Impact of Medicaid expansion on pancreatic cancer care: A difference-in-difference analysis.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e18567-e18567
Author(s):  
Ahmad Hamad ◽  
Mariam Eskander ◽  
Yaming Li ◽  
Oindrila Bhattacharyya ◽  
James L Fisher ◽  
...  

e18567 Background: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) increased insurance coverage for low-income individuals, which should potentially lead to better access to care and improved oncological outcomes. This study seeks to evaluate the impact of Medicaid expansion (ME) on care for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Methods: Patients who were uninsured or on Medicaid and diagnosed with PDAC between 2004 and 2017 were queried from the National Cancer Database (NCDB). Two different expansion cohorts were included: early expansion states and 2014 expansion states. For early expansion states, the time period of pre-expansion was 2004-2009 and post-expansion was 2010-2017. As for the 2014 expansion states, the pre-expansion period was from 2004-2013 and post-expansion period was from 2014-2017. Patients in non-expansion states formed the control group. A difference-in-difference (DID) analysis was used to assess the association of ME with stage of diagnosis, treatment and survival for each expansion cohort. Results: In both early and January 2014 expansion states, there was an increase in overall Medicaid coverage (Early: DID = 0.29, 2014: DID = 0.37; P < 0.001), in particular for non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic Black patients (Non-Hispanic Black: Early: DID = 0.11, 2014: DID = 0.11; P < 0.001, Hispanic-Black: 2014: DID = 0.20; P = 0.003). There were no differences in early stage diagnosis (Early: DID = 0.02, 2014: DID = -0.02; P > 0.05). There was an increase in the number of patients receiving surgery (Early: DID = 0.05; P = 0.001, 2014: DID = 0.03; P = 0.029) but no difference in time to surgery among patients receiving surgery upfront (Early: DID = 1.75, 2014: DID = 0.38; P > 0.05). There was no difference in 30-day readmission post-surgery (Early: DID = 0.003; 2014: DID = -0.00007; P > 0.05) or 90-day mortality (Early: DID = -0.007, 2014: DID = -0.035; P > 0.05). Moreover, there was no difference in receipt of chemotherapy (Early: DID = 0.01, 2014: DID = 0.005; P > 0.05) or time to chemotherapy for patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (Early: Early: DID = 9.62, 2014: DID = 0.01; P > 0.05). Finally, there was no difference in receipt of palliative care among stage IV patients in both cohorts (Early: DID = -0.004, 2014: DID = 0.004; P > 0.05). Conclusions: This study suggests that after ME, PDAC patients were more likely to be insured and had increased access to surgical care. Future, studies should evaluate the implications of improved surgical access on clinical outcomes such as mortality.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 6525-6525
Author(s):  
Catalina Malinowski ◽  
Xiudong Lei ◽  
Hui Zhao ◽  
Sharon H. Giordano ◽  
Mariana Chavez Mac Gregor

