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Luo J, Collier W, Magno-Padron D, Tieman J, Pires G, Moss W, Rosales M, Kim J, Agarwal JP, Kwok AC. Characteristics of Nonelderly Adult Health Care Persistent Super Utilizers in Utah. Popul Health Manag 2022; 25:472-479. [PMID: 35353618 DOI: 10.1089/pop.2021.0275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the United States, the top 1% and top 5% of health care spenders account for 23% and 50% of total health care spending, respectively. These high spenders have been coined the term super utilizers (SU). The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics associated with these patients to aid in developing public health interventions aimed at transitioning patients out of the SU category and thus ultimately helping to control health care costs. The authors utilized the Utah All-Payer Claims Database and Utah Population Database from 2013 to 2015 to identify demographics, comorbid conditions, health care utilization, and cost characteristics of persistent super utilizers (PSU) (≥3 hospitalizations per year for 3 years) of health care compared with persistent nonsuper utilizers (PNSU) (<3 hospitalizations per year for 3 years). Multivariable logistic regression was utilized to identify the characteristics associated with PSU versus PNSU. Higher outpatient/Emergency Department/noninpatient (eg, visits with imaging and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services preventive visits) health care utilization and spending, and prevalence of comorbid disease and psychosocial conditions were associated with PSU. In multivariable analysis, factors such as heart disease, chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetes, alcohol abuse, and depression were statistically significantly associated with higher odds of PSU, with the most noteworthy being CKD (odds ratio [OR] 6.85, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 5.84-8.02; P < 0.001), alcohol abuse (OR 5.90, 95% CI 4.49-7.69; P < 0.001), and heart diseases (OR 4.41, 95% CI 3.74-5.18; P < 0.001). The annual health care cost of a PSU is about 11.5 times greater than a PNSU ($54,776 vs. $4801; P < 0.001).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Luo
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Willem Collier
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - David Magno-Padron
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Joshua Tieman
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Giovanna Pires
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Whitney Moss
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Megan Rosales
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Jaewhan Kim
- Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, and CTSI Health Economics Core, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Jayant P Agarwal
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Alvin C Kwok
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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Thakarar K, Kulkarni A, Lodi S, Walley AY, Lira MC, Forman LS, Colasanti JA, del Rio C, Samet JH. Emergency Department Utilization Among People Living With HIV on Chronic Opioid Therapy. J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care 2021; 20:23259582211010952. [PMID: 33888001 PMCID: PMC8072919 DOI: 10.1177/23259582211010952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain among people with HIV (PWH) is a driving factor of emergency department (ED) utilization, and it is often treated with chronic opioid therapy (COT). We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of a prospective observational cohort of PWH on COT at 2 hospital-based clinics to determine whether COT-specific factors are associated with ED utilization among PWH. The primary outcome was an ED visit within 12 months after study enrollment. We used stepwise logistic regression including age, gender, opioid duration, hepatitis C, depression, prior ED visits, and Charlson comorbidity index. Of 153 study participants, n = 69 (45%) had an ED visit; 25% of ED visits were pain-related. High dose opioids, benzodiazepine co-prescribing, and lack of opioid treatment agreements were not associated with ED utilization, but prior ED visits (p = 0.002), depression (p = 0.001) and higher Charlson comorbidity score (p = 0.003) were associated with ED utilization. COT-specific factors were not associated with increased ED utilization among PWH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinna Thakarar
- Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Amoli Kulkarni
- Boston Medical Center / Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sara Lodi
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alexander Y. Walley
- Boston Medical Center / Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marlene C. Lira
- Boston Medical Center / Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Leah S. Forman
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Carlos del Rio
- Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Grady Health System, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jeffrey H. Samet
- Boston Medical Center / Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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The Relationship between Cognitive and Emotional Factors and Healthcare and Medication Use in People Experiencing Pain: A Systematic Review. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9082486. [PMID: 32756298 PMCID: PMC7464293 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9082486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pain conditions are among the leading causes of global disability, impacting on global healthcare utilization (HCU). Health seeking behavior might be influenced by cognitive and emotional factors (CEF), which can be tackled by specific therapies. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the evidence concerning associations between CEF and HCU in people experiencing pain. Three databases were consulted: PubMed, Web of Science and EconLit. Risk of bias was assessed using the Downs and Black Checklist (modified). A total of 90 publications (total sample n = 59,719) was included after double-blind screening. In people experiencing pain, positive associations between general anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms and catastrophizing and pain medication use were found. Additionally, there appears to be a relationship between general anxiety and depressive symptoms and opioid use. Symptom-related anxiety and psychological distress were found to be positively related with consulting behavior. Last, a positive association between use of complementary and alternative medicine and level of perceived symptom control was confirmed in people with pain. For other relationships no evidence or inconsistent findings were found, or they were insufficiently studied to draw firm conclusions, indicating that more research on this topic is needed.
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Abstract
Controlled substance agreements between providers and patients represent important strategies for setting expectations for chronic opioid therapy. These agreements generally summarize best opioid prescription practices and destigmatize practice policies such as regular toxicology screenings. These controlled substance agreements also set expectations for discontinuation of therapy if appropriate.
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Abstract
In the past, best practices for perioperative management have been based as much on dogma as science. The creation of optimized perioperative pathways, known as enhanced recovery after surgery, has been shown to simultaneously improve patient outcomes and reduce cost. In this article, we critically review interventions (and omission of interventions) that should be considered by every surgical team to optimize preanesthesia care. This includes patient education, properly managing existing medical comorbidities, optimizing nutrition, and the use of medications before incision that have been shown to reduce surgical stress, opioid requirements, and postoperative complications. Anesthetic techniques, the use of adjunct medications administered after incision, and postoperative management are beyond the scope of this review. When possible, we have relied on randomized trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews to support our recommendations. In some instances, we have drawn from the general and colorectal surgery literature if evidence in gynecologic surgery is limited or of poor quality. In particular, hospital systems should aim to adhere to antibiotic and thromboembolic prophylaxis for 100% of patients, the mantra, "nil by mouth after midnight" should be abandoned in favor of adopting a preoperative diet that maintains euvolemia and energy stores to optimize healing, and bowel preparation should be abandoned for patients undergoing gynecologic surgery for benign indications and minimally invasive gynecologic surgery.
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