Identifying Long-Term Effects of SARS-CoV-2 and Their Association with Social Determinants of Health in a Cohort of Over One Million COVID-19 Survivors

Background: Despite an abundance of information on the risk factors of SARS-CoV-2, large scale studies of long-term effects are lacking. In this paper we analyzed a large medical claims database of US based individuals to identify common long-term effects as well as their associations with various social and medical risk factors.Methods: The medical claims database was obtained from a prominent US based claims data processing company, namely Change Healthcare. In addition to the claims data, the dataset also consisted of various social determinants of health such as race, income, education level and veteran status of the individuals. A self-controlled cohort design (SCCD) observational study was performed to identify ICD-10 codes whose proportion was significantly increased in the outcome period compared to the control period to identify significant long-term effects. A logistic regression-based association analysis was then performed between identified long-term effects and social determinants of health.Results: Among the over 1.37 million COVID patients in our datasets we found 36 out of 1,724 3-digit ICD-10 codes to be statistically significantly increased in the post-COVID period (p-value <0.05). We also found one combination of ICD-10 codes, corresponding to ‘other anemias’ and ‘hypertension’, that was statistically significantly increased in the post-COVID period (p-value <0.05). Our logistic regression-based association analysis with social determinants of health variables, after adjusting for comorbidities and prior conditions, showed that age and gender were significantly associated with the multiple long-term effects. Race was only associated with ‘other sepsis’, income was only associated with ‘Alopecia areata’, while education level was only associated with ‘Maternal infectious and parasitic diseases’ (p-value <0.05). Conclusion: We identified several long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 through a self-controlled study on a cohort of over one million patients. Furthermore, we found that while age and gender are commonly associated with the long-term effects, other social determinants of health such as race, income and education levels have rare or no significant associations.

Effect of parenteral energy or amino acid doses on in-hospital mortality, among patients with aspiration pneumonia: a cohort medical claims database study

Background This study examined the association between parenteral energy/amino acid doses and in-hospital mortality among inpatients on long-term nil per os (NPO) status, using a medical claims database in Japan. Methods Hospitalized patients with aspiration pneumonia, aged ≥65 years and on &gt;7-days NPO status, were identified in a medical claims database between January 2013 and December 2018. Using multivariate logistic regression and regression analyses, we examined the association between mean parenteral energy/amino acid doses and in-hospital mortality, and secondarily the association between prognosis (in-hospital mortality, inability to receive full oral intake, re-admission, hospital stay length) among four groups classified by mean amino acid dose (No dose: 0 g/kg/day; Very low dose: &gt;0, ≤0.3 g/kg/day; Low dose: &gt;0.3, ≤0.6 g/kg/day; Moderate dose: &gt;0.6 g/kg/day). Results The analysis population included 20,457 inpatients (≥80 years: 78.3%). In total, 5,920 mortalities were recorded. Increased amino acid doses were significantly associated with reduced in-hospital mortality (p &lt;0.001). With a No dose reference level, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of in-hospital mortality adjusted for potential confounders, were 0.78 (0.72–0.85), 0.74 (0.67–0.82), and 0.69 (0.59–0.81) for Very low, Low, and Moderate amino acid doses, respectively. Additionally, patients prescribed amino acid dose levels &gt;0.6 g/kg/day had shorter hospitalization periods than those prescribed none. Conclusions Increased amino acid doses were associated with reduced in-hospital mortality. Sufficient amino acid administration is recommended for patients with aspiration pneumonia requiring NPO status.

Emergency and urgent dental visits among Medicaid enrollees from 2013 to 2017

Background Better understanding of the frequency of dental emergencies and the procedures performed during those emergency visits can help providers, insurers, and policymakers understand workforce and care provision needs. Methods Procedures performed at an emergency dental encounter and in the encounter following that encounter are assessed. Emergency dental encounters are those with a CDT code of D0140, D0160, or D0170. Data was analyzed from the IBM Watson Medicaid Marketscan data from 2013 to 2017, a nationally representative dental and medical claims database from 13 deidentified states in the United States. Result Consistently over time, about 10% of all dental encounters are due to a dental emergency. 28% of emergency dental encounters had no other procedure performed during those encounters. When other procedures were performed during the encounter, the majority were diagnostic in nature, primarily radiographs. Among patients who returned to the dentists following an emergency visit, 43% returned for more definitive dental treatment, most within 30 days. Conclusions The majority of dental emergency encounters do not result in definitive treatment, rather patients often return to the dentist at a later date for that treatment. Where possible, dental providers could utilize teledental services to triage patients to appropriate care.

Emergency and Urgent Dental Visits among Medicaid Enrollees from 2013 to 2017

Background: Better understanding of the frequency of dental emergencies and the procedures performed during those emergency visits can help providers, insurers, and policymakers understand workforce and care provision needs.Methods: Procedures performed at an emergency dental encounter and in the encounter following that encounter are assessed. Emergency dental encounters are those with a CDT code of D0140, D0160, or D0170. Data was analyzed from the IBM Watson Medicaid Marketscan data from 2013 to 2017, a nationally representative dental and medical claims database from 13 deidentified states in the United States. Result: Consistently over time, about 10% of all dental encounters are due to a dental emergency. 28% of emergency dental encounters had no other procedure performed during those encounters. When other procedures were performed during the encounter, the majority were diagnostic in nature, primarily radiographs. Among patients who returned to the dentists following an emergency visit, 43% returned for more definitive dental treatment, most within 30 days. Conclusions: The majority of dental emergency encounters do not result in definitive treatment, rather patients often return to the dentist at a later date for that treatment. Where possible, dental providers could utilize teledental services to triage patients to appropriate care.Keywords: Emergency Dental, COVID-19, Teledental, Medicaid