6525 Background: Inadequate access to healthcare services is associated with worse outcomes. Disparities in access to cancer care are more frequently seen among racial/ethnic minorities, uninsured patients, and those with low socioeconomic status. A provision in the Affordable Care Act called for expansion of Medicaid eligibility in order to cover more low-income Americans. In this study, we evaluate the impact of Medicaid expansion in 2-year mortality among metastatic BC patients according to race. Methods: Women (aged 40-64) diagnosed with metastatic BC (stage IV de novo) between 01/01/2010 and 12/31/2015 and residing in states that underwent Medicaid expansion in 01/2014 were identified in the National Cancer Database. For comparison purposes, 2010-2013 was considered the pre-expansion period and 2014-2015 the post-expansion period. We calculated 2-year mortality difference-in-difference (DID) estimates between White and non-White patients using multivariable linear regression models. Results are presented as adjusted differences (in % points) between groups in the pre- and post-expansion periods and as adjusted DID with 95%CI. Covariates included age, comorbidity, BC subtype, insurance type, transfer of care, distance to hospital, region, residence area, education, income quartile, facility type and facility volume. In addition, overall survival (OS) was evaluated in pre- and post-expansion periods via Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models; results are presented as 2-year OS estimates, hazard ratios (HRs), and 95% CIs. Results: Among 7,675 patients included, 4,942 were diagnosed in the pre- and 2,733 in the post-expansion period. We observed a reduction in 2-year mortality rates in both groups according to Medicaid expansion. Among Whites 2-year mortality decreased from 42.5% to 38.7% and among non-Whites from 45.4% to 36.4%, resulting in an adjusted DID of -5.2% (95%CI -9.8 to -0.6, p = 0.027). A greater reduction in 2-year mortality was observed among non-Whites in a sub-analysis of patients who resided in the poorest quartile (n = 1372), with an adjusted DID of -14.6% (95%CI -24.8 to -4.4, p = 0.005). In the multivariable Cox model, during the pre-expansion period there was an increased risk of death for non-Whites compared to Whites (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.26, P = 0.04), however no differences were seen in the post-expansion period between the two groups (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.07, P = 0.31). Conclusions: Medicaid expansion reduced racial disparities by decreasing the 2-year mortality of non-White patients with metastatic breast cancer and reducing the gap when compared to Whites. These results highlight the positive impact of policies aimed at improving equity and increasing access to health care.


Author(s):  
Yuko Kobashi ◽  
Junichi Matsui

Background: Pancreatic invasive ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer mortality in Japan. The early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, which will increase the number of patients with resectable tumors, is urgently needed. The purpose of the present study was to examine the earliest signs of pancreatic abnormalities on CT in order to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of PDAC. Methods: Forty-one patients with pancreatic cancer and their 154 CTs were selected for the present study. We used the images that were acquired prior to the diagnosis and examined the pancreas in these images to observe serial changes in the morphology of the pancreas after selecting CT images in which PDAC was suspected. We also confirmed whether the main pancreatic duct was observed around that area of the pancreas. Four thousand two hundred seventy-seven patients without pancreato-biliary disease with 4630 CTs were selected for the control group. Results: Two pancreas shapes were detected: localized constriction of the pancreatic parenchyma referred to as the K-shaped sign, and localized fatty changes. Twenty-four (58.5%) of 41 patients showed the K-shaped sign. The main pancreatic duct without dilatation was noted around the K-shaped sign in 9 of the 24 patients. Eight of 41 patients (19.5%) showed localized fatty changes. Nine of 41 patients (21.9%) showed no abnormality. In the control group, only seven of 4277 patients (0.16%) showed the K-shaped sign. Conclusions: The K-shaped sign including localized fatty changes is the earliest CT sign that presents with pancreatic abnormalities. The K-shaped sign does not indicate PDAC itself but may predict its future development.


Author(s):  
Satish Sankaran ◽  
Jyoti Bajpai Dikshit ◽  
Chandra Prakash SV ◽  
SE Mallikarjuna ◽  
SP Somashekhar ◽  
...  

AbstractCanAssist Breast (CAB) has thus far been validated on a retrospective cohort of 1123 patients who are mostly Indians. Distant metastasis–free survival (DMFS) of more than 95% was observed with significant separation (P < 0.0001) between low-risk and high-risk groups. In this study, we demonstrate the usefulness of CAB in guiding physicians to assess risk of cancer recurrence and to make informed treatment decisions for patients. Of more than 500 patients who have undergone CAB test, detailed analysis of 455 patients who were treated based on CAB-based risk predictions by more than 140 doctors across India is presented here. Majority of patients tested had node negative, T2, and grade 2 disease. Age and luminal subtypes did not affect the performance of CAB. On comparison with Adjuvant! Online (AOL), CAB categorized twice the number of patients into low risk indicating potential of overtreatment by AOL-based risk categorization. We assessed the impact of CAB testing on treatment decisions for 254 patients and observed that 92% low-risk patients were not given chemotherapy. Overall, we observed that 88% patients were either given or not given chemotherapy based on whether they were stratified as high risk or low risk for distant recurrence respectively. Based on these results, we conclude that CAB has been accepted by physicians to make treatment planning and provides a cost-effective alternative to other similar multigene prognostic tests currently available.


