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Cassidy-Matthews C, Pearce M, Hussaini T, Spittal P, Caron N, Daley C, Alfred R, Yoshida EM. "My feelings and my thoughts are my lived experience, not the numbers they show me on a piece of paper": Indigenous experiences of liver transplantation in British Columbia, Canada. Int J Circumpolar Health 2024; 83:2359747. [PMID: 38805610 PMCID: PMC11136460 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2024.2359747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Indigenous Peoples in Canada face healthcare inequities impacting access to solid organ transplantation. The experiences of Indigenous patients during the liver transplant process, and how transplant professionals perceive challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples, has not been studied. Thirteen semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted via telehealth with Indigenous liver transplant patients (n = 7) and transplant care providers (n = 6) across British Columbia, Canada between April 2021-May 2022. Themes were identified to inform clinical approaches and transplant care planning and validated by Indigenous health experts. Among patient participants: transplants occurred between 1992-2020; all were women; and the mean age at the time of interview was 60 years. Among transplant care provider participants: roles included nursing, social work, and surgery; 83% were women; and the median number of years in transplant care was ten. Three broad themes were identified: Indigenous strengths and resources, systemic and structural barriers, and inconsistent care and cultural safety across health professions impact Indigenous patient care during liver transplantation. This study contributes insights into systemic barriers and Indigenous resilience in the liver transplant journey. Dismantling structural barriers to early linkage to care is needed, and training for transplant clinicians on Indigenous histories, cultural protocols, and cultural safety is strongly recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenoa Cassidy-Matthews
- School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Margo Pearce
- School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Trana Hussaini
- The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Patricia Spittal
- School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Nadine Caron
- School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Department of Surgery, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Cole Daley
- The Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Department of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ruth Alfred
- The Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Eric M. Yoshida
- School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- The Department of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Hendele JB, Nichols JT, Vutien P, Perkins JD, Reyes J, Dick AAS. A retrospective cohort study of socioeconomic deprivation and post-liver transplant survival in adults. Liver Transpl 2024; 30:816-825. [PMID: 38289266 DOI: 10.1097/lvt.0000000000000337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
The Area Deprivation Index is a granular measure of neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation. The relationship between neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation and recipient survival following liver transplantation (LT) is unclear. To investigate this, the authors performed a retrospective cohort study of adults who underwent LT at the University of Washington Medical Center from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2020. The primary exposure was a degree of neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation as determined by the Area Deprivation Index score. The primary outcome was posttransplant recipient mortality. In a multivariable Cox proportional analysis, LT recipients from high-deprivation areas had a higher risk of mortality than those from low-deprivation areas (HR: 1.81; 95% CI: 1.03-3.18, p =0.04). Notably, the difference in mortality between area deprivation groups did not become statistically significant until 6 years after transplantation. In summary, LT recipients experiencing high socioeconomic deprivation tended to have worse posttransplant survival. Further research is needed to elucidate the extent to which neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation contributes to mortality risk and identify effective measures to improve survival in more socioeconomically disadvantaged LT recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- James B Hendele
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jordan T Nichols
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Philip Vutien
- Clinical and Bio-Analytics Transplant Laboratory (CBATL), Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - James D Perkins
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Clinical and Bio-Analytics Transplant Laboratory (CBATL), Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jorge Reyes
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Clinical and Bio-Analytics Transplant Laboratory (CBATL), Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - André A S Dick
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Clinical and Bio-Analytics Transplant Laboratory (CBATL), Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant Surgery, University of Washington, Section of Pediatric Transplant Surgery, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington, USA
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3
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Basu E, Shenoy A, Khan M. Testing democracy in transplant. Liver Transpl 2024; 30:771-772. [PMID: 38483195 DOI: 10.1097/lvt.0000000000000363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Elora Basu
- Department of Psychiatry, NewYork-Presbyterian, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Akhil Shenoy
- Department of Psychiatry, NewYork-Presbyterian, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mashal Khan
- Department of Psychiatry, NewYork-Presbyterian, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
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Adam H, Bermea RS, Yang MY, Celi LA, Ghassemi M. Lost in Transplantation: Characterizing Racial Gaps in Physician Organ Offer Acceptance. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.07.14.24310395. [PMID: 39072010 PMCID: PMC11275659 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.14.24310395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Background There are known racial disparities in the organ transplant allocation system in the United States. However, prior work has yet to establish if transplant center decisions on offer acceptance-the final step in the allocation process-contribute to these disparities. Objective To estimate racial differences in the acceptance of organ offers by transplant center physicians on behalf of their patients. Design Retrospective cohort analysis using data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) on patients who received an offer for a heart, liver, or lung transplant between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2020. Setting Nationwide, waitlist-based. Patients 32,268 heart transplant candidates, 102,823 liver candidates, and 25,780 lung candidates, all aged 18 or older. Measurements 1) Association between offer acceptance and two race-based variables: candidate race and donor-candidate race match; 2) association between offer rejection and time to patient mortality. Results Black race was associated with significantly lower odds of offer acceptance for livers (OR=0.93, CI: 0.88-0.98) and lungs (OR=0.80, CI: 0.73-0.87). Donor-candidate race match was associated with significantly higher odds of offer acceptance for hearts (OR=1.11, CI: 1.06-1.16), livers (OR=1.10, CI: 1.06-1.13), and lungs (OR=1.13, CI: 1.07-1.19). Rejecting an offer was associated with lower survival times for all three organs (heart hazard ratio=1.16, CI: 1.09-1.23; liver HR=1.74, CI: 1.66-1.82; lung HR=1.21, CI: 1.15-1.28). Limitations Our study analyzed the observational SRTR dataset, which has known limitations. Conclusion Offer acceptance decisions are associated with inequity in the organ allocation system. Our findings demonstrate the additional barriers that Black patients face in accessing organ transplants and demonstrate the need for standardized practice, continuous distribution policies, and better organ procurement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hammaad Adam
- Institute for Data Systems and Society, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Rene S. Bermea
- Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital; Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA
| | - Ming Ying Yang
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Leo Anthony Celi
- Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Marzyeh Ghassemi
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- CIFAR AI Chair, Vector Institute; Toronto, Ontario M5G 1M1, Canada
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5
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Koh J, Dowlatshahi S, Turner BJ. Transitioning from the Emergency Department to a General Internist Outpatient Clinic for Paracentesis: A Qualitative Inquiry. Dig Dis Sci 2024; 69:2324-2332. [PMID: 38700627 PMCID: PMC11258186 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-024-08358-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Repeated paracentesis for ascites can place significant demands on the emergency department (ED). A new general internist-led outpatient procedure clinic to alleviate this demand required ED staff and patients to accept this transition of care. AIM This qualitative study evaluates barriers and facilitators to implementing the FLuid ASPiration (FLASP) clinic in a safety net hospital. METHODS The FLASP clinic opened during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2021. From February to April 2022, semi-structured interviews were conducted with: 10 ED physicians and nurses; 5 FLASP clinic patients; and 4 patients receiving paracentesis in the ED. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a Grounded Theory approach for themes categorized by Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) domains including: attitudes/knowledge; social norms; and logistics. RESULTS Thematic analysis found that ED staff appreciated reduced demand for paracentesis, but barriers included: lack of knowledge; concerns about unstable patients and patient expectations (norms); and scheduling logistics. FLASP clinic patients had only favorable themes: belief in clinic safety; positive relationship with staff; and clinic efficiency. Patients using the ED for paracentesis expressed only concerns: possible need for testing or hospitalization; care usually in the ED; and unclear clinic scheduling. CONCLUSION This study reveals challenges to transitioning sites of care for paracentesis including the need for greater ED staff education and standardizing methods to triage patients to appropriate site of care. Greater support and education of ED patients about the benefits of an outpatient procedure clinic may also reduce ED burden for paracentesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Koh
- Department of Medicine, Keck Medical Center of University of Southern California, 2020 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Shadi Dowlatshahi
- Department of Hospital Medicine, Los Angeles General Medical Center, 2051 Marengo St, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
- Department of Medicine, Keck Medical Center of University of Southern California, 2020 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Barbara J Turner
- Department of Medicine, Keck Medical Center of University of Southern California, 2020 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
- Gehr Family Center for Health System Science and Innovation, Clinical Sciences Center, Keck School of Medicine of USC, 2250 Alcazar Street Room #261, 2020 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
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Haque LY, Leggio L. Integrated and collaborative care across the spectrum of alcohol-associated liver disease and alcohol use disorder. Hepatology 2024:01515467-990000000-00939. [PMID: 38935926 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
The public health impact of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), a serious consequence of problematic alcohol use, and alcohol use disorder (AUD) is growing, with ALD becoming a major cause of alcohol-associated death overall and the leading indication for liver transplantation in the United States. Comprehensive care for ALD often requires treatment of AUD. Although there is a growing body of evidence showing that AUD treatment is associated with reductions in liver-related morbidity and mortality, only a minority of patients with ALD and AUD receive this care. Integrated and collaborative models that streamline both ALD and AUD care for patients with ALD and AUD are promising approaches to bridge this treatment gap and rely on multidisciplinary and interprofessional teams and partnerships. Here, we review the role of AUD care in ALD treatment, the effects of AUD treatment on liver-related outcomes, the impact of comorbid conditions such as other substance use disorders, obesity, and metabolic syndrome, and the current landscape of integrated and collaborative care for ALD and AUD in various treatment settings. We further review knowledge gaps and unmet needs that remain, including the role of precision medicine, the application of harm reduction approaches, the impact of health disparities, and the need for additional AUD treatment options, as well as further efforts to support implementation and dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lamia Y Haque
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Yale Program in Addiction Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Lorenzo Leggio
- Clinical Psychoneuroendocrinology and Neuropsychopharmacology Section, Translational Addiction Medicine Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore and Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Division of Addiction Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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7
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Kodali S, Mobley CM, Brombosz EW, Lopez A, Graves R, Ontiveros J, Velazquez M, Saharia A, Cheah YL, Simon CJ, Valverde C, Brown A, Corkrean J, Moore LW, Graviss EA, Victor DW, Maresh K, Hobeika MJ, Egwim C, Ghobrial RM. Effect of a Hispanic outreach program on referral and liver transplantation volume at a single center. Transpl Immunol 2024; 84:102034. [PMID: 38499048 DOI: 10.1016/j.trim.2024.102034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although Hispanic patients have high rates of end-stage liver disease and liver cancer, for which liver transplantation (LT) offers the best long-term outcomes, they are less likely to receive LT. Studies of end-stage renal disease patients and kidney transplant candidates have shown that targeted, culturally relevant interventions can increase the likelihood of Hispanic patients receiving kidney transplant. However, similar interventions remain largely unstudied in potential LT candidates. METHODS Referrals to a single center in Texas with a large Hispanic patient population were compared before (01/2018-12/2019) and after (7/2021-6/2023) the implementation of a targeted outreach program. Patient progress toward LT, reasons for ineligibility, and differences in insurance were examined between the two eras. RESULTS A greater proportion of Hispanic patients were referred for LT after the implementation of the outreach program (23.2% vs 26.2%, p = 0.004). Comparing the pre-outreach era to the post-outreach era, more Hispanic patients achieved waitlisting status (61 vs 78, respectively) and received a LT (971 vs 82, respectively). However, the proportion of Hispanic patients undergoing LT dropped from 30.2% to 20.3%. In the post-outreach era, half of the Hispanic patients were unable to get LT for financial reasons (112, 50.5%). CONCLUSIONS A targeted outreach program for Hispanic patients with end-stage liver disease effectively increased the total number of Hispanic LT referrals and recipients. However, many of the patients who were referred were ineligible for LT, most frequently for financial reasons. These results highlight the need for additional research into the most effective ways to ameliorate financial barriers to LT in this high-need community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudha Kodali
- Department of Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; JC Walter Jr Transplant Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Constance M Mobley
- JC Walter Jr Transplant Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Analisa Lopez
- JC Walter Jr Transplant Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Riki Graves
- JC Walter Jr Transplant Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - John Ontiveros
- JC Walter Jr Transplant Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Marcela Velazquez
- JC Walter Jr Transplant Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ashish Saharia
- JC Walter Jr Transplant Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yee Lee Cheah
- JC Walter Jr Transplant Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Caroline J Simon
- JC Walter Jr Transplant Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Christian Valverde
- JC Walter Jr Transplant Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alphonse Brown
- JC Walter Jr Transplant Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Julie Corkrean
- JC Walter Jr Transplant Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Linda W Moore
- Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Edward A Graviss
- JC Walter Jr Transplant Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA; Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - David W Victor
- Department of Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; JC Walter Jr Transplant Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kelly Maresh
- JC Walter Jr Transplant Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mark J Hobeika
- JC Walter Jr Transplant Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - R Mark Ghobrial
- JC Walter Jr Transplant Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
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8
