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Articles of Interest

April 3, 2009

This weekly compilation of articles appearing in recently released journals and newsletters includes:

Articles funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Articles mentioning or discussing AHRQ staff, activities, and publications/products.
Articles related to AHRQ-funded Evidence-based Practice Centers.
Articles related to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force or Put Prevention into Practice program.
Articles mentioning the National Healthcare Disparities Report and National Healthcare Quality Report.
Other research using AHRQ data or products.

AHRQ-Funded/Authored Articles

American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy
Szczesiul JM, Fairbanks RJ, Hildebrand JM, et al. Survey of physicians regarding clinical pharmacy services in academic emergency departments. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2009 Mar 15; 66(6): 576-9. [Supported in part by grant 1 U18 HS15818.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Surgery
Stulberg JJ, Champagne BJ, Fan Z, et al. Emergency laparoscopic colectomy: does it measure up to open?. Am J Surg 2009 Mar; 197(3):296-301. [Supported in part by grant T32 HS00059.] Select to access the abstract.

Cancer
Hortobágyi GN. A time for creative collaboration. Cancer 2008 Oct 15; 113(8 Suppl):2217-20. [Supported by grant 1 R13 HS17218-01 (for the 2007 Global Summit on International Breast Health—Implementation).]

Yip CH, Smith RA, Anderson BO, et al. Guideline implementation for breast healthcare in low- and middle-income countries: early detection resource allocation. Cancer 2008 Oct 15; 113(8 Suppl):2244-56. [Supported by grant 1 R13 HS17218-01 (for the 2007 Global Summit on International Breast Health—Implementation).] Select to access the abstract.

Shyyan R, Sener SF, Anderson BO, et al. Guideline implementation for breast healthcare in low- and middle-income countries: diagnosis resource allocation. Cancer 2008 Oct 15; 113(8 Suppl):2257-68. [Supported by grant 1 R13 HS17218-01 (for the 2007 Global Summit on International Breast Health—Implementation).] Select to access the abstract.

Eniu A, Carlson RW, El Saghir NS, et al. Guideline implementation for breast healthcare in low- and middle-income countries: treatment resource allocation. Cancer 2008 Oct 15; 113(8 Suppl):2269-81. [Supported by grant 1 R13 HS17218-01 (for the 2007 Global Summit on International Breast Health—Implementation).] Select to access the abstract.

Harford J, Azavedo E, Fischietto M. Guideline implementation for breast healthcare in low- and middle-income countries: breast healthcare program resource allocation. Cancer 2008 Oct 15; 113(8 Suppl):2282-96. [Supported by grant 1 R13 HS17218-01 (for the 2007 Global Summit on International Breast Health—Implementation).] Select to access the abstract.

Masood S, Vass L, Ibarra JA Jr, et al. Breast pathology guideline implementation in low- and middle-income countries. Cancer 2008 Oct 15; 113(8 Suppl):2297-304. [Supported by grant 1 R13 HS17218-01 (for the 2007 Global Summit on International Breast Health—Implementation).] Select to access the abstract.

Bese NS, Munshi A, Budrukkar A, et al. Breast radiation therapy guideline implementation in low- and middle-income countries. Cancer 2008 Oct 15; 113(8 Suppl):2305-14. [Supported by grant 1 R13 HS17218-01 (for the 2007 Global Summit on International Breast Health—Implementation).] Select to access the abstract.

El Saghir NS, Eniu A, Carlson RW, et al. Locally advanced breast cancer: treatment guideline implementation with particular attention to low- and middle-income countries. Cancer 2008 Oct 15; 113(8 Suppl):2315-24. [Supported by grant 1 R13 HS17218-01 (for the 2007 Global Summit on International Breast Health—Implementation).] Select to access the abstract.

McTiernan A, Porter P, Potter JD. Breast cancer prevention in countries with diverse resources. Cancer 2008 Oct 15; 113(8 Suppl):2325-30. [Supported by grant 1 R13 HS17218-01 (for the 2007 Global Summit on International Breast Health—Implementation).] Select to access the abstract.

Kreps GL, Sivaram R. Strategic health communication across the continuum of breast cancer care in limited-resource countries. Cancer 2008 Oct 15; 113(8 Suppl):2331-7. [Supported by grant 1 R13 HS17218-01 (for the 2007 Global Summit on International Breast Health—Implementation).] Select to access the abstract.