Author(s):  
Tracy Morse ◽  
Elizabeth Tilley ◽  
Kondwani Chidziwisano ◽  
Rossanie Malolo ◽  
Janelisa Musaya

Diarrhoeal disease in children under five in low income settings has been associated with multiple environmental exposure pathways, including complementary foods. Conducted from February to December 2018 in rural Malawi, this before and after trial with a control used diarrhoeal disease as a primary outcome, to measure the impact of a food hygiene intervention (food hygiene + handwashing) relative to a food hygiene and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) intervention (food hygiene + handwashing + faeces management + water management). The 31-week intervention was delivered by community-based coordinators through community events (n = 2), cluster group meetings (n = 17) and household visits (n = 14). Diarrhoeal disease was self-reported and measured through an end line survey, and daily diaries completed by caregivers. Difference-in-differences results show a 13-percentage point reduction in self-reported diarrhoea compared to the control group. There were also significant increases in the presence of proxy measures in each of the treatment groups (e.g., the presence of soap). We conclude that food hygiene interventions (including hand washing with soap) can significantly reduce diarrhoeal disease prevalence in children under five years in a low-income setting. Therefore, the promotion of food hygiene practices using a behaviour-centred approach should be embedded in nutrition and WASH policies and programming.


Author(s):  
Hye-Eun Lee ◽  
Min Choi ◽  
Hyoung-Ryoul Kim ◽  
Ichiro Kawachi

A possible association between night shift work and musculoskeletal disorder has been suggested. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of decreased night work on musculoskeletal pain. Difference-in-difference estimation was used to compare changes in musculoskeletal pain between shift workers (N = 122) and non-shift workers (N = 170) in a manufacturing company before and after the introduction of a new shift system eliminating overnight work. Musculoskeletal pain was measured by a questionnaire asking if workers had symptoms in specific body parts, including the neck, shoulder, arm/elbow, wrist/hand, back, and leg/foot, over the past year. Generalized estimating equation models were used to estimate changes in pre- versus post-intervention musculoskeletal pain rates between the treated and control group. In the difference-in-difference (DID) models, prevalence of musculoskeletal pain for shoulder (−10.3%), arm (−12.9%), all sites combined (−9.2%), and upper extremity combined (−14.8%) showed significant decreases from pre- to post-intervention among the treated group (shift workers) compared to the control group (non-shift workers) after controlling for age and weekly working hours. Decreasing night work was related to improvement in musculoskeletal pain in shift workers.


Biomedicines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 565
Author(s):  
Sona Ciernikova ◽  
Maria Novisedlakova ◽  
Danka Cholujova ◽  
Viola Stevurkova ◽  
Michal Mego