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Kanneganti M, Byhoff E, Serper M, Olthoff KM, Bittermann T. Neighborhood-level social determinants of health measures independently predict receipt of living donor liver transplantation in the United States. Liver Transpl 2024; 30:618-627. [PMID: 38100175 DOI: 10.1097/lvt.0000000000000313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Disparities exist in the access to living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in the United States. However, the association of neighborhood-level social determinants of health (SDoH) on the receipt of LDLT is not well-established. This was a retrospective cohort study of adult liver transplant recipients between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2021 at centers performing LDLT using the United Network for Organ Sharing database, which was linked through patients' ZIP code to a set of 24 neighborhood-level SDoH measures from different data sources. Temporal trends and center differences in neighborhood Social Deprivation Index (SDI), a validated scale of socioeconomic deprivation ranging from 0 to 100 (0=least disadvantaged), were assessed by transplant type. Multivariable logistic regression evaluated the association of increasing SDI on receipt of LDLT [vs. deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT)]. There were 51,721 DDLT and 4026 LDLT recipients at 59 LDLT-performing centers during the study period. Of the 24 neighborhood-level SDoH measures studied, the SDI was most different between the 2 transplant types, with LDLT recipients having lower SDI (ie, less socioeconomic disadvantage) than DDLT recipients (median SDI 37 vs. 47; p < 0.001). The median difference in SDI between the LDLT and DDLT groups significantly decreased from 13 in 2005 to 3 in 2021 ( p = 0.003). In the final model, the SDI quintile was independently associated with transplant type ( p < 0.001) with a threshold SDI of ~40, above which increasing SDI was significantly associated with reduced odds of LDLT (vs. reference SDI 1-20). As a neighborhood-level SDoH measure, SDI is useful for evaluating disparities in the context of LDLT. Center outreach efforts that aim to reduce disparities in LDLT could preferentially target US ZIP codes with SDI > 40.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mounika Kanneganti
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Elena Byhoff
- Department of Medicine, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Marina Serper
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kim M Olthoff
- Division of Transplant Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Therese Bittermann
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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9
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Ahmed O, Doyle MBM, Abouljoud MS, Alonso D, Batra R, Brayman KL, Brockmeier D, Cannon RM, Chavin K, Delman AM, DuBay DA, Finn J, Fridell JA, Friedman BS, Fritze DM, Ginos D, Goldberg DS, Halff GA, Karp SJ, Kohli VK, Kumer SC, Langnas A, Locke JE, Maluf D, Meier RPH, Mejia A, Merani S, Mulligan DC, Nibuhanupudy B, Patel MS, Pelletier SJ, Shah SA, Vagefi PA, Vianna R, Zibari GB, Shafer TJ, Orloff SL. Liver Transplant Costs and Activity After United Network for Organ Sharing Allocation Policy Changes. JAMA Surg 2024:2819230. [PMID: 38809546 PMCID: PMC11137658 DOI: 10.1001/jamasurg.2024.1208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Importance A new liver allocation policy was implemented by United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) in February 2020 with the stated intent of improving access to liver transplant (LT). There are growing concerns nationally regarding the implications this new system may have on LT costs, as well as access to a chance for LT, which have not been captured at a multicenter level. Objective To characterize LT volume and cost changes across the US and within specific center groups and demographics after the policy implementation. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study collected and reviewed LT volume from multiple centers across the US and cost data with attention to 8 specific center demographics. Two separate 12-month eras were compared, before and after the new UNOS allocation policy: March 4, 2019, to March 4, 2020, and March 5, 2020, to March 5, 2021. Data analysis was performed from May to December 2022. Main Outcomes and Measures Center volume, changes in cost. Results A total of 22 of 68 centers responded comparing 1948 LTs before the policy change and 1837 LTs postpolicy, resulting in a 6% volume decrease. Transplants using local donations after brain death decreased 54% (P < .001) while imported donations after brain death increased 133% (P = .003). Imported fly-outs and dry runs increased 163% (median, 19; range, 1-75, vs 50, range, 2-91; P = .009) and 33% (median, 3; range, 0-16, vs 7, range, 0-24; P = .02). Overall hospital costs increased 10.9% to a total of $46 360 176 (P = .94) for participating centers. There was a 77% fly-out cost increase postpolicy ($10 600 234; P = .03). On subanalysis, centers with decreased LT volume postpolicy observed higher overall hospital costs ($41 720 365; P = .048), and specifically, a 122% cost increase for liver imports ($6 508 480; P = .002). Transplant centers from low-income states showed a significant increase in hospital (12%) and import (94%) costs. Centers serving populations with larger proportions of racial and ethnic minority candidates and specifically Black candidates significantly increased costs by more than 90% for imported livers, fly-outs, and dry runs despite lower LT volume. Similarly, costs increased significantly (>100%) for fly-outs and dry runs in centers from worse-performing health systems. Conclusions and Relevance Based on this large multicenter effort and contrary to current assumptions, the new liver distribution system appears to place a disproportionate burden on populations of the current LT community who already experience disparities in health care. The continuous allocation policies being promoted by UNOS could make the situation even worse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ola Ahmed
- Division of Abdominal Organ Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Maria Bernadette Majella Doyle
- Division of Abdominal Organ Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri
| | - Marwan S. Abouljoud
- Transplant Institute and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Henry Ford Hospital Detroit, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Diane Alonso
- Intermountain Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Ramesh Batra
- Yale New Haven Health Transplantation Center, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Kenneth L. Brayman
- Division of Transplant Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville
| | | | - Robert M. Cannon
- Comprehensive Transplant Institute, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
| | - Kenneth Chavin
- Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Aaron M. Delman
- Department of Surgery, University Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Derek A. DuBay
- Department of Transplant Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston
| | - Jan Finn
- Midwest Transplant Network, Westwood, Kansas
| | - Jonathan A. Fridell
- Department of Abdominal Transplant Surgery, Indiana University Health Transplant Institute, Indianapolis
| | | | - Danielle M. Fritze
- Department of Transplant Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
| | - Derek Ginos
- Intermountain Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - David S. Goldberg
- Division of Digestive Health and Liver Diseases, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Glenn A. Halff
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
| | - Seth J. Karp
- Section of Surgical Sciences, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Vivek K. Kohli
- Department of Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Integris Baptist Medical Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| | - Sean C. Kumer
- Division of Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery, University of Kansas Health System, Kansas City
| | - Alan Langnas
- Division of Transplant Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Lincoln
| | - Jayme E. Locke
- Comprehensive Transplant Institute, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
| | - Daniel Maluf
- Division of Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery, University of Maryland, Baltimore
| | - Raphael P. H. Meier
- Division of Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery, University of Maryland, Baltimore
| | | | - Shaheed Merani
- Division of Transplant Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Lincoln
| | - David C. Mulligan
- Yale New Haven Health Transplantation Center, New Haven, Connecticut
| | | | - Madhukar S. Patel
- Division of Surgical Transplantation, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center/William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital, Dallas
| | - Shawn J. Pelletier
- Division of Transplant Surgery, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville
| | - Shimul A. Shah
- Department of Surgery, University Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Parsia A. Vagefi
- Division of Surgical Transplantation, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center/William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital, Dallas
| | - Rodrigo Vianna
- University of Miami Transplant Institute, Miami, Florida
| | - Gazi B. Zibari
- Willis Knighton Advanced Surgery Center, Willis-Knighton Health System, Shreveport, Louisiana
| | | | - Susan L. Orloff
- Division of Abdominal Organ Transplantation/Hepatobiliary Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
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10
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Sierra L, Marenco-Flores A, Barba R, Goyes D, Ferrigno B, Diaz W, Medina-Morales E, Saberi B, Patwardhan VR, Bonder A. Influence of socioeconomic factors on liver transplant survival outcomes in patients with autoimmune liver disease in the United States. Ann Hepatol 2024; 29:101283. [PMID: 38151060 DOI: 10.1016/j.aohep.2023.101283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Autoimmune liver diseases (AILDs): autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) have different survival outcomes after liver transplant (LT). Outcomes are influenced by factors including disease burden, medical comorbidities, and socioeconomic variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using the United Network for Organ Sharing database (UNOS), we identified 13,702 patients with AILDs listed for LT between 2002 and 2021. Outcomes of interest were waitlist removal, post-LT patient survival, and post- LT graft survival. A stepwise multivariate analysis was performed adjusting for transplant recipient gender, race, diabetes mellitus, model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, and additional social determinants including the presence of education, reliance on public insurance, working for income, and U.S. citizenship status. RESULTS Lack of college education and having public insurance increased the risk of waitlist removal (HR, 1.13; 95 % CI, 1.05-1.23, and HR, 1.09; 95 % CI, 1.00-1.18; respectively), and negatively influenced post-LT patient survival (HR, 1.16; 95 % CI, 1.06-1.26, and HR, 1.15; 95 % CI, 1.06-1.25; respectively) and graft survival (HR, 1.13; 95 % CI, 1.05-1.23, and HR, 1.15; 95 % CI, 1.06-1.25; respectively). Not working for income proved to have the greatest detrimental impact on both patient survival (HR, 1.41; 95 % CI, 1.24-1.6) and graft survival (HR, 1.21; 95 % CI, 1.09-1.35). CONCLUSIONS Our study highlights that lack of college education and public insurance have a detrimental impact on waitlist mortality, patient survival, and graft survival. Not working for income negatively affects post-LT survival outcomes. Not having U.S. citizenship does not affect survival outcomes in AILDs patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leandro Sierra
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Ana Marenco-Flores
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Romelia Barba
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Daniela Goyes
- Division of Digestive Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Bryan Ferrigno
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Wilfor Diaz
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Esli Medina-Morales
- Department of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Medical Science Building, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Behnam Saberi
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Vilas R Patwardhan
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Alan Bonder
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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11
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Brahmania M, Rogal S, Serper M, Patel A, Goldberg D, Mathur A, Wilder J, Vittorio J, Yeoman A, Rich NE, Lazo M, Kardashian A, Asrani S, Spann A, Ufere N, Verma M, Verna E, Simpson D, Schold JD, Rosenblatt R, McElroy L, Wadwhani SI, Lee TH, Strauss AT, Chung RT, Aiza I, Carr R, Yang JM, Brady C, Fortune BE. Pragmatic strategies to address health disparities along the continuum of care in chronic liver disease. Hepatol Commun 2024; 8:e0413. [PMID: 38696374 PMCID: PMC11068141 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities exist in the prevalence and natural history of chronic liver disease, access to care, and clinical outcomes. Solutions to improve health equity range widely, from digital health tools to policy changes. The current review outlines the disparities along the chronic liver disease health care continuum from screening and diagnosis to the management of cirrhosis and considerations of pre-liver and post-liver transplantation. Using a health equity research and implementation science framework, we offer pragmatic strategies to address barriers to implementing high-quality equitable care for patients with chronic liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayur Brahmania
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Transplant Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Shari Rogal
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Marina Serper
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Arpan Patel
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - David Goldberg
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Amit Mathur
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Julius Wilder
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jennifer Vittorio
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Andrew Yeoman
- Department of Medicine, Gwent Liver Unit, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Newport, Wales, UK
| | - Nicole E. Rich
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Mariana Lazo
- Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ani Kardashian
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Sumeet Asrani
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Ashley Spann
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Nneka Ufere
- Department of Medicine, Liver Center, Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Manisha Verma
- Department of Medicine, Einstein Healthcare Network, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Elizabeth Verna
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Dinee Simpson
- Department of Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jesse D. Schold
- Department of Surgery and Epidemiology, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Russell Rosenblatt
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Lisa McElroy
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sharad I. Wadwhani
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Tzu-Hao Lee
- Department of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Alexandra T. Strauss
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Raymond T. Chung
- Department of Medicine, Liver Center, Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ignacio Aiza
- Department of Medicine, Liver Unit, Hospital Ángeles Lomas, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rotonya Carr
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jin Mo Yang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Carla Brady
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Brett E. Fortune
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hepatology, Montefiore Einstein Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
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12
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Hasjim BJ, Huang AA, Paukner M, Polineni P, Harris A, Mohammadi M, Kershaw KN, Banea T, VanWagner LB, Zhao L, Mehrotra S, Ladner DP. Where you live matters: Area deprivation predicts poor survival and liver transplant waitlisting. Am J Transplant 2024; 24:803-817. [PMID: 38346498 PMCID: PMC11070293 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2024.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Social determinants of health (SDOH) are important predictors of poor clinical outcomes in chronic diseases, but their associations among the general cirrhosis population and liver transplantation (LT) are limited. We conducted a retrospective, multiinstitutional analysis of adult (≥18-years-old) patients with cirrhosis in metropolitan Chicago to determine the associations of poor neighborhood-level SDOH on decompensation complications, mortality, and LT waitlisting. Area deprivation index and covariates extracted from the American Census Survey were aspects of SDOH that were investigated. Among 15 101 patients with cirrhosis, the mean age was 57.2 years; 6414 (42.5%) were women, 6589 (43.6%) were non-Hispanic White, 3652 (24.2%) were non-Hispanic Black, and 2662 (17.6%) were Hispanic. Each quintile increase in area deprivation was associated with poor outcomes in decompensation (sHR [subdistribution hazard ratio] 1.07; 95% CI 1.05-1.10; P < .001), waitlisting (sHR 0.72; 95% CI 0.67-0.76; P < .001), and all-cause mortality (sHR 1.09; 95% CI 1.06-1.12; P < .001). Domains of SDOH associated with a lower likelihood of waitlisting and survival included low income, low education, poor household conditions, and social support (P < .001). Overall, patients with cirrhosis residing in poor neighborhood-level SDOH had higher decompensation, and mortality, and were less likely to be waitlisted for LT. Further exploration of structural barriers toward LT or optimizing health outcomes is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bima J Hasjim
- Northwestern University Transplant Outcomes Research Collaborative (NUTORC), Comprehensive Transplant Center (CTC), Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Alexander A Huang
- Northwestern University Transplant Outcomes Research Collaborative (NUTORC), Comprehensive Transplant Center (CTC), Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Mitchell Paukner
- Northwestern University Transplant Outcomes Research Collaborative (NUTORC), Comprehensive Transplant Center (CTC), Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Division of Biostatistics, Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Praneet Polineni
- Northwestern University Transplant Outcomes Research Collaborative (NUTORC), Comprehensive Transplant Center (CTC), Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Alexandra Harris