Stalsberg H, Awuah B, Ibarra JA, et al. Re-establishing a surgical pathology service in Kumasi, Ghana: case report and discussion of barriers and key elements of a successful collaboration between low- and high-resource countries. Cancer 2008 Oct 15; 113(8 Suppl):2338-46. [Supported by grant 1 R13 HS17218-01 (for the 2007 Global Summit on International Breast Health—Implementation).] Select to access the abstract.

Thorat MA, Rangole A, Nadkarni MS, et al. Revision surgery for breast cancer: single-institution experience. Cancer 2008 Oct 15; 113(8 Suppl):2347-52. [Supported by grant 1 R13 HS17218-01 (for the 2007 Global Summit on International Breast Health—Implementation).] Select to access the abstract.

Bines J, Eniu A. Effective but cost-prohibitive drugs in breast cancer treatment: a clinician's perspective. Cancer 2008 Oct 15; 113(8 Suppl):2353-8. [Supported by grant 1 R13 HS17218-01 (for the 2007 Global Summit on International Breast Health—Implementation).] Select to access the abstract.

Cazap E, Buzaid AC, Garbino C, et al. Breast cancer in Latin America: results of the Latin American and Caribbean Society of Medical Oncology/Breast Cancer Research Foundation expert survey. Cancer 2008 Oct 15; 113(8 Suppl):2359-65. [Supported by grant 1 R13 HS17218-01 (for the 2007 Global Summit on International Breast Health—Implementation).] Select to access the abstract.

Love RR. Defining a global research agenda for breast cancer. Cancer 2008 Oct 15; 113(8 Suppl):2366-71. [Supported by grant 1 R13 HS17218-01 (for the 2007 Global Summit on International Breast Health—Implementation).] Select to access the abstract.

Critical Care Medicine
Patel RP, Gambrell M, Speroff T, et al. Delirium and sedation in the intensive care unit: survey of behaviors and attitudes of 1384 healthcare professionals. Crit Care Med 2009 Mar; 37(3):825-32. [Supported by grant HS15934-01.] Select to access theabstract.

Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports
Barger LK, Lockley SW, Rajaratnam SM, et al. Neurobehavioral, health, and safety consequences associated with shift work in safety-sensitive professions. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2009 Mar; 9(2):155-64. [Supported in part by grant K08 HS13333.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Douglas PS, Brennan JM, Anstrom KJ, Sedrakyan A, et al. Clinical effectiveness of coronary stents in elderly persons: results from 262,700 Medicare patients in the American College of Cardiology-National Cardiovascular Data Registry. J Am Coll Cardiol 2009 Mar 28; 53(18):1-12. [Supported by contract HHSAA 290-2005-0032 TO4-WA1 (as part of the Cardiovascular Consortium to the Developing Evidence to Inform Decisions about Effectiveness (DEcIDE) program); fourth author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence.]

Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association
Schadow G. Structured product labeling improves detection of drug-intolerance issues. J Am Med Inform Assoc 2009 Mar-Apr; 16(2):211-19. [Supported in part by grant R01 HS15377.] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Care
Encinosa WE, Bernard DM, Du D, Steiner CA. Recent improvements in bariatric surgery outcomes. Med Care 2009 Mar 23; (Epub):1-5. [First and third authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets, and second author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends; cites AHRQ publication, Obese Patients in US Hospitals, 2004, HCUP Statistical Brief No. 20, 2006, as published on AHRQ Web site; cites the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Inpatient Databases (SID), 2004, as published on AHRQ Web site; cites Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Pharmacological and Surgical Treatment of Obesity, 2004.] Select to access the abstract.

Friedman B, Encinosa W, Jiang HJ, et al. Do patient safety events increase readmissions?. Med Care 2009 Mar 23; (Epub):1-8. [Authors are researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets; cites NHQR, 2006; cites AHRQ's patient safety indicators technical review, Measures of Patient Safety Based on Hospital Administrative Data, 2002; cites Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Zhan C, Elixhauser A, Richards CL Jr, Wang Y, Baine WB, et al. Identification of hospital-acquired catheter-associated urinary tract infections from Medicare claims: sensitivity and positive predictive value. Med Care 2009 Mar; 47(3):364-9. [First and fifth authors are a researcher and Senior Medical Advisor in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence, respectively, and second author is a researcher in AHRQ's Evidence and Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets; authors thank Barbara Bartman (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence) and Jayasree Basu (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships) for their "useful comments"; cites AHRQ's patient quality indicators, 2006; cites HCUP SID, as published on AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ's procedure classes, 2008, as published on AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Iezzoni et al.(Med Care, 1994) and Weingart et al. (Med Care, 2000).] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Decision Making
Pine M, Jordan HS, Elixhauser A, et al. Modifying ICD-9-CM coding of secondary diagnoses to improve risk-adjustment of inpatient mortality rates. Med Decis Making 2009 Jan-Feb; 29(1):69-81. [Third author is a researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets; uses and cites AHRQ's Inpatient Quality Indicators (IQI); cites AHRQ's SAS IQI software, 2004-2004, as published on AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Pain Medicine
Bernstein SL, Gallagher EJ, Cabral L, et al. Race and ethnicity do not affect baseline self-report of pain severity in patients with suspected long-bone fractures. Pain Med 2009 Jan; 10(1):106-10. [Supported by grant R01 HS13924.] Select to access the abstract.

