Outcomes and Effectiveness Research

Adverse Events After Stopping Clopidogrel in Post-Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients: Insights from a Large Integrated Healthcare Delivery System. P. Ho, T. Tsai, T. Wang, et al., Circulation Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, May 2010; 3:303-308. Discusses the occurrence of adverse events in cardiac patients up to 3 months after stopping clopidogrel therapy. (AHRQ 10-R062)

Best Practices in Systems Interventions to Reduce the Burden of Fractures. C. Clancy, Osteoporosis International, August 2011; 22(Suppl 3):S441-S444. Discusses the importance of patient-centered outcomes research as the foundation for improving the quality of care, including care for fractures and osteoporosis. (AHRQ 12-R008).

Cancer Pharmacogenomics and Pharmacoepidemiology: Setting a Research Agenda to Accelerate Translation. A. Freedman, L. Sansbury, W. Figg, et al., Journal of the National Cancer Institute, November 2010; 102(22):1698-1705. Commentary summarizes and discuses five science-based recommendations and four infrastructure-based recommendations for research to advance understanding of why individuals respond differently to cancer therapies. (AHRQ 11-R036)

CERTs Annual Report, Year 7. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, May 2009, 48 pp. Highlights the ongoing work of AHRQ's Centers for Education & Research in Therapeutics (CERTs) program, presents summaries of several projects completed during the period October 2005-September 2006, and describes the efforts from newly formed centers. (AHRQ 09-0063)

The Challenge of Multiple Comorbidity for the U.S. Health Care System. A. Parekh, M. Barton, Journal of the American Medical Association, April 2010; 303(13):1303-1304. Commentary discusses the challenges involved in improving care for individuals with two or more coexisting illnesses and describes AHRQ's research in this area. (AHRQ 10-R061)

Diagnostic Performance of Serum Cobalamin Tests: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. C. Willis, A. Elshaug, J. Milverton, et al., Pathology, August 2011; 43(5):472-481. Examines evidence of diagnostic accuracy for serum cobalamin (vitamin B12) tests across patient subgroups. (AHRQ 11-R067)

Effects of Antidepressant Treatment on Antiretroviral Regimen Adherence Among Depressed HIV-Infected Patients. V. Kumar, W. Encinosa, Psychiatric Quarterly, September 2009; 80(3):131-141. Examines whether the relationship between highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) medication adherence and antidepressant treatment varies with HAART regimen complexity. (AHRQ 10-R013)

Planning the Safety of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Registry Initiative (SAFARI) as a Collaborative Pan-Stakeholder Critical Path Registry Model: A Cardiac Safety Research Consortium "Incubator" Think Tank. S. Al-Khatib, H. Calkins, B. Eloff, et al., American Heart Journal, January 2010; 159(1):17-24. Summarizes the discussion at an April 2009 think tank meeting held to explore the objectives, challenges, and steps involved in developing a national registry of patients undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation procedures to capture data on long-term outcomes and safety. (AHRQ 10-R054)

The Prostate Cancer Intervention Versus Observation Trial: VA/NCI/AHRQ Cooperative Studies Program #407 (PIVOT): Design and Baseline Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Radical Prostatectomy to Watchful Waiting for Men with Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer. T. Wilt, M. Brawer, M. Barry, et al., Contemporary Clinical Trials, January 2009; 30(1):81-87. Describes the study rationale, design, recruitment methods, and baseline characteristics of men enrolled in the PIVOT study comparing surgery to watchful waiting for men with prostate cancer that has not not spread. (AHRQ 09-R035)

Recent Improvements in Bariatric Surgery Outcomes. W. Encinosa, D. Bernard, D. Du, et al., Medical Care, May 2009; 47(5):531-535. Uses a nationwide, population-based sample to examine how 6-month complications of bariatric surgery improved between 2001 and 2006. (AHRQ 09-R050)

Transformation of Health Care at the Front Line. P. Conway, C. Clancy, Journal of the American Medical Association, February 2009; 301(7):763-765. Commentary discusses the design and effects of pay-for-performance programs on treatment options, patient outcomes, and health care costs, as well as an approach to align incentives with quality of care and value at the front line where clinicians and patients meet. (AHRQ 09-R026)

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