- Northwestern University Transplant Outcomes Research Collaborative (NUTORC), Comprehensive Transplant Center (CTC), Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Institute for Public Health and Medicine (IPHAM), Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Mohsen Mohammadi
- Northwestern University Transplant Outcomes Research Collaborative (NUTORC), Comprehensive Transplant Center (CTC), Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Kiarri N Kershaw
- Northwestern University Transplant Outcomes Research Collaborative (NUTORC), Comprehensive Transplant Center (CTC), Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Division of Epidemiology, Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Therese Banea
- Northwestern University Transplant Outcomes Research Collaborative (NUTORC), Comprehensive Transplant Center (CTC), Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Lisa B VanWagner
- Northwestern University Transplant Outcomes Research Collaborative (NUTORC), Comprehensive Transplant Center (CTC), Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Lihui Zhao
- Northwestern University Transplant Outcomes Research Collaborative (NUTORC), Comprehensive Transplant Center (CTC), Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Division of Biostatistics, Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Sanjay Mehrotra
- Northwestern University Transplant Outcomes Research Collaborative (NUTORC), Comprehensive Transplant Center (CTC), Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Daniela P Ladner
- Northwestern University Transplant Outcomes Research Collaborative (NUTORC), Comprehensive Transplant Center (CTC), Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Division of Organ Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
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13
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Ruiz Colón GD, Barros Guinle MI, Wu A, Grant GA, Prolo LM. Neurosurgical Outcomes Among Non-English Speakers: A Systematic Review and a Framework for Future Research. World Neurosurg 2024; 185:338-350.e1. [PMID: 38387790 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2024.02.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In 2019, 22% of adults in the United States reported speaking a language other than English at home, representing 52% growth since 2000. This diversity in languages - and resulting possible communication barriers - represents a potential challenge to effective care. In this manuscript, we summarize clinical outcomes and healthcare utilization patterns of adult and pediatric neurosurgical patients who are non-English primary language speakers (NEPLS). METHODS We systematically queried 5 databases from inception through October 2022. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed to identify studies for inclusion. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of studies. Additionally, a retrospective chart review was conducted to assess differences in postoperative communication patterns in a cohort of English and Spanish speaking patients with craniosynostosis at our institution. RESULTS Our search yielded 442 abstracts; ten were included in the final cohort. Outcomes for 973 unique NEPLS with a neurosurgical condition were included; Spanish was the most represented language. Delivery and timing of surgical treatment was the most frequently reported metric; 75% of studies demonstrated a statistically significant delay in time to surgery or decreased likelihood for NEPLS to receive surgical treatment. Length of stay was reported in 3 studies; all demonstrated that NEPLS had longer length of stay. CONCLUSIONS There is a paucity of literature reporting outcomes among NEPLS. It is critical to examine NEPLS patients' outcomes and experiences, as language barriers are potentially modifiable demographic factors. We present a framework that demonstrates opportunities for further research to improve quality of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela D Ruiz Colón
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | | | - Adela Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Gerald A Grant
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Laura M Prolo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA; Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford, California, USA.
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14
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Kim RG, Ballantyne A, Conroy MB, Price JC, Inadomi JM. Screening for social determinants of health among populations at risk for MASLD: a scoping review. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1332870. [PMID: 38660357 PMCID: PMC11041393 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1332870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Social determinants of health (SDoH) have been associated with disparate outcomes among those with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and its risk factors. To address SDoH among this population, real-time SDoH screening in clinical settings is required, yet optimal screening methods are unclear. We performed a scoping review to describe the current literature on SDoH screening conducted in the clinical setting among individuals with MASLD and MASLD risk factors. Methods Through a systematic literature search of MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL Complete databases through 7/2023, we identified studies with clinic-based SDoH screening among individuals with or at risk for MASLD that reported pertinent clinical outcomes including change in MASLD risk factors like diabetes and hypertension. Results Ten studies (8 manuscripts, 2 abstracts) met inclusion criteria involving 148,151 patients: 89,408 with diabetes and 25,539 with hypertension. Screening was primarily completed in primary care clinics, and a variety of screening tools were used. The most commonly collected SDoH were financial stability, healthcare access, food insecurity and transportation. Associations between clinical outcomes and SDoH varied; overall, higher SDoH burden was associated with poorer outcomes including elevated blood pressure and hemoglobin A1c. Conclusion Despite numerous epidemiologic studies showing associations between clinical outcomes and SDoH, and guidelines recommending SDoH screening, few studies describe in-clinic SDoH screening among individuals with MASLD risk factors and none among patients with MASLD. Future research should prioritize real-time, comprehensive assessments of SDoH, particularly among patients at risk for and with MASLD, to mitigate disease progression and reduce MASLD health disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca G. Kim
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - April Ballantyne
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Molly B. Conroy
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Jennifer C. Price
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - John M. Inadomi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
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15
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Brahmania M, Kuo A, Tapper EB, Volk ML, Vittorio JM, Ghabril M, Morgan TR, Kanwal F, Parikh ND, Martin P, Mehta S, Winder GS, Im GY, Goldberg D, Lai JC, Duarte-Rojo A, Paredes AH, Patel AA, Sahota A, McElroy LM, Thomas C, Wall AE, Malinis M, Aslam S, Simonetto DA, Ufere NN, Ramakrishnan S, Flynn MM, Ibrahim Y, Asrani SK, Serper M. Quality measures in pre-liver transplant care by the Practice Metrics Committee of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. Hepatology 2024:01515467-990000000-00816. [PMID: 38536021 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
The liver transplantation (LT) evaluation and waitlisting process is subject to variations in care that can impede quality. The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Practice Metrics Committee (PMC) developed quality measures and patient-reported experience measures along the continuum of pre-LT care to reduce care variation and guide patient-centered care. Following a systematic literature review, candidate pre-LT measures were grouped into 4 phases of care: referral, evaluation and waitlisting, waitlist management, and organ acceptance. A modified Delphi panel with content expertise in hepatology, transplant surgery, psychiatry, transplant infectious disease, palliative care, and social work selected the final set. Candidate patient-reported experience measures spanned domains of cognitive health, emotional health, social well-being, and understanding the LT process. Of the 71 candidate measures, 41 were selected: 9 for referral; 20 for evaluation and waitlisting; 7 for waitlist management; and 5 for organ acceptance. A total of 14 were related to structure, 17 were process measures, and 10 were outcome measures that focused on elements not typically measured in routine care. Among the patient-reported experience measures, candidates of LT rated items from understanding the LT process domain as the most important. The proposed pre-LT measures provide a framework for quality improvement and care standardization among candidates of LT. Select measures apply to various stakeholders such as referring practitioners in the community and LT centers. Clinically meaningful measures that are distinct from those used for regulatory transplant reporting may facilitate local quality improvement initiatives to improve access and quality of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayur Brahmania
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Alexander Kuo
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Comprehensive Transplant Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Elliot B Tapper
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Michael L Volk
- Department of Medicine, Baylor Scott and White Health, Temple, Texas, USA
| | - Jennifer M Vittorio
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, New York University (NYU) Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Marwan Ghabril
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Timothy R Morgan
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
- Medical Service, VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Long Beach, California, USA
| | - Fasiha Kanwal
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Neehar D Parikh
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Paul Martin
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Shivang Mehta
- Department of Medicine, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | | | - Gene Y Im
- Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - David Goldberg
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Jennifer C Lai
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Andres Duarte-Rojo
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Angelo H Paredes
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Arpan A Patel
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Amandeep Sahota
- Department of Transplant Hepatology, Southern California Permanente Medical Group, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Lisa M McElroy
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Charlie Thomas
- Banner University Medical Center Phoenix Transplant Program, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Anji E Wall
- Department of Surgery, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Maricar Malinis
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Saima Aslam
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Douglas A Simonetto
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Nneka N Ufere
- Department of Medicine, Gastrointestinal Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Mary Margaret Flynn
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Sumeet K Asrani
- Department of Medicine, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Marina Serper
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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16
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Andacoglu OM, Dennahy IS, Mountz NC, Wilschrey L, Oezcelik A. Impact of sex on the outcomes of deceased donor liver transplantation. World J Transplant 2024; 14:88133. [PMID: 38576760 PMCID: PMC10989474 DOI: 10.5500/wjt.v14.i1.88133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Data examining the impact of sex on liver transplant (LT) outcomes are limited. It is clear that further research into sex-related differences in transplant patients is necessary to identify areas for improvement. Elucidation of these differences may help to identify specific areas of focus to improve on the organ matching process, as well as the peri- and post-operative care of these patients. AIM To utilize data from a high-volume Eurotransplant center to compare characteristics of male and female patients undergoing liver transplant and assess asso ciation between sex-specific variables with short- and long-term post-transplant outcomes. METHODS A retrospective review of the University of Essen's transplant database was performed with collection of baseline patient characteristics, transplant-related data, and short-term outcomes. Comparisons of these data were made with Shapiro-Wilk, Mann-Whitney U, χ2 and Bonferroni tests applied where app ropriate. A P value of < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. RESULTS Of the total 779 LT recipients, 261 (33.5%) were female. Female patients suffered higher incidences of acute liver failure and lower incidences of alcohol-related or viremic liver disease (P = 0.001). Female patients were more likely to have received an organ from a female donor with a higher donor risk index score, and as a high urgency offer (all P < 0.05). Baseline characteristics of male and female recipients were also significantly different. In multivariate hazard regression analysis, recipient lab-Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score and donor cause of death were associated with long-term outcomes in females. Pre-operative diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, age at time of listing, duration of surgery, and units transfused during surgery, were associated with long-term outcomes in males. Severity of complications was associated with long-term outcomes in both groups. Overall survival was similar in both males and females; however, when stratified by age, females < 50 years of age had the best survival. CONCLUSION Female and male LT recipients have different baseline and transplant-related characteristics, with sex-specific variables which are associated with long-term outcomes. Female recipients < 50 years of age demonstrated the best long-term outcomes. Pre- and post-transplant practices should be individualized based on sex-specific variables to optimize long-term outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oya M Andacoglu
- Division of Transplantation and Advanced Hepatobiliary Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States
- Department of Surgery, University of Essen, Essen D-45122, Germany
| | - Isabel S Dennahy
- Department of Surgery, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73117, United States
| | - Nicole C Mountz
- Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Oklahoma City, OK 73117, United States
| | - Luisa Wilschrey
- Department of Surgery, University of Essen, Essen D-45122, Germany
| | - Arzu Oezcelik
- Department of Surgery, University of Essen, Essen D-45122, Germany
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17
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Endo Y, Sasaki K, Moazzam Z, Woldesenbet S, Lima HA, Alaimo L, Munir MM, Shaikh CF, Yang J, Azap L, Katayama E, Kitago M, Schenk A, Washburn K, Pawlik TM. Liver transplantation access and outcomes: Impact of variations in liver-specific specialty care. Surgery 2024; 175:868-876. [PMID: 37743104 DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2023.06.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We sought to characterize the impact access to gastroenterologists/hepatologists has on liver transplantation listing, as well as time on the liver transplantation waitlist and post-transplant outcomes. METHODS Liver transplantation registrants aged >18 years between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2019 were identified from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients Standard Analytic Files. The liver transplantation registration ratio was defined as the ratio of liver transplant waitlist registrations in a given county per 1,000 liver-related deaths. RESULTS A total of 150,679 liver transplantation registrants were included. Access to liver transplantation centers and liver-specific specialty physicians varied markedly throughout the United States. Of note, the liver transplantation registration ratio was lower in counties with poor access to liver-specific care versus counties with adequate access (poor access 137.2, interquartile range 117.8-163.2 vs adequate access 157.6, interquartile range 127.3-192.2, P < .001). Among patients referred for liver transplantation, the cumulative incidence of waitlist mortality and post-transplant graft survival was comparable among patients with poor versus adequate access to liver-specific care (both P > .05). Among liver transplantation recipients living in areas with poor access, after controlling for recipient and donor characteristics, cold ischemic time, and model for end-stage liver disease score, the area deprivation index predicted graft survival (referent, low area deprivation index; medium area deprivation index, hazard ratio 1.52, 95% confidence interval 1.03-12.23; high area deprivation index, 1.45, 95% confidence interval 1.01-12.09, both P < .05). CONCLUSION Poor access to liver-specific care was associated with a reduction in liver transplantation registration, and individuals residing in counties with high social deprivation had worse graft survival among patients living in counties with poor access to liver-specific care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutaka Endo
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
| | | | - Zorays Moazzam
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
| | - Selamawit Woldesenbet
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
| | - Henrique A Lima
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
| | - Laura Alaimo
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
| | - Muhammad Musaab Munir
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
| | - Chanza F Shaikh
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
| | - Jason Yang
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
| | - Lovette Azap
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
| | - Erryk Katayama
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
| | - Minoru Kitago
- Department of Surgery, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Austin Schenk
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
| | - Kenneth Washburn
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
| | - Timothy M Pawlik
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH.