Tait RC, Chibnall JT, Kalauokalani D. Provider judgments of patients in pain: seeking symptom certainty. Pain Med 2009 Jan; 10(1):11-34. [Supported in part by grant HS14007.] Select to access the abstract.

Value in Health
Smith MD, Drummond M, Brixner D. Moving the QALY forward: rationale for change. Value Health 2009 Mar; 12 Suppl 1:S1-S4. [Supported in part by grant 1 R13 HS16841-01 (for the International Society For Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research [ISPOR] "Building a Pragmatic Road: Moving the QALY Forward" Consensus Development Workshop in which William Lawrence, researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence, participated in the discussions.]

Weinstein MC, Torrance G, McGuire A. QALYs: the basics. Value Health 2009 Mar; 12 Suppl 1:S5-S9. [Supported in part by grant 1 R13 HS16841-01 (for the ISPOR "Building a Pragmatic Road: Moving the QALY Forward" Consensus Development Workshop.]

Nord E, Daniels N, Kamlet M. QALYs: some challenges. Value Health 2009 Mar; 12 Suppl 1:S10-S15. [Supported in part by grant 1 R13 HS16841-01 (for the ISPOR "Building a Pragmatic Road: Moving the QALY Forward" Consensus Development Workshop.]

No authors. A different approach to health state valuation. Value Health 2009 Mar; 12 Suppl 1:S16-S17. [Supported in part by grant 1 R13 HS16841-01 (for the ISPOR "Building a Pragmatic Road: Moving the QALY Forward" Consensus Development Workshop.]

Lipscomb J, Drummond M, Fryback D, et al. Retaining, and enhancing, the QALY. Value Health 2009 Mar; 12 Suppl 1:S18-S26. [Supported in part by grant 1 R13 HS16841-01 (for the ISPOR "Building a Pragmatic Road: Moving the QALY Forward" Consensus Development Workshop.]

Kind P, Lafata JE, Matuszewski K, et al. The use of QALYs in clinical and patient decision-making: issues and prospects. Value Health 2009 Mar; 12 Suppl 1:S27-S30. [Supported in part by grant 1 R13 HS16841-01 (for the ISPOR "Building a Pragmatic Road: Moving the QALY Forward" Consensus Development Workshop.]

Drummond M, Brixner D, Gold M, et al. Toward a consensus on the QALY. Value Health 2009 Mar; 12 Suppl 1:S31-S35. [Supported in part by grant 1 R13 HS16841-01 (for the ISPOR "Building a Pragmatic Road: Moving the QALY Forward" Consensus Development Workshop.]

Garrison LP Jr. Editorial: On the benefits of modeling using QALYs for societal resource allocation: the model is the message. Value Health 2009 Mar; 12 Suppl 1:S36-S37. [Supported in part by grant 1 R13 HS16841-01 (for the ISPOR "Building a Pragmatic Road: Moving the QALY Forward" Consensus Development Workshop.]

Johnson FR. Editorial: Moving the QALY forward or just stuck in traffic?. Value Health 2009 Mar; 12 Suppl 1:S38-S39. [Supported in part by grant 1 R13 HS16841-01 (for the ISPOR "Building a Pragmatic Road: Moving the QALY Forward" Consensus Development Workshop.]

Women's Health Issues
Frick KD, Clark MA, Steinwachs DM, et al. Financial and quality-of-life burden of dysfunctional uterine bleeding among women agreeing to obtain surgical treatment. Womens Health Issues 2009 Jan-Feb; 19(1):70-8. [Supported by grants 5 U01 HS09506 (to the University of Maryland, 1996 to 1998, and Brown Medical School, 1999 to 2001) and 5 U01 HS09506 and 5 HS09506 a (to Brown University, 2001 to 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