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive malignant tumors due to the absence of biomarkers for early-stage detection and poor response to therapy. Since mounting evidence supports the role of microbiota composition in tumorigenesis and cancer treatment, the link between microbiome and PDAC has been described. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the impact of the gut and oral microbiome on the risk of PDAC development. Microenvironment-driven therapy and immune system interactions are also discussed. More importantly, we provide an overview of the clinical trials evaluating the microbiota role in the risk, prognosis, and treatment of patients suffering from PDAC and solid tumors. According to the research findings, immune tolerance might result from the microbiota-derived remodeling of pancreatic tumor microenvironment. Thus, microbiome profiling and targeting represent the potential trend to enhance antitumor immunity and improve the efficacy of PDAC treatment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S337-S338
Author(s):  
Meagan L Adamsick ◽  
Ronak G Gandhi ◽  
Samantha N Steiger ◽  
Monique R Bidell ◽  
Sandra B Nelson ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) is a growing area of Infectious Diseases (ID) that allows for the treatment of severe infections in the ambulatory setting. Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) incorporated inpatient ID pharmacists into the OPAT team in June 2017 to assist with vancomycin monitoring and dosing. Laboratory results were received and documented by the OPAT nurse and forwarded to the pharmacists for assessment via the electronic medical record (EMR). Pharmacists then sent clinical recommendations to the physician. This study aimed to determine the impact of pharmacists’ involvement in OPAT vancomycin management. Methods An EMR-generated report identified patients in the OPAT program from June 2016 through May 2017 as the control group and June 2017 through May 2018 as the intervention group. One hundred patients were randomly selected during each period. Patients were excluded from the intervention group if no pharmacist documentation was present. The primary outcome was to evaluate the proportion of vancomycin levels within the patient-specific goal range and secondary outcomes included the proportion of (1) pharmacists’ recommendations accepted by the ID physician and (2) patients who experienced adverse drug events. Results A total of 200 patients were evaluated. The most common indication for enrollment was osteomyelitis (46%). No differences in baseline characteristics were noted, and the median age was 67 years. The percentage of vancomycin levels within goal was significantly higher in the pharmacist-managed group compared with the control group (66.8% vs. 54.2%; P < 0.0001). The number of patients who experienced adverse drug events was similar between the two groups (39% vs. 43%; P = 0.66); however, fewer patients in the pharmacist group experienced acute kidney injury (5% vs. 13%; P = 0.08). Finally, 100% of pharmacist recommendations were accepted by ID physicians. Conclusion Leveraging inpatient ID pharmacists at MGH in the management of OPAT vancomycin provided improved percentage of vancomycin in therapeutic range and high acceptance rate of interventions. Further evaluation is necessary to assess the inpatient ID pharmacists’ workflow for implementation into other OPAT programs. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


Medicina ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Hammad Aliahmed ◽  
Rimantas Karalius ◽  
Arūnas Valaika ◽  
Arimantas Grebelis ◽  
Palmyra Semėnienė ◽  
...  

Background: new minimally invasive sternotomy (mini-sternotomy) procedures have improved the treatment outcome and reduced the incidence of perioperative complications leading to improved patient satisfaction and a reduced cost of aortic valve replacement in comparison to the conventional median sternotomy (full sternotomy). The aim of this study is to compare and gain new insights into operative and early postoperative outcomes, long-term postoperative results, and 5-year survival rates after aortic valve replacement through a ministernotomy and full sternotomy. Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients who underwent an isolated replacement of the aortic valve via a full sternotomy or ministernotomy from 2011 to 2016. From 2011 to 2016, 426 cardiac interventions were performed, 70 of which (16.4%) were of the ministernotomy and 356 (83.6%) of the full sternotomy. Through propensity score matching, 70 patients who underwent the ministernotomy (ministernotomy group) were compared with 70 patients who underwent the full sternotomy (control group). Results: in the propensity matching cohort, no statistical difference in operative time was noted (p = 0.856). The ministernotomy had longer cross clamp (88.7 ± 20.7 vs. 80.3 ± 24.6 min, p = 0.007) and bypass (144.0 ± 29.9 vs. 132.9 ± 44.9 min, p = 0.049) times, less ventilation time (9.7 ± 1.7 vs. 11.7 ± 1.4 h, p < 0.001), shorter hospital stay (18.3 ± 1.9 vs. 21.9 ± 1.9 days, p = 0.012), less 24-h chest tube drainage (256.2 ± 28.6 vs. 407.3 ± 40.37 mL, p < 0.001), fewer corrections of coagulopathy (p < 0.001), fewer patients receiving catecholamine (5.71 vs. 30.0%, p < 0.001) and better cosmetic results (p < 0.001). Moreover, the number of patients without complaints at 1 year after the operation was significantly greater in the ministernotomy group (p = 0.002), and no significant differences in the 5-year survival between the groups were observed. In the overall cohort, the ministernotomy had longer cross clamp times (88.7 ± 20.7 vs. 79.9 ± 24.8 min, p < 0.001), longer operative times (263.5 ± 62.0 vs. 246.7 ± 74.2 min, p = 0.037) and bypass times (144.0 ± 29.9 vs. 132.7 ± 44.5 min, p = 0.026), lower incidence of 30-day mortality (1(1.4) vs. 13(3.7), p = 0.022), shorter hospital stays post-surgery p = 0.025, less 24-h chest tube drainage, p < 0.001, and fewer corrections of coagulopathy (p < 0.001). Conclusions: the ministernotomy has a number of advantages compared with the full sternotomy and thus could be a better approach for aortic valve replacement.