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Amdani S, Gossett JG, Chepp V, Urschel S, Asante-Korang A, Dalton JE. Review on clinician bias and its impact on racial and socioeconomic disparities in pediatric heart transplantation. Pediatr Transplant 2024; 28:e14704. [PMID: 38419391 DOI: 10.1111/petr.14704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
This expert review seeks to highlight implicit bias in health care, transplant medicine, and pediatric heart transplantation to focus attention on the role these biases may play in the racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities noted in pediatric heart transplantation. This review breaks down the transplant decision making process to highlight points at which implicit bias may affect outcomes and discuss how the science of human decision making may help understand these complex processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahnawaz Amdani
- Children's Institute Department of Heart, Vascular & Thoracic, Division of Cardiology & Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Jeffrey G Gossett
- Northwell, Cohen Children's Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York, USA
| | - Valerie Chepp
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Simon Urschel
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Alfred Asante-Korang
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St Petersburg, Florida, USA
| | - Jarrod E Dalton
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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19
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Florissi I, Chidi AP, Liu Y, Ruck JM, Mauney C, McAdams-DeMarco M, Merlo CA, Shah P, Stewart DE, Segev DL, Bush EL. Racial Disparities in Waiting List Outcomes of Patients Listed for Lung Transplantation. Ann Thorac Surg 2024; 117:619-626. [PMID: 37673311 PMCID: PMC10924067 DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2023.07.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Lung Allocation Score, implemented in 2005, prioritized lung transplant candidates by medical urgency rather than waiting list time and was expected to improve racial disparities in transplant allocation. We evaluated whether racial disparities in lung transplant persisted after 2005. METHODS We identified all wait-listed adult lung transplant candidates in the United States from 2005 through 2021 using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. We evaluated the association between race and receipt of a transplant by using a multivariable competing risk regression model adjusted for demographics, socioeconomic status, Lung Allocation Score, clinical measures, and time. We evaluated interactions between race and age, sex, socioeconomic status, and Lung Allocation Score. RESULTS We identified 33,158 candidates on the lung transplant waiting list between 2005 and 2021: 27,074 White (82%), 3350 African American (10%), and 2734 Hispanic (8%). White candidates were older, had higher education levels, and had lower Lung Allocation Scores (P < .001). After multivariable adjustment, African American and Hispanic candidates were less likely to receive lung transplants than White candidates (African American: adjusted subhazard ratio, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.82-0.91; Hispanic: adjusted subhazard ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.78-0.87). Lung transplant was significantly less common among Hispanic candidates aged >65 years (P = .003) and non-White candidates from higher-poverty communities (African-American: P = .013; Hispanic: P =.0036). CONCLUSIONS Despite implementation of the Lung Allocation Score, racial disparities persisted for wait-listed African American and Hispanic lung transplant candidates and differed by age and poverty status. Targeted interventions are needed to ensure equitable access to this life-saving intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Florissi
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Alexis P Chidi
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Jessica M Ruck
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Carrinton Mauney
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Mara McAdams-DeMarco
- Department of Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Christian A Merlo
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Pali Shah
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Darren E Stewart
- Department of Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Dorry L Segev
- Department of Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Errol L Bush
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.
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20
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Reed RD, Locke JE. Mitigating Health Disparities in Transplantation Requires Equity, Not Equality. Transplantation 2024; 108:100-114. [PMID: 38098158 PMCID: PMC10796154 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000004630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Despite decades of research and evidence-based mitigation strategies, disparities in access to transplantation persist for all organ types and in all stages of the transplant process. Although some strategies have shown promise for alleviating disparities, others have fallen short of the equity goal by providing the same tools and resources to all rather than tailoring the tools and resources to one's circumstances. Innovative solutions that engage all stakeholders are needed to achieve equity regardless of race, sex, age, socioeconomic status, or geography. Mitigation of disparities is paramount to ensure fair and equitable access for those with end-stage disease and to preserve the trust of the public, upon whom we rely for their willingness to donate organs. In this overview, we present a summary of recent literature demonstrating persistent disparities by stage in the transplant process, along with policies and interventions that have been implemented to combat these disparities and hypotheses for why some strategies have been more effective than others. We conclude with future directions that have been proposed by experts in the field and how these suggested strategies may help us finally arrive at equity in transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhiannon D. Reed
- Comprehensive Transplant Institute, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Jayme E. Locke
- Comprehensive Transplant Institute, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
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21
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Koh J, Dowlatshahi S, Turner BJ. Transitioning from the Emergency Department to a General Internist Outpatient Clinic for Paracentesis: A Qualitative. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3793244. [PMID: 38234824 PMCID: PMC10793502 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3793244/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Background Repeated paracentesis for ascites can place significant demands on the emergency department (ED). A new general internist-led outpatient procedure clinic to alleviate this demand required ED staff and patients to accept this transition of care. Aim This qualitative study evaluates barriers and facilitators to implementing the FLuid ASPiration (FLASP) clinic in a safety net hospital. Methods The FLASP clinic opened during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2021. From February to April 2022, semi-structured interviews were conducted with: 10 ED physicians and nurses; 5 FLASP clinic patients; and 4 patients receiving paracentesis in the ED. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a Grounded Theory approach for themes categorized by Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) domains including: attitudes/knowledge; social norms; and logistics. Results Thematic analysis found that ED staff appreciated reduced demand for paracentesis, but barriers included: lack of knowledge; concerns about unstable patients and patient expectations (norms); and scheduling logistics. FLASP clinic patients had only favorable themes: belief in clinic safety; positive relationship with staff; and clinic efficiency. Patients using the ED for paracentesis expressed only concerns: possible need for testing or hospitalization; care usually in the ED; and unclear clinic scheduling. Conclusion This study reveals challenges to transitioning sites of care for paracentesis including the need for greater ED staff education and standardizing methods to triage patients to appropriate site of care. Greater support and education of ED patients about the benefits of an outpatient procedure clinic may also reduce ED burden for paracentesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Koh
- Keck Medical Center of University of Southern California
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22
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Benhammou JN, Leng M, Shah SC, Cholankeril G, Dong TS, Patel AA, Tong MJ. Exposure to Agent Orange and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Among US Military Personnel. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2346380. [PMID: 38048128 PMCID: PMC10696483 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.46380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its mortality are on the rise. Viral hepatitis and alcohol are leading risk factors; however, other risk factors among veterans are less defined, including Agent Orange (AO), an herbicide linked to several cancers. Objective To assess the association of AO exposure and HCC in a national cohort of Vietnam veterans. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cohort study included Vietnam veterans who served between 1966 and 1975, were male, were older than 18 years at the time of deployment, and had established follow-up in the Veterans Affairs (VA) between 2000 and 2019. Veterans with AO exposure were identified in the disability data via validated clinical surveys. Relevant clinical risk factors for cirrhosis and HCC were collected. Patients were stratified based on cirrhosis status, as defined by consecutive diagnosis found by documented International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision and International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision scores or calculated Fibrosis-4 scores. Data were collected from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020, and analyzed from December 2020 to October 2023. Main Outcome and Measures Incident HCC was the primary outcome. AO and HCC association was estimated using a multivariable Cox regression analysis, with death and liver transplant as competing events. Results Of the 296 505 eligible veterans (222 545 [75.1%] White individuals and 44 342 [15.0%] Black individuals), 170 090 (57%) had AO exposure (mean [SD] age, 21.62 [3.49] years; 131 552 White individuals [83.2%] and 22 767 Black individuals [14.4%]) and 35 877 (12.1%) had cirrhosis. Veterans who were not exposed to AO were more likely to smoke (109 689 of 126 413 [86.8%] vs 146 061 of 170 090 [85.9%]); use alcohol (54 147 of 126 413 [42.8%] vs 71 951 of 170 090 [42.3%]) and have viral hepatitis (47 722 of 126 413 [37.8%] vs 58 942 of 170 090 [34.7%]). In a multivariable competing risk model, AO exposure was not associated with HCC. Among veterans with cirrhosis, self-identification as Hispanic individuals (aHR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.30-1.75; P <.001) or Black individuals (aHR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.05-1.32; P = .004), and having a diagnosis of viral hepatitis (aHR, 3.71; 95% CI, 3.26-4.24; P <.001), alcohol-associated liver disease (aHR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.19-1.46; P <.001), and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (aHR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.72-2.15; P <.001) were associated with HCC. Among veterans without cirrhosis, hypertension (aHR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.23-2.15; P <.001) and diabetes (aHR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.13-2.05; P = .005) were also associated with HCC. Early smoking and alcohol use were significant risk factors for HCC. Conclusions and Relevance In this large nationwide cohort study of Vietnam veterans, AO exposure was not associated with HCC. Smoking, alcohol, viral hepatitis, and NAFLD were the most important clinical risk factors for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihane N. Benhammou
- Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles
| | - Mei Leng
- Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California
- Biomathematics Department, University of California, Los Angeles
| | - Shailja C. Shah
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, California
- Division of Gastroenterology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla
| | | | - Tien S. Dong
- Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
| | - Arpan A. Patel
- Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
| | - Myron J. Tong
- Huntington Medical Research Institutes, Pasadena, California
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23
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McElroy LM, Schappe T, Mohottige D, Davis L, Peskoe SB, Wang V, Pendergast J, Boulware LE. Racial Equity in Living Donor Kidney Transplant Centers, 2008-2018. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2347826. [PMID: 38100105 PMCID: PMC10724764 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.47826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance It is unclear whether center-level factors are associated with racial equity in living donor kidney transplant (LDKT). Objective To evaluate center-level factors and racial equity in LDKT during an 11-year time period. Design, Setting, and Participants A retrospective cohort longitudinal study was completed in February 2023, of US transplant centers with at least 12 annual LDKTs from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2018, identified in the Health Resources Services Administration database and linked to the US Renal Data System and the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. Main Outcomes and Measures Observed and model-based estimated Black-White mean LDKT rate ratios (RRs), where an RR of 1 indicates racial equity and values less than 1 indicate a lower rate of LDKT of Black patients compared with White patients. Estimated yearly best-case center-specific LDKT RRs between Black and White individuals, where modifiable center characteristics were set to values that would facilitate access to LDKT. Results The final cohorts of patients included 394 625 waitlisted adults, of whom 33.1% were Black and 66.9% were White, and 57 222 adult LDKT recipients, of whom 14.1% were Black and 85.9% were White. Among 89 transplant centers, estimated yearly center-level RRs between Black and White individuals accounting for center and population characteristics ranged from 0.0557 in 2008 to 0.771 in 2018. The yearly median RRs ranged from 0.216 in 2016 to 0.285 in 2010. Model-based estimations for the hypothetical best-case scenario resulted in little change in the minimum RR (from 0.0557 to 0.0549), but a greater positive shift in the maximum RR from 0.771 to 0.895. Relative to the observed 582 LDKT in Black patients and 3837 in White patients, the 2018 hypothetical model estimated an increase of 423 (a 72.7% increase) LDKTs for Black patients and of 1838 (a 47.9% increase) LDKTs for White patients. Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study of patients with kidney failure, no substantial improvement occurred over time either in the observed or the covariate-adjusted estimated RRs. Under the best-case hypothetical estimations, modifying centers' participation in the paired exchange and voucher programs and increased access to public insurance may contribute to improved racial equity in LDKT. Additional work is needed to identify center-level and program-specific strategies to improve racial equity in access to LDKT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M. McElroy
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Tyler Schappe
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Dinushika Mohottige
- Institute of Health Equity Research and Barbara T. Murphy Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - LaShara Davis
- Department of Surgery and J. C. Walter Jr Transplant Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas
| | - Sarah B. Peskoe
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Virginia Wang
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Jane Pendergast
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - L. Ebony Boulware
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina
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24
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Giorgakis E, Estrada MM, Wells A, Garcia Saenz de Sicilia M, Deneke M, Patel R, Barone G, Burdine L, Rude MK. Women Referred for Liver Transplant Are Less Likely to Be Transplanted Irrespective of Socioeconomic Status. Transpl Int 2023; 36:11667. [PMID: 38020747 PMCID: PMC10651715 DOI: 10.3389/ti.2023.11667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Emmanouil Giorgakis
- Division of Solid Organ Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Martha M. Estrada
- Division of Solid Organ Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Allison Wells
- Division of Solid Organ Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Mauricio Garcia Saenz de Sicilia
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Matthew Deneke
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Raj Patel
- Division of Solid Organ Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Gary Barone
- Division of Solid Organ Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Lyle Burdine
- Division of Solid Organ Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Mary K. Rude
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
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25