AHRQ-Related Articles

American Journal of Epidemiology
Li F, Harmer P, Cardinal BJ, et al. Built environment and 1-year change in weight and waist circumference in middle-aged and older adults: Portland Neighborhood Environment and Health Study. Am J Epidemiol 2009 Feb 15; 169(4):401-8. [Cites articles by Finkelstein, Fiebelkorn, and Wang (Health Aff, 2003, and Obes Res, 2004), which use Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data.] Select to access the abstract

American Journal of Nursing
Connor-Ballard PA. Understanding and managing burn pain: part 1. Am J Nurs 2009 Apr; 109(4):48-56; quiz 57. [Cites from AHCPR publication, Acute Pain Management: Operative or Medical Procedures and Trauma, 1992; question no. 7 in quiz is based upon AHCPR consensus guidelines, Acute Pain Management: Operative or Medical Procedures and Trauma, 1992.] Select to access the abstract.

British Medical Journal
Croft P, Porcheret M. Standardised consultations in primary care. BMJ 2009 Mar 18; 338(7696):668-9. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Chaudhry et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2006), Handley et al. (Ann Fam Med, 2008) and Hepner et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2007).]

Circulation
Brush JE Jr, Rensing E, Song F, et al. A statewide collaborative initiative to improve the quality of care for patients with acute myocardial infarction and heart failure. Circulation 2009 Mar 31; 119(12):1609-15. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Soumerai et al. (JAMA, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

JAMA
Werner RM, McNutt R. A new strategy to improve quality: rewarding actions rather than measures. JAMA 2009 Apr 1; 301(13):1375-7. [Cites AHRQ's NHQR, 2007, as published on AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Rosenthal et al. (N Engl J Med, 2006) and Werner et al. (Health Serv Res, 2008).]

Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association
Sellier E, Colombet I, Sabatier B, et al. Effect of alerts for drug dosage adjustment in inpatients with renal insufficiency. J Am Med Inform Assoc 2009 Mar-Apr; 16(2):203-10. [Cites AHRQ-funded article by Bates et al. (JAMA, 1995).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Nursing Administration
Newhouse RP. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality health care innovations exhange. J Nurs Admin 2009 Mar; 39(3):103-5. [Author discusses AHRQ's health care innovations exchange; cites from AHRQ's Health Care Innovations Exchange Web site; cites AHRQ-sponsored publication, Will It Work Here? A Decisionmaker's Guide to Adopting Innovations, 2008, as published on AHRQ Web site.]

Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Gueorguieva R, Sindelar JL, Falba TA, et al. The impact of occupation on self-rated health: cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence from the health and retirement survey. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2009 Jan; 64(1):118-24. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Marmot et al. (Lancet, 1997 and 1991 (Whitehall II study cohort data), and Soc Sci Med, 1997).] Select to access the abstract.

Medical Clinics of North America
Devereaux M. Neck pain. Med Clin North Am 2009 Mar; 93(2):273-84. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Deyo et al. (Annu Rev Public Health, 1992, and N Engl J Med, 2001) and Cherkin et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2003).] Select to access the abstract.

Devereaux M. Low back pain. Med Clin North Am 2009 Mar; 93(2):477-501. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Deyo et al. (Annu Rev Public Health, 1992, and N Engl J Med, 2001) and Cherkin et al. (Ann Intern Med, 2003).] Select to access the abstract.

Social Science and Medicine
Zinn J, Mor V, Feng Z, et al. Determinants of performance failure in the nursing home industry. Soc Sci Med 2009 Mar; 68(5):933-40. [Cites AHRQ-funded articles by Grabowski et al. (Health Aff, 2004) and Mor et al. (Milbank Mem Fund Q, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

Desesquelles AF, Egidi V, Salvatore MA. Why do Italian people rate their health worse than French people do? An exploration of cross-country differentials of self-rated health. Soc Sci Med 2009 Mar; 68(6):1124-8. [Cites article by Singh-Manoux et al. (J Epidemiol Community Health 2006) which uses AHRQ-funded Whitehall II study cohort data ] Select to access the abstract.

Worldviews on Evidence-based Nursing
Adams S, Barron S. Use of evidence-based practice in school nursing: prevalence, associated variables, and perceived needs. Worldviews Evid Based Nurs 2009; 6(1):16-26. [Cites AHRQ publications, Translating Research Into Practice (TRIP), 2001, Children with Chronic Illness and Disabilities, 2002, as published on AHRQ Web site, and Commitment to Respond to Commit/CCS-2 Trial Beta Blocker Use for Myocardial Infarction (MI) Within 24 Hours of Hospital Arrival, 2005; cites from Clinical Highlights, 2003; cites from AHRQ-authored book by Hughes (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Primary Care, Prevention, and Clinical Partnerships) (Patient Safety & Quality: An Evidence-based Handbook for Nurses, 2008); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Cullen et al. (Worldviews Evid Based Nurs, 2004), Titler et al. (Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am, 2001).] Select to access the abstract.