2019 ◽  
Vol 188 (8) ◽  
pp. 1493-1502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rita Hamad ◽  
Akansha Batra ◽  
Deborah Karasek ◽  
Kaja Z LeWinn ◽  
Nicole R Bush ◽  
...  

Abstract The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides nutritional support for pregnant and postpartum women and young children. The typical food package provided to recipient families was revised in October 2009 to include more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat milk. Little is known about whether these revisions improved nutrition among women during this critical period of the life course. We conducted a quasiexperimental difference-in-differences analysis, comparing WIC recipients (“treatment” group) before and after the WIC policy change, while accounting for temporal trends among nonrecipients (“control” group). We examined nutritional outcomes among a cohort of 1,454 women recruited during pregnancy in 2006–2011 in Memphis and surrounding Shelby County, Tennessee. We found improvements in several measures of dietary quality and nutrient intake during pregnancy, although these did not persist into the postpartum period. Results were robust to numerous sensitivity analyses. At a time when federal WIC funding is threatened, this study provides some of the first evidence of the benefits of recent WIC revisions among low-income women.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1135-1135
Author(s):  
Aspen Miller ◽  
Nathan Hendrickson ◽  
John Davison ◽  
Erin Wilson ◽  
Natalie Glass ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Increased metabolic demand and inadequate oral intake after musculoskeletal trauma results in catabolic skeletal muscle wasting, which limits potential for functional recovery after injury. This study compared standard perioperative nutrition and oral supplementation with conditionally essential amino acids (CEAA) on changes in lean body mass after operative fixation of acute fractures. Methods Patients sustaining operative pelvis and extremity fractures presenting to a Level 1 trauma center were prospectively enrolled in a single blinded-randomized clinical trial. Demographics, injury classification, and comorbidities were collected at baseline. Fat Free Mass (FFM) was measured within 72 hours of surgery using A-Mode Ultrasound. Patients were randomly chosen to receive standard nutrition (Control) or standard nutrition plus an oral supplement (CEAA) containing 14 g of amino acids to be taken 2x daily for 2 weeks. FFM was re-assessed at 6 weeks and 3 months post-surgery. Statistical analysis was performed comparing Least Squared Mean FFM (P &lt; .05). Results 222 subjects (Control: 112, CEAA: 120) were included in this analysis. There were no differences in age, gender, BMI, or baseline FFM between Control and CEAA subjects (all P &gt; .05). Median supplement compliance was 22/28 servings (78.6%, sd ± 36.9%). At 6 weeks, average change in FFM among Controls was −1.28 kg (P = .004) and -.56 kg among CEAA (P = .19). Changes were not significant between groups (P = .23). At 12 weeks, there were non-significant changes in FFM from baseline in both groups (Controls: -.02 kg P = .96, CEAA: +.36 kg P = .44). From 6–12 weeks, FFM changes were + 1.26 kg (P = .012) and + .91 kg (P = .06) respectively. Conclusions Patients randomized to standard nutrition had significant FFM loss compared to those receiving additional CEAA supplementation 6 weeks after surgery. At 12 weeks, the control group decreased FFM further from baseline while the CEAA group mostly recovered their loss. Although 12-week FFM changes were not significant, results indicate CEAA supplementation prevents FFM loss in the acute post-operative phase. Further investigation is needed to compare FFM changes, clinical outcomes, complication rates, and the impact of baseline nutrition status. Funding Sources American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Board of Specialty Societies Quality and Patient Safety Action Fund.


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