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Saberi B, Gurakar A, Tamim H, Schneider CV, Sims OT, Bonder A, Fricker Z, Alqahtani SA. Racial Disparities in Candidates for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Liver Transplant After 6-Month Wait Policy Change. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2341096. [PMID: 37917059 PMCID: PMC10623194 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.41096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Racial disparities in liver transplant (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may be associated with unequal access to life-saving treatment. Objective To quantify racial disparities in LT for HCC and mortality after LT, adjusting for demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic factors. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study was a retrospective analysis of United Network Organ Sharing/Organ Procurement Transplant Network (OPTN) data from 2003 to 2021. Participants were adult patients with HCC on the LT waiting list and those who received LT. Data were analyzed from March 2022 to September 2023. Exposures Race and time before and after the 2015 OPTN policy change. Main Outcomes and Measures Proportion of LT from wait-listed candidates, the proportion of waiting list removals, and mortality after LT. Results Among 12 031 patients wait-listed for LT with HCC (mean [SD] age, 60.8 [7.4] years; 9054 [75.3%] male; 7234 [60.1%] White, 2590 [21.5%] Latinx/o/a, and 1172 [9.7%] Black or African American), this study found that after the 2015 model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) exception policy changes for HCC (era 2), the overall proportion of LT for HCC across all races decreased while the proportion of dropouts on the LT waiting list remained steady compared with patients who did not have HCC. In Kaplan-Meier analysis, Asian patients demonstrated the lowest dropout rates in both era 1 and era 2 (1-year dropout, 16% and 17%, respectively; P < .001). In contrast, Black or African American patients had the highest dropout rates in era 1 (1-year dropout, 24%), but comparable dropout rates (23%) with White patients (23%) and Latinx/o/a patients in era 2 (23%). In both eras, Asian patients had the highest survival after LT (5-year survival, 82% for era 1 and 86% for era 2), while Black or African American patients had the worst survival after LT (5-year survival, 71% for era 1 and 79% for era 2). In the multivariable analysis for HCC LT recipients, Black or African American race was associated with increased risk of mortality in both eras, compared with White race (HR for era 1, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.05-1.35; and HR for era 2, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.10-1.56). Conclusions and Relevance This cohort study of LT candidates in the US found that after the 2015 MELD exception policy change for HCC, the proportion of LT for HCC had decreased for all races. Black or African American patients had worse outcomes after LT than other races. Further research is needed to identify the underlying causes of this disparity and develop strategies to improve outcomes for HCC LT candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behnam Saberi
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ahmet Gurakar
- Johns Hopkins University, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Hani Tamim
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Carolin V. Schneider
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Rheinisch Westfälisch Technische Hochschule Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Omar T. Sims
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Alan Bonder
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Zachary Fricker
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Saleh A. Alqahtani
- Johns Hopkins University, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Baltimore, Maryland
- Liver Transplant Center, King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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26
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Sosa RA, Terry AQ, Ito T, Naini BV, Zheng Y, Pickering H, Nevarez-Mejia J, Busuttil RW, Gjertson DW, Kupiec-Weglinski JW, Reed EF, Kaldas FM. Immune Features of Disparate Liver Transplant Outcomes in Female Hispanics With Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. Transplant Direct 2023; 9:e1550. [PMID: 37876917 PMCID: PMC10593264 DOI: 10.1097/txd.0000000000001550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a severe immune-mediated stage of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease that is rapidly becoming the most common etiology requiring liver transplantation (LT), with Hispanics bearing a disproportionate burden. This study aimed to uncover the underlying immune mechanisms of the disparities experienced by Hispanic patients undergoing LT for NASH. Methods We enrolled 164 LT recipients in our institutional review board-approved study, 33 of whom presented with NASH as the primary etiology of LT (20%), with 16 self-reported as Hispanic (48%). We investigated the histopathology of prereperfusion and postreperfusion biopsies, clinical liver function tests, longitudinal soluble cytokines via 38-plex Luminex, and immune cell phenotypes generated by prereperfusion and postreperfusion blood using 14-color flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Hispanic LT recipients transplanted for NASH were disproportionately female (81%) and disproportionately suffered poor outcomes in the first year posttransplant, including rejection (26%) and death (38%). Clinically, we observed increased pro-inflammatory and apoptotic histopathological features in biopsies, increased AST/international normalized ratio early posttransplantation, and a higher incidence of presensitization to mismatched HLA antigens expressed by the donor allograft. Experimental investigations revealed that blood from female Hispanic NASH patients showed significantly increased levels of leukocyte-attracting chemokines, innate-to-adaptive switching cytokines and growth factors, HMGB1 release, and TLR4/TLR8/TLR9/NOD1 activation, and produced a pro-inflammatory, pro-apoptotic macrophage phenotype with reduced CD14/CD68/CD66a/TIM-3 and increased CD16/CD11b/HLA-DR/CD80. Conclusions A personalized approach to reducing immunological risk factors is urgently needed for this endotype in Hispanics with NASH requiring LT, particularly in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A. Sosa
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
- UCLA Immunogenetics Center, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Allyson Q. Terry
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Takahiro Ito
- Dumont-UCLA Transplantation Center, Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Bita V. Naini
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Ying Zheng
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
- UCLA Immunogenetics Center, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Harry Pickering
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Jessica Nevarez-Mejia
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Ronald W. Busuttil
- Dumont-UCLA Transplantation Center, Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
| | - David W. Gjertson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
- UCLA Immunogenetics Center, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Jerzy W. Kupiec-Weglinski
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
- Dumont-UCLA Transplantation Center, Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Elaine F. Reed
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
- UCLA Immunogenetics Center, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Fady M. Kaldas
- Dumont-UCLA Transplantation Center, Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
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27
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Henson JB, Chan NW, Wilder JM, Muir AJ, McElroy LM. Characterization of social determinants of health of a liver transplant referral population. Liver Transpl 2023; 29:1161-1171. [PMID: 36929783 PMCID: PMC10509317 DOI: 10.1097/lvt.0000000000000127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Disparities exist in referral and access to the liver transplant (LT) waitlist, and social determinants of health (SDOH) are increasingly recognized as important factors driving health inequities, including in LT. The SDOH of potential transplant candidates is therefore important to characterize when designing targeted interventions to promote equity in access to LT. Yet, it is uncertain how a transplant center should approach this issue, characterize SDOH, identify disparities, and use these data to inform interventions. We performed a retrospective study of referrals for first-time, single-organ LT to our center from 2016 to 2020. Addresses were geoprocessed and mapped to the corresponding county, census tract, and census block group to assess their geospatial distribution, identify potential disparities in referrals, and characterize their communities across multiple domains of SDOH to identify potential barriers to evaluation and selection. We identified variability in referral patterns and areas with disproportionately low referrals, including counties in the highest quartile of liver disease mortality (9%) and neighborhoods in the highest quintile of socioeconomic deprivation (17%) and quartile of poverty (21%). Black individuals were also under-represented compared with expected state demographics (12% vs. 18%). Among the referral population, several potential barriers to evaluation and selection for LT were identified, including poverty, educational attainment, access to healthy food, and access to technology. This approach to the characterization of a transplant center's referral population by geographic location and associated SDOH demonstrates a model for identifying disparities in a referral population and potential barriers to evaluation that can be used to inform targeted interventions for disparities in LT access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline B Henson
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Norine W Chan
- Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Julius M Wilder
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Andrew J Muir
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lisa M McElroy
- Division of Abdominal Transplant, Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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28
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Swords DS, Newhook TE, Tzeng CWD, Massarweh NN, Chun YS, Lee S, Kaseb AO, Ghobrial M, Vauthey JN, Tran Cao HS. Treatment Disparities Partially Mediate Socioeconomic- and Race/Ethnicity-Based Survival Disparities in Stage I-II Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Ann Surg Oncol 2023; 30:7309-7318. [PMID: 37679537 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-023-14132-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low socioeconomic status (SES) patients with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) receive procedural treatments less often and have shorter survival. Little is known about the extent to which these survival disparities result from treatment-related disparities versus other causal pathways. We aimed to estimate the proportion of SES-based survival disparities that are mediated by treatment- and facility-related factors among patients with stage I-II HCC. METHODS We analyzed patients aged 18-75 years diagnosed with stage I-II HCC in 2008-2016 using the National Cancer Database. Inverse odds weighting mediation analysis was used to calculate the proportion mediated by three mediators: procedure type, facility volume, and facility procedural interventions offered. Intersectional analyses were performed to determine whether treatment disparities played a larger role in survival disparities among Black and Hispanic patients. RESULTS Among 46,003 patients, 15.0% had low SES, 71.6% had middle SES, and 13.4% had high SES. Five-year overall survival was 46.9%, 39.9%, and 35.7% among high, middle, and low SES patients, respectively. Procedure type mediated 45.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 31.1-60.7%) and 36.7% (95% CI 25.7-47.7%) of overall survival disparities for low and middle SES patients, respectively, which was more than was mediated by the two facility-level mediators. Procedure type mediated a larger proportion of survival disparities among low-middle SES Black (46.6-48.2%) and Hispanic patients (92.9-93.7%) than in White patients (29.5-29.7%). CONCLUSIONS SES-based disparities in use of procedural interventions mediate a large proportion of survival disparities, particularly among Black and Hispanic patients. Initiatives aimed at attenuating these treatment disparities should be pursued.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas S Swords
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Unit 1484, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Timothy E Newhook
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Unit 1484, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ching-Wei D Tzeng
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Unit 1484, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nader N Massarweh
- Surgical and Perioperative Care, Atlanta VA Health Care System, Decatur, GA, USA
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Surgery, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yun Shin Chun
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Unit 1484, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sunyoung Lee
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ahmed O Kaseb
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mark Ghobrial
- Department of Surgery-Transplant, Houston Methodist, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jean-Nicolas Vauthey
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Unit 1484, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hop S Tran Cao
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Unit 1484, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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29
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Wang MC, Bangaru S, Zhou K. Care for Vulnerable Populations with Chronic Liver Disease: A Safety-Net Perspective. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2725. [PMID: 37893800 PMCID: PMC10606794 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11202725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Safety-net hospitals (SNHs) and facilities are the cornerstone of healthcare services for the medically underserved. The burden of chronic liver disease-including end-stage manifestations of cirrhosis and liver cancer-is high and rising among populations living in poverty who primarily seek and receive care in safety-net settings. For many reasons related to social determinants of health, these individuals often present with delayed diagnoses and disease presentations, resulting in higher liver-related mortality. With recent state-based policy changes such as Medicaid expansion that impact access to insurance and critical health services, an overview of the body of literature on SNH care for chronic liver disease is timely and informative for the liver disease community. In this narrative review, we discuss controversies in the definition of a SNH and summarize the known disparities in the cascade of the care and management of common liver-related conditions: (1) steatotic liver disease, (2) liver cancer, (3) chronic viral hepatitis, and (4) cirrhosis and liver transplantation. In addition, we review the specific impact of Medicaid expansion on safety-net systems and liver disease outcomes and highlight effective provider- and system-level interventions. Lastly, we address remaining gaps and challenges to optimizing care for vulnerable populations with chronic liver disease in safety-net settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark C Wang
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Saroja Bangaru
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Los Angeles General Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Kali Zhou
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Los Angeles General Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
- Research Center for Liver Diseases, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
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30
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Liu JJ, DeCuir N, Kia L, Peterson J, Miller C, Issaka RB. Tools to Measure the Impact of Structural Racism and Discrimination on Gastrointestinal and Hepatology Disease Outcomes: A Scoping Review. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 21:2759-2788.e6. [PMID: 36549469 PMCID: PMC10279803 DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2022.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Structural racism and discrimination (SRD) are important upstream determinants of health perpetuated by discriminatory laws and policies. Therefore, measuring SRD and its impact on health is critical to developing interventions that address resultant health disparities. We aimed to identify gastrointestinal (GI) or liver studies that report measures of SRD or interventions to achieve health equity in these domains by addressing upstream determinants of health. METHODS We conducted a scoping review according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses scoping reviews guidelines. Studies that used an SRD measure or examined an upstream intervention in GI or liver disease were included. Studies that described health disparities in GI or liver conditions without mentioning SRD were excluded. Study characteristics, findings, and limitations were extracted. RESULTS Forty-six articles (19 studies using SRD measures and 27 studies of upstream interventions) were identified. Measures of residential racial segregation were reported most frequently. SRD was associated with poorer health outcomes for racial and ethnic minority populations. Although upstream intervention studies focused primarily on policies related to colon cancer screening and organ graft allocation, racial and ethnic disparities often persisted post-intervention. CONCLUSIONS To achieve health equity in GI and liver conditions, there is an urgent need for research that goes beyond describing health disparities to incorporating measures of SRD and implementing interventions that address this understudied determinant of health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy J Liu
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Nicole DeCuir
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
| | - Leila Kia
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Jonna Peterson
- Galter Health Sciences Library & Learning Center, Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Corinne Miller
- Galter Health Sciences Library & Learning Center, Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Rachel B Issaka
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington; Clinical Research and Public Health Sciences Divisions, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington; Hutchinson Institute for Cancer Outcomes Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington.