Evidence-based Practice Centers-Related Articles

Annals of Internal Medicine
Pham HH, O'Malley AS, Bach PB, et al. Primary care physicians' links to other physicians through Medicare patients: the scope of care coordination. Ann Intern Med 2009 Feb 17; 150(4):236-42. [Cites EPC technical review, Closing the Gap: A Critical Analysis of Quality Improvement Strategies: Volume 7—Care Coordination, Structured Abstract, 2007, as published on AHRQ Web site; cites Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) publication, CAHPS® Clinical and Group Survey, 2006, as published on AHRQ Web site; cites Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Pain Physician
Frey ME, Manchikanti L, Benyamin RM, et al. Spinal Cord Stimulation for Patients with Failed Back Surgery Syndrome: A Systematic Review. Pain Physician 2009 Mar-Apr; 12(2):379-97. [Cites Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Systems to Rate the Strength of Scientific Evidence, 2002; uses AHRQ's methodologic quality assessment; lists various USPSTF-sponsored evidence developments in Table no. 1, "Quality of Evidence Developed by USPSTF; cites evidence-based practice guideline using AHRQ's methodologic quality evaluation criteria by Boswell et al. (Pain Physician, 2007); cites articles using AHRQ's criteria for observational studies and USPSTF's level of evidence by Conn et al. (Pain Physician, 2009), Epter et al. (Pain Physician, 2009), Manchikanti et al. (Pain Physician, 2008), Datta et al. (Pain Physician, 2009), and others; cites articles about AHRQ's methodologic quality assessment by Abdi et al. (Pain Physician, 2007) and Trescot et al. (Pain Physician, 2007); cited in article by Hayek et al. (Pain Physician, 2009) cited below.] Select to access the abstract.

Hayek SM, Helm S, Benyamin RM, et al. Effectiveness of Spinal Endoscopic Adhesiolysis in Post Lumbar Surgery Syndrome: A Systematic Review. Pain Physician 2009 Mar-Apr; 12(2):419-35. [Cites Evidence Report/Technology Assessment, Systems to Rate the Strength of Scientific Evidence, 2002; mentions that each article used in this study has been assessed using AHRQ's methodologic quality assessment; cites evidence-based practice guideline using AHRQ's methodologic quality evaluation criteria by Boswell et al. (Pain Physician, 2007); cites articles using AHRQ's methodolic quality evaluation by Manchikanti et al. (Pain Physician, 2008), Chopra et al. (Pain Physician, 2005), Trescot et al. (Pain Physician, 2007), and others; cites articles using AHRQ's criteria for observational studies and USPSTF's level of evidence by Datta et al. (Pain Physician, 2009), Falco et al. (Pain Physician, 2009), Rupert et al. (Pain Physician, 2009), and others; cites articles about AHRQ by Abdi et al. (Pain Physician, 2005) and Boswell et al. (Pain Physician, 2005); cites article about USPSTF by Berg et al. (Am J Prev Med, 2001); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Cummins et al. (Spine, 2006) and Harrington et al. (Spine, 2005); cited in article by Frey et al. (Pain Physician, 2009) cited above.] Select to access the abstract.

National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR)/National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR)-Related Articles

Academic Medicine
Rosenthal MS, Lucas GI, Tinney B, et al. Teaching community-based participatory research principles to physicians enrolled in a health services research fellowship. Acad Med 2009 Apr; 84(4):478-84. [Cites NHDR, 2003.] Select to access the abstract.

Academic Pediatrics
Szilagyi PG. Translational research and pediatrics. Acad Pediatr 2009 Mar-Apr; 9(2):71-80. [Author acknowledges helpful comments from Denise Dougherty (researcher in AHRQ's Office of Extramural Research, Education, and Priority Populations); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Finkelstein et al. (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, 2002); cites AHRQ's NHDR, 2006; cites AHRQ's 2009 budget, as posted on AHRQ Web site.]

Internal Medicine Journal
Copnell B, Hagger V, Wilson SG, et al. Measuring the quality of hospital care: an inventory of indicators. Intern Med J 2009 Mar 23; (Epub):1-20. [Cites article using NHQR and NHDR (Arispe et al. Med Care, 2005); cites AHRQ-authored article by Coffey et al. Med Care, 2005) using HCUP data.] Select to access the abstract.

