiving a PAP machine from the VANEOHS (1/1/2010 - 6/31/2015) were evaluated for 90-day PAP adherence (% days used ≥4 hours). A composite variable of any billing diagnosis of psychotic spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or major depression was examined via linear regression. Analyses were adjusted for demographics, comorbidities, and medications. We conducted sensitivity analyses of 30-day adherence as well as subset analyses of associations between each disorder and adherence. Results The group was 38.8 ± 11.9 years old, 3.9% female with 52.6% with major depression, 25.0% with PTSD. 58.4% of the cohort had at least one psychiatric disorder. PTSD with depression was the most common comorbidity in those with two or more psychiatric diagnoses. Unadjusted analyses showed worse adherence in those with any SMI (β = -7.5%, 95% CI: -9.8% -5.3%), which was mitigated in adjusted analyses (β = -1.6%, 95% CI: -5.1%, 1.9%). All individual SMIs were negatively associated with adherence, but only PTSD was associated with less adherence in adjusted analyses (β = -6.4%, 95%CI: -11.2%, -1.6%). Sensitivity analyses of 30-day adherence were similar to primary analyses. Conclusion In this large cohort of veterans, broadly defined SMI was associated with lower 30- and 90-day adherence in unadjusted but not adjusted analyses. Replication and refinement of the link between SMI, particularly PTSD, and adherence may provide opportunities for targeted interventions and improve health disparities. Support This work was supported in part by Career Development Award IK2CX001882 from the United States (U.S.) Department of Veterans Affairs Clinical Sciences Research and Development Service. The contents of this work do not represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States government.


SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A179-A179
Author(s):  
Anna May ◽  
Lu Wang ◽  
Mendel Singer

Abstract Introduction Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is effectively treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). However, many people are not able to become adherent in the initial 90-day trial window for this therapy. Medicare requires a polysomnography and repeat trial documenting adherence before continuing payment for these services. Oral appliance therapy (OAT) is also an OSA first-line therapy but is less effective than CPAP. Methods We created a decision tree to model 4 strategies over a 5-year time horizon: (1) current policy, (2) direct referral for CPAP equipment, (3) OAT followed by CPAP under current policy, and (4) OAT followed by direct CPAP referral in a the Medicare population with mild-moderate OSA and nonadherence to a first attempt at CPAP therapy. Medicare fee schedules in 2020 defined costs. Incremental cost-effectiveness (ICER) was used to identify the supreme strategy Results The current policy was the most expensive. Both the current policy and direct DME referral were dominated by starting with OAT. OAT followed by titration was the most cost-effective strategy with an ICER of $42,586.47. The ICER was sensitive to adherence in the direct CPAP strategy and probability of getting CPAP equipment (vs. lost to follow-up). Conclusion Starting with OAT therapy in those that were CPAP nonadherent on first attempt is cost-effective. Despite decreased effectiveness, the increase adherence to OAT make it an attractive option for retrial of OSA therapy. If OAT therapy fails, the current policy is more cost-effective than direct CPAP referral. Support (if any) This study was supported Career Development Award IK2CX001882 from the United States (U.S.) Department of Veterans Affairs Clinical Sciences Research and Development Service. The contents of this work do not represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States government.


2010 ◽  
Vol 43 (01) ◽  
pp. 127-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonard Champney ◽  
Paul Edleman

AbstractThis study employs the Solomon Four-Group Design to measure student knowledge of the United States government and student knowledge of current events at the beginning of a U.S. government course and at the end. In both areas, knowledge improves significantly. Regarding knowledge of the U.S. government, both males and females improve at similar rates, those with higher and lower GPAs improve at similar rates, and political science majors improve at similar rates to non-majors. Regarding current events, males and females improve at similar rates. However, those with higher GPAs and political science majors improve more than others.


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