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31
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Huang DC, Yu RL, Alqahtani S, Tamim H, Saberi B, Bonder A. Racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities impact post-liver transplant survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Ann Hepatol 2023; 28:101127. [PMID: 37286167 DOI: 10.1016/j.aohep.2023.101127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Liver transplantation can be a curative treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, the morbidity and mortality associated with HCC varies by socioeconomic status and race and ethnicity. Policies like Share 35 were implemented to ensure equitable access to organ transplants; however, their impacts are unclear. We aimed to characterize differences in post-liver transplant (LT) survival among patients with HCC, when considering race and ethnicity, income, and insurance type, and understand if these associations were impacted by Share 35. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 30,610 adult LT recipients with HCC. Data were obtained from the UNOS database. Survival analysis was carried out using Kaplan-Meier curves, and multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to calculate hazard ratios. RESULTS Men (HR: 0.90 (95% CI: 0.85-0.95)), private insurance (HR: 0.91 (95% CI: 0.87-0.92)), and income (HR: 0.87 (95% CI: 0.83-0.92)) corresponded with higher post-LT survival, when adjusted for over 20 demographic and clinical characteristics (Table 2). African American or Black individuals were associated with lower post-LT survival (HR: 1.20 (95% CI: 1.12-1.28)), whereas. Asian (HR: 0.79 (95% CI: 0.71-0.88)) or Hispanic (HR: 0.86 (95% CI: 0.81-0.92)) individuals were associated with higher survival as compared with White individuals (Table 2). Many of these patterns held in the pre-Share 35 and Share 35 periods. CONCLUSIONS Racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities at time of transplant, such as private insurance and income, influence post-LT survival in patients with HCC. These patterns persist despite the passage of equitable access policies, such as Share 35.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dora C Huang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Rosa L Yu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Saleh Alqahtani
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States; College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hani Tamim
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Behnam Saberi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Alan Bonder
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.
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32
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Ross-Driscoll K, Gunasti J, Ayuk-Arrey AT, Adler JT, Axelrod D, McElroy L, Patzer RE, Lynch R. Identifying and understanding variation in population-based access to liver transplantation in the United States. Am J Transplant 2023; 23:1401-1410. [PMID: 37302576 PMCID: PMC10529375 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2023.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We aimed to identify variations in liver transplant access across transplant referral regions (TRRs), accounting for differences in population characteristics and practice environments. Adult end-stage liver disease (ESLD) deaths and liver waitlist additions from 2015 to 2019 were included. The primary outcome was listing-to-death ratio (LDR). We modeled the LDR as a continuous variable and obtained adjusted LDR estimates for each TRR, accounting for clinical and demographic characteristics of ESLD decedents, socioeconomic and health care environment within the TRR, and characteristics of the transplant environment. The overall mean LDR was 0.24 (range: 0.10-0.53). In the final model, proportion of patients living in poverty and concentrated poverty was negatively associated with LDR; organ donation rate was positively associated with LDR. The R2 was 0.60, indicating that 60% of the variability in LDR was explained by the model. Approximately 40% of this variation remained unexplained and may be due to transplant center behaviors amenable to intervention to improve access to care for patients with ESLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Ross-Driscoll
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Health Services Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
| | - Jonathan Gunasti
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Health Services Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Arrey-Takor Ayuk-Arrey
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Health Services Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Joel T Adler
- Division of Abdominal Transplantation, Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - David Axelrod
- Solid Organ Transplant Center, Department of Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Lisa McElroy
- Division of Abdominal Transplantation, Department of Surgery and Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rachel E Patzer
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Health Services Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Raymond Lynch
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Health Services Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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33
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Ge J, Fontil V, Ackerman S, Pletcher MJ, Lai JC. Clinical decision support and electronic interventions to improve care quality in chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis. Hepatology 2023:01515467-990000000-00546. [PMID: 37611253 PMCID: PMC10998693 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Significant quality gaps exist in the management of chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis. Clinical decision support systems-information-driven tools based in and launched from the electronic health record-are attractive and potentially scalable prospective interventions that could help standardize clinical care in hepatology. Yet, clinical decision support systems have had a mixed record in clinical medicine due to issues with interoperability and compatibility with clinical workflows. In this review, we discuss the conceptual origins of clinical decision support systems, existing applications in liver diseases, issues and challenges with implementation, and emerging strategies to improve their integration in hepatology care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Ge
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of California – San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Valy Fontil
- Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Family Health Centers at NYU-Langone Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA
| | - Sara Ackerman
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of California – San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Mark J. Pletcher
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California – San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jennifer C. Lai
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of California – San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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34
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Nephew LD, Knapp SM, Mohamed KA, Ghabril M, Orman E, Patidar KR, Chalasani N, Desai AP. Trends in Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Receipt of Lifesaving Procedures for Hospitalized Patients With Decompensated Cirrhosis in the US, 2009-2018. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2324539. [PMID: 37471085 PMCID: PMC10359964 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.24539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Patients with decompensated cirrhosis are hospitalized for acute management with temporizing and lifesaving procedures. Published data to inform intervention development in this area are more than a decade old, and it is not clear whether there have been improvements in disparities in the receipt of these procedures over time. Objective To evaluate the associations of race and ethnicity with receipt of procedures to treat decompensated cirrhosis over time in the US. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed National Inpatient Sample data on cirrhosis admissions among patients with portal hypertension-related complications from 2009 to 2018. All hospital discharges for individuals aged 18 years and older from 2009 to 2018 were assessed for inclusion. Admissions were included if they contained at least 1 cirrhosis-related International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) or International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code and at least 1 cirrhosis-related complication ICD-9-CM or ICD-10-CM code (ie, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, variceal hemorrhage [VH], and hepatorenal syndrome [HRS]). Data were analyzed from January to June 2022. Exposure Hospitalization for decompensated cirrhosis. Main Outcomes and Measures The outcomes of interest were trends in the odds ratios (ORs) for receiving procedures (upper endoscopy, transjugular portosystemic shunt [TIPS], hemodialysis, and liver transplantation [LT]) for decompensated cirrhosis and mortality by race and ethnicity, modeled over time. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess these outcomes. Results Among 717 580 admissions (median [IQR] age, 58 [52-67] years), 345 644 patients (9.8%) were Black, 623 991 patients (17.6%) were Hispanic, and 2 340 031 patients (47.4%) were White. Based on the modeled trends, by 2018, there were no significant differences by race or ethnicity in the odds of receiving upper endoscopy for VH. However, Black patients remained less likely than White patients to undergo TIPS for VH (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.47-0.62) and ascites (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.31-0.38). The disparity in receipt of LT improved for Black and Hispanic patients over the study period; however, by 2018, both groups remained less likely to undergo LT than their White counterparts (Black: OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.61-0.70; Hispanic: OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.70-0.78). The odds of death in Black and Hispanic patients declined over the study period but remained higher in Black patients than White patients in 2018 (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.05-1.11). Conclusions and Relevance In this cross-sectional study of individuals hospitalized with decompensated cirrhosis, there were racial and ethnic disparities in receipt of complex lifesaving procedures and in mortality that persisted over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren D. Nephew
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis
- Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis
| | - Shannon M. Knapp
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis
| | - Kawthar A. Mohamed
- Division of Medicine, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis
| | - Marwan Ghabril
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis
| | - Eric Orman
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis
| | - Kavish R. Patidar
- Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Naga Chalasani
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis
- Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis
| | - Archita P. Desai
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis
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35
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Abu S, Chen PH, Harris CM. Comparisons between White and Black Patients Hospitalized with Postliver Transplant Complications/Failure. South Med J 2023; 116:524-529. [PMID: 37400095 DOI: 10.14423/smj.0000000000001578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The impact of race on patients presenting to North American hospitals with postliver transplant complications/failure (PLTCF) has not been studied fully. We compared in-hospital mortality and resource utilization outcomes between White and Black patients hospitalized with PLTCF. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study that evaluated the years 2016 and 2017 from the National Inpatient Sample. Regression analysis was used to determine in-hospital mortality and resource utilization. RESULTS There were 10,805 hospitalizations for adults with liver transplants who presented with PLTCF. White and Black patients with PLTCF made up 7925 (73.3%) hospitalizations from this population. Among this group, 6480 were White (81.7%) and 1445 were Black (18.2%). Blacks were younger than Whites (mean age ± standard error of the mean: 46.8 ± 1.1 vs 53.6 ± 0.39 years, P < 0.01). Blacks were more likely to be female (53.9% vs 37.4%, P < 0.01). Charlson Comorbidity Index scores were not significantly different (scores ≥3: 46.7% vs 44.2%, P = 0.83). Blacks had significantly higher odds for in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio 2.9, confidence interval [CI] 1.4-6.1; P < 0.01). Hospital charges were higher for Blacks compared with Whites (adjusted mean difference $48,432; 95% CI $2708-$94,157, P = 0.03). Blacks had significantly longer lengths of hospital stays (adjusted mean difference 3.1 days, 95% CI 1.1-5.1, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Compared with White patients hospitalized for PLTCF, Black patients had higher in-hospital mortality and resource use. Investigation into causes leading to this health disparity is needed to improve in-hospital outcomes.