Research by Others Using AHRQ Data or Products

American Journal of Orthopedics
Kelly MP, Bozic KJ. Cost drivers in total hip arthroplasty: effects of procedure volume and implant selling price. Am J Orthop 2009 Jan; 38(1):E1-E4. [Uses 1995-2005 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Gregory PC, Han E. Disparities in postacute stroke rehabilitation disposition to acute inpatient rehabilitation vs. home: findings from the North Carolina Hospital Discharge Database. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2009 Feb; 88(2):100-7. [Uses the North Carolina Hospital Discharge Database, which is a part of HCUP's State Inpatient Databases (SID); cites AHRQ-funded article by Bhandari (Arch Phys Med Rehabil, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Surgery
Novitsky YW, Sechrist C, Payton BL, et al. Do the risks of emergent colectomy justify nonoperative management strategies for recurrent diverticulitis?. Am J Surg 2009 Feb;197(2):227-31. [Uses 2001-2002 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

American Journal of Transplantation
Machnicki G, Pinsky B, Takemoto S, et al. Predictive ability of pretransplant comorbidities to predict long-term graft loss and death. Am J Transplant 2009 Mar; 9(3):494-505. [Uses and cites AHRQ's Clinical Classification Software (CCS); uses and cites Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Med Care, 1998); cites HCUP fact book no. 1 Hospitalizations in the United States, 1997, 2000, and fact book no. 6 Hospitalizations in the United States, 2002, 2005; cites AHRQ-authored article by Pine, Jordan, and Elixhauser (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) (JAMA, 2007).] Select to access the abstract.

Weinhandl ED, Snyder JJ, Israni AK, et al. Effect of comorbidity adjustment on CMS criteria for kidney transplant center performance. Am J Transplant 2009 Mar; 9(3):506-16. [Uses and cites Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Med Care, 1998); cites article discussing Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Med Care, 2004).] Select to access the abstract.

American Surgeon
Zerey M, Prabhu AS, Newcomb WL, et al. Short-term outcomes after unilateral versus complete thyroidectomy for malignancy: a national perspective. Am Surg 2009 Jan; 75(1):20-4. [Uses 1999-2003 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Anesthesiology
Bateman BT, Schumacher HC, Wang S, et al. Perioperative acute ischemic stroke in noncardiac and nonvascular surgery: incidence, risk factors, and outcomes. Anesthesiology 2009 Feb; 110(2):231-8. [Uses 2000-2004 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Annals of Surgery
Etzioni DA, Mack TM, Beart RW Jr, et al. Diverticulitis in the United States: 1998-2005: changing patterns of disease and treatment. Ann Surg 2009 Feb; 249(2):210-17. [Uses 1998-2005 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

British Medical Journal
Bushnell CD, Jamison M, James AH. Migraines during pregnancy linked to stroke and vascular diseases: US population based case-control study. BMJ 2009 Mar 10; 338:b664. [Uses and cites HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Circulation
Day MD, Gauvreau K, Shulman S, et al. Characteristics of children hospitalized with infective endocarditis. Circulation 2009 Feb 17; 119(6):865-70. [Uses 2000 and 2003 HCUP Kids' Inpatient Databases (KID).] Select to access the abstract.

Diseases of the Colon and Rectum
Ricciardi R, Ogilvie JW Jr, Roberts PL, et al. Epidemiology of Clostridium difficile colitis in hospitalized patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. Dis Colon Rectum 2009 Jan; 52(1):40-5. [Uses 1993-2003 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Cooley EK, McPhee JT, Simons JP, et al. Colorectal neoplasia screening before age 50?: current epidemiologic trends in the United States. Dis Colon Rectum 2009 Feb; 52(2):222-9. [Uses 1998-2005 HCUP NIS data; cites USPSTF recommendation and rationale on screening for colorectal cancer (Ann Intern Med, 2002); cites USPSTF-sponsored evidence review (Ann Intern Med, 2002) and systematic review (Ann Intern Med, 2002); cites AHRQ-funded article by Frazier et al. (JAMA, 2000).] Select to access the abstract.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Kaplan GG, Panaccione R, Hubbard JN, et al. Inflammatory bowel disease patients who leave hospital against medical advice: Predictors and temporal trends. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2009 Jan 7; (Epub):1-7. [Uses 1995-2005 HCUP NIS data; cites Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Med Care, 1998); cites article using HCUP data by Ibrahim et al. (Am J Public Health, 2007); cites AHRQ-funded articles by Fiscella et al. (Am J Med, 2007, and Matern Child Health J, 2007), Franks et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 2006), and Ashton et al. (J Gen Intern Med, 2003).] Select to access the abstract.

Ananthakrishnan AN, McGinley EL, Binion DG. Inflammatory bowel disease in the elderly is associated with worse outcomes: a national study of hospitalizations. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2009 Feb; 15(2):182-9. [Uses 2004 HCUP NIS data; cites HCUP methods series report no. 2007-03 2004 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Comparison Report, 2007, as published on AHRQ Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

International Journal of Infectious Diseases
Tong KB, Lau CJ, Murtagh K, et al. The economic impact of aspergillosis: analysis of hospital expenditures across patient subgroups. Int J Infect Dis 2009 Jan; 13(1):24-36. [Uses 2003 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

JAMA
Kernisan LP, Lee SJ, Boscardin WJ, et al. Association between hospital-reported Leapfrog Safe Practices Scores and inpatient mortality. JAMA 2009 Apr 1; 301(13):1341-8. [Uses 2006 HCUP NIS data; cites HCUP publication, Overview of Disease Severity Measures Disseminated with the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), 2005, as published on AHRQ Web site; cites article by Birkmeyer et al. (Surgery, 2004) which uses HCUP NIS data.]

Journal of the American College of Surgeons
Csikesz NG, Nguyen LN, Tseng JF, et al. Nationwide volume and mortality after elective surgery in cirrhotic patients. J Am Coll Surg 2009 Jan; 208(1):96-103. [Uses 1998-2005 HCUP NIS data; uses and cites Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Med Care, 1998); cites article by Nguyen et al. (Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2007) using HCUP NIS data; cites article discussing Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Li et al., BMC Health Serv Res, 2008).] Select to access the abstract.

Sporn E, Petroski GF, Mancini GJ, et al. Laparoscopic appendectomy—is it worth the cost? Trend analysis in the US from 2000 to 2005. J Am Coll Surg 2009 Feb; 208(2):179-185.e2. [Uses 2000-2005 HCUP NIS data; cites and uses Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Cardiac Failure
Divani AA, Vazquez G, Asadollahi M, et al. Nationwide frequency and association of heart failure on stroke outcomes in the United States. J Card Fail 2009 Feb; 15(1):11-16. [Uses 1995-2000 HCUP NIS data; cites HCUP method series report no. 2003-2 Final Report on Calculating Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Variances, 2001, 2002 and no. 2006-05 Using the HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample to Estimate Trends, 2006, as published on AHRQ Web site; cites HCUP methodology overview All Patient Refined Diagnosis Related Groups (APR-DRGs), as published on AHRQ Web site; cites article using HCUP NIS data by Suri et al. (J Neuroimaging, 2007); cites AHRQ-funded article by Meurer et al. (Ann Fam Med, 2006).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Child Neurology
Lo W, Stephens J, Fernandez S. Pediatric stroke in the United States and the impact of risk factors. J Child Neurol 2009 Feb; 24(2):194-203. [Uses 2003 HCUP KID data.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Emergency Medicine
Schoenfeld EM, McKay MP. Weekend emergency department visits in Nebraska: higher utilization, lower acuity. J Emerg Med 2009 Feb 19; (Epub):1-4. [Uses 2004 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery
Lesperance K, Martin MJ, Lehmann R, et al. National trends and outcomes for the surgical therapy of Ileocolonic Crohn's disease: a population-based analysis of laparoscopic vs. open approaches. J Gastrointest Surg 2009 Mar 20; (Epub):1-9. [Uses 2000-2004 HCUP NIS data; cites article by Nguyen et al. (Inflamm Bowel Dis, 2007) using HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Hospital Medicine
Woolford SJ, Gebremariam A, Clark SJ, et al. Persistent gap of incremental charges for obesity as a secondary diagnosis in common pediatric hospitalizations. J Hosp Med 2009 Mar; 4(3):149-56. [Uses 2000 and 2003 HCUP KID data; cites 2002 and 2004 HCUP inpatient core file, as published on AHRQ Web site; cites article by Gupta et al. (Ambul Pediatr, 2006) using HCUP KID data; cites AHRQ-funded article by Smink et al. (Pediatrics, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Neurosurgery
Crowley RW, Yeoh HK, Stukenborg GJ, et al. Influence of weekend versus weekday hospital admission on mortality following subarachnoid hemorrhage. J Neurosurg 2009 Feb 20; (Epub):1-7. [Uses 2004 HCUP NIS data; uses and cites Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Med Care, 1998). Select to access the abstract.