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36
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Bajaj JS, Choudhury AK, Xie Q, Kamath PS, Topazian M, Hayes PC, Torre A, Desalegn H, Idilman R, Cao Z, Alvares-da-Silva MR, George J, Bush BJ, Thacker LR, Wong F. Global disparities in mortality and liver transplantation in hospitalised patients with cirrhosis: a prospective cohort study for the CLEARED Consortium. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 8:611-622. [PMID: 37230109 PMCID: PMC10330833 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-1253(23)00098-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cirrhosis, the end result of liver injury, has high mortality globally. The effect of country-level income on mortality from cirrhosis is unclear. We aimed to assess predictors of death in inpatients with cirrhosis using a global consortium focusing on cirrhosis-related and access-related variables. METHODS In this prospective observational cohort study, the CLEARED Consortium followed up inpatients with cirrhosis at 90 tertiary care hospitals in 25 countries across six continents. Consecutive patients older than 18 years who were admitted non-electively, without COVID-19 or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, were enrolled. We ensured equitable participation by limiting enrolment to a maximum of 50 patients per site. Data were collected from patients and their medical records, and included demographic characteristics; country; disease severity (MELD-Na score); cirrhosis cause; medications used; reasons for admission; transplantation listing; cirrhosis-related history in the past 6 months; and clinical course and management while hospitalised and for 30 days post discharge. Primary outcomes were death and receipt of liver transplant during index hospitalisation or within 30 days post discharge. Sites were surveyed regarding availability of and access to diagnostic and treatment services. Outcomes were compared by country income level of participating sites, defined according to World Bank income classifications (high-income countries [HICs], upper-middle-income countries [UMICs], and low-income or lower-middle-income countries [LICs or LMICs]). Multivariable models controlling for demographic variables, disease cause, and disease severity were used to analyse the odds of each outcome associated with variables of interest. FINDINGS Patients were recruited between Nov 5, 2021, and Aug 31, 2022. Complete inpatient data were obtained for 3884 patients (mean age 55·9 years [SD 13·3]; 2493 (64·2%) men and 1391 (35·8%) women; 1413 [36·4%] from HICs, 1757 [45·2%] from UMICs, and 714 [18·4%] from LICs or LMICs), with 410 lost to follow-up within 30 days after hospital discharge. The number of patients who died while hospitalised was 110 (7·8%) of 1413 in HICs, 182 (10·4%) of 1757 in UMICs, and 158 (22·1%) of 714 in LICs and LMICs (p<0·0001), and within 30 days post discharge these values were 179 (14·4%) of 1244 in HICs, 267 (17·2%) of 1556 in UMICs, and 204 (30·3%) of 674 in LICs and LMICs (p<0·0001). Compared with patients from HICs, increased risk of death during hospitalisation was found for patients from UMICs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2·14 [95% CI 1·61-2·84]) and from LICs or LMICs (2·54 [1·82-3·54]), in addition to increased risk of death within 30 days post discharge (1·95 [1·44-2·65] in UMICs and 1·84 [1·24-2·72] in LICs or LMICs). Receipt of a liver transplant was recorded in 59 (4·2%) of 1413 patients from HICs, 28 (1·6%) of 1757 from UMICs (aOR 0·41 [95% CI 0·24-0·69] vs HICs), and 14 (2·0%) of 714 from LICs and LMICs (0·21 [0·10-0·41] vs HICs) during index hospitalisation (p<0·0001), and in 105 (9·2%) of 1137 patients from HICs, 55 (4·0%) of 1372 from UMICs (0·58 [0·39-0·85] vs HICs), and 16 (3·1%) of 509 from LICs or LMICs (0·21 [0·11-0·40] vs HICs) by 30 days post discharge (p<0·0001). Site survey results showed that access to important medications (rifaximin, albumin, and terlipressin) and interventions (emergency endoscopy, liver transplantation, intensive care, and palliative care) varied geographically. INTERPRETATION Inpatients with cirrhosis in LICs, LMICs, or UMICs have significantly higher mortality than inpatients in HICs independent of medical risk factors, and this might be due to disparities in access to essential diagnostic and treatment services. These results should encourage researchers and policy makers to consider access to services and medications when evaluating cirrhosis-related outcomes. FUNDING National Institutes of Health and US Department of Veterans Affairs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmohan S Bajaj
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University and Central Virginia Veterans Healthcare System, Richmond, VA, USA.
| | - Ashok K Choudhury
- Department of Hepatology, Institute for Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Qing Xie
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Patrick S Kamath
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Mark Topazian
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, USA; Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, St Paul's Hospital, Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Peter C Hayes
- Hepatology, Division of Health Sciences, Deanery of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Aldo Torre
- Department of Medicine, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Hailemichael Desalegn
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, St Paul's Hospital, Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Ramazan Idilman
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Zhujun Cao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mario R Alvares-da-Silva
- Department of Hepatology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Jacob George
- Storr Liver Centre, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research and Westmead Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Brian J Bush
- Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Leroy R Thacker
- Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Florence Wong
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Deutsch-Link S, Bittermann T, Nephew L, Ross-Driscoll K, Weinberg EM, Weinrieb RM, Olthoff KM, Addis S, Serper M. Racial and ethnic disparities in psychosocial evaluation and liver transplant waitlisting. Am J Transplant 2023; 23:776-785. [PMID: 36731782 PMCID: PMC10247400 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2023.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Health disparities have been well-described in all stages of the liver transplantation (LT) process. Using data from psychosocial evaluations and the Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment, our objective was to investigate potential racial and ethnic inequities in overall LT waitlisting and not waitlisting for medical or psychosocial reasons. In a cohort of 2271 candidates evaluated for LT from 2014 to 2021 and with 1-8 years of follow-up, no significant associations were noted between race/ethnicity and overall waitlisting and not waitlisting for medical reasons. However, compared with White race, Black race (odds ratio [OR], 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-2.56) and Hispanic/Latinx ethnicity (OR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.16-3.78) were associated with not waitlisting for psychosocial reasons. After adjusting for sociodemographic variables, the relationship persisted in both populations: Black (OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.12-3.38) and Hispanic/Latinx (OR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.08-4.86) (reference group, White). High-risk Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment scores were more prevalent in Black and Hispanic/Latinx patients, likely reflecting upstream factors and structural racism. Health systems and LT centers should design programs to combat these disparities and improve equity in access to LT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasha Deutsch-Link
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Therese Bittermann
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lauren Nephew
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Indian University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Katherine Ross-Driscoll
- Division of Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ethan M Weinberg
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Robert M Weinrieb
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kim M Olthoff
- Division of Transplant Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Senayish Addis
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Marina Serper
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
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38
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Samuel S, Choubey A, Koizumi N, Ekwenna O, Baxter PR, Li MH, Malik R, Ortiz J. Demographic inequities exist and influence transplant outcomes in liver transplantation for acute alcohol-associated hepatitis. HPB (Oxford) 2023:S1365-182X(23)00116-8. [PMID: 37088642 DOI: 10.1016/j.hpb.2023.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver transplantation has inherent disparities but data is scarce in liver transplant (LT) candidates with acute alcohol-associated hepatitis (AAH). We aimed to investigate demographic inequities and its impact on survival outcomes among AAH LT candidates. METHODS A retrospective analysis using the United Network of Organ Sharing database was conducted between 2000 and 2021. 25 981 LT recipients with alcohol-associated liver cirrhosis and 662 recipients with AAH were included. Waitlisted candidates were also evaluated. RESULTS In comparison with alcohol-associated liver cirrhosis, AAH LT recipients were more likely Asian or "other" race and younger. Hispanics demonstrated better graft and patient survival (p < 0.05) but were less likely to be waitlisted and transplanted for AAH than for liver cirrhosis. Women with AAH were more likely to be waitlisted and transplanted. Pre-existing diabetes and male sex were associated with higher graft failure (25% and 8% respectively). Increasing recipient age were 2% more likely to experience negative outcomes. Chronicity of liver disease did not impact graft (p = 0.137) or patient survival (p = 0.145). CONCLUSION Our results revealed demographic factors have a significant impact on transplant listing, organ allocation and survival outcomes. Further investigations are imperative to minimize disparities in LT evaluation and provide equity in healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Samuel
- Department of Internal Medicine, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY, 12208, USA.
| | - Ankur Choubey
- Department of Surgery, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Naoru Koizumi
- Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA
| | - Obi Ekwenna
- Department of Urology, The University of Toledo Medical Center, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA
| | - Patrick R Baxter
- Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA
| | - Meng-Hao Li
- Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA
| | - Raza Malik
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY, 12208, USA
| | - Jorge Ortiz
- Department of Surgery, Erie County Medical Center, Buffalo, NY, 14215, USA
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39
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Hundt MA, Tien C, Kahn JA. Addressing sex-based disparities in liver transplantation. Curr Opin Organ Transplant 2023; 28:110-116. [PMID: 36437701 DOI: 10.1097/mot.0000000000001040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Disparities in access to liver transplantation by sex have been well described, disadvantaging women. Understanding the multifactorial causes of these disparities as well as the variety of proposed solutions is critical to improving access to this life-saving intervention for women. This review aims to summarize the current body of evidence on observed sex disparities in liver transplantation and highlight actionable, evidence-based mechanisms by which these disparities can be addressed. RECENT FINDINGS Strategies for addressing sex disparities in liver transplantation include increasing organ utilization, changing allocation policy, and leveraging public policies to reduce the incidence of end-stage liver disease. Several other promising interventions are currently being explored. SUMMARY In the United States, women face additional barriers to liver transplantation on the basis of sex. Immediate action is necessary to systematically address these inequities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie A Hundt
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases
- Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Christine Tien
- Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Kahn
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases
- Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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40
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Kardashian A, Serper M, Terrault N, Nephew LD. Health disparities in chronic liver disease. Hepatology 2023; 77:1382-1403. [PMID: 35993341 PMCID: PMC10026975 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The syndemic of hazardous alcohol consumption, opioid use, and obesity has led to important changes in liver disease epidemiology that have exacerbated health disparities. Health disparities occur when plausibly avoidable health differences are experienced by socially disadvantaged populations. Highlighting health disparities, their sources, and consequences in chronic liver disease is fundamental to improving liver health outcomes. There have been large increases in alcohol use disorder in women, racial and ethnic minorities, and those experiencing poverty in the context of poor access to alcohol treatment, leading to increasing rates of alcohol-associated liver diseases. Rising rates of NAFLD and associated fibrosis have been observed in Hispanic persons, women aged > 50, and individuals experiencing food insecurity. Access to viral hepatitis screening and linkage to treatment are suboptimal for racial and ethnic minorities and individuals who are uninsured or underinsured, resulting in greater liver-related mortality and later-stage diagnoses of HCC. Data from more diverse cohorts on autoimmune and cholestatic liver diseases are lacking, supporting the need to study the contemporary epidemiology of these disorders in greater detail. Herein, we review the existing literature on racial and ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic disparities in chronic liver diseases using a social determinants of health framework to better understand how social and structural factors cause health disparities and affect chronic liver disease outcomes. We also propose potential solutions to eliminate disparities, outlining health-policy, health-system, community, and individual solutions to promote equity and improve health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ani Kardashian
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Marina Serper
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Norah Terrault
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Lauren D. Nephew
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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41
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Guifarro DA, De Oliveira-Gomes D, Beas R, Yibrin-Wakim MJ, Montalvan-Sanchez EE. Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis-Autoimmune Hepatitis Overlap Syndrome: Significant Barriers in Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Experienced by the Latino Community. Cureus 2023; 15:e36126. [PMID: 37065404 PMCID: PMC10099648 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.36126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Overlap syndrome (OS) is a term that comprises the presentation of multiple hepatic disease characteristics in the same patient, such as the presence of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) features in addition to primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) or primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Standard therapy for AIH is immunosuppression, while ursodeoxycholic acid is the preferred treatment for PBC. Additionally, liver transplantation (LT) may be considered in severe cases. Hispanics have been found to have a higher prevalence of chronic liver disease and develop more complications associated with portal hypertension at the time of listing for LT. Despite being the fastest-growing population in the USA, Hispanics have a higher probability of not receiving an LT due to issues with social determinants of health (SDOH). It has been reported that Hispanics are more likely to be removed from the transplant list. We report a case of a 25-year-old female immigrant from a Latin American developing country who presented with symptoms consistent with worsening liver disease after years of inappropriate workup and late diagnosis due to barriers within the healthcare system. The patient had a history of unresolved jaundice and pruritus and presented with worsening of her previous symptoms and new onset abdominal distention, bilateral leg edema, and telangiectasias. Laboratory and imaging studies confirmed the diagnosis of AIH and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC-AIH syndrome). The patient was started on steroids, azathioprine, and ursodeoxycholic acid, showing improvement. Due to her migratory status, she could not receive an appropriate diagnosis and follow up with a single provider or healthcare institution, putting her at increased risk for life-threatening complications. Although medical management is the first step, the probability of future liver transplants exists. The patient is still undergoing liver transplant evaluation and completing a workup since she was found to have an elevated model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score. Even with the introduction of new scores and policies that aim to reduce disparities in LT, Hispanic patients are still at higher risk of being removed from the waitlist because of death or clinical deterioration compared to non-Hispanics. To this day, Hispanics have the highest percentage of waitlist deaths (20.8%) of all ethnicities and the lowest overall rate for undergoing LT. Understanding and addressing the causes that could contribute to and explain this phenomenon is essential. Increasing awareness of this problem is vital to promote more research on LT disparities.