Andaluz N, Zuccarello M. Recent trends in the treatment of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage: analysis of a nationwide inpatient database. J Neurosurg 2009 Mar; 110(3):403-10. [Uses 1993-2005 HCUP NIS data; cites article discussing HCUP NIS data by Berthelsen (Top Health Inf Manage, 2000).] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of the Pancreas
Buscaglia JM, Kapoor S, Jagannath SB, et al. Disparities in demographics among patients with pancreatitis-related mortality. JOP 2009 Mar 9; 10(2):174-80. [Uses 2004 HCUP data; cites articles by Nguyen et al. (Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2006, and Inflamm Bowl Dis, 2007) using HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Rheumatology
Shah MA, Shah AM, Krishnan E. Poor outcomes after acute myocardial infarction in systemic lupus erythematosus. J Rheumatol 2009 Mar; 36(3):570-5. [Uses and cites 1993-2002 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Meguid RA, Weiss ES, Chang DC, et al. The effect of volume on esophageal cancer resections: what constitutes acceptable resection volumes for centers of excellence?. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2009 Jan; 137(1):23-9. [Uses 1998-2005 HCUP NIS; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Deyo et al. (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992) and Romano et al. (J Clin Epidemiol, 1993).]

Journal of Vascular Surgery
Vogel TR, Dombrovskiy VY, Haser PB, et al. Outcomes of carotid artery stenting and endarterectomy in the United States. J Vasc Surg 2009 Feb; 49(2):325-30; discussion 330. [Uses 2005 HCUP NIS data; uses and cites Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Med Care, 1998); cites comorbidity software as published on AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ-authored article by Elixhauser, Pancholi (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets), and Clancy (director of AHRQ) (Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf, 2005); cites article discussing Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Li et al., BMC Health Serv Res, 2008.] Select to access the abstract.

Timaran CH, Veith FJ, Rosero EB, et al. Intracranial hemorrhage after carotid endarterectomy and carotid stenting in the United States in 2005. J Vasc Surg 2009 Mar; 49(3):623-628; discussion 628-9. [Uses 2005 HCUP NIS data; cites HCUP Quality Control Procedures, as published on AHRQ Web site; cites HCUP clinical classification software, as published on AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ-funded articles by Deyo et al. (J Clin Epidemiol, 1992).] Select to access the abstract.

Orandi BJ, Dimick JB, Deeb GM, et al. A population-based analysis of endovascular versus open thoracic aortic aneurysm repair. J Vasc Surg 2009 Mar 21; (Epub):1-5. [Uses 2005 HCUP NIS data; cites AHRQ-funded article using HCUP NIS data by Birkmeyer et al. (N Engl J Med, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Neurosurgical Focus
Lad SP, Santarelli JG, Patil CG, et al. National trends in spinal arteriovenous malformations. Neurosurg Focus 2009 Jan; 26(1):1-5. [Uses 1995-2006 HCUP NIS data.] Select to access the abstract.

Obesity Surgery
Lindsey ML, Patterson WL, Gesten FC, et al. Bariatric surgery for obesity: surgical approach and variation in in-hospital complications in New York state. Obes Surg. 2009 Feb 27; (Epub):1-13. [Uses and cites Elixhauser comorbidity measures (Med Care, 1998).] Select to access the abstract.

Pediatric Blood and Cancer
Abdullah F, Zhang Y, Camp M, et al. Splenectomy in hereditary spherocytosis: review of 1,657 patients and application of the pediatric quality indicators. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009 Feb 12; (Epub):1-4. [Uses 1988-2004 HCUP KID data; cites AHRQ's pediatric quality indicators, 2008, as published on AHRQ Web site; cites AHRQ-authored article by Zhan (researcher in AHRQ's Center for Outcomes and Evidence) et al. (JAMA, 2003); cites article discussing AHRQ's quality patient safety indicators for children's hospitals (Sedman et al., Pediatrics, 2005).] Select to access the abstract.

Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
Singleton RJ, Holman RC, Plant R, et al. Trends in otitis media and myringtomy with tube placement among American Indian/Alaska native children and the US general population of children. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2009 Feb; 28(2):102-7. [Uses 2003 HCUP KID data; cites AHRQ-authored article by Steiner, Elixhauser, and Schnaier (researchers in AHRQ's Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets) (Eff Clin Pract, 2002).] Select to access the abstract.

Surgical Infections
Vogel TR, Dombrovskiy VY, Lowry SF. Trends in postoperative sepsis: are we improving outcomes?. Surg Infect 2009 Feb; 10(1):71-8. [Uses 1990-2006 HCUP SID data; cites AHRQ's patient safety indicators technical specifications, 2008, as published on AHRQ's Web site.] Select to access the abstract.

Current as of April 2009

Internet Citation:

Articles of Interest, April 3, 2009. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/articles/art040309.htm