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42
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VanWagner LB, McElroy L, Serper M, Verna EC. More than a few good women: honoring the ladies of the liver. Liver Transpl 2023; 29:237-240. [PMID: 36724885 PMCID: PMC10039456 DOI: 10.1097/lvt.0000000000000062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa B. VanWagner
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Lisa McElroy
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Calorina, USA
| | - Marina Serper
- Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Elizabeth C. Verna
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine and Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation, Columbia University College of Physicians, New York, New York, USA
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43
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Ge J, Lai JC, Wadhwani SI. Novel approaches are needed to study social determinants of health in liver transplantation. Liver Transpl 2023; 29:241-243. [PMID: 35962612 PMCID: PMC10268038 DOI: 10.1002/lt.26554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jin Ge
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of
Medicine, University of California–San Francisco, San Francisco, California,
USA
| | - Jennifer C. Lai
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of
Medicine, University of California–San Francisco, San Francisco, California,
USA
| | - Sharad I. Wadhwani
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of
Pediatrics, University of California–San Francisco, San Francisco,
California, USA
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44
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Park C, Schappe T, Peskoe S, Mohottige D, Chan NW, Bhavsar NA, Boulware LE, Pendergast J, Kirk AD, McElroy LM. A comparison of deprivation indices and application to transplant populations. Am J Transplant 2023; 23:377-386. [PMID: 36695687 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2022.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The choice of deprivation index can influence conclusions drawn regarding the extent of deprivation within a community and the identification of the most deprived communities in the United States. This study aimed to determine the degree of correlation among deprivation indices commonly used to characterize transplant populations. We used a retrospective cohort consisting of adults listed for liver or kidney transplants between 2008 and 2018 to compare 4 deprivation indices: neighborhood deprivation index, social deprivation index (SDI), area deprivation index, and social vulnerability index. Pairwise correlation between deprivation indices by transplant referral regions was measured using Spearman correlations of population-weighted medians and upper quartiles. In total, 52 individual variables were used among the 4 deprivation indices with 25% overlap. For both organs, the correlation between the population-weighted 75th percentile of the deprivation indices by transplant referral region was highest between SDI and social vulnerability index (liver and kidney, 0.93) and lowest between area deprivation index and SDI (liver, 0.19 and kidney, 0.15). The choice of deprivation index affects the applicability of research findings across studies examining the relationship between social risk and clinical outcomes. Appropriate application of these measures to transplant populations requires careful index selection based on the intended use and included variable relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Park
- Division of Abdominal Transplant, Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Tyler Schappe
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Sarah Peskoe
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Dinushika Mohottige
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Duke University, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Norine W Chan
- Division of Abdominal Transplant, Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Nrupen A Bhavsar
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - L Ebony Boulware
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jane Pendergast
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Allan D Kirk
- Division of Abdominal Transplant, Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Lisa M McElroy
- Division of Abdominal Transplant, Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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Bodek DD, Everwine MM, Lunsford KE, Okoronkwo N, Patel PA, Pyrsopoulos N. Racial Disparities in Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample From 2007 to 2014. J Clin Gastroenterol 2023; 57:311-316. [PMID: 35180149 DOI: 10.1097/mcg.0000000000001675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a deadly disease, with patients' best hope for a cure being liver transplantation; however, access to health care resources, such as donor organs, between ethnic groups has historically been unbalanced. Ensuring equitable access to donor livers is crucial to minimize disparities in HCC outcomes. As a result, we sought to better elucidate the differences in transplantation rates among various ethnic groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was utilized to evaluate for disparities in liver transplantation in patients whose primary or secondary diagnosis was recorded as HCC or hepatoma. The study included admissions between 2007 and 2014 to centers with at least 1 documented liver transplant. RESULTS A total of 7244 transplants were performed over 70,406 weighted admissions. Black race was associated with lower transplantation rates, with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.46 (95% confidence interval: 0.42-0.51, P <0.01) when accounting for a number of possible confounders including socioeconomic and geographic factors. CONCLUSIONS Our study observed decreased rates of liver transplant in blacks compared with whites for HCC. Furthermore, improved economic status and private insurance had a significantly higher odds ratio for transplantation. Hospital-level studies are needed to clarify confounding factors not apparent in large administrative datasets and help better investigate factors that lead to less optimal transplant rates among blacks. Interventions may include more optimal screening policies and procedures, improved interdisciplinary management, and earlier referrals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Keri E Lunsford
- Division of Liver Transplant and HPB Surgery, Department of Surgery and Center for Immunity and Inflammation
| | - Nneoma Okoronkwo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ
| | - Pavan A Patel
- Department of Gastroenterology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ
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46
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Louissaint J, Dove LM. Navigating the road to liver transplantation equity. Liver Transpl 2023; 29:125-127. [PMID: 36668689 DOI: 10.1097/lvt.0000000000000011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Louissaint
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Lorna M Dove
- Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
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47
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Strauss AT, Sidoti CN, Purnell TS, Sung HC, Jackson JW, Levin S, Jain VS, Malinsky D, Segev DL, Hamilton JP, Garonzik‐Wang J, Gray SH, Levan ML, Scalea JR, Cameron AM, Gurakar A, Gurses AP. Multicenter study of racial and ethnic inequities in liver transplantation evaluation: Understanding mechanisms and identifying solutions. Liver Transpl 2022; 28:1841-1856. [PMID: 35726679 PMCID: PMC9796377 DOI: 10.1002/lt.26532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Racial and ethnic disparities persist in access to the liver transplantation (LT) waiting list; however, there is limited knowledge about underlying system-level factors that may be responsible for these disparities. Given the complex nature of LT candidate evaluation, a human factors and systems engineering approach may provide insights. We recruited participants from the LT teams (coordinators, advanced practice providers, physicians, social workers, dieticians, pharmacists, leadership) at two major LT centers. From December 2020 to July 2021, we performed ethnographic observations (participant-patient appointments, committee meetings) and semistructured interviews (N = 54 interviews, 49 observation hours). Based on findings from this multicenter, multimethod qualitative study combined with the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety 2.0 (a human factors and systems engineering model for health care), we created a conceptual framework describing how transplant work system characteristics and other external factors may improve equity in the LT evaluation process. Participant perceptions about listing disparities described external factors (e.g., structural racism, ambiguous national guidelines, national quality metrics) that permeate the LT evaluation process. Mechanisms identified included minimal transplant team diversity, implicit bias, and interpersonal racism. A lack of resources was a common theme, such as social workers, transportation assistance, non-English-language materials, and time (e.g., more time for education for patients with health literacy concerns). Because of the minimal data collection or center feedback about disparities, participants felt uncomfortable with and unadaptable to unwanted outcomes, which perpetuate disparities. We proposed transplant center-level solutions (i.e., including but not limited to training of staff on health equity) to modifiable barriers in the clinical work system that could help patient navigation, reduce disparities, and improve access to care. Our findings call for an urgent need for transplant centers, national societies, and policy makers to focus efforts on improving equity (tailored, patient-centered resources) using the science of human factors and systems engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra T. Strauss
- Department of MedicineSchool of Medicine, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA,Malone Center for Engineering in HealthcareWhiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Carolyn N. Sidoti
- Department of SurgerySchool of Medicine, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Tanjala S. Purnell
- Department of SurgerySchool of Medicine, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA,Department of EpidemiologyBloomberg School of Public, Health Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Hannah C. Sung
- Department of SurgerySchool of Medicine, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - John W. Jackson
- Department of EpidemiologyBloomberg School of Public, Health Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Scott Levin
- Malone Center for Engineering in HealthcareWhiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA,Department of Emergency MedicineSchool of Medicine, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Vedant S. Jain
- Department of SurgerySchool of Medicine, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Daniel Malinsky
- Department of BiostatisticsColumbia University Mailman School of Public HealthNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Dorry L. Segev
- Department of SurgerySchool of Medicine, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA,Department of EpidemiologyBloomberg School of Public, Health Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - James P. Hamilton
- Department of MedicineSchool of Medicine, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | | | - Stephen H. Gray
- Department of SurgerySchool of Medicine, University of MarylandBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Macey L. Levan
- Department of SurgerySchool of Medicine, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Joseph R. Scalea
- Department of SurgerySchool of Medicine, University of MarylandBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Andrew M. Cameron
- Department of SurgerySchool of Medicine, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Ahmet Gurakar
- Department of MedicineSchool of Medicine, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Ayse P. Gurses
- Department of Emergency MedicineSchool of Medicine, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA,Center for Health Care Human FactorsArmstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, Johns Hopkins MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA,Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Biomedical Informatics and Data Science (General Internal Medicine)School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA,Department of Health Policy and ManagementBloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
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48
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Singh J, Iriana S, Han H, Kahn J. Vaccination for coronavirus disease 2019 in liver transplantation candidates should be recommended but not mandated. Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken) 2022; 20:154-156. [PMID: 36447907 PMCID: PMC9700048 DOI: 10.1002/cld.1268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Content available: Author Interview and Audio Recording.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasleen Singh
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver DiseasesKeck School of Medicine at University of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Sentia Iriana
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver DiseasesKeck School of Medicine at University of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Hyosun Han
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver DiseasesKeck School of Medicine at University of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Jeffrey Kahn
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver DiseasesKeck School of Medicine at University of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
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49
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Flemming JA, Muaddi H, Djerboua M, Neves P, Sapisochin G, Selzner N. Association between social determinants of health and rates of liver transplantation in individuals with cirrhosis. Hepatology 2022; 76:1079-1089. [PMID: 35313040 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS This study evaluated the association between neighborhood-level social determinants of health (SDOH) and liver transplantation (LT) among patients with cirrhosis who have universal access to health care. APPROACH AND RESULTS This was a retrospective population-based cohort study from 2000-2019 using administrative health care data from Ontario, Canada. Adults aged 18-70 years with newly decompensated cirrhosis and/or HCC were identified using validated coding. The associations between five neighborhood level SDOH quintiles and LT were assessed with multivariate Fine-Gray competing risks regression to generate subdistribution HRs (sHRs) where death competes with LT. Overall, n = 38,719 individuals formed the cohort (median age 57 years, 67% male), and n = 2788 (7%) received LT after a median of 23 months (interquartile range 3-68). Due to an interaction, results were stratified by sex. After multivariable regression and comparing those in the lowest versus highest quintiles, individuals living in the most materially resource-deprived areas (female sHR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.49-0.76; male sHR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.48-0.64), most residentially unstable neighborhoods (female sHR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.49-0.75; male sHR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.49-0.65), and lowest-income neighborhoods (female sHR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.46-0.7; male sHR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.50-0.67) had ~40% reduced subhazard for LT (p < 0.01 for all). No associations were found between neighborhoods with the most diverse immigrant or racial minority populations or age and labor force quintiles and LT. CONCLUSIONS This information highlights an urgent need to evaluate how SDOH influence rates of LT, with the overarching goal to develop strategies to overcome inequalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Flemming
- Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.,Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.,ICES Queen's, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hala Muaddi
- Department of Surgery, University Health Network-Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Paula Neves
- Center for Living Organ Donation, University Health Network-Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gonzalo Sapisochin
- Department of Surgery, University Health Network-Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Ajmera Transplant Centre, University Health Network-Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nazia Selzner
- Ajmera Transplant Centre, University Health Network-Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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50
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Mohamed KA, Ghabril M, Desai A, Orman E, Patidar KR, Holden J, Rawl S, Chalasani N, Kubal CS, D. Nephew L. Neighborhood poverty is associated with failure to be waitlisted and death during liver transplantation evaluation. Liver Transpl 2022; 28:1441-1453. [PMID: 35389564 PMCID: PMC9545792 DOI: 10.1002/lt.26473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Liver transplantation (LT) is the final step in a complex care cascade. Little is known about how race, gender, rural versus urban residence, or neighborhood socioeconomic indicators impact a patient's likelihood of LT waitlisting or risk of death during LT evaluation. We performed a retrospective cohort study of adults referred for LT to the Indiana University Academic Medical Center from 2011 to 2018. Neighborhood socioeconomic status indicators were obtained by linking patients' addresses to their census tract defined in the 2017 American Community Survey. Descriptive statistics were used to describe completion of steps in the LT evaluation cascade. Multivariable analyses were performed to assess the factors associated with waitlisting and death during LT evaluation. There were 3454 patients referred for LT during the study period; 25.3% of those referred were waitlisted for LT. There was no difference seen in the proportion of patients from vulnerable populations who progressed to the steps of financial approval or evaluation start. There were differences in waitlisting by insurance type (22.6% of Medicaid vs. 34.3% of those who were privately insured; p < 0.01) and neighborhood poverty (quartile 1 29.6% vs. quartile 4 20.4%; p < 0.01). On multivariable analysis, neighborhood poverty was independently associated with waitlisting (odds ratio 0.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.38-0.82) and death during LT evaluation (hazard ratio 1.49, 95% CI 1.09-2.09). Patients from high-poverty neighborhoods are at risk of failing to be waitlisted and death during LT evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kawthar A. Mohamed
- Department of MedicineIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Marwan Ghabril
- Department of MedicineIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA,Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyDepartment of MedicineIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Archita Desai
- Department of MedicineIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA,Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyDepartment of MedicineIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Eric Orman
- Department of MedicineIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA,Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyDepartment of MedicineIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Kavish R. Patidar
- Department of MedicineIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - John Holden
- Department of MedicineIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Susan Rawl
- Indiana University School of NursingIndianapolisIndianaUSA,Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer CenterIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Naga Chalasani
- Department of MedicineIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA,Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyDepartment of MedicineIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA,Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer CenterIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Chandra Shekhar Kubal
- Division of Organ TransplantationDepartment of SurgeryIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Lauren D. Nephew
- Department of MedicineIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA,Division of Gastroenterology and HepatologyDepartment of MedicineIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA,Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer CenterIndianapolisIndianaUSA
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